After nine lifetimes of reincarnation, the yandere villainous heroine descends.

Tianwu Zhenshi thirty-eight years.

February 9th.

A pristine snowfall added a touch of coldness to Kyoto.

In the depths of winter, with ice and snow covering the ground, even the air seems to freeze.

That year, Jiang Qianqiu turned ten, and Shen Shuchou had been in this world for six years.

This scene felt familiar, as if I had returned to that thatched hut in Blackrock Town, which was always on the verge of collapsing under the weight of the snow.

Shen Shuchou sat casually on the steps of the villa, lost in thought.

A sense of unease filled his body; Shen Shuchou knew that something unexpected was about to happen.

The last time I felt this way was two years ago. If that was just a warning, this time it's really coming.

"Hey! What are you thinking about so intently? You didn't even notice I was here."

Suddenly, a clear female voice came from beside me.

Shen Shuchou snapped out of his daze and knew without a second thought that it was Wen Yuning who had arrived.

Over the past two years, Wen Yuning has frequently come to see him.

Even Wen Yuning had expressed her feelings for him, but Shen Shuchou rejected her without a second thought.

He's a dying man, he doesn't belong to this world, so why should he waste his time?

Despite his repeated rejections and attempts to keep people at arm's length, Wen Yuning always rushed forward without hesitation.

Shen Shuchou's feelings towards Wen Yuning were complicated, leaving him unsure how to face her.

"What are you doing here?"

Shen Shuchou's voice was always neither warm nor cold.

"I'm sending you and Qianqiu some clothes. I knitted them myself, just like the one I'm wearing."

Wen Yuning didn't care and said with a smile.

Shen Shuchou then turned around to look at Wen Yuning.

She was dressed in a snow-white fox fur coat, her hands supporting her chin as she smiled and looked at Shen Shuchou, with two folded pieces of clothing in her arms.

Wen Yuning placed the clothes in Shen Shuchou's hands, then stood up and spun around in the snow from every angle.

Her graceful figure was like a snow lotus blooming in the snow, pure and white.

Wen Yuning smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, and said, "How is it! Doesn't it look good?"

"So you've been tinkering with this at home these past few days?" Shen Shuchou asked.

Wen Yuning sat down beside her and said, "That's right! I've been staying home making clothes for someone, but that heartless person never comes to see me."

Shen Shuchou fell silent.

No wonder Shen Shuchou had been wondering why Wen Yuning hadn't shown up these past few days. He thought she had let go of the past, but it turned out she was making clothes for him and Qianqiu herself.

"Yu Ning, have you ever considered finding someone else?"

Shen Shuchou murmured, his throat bobbing.

"So, Shen Shuchou, every time I come to you, do you have to say all this to me? I do everything voluntarily, and I like doing it this way. I don't need you to tell me what to do."

Wen Yuning's voice suddenly rose.

Shen Shuchou smiled bitterly. Every time he brought this up, Wen Yuning would get angry with him.

"Yu Ning, I really don't like you, so please stop bothering me, okay?"

Shen Shuchou looked at Wen Yuning intently, forcing his tone to turn cold.

The second phase of change is about to begin, and Shen Shuchou doesn't want to involve other people's emotions at this crucial juncture.

Looking into Shen Shuchou's icy gaze, Wen Yuning trembled slightly, a sharp pain gripped her heart, and her eyes became warm.

Wen Yu Ning gazed at him with tearful eyes and asked, "Do you really hate me that much? Don't you have even the slightest feeling for me?"

Shen Shuchou neither looked at her nor spoke, his expression as cold as frost.

Wen Yuning knew this was his answer, and she forced back her tears as she rushed out the door.

Out of the corner of his eye, Shen Shuchou clearly saw the tear tracks sliding down Wen Yuning's face.

But he had to do it to completely sever Wen Yuning's ties.

Wen Yuning, who had rushed out of the courtyard gate, could no longer hold back. Her strength was completely drained, and she leaned against the wall, tears streaming down her face.

Wen Yuning felt as if a sharp blade had pierced her heart, and the intense pain almost made her faint.

Are you alright?

A voice rang out.

Wen Yuning raised her pretty face, which was covered in tears, and saw a delicate little girl standing in front of her.

The person before me was Jiang Qianqiu.

Looking at that face, Wen Yuning recalled everything that had happened in the past two years.

From the very beginning, Jiang Qianqiu harbored malice towards her and did everything she could to prevent her from getting close to Shen Shuchou.

Gradually, Wen Yuning grew to dislike the girl more and more.

But after learning about the girl's background from Shen Shuchou, Wen Yuning let go of her emotions, even though Jiang Qianqiu continued to obstruct her as always.

Wen Yuning had an absurd thought: Jiang Qianqiu seemed to have those kinds of thoughts about her husband.

As they got to know each other better, Wen Yuning became even more certain of this idea; perhaps it was just a woman's intuition.

Later, a strange feeling developed, as if Wen Yuning was competing with a young girl for a man.

But now, she doesn't need to worry anymore. Wen Yuning felt both pain and exhaustion.

Perhaps I've been deluding myself all along.

Wen Yuning gave a self-deprecating laugh: "It's nothing."

Then, supporting herself against the wall, she slowly walked away into the distance, leaving behind the secluded courtyard that had caused her so much sorrow.

Jiang Qianqiu stood there, watching Wen Yuning's departing figure for a long time without turning back.

In the past, Jiang Qianqiu might have made a few sarcastic remarks, but she didn't want her husband to be taken away by someone else.

Jiang Qianqiu couldn't bring himself to say those words, and Wen Yuning's figure gradually disappeared from sight.

Jiang Qianqiu pushed open the door and the first thing he saw was Shen Shuchou sitting on the steps, seemingly lost in thought.

Upon closer inspection, one could see folded clothes in Shen Shuchou's arms. Connecting this to Wen Yuning, one could guess that these were a gift from her. However, it was unclear what had just happened here, or why the usually playful Wen Yuning had left in tears.

"Sir," Jiang Qianqiu called out.

Shen Shuchou snapped out of his daze and said, "Qianqiu is back."

Seeing Shen Shuchou's absent-minded look, Jiang Qianqiu pursed her lips and remained silent. She sensed that her master must be in a bad mood.

......

......

Three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past three months, Wen Yuning has not come to see Shen Shuchou again.

Shen Shuchou did not hear any news about Wen Yuning, although Wen Qingning did come by once during that time.

She only asked him what had happened between them. Wen Yuning had locked herself in seclusion after returning to the mansion, not seeing the sun all day, hoping that Shen Shuchou could visit her.

Shen Shuchou hesitated only slightly before refusing.

Finally, seeing that nothing was accomplished, Wen Qingning left, her eyes filled with disappointment.

Life then returned to normal, but Shen Shuchou's mind became more and more uneasy.

In the height of summer, in June.

On the 7th, a piece of news quickly swept through the entire city of Kyoto.

The Third Prince Zhao Hongye, in collusion with cultivators, incited the Black Armor Army to launch a long-planned massacre in the Golden Palace of the Imperial Court.

A total of 130 ministers died tragically, including officials of the first rank, second rank, and above, as well as the prime minister, grand tutor, and grand guardian, all of whom died in the Golden Palace.

Even the remaining seven princes and six princesses were not spared.

The reigning emperor, Zhao Ji, had his head cut off and hung in the main hall.

Those officials in lower-ranking positions didn't even have a chance to resist.

Countless people died and were left with piles of corpses, their blood soaking into the magnificent hall.

In addition, the residences of several important officials were ransacked and bloodily destroyed by the Black Armor Army.

This included the residences of Prime Minister Wen, Grand Tutor Li, and Ministers, among others, all of which were besieged by the Black Armored Soldiers.

In an instant, the entire capital was filled with bloodshed and carnage, with corpses and looting and burning visible everywhere.

When Shen Shuchou heard the news again, he knew that the changes had already begun.