Flirting with the Villain's Mother - Chapter 24

At the mention of Shen Yinxue, Jiang Xu fell silent.

He still held deep respect for Shen Yinxue. Without her, he would never have been able to leave Approaching Immortals Mountain in the first place.

As Shen Yinxue’s name hung in the air, Jiang Ruiping’s grip on the Yu Ling Sword tightened. Veins bulged on the back of her hand from the force. The tomb chamber grew oppressively silent, broken only by the metallic tang of bl00d and the sound of breathing.

“You should be grateful,” Jiang Ruiping exhaled, her tightly furrowed brow relaxing slightly. “Grateful you’re Nan Yi’s daughter. Jiang Xu, I’m giving you two choices: come with me, or die.”

Jiang Xu raised his head, staring at Jiang Ruiping without a word.

Jiang Ruiping pressed her temples in exasperation. “Don’t look at me like that. I only want the sword. If you weren’t Nan Yi’s daughter, I wouldn’t even give you a second option.”

Jiang Xu knew he had no right to negotiate with Jiang Ruiping, but he refused to back down. “Jiang Ruiping, you’re already so powerful! Why do you need to steal my Yu Ling Sword?”

Shen Su froze, clearly not expecting Jiang Xu to interpret things this way. Jiang Ruiping wasn’t after the Yu Ling Sword to enhance her cultivation; she wanted it primarily because it had belonged to Shen Yinxue.

Jiang Xu was intelligent, but his emotional intelligence seemed woefully lacking.

Jiang Ruiping had no patience for arguing with Jiang Xu. She didn’t care how he understood things. “Choose,” she snapped.

The single word sealed Jiang Xu’s fate. To survive, he had no choice but to go with Jiang Ruiping. He had no doubt she meant her threat to kill him; her temperament was clearly volatile.

Jiang Xu gritted his teeth. “You’re taking me back to Approaching Immortals Mountain?”

Jiang Ruiping didn’t even bother glancing at him. She lowered her gaze to the Yu Ling Sword in her hand and said coldly, “Out of respect for your A-Niang, I’ll not only take you back to Approaching Immortals Mountain but also find you a good Master. But you must never leave the mountain without my permission, and the sword will remain with me at all times.”

The sword was clearly of great importance to Jiang Ruiping.

Shen Su figured Jiang Ruiping had found them because Jiang Xu had used the Yu Ling Sword’s Sword Spirit power in Fallen Moon City. For a cultivator of Jiang Ruiping’s level, Fallen Moon City was practically next door to Approaching Immortals Mountain, so it was no surprise her spiritual sense had detected the disturbance.

She remembered from the original novel that the female lead had repeatedly located the male lead by sensing the aura of his Sword Spirit. A Sword Spirit’s aura was even harder to conceal than a person’s, but it remained hidden as long as the sword remained sheathed.

In the original story, Jiang Ruiping had likely searched for the sword in a similar manner. However, Jiang Xu hadn’t lingered in Fallen Moon City for so long in that version. Now, Shen Su realized she bore some responsibility for Jiang Xu’s capture.

It wasn’t that she was repaying evil with kindness; she simply didn’t want to see Wei Nanyi suffer. Yet Wei Nanyi’s reaction was completely different from what Shen Su had expected. Upon hearing that Jiang Ruiping intended to take Jiang Xu back to Approaching Immortals Mountain, she seemed to grasp at a lifeline.

“Approaching Immortals Mountain… Approaching Immortals Mountain. Xu’er should return there. She should return. Martial Uncle Jiang can protect her, and she won’t have to wander with me anymore. Perhaps her temperament…”

Wei Nanyi’s greatest regret was seeing her once obedient and lovable daughter transform into such a bitter and resentful person. She had always felt an indelible responsibility for this change.

Jiang Xu had been taken back to Approaching Immortals Mountain at a young age and had known Jiang Ruiping for over eighteen hundred years. Though Jiang Ruiping was temperamental, she always kept her word. With Jiang Ruiping’s power, even if Jiang An wanted to silence Jiang Xu by killing him, he would never find the opportunity.

Moreover, Approaching Immortals Mountain was the foremost sect in the world, its resources far surpassing anything available to a wandering cultivator. Returning there would grant Jiang Xu greater opportunities and resources, allowing her to grow much faster.

Wei Nanyi herself lacked the ability to properly guide Jiang Xu, but Jiang Ruiping possessed that capability.

“Miss Shen, Xu’er must return.”

Knowing Jiang Xu couldn’t hear her, Wei Nanyi could only rely on Shen Su to persuade her daughter.

When Jiang Xu heard the name “Approaching Immortals Mountain,” she hesitated for a moment. She had been born there; it had once been her home. After ten years of wandering, she couldn’t deny a lingering longing for home. If she truly didn’t miss it, she wouldn’t have come to Fallen Moon City. Instead, she would have secretly amassed power, waiting for the perfect moment to strike down Jiang An. Deep down, she still harbored a flicker of hope for Approaching Immortals Mountain.

Now, Jiang Ruiping was saying she wanted to take him back.

“Approaching Immortals Mountain… Approaching Immortals Mountain…” Jiang Xu murmured twice, his gaze softening. But when his eyes fell on the White-Haired Rabbit, his resolve hardened. “No! I won’t go back with you!”

Jiang Ruiping gazed at Jiang Xu’s strikingly beautiful face, her expression softening slightly. “Jiang Xu, I don’t want to kill you.”

A Divine Tool bound to its master cannot stray too far. Jiang Ruiping needed to take Jiang Xu with her to retrieve the Yu Ling Sword.

Jiang Xu hurried forward, snatching the rabbit from Shen Su’s arms with one hand. “I won’t go with you unless you let me bring her along.”

“No!” The simultaneous refusal came from three different voices.

Jiang Ruiping couldn’t hear Wei Nanyi’s voice, but she could hear Shen Su’s. She glanced at Shen Su with amusement. “Explain why not.”

Shen Su couldn’t articulate her reasons; when Jiang Xu proposed bringing the rabbit to Approaching Immortals Mountain, the word “no” had simply echoed clearly in her mind.

Though Shen Su couldn’t explain, Wei Nanyi had plenty to say.

Using her own voice, Shen Su spoke the words Wei Nanyi wanted to say: “Miss Jiang, Approaching Immortals Mountain does not permit demons to enter the sect. Aside from being a food source, it has no means of self-defense and would easily perish within the mountain. Moreover, wolves that prey on rabbits roam the mountain. The rabbit, unable to speak or see clearly, has little hope of survival. You, however, are different. You possess the ability to protect yourself, and since Senior Jiang brought you back, you are under her protection. She would never stand by and watch you die. Cultivators need resources above all else, and wandering aimlessly is no long-term solution. The resources at Approaching Immortals Mountain will accelerate your growth, and the mountain offers many cultivation techniques suited to your needs. Senior Jiang will even find you a master, so you won’t have to fumble through things on your own anymore. Remember, haphazardly practicing cultivation techniques can easily lead to qi deviation. Returning to Approaching Immortals Mountain is the best path for you.”

The words Shen Su spoke sounded utterly unlike her usual tone.

Jiang Xu wasn’t completely oblivious. He realized these words were actually Wei Nanyi’s. He glanced at Shen Su, who was relaying Wei Nanyi’s message, and let out an awkward huff. His gaze lingered reluctantly on Wei Nanyi. “A-Niang, what about you?”

Jiang Ruiping frowned as she watched Jiang Xu call out to a rabbit, “Mother.” “Jiang Xu, have you gone mad from missing her so much?”

“You’re the one who’s mad! This is…” Jiang Xu trailed off, suddenly stopping. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Wei Nanyi’s words were perfectly logical, and Jiang Xu had already weighed the situation in his heart. Even if Jiang Ruiping believed this rabbit was Wei Nanyi, Wei Nanyi’s current state made it impossible to identify Jiang An. If they took her back, Jiang An would undoubtedly find a way to kill the rabbit. Wei Nanyi, blind and mute, wouldn’t even have a chance to cry for help.

Jiang Xu needed to cultivate and couldn’t watch over Wei Nanyi’s safety around the clock. Jiang Ruiping had always loathed demonic creatures—it was because of her that Approaching Immortals Mountain had a rule forbidding demons from joining the sect. She certainly wouldn’t care for the rabbit.

Moreover, Jiang Ruiping’s earlier attitude was clear: she would protect only those useful to Approaching Immortals Mountain, and Wei Nanyi was now useless.

Though Jiang Ruiping’s words hinted at some affection for Wei Nanyi, the depth of that affection remained uncertain.

To be honest, ever since learning that Jiang Ruiping was the one who had issued the kill order against her, Jiang Xu had lost much of his trust in her.

Jiang Xu hesitated, but Shen Su, after a long silence, finally advised, “Miss Jiang, if you seek justice, then wait until you’ve earned the respect of everyone at Approaching Immortals Mountain and wield the same authority as your father. Only then can your wishes be fulfilled.”

Jiang Ruiping was far more direct than Wei Nanyi or Shen Su. She glanced coldly at the rabbit and suddenly smiled. “Jiang Xu, everyone knows I despise demonic creatures. You’re welcome to bring it back to Approaching Immortals Mountain, but you’ll have to kill it first. Rabbit meat is quite delicious, you know.”

“You!” Jiang Xu couldn’t bear Jiang Ruiping’s casual comparison of Wei Nanyi to a meal. She shoved the rabbit into Shen Su’s arms and charged at Jiang Ruiping, her fist aimed straight for her face. Jiang Ruiping didn’t even flinch. With a flick of her Yu Ling Sword, she severed Jiang Xu’s wrist tendons in an instant, rendering both of Jiang Xu’s hands useless.

Weakened but undeterred, Jiang Xu bent at the waist and lunged forward, headbutting Jiang Ruiping.

Jiang Ruiping pursed her lips and lightly tapped the Yu Ling Sword. A massive surge of sword qi sent Jiang Xu flying backward.

She had actually used Jiang Xu’s own sword to wound him.

Shen Su wasn’t worried about Jiang Xu; she was worried about Wei Nanyi. Still, she rushed to Jiang Xu’s side and pulled him from the rubble. “Miss Jiang, are you alright?”

Jiang Xu’s vision swam with golden sparks from the impact, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He glared at Jiang Ruiping and spat, “Madwoman!”

Jiang Ruiping ignored his curses and tossed a jade-white medicinal pill to Shen Su. “Yiwen, feed her this Coagulating Restoration Pill. Don’t let her die.”

The Coagulating Restoration Pill was a treasure of the Cultivation World, said to regenerate even severed limbs according to ancient texts.

Shen Su quickly fed the pill to Jiang Xu. Only after doing so did she realize Jiang Ruiping had called her by her ancestor’s name.

She gently corrected her. “Senior Jiang, I am not Shen Yiwen.”

Jiang Ruiping glanced at her. “My eyes aren’t so dim I can’t tell male from female. You must be Yiwen’s descendant. Where is your ancestor? Why would he let you be bullied by a mere girl?”

It wasn’t surprising that Jiang Ruiping recognized her, after all, the Azure Flame Twin Blades still lay on the ground. So it hadn’t been her imagination—Jiang Ruiping had truly been defending her, even deliberately softening her tone when speaking to her. All because of Shen Yiwen.

Just as Wei Nanyi had said, Jiang Ruiping was someone who cared deeply for her disciples.

Shen Su exhaled softly before speaking, “Ancestor Yiwen and Ancestor Jingqin have both been gone for over a thousand years.”

Jiang Ruiping had already suspected as much when she saw the Pixiang Mirror Dragon Formation. After all, she had taught Shen Su this very formation. Still, hearing it confirmed by Shen Su herself brought a pang of melancholy.

She silently tightened her grip on the Yu Ling Sword. “Surrounded by mortals with fleeting lives, yet I alone remain, my lifespan stretching endlessly. The silence has grown so profound that even a disciple I once banished is now missed.”