I, the Reborn Villain, After Nine Lifetimes of Simping Over the Empress, Crushed the System and Escaped - Chapter 13:

Chapter 13: You Want It for Free?

Yu Xiyan turned her head and saw a young man with a face so charming it could captivate thousands. He was curiously looking around, while the other version of herself smiled quietly at him, gazing softly at the youth she had run into by chance. The two walked together into the pavilion, one behind the other.

Yu Xiyan’s face turned cold as frost. 

She could never forget this young man before her—Lin Feng, only twenty-four years old at the time. He was the man who ruined her life, destroyed Shen Zhao, and brought down her empire. That year, Yu Xiyan was twenty-seven, in the tenth year of her reign.

Because Shen Zhao had boldly reformed the court, changing the nation’s policies from conservative to expansionist, endless wealth poured in. Shen Zhao alone had provided her with countless treasures of heaven and earth, allowing her cultivation to soar. Within ten years of ascending the throne, she had already reached the threshold of the Supreme Realm. With her improved cultivation and the effects of priceless Youth-Preserving Pills, Yu Xiyan’s beauty remained at eighteen, making her appear even younger than Lin Feng.

Inside the pavilion, Yu Xiyan personally poured tea for Lin Feng. It was Dao Comprehension Tea, a gift from Shen Zhao himself, something she rarely even drank, yet she willingly shared it with Lin Feng, a man she had only met a handful of times.

“Big Sister, with your beauty that could topple kingdoms, no man in this world could resist falling for you at first sight.”

“You little flatterer, am I really as good as you say?”

“I swear, you’re the gentlest and most beautiful sister under heaven. I wish I could stay by your side every day.”

“If that’s the case, then you’d better spend more time with your sister.”

“Yes. Oh, Sister, I heard your husband is the God of War of the Heavenly Dominion Empire, with countless great victories to his name. You’re so lucky to have such a man…”

“Xiao Feng, if you don’t want to make me angry, then never mention that man’s name in front of me again, understood?”

“What? Did he treat you badly? How could that be? If I had a wife like you, I’d want to be with you every day.”

“Xiao Feng, do you want me to throw you out?”

“Sorry, I just feel it’s unfair to you. But I’ll listen to Sister, don’t be angry.”

“That’s better. Now tell me, where do you want to go tomorrow? I’ll go with you.”

“Really? Then tomorrow I want to explore the Fuxi Abyss Secret Realm. Would Sister come with me?”

“You little rascal, if you want to improve your cultivation, you don’t need to go to such dangerous places. Just tell me, and I’ll give you plenty of treasures to help. Whatever you want, Sister will give it to you.”

“I appreciate your kindness, Sister, but I want to obtain what I desire with my own strength.”

“Quite ambitious. Alright then, I’ll protect you.”

“Great! But, Sister, why are you so good to me?”

“What? I can’t treat you well?”

“That’s not it. I just wish we could always be like this. Sister, can I stay with you tonight?”

“Xiao Feng, I know what you’re thinking. I want to give myself to you too, but not yet. Please, wait a little longer.”

“But I like you so much, Sister. Do you really have the heart to see me suffer like this? Just once, let me be willful, just this once. I’ll never betray you…”

“You little pervert. Do you know what it means if we cross that line?”

“I’ll take responsibility. I swear it.”

“Xiao Feng, I want to give myself to you too, but I’m not ready yet. Give me more time. My body and heart already belong to you. And let me tell you a secret—between him and me, nothing ever happened. I’m still untouched.”

“What? Sister, you…”

“Are you happy now? Will you wait for me?”

“Yes! Sister, I’ll wait. I don’t even know what to say, I’m too excited. But if you don’t want this, I won’t force you. Let me tell you a joke instead.”

“Alright~”

Watching this scene, Yu Xiyan’s whole body went cold. The two in the illusion grew closer, their gestures more intimate, all her smiles given to Lin Feng. Looking at her lovestruck expression, Yu Xiyan suddenly felt her stomach churn violently, almost retching. She was disgusted by her former self.

At that moment, she heard footsteps outside. Yu Xiyan looked toward the door and saw Shen Zhao standing silently there. His face was pale, his hand clutched his chest, and he said nothing.

That night, Shen Zhao had returned victorious from subjugating the North Sea Jiao Clan. They had knelt in submission and sent hostages to court. He had intended to bring the good news to Yu Xiyan personally. But after hearing the voices inside, his usual calm smile never appeared again.

“Idiot, push the door open!” Yu Xiyan whispered.

But Shen Zhao’s expression twisted with pain. His hand pressed tighter against his chest. After a long moment, he gave a bitter, self-mocking laugh, lowered his hand from the door, and turned away with a lost expression.

“She treated you like this, and you’re still not angry?” Yu Xiyan chased after him, desperate to hold onto his figure. But her body passed straight through his shadow.

“…”

Shen Zhao sat silently beneath the Glazed Night Begonia Tree, clutching his chest without a word, staring at the moon with reddening eyes. Suddenly, his gaze grew icy, and his hand clenched tighter against his chest.

The next moment, a mouthful of blood burst out. Yet he wiped it away calmly, steadied himself with a deep breath, and walked decisively out of the courtyard.

“I’m sorry… truly sorry…” Yu Xiyan whispered to his lonely back as the illusion faded, everything returning to its cold reality. She closed her eyes, unaware that tears had already soaked her robe.

In Lin Feng’s eyes, she saw only fragments of gloom and pleading that evoked pity. But Shen Zhao’s gaze had always been steady and resolute, never wavering, as though no hardship could ever force him to retreat. Perhaps that was why she once felt drawn to Lin Feng. As an emperor, she had wanted someone obedient by her side, like a loyal dog, not a man with strength and ambition.

But had Shen Zhao ever defied her? He never needed her to speak; he silently solved every problem for her. Was it only because he never spoke sweet words or practiced romance? Shen Zhao’s romance was never empty talk but real actions. And she, time and again, had mistaken his actions as schemes, pushing him out of her heart.

Even their wedding had been simple, less grand than the ceremony of a third-rank marquis. Yet Shen Zhao never minded, giving everything for her and the empire until the very end. If only she had looked at him more, treated him better, tried to understand him more…

The more Yu Xiyan thought, the deeper her guilt grew. “In this life, I will never abandon you again.”

…

In Qingyang City, inside the Fight Club.

“Boss Shen, I’m here to pick up my spear!”

Early in the morning of the third day, Su Yunyin skipped in lightly to find Shen Zhao. At that moment, Shen Zhao had just finished his meal and was lying lazily on a rocking chair, half-dozing. With a casual glance, he drew out the Lone Goose Spear from his storage ring and tossed it to her without lifting his head.

The moment Su Yunyin gripped the shaft, her clear eyes widened. A torrent of spiritual energy surged through her body, slamming against her qi sea. In just a few breaths, she felt on the verge of breaking through.

“This is…?”

She looked at the spearhead wrapped in silk. The shaft, once broken, made of millennia-old Profound Yin Wood, was now fully restored, reinforced with a layer of solidified ice threads.

“The shaft had withered. I used the Source of Life to revive it, then reinforced it with Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Threads. Unless it hits something absurdly strong, it won’t break again.”

Su Yunyin’s breath caught. “The Source of Life? Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Threads? Each of those is priceless, and you used them to repair my spear? Wait… my spear’s grade has risen? This is… a Heaven-tier spiritual weapon?”

She trembled, overwhelmed by the realization. Every cultivator knew what a Heaven-tier spiritual weapon meant. And to think her broken Yellow-tier spear had been repaired into this? What kind of sorcery was this?

“Heaven-tier? Hehe, why don’t you take a closer look? Touch the spearhead. But don’t unwrap the silk, or I won’t be responsible for what happens.”

Following his words, Su Yunyin pressed her palm against the spearhead. Instantly, an overwhelming torrent of energy burst into her, surging like a flood. In one breath, her cultivation leapt from 1st stage Origin Absorption Realm to 2nd stage.

“This is… an Emperor-tier spiritual weapon!”

Spiritual weapons were ranked: Yellow, Black, Earth, Heaven, Emperor, Immortal, and Creation.

Covering her lips in shock, Su Yunyin finally understood why Shen Zhao warned her not to unwrap it. The birth of an Emperor-tier spiritual weapon would summon visions of heaven and earth, attracting countless powerful cultivators, and she would never know peace again.

Shen Zhao yawned and said, “Resources were limited, so I made do. Satisfied with the repair? If so, settle the bill.”

Su Yunyin quickly stowed the spear away and asked, “How much?”

“First customer discount. Labor and materials included, 1,000 supreme-grade spirit stones. That’s cheap, right?”

A thousand supreme-grade spirit stones for an Emperor-tier weapon? If the great sects heard this, they’d fight to the death over it. Cheap? It was practically free!

Su Yunyin blinked, thought for a moment, then pulled out three spirit crystals from her robe. “I only have three spirit crystals.” (One spirit crystal is worth about one-tenth of a low-grade spirit stone.)

“1,000 supreme-grade spirit stones.”

“Three spirit crystals.”

“1,000 supreme-grade spirit stones.”

“Three spirit crystals. Take it or leave it.”

Shen Zhao suddenly sat upright, glaring at her pure, beautiful face, and sneered. “Girl, are you trying to freeload? Believe it or not, I’ll sell you off to the pleasure houses to settle the debt!”

Su Yunyin only smiled. “Boss Shen, I know this may be hard for you to accept, but I really don’t have more money. Why don’t I stay and work off the debt? I don’t need much. Just give me food, a place to stay, and a few low-grade spirit stones each month.”

“You want a free Emperor-tier weapon, and you expect me to pay you wages on top of that? Do you think you’re funny?”

“Don’t be mad. How about we strike a deal?” Su Yunyin dragged over a stool and sat beside him. “I have an idea. Want to hear it?”

“Go ahead, spin your tale. I’m curious to see what you’ll come up with.”

“My dream since childhood has been to become a Female Emperor of the Immortal Martial Continent. I believe Boss Shen has the ability and vision to help me achieve it. If you do, not just 1,000, even 100,000 supreme-grade spirit stones will be nothing. Would you consider it?”

“Girl, do you know the difference between a dream and a delusion? Do you think you look like a Female Emperor?”

“Then what does a Female Emperor look like?”

“A true Female Emperor exudes majesty in every movement. Do you see even a trace of that in yourself? By the way, how old are you?”

“I’ll be sixteen in two months. Why?”

“Heh. Get lost…”

Shen Zhao looked at the girl’s sly smile and could only show a face full of disdain. Raise a Female Emperor? Easy to say! Did she know how much time, effort, and resources that would cost?!