Qi Xiezi recounted everything that had happened in the tavern earlier that day.
"Damn it. That woman is way too cautious. She didn't fall for the act at all. Looks like I'll need to come up with a new plan. This trick used to work like a charm. Any female cultivator, I could reel in without fail."
Before long, he received a reply.
"It's not that she's cautious. You just used the wrong bait. She's not some naive, kindhearted woman."
Qi Xiezi: "…"
"You could've told me that sooner!!!"
What a waste of time.
He had heard she was a gentle, soft-spoken alchemist and figured she would be the tender-hearted sort. That was why he played the sympathy card.
But the message continued, "She's selfish and calculating. Not easy to fool. Still, with your experience reading people, I'm sure you'll figure something out."
"Of course I will! Just wait for good news!"
Qi Xiezi let out a snort and put away the transmission talisman. Thinking back to the way Song Wanníng had looked at him earlier, with such sympathy in her eyes… she couldn't be as cold and ruthless as that person made her out to be.
After all, that person was his enemy. There was no reason to take their words at face value.
Compared to that, Qi Xiezi trusted his own instincts more. That woman must be cold on the outside but warm on the inside. He just needed a bit more time to win her over.
"Hmph, if her cultivation weren't so high, I would've just kidnapped her already. No need for all this scheming. What a pain."
…
Back in the tavern, Song Wanníng finished her meal and went upstairs to the third floor. As soon as she entered the room, a golden miniature sword flew out in a huff.
"Master! It's that brat again!!!
He made your life a living hell in your past life. This time, we have to make him pay!" The golden sword vibrated furiously. When it saw that familiar face downstairs, it had nearly charged out to finish the job then and there.
In Song Wanníng's past life, this man had caused her nothing but suffering. She sat down on the bed, and unbidden, memories from her past life resurfaced.
Back then, she had already become a demon cultivator hunted by the entire human realm. While hiding on the run, she received a message from Liu Yiyi.
Liu Yiyi claimed she could provide a safe place to hide and swore not to tell anyone.
At the time, Song Wanníng didn't know Liu Yiyi's true nature. To have someone willing to help during those desperate days had moved her deeply.
Following Liu Yiyi's directions, she arrived at a mortal village.
The people there were warm and welcoming. Their kindness slowly thawed the ice around her heart.
The village chief's youngest son often visited to play with her, calling her "Sister" sweetly and acting endearingly innocent.
Little by little, she let down her guard. Eventually, she accepted an invitation to dinner at the village chief's home.
That dinner… was where things went wrong.
But as a master alchemist, she detected something was off almost immediately. She drew her sword and struck.
"Hahaha, you figured it out?
So what? You've walked into my ghost gate. Don't even dream of walking back out alive!"
Qi Xiezi had attacked with a burst of laughter, unfurling a soul-banner that released a horde of wailing spirits. Those vengeful ghosts surrounded her, biting into her divine soul with every shriek and snap. The pain had been unbearable.
Even now, Song Wanníng could still recall that agony.
To survive, she fought with everything she had. Eventually, she managed to escape the village. But to avoid being tracked again, she had no choice but to flee into the treacherous Red Sand Forest. Her body was torn and broken, her strength nearly depleted.
Worse still, after she emerged, the entire cultivation world turned on her with renewed fervor. Because the villagers—every last one of them—were dead.
The whole village had been wiped out.
Qi Xiezi had committed the slaughter, but she was the one they blamed.
It became one of the key justifications for the eventual siege on the Song clan.
Song Wanníng let out a long, slow breath.
Since merging her demon qi with spiritual qi, the killing intent within her heart had softened considerably. Her emotions were no longer as easily provoked.
But even so, when she opened her eyes, a glint of cold murderous resolve flickered within them.
Qi Xiezi had ruined her in her last life, and she hadn't even gone looking for revenge yet. Now he dared to walk straight into her path?
Still…
Wasn't it a little too convenient?
Song Wanníng began to mull it over. In her previous life, Liu Yiyi had played a part in that incident. In this life, she probably wasn't far behind either.
Heh.
If they were working together again… she would deal with both.
"How laughable. I lived all the way to the end, only to end up completely isolated and powerless."
She stroked the golden sword. A faint sneer rose in her eyes.
In her past life, she had devoted herself to cultivation and alchemy. The only other thing she'd cared about was following Gu Qingyuan around.
Even though her own light had always been overshadowed by his, she had never minded.
She had everything—status, power, skill, family.
Because she lacked nothing, she never considered the need for more.
She acted on impulse, spoke her mind, followed her heart.
Couple that with Bai Yang, the protagonist with a knack for stirring trouble, and naturally, she'd offended far too many people.
Her downfall in the end… wasn't surprising at all.
And now that she thought about it, did she even have a single true friend back then?
A shadow crossed Song Wanníng's gaze.
Precisely because her last life was such a failure, this time she would live gloriously.
So what if she had no friends?
So what if her reputation was bad?
What she wanted was absolute strength—enough to crush everything and stand above them all.
For the next few days, Song Wanníng made no effort to leave Jiyuan City. Instead, she wandered around, using the opportunity to purchase materials for crafting a clone.
Qi Xiezi didn't give up either. Every day, he staged another coincidental encounter.
Sometimes he was being scolded or beaten by his "stepmother." Sometimes he was punished and forced to kneel outside the courtyard. Other times, he was bullied by other children in the street…
Each time, he played the pitiful victim with heartbreaking skill.
The golden sword could barely contain its laughter in the sea of consciousness. To get its master's attention, this guy really committed—beat up, yelled at, mistreated… what dedication.
And Song Wanníng didn't let his efforts go to waste. Each time, she would intervene and help. But her attitude remained cold. She saved him, then walked away.
This only made Qi Xiezi more convinced she was cold on the outside, warm on the inside. His plan was working. He doubled down on his performance, until one day—Song Wanníng finally furrowed her brow and spoke.
"Would you be willing to come with me?
I won't take you as a disciple, but I can bring you into a sect to cultivate. That is, if you're ready to let go of your worldly ties." Her voice was gentle, her gaze soft as it fell upon Qi Xiezi.
These days, she had been watching him closely. Not just the act he put on, but his reactions as well.
She let him believe he had succeeded.
After all, Qi Xiezi was notoriously slippery when it came to escaping. If he sensed anything wrong and fled, it would be much harder to track him down again.
"Really? I'll go with you!"
Qi Xiezi's eyes lit up. He practically skipped to her side.
"I'll go wherever Senior goes!"
Song Wanníng arched a brow and looked down at him.
Oh? Then let's go to hell.