【Warm reminder: Please remember, host, to head to the outskirts tonight to meet your end. Do not miss the opportunity to return to your original world.】
The summer air was sweltering, and the sound of cicadas was incessant.
The small teahouse at the end of the bridge was bustling with noise, yet one corner table remained quiet.
Lin Lumi wore a light-colored veil hat, the gauze curtain partially covering her face. Her fingertips gently caressed the teacup. An occasional breeze lifted the gauze, revealing her snow-white skin and vibrant lips, causing passersby to steal glances.
Seeing the system, which had been silent for ten years, suddenly pop up, Lin Lumi’s hand paused mid-tea.
She scanned the notification, set the cup down, and curled her lips slightly. “Waiter, check, please.”
She was originally a college student from the 21st century who, through a twist of fate, had transmigrated into the dog-blooded male-oriented xianxia novel “Contention” as the neglected Third Miss of the Marquis of Anding’s estate.
The system told her that her mission was to go to the earth god temple in the suburbs of the capital on her eighteenth birthday to pray, only to be killed by a demon, thereby creating the opportunity for the male protagonist to arrive, slay the demon, and gain a fortuitous encounter.
In short, she was cannon fodder. As long as she completed her role as cannon fodder, she would receive the prize money and return to her original world to enjoy life.
Therefore, even without the system’s reminder, she would not forget her mission for tonight.
After settling the bill, Lin Lumi headed back to the Marquis’s estate with her maid, Chuntao. No sooner had they turned around than the sounds of the commoners’ discussions reached her ears.
“The rankings will be released in two days. Who do you guess will be sent to take the entrance examination for the Dongling Ling Shu Sect this time?”
“I’m not sure about others, but the Third Miss of the Marquis of Anding and the Second Young Master of the Mu family are definitely on the list! Those two have top-tier spiritual roots; it would be strange if they weren’t chosen.”
“But those two have never gotten along. Who knows if they’ll end up fighting if they share the same carriage? If the carriage tips over, it’ll be the face of our Yue Kingdom that’s lost!”
Laughter broke out behind her. Lin Lumi hadn’t expected to hear people discussing her just by coming out for some tea and snacks.
However, she didn’t care. After all, she was going to die tonight, and she didn’t need to save face for this world.
She continued walking toward the Marquis of Anding’s estate.
After walking a few steps, Chuntao leaned in and lowered her voice. “Miss, what they said was blunt, but it’s the truth. You’ll be sharing a carriage with the Second Young Master Mu—you wouldn’t really fight, would you?”
Lin Lumi waved her hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t be fighting Mu Heng anymore from now on.”
The name Mu Heng alone was enough to give one a headache.
After transmigrating, she had intended to just keep her head down, live out her days, and wait until she turned eighteen to finish the mission and return.
However, there had been some complications along the way.
Ten years ago, at the capital’s spiritual root test, the Second Young Master of the Mu family, Mu Heng, was found to have a top-tier lightning spiritual root, something seen only once in a century.
As for Lin Lumi, who had never been favored and whose family had even forgotten to sign her up for the test—eventually sneaking out to watch the excitement herself—she was also found to have a top-tier ice spiritual root.
This result shocked the entire capital. Lin Lumi felt something was amiss, and it seemed to have triggered something in him; from then on, he opposed her at every turn.
Of course, Lin Lumi wasn’t one to be pushed around. Since he was provoking her, how could she just sit idly by? She fought him head-on.
Consequently, for the past ten years, whether it was schoolwork, martial arts, or horse racing, as long as the two of them were present, they would fight incessantly. Later on, whenever they met, a single glance was enough for both to enter a state of high alert.
Now that she was about to leave this world, although she hadn’t completely beaten him before leaving, they had been rivals for ten years after all. She should leave him something special to remember her by, right? Otherwise, it would be a bit of a regret.
What could she do to disgust him?
It would be best if it were something that could keep him awake at night, agonizing and perplexed for the rest of his life.
While she was deep in thought, Chuntao tentatively asked, “Miss, why did you suddenly change your mind about not fighting Second Young Master Mu anymore?”
“No time left.”
Hearing this, Chuntao nodded. “That’s true, it is a waste of time. But Miss, what do you think is going through Second Young Master Mu’s head? Why does he always pick fights with you? I’ve started to wonder if he likes you.”
Lin Lumi got goosebumps the moment she heard that.
“Pah!” Lin Lumi quickly interrupted. “Chuntao, he and I are mortal enemies! Stop saying things like that to disgust me.”
No sooner had the words left her mouth than Lin Lumi’s eyes suddenly brightened.
She had an idea!
She had thought of a brilliant plan!
“Chuntao, let’s hurry back to the estate. I have an important task to handle.”
Chuntao was puzzled. “What is it?”
“Hurry and prepare paper, ink, and a brush for me. I’m going to write a letter to Mu Heng. I’m going to do something big!”
Write a letter!?
Chuntao was extremely surprised. Her mistress had always preferred fists to words when it came to Second Young Master Mu. She was actually writing a letter?
Although she found it strange, she obediently did as she was told.
Inside a secluded room at the Marquis of Anding’s estate, Lin Lumi spread out a sheet of blank letter paper on the desk and dipped her brush in ink.
Chuntao stood to the side, watching her mistress write the letter with a puzzled expression.
【To dear Mu Heng:】
Chuntao swallowed hard, wondering what kind of trick her mistress was playing on the Second Young Master Mu this time.
She waited and waited, only to realize that her mistress had already started on a second page and still wasn’t finished!
What on earth required so many words!?
Chuntao curiously craned her neck, her gaze falling on a line of text: Spring catkins fly and fill the courtyard; my heart yearns for you, but you remain unaware.
Chuntao felt a tightness in her chest, thinking she had misread it.
Her eyes moved down, and she saw another line: Watching the sky at dawn and the clouds at dusk; whether walking or sitting, I long for you.
Chuntao’s legs went weak; she almost lost her footing.
Good heavens, had her mistress been possessed!?
She was actually writing a love letter to Second Young Master Mu!?
This was madness!
No, no! Her mistress was brilliant and talented; there must be a reason for her doing this!
Yes, today was her mistress’s eighteenth birthday. Once past eighteen, it was the age for marriage. And that Second Young Master Mu, while at odds with her mistress, was still the dream lover of countless girls in the capital!
His father was the noble Prime Minister, his mother was the daughter of a wealthy merchant, he had a top-tier spiritual root, and most importantly, he had a face so beautiful it was unreal!
Chuntao suddenly understood. So that was it! Her mistress was truly strategic!
“Alright! All done!”
Lin Lumi looked at her masterpiece with satisfaction, then sealed it in an envelope and handed it to Chuntao.
“Chuntao, help me deliver this letter to Mu Heng.”
Chuntao blinked. “Go now? Miss, why not tomorrow? The sun will set in an hour, and I still wanted to make you a bowl of longevity noodles.”
Lin Lumi waved her hand. “No need. Just do as I said and go deliver the letter first.”
“Alright then.” Chuntao nodded and left with the letter.
After she left, Lin Lumi took out all her savings, packed them up, and included a farewell letter for Chuntao.
Then, she followed the plot’s requirements and headed toward the outskirts of the city.
A cold breeze whistled, and the moon quietly climbed onto the treetops.
Lin Lumi walked all the way to the long-abandoned shrine.
Spiderwebs swayed between the wooden eaves. Lin Lumi waited for nearly half an hour before she finally sensed a trace of demonic aura.
【Now is the time! Host, quickly recite the lines!】
The system screen in front of her urged Lin Lumi to follow the plot. Lin Lumi quickly knelt, closed her eyes, and began to recite.
“Your humble daughter, Lin Lumi, having turned eighteen today, specifically comes to pray to the gods to grant her a good marriage and help her find a desirable husband.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a violent wind whipped up between heaven and earth, and the branches and leaves rustled.
In the next instant, a massive demonic force surged from beneath the ground, shadows churned, and a giant snake demon suddenly erupted from the weeds, its ferocious body lunging straight at her.
Lin Lumi closed her eyes, beginning to imagine the days of returning home with five million in prize money, staying indoors, cranking the air conditioning, and scrolling through her phone.
However, the snake demon didn’t attack as she had imagined; instead, it let out a cry of sorrow.
Before she could react, she heard a loud “thud” as something heavy collapsed to the ground.
What was going on!?
Lin Lumi opened her eyes and whipped her head around. In the mist of blood that hadn’t yet dissipated, a tall, upright figure was slowly walking toward her.