Flirting with the Villain's Mother - Chapter 7

In the tranquil night, moonlight shimmered through the leaves, and a gentle breeze rustled the silvery foliage, creating a soft, rustling sound that varied in intensity. Intermittent splashes from fish swimming in the pond and the occasional loud snore from a servant punctuated the stillness.

Shen Su had been paying close attention these past few days. She could indeed hear hidden sounds, but these were either unusual or sounds she subconsciously wanted to hear. For instance, the faint trembling of Cui Tao’s wings or the soft whimper Wei Nanyi made when transforming into Bai Ma—those were unusual sounds. Hearing Jiang Xu and Wei Nanyi’s endearing words was something her subconscious craved.

But now something felt off. Every sound in Shen Manor seemed amplified in her ears.

This abnormality made Shen Su uneasy, but the thought of the person in the next room gradually calmed her restless heart.

Jiang Xu had kept her word, staying at Shen Manor with Wei Nanyi.

Shen Su had originally arranged separate rooms for them, but Jiang Xu insisted on sharing a room with Wei Nanyi. It was clear she was deeply worried about Wei Nanyi, though her vigilance seemed excessive.

Wei Nanyi was a delicate white flower, but wasn’t Shen Su herself a fragile blossom? She had no means to harm Wei Nanyi.

Besides, why would she want to harm Wei Nanyi in the first place?

To be honest, Shen Su had already shown Wei Nanyi far more kindness than she usually would. She genuinely felt sorry for Wei Nanyi and couldn’t understand why Jiang Xu harbored such intense hostility toward her.

Shen Su recalled the voice that had echoed in her ears countless times: “From this day forward, you are no longer a Goddess, but a lowly beast. You should experience the hardships of a weak life.”

After learning Wei Nanyi’s true identity, Shen Su had already guessed that the voice belonged to Jiang An.

Wei Nanyi’s transformation was beyond mere hardship. A Goddess reduced to a speechless, blind beast—every moment must have been an agonizing torment.

The sound of flowing water, the rustling wind…

The cacophony of noises overwhelmed Shen Su. She couldn’t distinguish which was louder. Covering her ears, she sighed heavily.

Suddenly, amidst the chaos, Shen Su heard a familiar voice.

“Second Brother, that cultivator hasn’t left yet. We can’t defeat her. Let’s wait a few more days.”

Shen Su couldn’t mistake it—it was Cui Tao’s voice, though her tone lacked its usual liveliness, sounding cautious instead. The “cultivator” she mentioned was Jiang Xu, but who “Second Brother” was remained a mystery.

As Shen Su had predicted, Cui Tao was indeed scheming something and feared Jiang Xu.

In the original novel, Jiang Xu’s talent far surpassed that of ordinary people, even the female lead couldn’t match him. With just over a century of cultivation, he forcibly merged with the Yu Ling Sword’s Sword Soul and became the strongest combatant in the entire story.

Cui Tao’s fear of Jiang Xu was understandable.

Shen Su waited quietly for a while. Just as she began to doubt if her hearing was failing, she finally heard a low, irritable male voice: “You utter fool! I told you to coax her into seeking immortality, then subtly guide her to condense her qi, stimulate her bloodline power, and take her to the ancestral estate. Instead, you’ve spent all these years playing the loyal servant!”

Ancestral estate.

Shen Su remembered that the original owner had always preferred quiet surroundings, which was why her parents had moved her to this secluded place. Besides this courtyard, the Shen Manor had several other residences in Fallen Moon City. The exact location of the ancestral estate remained vague in the original owner’s memories, but judging by their conversation, it seemed to contain something they coveted, something that could only be obtained after the original owner condensed her qi, entered the Dao, and stepped onto the Immortal Path.

Who would have thought Cui Tao, who appeared so harmless, was actually a scheming demonic creature?

Shen Su’s heart tightened, her ears involuntarily twitching as she strained to catch every word of their conversation.

“Second Brother,” Cui Tao said, “Miss only wants to be with her parents. I’ve struggled for years just to persuade her to stay alive. Asking her to seek the Immortal Path is harder than climbing to heaven. I don’t understand why she has to willingly seek the Dao. Wouldn’t it be faster to just inject spiritual power into her body?”

Cui Tao’s question echoed Shen Su’s own confusion. For demonic creatures like them, forcibly opening a living person’s Seven Meridians and Eight Vessels to introduce spiritual Qi shouldn’t be too difficult—at most, it would be time-consuming.

“You think I haven’t tried?” the Second Brother retorted. “Her family’s bloodline power is sealed by a restriction. Unless she willingly embraces the Immortal Path, we can’t force her onto it.”

A bloodline restriction.

Shen Su peeled back a corner of the embroidered handkerchief wrapped around her hand. She remembered the ravenous glint in the larvae’s eyes when they sensed her bl00d, and Wei Nanyi had also mentioned that something within her craved her bl00d. It seemed the original owner’s origins were far from ordinary. Bloodline restrictions were beyond the reach of ordinary mortals, yet this bloodline appeared to be a curse for both Shen Su and her predecessor.

Suddenly, Shen Su recalled that Wei Nanyi had also tasted her bl00d before transforming into human form. She had always wondered why Wei Nanyi could maintain her human form for so long. Could it be because of her bl00d?

Wei Nanyi must have noticed something. Given her former status, she would have encountered all sorts of restrictions. Even without spiritual power to detect it, her body, having absorbed the bloodline’s power, should have sensed something. But why hadn’t she told Jiang Xu?

Shen Su touched her still-throbbing neck and suddenly shivered.

She thought she understood why Wei Nanyi had kept silent.

Jiang Xu was too reckless. If he knew her bl00d was useful to Wei Nanyi, he would drain her dry. Wei Nanyi was protecting her life.

Wei Nanyi was truly a woman of her word. When she said she wouldn’t harm Shen Su, she meant it.

In truth, Wei Nanyi must have yearned more than anyone to live as a human.

The wind outside howled louder, carrying faint sounds of fabric brushing against treetops. The male demon’s voice grew more agitated: “Damn this accursed restriction! Cui Tao, did Elder Brother say this restriction also limits age? Once you turn eighteen without condensing your bloodline, you’ll be sealed. Shen Su is already eighteen; by autumn, she’ll be nineteen. We have less than a month left. Have you found out how long that cultivator plans to stay?”

The male demon didn’t receive Cui Tao’s answer. Instead, he heard the shing of a sword being drawn and a voice as cold as ice: “That depends on when you die.”

Jiang Xu had arrived.

Shen Su felt a flicker of relief. She strained her ears to listen to the sounds of their battle, but the piercing cries of the birds nearly shattered her eardrums.

She sat up abruptly, clutching her ears.

As the ringing subsided, the sounds outside rapidly faded. Shen Su rubbed her ears, wondering where Cui Tao and the demon were conversing. It couldn’t be within Shen Manor; otherwise, more than just Jiang Xu would have been disturbed.

Jiang Xu was out slaying demons. What about Wei Nanyi?

Shen Su instinctively slipped on her shoes, grabbed her outer robe, and began fastening the sash as she approached the door.

Before she reached the entrance, the moonlight revealed a dark figure standing outside. A soft, delicate voice drifted through the door: “Miss Shen, Xu’er said she found the bird. She asked me to check if you’re alright.”

Jiang Xu had sent Wei Nanyi to check on her?

Shen Su didn’t believe it.

It was far more likely that Wei Nanyi had heard Cui Tao and the demon were nearby and, worried about Shen Su, had come to check on her herself.

Remembering Wei Nanyi’s injuries, Shen Su quickened her pace to the door and opened it for her.

The moonlight was at its peak, its silvery glow softening Wei Nanyi’s already delicate and beautiful features. She seemed like an Immortal descended from the moon, her snow-white skin shimmering with dancing specks of light. For a fleeting moment, her exquisite face seemed to radiate an otherworldly grace.

Shen Su’s gaze froze for a moment, her fingers instinctively reaching out. The moment her fingertips brushed Wei Nanyi’s jaw, Wei Nanyi flinched as if startled, tilting her head slightly to create distance between them.

Though she avoided Shen Su’s touch, her eyes remained fixed on Shen Su.

Shen Su’s hand, now hanging awkwardly in the air, quickly retreated. Her gaze darted away as she stammered, “Madam, why deceive me? Miss Jiang is hardly the considerate type.”

Wei Nanyi gazed at her, showing no anger at the slight transgression. Instead, she said gently, “Miss Shen, Xu’er only became this way because of me. Please don’t resent her.”

Looking back on Jiang Xu’s life, it was clear that both her joys and sorrows were inextricably linked to Wei Nanyi.

Jiang Xu was a devoted daughter who revered her mother, and Wei Nanyi was a loving mother who cherished her daughter.

Wei Nanyi spoke up for Jiang Xu, and Shen Su couldn’t bear to see her distressed. She quickly replied, “Of course not! Miss Jiang is exceptionally beautiful and possesses remarkable talents. I naturally admire her.”

Wei Nanyi smiled and suddenly asked, “Miss Shen, do you have any interest in seeking immortality and cultivating the Dao? Xu’er would be delighted to guide you onto the Immortal Path.”

Shen Su was startled. “My innate talent is too dull. I’m not destined for greatness and lack the aptitude for cultivation.”

Sensing Shen Su’s aversion to cultivation, the smile in Wei Nanyi’s eyes deepened. Shen Su looked at her, puzzled. “What are you smiling at, Madam?”

Wei Nanyi gently shook her head, her eyes filled with tender light. “You’re mistaken, Miss Shen. You’re not dull at all—you’re remarkably intelligent.”

Though both Wei Nanyi and Jiang Xu had praised her intelligence, Wei Nanyi’s words were far more melodious and sincere. Shen Su could feel the genuine warmth behind her praise, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

Before Shen Su could respond, Wei Nanyi’s expression suddenly shifted dramatically. She threw herself into Shen Su’s arms, using her weight to press her backward into the room.

Ruan Yu suddenly pressed herself into Shen Su’s arms. Before Shen Su could react, Wei Nanyi whispered, “Don’t be afraid, Miss Shen.”

As Wei Nanyi’s words faded, a man and a woman materialized at Shen Su’s doorway. Unlike Cui Tao, their demonic features were strikingly obvious, their wings displayed without concealment. The man appeared to be a mantis demon, while the woman was a bee demon.

The mantis demon’s pale green wings pressed against the door, its pitch-black eyes fixed intently on Shen Su.

These were clearly not the two demons Jiang Xu had chased after.

Lure the tiger from the mountain!

Shen Su’s heart lurched.

Her ears were still ringing from the earlier commotion, preventing her from sensing the demons’ approach. Wei Nanyi’s ability to detect them first likely stemmed from her millennia of cultivation experience. Yet Wei Nanyi, weaker than Shen Su, still sought to protect her, coaxing her not to be afraid.

But how could Shen Su allow the frail, sickly Wei Nanyi to shield her?

Gathering Wei Nanyi into her arms, Shen Su half-embraced, half-pushed her behind her, shielding her. Steeling herself against the terror, Shen Su met the mantis demon’s gaze.