Flirting with the Villain's Mother - Chapter 36

In the Immortal Cultivation World, protagonists are typically Cultivators with high spiritual roots. However, the vast majority of people remain ordinary, destined to live their lives without ever encountering Immortals.

For these ordinary folk, life revolves around farming and hard work.

One morning, as the sky began to lighten, Sister-in-law Lin shouldered her hoe and set off toward the village entrance.

She walked at a leisurely pace.

Just as she reached the village entrance, she abruptly turned back, hurried through her courtyard gate, and rushed into the house. The main room contained a wooden table and several wooden chairs, the floor meticulously clean—a testament to the homeowner’s diligence and tidiness.

What stood out was the presence of a Buddhist altar in the modest room. Atop it rested a statue tightly wrapped in yellow cloth, while an incense burner emitted wisps of lake-green smoke, lending an eerie atmosphere to the scene. Sister-in-law Lin noticed nothing amiss.

She closed the door with a sigh, shouldered her hoe again, and resumed her walk toward the village entrance.

As she moved farther from home, a sense of loss washed over her.

She tilted her head, her gaze drifting downward. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a colorful butterfly, but it vanished like a gust of wind through an empty hall, gone in an instant.

Sister-in-law Lin’s heart sank.

She reached out and gestured to a height beside her, as if something were missing.

Her mind was heavy with worries, and her brow furrowed involuntarily. She walked to the village entrance again, but before stepping out, she turned back. She opened the door, glanced around briefly, then closed it with a look of disappointment. This cycle repeated several times, her anxiety growing with each iteration.

The pale dawn had given way to a blazing midday sun, yet Sister-in-law Lin remained within the village.

This was her seventh time approaching the village entrance.

Just as she was about to turn back again, a white blur flashed before her eyes. Startled, she lowered the hoe from her shoulder and gripped it tightly in her hands.

“Who’s there?!”

Her gaze fixed intently ahead, but suddenly, a pair of hands poked her shoulder from behind. “You…”

The sudden touch startled Sister-in-law Lin so badly that she nearly jumped half a meter into the air. She whirled around in a panic, stumbling backward several steps before finally making out the owner of the hands—a fair-skinned, delicate young woman with soft, gentle features.

Looking apologetically at the still-shaken Sister-in-law Lin, the young girl said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I just wanted to ask if you had any food. I can pay for it!”

As she spoke, the girl pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve and held it out, her eyes pleadingly fixed on Sister-in-law Lin.

The girl appeared young, with striking beauty and captivating eyes. Her irises, a blend of black and white, shimmered with faint, scattered light, creating an enchanting effect. Though her face was unfamiliar, she didn’t seem like a bad person.

Sister-in-law Lin sighed in relief. “Are you very hungry, young lady?”

“Mm-hmm,” the girl nodded, then shook her head. She reached into her sleeve with her other hand and produced a snow-white rabbit. “Actually, it’s my rabbit who’s hungry.”

The pair were none other than Shen Su and Wei Nanyi.

Shen Su had initially intended to eavesdrop a bit longer on the scoundrels’ conversation, but the rabbit’s stomach kept rumbling, having not eaten all day. Deciding to prioritize Wei Nanyi’s hunger, Shen Su figured she’d feed the rabbit first and leave. She wasn’t one to meddle in others’ affairs.

This village was the closest settlement they’d passed on their journey, so Shen Su had naturally come here.

Even from a distance, she spotted a figure moving near the village entrance. Eager to find food for the little rabbit, she hurried over, not expecting to startle anyone.

The woman appeared to be in her thirties or forties. Despite years of labor, her skin remained fair and delicate, rather than tanned. Her features were striking, with slightly upturned eyes that gave her a mature and alluring air.

She stared at the rabbit in Shen Su’s arms, momentarily stunned. After a moment, she stammered, “Miss, your rabbit… it’s so pure white.”

Pausing briefly, she added, “Absolutely beautiful!”

Shen Su was slightly surprised, but Sister-in-law Lin was even more astonished.

She had eaten plenty of rabbit meat before, but never imagined she would one day describe a rabbit as “beautiful.”

Of course, Sister-in-law Lin wouldn’t hesitate to offer food to such a lovely creature. But when she led the girl and rabbit back to her home and laid out freshly washed cabbage and carrots on the table, the girl’s face stiffened slightly. “My rabbit… she might not eat raw food.”

The rabbit’s reaction, however, contradicted the girl’s words. Sitting on the table, it groped for the carrot Sister-in-law Lin had placed before it, clutched it to its chest, and turned its back to the girl to begin gnawing on it.

Sister-in-law Lin pointed at the rabbit, her expression puzzled. “Miss, isn’t it supposed to eat?”

The young girl’s face paled further, as if she might faint at any moment.

Sister-in-law Lin frowned. “Miss, you must be hungry too. I’ll go make you some food.”

“Thank you,” the girl replied earnestly.

Sister-in-law Lin genuinely found the girl’s voice delightful, like wind chimes tinkling in her ear. The sound drifted into her heart, filling it with warmth.

She loved the girl’s voice, it reminded her of… of what?

Sister-in-law Lin couldn’t quite remember.

She shook her head with a smile. “Miss, don’t be so formal. I’m a widow—the villagers call me Widow Lin. The younger ones call me ‘Sister-in-law.’ If you don’t mind, you can call me that too.”

This kind-hearted woman was the Widow Lin those men had been talking about!

Shen Su was startled. Before she could ask any questions, Sister-in-law Lin cheerfully hurried into the kitchen, chattering about preparing a feast of her signature dishes for Miss Shen.

She didn’t even ask for payment.

Seeing how kind and good-natured Sister-in-law Lin was, Shen Su pursed her lips. As the conversation she had overheard replayed in her mind, her mood shifted, tinged with anger.

A faint chewing sound broke through her thoughts.

Snapping back to reality, Shen Su’s gaze fell upon the White-Haired Rabbit, its back turned as it gnawed on a carrot. She reached out and poked the rabbit’s back. “Madam, I’m so sorry. Following me has brought you nothing but hardship.”

“No, no,” Wei Nanyi mumbled.

Shen Su would have found her words more convincing if Wei Nanyi had put down the carrot to speak.

Overwhelmed with guilt, Shen Su felt terrible.

Wei Nanyi, however, genuinely didn’t feel mistreated by Shen Su. Her time with Jiang Xu had been far worse. The early years had been tolerable, but as Jiang Xu’s power grew, his reliance on food diminished. Unwilling to confront the reality of Wei Nanyi’s fallen status, he often forgot to feed her.

The longest stretch Wei Nanyi went without food was over a month.

Though her modified body prevented starvation, the gnawing hunger drove the frail creature to the brink of madness.

Shen Su remained oblivious to this history. All she knew was that she had neglected to feed Wei Nanyi for too long. And with Wei Nanyi’s back turned, she naturally overlooked the fact that the rabbit couldn’t see, sitting there by instinct alone.

Shen Suwen asked cautiously, “Madam, are you angry?”

If Wei Nanyi could see now, she would have witnessed the deep guilt and self-reproach in Shen Suwen’s eyes.

Everything had unfolded so differently from her expectations.

Sensing her unease, the rabbit slowly turned its body, following the gentle prodding of Shen Suwen’s fingers on its back, and shook its head earnestly.

Shen Suwen watched as the rabbit stuffed carrot pieces into its round, bulging cheeks. Her hand, which had been resting on the rabbit’s back, involuntarily drifted to its face. Before she could stop herself, she had already poked its cheek.

The rabbit’s cheek was soft and plush, its fur clinging tightly to her fingertip as it sank deeply into the flesh.

The rabbit blinked, and Shen Suwen blinked in response, quickly withdrawing her hand. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.

A moment of silence hung in the air until Sister-in-law Lin broke the stillness, carrying dishes to the table.

It had to be said, Sister-in-law Lin was a truly skilled cook. Though the dishes were simple home-style fare, they were vibrant in color, fragrant, and flavorful.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Shen Suwen naturally fed the rabbit first.

As she fed the rabbit rice, grains inevitably spilled. When she fed it vegetables, broth dripped.

Seeing the oil stains on the rabbit’s pristine white fur, Sister-in-law Lin felt even more distressed than Shen Su. Her heart clenched painfully. “Miss, this rabbit is so pure white. If its fur gets dirty, it’ll be hard to clean, right? Let me make it a little outfit.”

Sister-in-law Lin was a woman of action. If she said she’d cook, she’d cook. If she said she’d sew, she’d sew.

Without waiting for Shen Su’s reply, she immediately rummaged through her sewing supplies, effectively silencing Shen Su’s protest that the fur was easy to wash.

After all, Shen Su was only a half-demon, carrying the Mirror Quilt’s bloodline. Her body naturally produced water—how could she possibly fail to clean the rabbit’s fur?

Naturally produced water.

The phrase sounded strange.

Shen Su’s expression stiffened. She silently placed another silver ingot on the table, then continued feeding the rabbit while watching Sister-in-law Lin cut the fabric. She suddenly remembered to say, “Oh, by the way, Sister-in-law, my name is Shen Su.”

Sister-in-law Lin acknowledged her without looking up, her hands moving swiftly as she embroidered patterns onto the fabric.

Her hands were remarkably skilled, the stitches growing faster and faster. Shen Su gradually made out the design taking shape beneath her fingers.

It was a colorful butterfly.

The embroidered butterfly reminded Shen Su of the dying butterfly she had seen illuminated by the White Candle, its face pale with tragic beauty and defeat.

Shen Su’s hand froze as she fed the rabbit. She asked Sister-in-law Lin, “Sister-in-law, are there any other people living in your house?”

Sister-in-law Lin finally raised her head. A flicker of struggle crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by confusion and pain. She shook her head slowly, her voice flat, “No, there’s no one else.”

Though she denied it aloud, Shen Su’s words had pierced her heart like a needle, causing a sharp pain to bloom in her chest. Tears welled in Sister-in-law Lin’s eyes, yet her hands continued to move, stitching mechanically. She didn’t even notice when the needle pricked her finger.

A bead of bl00d seeped into the fabric, blooming into a crimson plum blossom.

Shen Su froze, hastily setting down her chopsticks. She rushed over and gently took the needlework from Sister-in-law Lin’s hands. “Sister-in-law, are you alright?”

Sister-in-law Lin looked up, her eyes already glistening with tears. “Something’s missing, Miss Shen. I feel like something’s missing from my home.”

Her voice was filled with helplessness and immeasurable sorrow.

What else could happen? A few sticks of Immortal incense, and she’ll be docile again.

The man’s voice echoed in Shen Su’s mind. She was almost certain that the “Immortal incense” they spoke of had the power to alter memories.

Shen Su glanced around Sister-in-law Lin’s room. In a corner stood a Buddhist altar, its statue tightly wrapped in yellow cloth, concealing its identity. A few burnt-out incense sticks remained in the small censer.

Could that be Immortal Incense?

Shen Su was still observing Sister-in-law Lin’s home when Wei Nanyi suddenly asked, “Miss Shen, could we stay for a couple of days?”

Wei Nanyi had always been kind-hearted. Ever since discovering the Little Mountain Bandits’ tragic stories, she had wanted to help them. But she also knew she wasn’t the same as before—a mere rabbit lacked the power to assist them. If Shen Su stayed because of her request and something went wrong, Wei Nanyi’s conscience would be troubled. Yet Sister-in-law Lin was such a good person that Wei Nanyi couldn’t bear to leave knowing this kind soul might be living in hell.

Even if Wei Nanyi hadn’t spoken, Shen Su had been considering staying. The men’s words still echoed in her ears, filling her with disgust.

Having encountered so many villains, it was rare to meet someone truly good.

If meddling a bit helps, so be it. If we can’t win, we’ll just take Sister-in-law Lin and run.

She couldn’t stand by and watch such a good person be defiled by beasts.

Clutching her needle and thread in one hand, she gripped Sister-in-law Lin’s arm with the other, her bright eyes fixed on the woman. “Sister-in-law, could I stay here for a couple of days? I can pay you.”

Sister-in-law Lin finally managed to shake off her grief. When she heard that Shen Su wanted to stay overnight, she waved her hands frantically. “No, no, no, I don’t need your money! You should stay here anyway. A young girl like you can’t possibly stay out in the wilderness. What if the wolves get you?”

Shen Su was about to thank Sister-in-law Lin when she suddenly heard rustling noises nearby.