Villain: Gouging Out the Heroine’s Spiritual Eyes at the Beginning

Chapter 10: Gathering Intelligence, Hidden Currents:

“Do you want those eyes?”

Those were the Thousand Illusion Spirit Eyes—who wouldn’t want them?

You Ruo didn’t answer immediately but nodded lightly.

“Do you know about the Annihilation Demon Eyes?”

“I do, Master. They are a demonic eye technique of the demon race, but I don’t know much about the details…”

The Annihilation Demon Eyes were as powerful as the Thousand Illusion Spirit Eyes. In the later part of the novel, one of Qin Yang’s harem members, Qian Baimei, obtained the inheritance of these eyes.

But where was this inheritance before that? No one knew the answer.

Shen Yuan wondered if he could find the inheritance of the Annihilation Demon Eyes before Qian Baimei did and claim it for himself.

Unfortunately, this thought also came to nothing. Even though You Ruo was of the demon race, her knowledge about the Annihilation Demon Eyes was limited.

Seeing her master’s silence, You Ruo lowered her head, silently blaming herself. She felt ashamed that she couldn’t provide any useful information about Qian Baimei or the Annihilation Demon Eyes, despite everything her master had done for her.

“Forget it. If you don’t know, you don’t know. Rest assured, I will leave those eyes for you. But you’ll have to achieve a significant merit to earn them. That way, I’ll have a valid reason to reward you with those eyes.”

“Really?!”

You Ruo’s joy was evident.

“Of course. But the merit must be significant enough to silence the elders. You know those old fools—besides opposing me, they seem to serve no other purpose.”

You Ruo stepped closer and whispered, “Master, why not abolish the Elders’ Hall altogether? Reform the Shen family system and ensure all power rests solely in your hands.”

Shen Yuan chuckled softly, narrowing his eyes.

“It’s not the right time yet. The elders still hold enough family power to threaten me. If I want to weaken their authority, it must be done carefully and over time.”

Abolishing the elders was indeed part of Shen Yuan’s plan. The elders of the Shen family wielded excessive power. There were nine elders, and if five or more jointly impeached the family head, they could forcibly remove and replace him.

Shen Yuan had beneficial relationships with six of the nine elders. They were on good terms with him and wouldn’t trouble him, let alone impeach him. However, his relationship with the remaining three was lukewarm.

At first glance, there seemed to be no need for Shen Yuan to make enemies of the elders since they posed no immediate threat.

But Shen Yuan thought differently. Power should be entirely in his hands. Even the six seemingly friendly elders were like wolves—impossible to satisfy. They might appear kind now, but the moment he couldn’t meet their demands, their attitudes would change.

Especially the Fourth Elder, Shen Bin, who eventually betrayed the Shen family in the original story.

The elders had to go, and the Shen family’s system needed reform.

But none of this could be rushed—it required careful planning and execution.

Thinking about it gave Shen Yuan a headache. He rubbed his temples gently and closed his eyes to rest.

“Master…”

“What now?” Shen Yuan responded, his eyes still closed.

“Master, today you gouged out Shen Xiao’er’s eyes. By tomorrow, Wei Qi, that damned eunuch, will surely use it against you.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuan opened his eyes.

“Wei Qi, the eunuch…”

Wei Qi was the commander of the Dragon Gate Guards of the Northern Qi Immortal Empire. As the name suggested, this was an agency solely loyal to the Empress.

Thus, the Dragon Gate Guards wielded immense power, and as their commander, Wei Qi held a position equal to Shen Yuan—one person beneath the Empress, above all others.

The court was essentially divided into two factions: the Shen faction and the Wei faction.

Now that Shen Yuan had taken such an action, it was inevitable that the Wei faction would seize the opportunity to cause trouble.

“Regardless, this is a Shen family matter. What can Wei Qi, that damned eunuch, do? Turn the heavens upside down?”

Despite his bold words, Shen Yuan inwardly sighed in frustration. Being a villain was exhausting—there was no room for complacency.

Within the family, there were traitorous elders scheming in the shadows.

In the court, political rivals under the Empress were watching his every move.

Why did I have to be reincarnated as the villain instead of the protagonist? If I were the protagonist, I could effortlessly humiliate enemies, gather a massive harem, and enjoy life.

But as a villain, I must rack my brains just to survive.

“Master…”

“Enough. You don’t need to say more. For now, cut ties with those people in the martial world. I don’t want the Empress discovering the forces I’ve been secretly supporting there.”

“Understood, Master.”

“What troubles me most is how many spies Ji Yaochi has planted in my family. Is it just one, or…”

Shen Yuan furrowed his brows. Without uncovering the spies, every move he made felt restricted, and he couldn’t find peace.

You Ruo pursed her lips.

Seeing her master so troubled, she felt helpless that she couldn’t assist him.

She stood gracefully, moved behind Shen Yuan, and began to massage his shoulders gently.

“Master, let me ease your tension.”

Shen Yuan didn’t refuse and allowed himself to relax slightly.

You Ruo’s massage technique was exceptional, making Shen Yuan feel his blood circulation improve significantly. It was clear that she had practiced extensively.

The sensation was so enjoyable that Shen Yuan found himself thoroughly indulging in it.

No wonder, in the original story, Shen Yuan frequently had You Ruo massage him. Her skills were indeed remarkable—it felt as if all the tension in his muscles and bones melted away…

…

Meanwhile, at the White Cloud Sect.

Qin Yang met with his master and recounted the events involving Shen Xiao’er.

Upon hearing the story, Qin Yang’s master, Yun Zhan, was furious.

“That vile Shen is utterly ruthless! He’s trying to plant a heart demon within you!”

“A heart demon?”

“Exactly. First, he gouged out Shen Xiao’er’s eyes, then forced you to marry her. But with your righteous heart, how could you be bound to a blind woman? Such a conflict would cloud your mind and birth a heart demon!”

“Fortunately, Pei Duan intervened, and by a twist of fate, Shen Xiao’er ended up marrying him. In a way, their union resolved this matter and spared you from the heart demon.”

Qin Yang hadn’t realized how dangerous the situation had been.

“Since you and Shen Xiao’er are not destined to be, focus on your cultivation and let go of these thoughts.”

“Master, shouldn’t we seek justice for Xiao’er? Shen Yuan gouged out her eyes!” Qin Yang’s indignation flared. “You know Lord Wei, don’t you? Could you ask him to file a formal charge against Shen Yuan tomorrow?”

Yun Zhan narrowed his eyes, clearly contemplating Qin Yang’s proposal.

“Xiao’er was not only blinded but also stripped of her family name and exiled by Shen Yuan. I cannot accept this. I must seek justice for her!”

“Shen Yuan, the Prime Minister of the Immortal Empire, acted with such cruelty, even against his kin. His deeds are beyond reprehension!”

“Besides, isn’t gouging out eyes a form of illegal punishment? Shen Yuan’s actions clearly violate the laws of the Northern Qi Immortal Empire!”