Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Chapter 948: Information From Shadow Flowers

The humid, salty breeze of the Myriad Reefs Sea Domain drifted through the open windows of the rented courtyard on Red Coral Island. It had been three months since Wang Jian and his entourage had arrived in this alien, water-dominated world, fleeing the apocalyptic war of the State of Yue.

In that time, they had been quiet. They had been observing.

Inside the main hall of the courtyard, the atmosphere was serious. Wang Jian sat at the head of a large table carved from iron-wood. To his right sat his wife, Yue Lingshan, her expression focused and serene. To his left sat Sect Mistress Mu Lianhua, wearing dignified, high-collared blue robes that radiated the aura of a respected elder. Further down were Chen Ying, her sword resting against her chair, and Liu Ruyan, whose fingers drummed lightly on the table. Standing guard at the perimeter of the room were the five married maids, led by Li Mei, their cultivation bases now stabilized at the Initial Foundation Establishment Realm thanks to Wang Jian's resources.

The heavy oak doors creaked open.

Three figures entered. They moved with a fluidity that spoke of recent, hard-won experience in the chaotic streets and waterways of the archipelago.

It was the Shadow Flowers—Qiu Yun, Su Ning, and Bai Xue.

Gone were their heavy mainland robes. They were now dressed in the practical, tight-fitting aquatic leathers favored by local rogue cultivators—garments made of sea-beast hide that repelled water and allowed for swift movement. Their skin was slightly tanned from the relentless ocean sun, and their eyes held a sharper, more predatory gleam.

"Master," Qiu Yun said, stepping forward and bowing. She caught herself, glancing at Yue Lingshan, and corrected her address smoothly. "Deacon Wang. Senior Sister Yue. Elders."

Wang Jian nodded, his face a mask of calm authority. "You have returned. Report."

Qiu Yun gestured to Su Ning and Bai Xue. Together, they unrolled a massive parchment scroll across the table. It was a map, far more detailed and intricate than anything available in the public stalls of Red Coral Island. It was marked with shipping lanes, spiritual energy currents, and territories color-coded in blue, black, and gold.

"We have successfully integrated," Qiu Yun began, her finger tracing a cluster of islands in the eastern sector. "As per your instructions, we aimed for low-tier organizations affiliated with the major powers. I have joined the Azure Wave Sword Sect."

She pointed to a small island chain. "They are a subordinate sect of the Righteous Faction. Their Sect Leader is merely a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. With my current cultivation, I was easily accepted as an external deacon. They guard a minor spirit stone vein."

Su Ning stepped forward, her voice carrying a hint of dark amusement. "I have infiltrated the Blood Shark Hall. It is a violent, chaotic organization under the Demonic Faction's umbrella. They value strength and lethality above all else."

"And how did you manage that without revealing your true background?" Wang Jian asked, leaning forward slightly.

"Alchemy, Deacon Wang," Su Ning smiled thinly. "Specifically, the art of toxins. I cured their Vice-Hall Master of a sea-snake bite that was rotting his meridians, and then I demonstrated a poison that could boil the blood of a Grade 2 Sea Beast in seconds. They welcomed me with open arms. They believe I am a rogue poison master fleeing a vendetta."

"Excellent," Wang Jian said, his eyes gleaming with approval.

Bai Xue, the most innocent-looking of the three, pointed to the center of the map. "I have become an external attendant for the 'Golden Conch Trading Guild.' They are a direct subsidiary of the Myriad Ocean Palace. It allows me access to market fluctuations, auction listings, and the movement of high-level resources."

"The intelligence network is established," Wang Jian murmured. "Now, show us the board."

Bai Xue took the lead, her hand sweeping over the map. "The Myriad Reefs Sea Domain is stabilized by a tripod of power. Three behemoths keep the chaos in check."

She pointed to the eastern islands, marked in blue.

"First, the Righteous Alliance. It is a loose confederation of islands governed by strict maritime laws and commerce. Their leader is the Starfall Island, presided over by a Nascent Soul Ancestor. They specialize in sword arts, hydro-mancy, and cooperative array formations. They are hypocrites, claiming to uphold order while taxing the smaller islands into poverty, but they are organized."

Su Ning pointed to the deep, darker waters of the west, marked in black.

"Opposing them is the Abyssal Trench Coalition. This is the demonic faction. They occupy the islands near the great oceanic trenches where the sunlight barely reaches. They are led by Blackwater Island. Their cultivators focus on body tempering using water pressure, blood arts derived from sea beasts, and soul manipulation. They are ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest societies."

Then, Bai Xue placed her hand firmly in the center of the map, on a massive, golden-marked island cluster.

"And here, sitting above them all, is the Myriad Ocean Palace."

A silence fell over the room. Even the name carried weight.

"They are the de facto rulers of this domain," Bai Xue explained. "A massive, ancient organization located at the geometric center of the archipelago. They claim neutrality. They impose taxes on both the Righteous and Demonic factions in exchange for residence rights in the safest, most Qi-dense Inner Islands."

"Neutrality?" Yue Lingshan asked, frowning. "How can they maintain neutrality between such bitter enemies?"

"Strength," Mu Lianhua spoke up, her voice rich with the insight of a former leader. "Absolute, overwhelming strength. If they can tax both demons and righteous cultivators, it means they possess a heritage that surpasses both."

"Correct, Elder Mu," Bai Xue nodded. "The Myriad Ocean Palace possesses the strongest heritage. They combine the best of both paths—the discipline of the righteous and the ferocity of the demonic—without the extreme drawbacks. They enforce the 'Peace of the Port' in neutral cities like Red Coral Island."

Wang Jian studied the map, his mind racing. It was a delicate ecosystem.

"So, the Palace holds the balance," he mused aloud. "If we offend the Righteous, we can flee to the Demonic. If we offend the Demonic, we flee to the Righteous. But if we offend the Palace... there is nowhere to hide."

"Precisely," Qiu Yun agreed.

Wang Jian sat back, tapping his finger on the armrest. Internally, he was incredibly pleased. His spies were embedded perfectly. He had eyes in every camp. He looked at the curves of Qiu Yun and Su Ning, noting how the tight sea-leather accentuated their figures. 'I will have to give them a private debriefing later,' he thought, a flicker of lust passing through his mind. 'A reward for such detailed work.'

Outwardly, however, he maintained his facade.

"Senior Sister Chen," he said, turning to Chen Ying. "From a combat perspective, what does this terrain tell us?"

Chen Ying studied the map. "The water is the battlefield. Mobility is key. The Righteous faction likely relies on ranged bombardment and formations. The Demonic faction likely uses ambush tactics from the deep. We need to be proficient in underwater combat."

"Agreed," Wang Jian nodded.

"One final detail," Bai Xue added. "The sects we have joined... they are merely subordinate forces. Their leaders are, at most, at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. We are small fish in a very big pond. This is perfect for us."

"It means we stay off the radar of the Nascent Soul monsters," Wang Jian concluded. "We hide in the shadow of mediocrity while we grow fat on resources."

"Now," Wang Jian said, standing up and walking to the map. "Let's talk about the resources. Specifically, the beasts."

Bai Xue pointed to a glowing, jagged line that encircled the central region of the map.

"This," she said, "is the Azure Dome Barrier."

"An island-wide array?" Yue Lingshan asked, impressed.

"No, a domain-wide phenomenon," Bai Xue corrected. "It separates the Inner Islands from the Outer Sea."

"Inside the barrier, where we are," Su Ning explained, "the sea is relatively calm. The currents are stable. The Sea Beasts here are suppressed by the ambient pressure of the barrier. They range from Grade 1 to Grade 7—Qi Condensation to Late Core Formation. It is safe for trade, habitation, and controlled hunting."

She moved her hand to the vast, unmarked expanse beyond the glowing line.

"But outside... in the Outer Islands... lies the true wilderness. Storms there can shatter a ship in seconds. And the Sea Beasts..." She shuddered slightly. "They reach Grade 8, Grade 9... even peak Grade 10. Nascent Soul equivalent monstrosities."

"Rumors say," Su Ning lowered her voice, "that the rulers of the Outer Sea are Flood Dragons. Beasts with true dragon bloodlines. They command the Beast Tides that periodically slam against the Azure Dome Barrier."

Wang Jian's eyes lit up at the mention of dragon bloodlines, but he kept his expression focused on the immediate future.

"We are not ready for Flood Dragons," he stated pragmatically. "We need to grow. The ambient Qi in this region is chaotic; it is difficult to refine purely through meditation. We need pills. We need alchemy."

He looked at the map. "Identify the hunting grounds near Red Coral Island."

Qiu Yun pointed to three distinct locations surrounding their current base.

"Here," she pointed to a cluster of islands covered in massive, verdant growth rising from the sea. "The Emerald Sea-Forest Isle. It is a unique environment where giant mangroves grow directly from the ocean floor. It is rich in Wood and Water attribute beasts."

"To the south," she moved her finger to a smoking, black rock formation. "The Volcanic Isle of Ashen Bone. It is an active volcanic zone. No mortals live there. Only Flame and Earth attribute beasts reside in the calderas."

"And to the north," she pointed to a region surrounded by perpetual gray clouds. "Thunder-Crag Island. The magnetic fields there attract constant lightning storms. It is home to Wind and Lightning beasts."

Wang Jian nodded, a plan forming rapidly in his mind.

"We need to enhance our cultivation," he announced. "But we cannot use generic pills. To maximize our absorption rates and stabilize our foundations in this chaotic environment, we need elemental specificity. We need Beast Cores matching our Spiritual Roots."

He looked around the table, performing a mental inventory.

"I possess Triple Spirit Roots: Fire, Wood, and Water," Wang Jian stated. "I can absorb energy from almost any of these locations."

He looked at his wife. "Lingshan, you have Dual Spirit Roots: Wood and Water. The Emerald Sea-Forest Isle is your training ground."

He turned to Liu Ruyan. "Junior Sister Ruyan, Fire and Wood. You will need cores from the Volcanic Isle and the Sea-Forest."

"Senior Sister Chen," he looked at the swordswoman. "You have a Mutated Wind Spirit Root. Thunder-Crag Island will be dangerous, but it is the only place for you."

Finally, he looked at Mu Lianhua. "Elder Mu. Flame and Wood. Your path aligns with Ruyan's."

"We hunt," Wang Jian declared, his fist clenching. "We will fill our larder with beast cores. We will target Grade 2 to Grade 4 Spirit Beasts—Foundation Establishment equivalents. They are abundant, and with Elder Mu protecting us, the risk is minimal."

"We will turn the fauna of this sea into our stepping stones."

He paused, letting the gravity of the plan settle. Then, he looked at everyone with a gaze of absolute determination.

"I am setting a mandate," Wang Jian announced. "We are going into a period of hibernation and accumulation. Five years."

"Five years?" Chen Ying asked.

"In five years," Wang Jian said, "I want every Foundation Establishment cultivator in this room—myself, Lingshan, Ruyan, Chen Ying, and the Shadow Flowers—to reach the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment. No exceptions."

He looked at Mu Lianhua. "Elder Mu, your situation is different. You are at the Peak of Core Formation. Breaking through to Nascent Soul is a massive hurdle. It requires destiny, not just accumulation. For this period, you are our guardian. You are the executioner who ensures we survive the hunts."

Mu Lianhua bowed her head. "I accept this duty, Deacon Wang. I will clear the path."

Wang Jian turned back to the Shadow Flowers. "While you are embedded in your sects, keep your ears open. I want news of any sect led by a Peak Foundation Establishment or Initial Core Formation cultivator that is on the brink of destruction or war."

"Why?" Bai Xue asked.

"Because we are vultures," Wang Jian smiled coldly. "We need a carcass to feast on. If a sect falls, their library, their treasury, their heritage... it becomes free for the taking."

"Also," he added, "find me rare seeds. Dying herbs. Anything exotic. I can revive them with my methods. We need to build a garden here that rivals the Crimson Pill Sect."

He then turned to Yue Lingshan. "Lingshan, your array skills must advance. The formations of this sea domain are different; they use the flow of water and wind. We need to master them."

"I will study the manuals we bought," Lingshan said diligently.

"Manuals are slow," Wang Jian corrected her, a dark glint in his eyes. "We will find you teachers. Or rather... we will find their legacies."

He looked at the Shadow Flowers. "Track down renowned rogue Formation Masters. Those who live in seclusion. Those who have no powerful backers. If they are isolated... report them."

The implication hung heavy in the air. Murder. Theft of knowledge.

"We will acquire their lifetime of research in a single night," Wang Jian said softly. "Elder Mu will handle the... negotiations."

He stood up. "Roles are distributed. Elder Mu is the Executioner. Senior Sister Chen is the Vanguard. Junior Sister Ruyan is the Alchemist. Lingshan is the Strategist. And the Shadow Flowers are the Eyes."

"Dismissed," he ordered. "Prepare your gear. We hunt at dawn."

The women stood up, bowing.

As they began to file out of the room, Wang Jian caught Mu Lianhua's eye. He made a subtle, almost imperceptible hand signal—a slight brushing of his thumb against his palm.

Come to my room later.

Mu Lianhua's breath hitched slightly. She gave a microscopic nod, her cheeks coloring faintly, before turning to follow Yue Lingshan out of the hall, maintaining her facade of the dignified elder.

Yue Lingshan, busy studying the map and calculating the necessary array flags for a water-based trap, noticed absolutely nothing amiss. She smiled at her husband, proud of his initiative and leadership, completely unaware of the dark appetites that drove him.

Two hours later, the moon hung high over Red Coral Island, casting a silvery glow over the restless ocean.

Wang Jian sat on the edge of his bed in his private cultivation chamber. The room was soundproofed by high-grade arrays.

The door clicked open. Mu Lianhua slipped inside.

She had changed out of her formal robes. She was wearing the sheer, blue sarong he liked, the fabric barely concealing the lush curves of her body.

She locked the door and walked towards him, her hips swaying. She didn't say a word. She sank to her knees between his legs, looking up at him with eyes that were heavy with submission.

Wang Jian reached down and cupped her face. "You did well today, Elder Mu. Your acting is impeccable."

"I learn from you, Master," she whispered.

Wang Jian's hand trailed down her neck, over her collarbone, and slipped inside the loose neckline of the sarong. He grabbed one of her massive, heavy breasts, kneading the soft flesh roughly.

"But now," he growled, his voice changing, becoming thick with lust, "the act is over."

He pulled her up onto the bed. He didn't kiss her gently. He pushed her down, climbing over her.

"Do you know why I called you here?" he asked, staring down at her.

"To... to serve you, Master," she breathed, her chest heaving.

"Because of these," Wang Jian said, squeezing both of her breasts together with his hands, creating a deep valley of pale flesh. "These damn erotic tits of yours. I couldn't focus during the meeting. Every time you breathed, every time you moved... they were mocking me. Begging for attention."

He pinched her nipples hard. "It's your fault, Lianhua. You made me so horny I could barely think straight. What do you have to say for yourself?"

It was a ridiculous accusation. A game of power and degradation. But Mu Lianhua knew her lines. She knew what he wanted.

She looked up at him, her eyes misting over with a mix of shame and arousal. "I... I am sorry, Master. It is my fault. My body is... too lewd. I distracted you."

She reached down, her hand finding his hardening length through his trousers. "Since it is my fault... I must remedy my error. I must take responsibility."

"You certainly will," Wang Jian growled. "You're going to take it all night. Twenty times, Lianhua. I'm going to fuck you until you can't walk, until you learn not to tempt your Master when he's planning a war."

"Yes, Master," she moaned. "Punish this slut. Use me until you are satisfied."

He tore the sarong open.

The night descended into a blur of flesh and sweat. Wang Jian was relentless. He took her in every position, venting his stress, his ambition, and his lust into her. He made her beg, he made her scream his name into the pillows, he made her thank him for every thrust.

He blamed her body for his lack of control, and she accepted the blame, twisting her own reality to fit his narrative. She was the temptress; he was the victim who had to conquer her. It was a twisted dynamic that bound them closer with every encounter.

By the time dawn broke, Mu Lianhua lay limp on the bed, her body marked and thoroughly used, her spiritual energy drained but her loyalty absolute.

Wang Jian stood by the window, looking out at the rising sun over the ocean. He felt energized, clear-headed.

The five-year plan was set. The hunting grounds were chosen. His harem was ready.

"Rest, Lianhua," he said without looking back. "We have a lot of killing to do tomorrow."