How to Be the Perfect Junior Sister to a Reborn Villain - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The Mulberry Forest Secret Realm outside Xuancheng had already been open for several months.

Deep within a desolate underground cavern, Yan Jiuzhi lay sprawled on the cold stone floor, his robes soaked through with dark red bl00d.

He tried using his spiritual sense to locate his storage ring, only to find it empty.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips.
Heh… so this is what I’ve been reduced to? Stripped bare like a beggar?

That woman escaped again?

And this time, who had died shielding her?

His thoughts darkened as he mentally retraced the countless people he’d killed, wondering which fish had slipped through his net.

The shadows in his black eyes deepened, his killing intent thick enough to choke the air itself.

But then, as he lifted his gaze to the stone ceiling, his pupils contracted sharply.

Wait… something was wrong.

The rock walls were crisscrossed with strange natural lines, and above him stood a towering statue of a goddess, head lowered, eyes half-lidded, surrounded by mysterious runic patterns.

This scene was so familiar.

This place isn’t this the Mulberry Forest Secret Realm?

The very same minor secret realm he had stumbled into during his Qi Refining days?

After enduring countless trials and obstacles, he’d reached this final chamber back then… only to find a single pearl and a few cultivation manuals.

He jerked upright, but his legs gave way instantly, sending a sharp wave of pain tearing through his body.

The wound on his side burst open again, bl00d gushing more fiercely than before.

With trembling hands, he reached for his waist pouch and pulled out a small jade bottle, cheaply made its surface slightly cracked.

Uncorking it, he poured out several pills. The moment he saw them, a flicker of nostalgia crossed his eyes.

These were refined by Elder Gao.

Without hesitation, Yan Jiuzhi swallowed the pills and began circulating his spiritual energy to heal his wounds.

Was this a heart-demon illusion?

Or could it be what she said

“I’m giving it all back to you!”
“Everything I’ll return it all, Go back and start over!”
“Stop killing me, please! It’s been three hundred years, haven’t you had enough?!”
“Yan Jiuzhi, you madman! MADMAN! I said I’ll give it back!”

Her voice, hysterical and desperate, still echoed in his mind the moment she crushed the glowing orb in her hands and the world dissolved into gray mist.

Then everything went dark.

Start over again.

If all this were real.

Then, as long as he didn’t go to Xuancheng to sell his spoils from the secret realm afterward, he would have time. He could still save the sect.

The pain in his body felt too real to be an illusion.

The pounding heartbeat in his chest is also real.

Could it be he had truly returned to sixteen years old?

Or was this yet another one of her bizarre artifacts?

That woman had a trove of strange treasures; he’d destroyed countless illusion-crafting relics before.

But real or not.
He would save them this time.

Even if this was an illusion, he would change the ending.

Ever since drawing spiritual energy into her body, Li Xi felt completely different. Her skin was smoother, her senses sharper, and even her steps lighter.

So this is the allure of cultivation, she thought dreamily.

Soon enough, she’d be flying on a sword through the clouds, her lifelong dream!

Speaking of swords, she was still using the wooden one her second senior brother had made for her. It was polished to a shine, and though simple, it felt perfect in her hands as she practiced the basic sword forms.

He’d even built her a lovely soft couch, so she could lie under the osmanthus tree at night to “absorb moonlight.”

Now, when she cultivated beneath that fragrant canopy, no one disturbed her; not even the faintest sound would reach her.

What a kind, thoughtful bunch they were.

Li Xi was growing more and more fond of this place. Other than being hopelessly poor, this sect was practically flawless.

“Junior Sister, your arm’s too high.”

Little Lin Zewu, barely reaching her waist, stood with his hands behind his back, correcting her posture like a miniature master.

Li Xi looked down at the round-faced child and sighed inwardly.
This seniority thing was going to be the death of her.

Smiling, Senior Sister Lin Ruo reached over to adjust Li Xi’s stance properly, then praised the boy, “Zewu’s form is solid, you’ve mastered the basics well. Keep it up.”

The boy immediately puffed up with pride and resumed practicing with gusto, glancing at Li Xi with eyes full of encouragement that clearly said: You can do it too!

Li Xi:

The basic sword forms looked easy enough, but once you started practicing them, you realized how deceptive they were.

Each motion thrust, slash, sweep, strike, flick, and lift had its own intricate technique. 

Truly mastering them was no overnight task.

She felt like she was just swinging for show at this point, nothing but form, no substance.

Even Xiao Cui, her maid, outshone her completely. The girl had trained before, and now her movements flowed with a grace and confidence that made every swing of her sword gleam with power.

Even Master Lin Shanlai had praised her talent and asked Elder Gao to test her spiritual roots.

The result, however, was disappointing.
She possessed the worst possible five-element roots.

Whether she’d even manage to form her foundation in this lifetime was still uncertain.

*******

But Li Xi thought having five spiritual roots wasn’t so bad, at least it meant she could cultivate.

So she encouraged Xiaocui with a serious tone, “Xiaocui, you must cultivate diligently. As long as you can draw spiritual energy into your body and step into the Qi Refining Stage, you’ll live far longer than any ordinary person. Work hard, really hard!”

Xiaocui felt her young miss made perfect sense. The lady had shown her great kindness; she wanted nothing more than to serve and accompany her for a long, long time. So, of course, she would cultivate earnestly.

Their sect was small to begin with, just a few people. Since Xiaocui had spiritual roots, Lin Shanlai didn’t mind letting her learn the sect’s cultivation method.

He generously taught her the Free and Easy Formula and encouraged her to persevere.

That day, Elder Gao once again led the senior brothers and sisters who couldn’t cultivate out on another round of free medical consultations. Before leaving, he even assigned Li Xi some homework. To memorize the Comprehensive Herbal Compendium and the Basic Meridians Manual.

Li Xi didn’t mind studying in the slightest. In fact, she was full of enthusiasm. After all, wasn’t it well known in every cultivation novel which professions make the most money?

Of course, the Pill, Talisman, Artifact, and Formation masters! She wanted to become an alchemist.

And so, her days passed in fulfilling study. Autumn slowly faded, and the chill of winter quietly crept in.

Two months after joining the sect, Li Xi finally broke through to the second layer of Qi Refining under the clear, cold moonlight.

Her advancement came naturally. The moonlight nourished her cultivation, and her daily practice went far more smoothly than before.

Feeling elated, Li Xi dressed herself up beautifully that day, from her hairstyle and ornaments down to her robe and shoes; not a single detail was out of place. In the midst of winter, she looked fresh, radiant, and charmingly youthful.

However, when the well-dressed Li Xi saw the extremely simple dishes laid out on the table, she fell into stunned silence.

Wearing an outfit like this, she wasn’t expecting rare delicacies, but surely, radish and pickles were a bit too humble?

Glancing around at her senior brothers and sisters, she noticed they were still wearing thin autumn clothes despite the season.

She’d only been in seclusion for a few days; had life gotten this bad already?

Thankfully, her senior sister quickly explained: the group had gone out again for another round of free clinics.

Free clinics, of course, meant they didn’t charge a single coin and even provided the herbs themselves.

In recent weeks, their frequent visits to nearby towns and villages had earned them a good reputation. It was, in a way, laying the foundation for their future livelihood. After this round, they’d officially be considered qualified practitioners.

The Yunxiao Sect fully supported these efforts, but given how poor they already were, they could only tighten their belts even further.

Li Xi mechanically stuffed radish into her mouth. As a young lady from a wealthy family, used to a life where meals appeared and clothes were laid out for her, a strange melancholy welled up inside her heart…

And before she could even finish her meal, the sky suddenly opened up and rain began to pour hard. The downpour struck the roof tiles like a string of broken beads, crackling and popping nonstop.

Raindrops leaked through the gaps in the roof and landed right on Li Xi’s face. The icy touch made her shiver involuntarily.

“It’s raining! Quick, move the table and grab a basin to catch the water!”

Her fellow disciples remained calm and unhurried; they were clearly used to this. Some moved the table, others fetched basins.

Li Xi:

It was getting cold.

Perhaps it was time for her to pay a little visit to the Li family estate, rob the rich, and help the poor.