Plotting something sneaky again...

Night fell.

The Su family villa.

"Luo Luo~ Luo Luo~!"

Su Muwan clung to Qin Luo's arm like an affectionate kitten, her cheek pressed against his shoulder. Every now and then, she let out soft "sniff sniff" sounds, greedily inhaling his scent.

"Luo Luo, why do you smell so good…?"

"Sniff~ sniff!!"

"That intoxicating mix of strawberry milk and sunshine…"

"I’ll sniff sniff sniff sniff sniff!!"

Her eyes were half-lidded in bliss, her usual aloof demeanor completely gone.

Qin Luo chuckled helplessly, letting her nuzzle against him.

Su Muwan had been like this ever since returning from the hot springs.

Had she gotten dizzy from soaking too long?

But even so…

This young mistress—absolutely adorable!

"Young Mistress," Qin Luo said teasingly, his fingers gliding over the holographic screen in front of him. "I can’t focus on work like this."

Su Muwan lifted her head, blinking innocently. "Work? Isn’t your job just being my perfect boyfriend and spoiling me rotten?"

"That’s one thing, but I’ve got a side gig too."

"Side gig…?"

Su Muwan suddenly perked up. "Oh?" She narrowed her eyes accusingly. "What shady scheme are you plotting behind my back this time? Spill it!"

Qin Luo smirked, ruffling her hair. "No schemes. Just paving the way for our future."

"Cut the nonsense!"

Su Muwan poked his chest with a huff. "Every time you get this serious, trouble follows."

"Either you’re scheming against someone, or you’re on your way to do it."

"And yet…"

Her eye twitched. "I always end up taking the blame!"

Busted.

Qin Luo coughed lightly, opting not to explain why that kept happening.

"Out with it—what’s the plan this time?"

Seeing her relentless pouting, Qin Luo sighed and pulled the holographic screen toward her.

"I’m arranging a grand sect competition for the factions in the Xuantian Realm."

"Sect competition?"

Su Muwan tilted her head, confused. "What does that have to do with us?"

"Everything."

Qin Luo smiled, dragging out a sprawling tree diagram of hundreds of sects.

"Look, Young Mistress. We already hold sway over every major sect in the Xuantian Realm."

"Secondly…"

He tapped on the Taichu Sacred Ground, revealing the cold, elegant face of a woman.

"Our main targets for this event—Taichu Sacred Ground’s Chu Yu."

"And…"

Another face appeared—a determined-looking young man.

"Tai Xuan Demon Sect’s Xiao Fei."

"Both are Tier-0 Chosen Ones—what you’d call ‘protagonists.’"

"Chu Yu? Xiao Fei?"

Su Muwan frowned, then stiffened as realization struck. "I remember now!"

Her expression darkened, fists clenching. "In our past life, Su Bailian was killed by Chu Yu!"

"And then… my parents too…"

Qin Luo gently reassured her. "Don’t worry, Young Mistress. This time, I’m here."

"Mhm!"

Su Muwan giggled, hugging him tighter, excitement flashing in her eyes. "So, Qin Luo, what’s the plan?"

"Simple."

He pointed to the map on the screen. "The competition will be held in the coastal city of Tianhai."

"It’s near the East Sea, close to the territory of the Sea Clan."

"Sea Clan?"

Su Muwan’s brow furrowed. In her past life, she’d clashed with them—even crossed paths with some so-called "Sea Prince."

She’d skinned him alive and fed him to the sharks.

Then came the West Sea Dragon King and South Sea Dragon King, seeking revenge.

She’d dealt with them too.

After that… well, it spiraled into being ambushed by a whole squad of Chosen Ones.

Anyway.

"Why there?" she pressed. "The Sea Clan and humans have had skirmishes, but this time, with the spiritual energy resurgence and your meddling, they’ve stayed quiet."

"Hosting a tournament near their waters—won’t that invite trouble?"

Qin Luo never brought up the Sea Clan without reason.

If he mentioned them, chaos was coming.

She frowned. "I thought our targets were just those two ‘protagonists.’"

Qin Luo patted her head. "Originally, yes."

"Last time, I manipulated the Sea Clan’s Sixth Princess, Lan Xi, to neutralize them as a threat peacefully."

"But…"

He shrugged. "Plans changed."

"Because now, the Sea Clan is under the control of ‘the Corruption.’"

Su Muwan: "??"

"What kind of anime nonsense is that?"

"Young Mistress."

Qin Luo sighed helplessly, "Were you just slacking off when you went to the mental hospital before?"

"Doctor Ya mentioned that there's an existence in the sky—or higher dimensions—that's artificially releasing [Malignant Entities]."

"Moreover, these Malignant Entities are also drawn to the scent emitted by distorted plotlines."

"In other words, as we’ve altered the fates of most Chosen Ones, this world has started giving off a scent that attracts Malignant Entities."

"So from now on..." Qin Luo's tone turned grave, "the enemies we face will be truly formidable."

Su Muwan listened in stunned silence. "So, Qin Luo, the reason you pushed me to reach the peak of the True Spirit Realm so quickly... was to prepare for what’s coming?"

So that’s it...

"Ah, not entirely."

Qin Luo blinked. "I just wanted to see how talented the young mistress really is. And now that I’ve seen it—damn, it’s downright monstrous..."

Su Muwan: ?

She took a deep breath and rolled her eyes. "Enough with the nonsense. According to you, the Malignant Entities have taken control of the Sea Clan, and now you’re planning to disrupt the fates of those two protagonists."

"Won’t that just create the exact scent the Malignant Entities love?"

"So, you’re trying to provoke a conflict between the Sea Clan and the humans?"

Qin Luo nodded. "Exactly."

"During the Sect Competition, all major factions will gather in Tianhai City."

"If the Sea Clan launches a surprise attack, the humans will inevitably fall into chaos."

"But don’t worry—I’ve already made thorough preparations."

A mysterious smile curled on Qin Luo’s lips as a strange glint flashed in his eyes. "This time..."

"Whether it’s the Xuantian Realm, the Canggu Realm... or the chess players of the Great Thousand Worlds, even the hidden big boss behind it all..."

"I’m dragging every last one of them into this mess!"

"Those I can deal with, I will. Those I can’t—I’ll at least make sure they regret crossing me."

"Wait... how do you even know all this?"

"Oh, I calculated it."

"?"

Not even bothering to pretend anymore?