Reborn as the Novel’s Villain: Cultivation Lost, Female Leads Take Control - Chapter 99

At the edge of a peach blossom forest, stood a small secluded pavilion.

Xu Jinli, dressed in elegant blue robes, tightly clutched a white jade radish in her hand. Her expression was filled with nervous anticipation, her breaths shallow and shaky.

“Huff… Huff…”

She exhaled repeatedly, trying to calm herself, but it was futile. The tension refused to dissipate, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

Nearby, Situ Qingqing sat with her legs crossed, her calm demeanor contrasting sharply with Jinli’s flustered state. She noticed her senior sister’s anxious behavior and couldn’t resist teasing her.

“Third Sister, at this rate, you’re going to faint before Master even arrives!”

Xu Jinli gave her a nervous glance, clutching her chest tighter. Her heart felt like it would leap out at any moment. She looked at the composed Situ Qingqing and swallowed nervously, her voice trembling.

“Qingqing, aren’t you even a little nervous?”

Situ Qingqing twirled her dainty foot in the air, a playful smile on her lips. “Nervous? Not at all. Big occasions are old news to me. Didn’t I even… in front of Senior Sister?”

Her voice trailed off, a sly glint in her eyes.

Jinli flushed with embarrassment. “You don’t feel anything?”

“Nothing at all.”

Situ Qingqing leaned back casually. “Third Sister, it’s not too late to back out. Once Master gets here, you’ll have no escape!”

Jinli pouted, irritated by Qingqing’s jab.

“Hmph, Qingqing, if I fail, you think you can handle it better? After yesterday’s… trial, we’re pretty much in the same boat. Don’t act superior!”

Situ Qingqing’s face turned red. “Same boat? Who’s in the same boat as you? At most, you’re just… two-tenths of a step behind!”

“Two-tenths?!”

It took Jinli a moment to process the implication. When she finally did, her face darkened.

“Even if I’m behind, that doesn’t mean you won’t faint like me!”

“We’ll see. I’ll outlast you for sure!”

“Ha! If you do, it’ll only be by a hair. No need to brag about it!”

The argument was escalating when the sound of footsteps interrupted them.

The noise grew louder, signaling someone’s approach. Qingqing glanced at Jinli, motioning for her to quickly hide her contraband. Jinli fumbled, initially shoving the jade radish under Qingqing’s pillow.

“Third Sister, don’t you have a storage ring?” Qingqing asked, exasperated.

“Oh! Right!” Jinli slapped her forehead, hurriedly stuffing the jade radish, along with some “seasonal art scrolls,” into her storage ring.

Just then, the visitor stepped into the pavilion—it was none other than Ruan Yuer.

Carrying two jars of wine, Yuer smiled warmly at the sight of Jinli and Qingqing together.

“I had a feeling you’d be here, Jinli.”

“Second Sister, is something the matter?” Jinli’s eyes darted nervously, her hands fidgeting.

“Not at all,” Yuer said, placing the wine jars and a few cups on the table. “It’s been a while since we all got together. I thought we could catch up over some drinks. Since Qingqing is here too, let’s make it a proper gathering.”

Jinli shot Qingqing a frantic look, silently asking, ‘What do we do? Should we refuse?’

But Qingqing, ever the pragmatist, saw no harm in indulging a little.

“What’s the big deal? A little wine won’t hurt. Besides, liquid courage might be exactly what you need.”

Her reasoning struck a chord with Jinli. Though she was apprehensive, she couldn’t deny that Qingqing had a point. Maybe a drink would steady her nerves.

“Alright then, Second Sister. I was actually thinking about visiting you but didn’t want to interrupt your cultivation.” Jinli seated herself across from Yuer, with Qingqing settling beside her.

“It’s only wine, Third Sister. Don’t make it sound so formal,” Yuer said with a teasing smile as she uncorked the first jar.

As the seal broke, the rich aroma of the wine wafted through the air, instantly filling the room.

“What kind of wine is this? It smells amazing!” Jinli’s nose twitched in curiosity.

“It’s called Immortal’s Drunken Delight. A mortal brew, but they say that no matter your cultivation level, three bowls are enough to leave you completely incapacitated,” Yuer explained.

“Oh, please!” Jinli scoffed. “Second Sister, you’re joking, right? Mortal wine? There’s no way it could affect us cultivators. Right, Qingqing?”

“Second Sister must be kidding,” Qingqing added, equally skeptical. “It’s probably just a sales gimmick.”

Yuer chuckled softly. “If you don’t believe me, why not try it for yourselves?”

“Fine, I’ll drink.”

Jinli, ever the spirited one, poured herself a full bowl of wine, even filling Qingqing and Yuer’s cups before downing her own in one go.

The two sisters watched her closely, waiting for a reaction. Jinli slammed her bowl down, wiped her mouth, and grinned.

“Not bad at all!”

Qingqing, reassured, sipped her wine more cautiously. When nothing happened, she smiled and finished her bowl.

“It’s good, but definitely not as potent as you claimed, Second Sister.”

Yuer hid a sly smile behind her cup, taking a dainty sip herself.

“Maybe the first two bowls are just a prelude,” Yuer mused. “The third might be where the magic happens.”

Jinli laughed, pouring herself another round.

“Let’s test that theory then. Qingqing, you can’t wimp out now!”

“Who’s wimping out?” Qingqing retorted, reluctantly matching Jinli’s pace.

The banter continued as the wine flowed.

“Second Sister, your wine’s a bust! I’m still perfectly sober after two bowls,” Jinli declared, hiccuping.

“Don’t get too cocky, Jinli. You’re going to be stuffed with water before you’re drunk,” Qingqing quipped.

“Quiet, you! This wine’s not bad—I’m just warming up.”

After the third bowl, the sisters began to feel… different. Qingqing blinked at her empty cup, a strange heat rising to her cheeks.

“Why does this feel… unusual?”

Jinli, too, noticed a change. Her head felt light, her body unusually relaxed.

“Qingqing, maybe this wine… isn’t just wine?”

Before they could ponder further, their heads drooped onto the table, overcome by a sudden drowsiness.

Yuer calmly collected the empty jars and stashed them away in her storage ring. A faint, mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she regarded her sleeping juniors.

“My dear, foolish little sisters…”

With a soft laugh, she muttered under her breath:

“‘Immortal’s Drunken Delight’ isn’t wine—it’s medicine. Sweet dreams, you two.”