The villain in the book: Lost all cultivation, the heroine reversed

"Ah, Xuan'er, are you trying to kill me!"

Ji Hongluan's face flushed red, and she angrily rebuked Yuan Kouxuan.

She was completely dumbfounded. She never expected that Yuan Kouxuan, with her aloof personality, would secretly do such a despicable thing behind her back. If she hadn't been suddenly awakened, she might not have even known.

Yuan Kouxuan was a little embarrassed. How could she be discovered on her first try? Because she was in the wrong, she really couldn't say anything in the face of Ji Hongluan's rebuke, and could only whisper:

"Hongluan-jie, don't be angry..."

"Now you know to call me Hongluan-jie, where were you earlier? You must give me an explanation for this matter, or I won't let you off!"

The more Ji Hongluan thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. She had just recently made up her mind not to compete with Yuan Kouxuan for the position of the main consort, but in the blink of an eye, she was subjected to deliberate retaliation. What was the difference between this and being given the cold shoulder? If they were really in the same family in the future, wouldn't she be bullied to death?

Seeing Ji Hongluan's red-rimmed eyes, like a wounded kitten, Tu Shan Xinya decided to speak up and offer some advice: "Um, Sect Leader Ji, actually..."

She was interrupted by Ji Hongluan before she could finish her sentence. She frowned and said:

"Little Aunt Yao, I was talking to her, not you! I thought you were a good person, but I didn't expect you to actually help the evildoer and bully me with this Xuan'er!"

Tu Shan Xinya: "..."

She was speechless, because she had indeed been somewhat tempted by what Yuan Kouxuan had said earlier, wanting to see what Sect Leader Ji would look like wearing a fox tail.

"Hongluan-jie, don't rush to get angry, let me explain."

Yuan Kouxuan tried her best to appease Ji Hongluan, speaking softly.

Ji Hongluan glanced at her, her tone still angry: "Explain then, I want to see how you'll try to justify yourself?"

"Hongluan-jie, first of all, I am very sorry for teasing you. I was wrong."

Yuan Kouxuan's attitude was sincere as she apologized.

'Just saying you're wrong is enough?'

Ji Hongluan was obviously not going to accept the apology so easily. Just as she was about to flare up, Yuan Kouxuan suddenly said:

"But Hongluan-jie, I wasn't just teasing you. I did this for the sake of our future happiness."

"Xuan'er, can you make it sound even more outrageous?" Ji Hongluan picked up the fox tail, shook it, and said in disbelief: "You call this a happy life?"

"Yes!"

Yuan Kouxuan nodded emphatically, then took out a yellowed book from her bosom. The book looked very old and had been flipped through many times, with even the pages creased. She handed the book to Ji Hongluan, her tone unusually gentle, and said:

"Hongluan-jie, you'll understand once you read it."

Tu Shan Xinya looked at the book, thinking that it should be the 'martial arts secret manual' that Yuan Kouxuan had confiscated from her junior sister, Xiaoqing.

"Isn't this an explanation? Why are you suddenly asking me to read a book? Is it recorded in this book!" Ji Hongluan frowned, took the book from Yuan Kouxuan's hand, and casually flipped through a few pages. When she saw what was inside, she immediately stopped talking, her face flushed red. She raised her eyes and stared at Yuan Kouxuan, her speech becoming awkward and stuttering:

"Xuan'er, you... you secretly are so... What is all this stuff? I'm not going to read it!"

Ji Hongluan was ashamed and indignant, and immediately wanted to throw the book back to Yuan Kouxuan. She never expected that this seemingly aloof Xuan'er was so impure at heart. She once thought that Xuan'er was easy to manipulate, but now it seemed that the opposite was true. She was the one who was easy to manipulate.

"Wait, Hongluan-jie, don't you want to improve your combat power so that you have a chance to compete with Shizun? Do you want to just give in like this, without making any progress, and fall asleep after only a few rounds, and then be teased by me? Are you really willing to accept that?"

Yuan Kouxuan stared intently at Ji Hongluan, her eyes very oppressive, as if interrogating Ji Hongluan's heart.

Sure enough, a trace of struggle appeared on Ji Hongluan's face. Of course she was unwilling. If she were willing, she wouldn't be provoked by that孽徒, Xu Yang, every time, and then go to fight him to the death. She was very ambitious and often fantasized about suppressing the孽徒 and then teaching him a lesson. But every time, due to her strength, it was often herself who was suppressed.

"If you're willing to accept this, then pretend I didn't say anything."

Yuan Kouxuan reached out to take the book back.

"Wait, don't be in such a hurry, let me take another look!"

Ji Hongluan felt that she really needed to improve her combat power in all aspects. She couldn't rely on herself alone to suppress that孽徒. Therefore, she had to absorb external energy to enrich herself. So, she patiently endured, even though her pretty face was flushed, and asked:

"Which page is this thing recorded on?"

She shook the tail again.

Yuan Kouxuan blurted out: "Page forty-three, count down, seventh line, and there's a corresponding diagram to its right!"

Ji Hongluan raised her eyebrows and, following Yuan Kouxuan's instructions, turned to page forty-three with suspicion. Sure enough, she saw the corresponding description on the seventh line, as well as the corresponding diagram. She looked at the book, then raised her eyes to look at Yuan Kouxuan, staring in disbelief:

"You memorized it all?"

Yuan Kouxuan blushed and said, "Practice makes perfect."

"Xuan'er, you're such a little pervert!"

Ji Hongluan couldn't help but say to Yuan Kouxuan. Then, she focused her attention on the pages of the book, intently absorbing knowledge.

Yuan Kouxuan mumbled a sentence, as if defending herself: "I'm actually trying to help Shizun better, otherwise I would also sneer at this book like Hongluan-jie!"

Ji Hongluan snorted, obviously feeling that Yuan Kouxuan's explanation was particularly weak. She didn't believe it at all.

Tu Shan Xinya, who was on the side, felt that her own combat power was also a bit too weak. She hadn't been able to help at all during the fierce battle just now. So she also moved closer to Ji Hongluan and began to concentrate on studying the divine skills recorded in the book, quickly simulating the contents in her mind. If it was useful, she could try it more in the future.

Ji Hongluan stared at it for a while, suddenly feeling a little dry. Reason told her that she couldn't continue reading, that this wasn't some kind of divine skill, but a harmful demonic skill that was luring people down the wrong path. But her emotions were urging her to continue reading. Even if the demonic skill had ten thousand shortcomings, its only advantage was that it could be mastered quickly. This was undeniable.

As someone who had been through it, Yuan Kouxuan considerately poured two cups of tea for Ji Hongluan and Tu Shan Xinya, and said: "Hongluan-jie, Xinya-jie, it's normal for your heart to beat faster at first, you'll get used to it slowly."

Ji Hongluan took the tea and pretended to be calm: "My heart isn't beating fast. I'm scrutinizing this book and won't be affected by it in any way."

It was still Ji Hongluan's signature stubbornness.

Yuan Kouxuan couldn't help but roll her eyes at her, but she didn't say much, because she was used to it.

As for Tu Shan Xinya, it was probably because she wasn't good at pretending, so it was easy for her to give herself away. Her cheeks were flushed red, like burning charcoal, emitting heat like crazy, causing the surrounding temperature to rise.

"It seems a bit hot today."

Tu Shan Xinya said embarrassedly.

"It's not that it's hot today, it's that you're a little hot."

Ji Hongluan silently moved a little further away. She was also very hot, afraid that if they were too close, they would directly burst into flames. If they burst into flames now, there would be no water to put them out.

About half an hour passed.

"Although this book isn't very good, it's still a demonic book. If the demonic skills recorded inside were spread, it would have endless consequences. So Xuan'er, how about this, I'll confiscate this book from you. Don't even think about reading it, it's too harmful to your body."

Although Ji Hongluan's face was flushed and her heart was pounding, she still stood on the moral high ground, righteously confiscating the book.

Yuan Kouxuan blinked her beautiful eyes and suddenly asked: "Hongluan-jie, what does the fifteenth line on page one hundred and one say?"

Without thinking, Ji Hongluan blurted out: "It's... um? Xuan'er!"

With a whoosh, Ji Hongluan's cheeks turned incredibly red, even spreading to her fair neck, as if she had been caught in a lie, especially shy.

"You... why are you asking this?"

Ji Hongluan preemptively asked.

"It's nothing, I'm just asking." Yuan Kouxuan's personality returned to its aloofness, and she said: "I also think it's a demonic skill, Hongluan-jie, you can confiscate it if you want. Anyway, Xiaoqing has a lot of demonic books like this one, and I'm also going to confiscate a few."

"A lot?"

Ji Hongluan's voice suddenly rose, as if she felt that her reaction was a bit too much. She quickly lowered her voice and said seriously:

"Ahem, I'll go with you to confiscate them."

"There's no need, right?" Yuan Kouxuan refused.

The reason why she was willing to let Ji Hongluan confiscate the book was simply because she had read it so many, many times that she had already memorized it backwards and forwards. But Qing'er had many new books that she hadn't read yet, so naturally she didn't want Ji Hongluan to confiscate them.

"Xuan'er, think carefully. I haven't even settled the score with you for teasing me so much just now. Are you sure you want to refuse me now?"

Ji Hongluan put on the posture of a victim, as if she wouldn't give up if Yuan Kouxuan didn't take her.

"Hongluan-jie, at worst, I'll let you tease me back." Yuan Kouxuan was determined not to take Ji Hongluan.

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure?"

Ji Hongluan's voice suddenly became a little weak.

Yuan Kouxuan said indifferently: "Sure."

After getting Yuan Kouxuan's affirmative answer, Ji Hongluan was very sure that Yuan Kouxuan must have secretly tried it many times to be so confident and calm. If she really wanted to tease her back, she wouldn't be punishing her, but rewarding her. She wouldn't do such a thankless thing.

"Hmph, you think I'm as childish as you, teasing back?"

Ji Hongluan snorted, then returned the things to Yuan Kouxuan, and instructed:

"Take care of your things. Don't use this thing to tease me while I'm asleep in the future. I'll forgive you this time because I'm generous, but I won't spare you next time."

After saying that, Ji Hongluan put on her clothes and walked outside, saying:

"I'm leaving first. There are some urgent matters waiting for me to deal with."

Yuan Kouxuan reached out and put on her clothes, and called out to Ji Hongluan:

"Hongluan-jie, why don't you wait for me?"

"Wait for you to do what? I'm going to deal with matters, not to play house?"

Ji Hongluan walked quickly, as if afraid that Yuan Kouxuan would catch up. In the blink of an eye, she disappeared from sight.

Tu Shan Xinya, who was on the side, had not spoken all this time because she was trying her best to digest the knowledge she had just learned. After finally digesting it and coming back to her senses, she saw Ji Hongluan and Yuan Kouxuan, one in front of the other, hurriedly leaving. She asked in confusion:

"Xuan'er-meimei, what's going on?"

"Xinya-jie, hurry up and follow. Hongluan-jie must be going to Xiaoqing's to snatch books. We have to stop her!"

Yuan Kouxuan didn't leave Tu Shan Xinya behind.

"Okay." Tu Shan Xinya agreed in a daze.

......

......

Not long after.

Peach Blossom Abode.

Ji Hongluan descended on the steps in front of the door. She looked back and saw that Yuan Kouxuan had not caught up. She didn't relax, but quickly walked into the room, looked at Situ Qingqing, who was doing her makeup and washing up, and walked closer with a smile, saying:

"Xiaoqing."

Situ Qingqing was startled: "Sect... Sect Leader?"

"Don't call me Sect Leader, just call me Hongluan-jie."

Ji Hongluan expressed her closeness to Situ Qingqing.

But Situ Qingqing didn't feel much closer. Instead, she became vigilant in her heart.

As the saying goes, one doesn't visit a temple without a reason. She knew that she wasn't very familiar with the Sect Leader, and the Sect Leader shouldn't be so enthusiastic towards her. So the Sect Leader's current appearance was extremely abnormal. She suspected that the Sect Leader had her eye on something of hers...

"Okay, Hongluan-jie." Situ Qingqing didn't directly expose her, but pretended to be obedient and called out.

"Hey!"

Ji Hongluan happily agreed and said:

"Since we're all sisters, then I won't hide anything from you. I'll just tell you directly. I heard that you have a lot of books there. I'd like to borrow a few to study. What do you think?"

'Sure enough, this Sect Leader is insidious and wants to borrow my treasures. But then again, how did the Sect Leader know that I have treasures here? Never mind these things. These treasures are my secret weapons and must not be taken away by the Sect Leader with just a few words.'

Situ Qingqing's inner alarm bells rang loudly, but she remained calm and pretended not to understand, saying:

"Hongluan-jie, the books you're talking about should be the cultivation methods and secret techniques that Shizun bestowed upon me, right? Because I haven't fully mastered some of them, I can only lend you a portion. I hope you don't mind!"

As soon as Ji Hongluan heard this, her phoenix eyes narrowed, looking at Situ Qingqing, just about to open her mouth: "..."

The voice of Yuan Kouxuan came from her ear.

"Xiaoqing, don't lend the books to Hongluan-jie!"

Yuan Kouxuan and Tu Shan Xinya walked in side by side, glanced at Yuan Kouxuan, and then focused their attention on Situ Qingqing, and ordered.

This sentence made Situ Qingqing very angry, thinking:

"My treasures, I can lend them to whoever I want. Why do I need your consent? Just because you're the eldest senior sister, just because you have that Qing'ai sword? I may not... Okay, I'm really scared. If I don't lend them, I won't lend them anyway. I didn't plan to lend them in the first place!"

She knew very well that if she lent out her precious item, it would be like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone forever!