I Transmigrated into a Novel as a Villain, and My System Refreshes Randomly - Chapter 22:

Chapter 22: The Imaginative Liu Qingyou

Qin Xiao looked at Geng Yu, who was still clinging to his leg with a desperate “Divine doctor, save me” expression. The faint smile on Qin Xiao’s lips deepened slightly.

He patted Geng Yu’s shoulder lightly. “Alright, get up. Look at yourself.”

Though his tone was calm, it carried an unquestionable authority.

Geng Yu immediately let go, quickly scrambling to his feet. His face bloomed with a fawning smile, hands rubbing together like a dog waiting for a reward. “Big brother, just give the word! No matter if it’s the knife mountain or the sea of fire, I won’t say no!” His change in attitude was impressively fast.

Qin Xiao brushed at his trouser leg where there was no dust and looked off into the distance as if planning something. “Don’t rush to thank me. First, help me with a small task.”

Geng Yu slapped his chest with loud thumps, eyes gleaming with anticipation—scheming against someone was his favorite. “Big brother, just say it! Anything at all! I’ll go through fire and water without hesitation!”

A faint glint flashed in Qin Xiao’s eyes as he said with a trace of amusement, “Later, come with me to the Treasure Pavilion. Once we’re there, pick out a jade piece.” He paused, then added, “I have an enemy named Ye Chen. He’ll definitely be there later to buy that exact piece. What you have to do is simple.”

Qin Xiao’s gaze fixed on Geng Yu, a cold smile tugging at his lips. “Get there before him and buy the jade. Then, when he tries to get it, jack up the price until he bleeds dry. Best case, make him sell his underwear.”

Geng Yu’s eyes went wide with excitement, hands rubbing together as an unrestrainedly wicked grin spread across his face, even letting out a creepy chuckle. “Hehehe, big brother, I know this game well! Cheating people is my specialty! No problem!”

Thumping his chest again with confidence, he swore, “Just watch me! If I don’t strip that Ye guy to nothing, my surname isn’t Geng! I’ll make him cry for his parents!”

Qin Xiao nodded without further comment and turned toward the Treasure Pavilion. Geng Yu trotted after him, his mind full of ways to creatively fleece Ye Chen, his steps noticeably lighter.

Before long, they arrived at the most famous antique shop in the Imperial Capital—the Treasure Pavilion. 

The place exuded an ancient charm; its storefront wasn’t large, but there was an understated luxury about it. The air was laced with sandalwood and old wood, a sharp contrast to the bustling noise outside. One glance made it clear this was a place with deep heritage.

Upon entering, a woman in a graceful pale-blue hanfu was using a feather duster to gently sweep dust off a blue-and-white porcelain vase. Her figure was slender, her bearing refined and elegant. Her long hair was simply coiled up, revealing a smooth forehead and delicate profile, like a lady stepping out from an ancient painting. She was the Liu family’s talented daughter, Liu Qingyou.

Qin Xiao’s gaze swept casually and met hers just as she looked up.

When Liu Qingyou saw that strikingly handsome face, steady demeanor, and indescribable air of allure, her hand stilled ever so slightly. 

Surprise flickered in her clear eyes. 

She had never met such a man before—not the flashy playboys nor the overly solemn elders she was used to. The man before her was cultured yet carried an unfathomable depth in his gaze, as though it held stars and oceans, and every movement exuded undeniable strength.

Her heart, normally as calm as still water, felt as though a stone had been dropped into it, sending ripples across the surface. 

She instinctively looked away, a faint blush coloring her ears.

Qin Xiao also took note of the national-style beauty. 

Just as the reports had described—graceful, poised, and as refined as an orchid. Her hanfu perfectly accentuated her curves.

But his thoughts now were focused on the upcoming plan and on digging a precise pit for Ye Chen. To avoid unnecessary complications, he simply gave a polite nod, smiling in a distant yet courteous way. “Hello, we’re just here to browse antiques.”

His voice was calm and gentle, yet held a natural sense of distance, clearly marking himself as just a customer.

Liu Qingyou felt the warmth in her cheeks rise again. She quickly set down the duster, her heart still pounding unreasonably. 

Composing herself, she tried to keep her posture flawless.

Qin Xiao noticed she was still standing there, her gaze a little unfocused, and frowned slightly. He snapped his fingers. The crisp sound pulled Liu Qingyou from her daze. She jolted back to reality, her fair face flushing crimson like the richest rouge, eyes flickering with panic as she looked at Qin Xiao.

“Ah… y-yes!” She quickly said, “Please, both of you, come in. May I ask… what type of antiques are you looking for?” She tried to keep her tone calm, but the faint tremor at the end betrayed her inner unrest.

Geng Yu, oblivious to the undercurrent between them, was already captivated by the sparkling antiques—especially the jade section, his eyes nearly popping out. He sauntered over to a glass display case and pointed at a piece of smooth, lustrous jade. Among the ornate jade pieces, it seemed ordinary, but on closer inspection, it carried a subtle, hard-to-describe aura.

“Big brother, is it this one?”

Qin Xiao’s gaze followed to the jade as he asked Yun Yiyi in his mind, “Yiyi, confirm—is this the one?”

[Yes, Host! According to the original plot, Ye Chen’s target is this spirit-infused jade! He’s going to use it to boost his strength!] Yun Yiyi’s voice was bright with pride.

A faint glimmer passed through Qin Xiao’s eyes as he said, “Can you get me a system that absorbs spiritual energy? Preferably one that can drain this jade completely.”

[Got it! Yiyi will refresh right away! I’ll find something amazing!] The system’s interface flashed rapidly before him.

[Ding! Refreshing…]

[Ding! Refresh failed. Acquired system: [Left Foot Always Lands First] (Silver).]

[Ding! Refreshing…]

[Ding! Refresh failed. Acquired system: [10% Higher Chance of Food Sticking Between Teeth When Drinking Water] (Silver).]

[Ding! Refreshing…]

[Ding! Refresh failed. Acquired system: [Mosquito Bites Swell Larger] (Silver).]

Three refreshes, all useless silver-grade junk, and Qin Xiao’s expression darkened.

[Yiyi’s voice trembled.] [I’m sorry, Host… today’s refresh limit is used up, and I still couldn’t get one that absorbs spiritual energy… I’m so useless…]

Qin Xiao’s brows lifted slightly—he wasn’t angry. He had already anticipated this; this lousy system was unreliable.

Yun Yiyi added, her tone aggrieved, [Host, I just scanned the jade—it carries the Child of Destiny’s luck imprint. It’s Ye Chen’s exclusive item and can’t be directly destroyed or drained. External interference is nearly impossible.]

An exclusive item that couldn’t be destroyed?

Qin Xiao’s lips curved in a sly smile. His gaze shifted to a gold-grade system from the refresh results he had initially ignored.

[Modify Item Attributes] (One-time)

Function: Can designate a non-living item and alter one or more basic attributes. The modification’s scope depends on the item’s nature and the user’s luck value.

If Ye Chen wanted to absorb the jade’s energy… then Qin Xiao would make sure he absorbed plenty—so much that it would overwhelm him.

Focusing on the jade, Qin Xiao brought up its stats:

[Item: Nameless Ancient Jade]

[Quality: Rare]

[Spiritual Energy: 100/100]

[Durability: 100/100]

[Special Effect: Nourishes the Soul (Requires specific cultivation method to activate)]

He used [Modify Item Attributes] without hesitation, boosting the spiritual energy from 100 to 3000—thirty times higher—and slashing the durability from 100 to 1, fragile as a cicada’s wing.

[Ding! Item modification successful!]

[Current Item: Nameless Ancient Jade (Modified)]

[Quality: Rare (Extremely Unstable Structure)]

[Spiritual Energy: 3000/3000 (Berserk State)]

[Durability: 1/1]

[Special Effect: Nourishes the Soul (Activation may cause instant disintegration)]

Looking at the altered stats, Qin Xiao’s eyes gleamed with mischievous satisfaction. Ye Chen, I hope you can handle this “gift.”

“Brother, this is the one—buy it!”