Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

The commotion in the underground palace above was impossible to go unnoticed from the outside.

Although it was unclear why the Jiang family hadn't found their way in yet, this wasn't what Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi needed to worry about right now.

Their current task was to break open that cocoon as quickly as possible.

After lying down for about ten seconds, Jian Huan immediately got up. She took out a wooden box containing spirit flowers from her Mustard Seed Pouch and put one flower in her mouth.

Shen Jizhi had finished his three boxes while fighting the skeleton, so Jian Huan gave him five more boxes.

They continued charging forward, this time deciding to adopt a swift and decisive approach.

Jian Huan held a Speed Talisman in her hand, clenching her fist to boost morale: "Of all martial techniques, speed is unbeatable! Shen Jizhi, let's join forces and charge at the cocoon together - you with your sword, me with my talismans. Let's finish it off in one go!"

Shen Jizhi: "..."

Jian Huan counted down, and when she reached three, they both applied the Speed Talismans.

The speed from the talismans felt like they had small rockets strapped to their backs, sending them charging toward the cocoon at lightning speed, and then—

They were slapped back to their starting point with a single palm strike.

Both of them were deeply embedded in the soft, damp soil, their exposed calves twitching spasmodically.

"Pfft pfft pfft—"

Jian Huan sat on the ground, covered in dirt, spitting out mud while saying, "This won't work, it's completely useless."

'Qi Wan's' cultivation level was far above theirs, and with the advantage of being within her formation, defeating Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi was as easy as crushing ants.

Shen Jizhi lowered his head, looking at the robe he had obtained from the Shadowless Hand. The hem now had several tears of varying lengths.

He pressed his lips together and looked up along the tree roots into the distance.

Suddenly, he asked: "Why hasn't she killed us?"

If 'Qi Wan' wanted them dead, it would have been too easy.

Yet they were still alive until now.

Jian Huan wiped the mud from her lips, frowning slightly as her thick eyelashes cast shadows downward: "I've always felt we've been incredibly lucky."

Shen Jizhi turned his head to look at her.

Jian Huan: "I originally thought it was because of my good karma that we hadn't encountered any real danger, and instead leveled up and found treasures."

After all, as someone who had transmigrated into a novel, it would be normal for her to have extraordinary luck.

"But what if it's not just luck?" Jian Huan tilted her head, their gazes meeting in mid-air as she spoke seriously, "What if someone has been helping us from behind the scenes?"

As for who—

They both simultaneously looked toward the interior.

In front of the 'boundary line' that had nullified their invisibility talismans, Jian Huan patted her skirt and sat down.

She recalled the information they had found in the Jiang family's old residence, piecing together a simple scenario based on half-guesses and speculation.

Jian Huan cleared her throat and began with a self-introduction, smiling slightly: "Qi Wan, don't you recognize me? I'm the guest you personally invited."

'Qi Wan,' who had returned to her beautiful couch, showed no reaction and continued staring at the cocoon.

"We have a special connection," Jian Huan persisted. "I'm also a talisman master from the Jade Clarity Sect."

'Qi Wan's' ears twitched slightly, and she turned her head to stare directly at Jian Huan.

Jian Huan felt delighted inside but maintained her composure. She pointed to Shen Jizhi, who stood holding his sword nearby, and introduced him: "My fiancé, like your husband Jiang Cheng, is also a sword cultivator from the Jade Clarity Sect."

Hearing this, 'Qi Wan' continued to stare at Jian Huan, her eyes still lifeless.

But the fact that she had turned her head was a good sign to Jian Huan.

However, something was strange.

Although Jiang Cheng was supposedly 'Qi Wan's' sensitive spot, when she mentioned Jiang Cheng's name and his identity as a sword cultivator, 'Qi Wan' seemed to pay no attention.

'Qi Wan' had turned her head earlier when she mentioned that she, like her, was a talisman master.

'Qi Wan's' focus seemed to be on... herself?

Jian Huan's heart stirred slightly. After some thought, she continued: "The elder who taught me talisman arts was Yu Qing, do you know him? Elder Yu Qing is someone who really cares about everything, always handling matters personally, and is very good to us disciples. By the way, he's quite talkative - among all the elders, his lectures are the longest..."

As Jian Huan spoke more and more, a glimmer of light seemed to penetrate the lifeless eyes of the 'Qi Wan' before her.

In the Jiang mansion, Qi Wan felt a slight pain in her heart. Her vision blurred - she could see Bing Lian's lips moving in front of her, but she could also see Jian Huan speaking.

Yu Qing...

So he had already become an elder...

After more than a hundred years, it was only natural.

A hundred years ago, Qi Wan and Jiang Cheng left the Jade Clarity Sect together, living as an ordinary couple in the mortal world under assumed names, leading a simple but happy life.

They no longer paid attention to the Jade Clarity Sect or cared about the affairs of the cultivation world.

Until sixteen years ago, when Jiang Cheng went out on business and encountered a demon python in a small town where he was resting. To protect the townspeople, he perished together with the demon.

When the news reached her that night, her heart shattered.

Jian Huan was delighted to see the changes in 'Qi Wan,' or rather, the person before her was no longer 'Qi Wan,' but truly Qi Wan.

A paper person couldn't show such rich expressions.

Those eyes held the colors of memories and the appearance of pain.

Jian Huan had originally planned to persuade Qi Wan with words like 'Jiang Cheng himself wouldn't want you to stay in the cocoon for sixteen years...'

But now, she changed her mind. That wouldn't work.

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Everything Qi Wan had done in these sixteen years revolved around Jiang Cheng. Using Jiang Cheng to persuade her would only make her sink deeper.

What made her waver, what made her struggle in pain, what led her to gradually guide Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi here, was the 'Qi Wan' within her that hadn't been eliminated.

Jian Huan smiled slightly: "It seems you do know Elder Yu Qing. Were you classmates back then?"

Qi Wan nodded slightly.

Jian Huan continued: "In every talisman class Elder Yu Qing teaches us, he emphasizes one thing. He says that as talisman masters, every talisman we learn, every formation we master, should be used to eliminate evil and serve righteousness. He says every elder tells this to each year's new disciples, so Senior Sister Qi Wan, you must have heard it too."

Jian Huan changed her tone: "But, Senior Sister Qi Wan, have you lived up to that?"

"..." Qi Wan remained silent for a long time.

Jian Huan pressed on with one question after another: "Senior Sister Qi Wan, do you remember when you were in your teens, carrying your bundle with high hopes as you walked through the gates of the Jade Clarity Sect and into the talisman hall? How did you feel then? What were you thinking when you drew your first talisman? Do you remember those days and nights spent repeatedly practicing talismans and studying formations? But what about now? Look at yourself, what are you doing now?"

A tear rolled down from the corner of Qi Wan's eye.

With a swoosh, Shen Jizhi had silently made his way to the cocoon.

The sword that Qi Wan had taken and thrown away was back in his hand, and Shen Jizhi used all his strength to deliver his strongest strike.

But—

The cocoon didn't budge at all.

The sword's edge had curled.

Shen Jizhi: "..."

Fortunately, he hadn't used his own Snow Sword.

Jian Huan, who had been paying attention to Shen Jizhi's every move, also fell silent.

Shen Jizhi turned back, quietly glancing at her.

Everything was understood without words.

He was saying that this cocoon couldn't be broken by either of them.

Qi Wan showed no reaction to Shen Jizhi's actions.

She was lost in her youngest and most unrestrained period of life, unable to break free.

Back then, she had declared she would become the most powerful talisman master in the Jade Clarity Sect, the most powerful talisman master in the Nine Provinces Continent, protecting the realm and eliminating evil...

Jian Huan withdrew her gaze and put her hand behind her back, gesturing for Shen Jizhi to come back.

She looked at Qi Wan before her and spoke softly: "Senior Sister Qi Wan, this cocoon was created by your own hands sixteen years ago, and no one but you can break it. The cocoon you've woven must be broken by you yourself - no one else can help."

Outside... in the Jiang residence, Bing Lian's voice was also soft, carrying a bewitching tone: "Qi Wan, you must trust us. In just three more years at most, we guarantee Jiang Cheng will wake up. What you're doing now is destroying any chance of Jiang Cheng's resurrection. Can you really bear that?"

The faces of Jian Huan and Bing Lian kept alternating before Qi Wan's eyes, along with Jiang Cheng's face.

Qi Wan closed her eyes, her face deathly pale.

She couldn't help but think back to her days at the Jade Clarity Sect.

Qi Wan had a natural talent for formations, but her gift lay in creating peculiar and unconventional arrays. She preferred to go against the grain rather than follow traditional paths.

The Sect Leader had privately spoken with her several times about this, hoping she would create more 'orthodox' formations.

But how did she respond?

Qi Wan's lips curved into a bitter smile.

In her memory, that bewitching young woman had declared firmly: "Sect Leader, formations have no inherent good or evil. As long as my heart is righteous, the formations I use are righteous. If one's moral compass is corrupted, even the most orthodox formations can become evil."

The Sect Leader simply smiled and asked her: "But can you guarantee that your heart will never change?"

The young woman slammed the table and stood up: "Of course! I, Qi Wanyi's moral compass will never waver!"

The Sect Leader sighed softly: "Wanyi, but the rules of the Jade Clarity Sect cannot accommodate your unorthodox formations. I admire your talent, but if you insist on this path, I cannot protect you anymore. You should leave the sect of your own accord."

"My moral compass will never waver." She whispered these words, no longer carrying the conviction of that young woman from her memories.

She had failed Jiang Cheng, who had unhesitatingly followed her when she left. She had failed her sect, and more importantly... she had failed herself.

Qi Wan rose from her couch and walked step by step toward the cocoon.

She gazed lovingly at the person inside, smiling. As she smiled, tears fell from her eyes.

Qi Wan raised her hand high, trembling so violently that Jian Huan's heart nearly stopped, fearing Qi Wan might suddenly change her mind.

But in the end, Qi Wan closed her eyes and brought her palm down with fierce determination.

The tree roots broke one after another, and pale green liquid seeped out.

As Jiang Cheng fell, Qi Wan reached out to catch him, holding him tightly in her arms.

Once the cocoon broke, the surroundings began to shake violently.

Some force from underground was forcefully pulling this entire area upward.

This sensation was quite familiar to Jian Huan.

It felt similar to riding an elevator in modern times... just with stronger vibrations.

She looked toward Qi Wan.

The body that had been dead for sixteen years, once exposed, dissipated like scattered sparks in an instant.

A green, jelly-like substance floated within Jiang Cheng's body, taking the form of a tiny human figure that seemed about to dive into the tree.

Qi Wan caught it, drew a few strokes on it, and tossed it to Jian Huan, saying softly: "This is my gift to you all."

Jian Huan looked at what lay in her palm, and sensing the intense gaze beside her, instinctively clutched it tighter.

With the cocoon broken, 'Qi Wan' no longer had reason to exist. Before this underground palace could see daylight again, she burned away into a small pile of paper ash.