Lin Ziyuan stared at her in shock. “You…”
Lin Ziyuan’s eyes widened as he looked at her. “You can’t eat that much…”
Ding Li glared at him directly. After a moment, feeling her energy fill her dantian, she felt much better.
She shoved Lin Ziyuan, who was blocking her way, aside and stood up straight. “Xiao Wenjing, I’m fine now.”
Xiao Wenjing glanced at her, appraising her.
Ding Li straightened her chest. “I’m perfectly fine now.”
Xiao Wenjing made a short sound of acknowledgement and nodded. “I can see that.”
Ding Li cleared her throat. “But, Xiao Wenjing, I just thought of an idea.”
“What idea?”
Ding Li pretended to think for a moment. “Here’s what I’m thinking. We’re representing Cangshan Sect on this trip. If we keep wasting time like this, we won’t get first place, and it’ll be hard to report back. Why don’t we split up? You go ahead, represent the team, and secure a good ranking. The rest of us, we play it safe, just survive until the end. Isn’t that also a kind of victory?”
Lin Ziyuan opened his mouth to argue, but Ding Li glared at him and he stopped.
Junior Brother Qin wanted to speak but held back.
The two junior sisters immediately protested. “Who said that? No! We must go with Xiao Wenjing!”
“Exactly, who wants to be with you? We wouldn’t even know how we die!”
“We don’t want to go with you. Why do you get to decide our actions?”
Only Xiao Wenjing remained thoughtful, seemingly weighing the feasibility of her suggestion. After a moment, he nodded. “You’re not entirely wrong.”
Ding Li’s heart leapt with joy.
Xiao Wenjing continued, “Then it’s fine if we don’t get first place. Second or third place works too.”
The four immediately looked at him.
Ding Li gasped for air and said, “No, Xiao Wenjing. I’m not saying second or third is unworthy. But we are the Cangshan Sect, the top sect in the world. If a small disciple can’t even secure first place in a trial, how would others see us? How would you report back to your Senior Sister?”
“Then how should it be reported?”
“I…” Ding Li stammered. “I…”
She was speechless. He didn’t fall for it.
Ding Li’s mind raced. “You’re right, Xiao Wenjing. Then how about this? Junior Brother Qin and the two junior sisters seem eager to take the lead. You take them ahead. There won’t be enough monsters for all, so we split up and act quickly.”
After saying that, she had no intention to argue further and stepped back, ready to leave.
Lin Ziyuan was still in shock, staring at Xiao Wenjing.
What is this kid thinking? Does he imagine Xiao Wenjing as his superhero rescuing him from danger?
Ding Li pulled Lin Ziyuan over. “Junior Brother Lin, stop being confused! Come on, let’s hurry and fight monsters to level up!”
Lin Ziyuan, being pulled, took three steps forward while looking back repeatedly.
After a short walk, Ding Li released Lin Ziyuan’s arm and looked back. Seeing no sign of Xiao Wenjing, she finally relaxed.
Lin Ziyuan noticed her peeking back and asked, “Senior Sister Ding, what are you looking at?”
What am I looking at? That’s not your business!
Ding Li said, “Nothing.”
Lin Ziyuan glanced back. “Why don’t we follow Xiao Wenjing? Why act alone? It’s dangerous here. What if trouble comes…”
Ding Li glared. “What are you afraid of? Following Xiao Wenjing won’t give you any advantage. What if he kills all the monsters and we starve? If we rank last or second-last, how do we report back?”
Lin Ziyuan pondered. “That’s true.” Then realization struck. “So Senior Sister Ding, you really care about hunting monsters!”
Ding Li said, “Exactly. Otherwise, why else would I care?”
Lin Ziyuan said, “Nothing, I thought you had some grudge against Xiao Wenjing.”
Well, he’s not completely wrong, but that’s none of your concern.
Ding Li said, “Nonsense. That’s not true.”
The two continued forward. After a while, they heard voices ahead.
Ding Li stopped.
Encountering a small monster would be perfect for leveling up, but if it’s someone else, Ding Li knew her limits. Even uninjured, she couldn’t steal anything from others.
After a moment of hesitation, she decisively turned to leave.
Lin Ziyuan didn’t move.
Ding Li frowned at him.
Lin Ziyuan said, “Senior Sister Ding, I heard someone talking. Why don’t we check it out?”
Of course, that’s why I wanted to leave.
Before Ding Li could respond, Lin Ziyuan walked straight ahead. “Let’s check it out. Maybe it’s a monster.”
Monsters? There are people in front, big brother! Do you think we two newbies could handle a sect?
But Lin Ziyuan insisted. Ding Li hesitated, but he had already moved ahead.
Reluctantly, she followed, gripping her sword.
When they reached the spot, the talking stopped.
No one was there.
What happened?
Hey, there really is a monster!
Finally, something to do!
Ding Li felt a rush of excitement, a zero-score player ready to test herself.
No need for Lin Ziyuan to insist now. Ding Li stepped forward, looking around. “Xiao Lin, attack! Turn this place upside down!”
Lin Ziyuan was silent.
Ding Li looked at him. “Why are you standing there? Thinking about life?”
Lin Ziyuan just shook his head.
She thought he was acting strange, now this way, now that way, not knowing what he was up to.
She ignored him and turned to explore.
Suddenly, a swift wind struck from behind without warning.
Ding Li sensed the change, but her injured body reacted slowly. Just as the wind approached, she dodged, narrowly avoiding being split in two.
Before she could turn, a sword swiftly stabbed toward her back.
Ding Li felt death approaching. Heart racing, she could no longer dodge.
At the last moment, someone with a sword blocked it with a clang.
Ding Li turned around.
Where Lin Ziyuan had been, a masked figure in black stood.
The familiar outfit confirmed it: another demon.
Damn. The monsters ahead were fake; the real one was beside her.
Ding Li realized with a cold sweat that the person following her wasn’t Lin Ziyuan, but an imposter demon.
No wonder something felt off. Lin Ziyuan never called her Senior Sister.
She regretted falling for such a simple trick.
Luckily, Xiao Wenjing arrived just in time.
She watched the fight. Xiao Wenjing’s attack was fierce, clearly overwhelming the black-clad opponent.
Another sword slash, and the Soul-Slaying Sword effortlessly severed the black-clad man’s right arm.
This opponent was far weaker than the previous one. Truly, powerful opponents are reserved for the strong. This formidable one seemed placed there just for Xiao Wenjing.
Ding Li clicked her tongue, shaking her head.
The black-clad man seemed provoked by her noise, suddenly striking wildly, layers of sword shadows overlapping.
Next moment, Xiao Wenjing struck down with full force.
The black-clad man had no chance, instantly defeated.
What use is it? Even with fancy moves, he couldn’t withstand a single strike from the second male lead.
Xiao Wenjing sheathed his sword. Ding Li rushed over.
If she didn’t recognize the second male lead’s irreplaceable role in this mission, she had wasted twenty years.
Ding Li smiled brightly. “Xiao Wenjing, you came at the perfect time! If you hadn’t, I’d be dead from that sword.”
Xiao Wenjing looked at her calmly, saying nothing.
Ding Li continued, “Still the same Xiao Wenjing, appearing and instantly defeating everyone, amazing!”
Xiao Wenjing said, “Shut up.”
Ding Li immediately stopped. She had no new words anyway.
But she quickly remembered something and asked, “What about the other three?”
“They’ve been dealt with,” Xiao Wenjing replied.
“They were fake too?” Ding Li was astonished.
“Of course.”
Ding Li said nothing.
Why would several demons pretend to be them, and so convincingly? If they were all fakes…
Ding Li’s back broke out in cold sweat. “Then Lin Ziyuan and the others?”
Xiao Wenjing paused. “They should still be alive.”
Ding Li felt the lingering fear, and after a moment of silence asked, “Do you think anyone outside knows what’s happening here?”