By now, the visiting Cultivators had already left.
Some had returned to their own Sects to report what had happened here.
As for the people of Breezewind Town, they were now moving into their new homes one after another.
"Hurry up, next."
"Put your handprint here and hand over the Spirit Stones."
"My lord, my son died years ago in an encounter with a Demonic Beast. The Spirit Stones he left behind, plus what this old woman has scraped together over the years, only amounts to thirty Spirit Stones. I'm too old to work now. My two grandsons are still young... could you please be lenient? We only need one house."
The old woman spoke anxiously, holding her two young grandsons by the hand.
After listening, one of the Demon Cultivators took the bag of Spirit Stones. "Who are you trying to fool? Isn't this exactly fifty Spirit Stones? Don't waste my time... Next."
The old woman was stunned. She knew perfectly well she only had thirty Spirit Stones. And yet, they... After receiving the deed, she still found it hard to believe.
"Thank you, thank you, my lords."
"Hurry up! If you have Spirit Stones, hand them over. If you don't, you'll work off your debt until it's paid. Put your handprint here to make the contract binding. Even if you die, we'll collect the debt you owe the Bloodfiend Den from your children and grandchildren! Get a move on!"
"Pick up the pace! The people behind you haven't eaten yet."
"Next..."
At the entrance to Breezewind Town, countless families, young and old, were moving into the newly rebuilt town.
Despite their fierce expressions and harsh words, the Demon Cultivators were only charging fifty Spirit Stones—an amount most commoners could afford. And for those who couldn't pay, they weren't driven away; instead, they were allowed to work off their debt.
Regardless, the townspeople were truly grateful to them.
"Thank you, thank you."
Celeste Grant smiled.
'The Immortal and Demonic Paths... what is good, and what is evil?'
Celeste Grant stood to the side, heavily pregnant, with one hand on her lower back. With Nerida by her side, she was quite conspicuous.
The moment she arrived, the disciples of the Bloodfiend Den noticed her.
"Look, it's the Madam!"
The disciples immediately placed a hand over their chests and bowed in unison to greet her.
"Your subordinates greet you, Madam."
"Greetings, Madam."
Their voices were loud and clear.
Seeing the Demon Cultivators bow, the townspeople who had benefited from their help also pulled their families along and bowed in her direction.
"Thank you, Madam."
"The Madam is as kind as she is beautiful."
"Thank you for saving us, Madam."
These people had already learned from the Demon Cultivators that it was the "Madam" they kept mentioning who had saved them. According to the rumors, the Bloodfiend Den had received an early warning that a Divine Beast would appear in Breezewind Town. If the Madam hadn't arranged for them to be evacuated, they would all be dead by now.
Celeste Grant gave a dry laugh.
'Looks like I'll never be able to shake this title as the wife of The Demonic Sects' leader.'
'But so what if people find out? It's a fact that I'm involved with the villainous leader, and it's a fact that I'm colluding with Demon Cultivators. I even have his child; what do I have to fear from what others say?'
'Even though I'm not a malicious person myself, my role in this novel is the villainess who opposes the heroine. That can't be changed. Even if I don't go looking for trouble, trouble will find its way to me.'
'So, even if I weren't involved with Demon Cultivators and didn't side with The Demonic Sects, there would be no place for me among the Righteous Immortal Sects anyway.'
'After all, the heroine's men all hold important positions in the various Immortal Sects. With a little pillow talk, even if she doesn't act herself, there will be plenty of people willing to stand up for her and come looking for trouble with me.'
At this thought, she lowered her head slightly.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
'Even if I'm fated to be the villainess, I'll live a better life than anyone else. The next time we meet, heroine... you'd better not disappoint me.'
When she looked up again, her smile had returned.
She raised her hand slightly, gesturing downwards with her delicate fingers.
"Carry on, don't mind me."
"You've all worked hard. You did a great job this time."
She was being sincere.
'Building a town in three days... they're truly the ultimate workforce. Even a capitalist would weep at their efficiency.'
They were only doing this manual labor because of her.
Hearing this, the Bloodfiend Den disciples grew as excited as if they'd been shot full of adrenaline.
The Madam had praised them.
And praise from the Madam was as good as praise from The Exalted One himself.
The Bloodfiend Den disciples pounded their chests with one hand.
"Thank you for your consideration, Madam! Your subordinates do not find this arduous. It is our honor to serve The Exalted One and you."
The looks on their faces, the fire in their eyes—they were the very picture of die-hard loyalists who would charge through a mountain of swords and a sea of flames at a single command.
"Someone, bring a chair for the Madam."
"Yes, Elder."
Someone quickly brought over a chair.
After Celeste Grant sat down, she finally felt like a real mob boss. All she was missing were sunglasses and a cigarette.
'Have to admit, this is awesome.'
「A few days later.」
Breezewind Town had returned to its former bustling and peaceful state. The atmosphere, it had to be said, was quite pleasant.
As for Celeste Grant, she spent her days resting in her courtyard to nurture her pregnancy, only going out for a walk in the evenings.
The days passed one by one.
In the blink of an eye, she was more than nine months pregnant. By her calculations, she was due to give birth any day now.
As her due date approached, she felt a profound sense of sadness.
On the corridor of the courtyard, Celeste Grant stood by the railing.
The voices of her parents in this world came from the Sound Transmission Jade Slip.
"Cece, are you doing okay out there? When are you coming home? How is your Cultivation going?"
"Your father and I are doing fine, don't you worry. Are your martial brothers treating you well? If anyone bullies you, just come home."
Celeste Grant clutched the Jade Scroll tightly and sent her voice back.
"Dad, Mom, are you both well? I'm doing fine out here. I'll come back to see you in a little while. Take care of yourselves at home, and please tell me if anything happens."
Celeste Grant had transmigrated into this novel's world many years ago. The villainess's parents had long since become her own. She couldn't treat them as mere two-dimensional characters from a book.
"Alright, we understand. You take care of yourself out there, too."
"Okay, I will."
After she finished speaking,
the Sound Transmission Jade Slip in her hand crumbled to dust.
The Sound Transmission Jade Slips of this world were embedded with an Array. One had to activate the Array in advance with a drop of blood from the person they wished to contact. This allowed for communication across thousands of miles, but such Jade Scrolls could only be used two or three times and were very expensive. Most commoners couldn't afford them.
Celeste Grant was reminded of modern-day cell phones.
'Those were so convenient; everyone had one.'
'Looks like I'll have to do some research in the future and create a replacement for the Sound Transmission Jade Slip.'
Tucking the shattered Jade Scroll into her storage bag, Celeste Grant leaned against the railing.
'To be so close to giving birth with no family by my side... it's so lonely.'
Her eyes began to burn.
Tears welled up.
Suddenly, a figure appeared before her.
"What are you crying for?"
Startled by the sudden appearance, Celeste Grant stumbled backward, catching herself on the railing to stay upright.
The person who had appeared before her was Javier Sinclair.
'Isn't he in seclusion?'
'What is he doing here?'