Tearing away the veil of self-deception, she realized—her marriage to Rong Xueci had not been good for her.

If she had never met Rong Xueci, never married him, she would have at least lived a stable life in the mortal world.

She wouldn’t have had to endure daily heartache, the constant gnawing gloom in her chest.

Though she was an orphan, she had friends in the mortal realm, kind neighbors and fellow villagers.

If she had stayed there, she might have lived out her days like Auntie Li, the jujube seller she knew—spending her life in a quiet mountain village. A simple existence, but a content and happy one.

Or perhaps, like the Zhou siblings she once knew, she might have left home to seek her fortune in the capital, learn new skills and occasionally sending letters back to her hometown.

Or she could have used the knowledge her master taught her to roam the world like her senior martial siblings—traveling far and wide, experiencing the beauty and romance of life.

But now? She was just a mortal despised by the cultivation world, scorned as a burden dragging down someone like Rong Xueci.

What’s so wrong with being mortal?

Are mortals not entitled to their own lives?

Why did every cultivator treat mortals like worthless trash, as if simply being born mortal was a sin?

“Kill his wife to prove his Dao?”

Shen Qixi stared into the mist-shrouded forest, her voice strained. “I don’t believe it.”

But Zhao Zhuorui’s words had planted a seed of doubt.

What if someone did persuade Rong Xueci to do it?

Rong Xueci was an Immortal Venerable, bearing the hopes of the entire cultivation world.

Sacrificing one mortal—sacrificing her—for his ascension would be considered a righteous act.

Could she really stand against the will of the entire cultivation world?

If that day came, no one would see her grief, her fury, her sense of injustice.

Shen Qixi pressed her hands to her head, agony twisting inside her.

She couldn’t see a future with Rong Xueci anymore.

All this time—endure, endure, endure!

Was it wrong to accept a proposal from someone she loved? Was it wrong to strive to become better?

Why did she have to suffer so much rejection?!

The weight of it all crushed her.

The marriage she had thought was beautiful was despised by so many.

Even her love had its limits.

Suddenly, a cheerful, unnatural voice chimed in her mind:

[Ding! Congratulations, Host, on successfully binding with this System!]

Within the Floating Life Scroll Secret Realm, the mist thickened, an ominous aura spreading.

The despairing girl looked up in shock.

What was that voice?

Shen Qixi’s heart lurched.

How could something speak directly into her consciousness?!

[Ah, this System almost forgot—Host is a native of this world and wouldn’t know about Systems.]

[But no worries! Host will interact with this System often from now on. You’ll get used to it soon!]

The strange intruder continued cheerfully, undeterred.

Shen Qixi thought grimly—whoever this was, they could forcibly communicate through divine sense. Their power far surpassed hers.

She had no way to resist.

Silently, she listened.

[Excellent. Host is cautious and steady. This System approves!]

[Just now, Host’s emotional fluctuations were so intense—wow, they lit up this System’s panel like fireworks! Truly eye-catching!]

[This System was searching for an outstanding task-taker, and now we’re bound together!]

Though she didn’t fully understand what this so-called “System” was saying, Shen Qixi frowned and replied, “I’m just a mortal with pitiful talent—hardly what anyone would call ‘outstanding.’ If you’re looking for someone with potential, you’ve chosen the wrong person.”

[Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never mock the youth for their poverty!] The self-proclaimed System suddenly declared with dramatic fervor.

Shen Qixi: “……?”

[Well? Don’t you feel your fighting spirit ignite?]

[A host like you is the perfect match for this System!]

“But I might not live up to your expectations,” Shen Qixi said.

[No worries! A protagonist on the path of growth naturally faces setbacks—it’s all for the sake of a stronger future!]

Protagonist?

Like in those storybooks?

Shen Qixi had never imagined she’d ever be associated with such a title.

[Though, to be clear, you’re not the protagonist right now. You’re a… ahem, a cannon fodder character.]

[Hmm… The mechanics of a transmigration system might be a bit unfamiliar to you.]

[Let’s first take a look at your character tags, then decide how to proceed.]

As the System’s voice faded, lines of text materialized above Shen Qixi’s head.

Noticing the words, she instinctively looked up.

[Wait, wait—let’s adjust the angle.] The System hastily intervened.

A moment later, the text floated down to hover directly in front of Shen Qixi’s eyes.

[There, much better!]

[In the future, if the host can’t easily see them, the tags will automatically appear right where you’re looking.]

This so-called System was oddly considered.

Shen Qixi’s gaze settled on the words, and her pupils constricted slightly as she saw her own name.

[Name: Shen Qixi]

[Race: Human]

[Tags: [Cannon Fodder], [Mortal Wife], [Dull and Rigid], [Short-lived Background Character]]

Mortal went without saying.

Dull and rigid—she had long grown accustomed to that description.

But Shen Qixi’s attention lingered on a few specific phrases.

Her role was that of a wife.

Rong Xueci’s wife.

Was her only purpose to be his spouse?

And then there were the other labels—short-lived background character, cannon fodder…

Seeing Shen Qixi fell into stunned silence, the System flustered.

[Tsk Tsk, showing you all this at once is a bit overwhelming.]

[Let me put it simply: these tags are prophecies of your fate.]

[So, do you want to change your life?]

[Agree: Press 1]

[Refuse: Press 2]

[This System is magnanimous and upholds the principle of free will—no forced bindings! You can take your time to think it over before choosing~]

Each word echoed clearly in Shen Qixi’s mind.