Today, The Villain Couple is Settling Scores Again

It was the time for the Lantern Festival.

At night, the streets of Approaching Immortal City, from the bridgehead to the city gate, were submerged in a sea of exquisite lanterns. People thronged in this ocean of light, reciting poems and engaging in witty exchanges, their laughter echoing in the air. A group of weary sword cultivators struggled to navigate through the dense crowd.

"There are too many people on the street!" someone grumbled impatiently. "We shouldn't have come today..."

"Yesterday the streets weren't as crowded, but the queue at the shop was incredibly long! That's why we decided to come today. Think about it, everyone's out watching the lanterns today, so there probably won't be many people at the shop. We'll go right now, perfect timing!"

"I hope so! It's really strange though. The Money More Treasure Hall opened on the seventh day of the new year, and it's only been eight days, right? Yet the number of cultivators coming to buy talismans, artifacts, or get their artifacts repaired is increasing every day!"

"What's so strange about that? You don't know who's behind the Money More Treasure Hall, do you?"

"Who?" the other person scratched his head in confusion. "Actually, I don't."

All he knew was that the Money More Treasure Hall had started from the [Money More Has Talismans] feature on the Xuantian Mirror. This Money More sold talismans that were cheap, practical, and convenient. Previously, if they wanted to buy affordable talismans, they had to go to the stalls in the Immortal Storage Tower and wait, often in vain, as sometimes they couldn't get what they wanted, with half the attempts turning out to be fruitless.

Now, they could directly order from the Money More cultivator on the Xuantian Mirror, set a date for pickup, and exchange the goods for spirit stones. Around the Lunar New Year, Money More announced on the Xuantian Mirror that to make it more convenient for cultivators to collect their orders, a Money More Treasure Hall would be opened in Approaching Immortal City. After placing an order on the Xuantian Mirror, one could pick up their goods at the appointed date. If pickup wasn't convenient, the Treasure Hall would also deliver to the specified location, albeit with an additional charge—what they called a "fast delivery fee."

They were a group of eight, just passing through Approaching Immortal City, so they decided to pick up their orders themselves. However, when they went yesterday, they were shocked to see that the number of cultivators picking up their orders was comparable to the crowds today watching the lanterns!

"You really don't know?! It's Elder Jian Huan and Elder Shen Jizhi of the Jade Clarity Sect, the two youngest elders in the entire cultivation world!"@@novelbin@@

Someone chimed in, recounting with admiration, "Last November, there was an unusual phenomenon across the nine states, with golden clouds and thunderous tribulations destroying the Dark Abyss. That was all due to their efforts. As disciples of the Jade Clarity Sect, they cared deeply for the nine states and the multitude of people. After the Bodhi Tower went missing, they relentlessly pursued its trail, eventually finding it at the Jiang residence. Without regard for their own lives, they ventured into the Dark Abyss, and with the help of the Bodhi Tree spirit, they thwarted the Demon Clan's scheme and saved the nine states!"

"Oh, I remember now," the other person exclaimed, snapping his fingers in realization. "You're talking about the two who received eighty million spirit stones, right?"

"Exactly, those two!"

"Eighty million?" Gasps of astonishment followed, mixed with sighs of envy. "Eighty million... I can't even dream of that kind of fortune..."

"Not just that. They also ascended to the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming elders of the Jade Clarity Sect. The sect awarded each of them an Elder Hall, and they receive a generous monthly stipend... In short, their heroic deed made them renowned across the nine states. Once people found out that the owners of the Money More Treasure Hall were them, the number of cultivators buying from Money More and getting their artifacts repaired skyrocketed..."

As ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‍they chatted, the group squeezed their way to the edge of the Approaching Immortal Bridge and started walking across.

On both sides of the bridge, the level of liveliness and prosperity was drastically different.

This side was lively, while the other side was noticeably quieter. Naturally, real estate prices on that side were much cheaper.

The Money More Treasure Hall was located on the quieter side of the bridge.

Compared to the bustling street filled with people, the bridge was less crowded. A man and a woman stood by the railing.

The man was refined and elegant, while the woman was alluring and seductive, speaking in hushed tones.

"What about Jiang Qiaoqiao?"

"To facilitate Hua Dihai's possession, most of her soul was destroyed by Jiang Wei. When we found her in the demon hall, she was unconscious. Later, when the insect tide surged, she was taken over by demonic heart worms and attacked us... She was struck down."

After a moment of silence, the woman let out a soft sigh. "That's... for the best."

As the two parties passed each other, the sword cultivators who were excitedly discussing the Money More Treasure Hall all fell silent, their eyes involuntarily drawn to the woman.

The woman turned her head and, in an instant, switched her expression, bestowing a coquettish wink at them.

The group of sword cultivators blushed slightly and quickly averted their eyes, hurrying down the bridge.

Ran Mu'er chuckled at this, covering her mouth with her hand. "Those people must be heading to the Money More Treasure Hall as well. Oh, Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi are going to be so busy making money, they'll be overwhelmed..."

Yin Yusheng glanced at his sister and after hesitating for a moment, coughed lightly and asked, "Mu'er, what's really going on between you and your master?"

A few months ago, after the Dark Abyss incident, he went to the Harmony Union Sect to visit Mu'er, only to be blocked at the door by her senior brothers and sisters, who said their master was treating Mu'er's injuries and they shouldn't disturb them...

In the cultivation world, everyone knew how the Harmony Union Sect treated injuries. Yin Yusheng was well aware of that. And now, looking at his sister, it was clear that her injuries were fully recovered, and her cultivation had even improved significantly. How she had achieved that was something Yin Yusheng didn't need to guess.

At his question, Ran Mu'er tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and raised an eyebrow. "Brother, you really want to know?"

Yin Yusheng took a deep breath. "Tell me."

Ran Mu'er's voice was melodious as she casually dropped a bombshell. "Well, I've already slept with my master."

Even though he had prepared himself, hearing those words, Yin Yusheng stumbled, quickly grabbing the bridge railing to steady himself. "Already?"

“Yes, a few years ago. Back then, I needed a great sage to serve as my personal vessel to ensure my ascension to the gold core realm.” Ran Mu'er’s expression softened as she gazed at the brightly lit street, reminiscing about the moment she woke up seriously injured, her master furious. Her eyes crinkled with a smile as she continued, “Oh, and the space bowl and the transmission axis weren’t given to me by my master. I stole them from him after we... you know.”

Yin Yusheng gaped at his sister, his words almost catching in his throat. "Wh-what?"

Ran Mu'er turned her head, looking at Yin Yusheng's stunned expression, and sympathetically patted him. "Brother, that's the gist of it with me and my master. He likes me, I like him, and we're pretty compatible in bed. But back then, I did hurt him, and currently, I've agreed to be his partner as a form of reparation, until he gets tired of me. That's all."

"..."

Yin Yusheng watched as his sister slowly walked down the bridge. After thinking for a moment, he chased after her and called softly, "Mu'er."

Why had his sister stolen the space bowl and transmission axis? Why had she taken the shortcut to reach the gold core realm as quickly as possible?

It was to seek revenge for their parents and younger sister and to help him infiltrate Qi Wan's residence.

"... Let me handle this. I'll go to the Harmony Union Sect myself to speak with your master. You don't have to—"

"Why would you go talk to my master?" Ran Mu'er stopped, surprised. "Brother, do you know how I endured in Approaching Immortal City, in the Jiang residence? I don't want to go back to eating bland food. I finally managed to smooth things over with my master and had a few hearty meals. Don't ruin my good luck!"

Yin Yusheng: "???"

"Don't worry about my master, brother." Ran Mu'er held Yin Yusheng's arm and pulled him forward. "Both my master and I are not the type to be tied down by one partner. We switch partners faster than changing clothes. Just watch, next month we'll likely be done with each other."

Seeing that Ran Mu'er wasn't coerced but rather enjoyed the situation, Yin Yusheng loosened his breath. "Alright. But if you're not done?"

"If we're not done..." Ran Mu'er tilted her head, seriously considering for a moment, then shyly lowered her head. "Then brother, you'd better prepare to give your sister away in marriage."

Yin Yusheng: "..."

The Xuantian Mirror vibrated. Ran Mu'er let go of Yin Yusheng and took it out to check. "It's Medicine Granny. She says she's made a pot of tangyuan (sweet dumplings) and asks us to call Jian Huan and the others to come eat together."

"But where are they?" Ran Mu'er looked around, puzzled, her slender eyebrows furrowing. "They said they were going to watch the lanterns, but I don't see them anywhere..."

After descending the Approaching Immortal Bridge, walking along the riverside path to the left for a while, turning into a dark alley, and walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, they arrived at a grand mansion.

Two majestic stone lions stood on either side of the gate, and the signboard above it bore the flowing calligraphy of "Money More Treasure Hall," with the dot on the "money" character replaced by a sculpted emblem of a Pi Xiu holding a sword.

The emblem of the Qian Duoduo Collection House was a Pi Xiu (mythical auspicious animal) holding a sword.

Sword cultivators ascended the stone steps one by one, placing their hands on the door. Sensing the spiritual energy within them, a faint blue ripple spread, and in a flash, they passed through the door.

Inside, it was like a pawnshop, with dozens of windows scattered around, each with a long line of people waiting.

The moment they entered, the bustling noise hit them head-on.

"Line up properly, don't push!"

"Rest assured, esteemed Daoists, everyone who has booked on the Xuantian Mirror will get their turn!"

"..."

The sword cultivators were stunned.

"Today is the Lantern Festival, how come there are still so many people in the Collection House?"

"…Forget it, let's just line up. At least it's better than yesterday."

"...’

No one noticed that behind a Zitan (red sandalwood) treasure screen in the corner, two people who had grown bored watching lanterns and sneaked back were cowering there.

Jian Huan wore a fine snow satin pleated skirt and held a jade rabbit lantern she had bought from the street earlier. Her dark eyes were fixed on the long line outside, her smile so wide it seemed to reach her ears.

The lamps in her family's Collection House were far more beautiful than the lanterns outside, making her heart race with excitement, her nose filled with the scent of money.

The eight0million spirit stones had been divided into four parts shortly after returning to the Jade Clarity Sect.

One part was used to build the hillside villa she had been dreaming of for three years, another to expand the Qian Duoduo Collection House, another for her cultivation, and the last part was saved.

As soon as the Qian Duoduo Collection House opened, the business thrived. Jian Huan felt that within a few years, the richest person in the nine continents would no longer be surnamed Gong, but Shen Jizhi and her. Hehehe.

Jian Huan was overjoyed.

Shen Jizhi, dressed in the same style with a folding-paper-flower patterned long robe, crouched beside her. His glassy eyes were fixed on the outside, and he sent a voice transmission to her: "The situation is better than we anticipated. How about I buy the surrounding land and mansions in the next few days?"

Jian Huan nodded vigorously: "Yes, I was thinking, our next step could be to build our Collection Houses in major cities like Jiuzhou City and Azure Dragon City!"

Shen Jizhi turned his head slightly and nodded, about to speak, when the girl excitedly leaned over and pecked his lips, whispering excitedly: "Shen Jizhi, we're going to get rich!"

The jade rabbit lantern emitted a soft, lustrous light, illuminating Jian Huan's face from below, giving her a delicate and translucent beauty.

Shen Jizhi was slightly stunned. He looked at the screen and then at her, eventually lowering his eyes to the ground, his thoughts unreadable.

His unusual quietness quickly caught Jian Huan's attention. She poked him, puzzled: "What's wrong with you?"

Hadn't he been fine just now?

"It's nothing. It's just that business is so good out there—" Shen Jizhi paused, then looked up, his tone calm: "I'm not sure if you want to celebrate here."

Jian Huan looked at him, confused: "Hmm? How would we celebrate?"

There's nothing here, no food, no drinks.

At her words, the young man slowly leaned closer, his forehead touching hers. Gentle strands of his divine consciousness drifted out of his sea of consciousness.

A voice intended for her alone resonated in her sea of consciousness, its tail notes like a candy-coated fishhook: "For example... Can I enter your sea of consciousness?"

A well0defined hand reached out to the corner of the Zitan treasure screen, pulling it tightly closed.

In the narrow corner, the young couple sat leaning against the wall, their actions restrained by etiquette.

Jian Huan held the jade rabbit lantern, her head tilting gently to rest on Shen Jizhi's shoulder.

Both closed their eyes, seemingly dozing.

But inside their sea of consciousness, turbulent waves surged, too indecent to watch or hear.

After a while, beads of sweat covered their faces, and their trembling young bodies clung to each other.

As if too cold, or perhaps too hot.

By the time Jian Huan and Shen Jizhi saw the message on the Xuantian Mirror and rushed to Medicine Granny's place for sweet dumplings, the dumplings had already turned into a sticky mess.