The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 29.1

Chi Lin’s reaction was something Chi Jinnian hadn’t anticipated.

She had thought Chi Lin would be furious with her for secretly hiding Yuan Shao. But now, even the dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot veins couldn’t conceal his smile.

“You’re truly my good daughter! I asked you to find Yuan Shao, but I never expected you’d succeed so quickly!” Chi Lin patted Chi Jinnian’s shoulder in praise. “However, that weasel is utterly wicked he actually destroyed Yuan Shao’s inner core. If it weren’t for him meddling, I would have already achieved my grand ambitions!” With that, he ordered, “I heard General Wei captured a weasel a few days ago. Someone, go to the dungeon and pull out two of his ribs!”

Chi Jinnian panicked: it wasn’t the weasel who had destroyed Yuan Shao’s inner core, but Chi Lin’s own good daughter! If Huang Er were to bear the blame alone, wouldn’t that unjustly cost him his life?

“Father,” Chi Jinnian said calmly, “actually, it was precisely because of the weasel’s actions that I had the chance to succeed. Why not just let Huang Er go? There’s no need to trouble yourself with such a minor character.” The later plot had little to do with Huang Er, so there was no reason to take his life over her own mistake.

“Letting him go isn’t impossible,” Chi Lin replied, “but I heard you call Yuan Shao ‘Shizun.’ Is that true?”

Reluctantly, Chi Jinnian nodded. This time, Chi Lin laughed so hard he had to hold his waist.

His hearty laughter instantly unsettled Chi Jinnian, and she quickly explained, “Father, please stop laughing. Yuan Shao doesn’t fully trust me, and besides, she’s about to return to the Upper Cultivation Realm. No matter what I call her, it won’t make a difference.”

Chi Lin wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes. “Nian Nian, you really are my good daughter! Since you’ve spoken, what does Huang Er matter? Someone, pass on my order: give that Huang Er twenty lashes and throw him out of the demon realm.”

Seeing that Huang Er’s life was spared, Chi Jinnian breathed a sigh of relief.

Chi Lin took Chi Jinnian’s hand and led her into the hall, showing rare paternal concern. “Nian Nian, you’ve been so busy with Yuan Shao lately, you must be exhausted. I can see you’ve lost weight you’ve worked hard, my daughter.”

Just as Chi Jinnian was about to politely say it was no trouble, Chi Lin asked, “Why are you back at this hour? Where did you sleep last night? Did you sleep at Yuan Shao’s place?”

Chi Jinnian’s steps faltered for a moment before she replied with a calm expression, “N-No! Yuan Shao has a residence; I only stayed in a side room. She doesn’t allow me near her bedroom!”

Such a small movement couldn’t escape Chi Lin’s notice. He deliberately drew out his words, “Oh I see. By the way, you just said she’s about to return to the Upper Cultivation Realm?”

Chi Jinnian nodded. “Yes, if she stays away much longer, the Upper Cultivation Realm might fall into chaos. She’ll be leaving soon.” Chi Jinnian thought that since Yuan Shao had lost all her magical power, capturing her would be pointless. Once Yuan Shao left, it would be too late for Chi Lin to do anything.

But Chi Lin didn’t seem to share her concern. “Then invite her over tonight. I’ll treat her to a meal!”

Chi Jinnian:

“Father,” Chi Jinnian asked cautiously, “are you planning to poison her?”

“If I want to dig out her core, why would I poison her!” Chi Lin rolled his eyes at Chi Jinnian.

“Then why are you looking for her? She doesn’t have a golden core right now! You won’t succeed! Besides, the demon realm is filled with demonic energy everywhere she cultivates very slowly and won’t form a core anytime soon. There’s no use in seeking her out!” Chi Jinnian waved her hand, hoping to dissuade Chi Lin from his plan.

But Chi Lin straightened up with a serious expression. “What’s wrong with me inviting my daughter’s master to a meal?”

Chi Jinnian:

“Father!” Chi Jinnian tried to tug at Chi Lin’s sleeve to act spoiled, but he abruptly pulled his arm away. “Be careful! Don’t call me ‘Father King’ in front of Yuan Shao tonight call me ‘Dad’!”

Chi Jinnian:

He was already getting into character! Seeing that acting spoiled was useless, Chi Jinnian simply gave up. “I don’t care! I can’t call her over! That Yuan Shao has never trusted me from the start she’s always been suspicious of me. Why would she agree to come alone to meet my dad?”

Chi Lin followed behind Chi Jinnian and casually remarked, “What if I were willing to give her the Condensed Emerald Elixir? Would she be willing to come then?”

Chi Jinnian: She whipped her head around, staring at Chi Lin in shock. She watched as he pulled out a small brocade box from his robes, holding it in his palm and offering it to her. On the dark black box, the character “Condensed” was clearly written exactly as described in the original story.

The Condensed Emerald Elixir the temptation was simply too great.

Just as Chi Jinnian reached out her hand, Chi Lin suddenly withdrew his arm. “Since she doesn’t have a golden core, I’ll lend her a helping hand.”

When Chi Lin left Chi Jinnian’s Peach Garden, Wei Hong Wei Yang’s father and Chi Lin’s most capable subordinate, equivalent to a chancellor was waiting at the entrance.

“Honored Master.” Wei Hong stepped forward. “Has the Young Master agreed?”

Chi Lin nodded. “Proceed as you suggested. Go and decorate my demon palace.”

“Yes.” Wei Hong bowed but hesitated for a moment. After some thought, he turned back and asked again, “Honored Master, will you truly gift the Condensed Emerald Elixir to Yuan Shao?”

Chi Lin glanced at him. “Is Lord Wei asking too many questions?”

Wei Hong opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing more, bowing and retreating backward.

Left alone, Chi Lin stared blankly at the pear tree in the rear garden.

Under the influence of spiritual energy, the pear blossoms on the tree bloomed perpetually, filling the entire courtyard with a fragrant aroma. A familiar figure surfaced in Chi Lin’s mind.

A slender waist, a graceful posture, a tall and elegant figure that once stood beneath the pear tree, holding a cluster of snow-white blossoms close to her cheek. When she lifted her gaze and saw him, she let the flowers fall from her palm and waved to him.

A gentle breeze swept by, scattering a shower of petals like a flurry of snow. The woman’s radiant smile was even more enchanting than the pear blossoms in full bloom.

That scene remained vivid in Chi Lin’s memory to this day.

What did a mere Condensed Emerald Elixir matter? If it could bring her back, Chi Lin would not hesitate to sacrifice the entire world.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shao’s door was knocked.

The work on the bracelet was nearly finished. Hearing the sound, Yuan Shao quickly hid the item before going to open the door.

But when she met Su Tingxi’s anxious face after opening the door, Yuan Shao’s expression showed little change. She simply stood quietly in the doorway, watching him.

Su Tingxi hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Master, this disciple has something to discuss with you.”

“Speak.” Though Yuan Shao appeared to invite conversation, she did not ask Su Tingxi to enter the room.

Su Tingxi felt somewhat awkward, likely because Master was still displeased with him over yesterday’s incident. He couldn’t afford to be picky, but at least Master was still willing to speak to him, and Su Tingxi felt quite satisfied with that. He finally spoke up, “Master, we’ve been away from the sect for quite some time. With your prolonged absence from the mountain, if the upper cultivation realm catches wind of it, it might cause some unrest.”

He cautiously lifted his head to gauge Yuan Shao’s reaction before asking, “Shouldn’t we, return?”

“Return.” That’s right, they had been away for some time. Staying outside indefinitely wasn’t a solution they had to go back eventually.

“Mm.” Su Tingxi nodded. “Return to the Evergreen Sect, to the Miaoyan Palace. Master, that is our home.”

The word “home” made Yuan Shao momentarily lost in thought. Going home, going home. But where was her home? In the end, this paradise was not her home.

After a long pause, Su Tingxi waved his hand in front of Yuan Shao’s eyes. “Master?”

Yuan Shao snapped back to reality, raising a hand to rub her temples. “Mm, I understand.”

“Then, Master, when do you plan to return with me?” Su Tingxi asked.

After all, he was the genuine disciple. This place was the demon realm. Once they returned to their true home, a place filled with memories of the two of them, he believed Master would quickly remember him.

“I understand. You may leave for now. I’ll give you an answer later.”

After Su Tingxi left, Zhang Wei was summoned into the room by Yuan Shao’s spiritual sense. He leaped onto the table and sat properly on its surface. “What instructions do you have, Master?”

“Nothing much, there’s just something I want to ask you.” Yuan Shao sat on the stool opposite, her expression serious.