Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control

Purple Cloud Hall.

Another stick of incense had passed.

A figure with a face as cold as frost and a form so perfectly proportioned it bordered on exaggeration descended gracefully on her sword in front of the hall. It was none other than Yuan Kouxuan.

Having been engrossed in her training with her sword, Purple Sky, she hadn’t noticed the message Xue Jinli had sent via the transmission jade slip.

“Senior Sister,” Xue Jinli’s eyes brightened as she hurried over, only to be halted by the tip of Yuan Kouxuan’s sword sheath.

“It’s been half an hour already. Why are you still lingering outside instead of meeting with Master?” Yuan Kouxuan’s voice was as cold as her gaze, devoid of warmth.

Xue Jinli reluctantly tore her gaze away from admiring her senior sister’s… proportions, her expression turning sheepish as she explained, “I… I was afraid of being scolded by Master for my incompetence, so I asked Qing’er to go in and test the waters for me. Then she ended up getting punished, so now I’m even more scared…”

Yuan Kouxuan raised an eyebrow. “She was punished?”

“Yes, quite harshly too! I could hear her cries from all the way out here. Qing’er really took one for the team this time,” Xue Jinli muttered, feeling a bit guilty.

Yuan Kouxuan clicked her tongue disapprovingly, “If you know that, then you should stop slacking off. Focus on your cultivation, and Master won’t need to send you on errands. As the third direct disciple of Purple Cloud Peak, you should be at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment by now. Not even reaching the Core Formation stage is a disgrace!”

Xue Jinli looked away, mumbling, “It’s because I have a unique constitution…”

“No excuses,” Yuan Kouxuan said firmly, cutting off her protest. Then, turning to Liu Beifeng, she asked, “So, this is the disciple you recruited from Heavenly Origin City?”

“Yes, Senior Sister. Her name is Liu Beifeng. She’s the most talented among Heavenly Origin’s young candidates,” Xue Jinli replied proudly, hoping that at least one part of her assignment would earn her some credit.

“Liu Beifeng greets Senior Sister,” Liu Beifeng said respectfully, bowing low.

Yuan Kouxuan nodded slightly, her gaze softening. “With your talent, I believe Master will accept you as a disciple.”

Liu Beifeng was used to this by now. It seemed everyone on Purple Cloud Peak could see through her disguise, making her wonder just how poor her “male” appearance really was.

“How long has Qing’er been inside?” Yuan Kouxuan asked.

“Half an hour…”

Yuan Kouxuan’s face changed, alarm flashing in her eyes. ‘Half an hour?! Who knew what trouble that mischievous disciple might be causing Master!’ Without another word, she strode swiftly toward the hall.

Not understanding the urgency, Xue Jinli followed with Liu Beifeng, unsure if Yuan Kouxuan was worried that Qingqing was getting punished too severely or something else entirely.

Inside the hall, they found Master Xu Yang sitting calmly on the main seat, his robes perfectly in order, showing no signs of a struggle. Situ Qingqing was standing below him, her own robe a bit torn, a faint blush on her cheeks and a trace of red on the corner of her lips.

‘Did Qingqing actually get beaten so hard she coughed up blood?!’ Xue Jinli’s face paled slightly as she noted her junior’s disheveled state.

“Oh, you’re here,” Situ Qingqing said, holding her lower back as she approached them, a frown on her face. “I was just about to call you in.”

Noticing Qingqing’s raspy voice, Xue Jinli felt a pang of guilt. ‘Master’s reprimand must’ve really taken a toll on her…’

“Master,” Yuan Kouxuan greeted respectfully, bowing. Xue Jinli quickly followed suit.

As Xu Yang observed Xue Jinli, he found himself studying her more closely. She was described as a “little tyrant” in the original text, but in person, she looked rather innocent and fresh-faced, with a tall, slender figure and strikingly long legs. However, her upper body was somewhat underwhelming by comparison.

With an unreadable expression, Xu Yang finally spoke, “Little Koi, I hear you made quite a mess of things?”

Xue Jinli bowed her head, mumbling, “Not entirely, Master… I did bring back one disciple, after all…”

He was about to scold her further—at Situ Qingqing’s insistence to avoid arousing suspicion—when Yuan Kouxuan interjected sternly, “When Master speaks, how dare you talk back?”

Xue Jinli shrank under her senior’s harsh rebuke, biting her lip, looking visibly upset.

Xu Yang hadn’t expected his eldest disciple to take over the scolding, leaving him wondering what role he was supposed to play. In a family, if the mother is the stern one, then the father should play the lenient role to maintain harmony. So…

“Enough, Kouxuan. She’s not being defiant; she’s just feeling misunderstood. I don’t blame her,” Xu Yang said, his tone gentle.

Xue Jinli blinked in disbelief, finding it hard to believe her Master’s words. His voice was soft, like a melody, far from his usual stern demeanor.

Yuan Kouxuan, however, kept her stern tone. “Do you hear how kind Master is being? You should thank him for his forgiveness.”

“Yes, thank you, Master, for your boundless patience and generosity,” Xue Jinli replied hastily, bowing deeply.

With a dismissive wave, Xu Yang looked toward Liu Beifeng. “So, Jinli, this is the disciple you brought back?”

Xue Jinli nodded earnestly. “Yes, Master. Her name is Liu Beifeng. Her aptitude is top-notch, and she scored second in the tournament and first in the Heart Inquiry Trial. Her character is outstanding as well; she’s the best of the best.”

At Xue Jinli’s praise, Liu Beifeng’s cheeks flushed. She didn’t feel she was that remarkable, but she knelt down, bowing respectfully before Xu Yang. “Peak Master, I humbly request to be taken as your disciple.”

As Xu Yang gazed at Liu Beifeng kneeling before him, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

‘It’s her?’

In the original story, Xue Jinli had gone to Heavenly Origin City to recruit talents. Without interference from Xiao Ye, Liu Beifeng emerged as the undisputed top choice, only to be intercepted by Master Wanjun, who took her to Heavenly Thunder Peak.

She had then vanished from the story for several years, making Xu Yang think the author had forgotten her. But three hundred chapters later, Liu Beifeng reappeared, helping the protagonist eliminate Master Wanjun, a key early antagonist.

Wanjun had tried to refine Liu Beifeng for her rare reincarnated soul, which held a spirit imprint in her sea of consciousness. This spirit imprint would protect her whenever she was in mortal danger. Wanjun had intended to wear down the imprint slowly, but the protagonist’s rapid growth foiled his plans.

Liu Beifeng eventually became the protagonist’s strongest ally, playing a major role in the second half of the novel.

But why didn’t Wanjun take her this time?

Perhaps Xiao Ye’s presence in Heavenly Origin City had distracted Wanjun, causing him to overlook Liu Beifeng’s potential, leading to this unexpected twist where she was brought to Purple Cloud Peak instead.

This was beyond perfect.

With her on his side, Xu Yang would not only have a powerful ally but also a future asset that the protagonist would miss out on.

Feeling elated, Xu Yang looked at Liu Beifeng, masking his excitement as he said with a measured tone, “Rise. With your talent, you are certainly worthy of becoming my disciple.”

The protagonist may have heavenly fortune on his side, but what good is luck without strength and backing?