Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

Jian Huan lowered her head, trying her best to see Shen Jizhi's face clearly.

But it was raining in front of her eyes.

It was like standing by a window on a rainy day, the curtain of rain blurring her vision, the green mountains hidden in the mist, making it impossible to see clearly.

Yet the words were clear.

The ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‍heart in her chest, sour and astringent, pounding fiercely, was clear.

And never before had it been as clear as it was now.

Jian Huan grabbed Shen Jizhi's hand, which was wiping away her tears, with one hand, while roughly wiping her face with her sleeve with the other, trying to stop crying and answer his question rationally and gracefully.

But damn it, she just couldn't stop.

If it's going to rain, it will rain; if a mother wants to remarry, she will remarry; and tears will fall on their own.

Heavens, the last time she cried this hard was years ago while watching the movie "Hachiko."

Jian Huan simply gave up, diving headfirst from the chair into his arms, causing the crouching Shen Jizhi to fall back onto the ground.

She wrapped her arms around his lean waist, smearing her endless tears and snot all over his robe.

Shen Jizhi's body trembled slightly, and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her, understanding her answer.

He rested his chin on the top of Jian Huan's head, tightening his embrace, a gentle curve forming at the corners of his brows.

After a while, Jian Huan stopped crying and lifted her head from his chest. Just as she was about to say something, her gaze fell on the messy bun on his head, and she burst into laughter despite her tears. "How did your hair end up like this?"

Shen Jizhi raised an eyebrow lightly. "Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Jian Huan was surprised, pointing at herself. "Me?"

"Mm." Shen Jizhi recounted what had happened at the tavern the previous night and added, "We need to go to the Imperial Pacification Office this afternoon."

Jian Huan nodded.

The two fell silent, simply holding each other quietly.

She buried her face in his chest, closing her eyes, listening to the steady rhythm of Shen Jizhi's heartbeat, one beat after another.

The mountain wind from the steep cliff behind the house blew in through the broken wooden window, lifting the hems of their robes.

Both wore the white disciple robes of Yuqing, swaying lightly, intertwining.

Thick spiritual energy flowed in the air, unconsciously slipping into their noses, mingling with their limbs and bones, reaching the tips of their hearts.

A tender sprout broke through the soil in their hearts, and everything felt renewed.

The matters at the Imperial Pacification Office were few, and after the necessary explanations, the elder let the two of them go.

Jian Huan still had business at the Equipment Forging Hall, so the two parted ways at the sect's entrance.

Shen Jizhi borrowed the kitchen at the dining hall and spent an hour preparing dinner. When he returned home, he set up a table under the "First-Grade Spirit Tree."

Afraid that the spirit meal would get cold, he covered the table with a five-colored spiritual barrier. Glancing at the sky, he estimated that she would arrive right on time, so he sat down nearby, closing his eyes to meditate.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

The spirit tree was planted behind the house, and in front of it was a steep cliff, with the autumn-stained mountains in the distance.

The evening sky was a magnificent blend of colors, fading from light to deep hues, and as the sun set, the sky turned completely dark.

A lantern hung from the tree, one Shen Jizhi had bought in Ningzhang City and hadn't thrown away.

The red light bathed the young man's face, his features as striking as ever, but with a hint of something breathtaking, like a ripe apricot on a branch, ready to be plucked.

Suddenly, Shen Jizhi's closed eyes flickered.

He opened them, a faint joy coloring his brows as he stood up gracefully.

After taking a few steps outside, Jian Huan came bounding in, grinning when she saw him.

She tossed the Xuantian Mirror she had bought at the Hidden Immortal Pavilion into his arms with lightning speed. "Shen Jizhi, happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

Shen Jizhi instinctively caught it, glanced at it, and was momentarily stunned before replying, "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival."

The two sat down, and not long after they started eating, the Xuantian Mirror beside Jian Huan kept vibrating.

It was Mid-Autumn Festival night, and there were many messages of blessings, all from relationships that needed to be maintained.

Jian Huan replied to them while chatting idly with Shen Jizhi—about who had sent her messages, the gossip about them, and which junior brother they liked.

After some thought, she even sent a message to Elder Yu Qing, though Elder Yu hadn't been replying to the Xuantian Mirror lately.

She guessed that Elder Yu was probably busy with matters concerning the City Lord of Ningzhang City.

Back then, Senior Gu Shan had left a trace of his divine sense on the City Lord, and now Elder Yu Qing and Gu Shan were busy investigating the demonic sects' hidden bases across the Nine Provinces.

Shen Jizhi occasionally tossed food into her bowl, giving occasional responses to show he was listening attentively, piling her bowl up like a small mountain.

...

The moon hung above the willow branches, and the night deepened.

Outside the window, Shen Jizhi was cleaning up the remnants of their meal.

Inside, Jian Huan stood by the broken window, hands on her hips, her face full of regret and self-reproach.

She shouldn't have used him to break the window.

Oh, her poor window.

Shen Jizhi squatted outside, picking through the pile of broken wood, salvaging what could still be used. He stood up and said to Jian Huan, "We can buy some spirit wood tomorrow and fix it."

Jian Huan nodded.

He looked at her and asked naturally, "Will you sleep at my place tonight?"

At his words, Jian Huan's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She lowered her hands from her hips, her dark pupils turning toward him, then dropping to look at the ground, before lifting her gaze again, meeting his briefly before looking away.

Shen Jizhi stacked the usable pieces of wood to the side and, seeing her hesitation, didn't rush her or say anything, waiting calmly for her answer.

He didn't intend to do anything; he just wanted to be with her.

If she agreed, that would be great.

If not, it was fine too—there was no rush.

After a moment, Jian Huan said, "Okay."

Then, after a pause, she added, "Go back to your room first. I'll come later."

Shen Jizhi: "Hm?"

Jian Huan glanced at him. "I need to change into my sleeping robes."

Shen Jizhi's eyelids twitched, and he let out an "Oh," strolling leisurely back to his room.

Ignoring the fact that he almost walked straight into a tree.

After he left, Jian Huan slowly exhaled.

She stood by the window, the autumn night breeze cool, but her cheeks felt warm.

Jian Huan thought for a moment, then looked down, pulling at her collar to peek inside.

Hmm, she wasn't bad either.

She thought again.

Even though the cleaning spell was clean and convenient, maybe she should take a bath. For the sake of ritual.

As she pondered this, a rustling sound came from the branch outside, and the Earth Fruit Spirit popped out, staring at the large broken window in front of it. Its round, eyeless head was filled with confusion and shock. "I just took a nap, and when I woke up, your window was gone?!"

"Human affairs are something you fruits wouldn't understand," Jian Huan said, lowering her hand and beckoning to the Earth Fruit Spirit. She whispered, "Tell me, did you know that Shen Jizhi hid Earth Fruits in my room?"

The little spirit nodded, looking down at her from above. "Of course, I know where my fruits are."

"You," Jian Huan gritted her teeth. "We're so close, aren't we closer than you and Shen Jizhi? You kept it a secret for him but didn't tell me?"

The little spirit pointed toward Shen Jizhi's room and whispered, "He told me not to say anything. If I did, he'd cut me in half."

Jian Huan taught it, "Then you could have secretly told me without him knowing."

The little spirit shook its head. "No, no, we fruits never lie. If we promise something, we keep it. Not like you humans..."

"Enough," Jian Huan interrupted. "Go back to growing your fruits and taking your naps." She turned away, muttering, "I think I'll go take a bath in the storeroom next door."

The Earth Fruit Spirit: "?"

After dawdling for over half an hour, Jian Huan tiptoed to Shen Jizhi's door, clutching her pillow.

The door was half-open, and she peeked in with one eye.

Inside, Shen Jizhi was wearing a moon-white sleeping robe, his black hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, exuding a cold yet elegant aura. He leaned against the table, holding the Xuantian Mirror she had given him.

His posture was relaxed.

Hearing the noise, he looked up, his gaze landing precisely on Jian Huan at the door.

Jian Huan straightened up, holding her pillow to her chest, and walked in confidently, kicking the door shut behind her.

Her rouge-red sleeping robe hugged her slender, alluring figure, making her fair skin glow like a lotus emerging from water.

Shen Jizhi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his eyes darkened like a sky suddenly covered in heavy clouds.

Jian Huan glanced at him, walked to the bed, and placed her pillow on it.

The wooden bed was a bit small, but it was familiar—she had slept here before. The bedding was blue and white, clean and tidy.

The gaze on her back was scorching.

Jian Huan placed her pillow down, pursed her lips lightly, and turned to look at him.

But for some reason, when their eyes met, Shen Jizhi averted his gaze, focusing instead on the Xuantian Mirror in his hand.

He had been studying it earlier.

As a craftsman, he knew better than anyone the value of this Xuantian Mirror.

Behind the mirror, the carving of a pixiu was strikingly lifelike, with a sword and a golden ingot hidden within. Such intricate engravings were likely unique to the Xuantian Mirror he held in his hands. The mirror displayed the interface of the Xuantian Garden.

[Why haven’t I found the Bodhi Tower yet: Has anyone found the Bodhi Tower?]

[The most well-informed person in the Nine Provinces: According to reliable sources, not yet.]

[Wanting a million: Look on the bright side, everyone still has a chance to get that million!]

[The most handsome in the Nine Provinces: Asking again today, are there any beautiful cultivator sisters? Message me, let’s dual cultivate together.]

[Struck by lightning: You ask every single day, and after all these years, you still haven’t found one?]

[Yu Qing, Yu Qing, I’m the best: Haha, a loving couple near me is about to split up, and the most handsome in the Nine Provinces still hasn’t found a partner after all these years.]

[Four hours of cultivation daily: Which couple is about to split?]

[Yu Qing, Yu Qing, I’m the best: It’s not good to name names on Xuantian Garden, but it’s that couple who used to owe a lot of debts.]

[Yu Qing is my home: That couple? Unlikely, right? I haven’t been in Yu Qing recently, but three years ago, I often heard…]

[Yu Qing, Yu Qing, I’m the best: You said it yourself, three years ago. Time flies, and people’s hearts change.]

…

Shen Jizhi raised an eyebrow.

He knew that the user [Yu Qing, Yu Qing, I’m the best] was the skinny junior from the Equipment Forging Hall.

So the couple he was talking about was…

Shen Jizhi glanced at Jian Huan, who was walking toward him, and shook his head slightly, as if to say some things were beyond comprehension, before exiting the Xuantian Garden.

Jian Huan stopped beside Shen Jizhi, her crimson nightgown brushing against his moon-white one.

She leaned against the table like he did, peeking over.

Shen Jizhi had already chosen his Xuantian name—four bold characters:

[Pixiu Has a Sword].

Jian Huan pulled her head back, her fingers lightly tugging at the smooth, silky fabric of her nightgown. After a moment of thought, she said to him, “You should add another ‘xiu’ character.”

Money has talismans.

Pixiu Xiu has a sword.

That would be more fitting.

Pixiu Xiu…

It felt like a chubby caterpillar was crawling over his skin. Shen Jizhi remained silent for a moment before asking, “Can I not?”

The repetition didn’t suit his taste.

Jian Huan shot him a sidelong glance and muttered, “Up to you.”

She really didn’t mind.

Shen Jizhi nodded.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

An indescribable atmosphere enveloped the space between her and Shen Jizhi, and her throat felt inexplicably dry.

Jian Huan looked down at her shoes, unconsciously picking at her nails, her eyelashes fluttering.

The girl had delicate features, fair skin, and rosy lips. Her jet-black hair cascaded down her back, not perfectly straight but with a natural wave.

Her hair, freshly washed, was slightly damp, adding a hint of moisture to the dry air, along with a faint, alluring fragrance.

Shen Jizhi lowered his gaze, his long lashes hiding the flickering fire in his eyes. He remembered something and said softly, “This morning, you didn’t answer me.”

Jian Huan shifted her feet, causing her soft nightgown to sway gently.

Although she had tacitly agreed, she hadn’t said it out loud.

Jian Huan turned her head, her clear eyes reflecting the young man’s image.

She looked away, moved closer to him, her hand touching his, and rested her head on his shoulder. “Shen Jizhi.”

Shen Jizhi: “Hmm?”

Jian Huan’s eyes curved into little crescents as she spoke earnestly, word by word, “You’re the most suitable.”

Shen Jizhi lowered his head, his face obscured by the dim candlelight in the room.

He reached out, opened a drawer in the table, and placed the Xuantian Mirror inside.

With a soft thud, the drawer closed. Jian Huan, drawn by the sound, was about to look over when she was suddenly pressed against the table.

The startled gasp that escaped her lips was swallowed by his kiss.

Shen Jizhi held her waist with one hand while the other moved from her chin to her left cheek, his slender fingers threading through her slightly damp hair, resting at the nape of her neck.

The air in her mouth was completely taken over, and after a few moments of his tongue ravaging hers, Jian Huan felt like she couldn’t breathe.

He pulled back slightly, nibbling at her lips, waiting for her breathing to steady before diving back in.

Jian Huan panted lightly, her hands half-embracing his waist, learning to respond to him from scratch.

It was like pouring oil onto a raging fire, intensifying the flames.

The kiss eventually left her disheveled lips, trailing to her eyebrows, her eyes, her chin.

The hand that had been cradling her cheek also moved away.

She had come here with boldness.

Wearing only a crimson nightgown, nothing else.

The low neckline, the crimson color, held a bewitching power that could make one lose all reason.

It was hard to imagine that moment.

Shen Jizhi’s eyes were tinged with red, and he couldn’t help but exert more force.

Jian Huan leaned against the table, her eyes glistening with moisture, her entire face flushed with embarrassment.

Shen Jizhi kissed her neck intermittently.

His hands moved as if he were crafting a spiritual tool, tracing patterns.

He glanced down at her face, wanting to see her reaction.

But she stood stiffly within the confines of his arms and the table, barely daring to move, her hands clutching the hem of his robe, her neck arched like a swan’s, exposing her delicate veins.

Her eyelashes fluttered, and her body trembled slightly.

It was said that in the imperial palace, when a concubine was summoned to the emperor’s chambers, she would be carried in wrapped in a quilt.

For some reason, Shen Jizhi thought she resembled that image.

As if she believed that becoming a couple meant they had to do this.

She seemed a little afraid but pretended not to be, putting on a brave front.

But how could she not be afraid? She had always been bold in saying she’d spend money to find a partner, sounding indifferent.

But she wasn’t that kind of person, and she had no experience in this.

He, driven by instinct, seemed to know what to do naturally.

But she was inexperienced, and he could feel it.

Suddenly, Shen Jizhi let go of her, bent down, and adjusted her clothes, tying her belt properly.

Jian Huan looked at him, confused.

He had clearly been so intense.

She could feel it clearly.

Shen Jizhi kissed the corner of her lips, held her in his arms, and gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head. “I won’t touch you. I don’t want to make you cry.”

Jian Huan abruptly looked up, her face flushed with embarrassment. “Why would I cry?”

“Don’t believe me?” The young man looked down at the small face in his arms and chuckled lightly, his eyes filled with charm. “Fine.”

He let go of Jian Huan, took her hand, and carefully cleaned it with a purification spell four or five times.

Jian Huan seemed to understand something, swallowing hard as her heart began to race.

Shen Jizhi smoothed her fingers, one arm holding her while the other guided her hand, whispering in her ear, “Jian Huan, help me, okay?”

His voice, usually cool and detached, now carried a seductive tone that made her heart tremble.

It was said that disciples of the Harmony Union Sect were skilled in seduction techniques, and Jian Huan felt that he was no different.

If he had a past life, he must have been a fox spirit.

Jian Huan mumbled an indistinct “Hmm.”

In the room with its doors and windows tightly shut, the young man in white robes had his belt half undone.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck and sighed softly, “Jian Huan, too light.”

Jian Huan’s breathing was uneven, her eyes glistening with a mix of shyness and annoyance as she glared at him.

“Yesterday, when you went to get the Xuantian Mirror and found out I’d hidden some spirit stones, you must have been really angry, right?” Shen Jizhi chuckled lowly, teaching her, “Use that same energy now.”

Jian Huan didn’t respond, her cheeks puffed out in slight irritation.

“Yes, just like that.” Shen Jizhi kissed her neck, closed his eyes, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

At some point, the wooden hairpin had come loose, and Shen Jizhi casually removed it and tossed it aside.

His black hair cascaded down, his breathing grew ragged, and by the end, he was drenched in sweat.

…

As dawn broke, on the narrow wooden bed,

Jian Huan lay under the blanket, her face half-buried in the sun-scented quilt, her dark eyes glancing at Shen Jizhi, who was hugging her over the blanket.

Sensing her gaze, the young man opened his eyes.

His glass-like eyes, clear as if washed by rain, were filled with the contentment of spring.

Jian Huan looked away and burrowed deeper into the blanket.

She had come here with the intention of dual cultivation.

But now, she didn’t dare bring it up.

After the arguments and what she had done for him… she was also feeling sleepy.

Jian Huan closed her eyes, her hand, which he had cleaned multiple times with a purification spell but still felt uncomfortable, trembling slightly.

As her consciousness drifted, she thought to herself.

How does he…

Fit inside.