The System Mechanism quickly gave a reply.
“Due to a system bug during the host’s Transmigration, part of the plot has now been adjusted to ensure the host can successfully complete the System Tasks.”
Ding Li stared in disbelief.
System, do you dare say that again?
Adjusted the plot?
Who gave you the nerve? Who gave you the creativity?
Ensure the tasks are completed?
So what you mean is that the main storyline is no longer the original plot of the novel. Instead the storyline now revolves around me completing tasks?
Ding Li nearly coughed up blood.
System, have you lost your mind? I came here to pass through the plot casually, not to compete for first place!
Damn it!
What rotten luck!
If she had suddenly become the center of the storyline, didn’t that mean that if she failed the tasks she would die miserably?
Ding Li hovered on the edge of a meltdown.
Damn it. System, how about we just perish together!
The System continued, “The current scenario is ‘Soul-Devouring Demon Vine.’ Please complete the main storyline with the goal of finishing the System Tasks.”
Ding Li was practically furious at this toothpaste-squeezing system.
“System, can you be clearer? I don’t want a summary of the scene. I want a strategy guide! Do you even understand that? Can you have at least a bit of professionalism as a system?”
The System made a faint buzzing sound and after a while said, “The Soul-Devouring Demon Vine has the ability to disturb the mind and trap people in memory illusions. After being parasitized by the Demon Vines, people transform into vine puppets. Within the illusion they repeatedly fall into their deepest fears until they are tortured to death.”
No wonder…
Now Ding Li understood where those miserable screams earlier had come from.
“Then how do we deal with it?” She needed to understand the cause. The Demon Vines could not just appear silently and spread without reason.
But this time the System did not even buzz. It simply played dead.
Ding Li waited for a long time without receiving any reply and finally cursed, “…Stupid system!”
After Lu Qianchuan finished speaking, his junior brother added, “Perhaps it’s more than that.”
Lu Qianchuan was clearly surprised.
The younger brother said, “This thing only appears at night. During the day there are no clues. We can only wait until night.”
Ding Li said nervously, “Is it really that frightening?”
Lu Qianchuan glanced at her, as if wanting to say something.
The junior brother chuckled. “If you’re afraid, you can return to Cangyun Mountain now.”
What nonsense are you talking about? I already came here. How can I leave now? I can’t even ride a flying sword. Am I supposed to walk back?
Ding Li shrank slightly and said, “…That’s not what I meant.”
Lu Qianchuan sighed. “Junior brother, stop frightening her.”
Then he turned to Ding Li and said, “Miss Ding, don’t be afraid. I haven’t introduced him yet. This is my junior brother, Xiao Wenjing.”
Ding Li: “…”
She felt as if she had been struck by lightning.
What did you say his name was?
Xiao Wenjing???
A pure and innocent young girl quietly shattered inside.
At this moment Ding Li had only one thought.
I surrender. Please spare me!
The fearless Ding Li, after experiencing the tragedy of transmigrating into the Villainess / Green Tea second female lead, had finally encountered a devastating blow.
She had met her natural nemesis, the cannon-fodder second male lead, Xiao Wenjing.
On the surface Xiao Wenjing appeared straightforward and calm, but in reality he was like a sinister ghost lurking in the shadows.
However no one knew his true nature.
Except Ding Li.
Calculating the timeline, Su Xiangqing should only be sixteen years old at this point. Xiao Wenjing was two years older than her. Because of his extraordinary talent he had been noticed by the sect leader at first sight during the entrance examination and was immediately accepted as a disciple.
Chu Zilan and Lu Qianchuan had followed the sect leader since childhood. After them the sect leader had not taken another disciple for many years.
Until he saw Xiao Wenjing during the entrance trials and decided on the spot to accept him.
Two years had passed, and Xiao Wenjing had already surpassed all the other disciples.
However although they were all disciples of the same master, Xiao Wenjing’s behavior was completely different from that of Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan.
If Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan were the role models among the disciples, powerful and righteous, then Xiao Wenjing was the opposite.
He was a heaven-blessed genius but had a strange personality. He never formed friendships and behaved however he pleased.
Many disciples admired him, yet not a single one was close to him.
In Ding Li’s eyes this was perfectly normal.
Xiao Wenjing only wore the skin of a good person. In reality he hid sharp daggers beneath softness and his mind was sinister. He was definitely not someone kind.
In the novel Crossing Over the Green Tea to Love You, Xiao Wenjing did not appear very often.
Every time he appeared it was when the female lead encountered difficulties, setbacks, slander, or schemes. He would quietly appear and solve everything for her.
He always played the role of someone who expected nothing in return and silently devoted himself.
Put nicely, he embodied the shining ideal of the second male lead who would go through fire and water for the female lead.
In reality he was simply a tool used to push the plot forward.
The book barely described his personality or background. Just a few brief strokes that could almost be ignored.
But—
His silent devotion only applied to the female lead.
When it came to Su Xiangqing, the Green Tea second female lead, things were completely different.
From the moment Su Xiangqing appeared beside Chu Zilan, Xiao Wenjing had been wary of her.
On the surface he refrained from making things difficult because of Chu Zilan, but secretly he wanted to kill Su Xiangqing at any moment.
Whenever Su Xiangqing tried to drive a wedge between Lu Qianchuan and Chu Zilan, Xiao Wenjing had already secretly sabotaged her several times.
Once she broke her arm. Once she injured her leg. Another time she fell off a cliff and nearly died.
At the beginning of the novel, when readers were scolding Su Xiangqing for her Green Tea behavior, the author had reassured them.
Su Xiangqing would die a miserable death in the end.
Based on the earlier chapters, Ding Li concluded that Su Xiangqing would definitely die at Xiao Wenjing’s hands.
Possibly even in the few chapters after the transmigration.
If Su Xiangqing framed Chu Zilan, how could Xiao Wenjing possibly spare her? He might even imprison her in a dungeon and use her for testing medicines.
After all Xiao Wenjing was well known for being skilled in dark and demonic techniques.
Just thinking about it made Ding Li’s scalp tingle.
Damn it. Being turned into a medicine test subject was definitely not fun.
When Ding Li looked at Xiao Wenjing again, her mindset had completely changed.
Earlier she had thought he had a handsome face. Now she felt she must have been blind.
After Lu Qianchuan finished the introduction he noticed Ding Li’s expression changing repeatedly and began to look puzzled.
Ding Li hurriedly said, “Oh, so it’s Immortal Master Xiao. I have long heard of your great reputation. Back when I was down the mountain I often heard about your glorious deeds. I have always deeply admired you.”
Lu Qianchuan laughed.
Xiao Wenjing gave a soft “Oh?” and asked, “What deeds? Tell me.”
What is wrong with you? I was just being polite and you actually took it seriously?
Tell you what? That you’re a cannon-fodder second male lead?
Ding Li silently raised her middle finger in her mind and nervously moved closer to Chu Zilan.
Chu Zilan glanced at Xiao Wenjing. “That’s enough, junior brother.”
Xiao Wenjing snorted and said nothing further.
Ding Li mocked him inwardly.
You sure listen obediently to Chu Zilan, but does she even like you? Look at your miserable state.
The group walked along the long street.
It was already evening, and for some reason a thin layer of mist had begun to spread through the street.
The previously faint screams were gradually becoming clearer.
Lu Qianchuan said, “Let’s go see what’s happening with that person first.”
Xiao Wenjing said nothing.
Ding Li carefully held onto Chu Zilan’s sleeve and followed her forward.
But just as the four of them turned a corner along the street, the sound suddenly disappeared.