It's Hard for a Villain Character Not to Collapse - Chapter 17

Chapter - 17

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Qiao Han felt incredibly embarrassed!

Although it wasn’t a big deal, when your idol says to you, “I remember that you...”

That feeling of being remembered, with a kind reminder no less, is enough to melt a fan’s heart. No, it’s more like a critical hit!

But those were just lies Qiao Han had told to trick the male lead. The guilt was overwhelming!

At this point, he could only grit his teeth and admit to it.

After returning to Wuding Peak with Xiao Jiuci, it was already quite late.

Still, Qiao Han wanted to solidify his progress a bit more, so he decided to meditate for a while in the courtyard.

Although the spiritual plants in this courtyard were not as potent as those on Puxian Peak, they were still beneficial.

Once the wood-element spiritual energy completed a full cycle through his body, Qiao Han slowly opened his eyes, only to find Xiao Jiuci meditating not far away, seated directly across from him.

Soft blue spiritual light, like scattered starlight, adorned Xiao Jiuci’s figure, and his face, highlighting his features with an ethereal charm. At that moment, it felt as if Qiao Han had wandered into a celestial realm and stumbled upon a young, handsome immortal quietly cultivating.

Qiao Han couldn’t help but admire in his heart: that the real world truly has a greater impact than mere words. The male lead in person was so dazzlingly handsome it was almost unfair. No wonder so many fairies secretly admired him.

Suddenly, the floating spiritual light seemed to awaken, dispersing swiftly. Xiao Jiuci opened his eyes slowly, the icy blue light in them fading to reveal a clear and tranquil gaze. It was like a mountain spring frozen over in winter, now thawing with the arrival of spring, bringing life back to the world.

The transformation from stillness to motion was breathtakingly captivating—a beauty that could draw anyone in.

Caught staring, Qiao Han froze in place. By the time he realized it, Xiao Jiuci was already looking at him. Flustered, Qiao Han quickly averted his gaze, his face heating up.

Oh no! He caught me staring!

“Hungry?” A warm voice with a hint of amusement suddenly reached him.

Qiao Han was momentarily stunned. Turning his head, he noticed Xiao Jiuci’s gaze directed at the stone table nearby. Following his line of sight, Qiao Han saw a clay pot placed on the table. The pot was inscribed with a magical seal that maintained its contents at the ideal temperature. Inside was a hearty porridge made with various spiritual herbs.

Qiao Han hadn’t expected to have something to eat so late at night and was instantly overwhelmed with gratitude for the male lead’s thoughtful gesture.

While the two of them drank the porridge, Xiao Jiuci casually asked, “How does it feel to cultivate here? Have you encountered any issues?”

Faced with the male lead’s concern, Qiao Han eagerly responded, “Overall, it feels pretty good. Although the wood-element spiritual energy isn’t as abundant as on Puxian Peak, it’s sufficient for me to enter meditation.”

As he spoke, Qiao Han suddenly hesitated. When he had just started meditating earlier, he’d felt something strange. Lost in thought, Qiao Han instinctively turned to look behind him.

There, behind the stone table, stood a massive withered tree. Its branches were bare, devoid of leaves or blossoms. On its enormous trunk, about the height of a person, was a hollow—a dark cavity that seemed bottomless, shrouded in an ominous mystery.

This was the only spiritual tree in the courtyard, yet it was already nearing death.

“That’s the Hunyuan Tree. What’s the matter?” Xiao Jiuci noticed Qiao Han’s peculiar expression and asked.

Qiao Han turned back with a puzzled look. “This tree looks like it’s almost dead, doesn’t it?”

Xiao Jiuci explained, “I’m not entirely sure. My master transplanted it here from elsewhere. It was already like this when she brought it back. She said it needs someone with a ‘heart’ to nurture it with spiritual energy for it to come back to life.”

Qiao Han blinked in surprise. This sounded so mysterious—like the typical setup for a golden opportunity for the male lead. But why wasn’t this mentioned in the original story?

Testing the waters, Qiao Han asked, “Have you tried nurturing it with spiritual energy?”

Xiao Jiuci seemed to pause as if recalling something. “My master said I’m a ‘heartless person,’ so it wouldn’t work. I did try once, but it had no effect.”

At this, Qiao Han immediately grew indignant. “Heartless? What kind of thing is that to say? That doesn’t sound like a compliment at all!”

Xiao Jiuci gave a lighthearted smile. “That’s just how my master talks. It doesn’t mean anything special.”

Thinking of Master Qiong Bi’s difficult personality, Qiao Han couldn’t help but agree. That did sound like something she’d say. But even so, he felt deeply unsettled. How could she say such a thing about his beloved male lead?

“If you’re a heartless person, then who in this world dares call themselves compassionate?” Qiao Han declared firmly. To him, Xiao Jiuci was the epitome of kindness, compassion, and noble virtue. Someone as good as him deserved every possible word of praise.

Xiao Jiuci was momentarily startled by the response. He looked up at Qiao Han and saw the way his cheeks were puffed out slightly, his brows furrowed in defiance. The delicate features of his face clearly spelled out the words “I don’t accept this!”

He’s actually upset over a single remark my master made about me?

Xiao Jiuci felt a brief moment of confusion. When his master had first said it, he’d felt somewhat reprimanded, wondering if he had done something wrong. But seeing how casual and indifferent his master had been, he’d figured he was just being overly sensitive and didn’t dwell on it.

Yet now, Qiao Han was the one getting indignant on his behalf, upset that his master shouldn’t have spoken about him that way.

Xiao Jiuci blinked slowly, then chuckled lightly, half-joking as he said, “Actually, I once invited Elder Mei to examine the tree. Elder Mei tried every method he knew but couldn’t revive it. By my master’s logic, I suppose we’re all ‘heartless people.’”

With that, Qiao Han’s emotions dissipated, though his curiosity about the tree only deepened. If no one else could manage to revive it, wasn’t it the kind of thing only the male lead should be able to handle? Moreover, since it had been brought back by his master...clearly an NPC-like character, but it had to hold some significance.

As Qiao Han pondered, Xiao Jiuci broke his train of thought by asking, “What about you? Why did you suddenly bring up the Hunyuan Tree? Is it interfering with your cultivation?”

“I’m not sure if it’s because of the tree, but while cultivating earlier, I felt a fleeting surge of wood-element spiritual energy. It was incredibly dense and powerful, but with my current level of cultivation, I couldn’t fully sense it—just a trace of its remnant.”

Xiao Jiuci seemed intrigued. “Elder Mei once mentioned that although the tree is nearly dead, its immense spiritual power still lingers. What you sensed was likely that residual energy. For someone at the Qi Refining stage, being able to detect even a trace is already remarkable. They say that if this tree could be revived, it might reach a Heavenly rank.”

The spiritual plants are categorized from top to bottom into four ranks: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. Heavenly-rank plants are extremely rare in the world and are essentially treasures that have gained sentience. Even Earth-rank plants are considered supreme-grade spiritual vegetation.

For Elder Mei to give such high praise proves that this Hunyuan Tree is truly extraordinary. Unfortunately, it is now in a near-death, dormant state.

Driven by the principle that all good things should belong to the protagonist, Qiao Han couldn't resist suggesting, "Since I practice wood-based cultivation, why don’t I try watering it later? Although it might be a bit beyond my capability."

In truth, Qiao Han wasn’t expecting much from himself; he was counting on the Spiritual Plant Restoration Talisman in the system store. Perhaps it could revive the tree, though it required five emotion points to redeem. All he could do was patiently wait.

Xiao Jiuci smiled and said, “Sure, it could also help you get more familiar with controlling wood-element spiritual energy.”

After Xiao Jiuci tidied up and left, Qiao Han approached the tree and placed his palm on it to try channeling spiritual energy. Unsurprisingly, it was like tossing a pebble into the ocean.

Looking at the pitch-black tree hollow beside him, Qiao Han noticed it was at a convenient height. Treating the hollow like a microphone, he grinned and said, “Don’t die just yet. Wait for me to save you and give you to the protagonist!”

After saying this, Qiao Han turned and left, entirely unaware that high up on the tree, a branch moved ever so slightly.

The next morning, Qiao Han once again enjoyed a personally delivered breakfast service.

The next day, Qiao Han once again enjoyed the privilege of breakfast and a personal escort service.

When they arrived at the destination, Qiao Han was still in a bit of a daze, feeling like something wasn’t quite right. Then he heard Xiao Jiuci say, “Cultivate well. I’ll come pick you up this evening.”

At that moment, it was as though a loud crack echoed in Qiao Han’s mind—a sudden jolt of realization.

He quickly waved his hands at Xiao Jiuci, exclaiming, “Brother Xiao, you really don’t need to take care of me like this! I can ride a celestial crane on my own, or eat at the cafeteria. You don’t have to go out of your way for me!”

From the rides to the meals, he had initially thought this was just a random blessing from the heavens. Who would’ve guessed it was becoming part of Xiao Jiuci’s daily routine? This wasn’t a level of treatment he felt entitled to. The delayed realization left him feeling both flattered and alarmed, as though he were receiving favor far beyond his worth.

Xiao Jiuci paused, slightly surprised by Qiao Han’s reaction. “It’s nothing, really.”

Qiao Han knew this was simply Xiao Jiuci’s way—his habitual, unassuming warmth toward those around him. It was a kindness so gentle and unobtrusive, like spring rain nurturing everything quietly, that Xiao Jiuci himself didn’t think it was a big deal.

This made Qiao Han admire him even more, but at the same time, it filled his heart with a subtle ache.

If he was this considerate toward someone he barely knew, it was no wonder that later on…

If Xiao Jiuci could treat someone he barely knew like this, it was no wonder that later on...

Qiao Han couldn’t help but be bothered by Xiao Jiuci’s kindness. While others might accept such gestures without a second thought, he felt uneasy about it. There were things he could do on his own, so why trouble Xiao Jiuci with them?

“How could it be ‘nothing’? You handle almost everything for the sect, take care of your juniors, and still manage to find time for your own training and studies,” Qiao Han rubbed his temples in frustration. “You're too kind. You shouldn’t waste your energy coordinating your time with me. You should save more time for yourself!”

Xiao Jiuci stood frozen for a moment. He didn’t quite understand why Qiao Han was so worked up over something that seemed trivial to him.

After speaking, Qiao Han noticed Xiao Jiuci’s lack of response, and a feeling of guilt crept in. After all, Xiao Jiuci had only been offering kindness, and he seemed to have taken it too seriously. He awkwardly scratched his head and said, "Well, I'll go now. See you, Brother Xiao."

As Qiao Han walked away, Xiao Jiuci stood lost in thought. Just then, someone called out to him, and he turned to see Jiang Yin approaching.

"Senior Brother, Are you here to drop Qiao Han?"

To outsiders, their relationship seemed perfectly natural, even though they had a teasing air about them. People in Puxian Peak always had a bit of a gossiping streak.

Xiao Jiuci nodded.

Jiang Yin smirked. "He didn't throw up, did he?"

Xiao Jiuci raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Jiang Yin explained, "It seems he gets nauseous from flying swords. He threw up when he came with me yesterday. Apparently, he's fine with your sword, though. Looks like your flying technique is really the best."

Xiao Jiuci’s eyes flickered. If he had trouble with the flying sword, then the celestial crane... wasn’t it worse? But Qiao Han had just refused his offer to escort him.

Jiang Yin walked with him as they chatted, continuing to tease, "I heard you were the one who picked him up last night too. Senior Brother really takes care of Qiao Han. Is this what being a Dao companion is like? Haha, when will I ever have a Dao companion like that?"

Xiao Jiuci’s steps faltered for a moment.

In reality, though Xiao Jiuci had been helping Qiao Han out of simple kindness, the daily routines of picking him up and taking him back to Wuding Peak weren’t just out of concern, they also served the hidden purpose of... keeping an eye on him.

Because he still hadn’t completely dismissed his doubts about Qiao Han, even though he felt the young man… was quite good.

With a hint of guilt, Xiao Jiuci began arranging the sect’s affairs. With the recruitment event approaching, there was a lot to prepare.

After being busy for a while, he was suddenly summoned by Madam Jiang to Qingyun Peak.

Upon arrival, seeing Madam Jiang’s unfriendly expression, Xiao Jiuci had an inkling of what was going on.

“What is going on here? Does Qiao Han think the recruitment event is a joke? What name did he sign up under?”

Xiao Jiuci recalled how actively Qiao Han had prepared and spoke up, “Qiao Han wants to join Qingyun Sect as an inner disciple. He meets the criteria, so he registered accordingly. Everything is in order. What exactly are you asking about, respected Madam?”

Madam Jiang was momentarily speechless. “Aren’t you going to do something about him? He’s just making a mess.”

Xiao Jiuci’s expression lost some of its warmth. “Respected Madam, is this really such a bad thing?”

Madam Jiang was rendered speechless once again, her face turning pale with frustration before she spoke. “The Dao partner of the esteemed First Disciple of Qingyun Sect, if he doesn’t pass the recruitment, are you suggesting we should use our connections to get him in?”

“He won’t do that.” Xiao Jiuci reflexively replied, then froze. How could he be so sure? But something told him Qiao Han wouldn’t ask him to pull any strings.

“And if he fails, wouldn’t that bring shame to you?”

“If he isn’t ashamed of himself, why should I feel ashamed?” Xiao Jiuci’s voice was calm, yet resolute. His attitude was unwavering, leaving no room for retreat.

“Then what about the chaos he caused at Xuanyang Pavilion? With that kind of temperament, letting him participate in the recruitment event is asking for trouble. What if he finds it too difficult, throws a tantrum, and relies on you to back him up? Do you want to tarnish Qingyun Sect’s reputation?”

Xiao Jiuci felt a subtle unease.

“The matter at Xuanyang Pavilion should be thoroughly investigated first. I’d argue that Qiao Han acted entirely to uphold the Qingyun Sect’s reputation. Furthermore, he didn’t cause trouble of his own accord. Your evaluation of him is unfair,” Xiao Jiuci replied firmly.

Madam Jiang stared at Xiao Jiuci in disbelief. The Xiao Jiuci she knew had always been a rule-abiding, decorum-respecting disciple. Occasional conflicts with others had always been grounded in principle. But today, he was outright confronting her—for an outsider.

“Fine, fine. The common folk say, ‘A man forgets his mother after marrying a wife.’ Though I’m not your mother, I’ve been like a foster mother to you. Yet now, for the sake of this so-called fake Dao partner whom you’ve barely known, you’re standing against me. Fine, I won’t meddle anymore. Let’s see how you deal with it when he causes trouble in the future.”

Xiao Jiuci didn’t argue further. His composed demeanor and respectful attitude only served to anger Madam Jiang even more.

Suppressing her frustration, Madam Jiang waved her hand. “Forget it. It seems your junior disciples have encountered some issues with their mission. Go and take a look.”

Xiao Jiuci hesitated. “That mission isn’t difficult. Isn’t Second Senior Brother leading the team?”

“Your Second Senior Brother doesn’t have your steadiness. I don’t feel reassured. You go.” Madam Jiang spoke as if it were only natural, dismissing Xiao Jiuci after finishing.

Not long after, sobbing could be heard from the rear hall. Madam Jiang’s expression immediately shifted to worry as she hurried over. In the rear hall, she found Ou zanrui comforting Jiang Suwei. Since being reprimanded by Xiao Jiuci, Jiang Suwei had been inconsolable, her eyes constantly filled with tears, which broke Madam Jiang’s heart.

“Jiuci is just too rigid, too bound by tradition. Who knows what kind of upbringing his father gave him to make him this way? It’s impossible to reason with him,” Madam Jiang grumbled in frustration.

“Are you really not going to intervene, Shi mu (Master’s wife)?” Ou zanrui asked anxiously. “That guy must be feeling guilty, afraid that Shifu will return and uncover the truth about the marriage swap. If Shifu speaks up and supports Senior Brother, he will definitely annul the marriage. That’s why Qiao Han is desperate to join Qingyun Sect—to cling on and refuse to leave.”

In their eyes, Qiao Han’s entry into the sect wasn’t sincere or an attempt to integrate. It was a calculated move to cover up the exposed marriage agreement and find ways to make up for it—an act born of ulterior motives.

Adding to the situation was the fact that it was Qiao Han who caused trouble at Xuanyang Pavilion, further solidifying the preconceived notion that he wasn’t someone who could settle down peacefully.

“Forget it. Since Jiuci insists, we’ll just leave it as is for now. Besides, it’s not certain he’ll even pass,” Madam Jiang finally relented, though her tone carried dissatisfaction.

“I just feel sorry for Senior Brother,” Jiang Suwei said weakly. “If he stirs up trouble again, it’ll definitely be Senior Brother who has to clean up after him.”

“Exactly. Senior Brother is just too kind,” Ou zanrui chimed in, agreeing wholeheartedly. “Now that he’s been clung onto, there’ll be endless trouble in the future.”

On Xiao Jiuci’s side, he had no choice but to leave for his errand. He initially planned to inform Qiao Han but decided against it, worried it might disturb his meditation. Instead, he entrusted Jiang Yin with the task of passing on the message.

Xiao Jiuci quickly made his way to the mission location. His Second Senior Brother was leading a team of junior disciples on a relatively simple expeditionary task, meant to hone their skills and gather resources, though it was a time-consuming process.

The so-called "trouble" they encountered was merely a formidable demonic beast. By the time Xiao Jiuci arrived, the issue had mostly been resolved. He helped handle a few remaining difficulties and was ready to return.

However, the youngest junior disciple, the sect master’s son, clung to Xiao Jiuci and wouldn’t let him leave. Since Xiao Jiuci had raised him from a young age, he naturally indulged him.

It would have been reasonable to stay and return with the group, as only a few simple cleanup tasks remained, and it wouldn’t have delayed the recruitment event.

The other junior disciples naturally hoped their dependable Senior Brother would stay with them. Having him around made every task feel easier and safer.

For the first time, however, Xiao Jiuci declined their request outright. After assisting them briefly, he swiftly departed, heading back to the sect.

“Maybe the sect has other urgent matters for Senior Brother to handle,” someone speculated.

“That’s not it. I just remembered—we’ve been away for almost half a year. Hasn’t Senior Brother already brought his fiancée back to the sect?”

“He’s going back to accompany his wife!”

“Wife? What wife? I haven’t even seen her, so I don’t approve!”

“Hahaha, Junior Brother just wants his own sister to be his wife, huh?”

“Stop spouting nonsense! I just think that if I’ve never met her, how can I trust her? Whoever marries our Senior Brother needs to be someone we all think is worthy!”

Everyone thought this reasoning made sense and promptly voiced their agreement.

Meanwhile, Xiao Jiuci completed his round trip in just three days—a speed that left others astonished.

On the fourth day, before dawn broke, his figure clad in azure blue descended upon Wuding Peak. At a glance, he saw Qiao Han looking utterly defeated, stroking the feathers of a celestial crane while mumbling incessantly, "I'm sorry, okay? I didn't eat anything today. I promise I won't throw up on you. Please, just take me along."

The celestial crane turned its head away, refusing to acknowledge him. Three days! It had endured for three whole days and had had enough!

Qiao Han, undeterred, poked the crane again, his eyes darting as an idea sparked. "You know, yesterday I saw a super beautiful celestial crane lady on Puxian Peak. You're really not interested?"

The celestial crane's proud head stiffened mid-turn. It looked at Qiao Han, just about to let out a cry, when a voice interrupted it.

"I’ll take you. It just happens to be on my way."

Qiao Han’s heart leapt, and he spun around to see Xiao Jiuci standing there, bathed in the soft light of dawn, his figure illuminated with the gentlest hues.

"Brother Xiao! You’re back?!" So soon? Jiang Yin had clearly said he wouldn’t return until right before the recruitment event.

Seeing Qiao Han’s face light up with sheer delight, as if his entire being had been rejuvenated by his presence, Xiao Jiuci’s mood inexplicably improved. "Mm, I’m back."

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