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

Even though it was just a door separating them, Shen Shuchou could still feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from outside.

The person stood silently outside the door, like a bottomless lake.

On the surface, it appears calm and still, reflecting the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds, but beneath lies a turbulent undercurrent that could unleash a monstrous storm at the slightest touch.

Even though the other party was the absolute ruler of this forbidden land, Shen Shuchou never felt the slightest fear.

He had no intention of making an enemy of such a powerful being, but all of this was on the condition that the other party would not make any moves against Tantai Chigu.

Gu Qingran heard that familiar voice that made her heart tighten, and her body stiffened abruptly. She immediately turned around to look.

Through the faint light filtering through the crack in the door, she could see the tall, upright figure behind it. Her throat tightened, and she could only whisper, "Brother."

There was no immediate response from outside the door; only a faint breath slipped in through the crack in the door, like a sudden gust of cold wind sweeping across a lake in early winter.

With a chilling aura and an undeniable pressure, it instantly permeated the entire space.

"Is anyone home? I've come to pick up my sister."

Outside the door, Ya Ye's voice was calm and even, as if he knew nothing of the undercurrents surging within, simply repeating his purpose in a straightforward manner.

Shen Shuchou did not move upon hearing the sound, but his aura had already subtly solidified.

The other party clearly came with hostility, how could he not have noticed?

Having already shown his prowess, he naturally wouldn't back down in the slightest.

In the midst of this tense standoff, Gu Qingran gently pushed open the courtyard gate beside her.

A soft creak broke the silence as the wooden door swung open to the sides with a worn, rustling sound.

Ya Ye, dressed in black, slowly entered Shen Shuchou's field of vision.

Upon seeing the person's appearance, Shen Shuchou's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He never expected that the owner of this forbidden place would look like this.

He looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate and handsome features that were almost thin.

Only those dark eyes, like ice that has settled in a thousand-year-old cold pool, concealed a vicissitude beyond their years in their indifferent depths.

As Shen Shuchou sized up Ya Ye, the other man's eyes, filled with a sense of vicissitude, also fell upon him with a scrutinizing gaze.

At such close range, Ya Ye could more directly sense the faint, forbidden power emanating from Shen Shu Chou.

This power was extremely faint, so faint that unless one possessed his keen senses, it would be extremely difficult for others to detect.

But he knew in his heart that beneath this seemingly weak aura lay a vast amount of energy that would erupt instantly once he made a move, like a volcano buried deep underground, just waiting for the right opportunity to burst forth.

Even so, the indifference in Ya Ye's eyes remained unchanged, clearly indicating that he did not truly care about Shen Shuchou.

In his eyes, the only true opponent was that white-clad swordsman.

"Brother, what brings you here?"

Gu Qingran looked at Ya Ye beside her.

Ya Ye withdrew his scrutinizing gaze from Shen Shuchou and turned to Gu Qingran.

The indifference in his eyes faded slightly, but his tone carried an undeniable concern: "This is your first time leaving home. I was worried you'd be bullied. Why are you crying? Did someone bully you?"

The moment the last few words were uttered, a chilling killing intent tightened suddenly without warning, locking onto Shen Shuchou with unparalleled precision.

His gaze was like a poisoned ice blade, carrying an undisguised threat.

It seemed that as long as Gu Qingran nodded slightly or pointed her finger slightly in Shen Shuchou's direction, he would immediately take action without hesitation.

"Nobody is bullying me."

Gu Qingran quickly shook her head, her voice soft yet firm.

Ya Ye seemed unconvinced, his tone becoming even more serious: "Really no one bullied you? Don't be afraid, your brother is here."

His gaze swept over Shen Shuchou almost imperceptibly, carrying a silent pressure.

"Really, no."

Gu Qingran shook her head again and subconsciously moved closer to Shen Shuchou.

Ya Ye noticed Gu Qingran's movements, his whole body stiffened slightly, and a chill ran through him.

But Yaya's face showed no sign of anything amiss. He simply softened his tone and extended his hand, saying, "Come home with your brother."

These words were like a fine needle, unexpectedly piercing Gu Qingran's most tense nerve.

That was what she feared most. She knew all too well that if she went back, this seemingly warm cage would be locked up again.

Taking another step outside the door would be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

She didn't want to be a bird kept in a gilded cage. Her brother's kindness was certainly comforting, but she longed even more for the freedom of the wind and to see the world outside the cage with her own eyes.

Seeing that Gu Qingran did not make a move, Ya Ye quietly clenched his hands at his side, feeling a sharp pain in his heart as if something was gripping it, and his expression twitched slightly uncontrollably.

He lowered his stance, his voice carrying a barely perceptible pleading tone: "Come home with my brother, okay?"

Gu Qingran looked at her brother's twitching eyebrows and eyes, subconsciously shrinking her neck, a struggle flashing in her eyes.

The next second, taking advantage of Ya Ye's inattention, she quickly glanced in Shen Shu Chou's direction with a pleading look.

Shen Shuchou: "..."

He secretly rubbed his forehead, thinking to himself, "No, sister, please don't look at me like that! Is she trying to put me on the hot seat?"

This problem is already hot enough; if we do this again, it might just ignite a powder keg!

Although that glance was fleeting, it was precisely captured by Yaya.

In an instant, the air in the courtyard seemed to freeze into ice, and an invisible storm rapidly condensed in the silence, with even the wind carrying a biting chill.

That's enough.

Shen Shuchou broke the silence, his voice cold and hard as he continued, "You can leave now. You're not welcome here."

As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored Ya Ye's suddenly cold gaze and Gu Qingran's eyes, turned around and walked to the stove in the corner, adding firewood to the firebox on his own.

The dry firewood crackled in the flames, sparks leaping and licking the embers, yet unable to dispel the growing tension in the air.

Gu Qingran pursed her lips tightly, her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes again.

On one side was Shen Shuchou, whose icy tone allowed her to glimpse a glimmer of freedom; on the other was her brother, whose protective cage held a dangerous aura.

She felt trapped between a raging wind and a high wall, unable to move forward or backward.

Am I really not worthy of leaving this forbidden place?

Is staying by her brother's side for the rest of her life the only way out?

Memories of countless times begging her brother to take her out came flooding back, each time met with a gentle yet uncompromising refusal.

"elder brother……"

She was silent for a moment, then, with a heavy nasal tone and tearful eyes, she looked at Ya Ye and said in a voice as soft as a feather, "I..."

"go home!"

Before Gu Qingran could finish speaking, Ya Ye interrupted her coldly, his tone devoid of any of his previous pleading, leaving only an unyielding firmness.

That tone was like a bucket of ice water poured over Gu Qingran's heart, instantly extinguishing all the courage she had just mustered.

She was like a drowned rat soaked by a downpour, her shoulders drooping, the light in her eyes gradually dimming, and even her longing for freedom became pale and powerless.

In the end, she just stared blankly with lifeless eyes, letting a cold hand grab her wrist and drag her outside without a word.

Her steps faltered, the hem of her skirt brushing against the fallen leaves on the ground, making a soft, rustling sound, much like her broken heart at that moment.

Just as the two were about to step out of the courtyard gate, Ya Ye's voice suddenly came from behind, calm but carrying a heavy weight: "You also have family. I hope you can protect her."

Please note: Shen He will be in the next chapter if nothing unexpected happens.

It was quietly wriggling.