Chapter 1

◎ “If it’s the Little Highness, even if this person is a bit strong, it will definitely work.” ◎

On the first day of May, at the foot of Yunlian Mountain.

More than a hundred years ago, this mountain was an important gateway for entering and leaving Yunlian City, with Yunlian to the north and Chiyin to the south. After demonic creatures began to invade, the mountain roads became overgrown, and human activity gradually dwindled.

Now, the demonic aura surrounding Yunlian Mountain is thick, and those who dare to come here are mostly cultivators with spiritual power.

Under the scorching sun, Yu Pei, holding a slender chisel, had just lifted her head to glance at the mountain entrance when a sarcastic, mocking voice came from beside her:

“Junior Sister Yu, don’t tell me you’re about to chisel your own head off. You can’t even dig a few stones properly. Do you really want to live your whole life in the servant’s quarters?”

She looked in the direction of the voice—

A slender young man was lounging under the shade of a tree, his legs spread wide apart. One hand was holding a fan to cool himself. With his almond-shaped eyes and pale face, he had a smiling expression, dressed in simple white sleeves.

Yu Pei’s face remained expressionless as she said, “Senior Brother Xu.”

Xu Muzhi replied, “What’s the matter?”

“There’s a snake.”

With just these two words, Xu Muzhi stiffened, his face turning ashen.

He quickly abandoned his fan and trembled, “W-Where?”

Yu Pei glanced around and immediately lied, “It’s to your right.”

For a moment, Xu Muzhi thought he heard the faint rustling of a poisonous snake slithering by.

Snakes near Yunlian Mountain are tainted with demonic energy, making them not only more venomous but also highly aggressive.

Cold sweat soaked his back as his voice grew weaker, “Junior Sister Yu, hurry! Use a spiritual spell to drive the snake away!”

“Has Senior Brother forgotten?” Yu Pei said, her eyes still emotionless, with no trace of trying to scare him, “My head was drilled through by a chisel, and now I can’t recall a single spell.”

Xu Muzhi became both angry and anxious, scolding, “Yu Pei! I still count you as my junior brother!”

“Indeed,” Yu Pei nodded, “I see that snake is a five-step snake. If Senior Brother is bitten, I can at least dig a hole for you right here to return the favor for your kindness.”

“You!” Xu Muzhi couldn’t find a retort, and afraid of truly angering her, he quickly turned red in the face, his neck thickening with frustration.

Yu Pei was finally able to enjoy some peace and quiet and then looked around.

They were at the entrance of Yunlian Mountain. On either side of the mountain path, there were peach wood posts engraved with symbols—surrounding Yunlian Mountain was a demon-slaying formation, and these posts marking the entrance were the eastern gates of the formation.

It was today.

She took a deep breath, her hand holding the chisel trembling slightly.

It had been a full sixteen years since she entered the novel The Weakness and Salvation Guide.

She had waited sixteen years, and finally, the day when the plot of the novel began had arrived.

The Weakness and Salvation Guide was a bittersweet melodrama, also a work where the original author had let their imagination run wild. The female protagonist held a “^[1]“thirty years of the east, thirty years of the west” (三十年河东, 三十年河西) comes from a Chinese proverb, which means “fortunes change over time” or “the … Continue readingthirty years of the east, thirty years of the west” script for a useless girl’s comeback, and the male protagonist was the delicate and weak, easily-fallen, naïve and sweet boy.

Both of them entered one of the three great sects of the Immortal World—Yuling Sect. During their adventures and monster-slaying, they developed feelings for each other and healed each other.

The good news was, while the plot sounded simple, the relationships between the characters were clear-cut:

The female protagonist.

The male protagonist.

The monster being beaten.

The bad news was, it could be said differently:

The female protagonist.

The male protagonist.

Her.

As one of the monsters who would be beaten, Yu Pei was like the mustard filling hidden in this bittersweet cookie. She was the villainous second female lead who remained bad from beginning to end, occasionally popping out to disgust the male and female leads.

But her entry into this novel was purely an accident.

According to the book-traveling system, it was because a reborn person appeared in this novel world. The reborn person had killed the second female lead, who shared her name, before the plot even began, causing the storyline to fall into imbalance.

In order to correct the plot, they had temporarily chosen her to fill the role of the second female lead.

In other words, not only did she have to fulfill the second female lead’s role in driving the plot forward, but she also had to be on guard against being erased by the reborn person.

After hearing the system’s explanation, Yu Pei’s first reaction was to find the reborn person.

Unfortunately, things went awry—

She had no spiritual power and, after traveling into the book, had shrunk into a baby of less than half a year old.

The system had made an error in choosing her birth location and placed her on a reef thousands of miles away from Yuling Sect.

—

That day, facing the terrifying waves that were about to turn the sky upside down, Yu Pei, with a teething stick in her mouth, fell into deep thought.

It was fine.

Which family offers such thoughtful service, sending a teething stick along with the book?

No need to find the reborn person anymore.

Just log off already.

A simple roll into the sea will do.

But before she could figure out how to crawl to Yuling Sect, a massive merman crawled out of the sea.

Wearing a mask with a blue face and sharp fangs, as tall as a mountain, dripping with water.

The merman coiled around the reef, holding its long tail with both hands, staring at the tiny baby that hadn’t even grown as large as his fist. Then, he let out a sinister laugh, “Call me ‘Daddy’ and let me hear it?”

Yu Pei’s vision went black.

Are demonic creatures so particular about eating people now? Do they need to establish a relationship before picking up their chopsticks?

Forget about the male lead—right now, the one who needs rescuing is her!

Later, after being picked up, Yu Pei learned that the sea where she had been born happened to be right next to the merman tribe.

That demon was the leader of the merman tribe, and picking her up was truly to adopt her as his daughter.

At first, she hadn’t planned to stay.

The reason was simple: in this novel, the description of the merman tribe was just a brief note—

Ferocious and bloodthirsty.

If you broke down those words, each one could serve as a reason for her to slip away.

But after spending some time with them, she realized that while the merman tribe was indeed fierce and good at fighting, they weren’t as brutal as described, and they treated her like their own.

In addition, the system had said that only when the plot officially began would she learn the details of her mission, so after thinking it over, she decided to stay with the merman tribe.

It wasn’t until half a month ago when the system reminded her that the plot was about to begin that Yu Pei left the tribe under the pretense of gaining experience. She hid her identity and joined Yuling Sect, becoming a probationary disciple in the servant’s quarters.

This morning, Xu Muzhi, who was also in the servant’s quarters, found her and said that the sect’s Elder Wenzhu had instructed them to go to the foot of Yunlian Mountain to dig for spiritual stones for cultivation.

This was also the first plot point where “Yu Pei” appeared in the original book:

[Extermination of Demons at Yunlian Mountain]

Yunlian Mountain was where the ultimate villain, Su Zhan’s, seal point was located.

As the ultimate villain in the original book, Su Zhan was violent, twisted, and bloodthirsty. Because of his overwhelming strength, he was regarded as a monster by the world.

Over a hundred years ago, countless cultivators from the spiritual cultivation world surrounded and attempted to kill him for over a decade but were unable to finish him off.

In the end, he grew tired of it himself and actually cut out his own heart, leaving it on Yunlian Mountain.

—To be left here for now, to be retrieved later.

After leaving behind this provocative statement, he disappeared without a trace.

That heart was his weakness, but placed right before him, it couldn’t harm him in the slightest. Helpless, the cultivators could only use the Demon-Sealing Formation to seal it on Yunlian Mountain, and the alliance of sects, Tianyu, sent people to guard it.

Although only a heart remained, Su Zhan was still a figure feared by everyone in the spiritual cultivation world. At that time, countless great demons and evil beings were willing to be sealed in the Demon-Sealing Formation just to follow him.

There are even rumors now, claiming that even a single touch of that heart could greatly enhance one’s cultivation.

In the original novel, “Yu Pei” entered Yuling Sect, the nearest sect to Yunlian Mountain, to steal that heart.

When Xu Muzhi asked her to dig for spiritual stones, she saw it as the best opportunity to get closer to the Demon-Sealing Formation and eagerly agreed to join him.

It sounded flawless, but the problem was, in most books, there’s never just one villain.

More sinister than her own heart was the one who had sent her to collect the stones—Elder Wenzhu.

The spiritual stones around Yunlian Mountain were formed by the Demon-Sealing Formation. Their aura was chaotic, and if harvested improperly, it could endanger one’s life.

Elder Wenzhu knew this well, which was why he deliberately kept it hidden from the sect and chose low-ranking, unimportant disciples to collect the stones.

He also used his position as a personal disciple to tempt Xu Muzhi into assisting.

“Yu Pei” was the first victim of this plan.

In the original plot, she was severely injured while harvesting spiritual stones and nearly killed by Xu Muzhi. Just as she was on the brink of death, she happened to encounter the male protagonist, Wen Yunhe, who saved her.

Wen Yunhe had come to Yunlian Mountain to rescue his senior brother and the female protagonist, who had been captured by demonic creatures. Since Yunlian Mountain was guarded by Tianyu, he couldn’t rush in and could only circle around the base of the mountain.

After hearing this, “Yu Pei” took the initiative to tell him the secret method to secretly enter the mountain. She even said she often used this method to gather spiritual stones, and told him as a way of showing her gratitude.

—But in reality, she was lying through her teeth.

She had no idea whether this method was safe; she just saw Wen Yunhe as an experimental subject.

Fortunately, Wen Yunhe was lucky. Using her method, he managed to enter Yunlian Mountain and rescue his fellow disciples.

Now, Yu Pei had arrived at Yunlian Mountain, according to the original plot.

There were less than two quarters of an hour before the original male protagonist, Wen Yunhe, would appear, and she still hadn’t received a mission reminder from the system.

Holding the chisel in her hand, she was pondering whether she should ask when a clear voice suddenly sounded in her ears:

【System detected that the plotline has been triggered, preparing to assign the female supporting role task to you.】

After a series of crackling noises, it spoke again.

【Main mission—NPC Guide—Successfully initiated. The Little Highness must assist in key plot developments as an NPC to maintain world balance.】

【NPC Mission 1: Guide up the mountain. Safely lead the male protagonist up the mountain and rescue the female protagonist and their senior brother.】

In simple terms, even the antagonistic characters in the novel do misdeeds to push the plot forward.

For instance, no matter how much Xu Muzhi is disliked, only he can guide the way, leading Yu Pei and Wen Yunhe to meet.

The chain reaction triggered by “Yu Pei’s” misdeeds is an indispensable part of the original story.

【When the Little Highness completes an NPC mission, if attacked by plot characters, the system will record the attack value immediately. This value will be used to open a space-time rift to help you return to the real world.】

【Current attack value: 1. Source of value: Xu Muzhi’s verbal sarcasm.】

Yu Pei: !

So, by letting him utter a few sarcastic words, she could return home?

This wasn’t sarcasm, this was music to her ears!

【Sub mission—Conquer the Tyrant’s Heart—Successfully initiated. Current interaction value is 0. Please proceed to the mountain quickly and find the heart.】

…Wait a minute.

“The heart you’re talking about, it’s not the one on the mountain, is it?”

System: “Yes, that’s the one!”

“The heart of Su Zhan?”

“Exactly! Now, the entire world has generated self-awareness, and we can’t guarantee that the protagonist’s halo will always be in effect. That monster is the most unstable existence. If it’s not controlled, it could lead to the collapse of the ending.”

Yu Pei: “…Do you know that this person is strong enough to make the male and female protagonists vomit blood just from being beaten up later on?”

“Yu Pei” was bad, but still had a conscience the size of a grain of corn, and her strength posed no real threat to the male and female protagonists.

Su Zhan, on the other hand, could be described as black sesame soaked in ink—dark to the core and outrageously strong.

Asking her to conquer his heart? Wasn’t she just asking to be crushed by him first?

The system, in a slightly apologetic tone, said, “Sorry, it’s my fault for being too weak to open the space-time rift. But if it’s the Little Highness, even if this person is a little stronger, it will definitely work.”

“A little? Just a little?” Yu Pei took a deep breath. “We’ve known each other for so many years. You should act like a proper system.”

The system, in all seriousness: “Currently, Su Zhan’s true body is missing. We’ll have to deal with his heart first. Maybe his heart is much more lovable than the person himself?”

Yu Pei nearly wanted to dismantle it.

Listen to what’s being said.

No matter how cute that thing is, it’s still just a heart, right?

And if that monster is as big as a hill, then its heart is probably several times bigger than her.

She imagined a huge, bloody, and talking ugly coconut, her brows furrowing instantly.

Just when she was the most irritated, Xu Muzhi over there started making a fuss again.

After realizing that Yu Pei had scared him, he suddenly jumped up.

What snake? She didn’t even see a worm!

He had already considered himself as a direct disciple of the Immortal Wenzhu, subtly threatening, “Yu Pei, I can tolerate your nonsense, but if Immortal Wenzhu asks how you’re doing with this task later, how should I respond—”

Before he could finish, a chisel suddenly shot through the air.

The tip of the chisel carried a sharp, piercing aura, cutting through his robe and grazing his neck.

Before he could react, he was like a little bird struck by an arrow, harshly pinned to the tree trunk.

Yu Pei calmly observed his terrified, fearful eyes from a distance and said, “Sorry, Senior Brother, my hand slipped in the heat—did I scare you?”

Xu Muzhi was completely disoriented, gasping for breath, unable to speak for a long time.

The system whispered, “Little Highness, if you cause a ruckus again, the person the male lead will save next will be him.”

She had completely forgotten about this.

Yu Pei smiled slightly. “I’ve heard that Senior Brother Xu has a broad mind and surely wouldn’t take this little prank to heart. I saw a stream nearby when I arrived; if you’re tired of waiting, would you like to rest for a while?”

A little prank?

The spiritual power attached to the chisel was heavy and fierce, like a blazing fire scorching Xu Muzhi’s neck. Before long, the cold sweat mixed with the heat, causing him to tremble in fear.

His eyes blinked, and his vision was almost completely blurred by the sweat.

She did this on purpose!

If the chisel had shifted even slightly, he really would have been done for.

Xu Muzhi fought through the terror rising from his scalp and tried to pull out the chisel.

But the chisel, embedded in the tree trunk, didn’t budge at all.

He wiped the cold sweat from his palm, his whole body trembling violently.

How strong is this person? He struggled with all his might, but the chisel didn’t even move.

“Senior Brother Xu, don’t move, be careful not to hurt your neck.” Yu Pei manipulated her spiritual power to pull out the chisel, then took two steps forward, “Let me help you.”

“Don’t!” Xu Muzhi exclaimed in shock, almost losing his voice, “Just stay there, don’t come over!”

After stumbling to the ground, he braced himself on his weakening knees, grabbed half a basket of spirit stones, and started running.

“I—I’m going over there to mine spirit stones, don’t come near! Don’t follow me!”

Once he was far enough away, Yu Pei squatted down, carefully observing the array’s core.

About half a quarter of an hour later, faint rustling sounds reached her ears.

Her brow twitched.

Here he comes!

The male lead finally arrived.

Yu Pei stood up, supporting her right knee, and limped forward two steps. She raised her eyes and said, “This fellow Taoist, I didn’t mean to—”

Her words were abruptly cut off.

The person who arrived was not the male lead.

She had met Wen Yunhe once before, but the person in front of her looked unfamiliar.

He appeared to be around sixteen or seventeen years old, with shallow pupils and no sign of a smile. He wore a silver robe with wide sleeves, his hair half-tied with a bone hairpin, two strands hanging on either side of his temples, bound by delicate silver hoops.

He silently appeared amidst the smoke and rosin trees, like a silver moon rising from the mountain’s edge, exuding a cold gaze that was distant and inhuman, yet unavoidable.

“Why are you trespassing on the mountain?” he asked.

His voice was similarly cold, as though it had been soaked in clear, icy jade.

Yu Pei didn’t rush to answer. Instead, she lowered her eyelashes—

A cold sword appeared out of nowhere, its tip pointing straight at her neck. It seemed that if she took one more step, it would pierce her flesh and claim her life.

“You’re so rude, what kind of person points a sword at someone as soon as they arrive?” Her expression remained as calm as before, showing no change.

The person’s attitude remained indifferent: “This is a forbidden area. The living are not allowed to enter.”

In other words, if she took one more step, she would die.

“But I’m still outside the array, I haven’t entered the mountain. Should I move the sword aside first?” Yu Pei asked politely.

The silver sword didn’t move a bit.

Yu Pei blinked.

“I understand.”

With that, she quickly formed a hand seal and chanted an incantation.

“^[2]陵光訣七 (Lingguang Jue Seven): “Lingguang” (陵光) could refer to a name, a specific technique, or a martial arts formula. “Jue” (訣) means “formula” or … Continue readingLingguang Jue Seven, ^[3]天車止殺 (Tianche Stops Killing): “Tianche” (天車) can be interpreted as “Heaven’s Chariot” or a celestial mechanism, and “Zhisha” (止殺) means … Continue readingTianche stops killing.”

Suddenly, a red aura burst from her sleeves, swiftly wrapping around the silver sword.

Spiritual energy flowed through the sword’s body, and in the blink of an eye, it condensed into a cold, thin blade.

The blade tip pressed precisely against the chest of the person in front of her.

“Could you move the sword aside first?” she asked once more.

The young man didn’t look at the blade. His gaze remained on her face.

When he spoke again, his voice was even colder: “Is this the logic you follow?”

For a moment, the two energies flowing over the blade clashed even more violently.

The sword was drawn and ready to strike, yet neither of them showed any intention of backing down.

System: …

Now that the male lead is here, who is he going to save?

The sword between them?