Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist

Meanwhile, Fen Shuying made her way back to the hideout of her clan. There, she was informed that Wang Jian had arrived, prompted by the announcement of Fen Gen's death.

Given the existing treaty between the Night Dagger Clan and Wang Jian, Fen Shuying greeted this development with little astonishment and considered it a predictable occurrence.

Wang Jian had arrived an hour earlier, and he was talking to Lady Xia with a grave expression on his face.

"I am sorry for your loss, Lady Xia. It is truly a tragedy that Fen Gen has passed away," he said in a sympathetic tone.

Lady Xia's eyes were red and swollen from crying, but she managed to compose herself enough to respond, "Thank you, Lord Wang. I cannot believe that my husband is gone. It is so sudden and unexpected."

Wang Jian nodded his head in agreement and continued, "I have come to offer my condolences and also to discuss the matter of your safety. The killer who took Fen Gen's life is still out there, and it is too dangerous for you and your daughter to remain in the Night Dagger Clan's hideout. I would like to offer you a safe haven in an estate near my mansion. The security there is much better, and you will have my personal protection."

Lady Xia's hesitation was palpable as she wrestled with the idea of leaving her clan's hideout, but the thought of her daughter's safety eventually overcame her reservations, and she reluctantly agreed to Wang Jian's proposal.

At this precise moment, Fen Shuying made an entrance into the hall.

As Fen Shuying entered the hall, Wang Jian stared at her with an evil glint in his eyes.

Lady Xia had a delighted look on her face as she saw her daughter. She then informed her daughter of the discussion they had with Wang Jian.

Fen Shuying's eyes widened with shock when she heard the proposal of shifting near Wang Jian's mansion.

"What?! No, mother, absolutely not! How can you even consider it?" Fen Shuying exclaimed.

"But, my dear daughter, we must think of our safety. Wang Jian is right. It's too dangerous to stay here," Lady Xia replied, her voice laced with concern.

Wang Jian interrupted their conversation, "I'll leave you two to sort out and let me know of your decision," he said, a devious smile on his face as he left the hall.

Once he was gone, Fen Shuying spoke, "Mother, you can't seriously consider moving us to his estate! I don't feel it's the right decision."

Lady Xia remained intransigent. "But our options are limited. Should we remain here, we risk falling prey to the same assassins who dispatched your father, and we would be powerless to resist. Your father, with all his might, led the best warriors of our clan, and yet they all perished!"

"Why do you express such strong resistance? Is it because you fear the disapproval of your husband? Rest assured that if his love is sincere, he will be empathetic to our plight," Lady Xia concluded with conviction.

"…It's not about that, mother," Fen Shuying shook her head in defiance.

"Then what is this about? Explain to me," Lady Xia's tone was firm.

"…I highly doubt the sincerity of Wang Jian's offer. It reeks of ulterior motives, and I refuse to be swayed by those honeyed words," Fen Shuying finally responded.

Lady Xia frowned at her daughter's stubbornness.

"Enough of your baseless accusations, Fen Shuying! I refuse to endanger our lives any further. If you are not willing to come with me, then I will go alone," she declared, her voice tinged with frustration.

Fen Shuying's eyes widened in shock.

"Mother, no! You cannot risk your life like this. I will come with you, but only if you promise me that you will be cautious and not trust Wang Jian blindly," she relented, her voice laced with worry.

Lady Xia smiled triumphantly. "I promise, my dear. We will be safe at Wang Jian's estate, and we will not let our guard down. Let us go and inform him of our decision," she said, rising from her seat.

As they made their way out of the hall, Fen Shuying couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that clung to her. She prayed silently that her instincts were wrong and that they would not regret this decision.

During this interval, Wang Jian convened with his confidential sources within the Night Dagger Clan.

Each informant was generously rewarded with personalized weaponry or equipment based on their preferences, evoking a deep sense of satisfaction within them. Their allegiance towards Wang Jian grew exponentially in response to this display of generosity.

The shrewd Wang Jian was pleased to witness this, and when he perceived that the time was opportune, he broached a critical matter.

He charged them with the task of aggressively recruiting more members for his faction now that Fen Gen had been eliminated and Fen Shuying would no longer be present to supervise the Night Dagger Clan. The recruitment of new members could be accomplished without arousing suspicion or resistance.

Furthermore, in case any of Fen Shuying's faithful followers attempted to communicate with her, their messages would have to go through an arduous vetting process established by Wang Jian within their new residence. This would enable him to cherry-pick the intelligence that Lady Xia and her daughter would receive, thus securing his influence over them.

Soon after, Lady Xia arrived with her daughter and informed Wang Jian of their decision.

Wang Jian's eyes caught Fen Shuying's contemptuous stare, but he concealed the disdain and spoke with a warm smile, "Excellent news."

"Let us commence with the arrangements for Fen Gen's funeral without delay. I shall remain here until the rites are performed and then accompany you and your daughter to your new residence. I assure you that my best experts will be at your service to safeguard you from any potential threats."

Lady Xia appeared moved by Wang Jian's gracious offer and expressed her gratitude, saying, "My sincere thanks for your benevolence, Lord Wang."

"Hmm," Wang Jian grunted as he turned and left the site.