Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

A few hours after the orchestrated attack and the subsequent confrontation between Feng Xuan and the elders, Wang Jian decided it was time to make his next move.

He had allowed sufficient time for the incident to fester, for the seeds of doubt he had planted to begin to sprout.

Now, it was time to offer a comforting hand, a shoulder to lean on, further solidifying his role as Xinqiao’s confidante.

He prepared a small gift, a vial containing several exquisitely crafted healing pellets. These were not ordinary remedies; they were potent elixirs, concocted from rare spirit herbs and refined through complex alchemical processes.

Such pellets were incredibly rare and difficult to produce, even for skilled alchemists. But for Wang Jian, with his mastery of alchemy bordering on the divine, creating a batch was as simple as brewing a pot of tea.

’Honestly,’ he’d thought while meticulously polishing each pellet, ’it’s almost insulting how easy this is. These cultivators act like concocting a decent healing pill is some grand achievement. It’s practically child’s play.’

Given the extravagant gift he had presented to Lord Wufang on his birthday, Wang Jian was now a welcome guest on the Blazing Rock Star. He easily gained access to the Wufang clan’s manor, making his way to the secluded courtyard where Xinqiao was residing.

He found her sitting by a small pond, gazing at the koi fish swimming lazily beneath the surface. He approached her gently, his footsteps light and unobtrusive.

”Lady Xinqiao,” he greeted her softly, his voice laced with concern. ”I heard about the... unfortunate incident. I hope you are recovering well.”

Xinqiao looked up, her expression a mixture of surprise and gratitude. ”Honored Guest Wang Jian,” she said, offering a polite smile. ”Thank you for your concern. I am... mostly alright.”

Wang Jian presented the vial of healing pellets. ”I brought these for you,” he said, his voice gentle. ”They are potent healing elixirs. They should help to soothe any lingering discomfort.”

Xinqiao accepted the vial, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized the exquisite craftsmanship of the pellets. She could sense the potent energy emanating from them, confirming their extraordinary quality.

”These... these are incredibly precious,” she murmured, her voice filled with appreciation. ”Thank you, Honored Guest Wang Jian. You are too kind.”

Wang Jian waved his hand dismissively. ”It is nothing,” he said. ”I was simply concerned for your well-being. May I inquire as to what exactly happened? Who would dare to target you?”

Xinqiao’s expression darkened slightly as she recounted the attack, explaining how two elders of the Radiant Sun Sect had ambushed her, delivering veiled threats about her father’s ambitions.

”They told me to warn my father,” she explained, her voice laced with frustration. ”To tell him to abandon any thoughts of challenging the Radiant Sun Sect’s leadership.”

Wang Jian’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of concern in his voice. ”This is... troubling,” he said. ”Should I take action? Should I make them pay for their insolence?”

Xinqiao shook her head firmly.

”No,” she said, her voice resolute. ”There is no need for you to get involved. My husband, Feng Xuan, has already taken charge of the matter. He will ensure that they are punished for their actions.” She then added with a touch of pride, ”He won’t let them off easily. He’s not the type to let such an insult go unpunished.”

Wang Jian smiled internally as he heard her words. This was exactly the reaction he had hoped for. The greater her expectations, the greater her disappointment would be when she realized that Feng Xuan’s actions were far less decisive than she anticipated.

’She has such faith in her husband,’ he thought, a hint of amusement in his mind. ’It will be... interesting to see how that faith crumbles.’

He adopted a cautious expression, his voice laced with concern.

”Lady Xinqiao,” he said, his tone gentle but serious, ”I do not wish to doubt your husband’s capabilities, but you must remember that he is also a member of the Radiant Sun Sect. Those elders are his colleagues, his fellow sect members. It will be... difficult for him to deliver a truly severe punishment.”

Xinqiao dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. ”You don’t understand Feng Xuan,” she said, her voice filled with confidence. ”He doesn’t care about status or connections. He only cares about justice. He will punish them regardless of who they are.” She then added with a touch of bravado, ”I wouldn’t be surprised if they lose an arm or a leg each.”

Wang Jian let out a subtle sigh, feigning a look of resignation. ’Such blind faith,’ he thought, shaking his head slightly. ’It’s almost... endearing. Almost.’

He decided not to press the issue further. He had planted the seed of doubt, and now it was time to let it grow. He had achieved his purpose for this visit.

”I only wished to ensure your well-being, Lady Xinqiao,” he said, his voice gentle. ”Now that I know you are recovering, I will take my leave.”

Xinqiao offered him a grateful smile. ”Thank you again, Honored Guest Wang Jian,” she said. ”Your concern is greatly appreciated.”

Wang Jian bowed politely and then departed, leaving Xinqiao alone with her thoughts. He made sure to leave behind a lingering sense of unease, a subtle suggestion that perhaps her faith in her husband was misplaced.

Several hours passed after Wang Jian’s departure. The sun began to set, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Finally, Feng Xuan returned, his expression somewhat strained. Xinqiao, eager to hear about the punishment he had meted out to the elders, immediately approached him.

”Xuan,” she said, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. ”What happened? What did you do to those elders?”

Feng Xuan hesitated, his gaze shifting away from hers. He lowered his voice, speaking in a near whisper. ”I... I couldn’t punish them, Xinqiao.”

Xinqiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”What?!” she exclaimed, her voice rising in shock. ”What do you mean you couldn’t punish them?”

”I... I couldn’t punish them, Xinqiao,” Feng Xuan repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, avoiding her gaze. He felt a wave of shame wash over him. He had promised to avenge her, to make those elders pay for their insolence, but he had been unable to fulfill his promise.

”What do you mean you ’couldn’t’?” Xinqiao asked, her voice laced with disbelief. ”They attacked me, Xuan! They threatened me! How could you not punish them?”

Feng Xuan sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew this wouldn’t be easy to explain. ”It’s... complicated, Xinqiao,” he said, his voice strained. ”Those elders... they have the support of the Grand Elder.”

Xinqiao’s eyes widened slightly. The Grand Elder. She knew who he was - her husband’s father-in-law, Lixian Yujia’s father. She had a good relationship with Yujia; they were close enough to consider each other sisters, having both married Feng Xuan. ’So it’s Uncle’s doing,’ she thought, a flicker of understanding dawning on her. ’He’s protecting them.’

She could almost understand the Grand Elder’s perspective. Those elders likely held important positions within the Radiant Sun Sect. Perhaps he owed them a favor, or perhaps he simply believed that punishing them would create unnecessary internal strife. ’He’s probably trying to avoid escalating the situation,’ she mused, a hint of resignation in her mind. ’He probably thinks it was just a minor incident, not worth making a big fuss about.’

But while she could understand the Grand Elder’s reasoning, she couldn’t comprehend her husband’s inaction. Why hadn’t he fought for her? Why hadn’t he stood up for her against those who had dared to threaten her? ’He promised me he would take care of it,’ she thought, a wave of disappointment washing over her. ’He promised me he would punish them. Was it all just empty words?’

Despite the turmoil of emotions raging within her, Xinqiao remained silent. She didn’t want to start an argument, not at this moment. She was too hurt, too disappointed. She simply couldn’t bring herself to speak.

Instead, she turned away from Feng Xuan, her voice cold and distant. ”Just... go,” she said quietly. ”I don’t want to see you right now.”

Feng Xuan hesitated, wanting to explain further, to justify his actions. But he saw the

coldness in her eyes, the pain etched on her face. He knew that any attempt at explanation would be futile at this moment. It was better to give her some space, to let her calm down before trying to talk to her again.

He sighed, nodding slowly. ”Alright, Xinqiao,” he said softly. ”I’ll... I’ll leave you for now.” He turned and quietly left the chamber, leaving Xinqiao alone with her thoughts.

After Feng Xuan departed, Xinqiao remained in her chamber, lost in her melancholic thoughts. The earlier confidence she had displayed to Wang Jian now felt like a cruel joke. ’I actually boasted to him about how my husband isn’t like other men,’ she thought, a bitter smile twisting her lips. ’I told him he doesn’t care about status or connections, that he would punish those elders regardless of who they are. What a fool I was!’

She felt a wave of self-deprecating humor wash over her. ’I practically painted him as some

kind of fearless hero,’ she thought, shaking her head slightly. ’And now... now I find out he’s

just... spineless. He couldn’t even stand up to his own father-in-law to defend his wife. What a

joke.’

She replayed the conversation with Wang Jian in her mind, cringing at her own words. ”He will punish them regardless of who they are,” she muttered, mimicking her own confident tone. ”I even told him that I wouldn’t be surprised if they lose an arm or a leg each...Oh, how

wrong I was.”

Just as she was wallowing in her self-pity, a gentle knock sounded at her door. She sighed, wondering who it could be. She certainly wasn’t in the mood for company.

The door opened, revealing Wang Jian standing in the doorway. He offered a polite smile, his expression filled with concern. ”Lady Xinqiao,” he said softly. ”I just heard that your husband has left. I was wondering... did you have a chance to speak with him?”

As soon as he spoke those words, Xinqiao’s carefully constructed composure crumbled. Tears

welled up in her eyes, and she could no longer hold back the flood of emotions that had been

building within her. Tears started to stream down her face, her shoulders shaking with silent

sobs.

She didn’t say a word, simply nodding her head slowly, her tears confirming Wang Jian’s suspicions. He had been right. Feng Xuan had failed her. And now, Wang Jian was there, ready to pick up the pieces.