The improved female villains regained their memories.

"Is my senior sister going to kill me?"

"Not necessarily, the key is whether you are honest or not."

"Senior sister, may I ask a question first?"

"ask."

"Senior sister, are you planning to join our Demonic Sect?"

Wen Shihan smiled.

A chilling, enigmatic laugh.

"What do you think?"

Chapter Nineteen: Human Schemes

Regardless of who Wen Shihan is in reality or whether she has any villainous labels, at least from an outsider's perspective, she is a genuine rising star of the righteous path.

Even Dao Ranzi and Mu Xiaobai thought she was almost stubborn, so why did Shangguan Qing think she would join the Demon Sect?

So Wen Shihan countered with a question: having regained her memories, she was certainly not a good person, but what was wrong with joining the Demonic Sect if it could achieve her goals? However, Wen Shihan first needed to determine the basis for Shangguan Qing's statement.

"I think you will, because only the Demonic Sect is your final destination."

Shangguan Qing spoke, and as expected, it was an affirmative answer.

Wen Shihan lowered his eyes slightly and asked, "What is the basis for this?"

"The sect leader has already calculated that you are a person with great fortune. A person like you will not be bound by morality, benevolence, righteousness, and propriety. What you want is profit, real profit."

Shangguan Qing straightened his back, his face full of confidence: "I believe in the sect leader's ability to calculate. He has already said that for someone with your great fortune, staying in the so-called righteous path and learning those false social skills would be a desecration of your talent. Only our Demonic Sect, regardless of family background or social skills, rewards those who have merit and punishes those who have committed crimes, is the most suitable soil for you to grow."

His words were forceful and clear, unlike those of a spy from the Demonic Sect.

"Lord Wen Shihan, forgive my bluntness, but the Jade Cauldron Sect is not worthy of you. I think you yourself know in your heart what kind of place is suitable for you. In this sect that protects its own, appoints relatives and friends, and has no ambition, you will never be able to reach the top. As for our Demonic Sect, we do not look at background or morality, but only ability. Only our Demonic Sect will support you, my lord."

"Think about it, Lord Wen Shihan. Think about what kind of person you really are, and think about who is your best choice."

It must be said that Shangguan Qing's words were very much to Wen Shihan's liking.

If none of these things had happened, Wen Shihan, even if he didn't agree immediately, would most likely have started making contact in secret. But now, having already understood everything, Wen Shihan simply smiled and then decisively unleashed his killing move.

In an instant, Shangguan Qing was subdued. Although both were at the Earth Immortal realm, the difference between them was too great. The black dragon formed from Yin spiritual energy coiled around her, constantly eroding her body and spiritual root. Shangguan Qing was horrified to discover that in just a short time, a quarter of her spiritual energy had been corroded.

"Well said."

Wen Shihan stood up, his dark eyes calm and composed.

"But I would like to borrow something from you."

Shangguan Qing was terrified: "What?"

"life."

A single word, yet it contorted Wen Shihan's handsome face.

Shangguan Qing asked incredulously, "Do you really care that much about the so-called righteous path?"

Not only did they refuse outright, but they even harbored murderous intent. Even for the sake of righteousness, shouldn't they have brought her to justice and handed her over to the sect for processing?

"The righteous path? Hehehehehe..."

The black dragon roared, tearing at Shangguan Qing's spiritual root. Only when the latter was in unbearable pain did Wen Shihan slowly speak.

Why care so much about a dead person?

"you……"

When the other Shangguan Qing emerged from the shadows, the real Shangguan Qing suddenly understood something.

However, she realized it too late. Wen Shihan no longer held back, and his Yin spiritual energy swept over her like a vast ocean, extracting Shangguan Qing's memories in the process.

Shangguan Qing died in extreme shock.

Not only was Wen Shihan's true personality revealed at this moment, but her true cultivation level was also shocking.

The realm of celestial beings.

Wen Shihan of the Jade Cauldron Sect, the leader of the new generation of cultivators, is not at the Earth Immortal realm at all, but at the Celestial Immortal realm.

What's this guy up to, hiding his true strength?!

Shangguan Qing will never know the answer to this question.

Having eliminated the real Shangguan Qing and seized his memories and related items from the Demonic Sect, Wen Shihan had finally taken his first step.

“A person of great fortune… I see. The Demon Sect Master also calculated it, but unlike Dao Ranzi, he, who specializes in calculations, calculated one more person.”

Wen Shihan silently pondered after examining the other person's memories.

Wen Shihan, Mu Xiaobai, and Lin Dongchu.

These three individuals possess great destiny and are destined to bring about change in the future.

The Demon Sect Master specializes in divination, and his abilities are even more accurate than Dao Ranzi's, making him the foremost divination expert of our time. He has predicted the three individuals who will bring about change, but because Mu Xiaobai is too special to be touched, he has been trying to influence Wen Shihan and Lin Dong.

In the original timeline, the Demon Sect Master was the mastermind. Knowing Wen Shihan's true nature, he sent someone to entice him. He knew Lin Dong was loyal and righteous, but lacked love due to his childhood experiences, so he used a honey trap. He knew Dao Ranzi had also figured this out, so he exploited Dao Ranzi's desire to win Mu Xiaobai's heart, attempting to destroy this uncontrollable figure of change.

However, he hadn't anticipated Wen Shihan's extreme unpredictability and ruthless methods. He also hadn't foreseen that Mu Xiaobai would ultimately break free from Dao Ranzi's control, not only escaping destruction but also rising from the ashes. He further hadn't anticipated that the person sent to carry out the honey trap would actually fall in love with Lin Dong, betraying him and even willingly sacrificing herself for him.

In the original timeline, these were all things he hadn't foreseen. This so-called number one predictor wanted to control the future, but ultimately he couldn't control anything. Isn't that ironic and tragic?

The Demon Sect Master failed because he failed to grasp that crucial point, and Shangguan Qing was that crucial point. On one hand, she influenced Wen Shihan to join the Demon Sect. On the other hand, she ultimately fell in love with Lin Dongchu and died for him, becoming his eternal regret.

Now, Wen Shihan has been caught.

She trusted no one, so she killed the original owner of the body and replaced her with an avatar. Over the years, her avatar killing technique has improved; she can not only replace anyone but also possess most of the replaced person's strength. Of course, the simulated spiritual energy is fake and easily exposed as yin spiritual energy.

However, that's enough. Now, Wen Shihan can finally begin his plan.

The next day, Lin Dongchu of Hanshui Peak received a letter.

It was a letter from Shangguan Qing to him. In the letter, she responded to Lin Dong's feelings for her for the first time and asked him to meet her that night in the suburbs outside the sect.

For some reason, Lin Dong felt a sense of unease, but since it was a reply from someone he cared about, and the handwriting was genuine, he decided to go anyway.

When he arrived, the peak master of Cold Water Peak originally wanted to see him to discuss matters concerning the secret realm. However, because someone had given him a clue about the death of his disciple outside the sect years ago, he did not immediately seek out Lin Dongchu, but instead went to investigate along that clue. By a twist of fate, he missed his last meeting with Lin Dongchu.

That night.

The night was dark and the wind was high.

It was the night of the murder.

Chapter Twenty: The Return of an Old Friend

A bird's cry pierced the valley.

On the day of Lichun (the beginning of spring), the sky was bright and clear, all things were reviving, and after a rain, the air was much fresher. Yang Pingsheng stood at the gate of the courtyard to welcome a special guest.

Xiaoyu went to cook, with Dahuang by his side. Wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, and the flowers and grasses in the valley clung to the dew. He squinted and looked up at the sky, lost in thought.

A black cat jumped onto the wall, which made Big Yellow bark loudly.

"Big Yellow, don't bark."

Yang Pingsheng patted Da Huang's head, then looked at the black cat with a complicated expression.

"haven't seen you for a long time."

"Hmm," the black cat said, speaking in human language, "Long time no see."

This is his system, which in some ways is a testament to Yang Pingsheng's nine lifetimes.

Nine worlds of time, nine worlds of experiences, regardless of our initial purpose or our individual thoughts, we have come this far together.

"How come you've turned into a cat after all this time?"

"So what? You still recognized me, didn't you?"

"Can I eat something?"

"Fish is best."

This isn't just turning into a cat, it's truly becoming a cat.

At the dining table in the small courtyard, two people, a cat, and a dog began a special meal.

Big Yellow happily gnawed on a bone, while Little Rain sat next to Yang Pingsheng. Across from them was the black cat, a manifestation of the system. It sat on the table, head down, taking small bites of the fish in its bowl.

The fish came from the river next door. Xiaoyu went fishing early in the morning. At the time, Yang Pingsheng didn't understand why she went fishing so early in the morning, but now he does.

The red, hooked tongue licked the last bit of fish meat off the fish bones, and the black cat let out a satisfied burp, saying, "Thank you for the meal."

Except for not being able to meow, it's no different from a real cat.

Having experienced nine lifetimes of ups and downs, seeing the system again inevitably stirs up some memories. The world is a turbulent place, with moments of peak and moments of trough, but now, the past is like smoke, all gone and scattered.

But as those old friends began to return, the heart, which had been closed off for nine generations, gradually began to stir.

"Xiaoyu has told me the general situation. To be honest, there's nothing I can do about it."

However, Yang Pingsheng was greatly disappointed by his old friend's answer.

"To be honest, I've retired too," the black cat said. "Now, apart from some basic functions, I'm no different from an ordinary cat."

The system didn't say why it was retiring, but Yang Pingsheng could probably guess.

In his ninth life, the system had expressed this idea to him. It was a night with a sky full of stars, and the two of them, looking up at the sky, had a long-awaited heart-to-heart talk.

The mission was almost complete, and Yang Pingsheng would soon be able to realize his wish. Suddenly, on a whim, he asked the system what would happen after the mission was over.

The system's response at the time was not explicitly stated, but Yang Pingsheng remembers it very clearly.

"I'll most likely find a new host, but if possible, I'd choose to live a carefree life."

While being carefree is certainly carefree, does becoming a cat mean that problems can't be solved?

“I have to remind you of something: Wen Shihan’s memories may have returned. Aren’t you going to do anything about that?” Yang Pingsheng asked.

The black cat rolled its eyes: "I'd like to help, but jumping between worlds is already a stretch, what else can I do?"

"The problem is, she's come knocking on our door now."