After the Villain Was Reborn a Hundred Times - Chapter 10

Hearing Ming Shuang’s response that Elder Chanyue wasn’t with her, there was now a fifty-fifty chance that the person they’d encountered earlier was the elder herself.

However, they couldn’t be certain. The attacker’s every move had been aimed at killing her, and if this attempt failed, they would surely return. Facing this alone wasn’t wise.

Wang Jinxue’s gaze shifted to Ming Shuang, who was supporting her. The Lingxu Sect’s Tianjiao—why not use her?

Wang Jinxue smirked, deliberately leaning into Ming Shuang’s supporting arm as she leaned closer to her ear. Her voice was soft and suggestive. “Really? If that’s not true, why are your ears so red?”

Her fingers gently pinched Ming Shuang’s ear, a teasing smile playing on her lips. The Tianjiao is surprisingly innocent.

“Demon Lord, please show some propriety!” Ming Shuang shuddered, instinctively releasing her grip and stepping back. Her expression turned solemn, like a virtuous maiden being harassed by a lecherous young master.

Wang Jinxue burst into laughter.

“Alright then, I’ll be careful,” she said, strolling slowly forward and silently counting to three.

Ming Shuang immediately called out, “Wait!”

“What is it?” Wang Jinxue tilted her head, her smile filled with mischievousness.

Ming Shuang cleared her throat. “You’re injured. It’s not safe to go alone. I’ll accompany you.”

“In that case, I wouldn’t dare refuse,” the Tianjiao replied, her cold exterior hiding a warm heart—she was strangely adorable.

Wang Jinxue thought to herself, I’m hundreds of years older than her. I shouldn’t keep teasing her like this. I need to act like a proper senior.

Ming Shuang told Wang Jinxue where her Master wanted her to go, and asked if she wanted to go with her. The place wasn’t safe—the attacker might still be looking to strike again. It would be better to move somewhere else.

Wang Jinxue readily agreed. Together, they began searching for the Little Fox Stone Tablet that Elder Chanyue had mentioned.

After about fifteen minutes, they finally found it in a secluded spot surrounded by blooming flowers, rustling grass, and the gentle babble of a stream.

Before the cave stood a square stone tablet, carved with a lifelike little fox. The creature looked endearingly clumsy, its charm replaced by a more innocent, childlike cuteness.

This cave was secluded, far from civilization, and protected by Elder Chanyue’s barrier, making it inaccessible to most people. It was truly an ideal hideaway.

Wang Jinxue looked around and turned to see Ming Shuang carefully tracing the stone painting of the Little Fox.

“What’s wrong? Is there something wrong with the fox?” Wang Jinxue asked, noticing Ming Shuang’s furrowed brow.

Ming Shuang shook her head and withdrew her hand. “My Master painted this.”

“That’s not surprising. Since this was her cave, it makes sense she’d have painted it,” Wang Jinxue replied, puzzled by the sudden mention of it.

Ming Shuang nodded.

She didn’t say it, but Elder Chanyue hadn’t painted in years, and she had never before created anything so lifelike. Whether the subject was inanimate or living, everything Elder Chanyue painted was lifeless. Even the most realistic depictions were merely technical exercises, devoid of emotion or spirit.

But this Little Fox was different. It seemed infused with all of Elder Chanyue’s love and tenderness. Every stroke was vivid and full of feeling.

Inside the cave, they found another world entirely.

The furnishings were simple yet of high quality, and all the essentials were present and of superior make.

“I didn’t expect Elder Chanyue to be such a connoisseur of comforts,” Wang Jinxue remarked, running her hand over the cloud brocade and silk bedding spread on the bed.

The Righteous Path was great. They had money. Envy. Unlike the Demon Palace, which was dirt poor.

Since this was Elder Chanyue’s place, the two didn’t feel right looking around everywhere. They each found a place to heal their wounds.

Behind Elder Chanyue’s cave was a pool formed by a stream. Wang Jinxue stripped without thinking and jumped in. The water was better for healing.

The water was so clear, and Wang Jinxue’s skin was so fair, that you could see her snow-white skin through the clear water, especially the centipede-like scar on her waist.

Wang Jinxue felt someone watching her. She turned around immediately. Even Elder Chanyue was watching her from nearby. When Wang Jinxue turned around, a flicker of displeasure flashed in Elder Chanyue’s eyes.

“Master!” Ming Shuang sensed her master’s presence and rushed over.

The first thing she saw wasn’t her master, but Wang Jinxue, snow-white in the clear water under the blue sky.

Ming Shuang frowned. Before she could think, she stripped off her outer robe and threw it over Wang Jinxue, completely covering her.

Only then did Ming Shuang feel a little relieved. She wondered how much her master had seen earlier.

Ming Shuang bowed deeply. “Master, when I saw the Demon Lord under attack, I invited her to travel with us. It was my fault.”

“Knowing and doing wrong is a crime of the first degree.” Chanyue didn’t even glance at Wang Jinxue, her thoughtful gaze lingering above her disciple’s head for a long moment before finally shifting away.

“Let her leave once she’s healed.” Chanyue had already walked away.

Ming Shuang pressed her lips together. “Yes, Master.”

Wang Jinxue, wrapped in her damp outer robe, sat calmly by the pool, watching her with an unruffled gaze.

“Are you so afraid of my gaze? Don’t tell me you have improper thoughts about me?” Wang Jinxue teased casually, but her words sent Ming Shuang’s heart into turmoil.

Ming Shuang’s eyes widened involuntarily. “Demon Lord, please be careful! Such words should never be spoken!”

Improper thoughts? Nonsense! We’re both women—this goes against the natural balance of yin and yang!

“What, do you find this venerable one’s appearance too lacking?” Wang Jinxue narrowed her eyes, a flicker of displeasure flashing through them so quickly it was nearly imperceptible.

Ming Shuang scrambled to understand. “Not at all! The Demon Lord is naturally beautiful. But… in this world, all things follow the principle of yin and yang. Please don’t toy with me.”

Wang Jinxue frowned at Ming Shuang’s words, uninterested in wasting any more breath on her. With a flick of her sleeve, she turned and left.

Unaware of what had offended Wang Jinxue, Ming Shuang returned to the cave in disappointment.

Night fell in the Spirit Abyss, and when Wang Jinxue still hadn’t returned, Ming Shuang began to worry.

Seeing her pacing back and forth in the cave, Elder Chanyue patiently turned a page in her book. “Go look for her if you’re worried.”

Ming Shuang paused briefly before saying, “Thank you, Master.” She hurried out, sword in hand.

Chanyue looked up from her book. Ming Shuang seemed to care deeply about the Demon Lord. This could be troublesome.

She slowly turned another page. The book contained no words, only lively illustrations of a little fox in various poses and antics, endearingly clumsy.

Chanyue gently caressed the book’s cover, her eyes softening with fondness and nostalgia as she gazed at the little fox.

The Spirit Abyss was rich with pure spiritual energy. Even doing nothing but breathing here could rapidly advance one’s cultivation.

Ming Shuang searched everywhere but couldn’t find Wang Jinxue, growing increasingly disheartened.

On her way back, she suddenly heard a scream and reluctantly rushed to investigate.

Wang Jinxue was surprisingly easy to find, leaning casually against a tree. Before her hung two women from the Liuzhong Dianmo Sect—Liu Ruxing and Liu Ruyue—struggling and cursing as they dangled from the tree by their wrists, bound by her whip.

“You ungrateful wretch!” Liu Ruxing roared, her face twisted with fury. “If you’ve got any skill, let me down and fight me fair and square!”

Wang Jinxue smiled, her voice languid. “If you wanted a fair fight, why did you ambush me?”

“I… I…” Liu Ruxing’s face flushed crimson, unable to answer.

Liu Ruyue spoke up. “What need is there to ambush a beast? You overestimate yourself.”

“Oh? If I’m a beast, then your Liu Family is worse than swine!” Wang Jinxue rarely showed such open anger, but today’s provocation had truly infuriated her.

What kind of monsters has the Liu Family raised? Each generation worse than the last!

“Demon Lord,” Ming Shuang interrupted, “what’s going on here?”

“Ming Shuang! Ming Shuang, help me!” Liu Ruxing cried out, as if spotting a savior.

Wang Jinxue, annoyed by their clamor, casually cast a Silencing Spell before smiling sweetly. “Oh, nothing much. Just teaching a couple of overconfident juniors a lesson.”

Since they were all from well-known sects and acquainted with each other, Ming Shuang couldn’t help but intervene. Yet she didn’t want to put Wang Jinxue in a difficult position. The two women’s harsh words made it momentarily hard for her to speak.

As if reading her mind, Wang Jinxue waved her hand, releasing the pair. “Didn’t Liu Zhengqi warn you not to provoke me? You two think you can handle me? Such arrogance! If you dare cross me again, I’ll skin you alive and tear out your tendons!”

Liu Ruxing bristled, wanting to step forward and argue, but Liu Ruyue grabbed her wrist and shook her head.

“We’re deeply grateful for your rescue, Miss Ming,” Liu Ruyue said with a slight nod. “Your kindness is immeasurable. If there’s ever anything we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.” She led her sister away.

She understood clearly that Wang Jinxue had spared them solely to avoid putting Ming Shuang in a difficult position. The Demon Lord and a Tianjiao of the Lingxu Sect—this was big news. Liu Ruyue immediately sent her Spirit Butterfly to relay the information back to the sect. This news would undoubtedly be a major blow to the Lingxu Sect.

“Ask whatever you want,” Wang Jinxue said with a smile, casually sitting down on the ground.

Faced with this girl who wore her heart on her sleeve, Ming Shuang couldn’t bring herself to tease her.

“Do you have a grudge against the Dianmo Sect?” Ming Shuang asked carefully, choosing her words.

The Liu sisters’ earlier words hadn’t revealed much, but their use of harsh terms like “ingrate” and “ungrateful wretch” suggested it was more than just a grudge.

Ming Shuang mimicked Wang Jinxue’s posture, sitting on the ground with her back against the sturdy trunk. The night sky’s twinkling stars filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light on the ground.

Ming Shuang couldn’t help but smile faintly. She genuinely enjoyed this quiet time with Wang Jinxue, just the two of them, whether they were doing something or simply chatting.

“Yes, I have a grudge,” Wang Jinxue replied, her eyes closed as she leaned her head against the tree trunk. Her lips curved upward as usual, but a faint shadow of sorrow lingered in her eyes.

Liuzhong, the Dianmo Sect… Wang Jinxue’s hands clenched into fists. Even exterminating the entire Liu family wouldn’t sate her burning hatred.

With her eyes still closed, she felt a warm hand gently pry open her clenched fist and slowly intertwine their fingers.

The heat radiating from Ming Shuang’s palm seeped through their skin, gradually soothing the turbulent emotions churning in Wang Jinxue’s heart.

Ming Shuang wasn’t good at comforting people, so she could only repeat what her Master had said to her when she was younger: “My Master always said that people don’t always have control over their circumstances. I don’t know the specifics of your feud with the Dianmo Sect, but you need to learn to let go. Only then can you live well.”

“The best way to strike at your enemies is to live so well that they can’t help but look up to you.”

“Pfft… hahaha… that’s…”

Wang Jinxue burst out laughing, opened her eyes, and turned to look at Ming Shuang. Then she reached out and started kneading Ming Shuang’s face like dough.

“You’re so cute.”

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