Chapter 2

If You Think I’m Rude, Feel Free To Take Your Sword And Cut Me

The system had been by Yu Pei’s side for more than ten years, yet it had rarely seen any expression on her face.

She usually looked lifeless, indifferent to everything around her.

Little did anyone know, though, she was both mischievous and cunning.

For instance, right now, she appeared friendly on the outside, but her hands hidden in her sleeves had already begun to channel the second killing spell.

But the system didn’t care.

People in their line of work had to be quick and decisive. Those who hesitated would eventually become cannon fodder.

It had planned to wave a little flag for her when she made her move, but then it recognized the person in front of her.

“Your Highness—” it suddenly spoke, “He’s Chi Shu!”

Chi Shu?

Yu Pei looked the person over.

If Su Zhan was the biggest antagonist in the novel The Weakness and Salvation Guide, then Chi Shu, who adhered strictly to the rules, was his polar opposite.

This young genius, famous for his skills, hardly appeared in the original novel, but whenever he did, he caused a stir. As the young master of the Ghost Realm, not only was he proficient in ghost arts, but he was also a swordsmanship prodigy among the five realms.

But the problem was, he shouldn’t be here.

The system caught on: “He should be in the Ghost Realm right now. Why is he guarding Demon God Mountain?”

In the original novel, the guards of Demon God Mountain were nameless extras, and Chi Shu’s first appearance happened half a year later during the Sect Grand Tournament—where he participated as the chief disciple of the Thousand Return Sword Sect.

Yu Pei thought for a moment: “It must be related to the reincarnator.”

Anything the reincarnator did after being reborn would bring unpredictable consequences. The fact that the guards were replaced by Chi Shu instead of the nameless extras was likely due to such influence.

But compared to the nameless extras, Chi Shu was far more difficult to deal with.

His cultivation was higher, and he was stubborn in his principles.

However…

Yu Pei wondered inwardly: “He’s also a story character, so can he accumulate attack points too?”

System: “Yes, one of Chi Shu’s sword strikes can accumulate 10 attack points.”

So that’s equivalent to ten Xu Muzhi insulting her?

Fine.

Let’s settle this quickly.

Considering Wen Yunhe was about to arrive, Yu Pei got straight to the point: “If you think I’m rude, feel free to take your sword and cut me.”

System: “…”

Doing the task this way is going to get her killed!

Chi Shu paused for a moment, a trace of confusion slowly appearing in his cold eyes.

“What?”

“Cut me,” Yu Pei responded, “Do you think verbal reprimands are effective for someone who trespassed into a forbidden area?”

Chi Shu furrowed his brows.

For a moment, he began to suspect whether he had accidentally eaten a poisonous mushroom and was seeing things.

He had been guarding Demon God Mountain for over a decade, and those who trespassed either begged for mercy or fled.

But this was the first time someone had asked to be cut.

“What exactly is your purpose in entering the mountain?” His expression grew colder, and the silver sword moved a little closer.

A sword energy shot out like a snake, but just as it was about to hit her, she flicked her sleeve and deflected it.

Although it didn’t wound her, Chi Shu had sensed her spiritual energy.

It was exceptionally pure, a dual spirit of gold and fire, without any trace of evil.

【Attack Point +10, Source: Chi Shu’s sword energy.】

With what she wanted now in hand, Yu Pei was quite satisfied and even found Chi Shu a bit more tolerable.

He might be a little ice-cold, but at least he was decisive.

She’d deal with him later and slowly chip away at him.

For now, there was only one important task left—to get him to leave before Wen Yunhe arrived.

She quickly took two steps back, avoiding the sword.

“I just wanted to dig some spirit stones nearby, as you can see, the basket is right here—” She pointed to her right.

Chi Shu followed her gesture and looked in that direction—

Nothing was there.

He looked back at her. Her expression hadn’t changed, but her face clearly read: “I’m not blind.”

Yu Pei: “…”

Chi Muzhi was the real hidden villain, wasn’t he!

Just now, his legs had almost given out, and yet he was still able to carry a half-basket of ten jin of spirit stones?

If he’s not fat, who is?

“The spirit stones haven’t been gathered much yet, but the tools for collecting them—”

Were also taken by Chi Muzhi.

Yu Pei clenched her fist.

Is this person some kind of octopus, able to carry everything like this!

“Actually…” she said calmly, “For cultivation, we usually rely on our hands to dig up the spirit stones, so it’s normal not to carry tools.”

With that, she bent down and directly broke open a piece of spirit stone with her hand, then nonchalantly picked it up.

“—Just like this.”

Chi Muzhi was stunned.

Chi Muzhi furrowed his brows tightly.

Chi Muzhi turned his face aside.

【Congratulations, Your Highness! Attack Point +1, Source: Chi Muzhi’s Disdain】

…Don’t congratulate me, I’m not that happy either.

Yu Pei shifted her gaze and happened to see the jade slip at his waist glowing—someone must be looking for him.

Chi Muzhi also noticed, but he didn’t acknowledge it.

“The stones you’re collecting are within the borders of Demon God Mountain,” he pondered for a moment, “If you don’t leave now, according to the rules, you will be punished with ten lashes.”

“I don’t have that kind of preference,” Yu Pei instinctively replied.

There was a hint of surprise in Chi Muzhi’s eyes.

After a moment, a faint blush spread from his neck to his ears, and he growled, “This is highly improper!”

【Attack Point +1, Source: Chi Muzhi’s Embarrassment.】

“I also want to leave,” Yu Pei kicked a stone beside her, “But my senior brother is still collecting stones nearby. I don’t know where he went, so I can only wait for him here.”

Her action of kicking the stone caught Chi Muzhi’s attention.

He lowered his eyelashes, and by chance, he saw the marks on the ground.

A light rain had just fallen in the early morning, and although the sun blazed overhead, the ground in the shady areas was still damp and soft, marked with scattered footprints.

She wasn’t lying.

From the impressions left, it was clear that there was indeed someone else besides her.

Seeing her wearing the robes of the Spirit-Taming Sect, Chi Muzhi’s attitude softened a little. He asked, “When will your senior brother arrive?”

“I had arranged a time with my senior brother beforehand. We’re meeting here at noon. Once he comes back, I’ll leave with him.”

Noon.

It was less than a quarter away from noon.

And his jade slip had already flashed several times, indicating they were urgently pressing him.

“Moreover, there are formations around Demon God Mountain. It’s not possible for me to just barge in.”

Indeed.

The large formation was set up by the Celestial Domain, with eighty-one layers of magical arrays. If someone were to rashly break in, they would not only be trapped in an illusion, but also risk encountering demons.

Yu Pei added her last sentence, “You just struck me with a sword. Can’t you let me stay here for a short while and rest for a moment?”

Thinking of that sword strike, Chi Muzhi made his decision.

He moved his fingers slightly, and the silver sword suspended in the air immediately dissolved into a stream of energy.

“It was my mistake,” he turned around. “Once your senior brother arrives, leave quickly.”

Yu Pei nodded repeatedly.

The timing was perfect.

According to the plan, the male lead would appear within five seconds, directly to the south.

Five.

Chi Muzhi entered the forest.

Four.

Chi Muzhi took the jade slip from his waist and glanced at it.

Three.

Chi Muzhi suddenly stopped.

Two.

Chi Muzhi turned sideways and coldly glared at her.

Yu Pei’s eyelids twitched, and she suddenly felt that something was wrong.

One.

Wen Yunhe did not appear.

Instead, a swirl of black mist flew toward Chi Muzhi.

The black mist solidified into a human form, draped in a pitch-black cloak. The hat covered most of the figure’s head, revealing only a small portion of a pale face. In its right hand, it held a wooden plaque, on which the words “Day Patrol” were written.

Yu Pei recognized the figure.

It was a Day Patrol officer from the Ghost Realm, known for patrolling the area during the daytime.

It seemed that Chi Muzhi was guarding the mountain here in his identity from the Ghost Realm, rather than from the Thousand Return Sword Sect.

After cupping his hands in greeting, the Day Patrol officer whispered a few words into Chi Muzhi’s ear.

Chi Muzhi’s gaze remained fixed on Yu Pei the entire time.

Yu Pei instinctively sensed something was wrong. With a calm expression, she waved at him. “It seems my senior brother won’t be coming back anytime soon. I’ll leave first.”

Chi Muzhi’s eyes grew cold. “Bind her.”

The system chuckled: “How does he still have an accent when he compliments people?”

…Others are talking, and you’re chatting.

The Day Patrol officer received the order and the wooden plaque flew out, sending several streams of ghostly energy that immediately bound and flew straight toward Yu Pei.

Yu Pei raised her hand, intending to form a spiritual seal to block the attack.

At that moment, she suddenly heard the Day Patrol officer speak: “Young Master, what should we do with the Spider Demon? According to the disciple from the Spirit-Taming Sect, we found two other cultivators near the Spider Tower, but the Spider Demon insists it didn’t harm anyone.”

In the original novel, the demon Wen Yunhe was looking for was the Spider Demon of Demon God Mountain.

It seemed that not only had he found a way to enter the mountain, but he had also been noticed by the mountain’s guards.

And it appeared that she had been regarded as an “accomplice.”

Yu Pei quickly stopped her movement, allowing the ghostly energy to bind her.

If she was an accomplice, then so be it.

Wen Yunhe had safely entered the mountain, but she still had to find Su Zhan’s heart.

Chi Muzhi remained silent for a long while.

Yu Pei knew what he was considering.

Demon God Mountain sealed Su Zhan’s heart, and all the demons in the mountain revered him as their master. If they truly angered these powerful demons, forcing them to use death rituals to forcibly reshape Su Zhan’s body, things could get troublesome.

After a while, he finally spoke.

“Take them both to Demon God Pavilion,” he glanced at Yu Pei, bound tightly, “Lock them in separate places.”

The Day Patrol officer responded, “Yes.”

Yu Pei was taken to a small room in the West Pavilion of Demon God Hall.

As soon as she entered, she saw her “roommates.”

Three people sat opposite each other, all bound up like dumplings, unconscious.

The woman on the far left had delicate eyebrows, bright teeth, and her black hair was elegantly tied up. She had an exotic appearance, likely the female protagonist, Jiang Yuan.

The young man squeezed between them, his face pale. Even in his unconscious state, he occasionally coughed, looking like the naive and innocent Wen Yunhe.

Their senior brother was on the far right. He had sharp brows and starry eyes, and although he was asleep, he wore a faint smile, giving off a serene yet strange aura.

The three of them were huddled together, making Yu Pei inexplicably think of a group of elementary school students who planned a field trip but fell asleep on the bus—relaxed and carefree.

After the Day Patrol officer locked the door and left, she chose a corner to sit down.

Although she didn’t know why Wen Yunhe had entered the mountain early and was discovered by the Day Patrol officer, at least all three of them were safe for now, meaning her mission had succeeded halfway.

The remaining half was ensuring that the three of them could leave safely.

Thinking of this, she looked at the three of them.

Each of them was sleeping soundly.

Yu Pei: “…”

Was the Spirit-Taming Sect’s schedule this strict? Even when tightly bound, they still had to take their afternoon nap on time?

Now that she thought about it, she really felt like a kindergarten principal.

Seeing that they had no intention of waking up, the principal set aside the task of watching over the children, released her ghostly energy, and took out a small white porcelain bottle from her chest.

She removed the cork, tilted the bottle, and slowly poured the liquid.

The moment the liquid touched the ground, it seemed to boil, producing a continuous white mist.

Gradually, the mist condensed into a small, palm-sized demon with garlic-shaped ears.

This little demon was her Shui Wu attendant, formed from the first body of water she encountered when she entered the Mermaid Clan.

She whispered, “Shui Wu, I need to separate my soul to find something. Please watch over the body here.”

Shui Wu looked terrified, raising its voice and howling, “Wuwawa—! Who are you! How do you know my name!”

Yu Pei froze for a moment.

She almost forgot that she had changed identities.

Before she could explain, the Shui Wu demon noticed the three people bound in the corner.

“Kidnappers!”

Its legs gave out, and it collapsed to the ground, sincerely bowing several times: “Please don’t eat me! I have no money, my meat is tough, and even if you turn me into a pill, it wouldn’t be enough to feed the ants! My bones are brittle, even using them as toothpicks wouldn’t work!”

Yu Pei: “…Shut up.”

“Okay.” The crying stopped abruptly.

Shui Wu cautiously glanced at her.

Why?

It could detect some resemblance to the prince in this person.

But they clearly looked different.

The person before it had willow-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and a delicate, charming appearance.

The prince, on the other hand, was more radiant, like a flame burning in the vast ocean. His cat-like eyes, even when lacking in spirit, still exuded brightness and agility.

Shui Wu stared at her for a while, then suddenly had an epiphany: “I understand.”

Yu Pei: “What did you understand now?”

“Kidnapper, you’re just like our prince.” It said sincerely. “You’re quick and decisive when disciplining people.”

Yu Pei: “…”

If she were really a kidnapper, it would be the first one to die.

Thinking of its prince, Shui Wu suddenly became emboldened, its back straightening up.

“She’s very scary, if you eat me, you might not survive till tomorrow.”

Yu Pei removed her thin disguise, revealing her true face.

“Who won’t make it until tomorrow?”

“I won’t.” Shui Wu replied quickly.

Yu Pei used her spiritual technique again to cover her face with the disguise.

Shui Wu sniffed, crying, and waddled towards her, its short legs moving fast.

“Little princess, you finally summoned me! How long do you have to continue your training outside? It’s been sixteen and a half days since I’ve seen you!”

Yu Pei quickly covered its mouth, keeping it a foot away.

“Stop imitating a cow.” She said with a deadpan expression.

Shui Wu’s tears started flowing faster.

Wuwu, how heartless!

“Little princess, Lord Zhu Yu has been looking for you everywhere. He’s already sent me twice to call you.” Thinking about Zhu Yu’s face when he asked for it, Shui Wu nervously rubbed its hands.

When it mentioned Zhu Yu, Yu Pei’s expression became a little strange.

Zhu Yu had grown up with her and could be considered her childhood friend.

In fact, the novel The Weakness and Salvation Guide didn’t have his character at all, but if you talk about his role, he was even more like the protagonist than the actual protagonist.

He came from the Dragon Clan, which was divided into three branches, with the Zhu family being the main branch. He was the only son of the Zhu family. True to his name, he was like a jade found in the sea, incomparable to anyone else.

At first, Yu Pei thought it was absurd that a character like him wouldn’t even have a chance to appear in the story.

But because of people like Zhu Yu, she felt everything around her was vibrant. What she saw in the novel’s plot was just a small corner of the world. Beyond the plot, there was an even broader world.

But that said, Yu Pei didn’t want to see him now.

The reason was simple: she had changed her identity and was traveling, the fewer people who knew her, the better.

Also, her parents had repeatedly told her to stay away from Demon God Mountain.

If Zhu Yu found out she was here, trying to get close to the heart of an evil being, the next person who would know would probably be her father.

Most importantly…

Yu Pei grabbed Shui Wu and asked, “My jade tablet is broken and hasn’t been repaired, so I can’t contact him—what has he been saying to you?”

Shui Wu sniffled and said, “Lord Zhu Yu asked if I had seen you, if I knew where you were going, and if you had left any message before you left—has little princess been having a quarrel with him?”

“No.” Yu Pei replied straightforwardly.

It was just that they had broken up recently.