Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess

"Perhaps."

Li Guanshi gently freed herself from the man's embrace and sat upright, her lustrous shoulders still adorned with a few strands of bent grass.

Jiang Shouzhong thought the woman was about to end the conversation, so he picked up his clothing nearby, but then saw Li Guanshi rise and walk toward the lake.

Under the lingering moonlight, her body glistened with sweat like mutton-fat jade, as if it had been painted with a luminous sheen, incredibly enticing.

Until that body, resembling a piece of art, gradually submerged into the water.

"Not going to wash?"

Li Guanshi glanced back at the man on the shore who was staring dazedly, flicking a few strands of wet hair stuck to her neck with her fingertips.

This action widened the ripples around her chest, making the view infinitely beautiful.

Cold and clear, playful, alluring, proud, gentle, innocently charming... If Jiang Yi is the witch, then this woman before him is the chameleon witch.

Jiang Shouzhong's Adam's apple moved twice, and he leaped into the water.

The moment the temperate water wrapped around his body, he saw Li Guanshi's cunning gaze flash. Before he could react, a splash of water came at him.

Instinctively, Jiang Shouzhong raised his hand to block, but droplets still slipped through his fingers and into his eyes, causing him to blink repeatedly.

Li Guanshi chuckled upon seeing this, her shoulders lightly trembling.

She gazed at Jiang Shouzhong, yet it seemed her eyes were directed toward the childhood days of Jiang Yi, as well as at herself.

"Hey! Attacking by surprise, are you?"

Jiang Shouzhong wiped the water off his face, ready to retaliate. But as he looked up, he saw that alluring snow-white figure glide into the deeper waters like a fish.

The moonlight broke into two parts at her waist.

Jiang Shouzhong pursued her.

Li Guanshi was skilled in swimming; previously, when Jiang Shouzhong badly injured and fell into the river, it was she who brought him to safety.

No matter how Jiang Shouzhong chased, she skillfully evaded him, occasionally letting her slender jade foot brush against his palm, only to swiftly withdraw before he could grasp it.

Eventually, Jiang Shouzhong could not even find the slightest trace of her.

"Fool."

Li Guanshi emerged on the other side, her soaked hair clinging to her porcelain-white cheeks.

She flicked her fingertips at Jiang Shouzhong's brow, and while he was momentarily stunned, swayed her waist like a fish's tail, swimming away, creating some distance, then surfaced and said with a bright smile:

"Remember, if a woman is truly determined to leave, don't chase her; you won't catch up."

Jiang Shouzhong asked: "What if I insist on chasing?"

Li Guanshi just shook her head with a smile.

Jiang Shouzhong gritted his teeth and continued his pursuit, finally catching her wrist when she was momentarily unguarded.

The two pushed and tussled, stirring ripples of silver waves.

Suddenly, Jiang Shouzhong let out a muffled groan because Li Guanshi's knee inadvertently brushed against the knife wound on his abdomen.

The woman suddenly became quiet.

Originally intending to leave, she instead approached him, her fingertips caressing the scar on his abdomen, the brightness of their playful moment gradually faded, replaced by an inscrutable mist in her eyes.

"If you can't catch up, then truly don't chase hard; forcing things will only hurt yourself."

Li Guanshi said softly.

Jiang Shouzhong gently placed his hand on her delicate, jade-like waist and whispered: "I know what you want to say, but since I've made up my mind, I won't let go."

But as soon as he finished speaking, she slipped away like a fish again, appearing on the other side.

Li Guanshi scooped up a handful of lake water.

As the droplets leaked from her fingers, under the moonlight, they gathered like trembling stars in the hollow of her collarbone.

Staring dazedly up at the stars and moon in the sky, the woman let out a quiet sigh: "Jiang Shouzhong, meeting me was the greatest misfortune of your life."

Amidst the undulating waves, water droplets slid down.

Following the curves, rolling all the way into the glistening mirror of the waves.

As if they were a single tear from the woman.

"Perhaps."

Jiang Shouzhong stepped forward to embrace the woman again, smiling, "But I will let you know, meeting me is your greatest fortune. In this life, and the next."

The man lowered his head and captured her lips.

The two gradually became entangled.

Their intertwined reflections shattered the starlit sky, transforming into a pool of sparkling rouge.

——

Time passed leisurely, drifting silently over several days.

During these days, the two were either "playing as mandarin ducks in the water," or on their way to "play as mandarin ducks in the water."

Until the last ten days of the forty-nine days remained, Li Guanshi suggested going to the South Sea Holy Sect.

From the small house where she lived with her master in childhood, to the Moon Pond where she had a deep sisterly bond with Jiang Yi in her youth, Li Guanshi adjusted her emotions step by step, trying her best to show her genuine feelings to the man.

Although her feelings for Jiang Shouzhong had already been imprinted in her heart, it seemed to still lack some seasoning.

She needed to achieve perfection.

So next, it was about the South Sea Holy Sect where she grew up.

Jiang Shouzhong naturally had no objections.

The two packed their luggage and set off once again.

This time the journey was quite smooth, without any trouble or obstacles along the way. They traveled by boat and took water routes, reaching a small island in less than three days.

This was the location of the South Sea Holy Sect.

However, Li Guanshi did not take Jiang Shouzhong into the Sect, but instead went to a cave dwelling at the foot of the mountain.

The cave dwelling was quite simple, with only a slightly worn stone bed and a pool.

"Is this where you once cultivated?"

Jiang Shouzhong curiously looked around.

Li Guanshi nodded, then shook her head gently and said, "This was the cave where the senior sister once cultivated. Later, Zhu Chan also cultivated here."

Senior sister?

The image of Luo Wanqing instantly appeared in the man's mind.

Jiang Shouzhong was quite surprised.

In his impression, the Empress, who seemed to carry her own light wherever she went and inevitably became the center of attention, had very high demands for the quality of life, exuding luxury and grandeur in every gesture.

It was really hard to imagine that her place of cultivation could be so plain and simple.

However, upon hearing that Ye Zhuchan had also once practiced here, Jiang Shouzhong felt a sudden wave of familiarity.

"People always change."

Li Guanshi extended her slender fingers, gently brushing over the dusty stone bed, and said softly, "When I first joined the Sect, my master had me cultivate with the senior sister, who treated me very well at that time.

If I was tired, suffering, or reluctant to practice, she would hold me, and we would rest quietly here. She would tell me stories from outside, coaxing me to sleep.

Actually, during that time, in my heart, the senior sister was truly my master."

Jiang Shouzhong's heart was stirred.

He didn't expect Luo Wanqing to have such a gentle side.

But it was hard to believe that these two had been so close given their cold demeanor each time they met.

Jiang Shouzhong asked, "What happened later?"

Li Guanshi smiled bitterly:

"Later, Jiang Wan became more valued in the Sect, and the senior sister's temperament gradually grew indifferent.

Moreover, as my progress in cultivation slowly caught up with hers, she no longer treated me as intimately as before."

Jiang Shouzhong nodded and concurred, "That does seem like Luo Wanqing's nature, too easily jealous of others."

Li Guanshi gently shook her head and corrected him:

"It wasn't jealousy, perhaps it was more unwillingness. Actually, she didn't harbor such deep resentment towards me or Jiang Wan. After Jiang Wan passed away, I followed my master's will and removed Jiang Wan's name from the register.

It was the senior sister who brought Jiang Wan's tombstone to question the South Sea Holy Sect, insisting that the register be restored to its original state, and even specially built a tomb for Jiang Wan."

Jiang Shouzhong's emotions were complicated.

Whether it was Jiang Yi or Luo Wanqing, they were both full of hostility towards others yet were very gentle in their hearts.

"Later, I succeeded the position of Sect Leader of the South Sea Holy Sect and adopted Zhu Chan."

Li Guanshi's gaze became soft as she continued,

"Originally, Jiang Wan intended to entrust Qingchen to me as well, to take her as my disciple, but later Jiang Wan took her away. Thus, Zhu Chan became my only family."

Saying this, Li Guanshi caressed the cold bedding, her expression full of nostalgia,

"Many times, when Zhu Chan found practicing arduous, complained about being tired, and didn't want to practice anymore, I would hold her in my arms like senior sister did for me back then, and softly coax her."

Li Guanshi suddenly looked up, directly meeting Jiang Shouzhong's gaze with a smile:

"Let me tell you something funny. Once, I punished Zhu Chan a bit too harshly, and that girl cried so hard, swearing while crying.

She said she would find a particularly powerful husband and marry me along with him. She also said that once she became the official wife, she would spank me every day."

Jiang Shouzhong laughed upon hearing this.

He didn't expect that the once Ye sister had such a side.

But in the next moment, the man was stunned.

He saw Li Guanshi leaning gently on the stone bed, her waist curving, and she said softly, "Why don't you punish me on her behalf first?"

The woman looked back at him, her eyes filled with allure.