Crunch, crunch. Sigh, at a time like this…
Crunch, crunch.
Sigh, if only I could scroll on my phone right now, watch a drama, a movie… never mind, novels too. Maybe I’d transmigrate again—doesn’t seem like enough trouble yet.
Ding Li felt an inexplicable irritation. When would she finally return to the real world?
At a time like this, she should be lying at home, ordering takeout and milk tea. Damn, it felt like she’d never tasted milk tea in her life. Days of milk tea and hotpot felt like a dream.
She couldn’t help but sigh.
Mu Yunyang was skinning and gutting the rabbit while asking, “Junior Sister Ding, what’s wrong?”
Ding Li’s eyes landed on the bloody scene. Her scalp tingled, and she quickly looked away, sighing. “I’m frustrated!”
“Frustrated about what?”
“Sigh…” Ding Li couldn’t stop herself from sighing. Who could she talk to about this? Who would understand? Being transmigrated into a book was absurd enough. Day in, day out was just swords and battles—either killing others or maiming oneself. It was exhausting.
“System, can you come out and explain? Why me? Do I have some strange talent? Can’t I just change it?”
But the system remained silent.
Ding Li thought for a moment, then said, “Xiao Wenjing, can you send a letter to Senior Sister? I want to talk to her.”
Right now, besides the reliable divine female lead Chu Zilan, nothing could heal me.
Xiao Wenjing was roasting a chicken. He glanced at Ding Li. “No. The message talisman can’t fly out from here.”
“…Fine.”
Ding Li turned back to Xiao Wenjing.
The sky had darkened, the forest was pitch black, with only their little area illuminated.
Xiao Wenjing sat by the light, holding a mountain chicken over the fire, occasionally turning it with his other hand.
The warm yellow glow flickered on his face, casting a soft light on his profile.
Handsome really handsome. He had that refined, noble air, graceful and striking.
Even his hand holding the stick was well-boned, long, and strong.
One had to admit, the author had put great effort into describing the second male lead’s appearance.
Sigh, what a pity.
Ding Li turned her head to look at the handsome one beside him.
Ignoring what he held, his face was extraordinary deep features, fair skin, eyelashes like fans, truly the essence of beautiful lashes.
But his face wasn’t sharply sculpted like a 3D model; it looked like a delicately drawn handsome guy, exquisite at first glance.
Such detailed description for a mere cannon fodder?
Then he certainly wasn’t just any cannon fodder…
The young man raised his eyes from the firelight and looked at Ding Li. His eyes were warm and clear, immediately creating a good impression.
Mu Yunyang spoke, “Why haven’t I heard of Junior Sister Ding before?”
Ding Li felt a strange sensation and stared at him through the firelight. “My cultivation is low, and I’m insignificant.”
Mu Yunyang smiled. “Those representing their sect in competitions are always the best of their peers. You are too modest.”
Ding Li asked, “Really?”
“Yes. I don’t think you’re as you claim to be.”
Ding Li stared at him. “Then what do you think I am like?”
Mu Yunyang smiled, “I think you’re gentle, lively, and very likable.”
He looked at Ding Li. “I imagine your reputation in Cangshan Sect is quite good.”
“Not good.”
Mu Yunyang was surprised. “How come?”
Ding Li looked at him for a long moment. “Do you think I’m impressive?”
Mu Yunyang smiled. “Yes.”
“Think I’m likable?”
“Yes.”
Interesting, very interesting.
This person is definitely not an ordinary cannon fodder! Could it be…
Ding Li squinted slightly and asked again, “Mu Yunyang, you’re also handsome. Surely many admire you in your daily life.”
Mu Yunyang was slightly taken aback, then blushed, hastily saying, “No, no, Junior Sister Ding, don’t misunderstand. Since joining the sect, I’ve devoted myself entirely to the Dao…”
Ah, understood.
Ding Li withdrew her gaze from Mu Yunyang’s face.
She knew who he was now.
This was the originally intended official match for the malicious second female lead Su Xiangqing.
In the original story, Su Xiangqing always liked Lu Qianchuan. Xiao Wenjing was her nemesis, but to add character complexity, she was given a devoted admirer.
This admirer, naturally, had a perfect face, which was understandable.
For the readers’ perspective, any character involved in romance, male or female, must have a flawless face.
Besides the good looks, this person adored Su Xiangqing wholeheartedly, almost obsessively, the type who favors only one among thousands completely controlled by the story.
But in the original story, this character only appeared twice: first, falling in love at first sight with Su Xiangqing; second, being killed by her hand.
Su Xiangqing thought he liked her and deemed him unimportant, using him as a shield when Xiao Wenjing suspected her.
Su Xiangqing was unlucky. Actually, the story-controlled passerby wasn’t bad. If Su Xiangqing had been with him, she could have stayed far from Cangshan Sect and Xiao Wenjing…
Huh?
How did this tangent turn into “all roads lead to Rome”?
Seeing Mu Yunyang’s slightly nervous and awkward demeanor, Ding Li laughed, then asked, “Mu Yunyang is a disciple of Wandou Sect. I’ve never been there. Is Wandou Sect fun?”
It seemed unlikely she’d get a good result in this disciple trial. But it didn’t matter. If her ranking was low, staying in another sect for three years wasn’t bad.
As they say, if you don’t give up your child, you can’t catch the wolf. If it means staying away from Xiao Wenjing, even if it’s to live in a mansion in another sect, that’s fine!
Mu Yunyang looked at Ding Li across the firelight. His eyes were clear and bright. “It’s fun. Are you interested in poison-making and antidotes? If you’re free, you can visit Wandou Sect. I can even take you to try the delicacies at the foot of the mountain.”
Perfect.
Ding Li laughed. Now, this young man was no longer just the handsome one; he was the male lead.
She couldn’t help giggling and nodded quickly. “Sure, sure…”
Suddenly, someone coughed.
Ding Li’s smile vanished, and she frowned.
I knew it! Your throat’s itchy take more throat lozenges! Coughing as if you’re the one injured!
But when her eyes met Xiao Wenjing’s gaze, she shivered.
His look seemed ready to cut her down and parade her head at the city gate.
Damn…
The green tea second female lead and her cannon fodder male lead were talking about love and life, and it bothered him?
Or did it remind him of male lead Lu Qianchuan and his female lead Chu Zilan, all lovey-dovey while he’s alone?
Or a green tea second female lead daring to talk romance in front of a murderer?
Hehe, hilarious.
Ding Li leaned against a tree, gazing at the stars, sighing. “Sigh…”
Mu Yunyang immediately asked with concern, “Junior Sister Ding, what’s wrong? Why sigh again?”
Ding Li said, “Nothing. Just a bit chilly at night.”
Mu Yunyang quickly rummaged through his pack, pulled out a cloak, walked over, shook it out, and draped it over Ding Li.
Ding Li looked up at him, secretly pleased.
No rule says you can’t have romance while in a book, right? Just because I’m pursuing Lu Qianchuan, I can have a fling first and pursue him later, right? There’s no time limit on this mission, after all.
Besides, if it works out, he loves me not the other way around. He can just be my protector. No one said I must make him my husband, right?
Thinking this, she felt giddy with happiness.
Mu Yunyang draped the cloak and looked down, noticing Ding Li smiling up at him, her eyes sparkling. He froze for a moment, ears red, hands slightly clumsy as he went back to roast the rabbit.
Ding Li was delighted, feeling the warmth of love even before officially dating.
Mu Yunyang, seemingly daydreaming, roasted the rabbit, tore off a leg, and offered it to Ding Li.
Ding Li’s smile immediately froze…
She trembled, pointing at the rabbit. “Bunny is so cute! How can I eat a bunny?”
Xiao Wenjing’s gaze across the fire darkened, almost dripping with disapproval.
Mu Yunyang quickly hid the rabbit leg behind him. “Then …” He turned to look at the mountain chicken in Xiao Wenjing’s hand.
Ding Li’s gaze also shifted to the mountain chicken.
The skin looked crisp and delicious.
Xiao Wenjing silently tore off a drumstick and put it in his mouth.
Crunch, crunch.
Mu Yunyang didn’t know what to say.
Xiao Wenjing finished another drumstick quickly, tearing off another one.
Crunch, crunch.
Ding Li: “…”
Mu Yunyang: “…”
Ding Li turned her face to the darkness. “I’m not hungry. Don’t worry, Mu Yunyang. You eat by yourself.”
Mu Yunyang: “…”
Wasn’t that fat rabbit not the one I killed…?
It’s the mountain chicken…
Though the three found a quiet spot, the forest was full of danger, with both monsters and demons. Vigilance was still necessary.