Flirting with the Villain's Mother - Chapter 26

Shen Su stated a simple truth, but it was a truth Jiang Xu refused to hear.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Xu didn’t explode in anger. Instead, he lowered his head in sullen silence.

After carefully considering everything that had happened since meeting Shen Su, Jiang Xu had to admit, in good conscience, that she wasn’t a bad person. Shen Su had rescued Bai Ma without knowing she was Wei Nanyi. If she had ulterior motives, they weren’t immediately apparent.

It was true that after discovering Jiang Xu was a cultivator, Shen Su had asked her to kill Cui Tao. However, Shen Su had specified that this should only be done after confirming Cui Tao intended to harm her. Jiang Xu couldn’t say exactly how good Shen Su was, but she was certainly not evil.

As for Shen Su’s sudden increase in cultivation, after learning Jiang Xu was a descendant of Jiang Ruiping’s disciples, combined with the Pixiang Mirror Dragon Formation, Jiang Xu finally understood the cause and effect.

Jiang Xu was capable of understanding anything, but he simply refused to waste his energy on anyone other than Wei Nanyi.

When Jiang Ruiping suggested entrusting Wei Nanyi to Shen Su’s care, Shen Su didn’t object. Jiang Xu had long sensed Shen Su’s desire to be close to Wei Nanyi. Moreover, Shen Su could hear Wei Nanyi’s words even in her animal form, making her uniquely suited to care for her.

Jiang Xu could, of course, continue to threaten Shen Su, but Shen Su had clearly grown wary of him, and she didn’t strike him as someone who easily forgave grudges.

The only path before her now was to part with Wei Nanyi, and Shen Su was the most suitable person to entrust her to. Shen Su had wealth, influence, and genuine affection for Wei Nanyi.

Jiang Xu gritted his teeth. He knew clearly which weighed more: Wei Nanyi’s future or his own pride.

With a thud, Jiang Xu knelt rigidly on the ground. His knees struck the rough stones, tearing through his trousers and drawing bl00d, yet he made no sound.

Instead of using spiritual power to protect his knees, Jiang Xu knelt upright, his gaze fixed intently on Shen Su.

Shen Su felt a chill under his unwavering stare. “Miss Jiang, what are you doing?”

Jiang Xu’s hands were immobilized, leaving him only able to inch forward on his knees. His crimson robes were stained with his own bl00d, his delicate face set with unwavering resolve. As he crawled to Shen Su’s feet, he lowered his head and kowtowed forcefully. “Miss Shen Su, I know I’ve wronged you deeply, even nearly killed you. But my A-Niang is innocent. She did nothing wrong—she even protected you. Please, I beg you, take care of her for me. I… I will repay you someday!”

He kowtowed with such force that his forehead struck the stone, unprotected by spiritual power. The impact left a noticeable dent in his forehead.

Shen Su didn’t respond, and Jiang Xu kowtowed again. “Miss Shen Su, if you harbor anger or resentment, direct it all at me. My A-Niang… I can only entrust her to you. To be honest, I don’t trust you, but my A-Niang does, and I have no other choice.”

Kneeling on the ground, Jiang Xu suppressed her pride, pleading earnestly with Shen Su, whom she had once looked down upon. The repeated kowtows had opened a wound on her forehead, and her resolute, stubborn face was smeared with bl00d. Sweat and bl00d mingled, blurring her vision. Jiang Xu shook her head vigorously, trying to clear her sight.

With her fierce aura subdued, Jiang Xu’s gaze softened into gentle devotion, a hint of tears shimmering in her eyes. Finally, Shen Su could see a trace of Wei Nanyi in her.

Only when Jiang Xu knelt before her did Shen Su realize how small she truly was.

But would she hold a grudge? Shen Su wondered. Now that Jiang Xu has knelt before me, will she make me kneel before her someday?

Shen Su dared not underestimate the villain’s twisted mindset and capacity for madness. She silently tightened her grip on the White-Haired Rabbit, took a deep breath, and still felt her body trembling, cold sweat soaking her back. Gritting her teeth, she declared loudly, “Miss Jiang, rest assured. I will care for Madam as if she were my own mother!”

She wasn’t doing this for Jiang Xu, but for Wei Nanyi.

The rift between her and Jiang Xu wouldn’t disappear easily, but she wanted to repay Wei Nanyi, so she certainly wouldn’t mind taking care of her.

“Thank you,” Jiang Xu said, her tone returning to its usual icy coldness now that Shen Su had agreed.

Shen Su gently stroked the white-haired rabbit nestled in her palm. The rabbit’s soft fur glided smoothly against her skin, the plush texture calming her considerably.

Just as I thought, the villain’s mother is far more endearing than the villain herself.

Wei Nanyi was emotionally stable and remarkably good-tempered. Even as a rabbit, she was a creature with irresistibly soft fur.

When Jiang Xu stood up, she noticed Shen Su stroking the rabbit’s fur. Her gaze darkened slightly, but she remained silent.

Since she had agreed to follow Jiang Ruiping, Wei Nanyi, as her mother, naturally had some parting words of advice. However, given her current state, she could only entrust Shen Su to deliver them.

The white-haired rabbit’s long ears brushed against Shen Su’s palm. “Miss Shen, Martial Uncle Jiang absolutely despises being contradicted. Could you please remind Xu’er not to provoke her so often?”

Wei Nanyi was different from Jiang Xu; she still trusted Jiang Ruiping.

This was strange.

Shen Su couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, since Senior Jiang has been so kind to you, and you trust her character enough to entrust Miss Jiang to her care, why not simply tell her the truth?”

Hearing this, Jiang Xu’s anger flared up again, but this time he kept his mouth shut.

He waited for Wei Nanyi’s response, straining his ears for a long time before realizing he couldn’t hear the White-Haired Rabbit’s voice at all.

Jiang Xu involuntarily glanced at Shen Su’s ears, his eyes filled with envy.

Only Shen Su could hear Wei Nanyi’s voice.

“Miss Shen,” Wei Nanyi said, “a sect’s stability doesn’t depend on a single Supreme Elder. Approaching Immortals Mountain has many members, some of whom have benefited from my kindness, while others were supported by Jiang An. He has always maintained the image of a good senior brother within the sect. Though he betrayed me, he has also helped and saved many people. Without concrete evidence, how can we persuade the sect to execute an Elder who has made significant contributions? Even if Martial Uncle Jiang believes us, he can’t force the other disciples to do the same. Moreover, my current physical condition makes confronting Jiang An in the main hall impossible.”

“Approaching Immortals Mountain is saturated with spiritual Qi, thanks to its spirit-gathering formations. This abundance is a blessing for cultivators with spiritual roots and bones, but a curse for ordinary people without them. The excessive spiritual power would shatter their mortal bones. Now that even my spiritual bones are broken, if I were to go to Approaching Immortals Mountain, I wouldn’t need enemies to kill me—I’d be doomed anyway… I never approved of Xu’er coming to Fallen Moon City. It was pointless. She often forgets that I’m now weaker than an ordinary person… I know she struggles to accept this, but I can no longer protect her. In fact, she’s the one protecting me now. It’s best she returns with Martial Uncle Jiang and doesn’t have to wander with me anymore…”

Wei Nanyi’s voice grew softer with each word.

She was in agony, fully aware of the root of her pain, yet utterly helpless to change it.

Even after Jiang An severed her spiritual bones, he dared only hide her in the mountains behind the central formation of Approaching Immortals Mountain. If he hadn’t hidden her so far away, Jiang Xu would never have had the chance to find her.

So, Wei Nanyi had a home she could never return to.

Wei Nanyi shook off her grief, her fluffy ears twitching against Shen Su’s palm. “Miss Shen, I know you want to help me, and your bl00d does have an effect, but it’s unstable and doesn’t work immediately. We can’t control when I’ll transform back into a human or when I’ll revert to an animal. Whether I can successfully seek justice is another matter, but exposing the secret of your bloodline would be disastrous. It’s not just Demons who covet the Mirror Quilt bloodline. Even in a large Sect with strict rules, not everyone is virtuous. Unlike Miss Guiyan, you lack formidable power. If your Mirror Quilt bloodline were revealed, you wouldn’t be able to protect yourself. Even if you managed to secure protection from Approaching Immortals Mountain, there’s no guarantee someone within the Sect wouldn’t target you.

“Moreover… I used to be too sharp and made many enemies. If they learn I’ve become a cripple, they’ll undoubtedly cause trouble. Even if Martial Uncle Jiang were willing to intervene, she can’t protect us both at all times. Miss Shen, true strength lies in your own power. External forces can only provide temporary support.”

Wei Nanyi spoke plainly, and Shen Su understood everything clearly.

In essence, Wei Nanyi was now even more vulnerable than a delicate flower, and Shen Su herself possessed limited abilities. Unveiling either of their secrets would be fatal.

“Madam, I understand.”

Shen Su refused to despair. Wei Nanyi had said she possessed great talent, so she was bound to grow stronger eventually.

Although lacking the support of a Sect would make cultivation more challenging, she still carried Demon bl00d within her veins. After all, Demons didn’t rely on Sects for their cultivation.

Jiang Xu pressed his ear so close to the rabbit that it nearly touched its fur, yet he heard nothing. Instead, he overheard Shen Su’s words perfectly. He frowned in displeasure. “What did A-Niang say?”

Shen Su had no intention of revealing her bloodline secret after already exposing the secret of her ears.

Clutching the rabbit, she moved away from Jiang Xu’s intrusively close ear. “Madam said you should stop arguing with Senior Jiang. He’ll be more willing to teach you if you do.”

Shen Su retreated, but Jiang Xu stepped closer.

His head nearly pressed against the rabbit, his face filled with resentment. “A-Niang, Jiang Ruiping is a madwoman!”

Objectively speaking, Jiang Ruiping’s madness paled in comparison to Jiang Xu’s.

Wei Nanyi extended the rabbit’s front paw, which landed softly on Jiang Xu’s cheek. The gentle touch soothed his agitated heart. The rabbit’s lips trembled slightly, as if trying to speak.

Jiang Xu dared not move. He lifted his eyelids slightly, glancing at Shen Su. “What did A-Niang say?”

Shen Su’s gaze trembled slightly as she lowered her voice. “Madam said that after you reach Approaching Immortals Mountain, you must focus on cultivation and avoid provoking Jiang An. You don’t yet possess the strength to confront him. Don’t resort to desperate measures for revenge that could harm yourself. Though she is your mother, your life belongs to you. Don’t carry her pain as your burden. After wandering with her for so long, you deserve some peace.”

Jiang Xu’s eyes reddened, a thin mist welling up within them. He nuzzled the rabbit. “A-Niang, what nonsense are you talking about? This isn’t just your affair—it’s mine too.”

Shen Su sighed. As an outsider, she had to respect Wei Nanyi’s wishes, whether to speak or remain silent. But seeing the rabbit’s obvious distress in her palm, she couldn’t help but say, “Miss Jiang, don’t you understand? Madam doesn’t want you to commit patricide.”

Jiang Xu’s gaze froze. He wrenched his foot free from the rabbit’s grasp. “I will definitely kill Jiang An!”

This time, he didn’t linger. Though his hands were temporarily unusable, his feet and spiritual power remained intact. Jiang Xu strode ahead, clearing a path for them. Shen Su stowed the Azure Flame Twin Blades and followed behind, cradling the rabbit.

The rabbit’s drooping ears betrayed Wei Nanyi’s dejection and sorrow. A clear bloodstain marked her hind leg—a wound she had sustained protecting Jiang Xu.

Once they escaped this place, Shen Su would take Wei Nanyi to a physician. She wondered if the physicians in Fallen Moon City could treat rabbits.