Category: Devilish Disciple [Transmigration]

Chapter 11: Even Master Doesn’t Understand It

Judging by how readily Mo Yichu left, he likely hadn’t developed any romantic feelings for Mu Tao.

While the male lead wasn’t a problem for now, the female lead was a different story!

Mu Tao had rarely been treated with kindness. It was understandable that she might develop feelings for someone who encouraged her during her lowest moments and put aside his cultivation to decoct medicine and cook for her for two months.

If this turned into a one-sided love affair, wouldn’t that be worse than the original story?

Panicking, Li Yu quickly retrieved the cultivation manual from her spatial pouch. [T/N: 灵囊 (língnáng-spatial pouch) is a common item in Xianxia, a small pouch or bag that can hold a large number of items.]

Mu Tao, lost in thought, suddenly saw a spiritual light emanating from Li Yu’s hand. Moments later, the light faded, revealing a yellow-covered book.

Her eyes widened with curiosity as Li Yu approached and solemnly placed the book in her hands.

Mu Tao: “Master, this is…”

“Your constitution is different from others. The cultivation techniques they practice may not be suitable for you.” Li Yu gently patted Mu Tao’s hand and said earnestly, “Since I understand this, I cannot let you take detours. Therefore, I worked day and night to write this cultivation manual, waiting for your recovery to personally hand it to you.”

“Master!” Mu Tao clutched the book tightly.

“This manual may be worthless to others, but it’s perfectly suited for you.” Li Yu withdrew her hands, turned around, and said, “A cultivation manual is the foundation of cultivation. You must build a solid foundation before I can teach you anything else—do you understand?”

This was the epitome of feigning confidence. The words were false, but the logic was sound.

I’ve said all I needed to say. Take the manual and practice diligently!

Don’t ask me when I’ll teach you spells, and don’t think about your senior brother anymore.

I’ve checked him out. He’s unreliable!

As Li Yu was muttering to herself, a sudden “bang” from behind startled her. She quickly turned around.

Her little disciple was kneeling, kowtowing three times forcefully—she hadn’t even kowtowed this devoutly when offering food to her ancestors during the Lunar New Year.

Was this necessary?

“Master!” Mu Tao looked up, her eyes filled with tears. “This disciple understands! I will diligently build my foundation and will not disappoint Master!”

Li Yu had never been worshipped like this in her life. She was both shocked and bewildered.

She quickly stepped forward and helped Mu Tao up.

The little girl’s forehead was red, and her eyes were wet.

Li Yu instinctively reached out to wipe her tears, but reason prevailed.

After a moment of consideration, she released Mu Tao’s hand.

“Practice diligently,” Li Yu said calmly, turning to leave.

The moment she left the courtyard, she let out a long sigh.

What was this? A lowly worker like her couldn’t handle such reverence.

Her heart couldn’t take it; she had to escape!

Li Yu walked quickly, but before she got far, she heard the system’s notification.

【Protagonist Blackening Value -10%!】

【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 10%!】

This manual is amazing, such a significant decrease!

Li Yu instinctively glanced back.

The snow hadn’t melted. Mu Tao stood at the entrance of the courtyard, clutching the manual tightly, her thin clothes offering little protection against the cold, gazing in the direction her master had left.

The cold wind whipped around her small frame, also carrying away the figure she had admired for over two hundred years.

She hadn’t expected, nor dared to hope, that the figure would even glance back.

The figure was too far away; she couldn’t see Li Yu’s expression, but she felt that those deep, ocean-like eyes held a hidden gentleness.

But was all of this…just a dream…?

【Character Compatibility: 86%】

【Character Compatibility: 85%】

【Character Compatibility: 84%】

“…!”

Li Yu gasped and quickly turned away, avoiding Mu Tao’s gaze.

She mentally rolled her eyes at herself.

Why did you look back?

Now she had wasted three days of lying down!

…

Another morning arrived.

After a rare dreamless night, Li Yu woke up with a sense of dread.

It wasn’t anything major, just a slight tinge of regret.

She had dismissed the chef and would have to cook for herself now.

The thought of facing that difficult kitchen every day filled every cell in her body with resistance.

Because of this resistance, she decided to stay in bed a little longer.

As she lazed around, a knock came from the door.

Li Yu instantly sat up.

No one dared to come to her place usually, so if someone was knocking, it must be Si Qinglan checking up on her again!

Fortunately, this wasn’t the first time. She was now more composed.

With a flash of spiritual light, Li Yu summoned the water mirror and checked her appearance—clothes and hair were perfect, ready to face the enemy!

She dispelled the mirror, walked to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.

Li Yu’s eyes widened at the sight of the person outside.

“Master!”

Seeing the door finally open, Mu Tao’s anxious eyes lit up with joy.

She held up a food box, her words tumbling out in a rush: “Senior Brother isn’t coming anymore, and no one cooked today. This disciple was afraid Master would be hungry, no…this disciple was afraid Master would forget, no…that’s not it either…This disciple was afraid Master would miss mealtime and feel unwell…”

Li Yu: “You…”

“This disciple knows that Master has long since ceased needing earthly food and only partook these past few days to accompany this disciple. Now that this disciple’s injuries have healed, Master might not eat with this disciple anymore…” Mu Tao lowered her gaze and her voice. “But this disciple still wanted to ask Master if…if you still require someone to attend to your meals…”

Meals? Attend to?

A new chef?!

Yes, please! She desperately needed one!

How could she forget? Mu Tao had lived at Chaoxi Pond for over two hundred years, taking care of herself. She was definitely a better cook than Li Yu!

Looking at the little disciple standing outside with the food box, her face full of anticipation, Li Yu suddenly felt that the world was a beautiful place.

She could barely contain her smile.

No, no, control yourself, or your compatibility will drop.

Li Yu suppressed her excitement, took the food box, and stepped back into the room.

Mu Tao stood nervously at the doorway, her hands clasped in front of her.

Li Yu: “Come in.”

Mu Tao’s ears twitched, and a bright smile bloomed on her face.

She entered, closed the door, and walked quietly to Li Yu’s side, her tail swaying with uncontainable joy.

Li Yu took out the dishes and set them on the table. As she sat down, she gestured to an empty stool: “Sit. No need to be so formal.”

Mu Tao hopped over to the designated seat and sat down obediently.

She picked up her bowl and chopsticks, looking at Li Yu expectantly, yet cautiously.

Li Yu obligingly tasted each of the four dishes.

Were all protagonists in these novels skilled cooks?

She was so lucky!

But even with this good fortune, she needed to maintain her image of detachment, so she casually looked up at Mu Tao.

Li Yu: “Did you make all of this?”

Mu Tao nodded nervously. “Is it to Master’s liking?”

Li Yu: “It’s not bad.”

Mu Tao visibly relaxed, a smile spreading across her face.

She leaned forward slightly, clutching her chopsticks. “Then, can this disciple…can this disciple come here every day to attend to Master’s breakfast and dinner?”

Mu Tao stammered, but Li Yu nodded without hesitation.

She hadn’t complained about running to the “cafeteria” every day for the past two months, so how could she refuse meals delivered to her door?

But as soon as she agreed, she had second thoughts—Was such a quick agreement out of character?

Maybe she should beat around the bush a little?

Yes, be a little more polite!

Li Yu: “But will this interfere with your cultivation?”

“No, no!” Mu Tao quickly replied. “This disciple cannot abstain from food. Cooking is something I do every day anyway. It makes no difference whether I cook a little or a lot, it won’t interfere at all!”

Mu Tao put down her chopsticks and looked at Li Yu seriously. “Master!”

Li Yu: “Hmm?”

Mu Tao: “The cultivation manual Master gave me is profound. This disciple is foolish. I only managed to read two pages last night and already have many questions!”

She pulled a folded piece of paper from her robe.

Li Yu frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

She swallowed nervously. “What is this?”

Mu Tao carefully unfolded the paper and presented it to her with both hands.

Mu Tao: “These are the parts I don’t understand! I’ve carefully copied them down. Please instruct me, Master!”

Li Yu: “…”

---

T/N:

I added some translator’s notes in the previous chapters about some concepts, as well as in this one, and will continue to do so in the upcoming ones for certain terms or concepts that may not be common knowledge in this genre of novel.

If there’s any concept you don’t understand, just ask in the comments so I can add notes in future chapters. Sometimes I get confused—I’ll have déjà vu from other novels I’ve translated and assume I already added a note for it, so I end up skipping it.

Chapter 10: She Wasn’t One with an Unwavering Dao Heart

On her third day in the world of Demon Bone, Li Yu wholeheartedly embraced the art of slacking off.

Many things in life become easier with practice, and even those that don’t become second nature eventually.

For example, the awkward small dinner gatherings. By the fifth time, Li Yu had fully accepted the “eat without speaking” setting. The others at the table also gradually lost their initial stiffness.

Thus, she smoothly settled into a routine of two meals a day, arriving and leaving on time.

Of course, to prevent the original storyline’s romantic subplot from developing behind her back, she personally saw Mo Yichu off from Chaoxi Pond twice a day.

Despite this, she still felt uneasy.

They say the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.

Mo Yichu’s culinary skills were author-approved. Even simple home-cooked dishes tasted amazing.

This delicious food both delighted and worried her, creating an internal conflict that made her fear an impending mental breakdown.

After an internal struggle, Li Yu made a decision that betrayed both her heart and her taste buds.

—As soon as Mu Tao no longer needed medicine, she would find an excuse to dismiss this free and punctual chef!

She couldn’t decoct medicine, but she could still cook.

Even if her cooking wasn’t as good, it should be more than enough to feed a disciple.

Lost in these idle thoughts, Li Yu unknowingly let thirty-something uneventful days slip by.

The good news was that during this time, her character compatibility gradually increased and stabilized around 85%.

Although it showed no signs of breaking 90%, considering that her “dear colleague” Si Qinglan was very keen on visiting for idle chats lately, and each chat inexplicably cost her two or three compatibility points, she felt that 85% was a beautiful number.

As for the bad news…

She had studied the original owner’s “skill tree.”

—It was complex and incomprehensible.

No matter how much time passed, or how many times she tried, she could only rely on the system to use the most basic spells.

She could use them, but she didn’t understand the underlying principles, so she couldn’t teach them.

Recently, Mu Tao’s health had been improving day by day. She was becoming more lively and even had the energy to build snowmen in the courtyard.

Whenever Li Yu saw the girl with her pointy ears tucked back, fluffy tail swaying, and a bright smile on her face as she played in the snow, she would remember the promise she made a month ago.

And whenever she thought of that promise, she regretted her loose tongue.

Sometimes, she felt she desperately needed to learn the basics of cultivation from someone.

Preferably something beginner-friendly, perfect for newbies.

However, her status didn’t allow her to ask anyone for help.

So, she continued to laze around in bed every day.

Fortunately, just as Li Yu was at her wit’s end, the system kindly offered assistance.

【Considering the host’s complete lack of teaching ability, the system has found a cultivation manual that should suffice!】

Li Yu immediately sat up in bed.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier! You made me worry for so long!” She raised her hand without thinking, urging excitedly, “What cultivation manual? Show me!”

A flash of spiritual light later, a brand-new, yellow-covered manual appeared in her palm.

It wasn’t thick, and there was no title on the cover.

“Can I learn this?” Li Yu asked, flipping through a few pages.

After a moment of silence, she slowly closed the book.

Never mind, upon closer inspection, this wasn’t suitable for her.

The elegant, slightly messy, and difficult-to-recognize traditional characters, combined with a bunch of unfamiliar cultivation jargon, made her head spin in minutes.

She figured she was past the age of enthusiastic learning and had lost her zeal for exploring unknown fields.

No need to force herself.

This kind of manual, only comprehensible to cultivators, should be left to actual cultivators.

Li Yu: “Did ‘I’ write this?”

【This cultivation manual was written by the original owner. Most of the techniques and methods for circulating spiritual energy have been modified to suit the protagonist’s half-demon constitution. Although not suitable for the host, it’s a perfect set of basic cultivation techniques for the protagonist!】

Li Yu: “When was this written?”

【Because the timeline is unclear, the system cannot pinpoint the exact time. It was a long, long time ago.】

Li Yu: “…”

So, the original owner had written this manual but never gave it to her only disciple.

If she remembered correctly, Si Qinglan had mentioned that the former “her” was always pursuing a state of “no-self.”

That sounded like the Path of Heartlessness. [T/N: 无情道 (wúqíngdào) is a cultivation path in Xianxia where practitioners suppress or eliminate their emotions.]

Come to think of it, Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal in the novel, was indeed someone devoted to cultivation, detached from worldly affairs.

Before Weisheng Xuanzhu’s long slumber, he had asked her why she was so fixated on that legendary supreme state.

She replied that the resentment in the world hadn’t dissipated, and the seed of the Heavenly Demon hadn’t been extinguished.

Four thousand years ago, when the Heavenly Demon appeared, the world was protected by ancient gods. Now, the ancient gods had fallen. When the Upper Spirit Lamp shattered and the Heavenly Demon was revived, someone would have to shoulder this burden.

She firmly believed that person would be her, just as she firmly believed that preventing the Heavenly Demon’s return was her only Dao.

But she wasn’t someone with an unwavering Dao heart.

She had wavered for Mu Tao, more than once.

Mu Tao was inherently kind, but because no one ever truly chose her, she gradually descended into darkness.

If Mu Tao knew that her seemingly indifferent master had secretly written a cultivation manual for her, perhaps everything would have been different.

Such a pity…

A look of seriousness appeared in Li Yu’s eyes.

Now that this manual was in her hands, Mu Tao would finally see it.

As for saving the world and righteousness, what did that have to do with her?

She decided to give it to Mu Tao on the day she stopped taking medicine, the same day she would dismiss the chef.

This way, even if Mu Tao felt reluctant, the manual would distract her.

With this major problem solved, she no longer needed to wish for Mu Tao’s slow recovery!

From the moment she received the manual, Li Yu felt much better about everything, even Si Qinglan, who frequently came to deduct her compatibility points, seemed more agreeable.

More than half a month passed.

Mu Tao finally finished the last dose of medicine needed to cure the chill in her meridians.

Li Yu was delighted. She immediately summoned Mo Yichu outside and, after expressing her gratitude, calmly delivered the words that severed their arrangement: “Since Mu Tao no longer needs medicine, there’s no need for you to come here every day.”

She smiled warmly. “Thank you for your hard work these past few days. Remember to catch up on your cultivation when you return.”

Mo Yichu, upon hearing this, left readily, as if he had been waiting for this day.

For a moment, Li Yu even felt that this person was even more eager to clock out than she was.

Regardless, his respectful bow and swift departure gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

For nearly two months, the protagonist and male lead had seen each other every day under her watchful eye, yet no sparks had flown.

This was wonderful!

Li Yu returned to the room, a triumphant smile on her face. As she closed the door, she met Mu Tao’s curious gaze.

The girl stood by the dining table, her hands behind her back, tilting her head, ears perked up, and blinking innocently. “Will Senior Brother not be coming tomorrow?”

Li Yu: “…Mm.”

Mu Tao: “Oh.”

This ambiguous response made Li Yu feel a bit guilty.

Mu Tao lowered her gaze and pursed her lips, her fluffy tail drooping motionless, lost in thought.

This reaction made Li Yu’s heart clench.

Oh no, that expression!

Could it be that the little protagonist was reluctant?

Was it too late to give her the manual?

Chapter 9: Less Work, More Study!

Looking at Mu Tao’s joyful expression despite her pale complexion, Li Yu felt a mix of emotions.

The little protagonist’s happiness was a good thing, but behind that happiness was perhaps the most audacious, face-saving decision of her life.

Regardless, food was a necessity.

So, three people, each with their own thoughts, finished a rather subdued lunch.

The moment the last person put down their chopsticks, Mo Yichu, as if he had been waiting for centuries, immediately stood up and efficiently cleared the table, using the excuse of washing dishes to swiftly escape the uncomfortable “meal.”

Li Yu could tell that in the eyes of these few-hundred-year-old “youngsters,” she, the almost-thirty “elder,” was indeed difficult to get along with.

No matter, this was good.

If the male protagonist was afraid of her, he naturally wouldn’t have any thoughts about her precious little radish. [T/N: 小白菜 (xiǎo báicài), literally “little white cabbage,” is a slang term for an innocent, pure, or naive person.]

However, the little radish was truly weak. After sitting for a while, her breathing became uneven, alarming Li Yu. She quickly helped her back to bed, tucking her in tightly, as if wanting her to breathe only through her nostrils.

But as soon as the blanket was in place, a bruised and purple little hand escaped.

The small hand gently tugged at her sleeve. Li Yu looked down and met a pair of clear eyes.

Mu Tao didn’t speak, just quietly looked at Li Yu.

Her eyes held a fear of waking from a dream.

Li Yu sat down by the bed, took the small hand in hers, and gently patted it. “Sleep, I’ll stay with you.”

Mu Tao nodded and closed her eyes.

The girl fell asleep quickly and seemed to be resting peacefully, but Li Yu was afraid of waking her if she left, so she stayed a while longer.

I’ll just work here, she thought.

Working here would prevent the male protagonist from returning to seduce her little disciple and allow her to gain some favor with the little disciple when she woke up, favor that could potentially save her life later.

Sitting like this was quite relaxing. There was nothing to do; she could even let her mind wander.

This job comes with food, accommodation, and the opportunity to slack off.

Excellent, excellent.

So, Li Yu peacefully spaced out.

Suddenly, the system issued a life-threatening warning.

Li Yu checked the system data and nearly spat out blood.

【Character Compatibility: 75%】

This was a dangerous number.

But she couldn’t understand. The only other person in the room had been asleep for a while. How was her compatibility decreasing?

No, she had to leave!

One shouldn’t die without understanding why!

Once again, she gently pried open the small hand clutching her sleeve and quickly left the room without looking back, hurrying towards her own residence.

Confused, she followed the path back, finally reaching her door. Just as she thought she could relax, she opened the door to a figure that made her eyes widen in surprise.

“Done with work?” the person asked, leaning against the window, casually playing with a plum blossom they had picked up from somewhere, a hint of amusement in their voice.

Li Yu finally understood who was responsible for the drop in her compatibility.

She exhaled slowly, closed the door, and walked to the table, resuming her usual aloof demeanor.

Li Yu: “Qingxuan Revered One, why are you here today?”

“Nothing much, just couldn’t stop thinking about it after I left yesterday. Felt I had to meddle a bit to feel at ease.” Si Qinglan tilted her head innocently, her peach blossom eyes twinkling with curiosity as she looked at Li Yu. “I originally wanted to plead for your little disciple, but it seems I made a wasted trip. You two are getting along surprisingly well.”

Li Yu: “You followed me.”

Si Qinglan: “You didn’t notice?”

Li Yu: “I noticed.”

—Impossible.

But to say she hadn’t noticed was also impossible!

All she could do was lie through her teeth and bluff her way through.

As long as her heart was strong enough, she could calmly meet the other person’s gaze!

After a few seconds of staring, Li Yu’s character compatibility increased by five percentage points. The weight on her heart lifted.

“I thought I had fooled you this time. What a disappointment.” Si Qinglan sighed, the regret in her eyes quickly replaced by a gossipy glint. “Did you call Little Mo Yichu over?”

“Such an intimate name?” Li Yu couldn’t help but ask.

“What’s wrong? I saved that child years ago. Can’t I be a little more affectionate?” Si Qinglan got up, walked over to Li Yu, and sat down opposite her. “I call your disciple Little Taotao, and I don’t see you making this face.”

Little Taotao…

Ugh! Goosebumps!

Unable to respond to that, Li Yu chose silence.

“Sigh, you masters are all so cold and aloof. No wonder the younger generation is afraid of you.” Si Qinglan looked smug. “Not like me, approachable and much more likeable.”

Li Yu: “…”

“I digressed!” Si Qinglan shook her head and asked, resting her chin on her hand, “Why did you call him over?”

Li Yu: “Mu Tao is sick. Someone needed to decoct the medicine and cook.”

Si Qinglan chuckled meaningfully. “I thought you tried to avoid that master and disciple pair as much as possible.”

Li Yu understood what she meant.

In the original novel, Weisheng Xuanzhu was deeply devoted to Li Yu.

He even abandoned his home of millennia, traveling from the North Sea to Mount Chao Yao in the South Sea, just to be near her.

However, Li Yu had no romantic feelings for him, and he was content to be the silent guardian by her side. They had been colleagues for over three thousand years, maintaining a respectful distance.

But this guy’s setting was rather comical.

He either never slept, or slept for hundreds or thousands of years.

He was sleeping when the protagonist killed her master.

He was still sleeping after the protagonist killed her master.

The protagonist killed his beloved and imprisoned his direct disciple; how could she possibly wait for him to wake up?

So, he died in his sleep, becoming the only one of the renowned Three Revered Ones of Chao Yao who died peacefully before even fighting.

How tragic, how lamentable…

—And a little bit laughably pathetic.

“Silent again.” Si Qinglan plucked a petal from the plum blossom. “It seems we really can’t have a proper conversation.”

Oops, spaced out!

Li Yu thought that for the sake of her future, she really needed to be able to converse with Si Qinglan.

So, she decided to offer a brief explanation.

Li Yu: “I was just thinking about something else.”

“Are you explaining yourself to me?” Si Qinglan asked, disbelief evident in her voice.

Was it that surprising that she explained herself?

It seemed the original owner really never bothered to explain anything to anyone.

Better cover it up.

Li Yu: “Consider it that, if you will.”

Si Qinglan pursed her lips, looked at Li Yu, hesitated for a long time, and finally asked what she really wanted to know.

“You used to abstain from earthly food, fearing contamination, striving for that detached, transcendental state. What happened? Did a single failed closed-door cultivation suddenly change your mind?”

“…” Not a change of mind, more like a change of core.

“I thought you wouldn’t soften.”

“…” Well…

The original owner was a little soft-hearted, at least “she” had asked for medicine for the little protagonist from someone she didn’t really want to contact.

“This is quite surprising.”

“…” She woke up like this, who wouldn’t be surprised?

Si Qinglan was clearly used to not receiving any responses.

Li Yu thought she had grasped the essence of aloofness—silence and a profound air.

However, the next second, her recently recovered character compatibility dropped by three points.

What essence? There was no essence!

She hadn’t mastered it at all!

An indescribable weariness, a faint sadness of the living dead, appeared in Li Yu’s eyes.

This expression made Si Qinglan frown.

Si Qinglan: “I feel like I don’t know you anymore.”

Li Yu: “We were never close.”

Tired, can’t keep up the act anymore.

Li Yu sighed and closed her eyes as if to escape.

When she opened them again, Si Qinglan was gone.

Fine, she left, but she still deducted two compatibility points before leaving…

She was wrong, she didn’t want to build a relationship with this colleague anymore.

She hoped this person wouldn’t show up uninvited again. She was dying, literally dying!

75% compatibility, she couldn’t afford another drop!

When would this thing increase on its own?

【Um, Host…】

【Character Compatibility recovers slowly when you are alone.】

Huh? There’s such a setting?

How slow was “slowly”?

【One point every twelve hours!】

Li Yu: “…”

So, one point per day if she sees no one. No wonder it hadn’t increased after a night’s sleep.

So she couldn’t be too proactive? This went against every worker’s instinct.

But thinking about it, it made sense.

An icy-faced immortal, who had been cold and aloof for thousands of years, suddenly spending every day with a junior would definitely be suspicious.

It was because the original owner was usually cold, quiet, and reclusive, unfamiliar with almost everyone on Mount Chao Yao, that she hadn’t been immediately exposed.

From tomorrow onwards, she would have to spend as much time alone as possible.

No, wait, she promised Mu Tao she would eat with her.

If she didn’t eat, the little protagonist’s unhappiness was secondary; she herself would be hungry!

How about…

Clocking in twice a day, grabbing a meal, and then leaving?

Although this would reduce her time with the protagonist, which wasn’t good for gaining favor, leaving early would give her more time to study that skill tree.

Once she understood the skill tree, she could teach the protagonist spells every day. Then she wouldn’t have to worry about not gaining enough favor to save her life, right?

Yes, this was the right approach.

Less work, more study!

It was decided!

As for the skill tree, she was too tired today. She’d study it tomorrow.

Chapter 8: I Forbid It!

“There’s not much left, just drink it all in one go,” Li Yu said, using the tone elders used when urging her to take medicine.

She had never had Chinese medicine in her life.

Let alone Chinese medicine, she even resisted powdered medicine packets.

But no matter how resistant, there were always times when she had no choice. And when there was no choice, she would just pinch her nose and down it in one gulp.

The slower you drank that stuff, the more torturous it was.

She thought she was being kind by encouraging a quick gulp, but looking up, she saw Mu Tao’s eyes brimming with tears, her pointy ears drooping dejectedly.

Li Yu’s heart softened. She sat down beside the bed and gently coaxed, “Only by taking your medicine properly can you get better quickly.”

Mu Tao sniffed, nibbled her lower lip, and looked down at the medicine in the bowl.

A tear fell into the bowl. Her frostbitten fingers trembled as she reluctantly picked up the spoon.

Li Yu suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

This pang made her realize that the little protagonist didn’t need a reason to finish the medicine; she needed reassurance, a sense of being cared for.

So, Li Yu placed her hand over Mu Tao’s and took the bowl.

“This medicine seems a bit too hot,” Li Yu said, holding the lukewarm bowl without changing her expression. “I’ll cool it down for you.”

Mu Tao opened her mouth, not exposing the flimsy excuse, and silently swallowed each spoonful of medicine that Li Yu cooled and brought to her lips.

When the bowl was empty, her furrowed brow relaxed, and a smile appeared in her eyes as she looked at Li Yu.

Li Yu placed the empty bowl aside and pulled the blanket higher around Mu Tao.

“Thank you, Master,” Mu Tao whispered, a smile playing on her lips, revealing two small canine teeth.

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Whether she was thanked or not was secondary. As long as the little protagonist was happy, and didn’t try to kill her in her dreams.

“Master…”

“Hmm?”

“Master said that you didn’t teach me spells before because the time wasn’t right…” Mu Tao paused, then continued in a very low voice, “Then, Master, when…when will the time be right?”

Mu Tao’s eyes were filled with anticipation, but within that anticipation flickered a fear of disappointment.

Looking into those eyes, Li Yu felt her heart clench again.

Although the protagonist’s meridians were blocked by the seal, her natural talent was far superior to ordinary people. With proper guidance and effort, she would surely achieve great things in time.

In the original story, Cangming Revered One’s acceptance of Mu Tao as her disciple wasn’t simply about providing her with a safe life.

Cangming Revered One was aloof and distant, having taken in only Mu Tao as a disciple in thousands of years.

Because of this, who would dare overstep their boundaries and teach her disciple even the slightest bit of magic?

The revered one knew that as long as she didn’t teach Mu Tao anything, Mu Tao would remain a defenseless little waste on Mount Chao Yao.

This way, if the Demon Bone ever went out of control, she could easily subdue her.

When Mu Tao killed her master, her resentful words about her master never intending to guide her stemmed from this realization.

The person who promised her a safe life not only harbored suspicion from the beginning but was also prepared to eliminate her personally.

—How could she not hate her?

The easiest way to avoid this resentment was to start fulfilling her duties as a master.

Spells? I’ll teach them! I’ll teach them without reservation!

Even if the protagonist turned evil in the future, she might show some mercy considering their past relationship, right?

However, this seemingly simple solution was incredibly difficult to implement.

Li Yu swore she wasn’t unwilling to teach!

She hadn’t even figured out the basic spells that had just been unlocked!

How was she supposed to teach anyone?

Silence and awkwardness filled the room.

The light in Mu Tao’s eyes gradually dimmed.

She lowered her gaze, her chapped lips trembling slightly as she spoke.

“Master… Did I say something wrong…”

Li Yu felt a phantom pain in her chest, as if the broken sword from her dream was back.

Without thinking, she blurted out, “No, you didn’t, I just…”

Just, just…

Her mind seemed to have stalled. She couldn’t think of a suitable excuse!

—Heavens, someone save me!

As if the heavens had heard her plea, the closed door gently opened.

She turned to see the male protagonist, whom she had tasked with cooking, coming to her rescue with today’s meal.

Li Yu, relieved, patted Mu Tao’s ear. “Are you hungry? Let’s eat.”

Thus, the three of them sat around the table, eating lunch in silence.

The food was delicious, but the atmosphere was incredibly awkward.

Li Yu struggled to describe this awkwardness.

Even that time in high school when she was eating in the cafeteria and her homeroom teacher suddenly sat down across from her, right after she had gotten a terrible score on the latest monthly exam, wasn’t this awkward.

She knew that the other two at the table were of the same generation, so this awkwardness likely stemmed from her, the usually stern “elder.”

But she had never played the role of an elder at the dinner table. She had no idea what to say to ease the tension.

The awkwardness didn’t last long.

Mo Yichu suddenly broke the silence.

“Disciple Mu Tao.”

“Huh?” Mu Tao looked up blankly.

“Exalted Immortal Li Yu is often busy and may sometimes neglect certain things.” Mo Yichu said tentatively, “If there are any basic spells you don’t understand, you can come to me.”

Li Yu instantly became alert!

She knew this kid had overheard their conversation!

After all, there was a similar scene in the original novel—the male protagonist learned that the female protagonist hadn’t learned any spells from her master, so he offered to teach her some basics.

Li Yu knew this scene would happen, but she never expected Mo Yichu to say it right in front of her.

Wasn’t this a bit too blatant?

Wasn’t he afraid of offending his elder?

In the original novel, hadn’t he always taught her secretly?

As Li Yu was reeling from the shock, Mu Tao’s eyes widened.

It took her a moment to process his words.

Her senior brother wanted to teach her spells!

She glanced at Li Yu, clearly tempted, but unsure if she could accept without permission.

In the novel, Li Yu would have been delighted by this.

But now, a man and a woman, privately exchanging teachings, it was a bit too ambiguous!

No, absolutely not!

No need to ask, the answer is—I Forbid It!

Li Yu cleared her throat, looked at Mo Yichu, and started making things up: “Nephew Mo’s intentions are good, but the cultivation techniques I practice are different from Revered Lingyao’s. As his disciple, you have received his true teachings since childhood. If Mu Tao frequently seeks your guidance, she might end up with a confused foundation.”

She emphasized “confused foundation,” just in case certain straightforward people missed her subtle refusal.

Mo Yichu quickly put down his chopsticks, stood up, took two steps back, and bowed respectfully. “Master Li Yu is right. This disciple was not thinking clearly!”

Look how scared he is, he doesn’t even dare eat anymore.

“There’s no need to be so alarmed.” Li Yu was slightly amused. “I’m not blaming you, sit down.”

Mo Yichu hesitated for a moment, then sat back down, still looking uneasy.

Mu Tao’s face fell, disappointed that her path to cultivation was blocked again.

Suddenly, more food appeared in her bowl.

She looked up to see Li Yu smiling, her eyes filled with warmth.

Master is smiling? Like, like a dream…

“I’ve just finished my closed-door cultivation. I’m not busy these days.” Li Yu said softly. “But you haven’t recovered yet, so it’s best to focus on resting.”

“I…” Mu Tao started.

“I’ll start teaching you when your injuries are healed.”

Mu Tao was overjoyed.

“Don’t worry, Master!” She clutched her chopsticks tightly, her voice trembling with excitement. “I, I’ll take my medicine properly! I’ll get better soon!”

“Good girl.” Li Yu patted the little girl’s ear encouragingly.

She glanced at her character compatibility.

—77%

A drop, but not much.

But she didn’t care which little brat caused the drop!

At this moment, she was too exhausted to care.

She thought she must be a selfish and immoral person.

She genuinely hoped that Mu Tao’s injuries wouldn’t heal too quickly.

But it wasn’t her fault for being cold-blooded.

It was this damned world’s fault for giving her so little time to prepare!!!

Chapter 7: Such a Straightforward Man?

Li Yu couldn’t believe that the protagonist of a novel would fail a transmigration system’s quality check.

As the male lead of Demon Bone, Mo Yichu was exceptionally well-equipped.

In terms of personality, he was calm, resolute, gentle, courteous, and frugal.

In terms of appearance, he was the kind of character who attracted admirers wherever he went.

In terms of strength, he was the most talented disciple since the founding of Mount Chao Yao, the most renowned prodigy of the new generation in centuries.

As for other aspects, he was proficient in cooking, cleaning, reading, writing, and healing.

Although she skipped many plot points in the early and middle stages of the novel, she vaguely knew that Mo Yichu had a tragic past.

It was because of this past that he felt a kinship with Mu Tao and subconsciously wanted to protect her.

So, the two protagonists were two lonely souls drawn to each other.

See, all the elements are there.

Why did the system reject him?

Li Yu pondered.

After much thought, she found the root of the problem.

—Mo Yichu lacked a heart solely devoted to love.

In the early stages of the novel, Mo Yichu took Mu Tao to the mortal realm for training. To protect her from demons, he personally tied a Harmony Bell onto her.

In Mu Tao’s eyes, the Harmony Bell was a promise from her senior brother to protect her for life. So, even when her Demon Bone was exposed, and the entire immortal sect bound her to the execution platform, even when her master only watched coldly, a sliver of hope remained in her heart.

She believed that in this world, there must be someone willing to defy everything for her, someone who would always choose her without hesitation.

Indeed, Mo Yichu came to rescue her and protected her as they fled to the entrance of the Demon Realm.

Just when she thought this journey would continue, that even if they had to live in hiding forever, she would no longer be alone, Mo Yichu suddenly released her hand and, without warning, shattered the Harmony Bell that had bound them together.

Even though he knew he was committing a grave sin, that the path behind him would be filled with thorns, far more dangerous than mountains of knives and seas of fire, he resolutely chose the direction she could never return to.

The dream shattered, and she finally understood.

—Everyone had their own Dao. [T/N: Dao (道) is a complex concept in Chinese philosophy, often translated as “way,” “path,” or “principle.”]

And her senior brother’s Dao was destined to be diametrically opposed to her only path to survival.

If she wanted to remain by his side, she would have to destroy his Dao.

The always obedient, unassuming little protagonist began to reveal the darkness in her heart from this point on.

If the male protagonist had been driven by love, the story could have had a happy ending right there.

But he wasn’t!

To save the female protagonist, he defied both his master’s orders and destiny.

He finally brought her to the entrance of the Demon Realm, a place where stepping through meant embracing a new life together, but he insisted on returning to face punishment, even severing their last connection before leaving.

Later, the female protagonist was left alone in that ruthless, lightless place.

To survive, she had to rely on the power of the Demon Bone.

Demonic energy gradually eroded her body and mind, and those once-hidden thoughts finally took root and sprouted amidst despair and helplessness.

This part of the story was enough to make even the readers want to turn evil, let alone the protagonist.

The system was right; this male lead was no good.

Regardless of whether there were better candidates, she had to prevent this relationship from developing.

After all, if the female protagonist turned evil, she would be the first one to be struck down!

Tomorrow, starting tomorrow, she would be the brightest light bulb on Mount Chao Yao—determined to break up this destined pairing!

As for today, she was home, time to rest.

Thinking this, Li Yu struggled out of bed, looked around the unfamiliar room, and voiced a simple question: “How do I brush my teeth, wash my face, and soak my feet?”

The system’s answer was—The bucket is in the courtyard. The water in Chaoxi Pond doesn’t freeze. Just draw some and heat it with a spell.

“Is this how immortals live?”

“Can’t I just snap my fingers and have the bucket fly to fetch water, then fly back and heat itself for me?”

【The original owner could do that, but the system lacks such flexible auxiliary functions. The host may be able to figure it out on your own later.】

“…”

Fine, it’s just fetching water.

Back in middle and high school, she had to carry two thermoses to queue for hot water every day. She was no stranger to this.

Just treat it as reliving her boarding school days.

How…fun!

After some effort, Li Yu finally finished washing up and collapsed back onto the bed, exhausted.

Perhaps due to the physical exertion during the day, sleep came quickly.

However, Li Yu didn’t sleep well on her first night in this world.

She had chaotic dreams.

She dreamt that her portrayal of “Li Yu” was full of flaws, her character compatibility plummeting to the teens. Countless people she knew, and didn’t know, even her boss and colleagues, were all trying to kill her.

She used dirt blocks to obstruct her pursuers’ vision, digging downwards and filling the hole behind her. In the dead of night, with monsters roaming, she hugged a torch and buried herself underground.

The space was too cramped. She tried to expand it, but as soon as she removed a few stones with her bare hands, she heard the groans of a female zombie.

The sudden sound startled her, and she stopped digging. However, the zombie was more lively than she was. While she had stopped, the zombie quickly dug through the stones and appeared before her.

The zombie was covered in purple frostbite, wielding a bloodstained broken sword. Without a word, it pinned her down. Just as she realized the zombie looked familiar, she heard the word “Master” repeatedly emanating from its raspy, distorted voice.

Then she was stabbed awake.

The moment she woke up, she kicked her legs violently, as if trying to kick the zombie off her, sending her blankets flying.

A slight chill brushed against her thin undergarments. The room was still unfamiliar, but she sighed in relief.

What a weird dream, even incorporating blocky game elements!

Fine, the dream was weird, but who mines raw ore with their bare hands? At least make a wooden pickaxe!

And why was there a female zombie calling her Master while stabbing her…

Talk about dreams reflecting reality. Being so afraid of death that she experienced various ways of dying in her dreams, what a thrilling experience.

No job is easy. As long as you’re working for a living, you can’t escape the fate of being chased by nightmares.

A new day has begun. Time to get up and go to work.

Despite thinking about getting up for work, Li Yu stayed in bed until the sun was high in the sky.

The winter sun lacked warmth, quietly illuminating her, reminding the sleepyhead that noon was approaching.

She stretched, rolled around a few times, and finally mustered the courage to sit up.

The clothes here were difficult to put on. Li Yu struggled for a long time by the bedside, unable to get it right. Finally, the system, unable to watch any longer, used a spell to fix her clothes and hair.

“So convenient, why didn’t you say so earlier?”

“This delay shouldn’t deduct from my pay, right?”

【Except for certain specific situations, the host is free to manage your own time and schedule!】

“That’s good!” Li Yu was slightly touched, then suddenly remembered something. “Why isn’t there a mirror? I’ve been here for a day and haven’t even seen what I look like now.”

【Request received. Assistance for [Water Mirror Technique] is ready!】

【Host, please raise your hand.】

No wonder there’s no mirror, you can just conjure one.

Being an immortal is convenient.

Li Yu raised her right hand. A clear stream of anti-gravity water flowed from her fingertip, following the outline she drew in the air, and slowly formed a water mirror.

As the water calmed and the reflection became clear, Li Yu stared at her image in the mirror, speechless.

She seemed to understand why the system had chosen her.

The face in the mirror was both familiar and unfamiliar. After a long moment, she realized it was her own face.

Longer hair, fairer skin, better figure, and because of the drastic change in clothing and demeanor, her overall appearance was much more refined, so beautiful that it seemed unfamiliar.

She always thought she looked decent, but she never imagined she could be this beautiful, this ethereal.

Is this the legendary effect of immortal energy?

Suddenly, even the air felt refreshing and invigorating, as if she could go to work full of energy at any moment!

Li Yu left the room with a cheerful expression, strolling towards the little protagonist’s residence.

Perhaps because of her good mood, her footprints in the snow were incredibly light.

However, her smile soon faded.

Cangming Revered One of Mount Chao Yao had an perpetually icy expression—remember, remember!

With a stern face, Li Yu arrived at the courtyard from yesterday.

Before even entering, she was stopped by the bitter smell of medicine.

The smell alone made her tongue tingle with bitterness; she couldn’t imagine how awful it must taste.

Li Yu silently prayed.

Please let me never have to drink Chinese medicine in my life.

As she thought this, she arrived at the door.

The faint clinking of bowls came from inside, making her heart clench.

In the original story, the little protagonist was terrified of bitter medicine. To make her drink it, the male protagonist would sit by her bedside, coaxing and feeding her one spoonful at a time.

A man and a woman, alone in a room, sitting so close, hand-feeding medicine, that’s a bit too intimate!

Li Yu pushed the door open without hesitation, her gaze sharp.

She immediately focused on the little protagonist, who was half-lying on the bed.

The words she intended to use to interrupt the intimate scene caught in her throat.

Mu Tao was holding a half-empty bowl of medicine, her cute little face scrunched up in a grimace from the bitterness. Her almond-shaped eyes looked back at her, confused.

Li Yu stepped inside and glanced around suspiciously.

Mu Tao was alone?

Li Yu: “Where’s your senior brother?”

Mu Tao: “Senior Brother left after putting down the medicine.”

Li Yu: “Where did he go?”

Mu Tao: “Probably the kitchen… Senior Brother said Master instructed him to prepare your meal today.”

Such a perfect opportunity to be alone, yet he chose to go to the kitchen and cook for his elder instead of staying to coax the protagonist into taking her medicine.

—Such a straightforward man?

He deserves to be deemed “no good”!

“Master…”

“Hmm?”

Li Yu snapped back to reality. Mu Tao was clutching the medicine bowl tightly, her eyes slightly reddened, looking at her pitifully.

Mu Tao hesitated, opened her mouth slightly, then pursed her lips, finally asking timidly,

“Master, this medicine is so bitter. Do I really have to drink it?”

“Of course.” Li Yu replied, glancing at the medicine bowl in Mu Tao’s hands.

She had already drunk half of it.

Just pinch your nose and down it in one go!

Why ask me? I got the medicine for you. You can’t just pour it out!

 

Chapter 6: She Was Here to Break Up the Couple!

For the sake of that precarious percentage fluctuating near the danger zone, Li Yu chose to restrain her strange urges.

Just as she tore her gaze away from the fluffy tail, she noticed Mu Tao sway slightly.

It wasn’t her imagination.

Mu Tao was too weak. After washing the dishes and crying, she was now on the verge of collapse, barely able to sit upright.

Li Yu, fearing the girl would faint, quickly helped her back to bed.

The moment she was covered by the blanket, the exhausted girl curled up and fell asleep.

Her brow remained furrowed.

The pain from her injuries made her weary, yet she couldn’t sleep soundly. Her frostbitten hands clutched the corner of Li Yu’s sleeve insecurely.

Li Yu carefully tugged her sleeve free.

After making sure Mu Tao hadn’t woken up, she tiptoed out of the room and gently closed the door.

The breath she had been holding finally escaped her lungs.

Woohoo~ Time to clock out!

Today’s role-playing is over. Time to go home and be myself!

Li Yu was in high spirits, turning to leave, but as soon as she turned around, she bumped into someone, causing her to gasp and freeze.

When she recovered, the person was bowing to her.

He said, “Exalted Immortal Li Yu, this disciple has been instructed by Master to deliver medicine to Disciple Mu Tao.”

Li Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

So that’s why someone suddenly appeared in this deserted place. The male protagonist has come to deliver medicine.

This delivery service is efficient, much faster than I expected!

As she thought this, Li Yu sized up the person before her.

He was tall and handsome, with the appearance of a youth, yet his demeanor was composed. Dressed in white amidst the swirling snow, he exuded an air of righteousness.

So this is the male protagonist of Demon Bone, Weisheng Xuanzhu’s direct disciple, Mount Chao Yao’s most outstanding junior, the senior brother whom Mu Tao loved all her life—Mo Yichu.

Well, well, well.

This male protagonist is quite easy on the eyes. No wonder the little protagonist is so attached to him.

If the male leads in the historical dramas she watched were of this quality, she could easily forgive all the ridiculous plot points, throw her brain out the window, and focus solely on their looks.

“Exalted Immortal Li Yu?”

A slightly hesitant voice snapped Li Yu back to reality—she had been ignoring the male lead for quite a while.

He had come to deliver medicine; it was rude to block him at the door!

Li Yu instinctively moved aside, allowing Mo Yichu to enter.

For some reason, the scene seemed to freeze.

After a long silence, Mo Yichu coughed lightly and offered Li Yu a neatly wrapped package of medicine. “This medicine should be decocted and taken once a day.”

Li Yu: “…”

Oops, she forgot, this was the part where the male protagonist came every day to decoct medicine for the female protagonist.

They’re cultivators, why not use pills that look like Huahua Dan or Mylikes, instead of making someone go through the trouble of decocting medicine? This is a bit…too plot-driven. [T/N: Huahua Dan and Mylikes are popular Chinese candies.]

Forget it, why bother? It wasn’t her job anyway.

The medicine was offered to her, but she had no intention of taking it, simply saying, “Then I’ll have to trouble Nephew Mo.”

As soon as she spoke, the system issued a warning.

Li Yu’s heart skipped a beat. She quickly glanced at her character compatibility, which had indeed dropped slightly.

Just a little, no big deal.

Hey, system, next time, if it’s not life-threatening, could you not make a fuss while I’m interacting with others?

Your sudden warnings are really startling. How am I supposed to calmly deal with complex human interactions like this?!

【Request received. We’ll be more careful next time.】

Not bad, forgiven.

But how did her compatibility drop?

She was the head of the Three Revered Ones of Mount Chao Yao. Ordering a disciple to decoct medicine shouldn’t be a problem, right?

Was it the way she addressed him again?

Should she not have called him nephew?

But “colleagues” were like fellow disciples, and a fellow disciple’s student should be called nephew, right?

—Should she address him by name?

Oh, whatever, just a small drop, why bother?

Time to hand over the work and go home!

Thinking this, Li Yu looked up and asked coldly, “Is it so difficult to care for my disciple on my behalf?”

Mo Yichu bowed again. “Not at all.”

“Good.” Li Yu glanced at the room behind her and instructed, “She’s seriously injured. If you have time, please come and care for her.”

“Yes!” Mo Yichu replied readily.

Li Yu nodded in satisfaction. Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something.

Li Yu: “Do you know how to cook?”

Mo Yichu: “…Yes.”

She knew he did. The novel mentioned that the male protagonist was a good cook, and the female protagonist loved his cooking.

Li Yu: “If it’s not too much trouble, please make a little extra. I’m temporarily breaking my fast.”

Mo Yichu: “Yes!”

Excellent, free takeout! My stomach is saved!

The thought of not having to worry about food for a while made everything seem better.

“Then I’ll be going. Mo…Little Yichu, go and decoct the medicine.”

She said this with a beaming smile and strode towards the courtyard gate.

After taking a few steps, she happened to see her character compatibility drop again, causing her to pause.

What’s going on?

What happened?

She didn’t call him nephew, so why did it drop?

As she puzzled over this, Mo Yichu’s voice came from behind her.

“Exalted Immortal Li Yu, this disciple’s…surname is Mo Yichu.”

It was hard to tell whether his tone held more exasperation or helplessness.

“…I know,” Li Yu said, walking out of the courtyard without looking back.

Ahhh, so embarrassing!

She knew, she knew my ass!

She had read the entire novel and completely missed that it was a two-syllable surname!

If the author liked two-syllable surnames, why not use Nangong, Shangguan, Murong, or Ouyang? Why choose one she had never heard of? Did it make it sound fancier?

Was there a pill that could erase this awkwardness…

She didn’t want to face the sun tomorrow morning.

Mortified, Li Yu walked “home,” the system thoughtfully maintaining the path guidance, fearing she hadn’t memorized the way.

Back in her room, she sprawled on the bed like a puddle of mud, briefly questioning her life choices.

Soon, she regained her composure.

It’s fine, it doesn’t matter.

The male protagonist was just a junior. So what if she got his name wrong?

In the end, it was a small matter, insignificant compared to facilitating the relationship between the male and female protagonists.

She felt quite accomplished today.

Despite the constraints of that unpredictable character compatibility, she had first managed to deceive Si Qinglan, then changed the little protagonist’s impression of her, and finally created an opportunity for the male and female protagonists to be alone.

Li Yu felt like a genius, deserving of a handshake from a renowned actress.

【Host…】

“Hmm?”

【There’s a small matter, I’m not sure if I should mention it.】

“Spit it out…”

After all the day’s turmoil, it was almost dark outside. It was time to rest.

【The thing is, long before the host arrived, the system conducted a multi-faceted quality assessment of the original male protagonist. The results indicate—ineligible.】

Huh? What do you mean?

【It means that the male and female protagonists have poor compatibility in various aspects. Forcing them together is highly likely to lead to a bad ending. It is recommended that the host find another suitable match for the female protagonist.】

Oh, I see…

So that’s why the original story went wrong. This male lead is no good…

【Precisely!】

Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?! I just set them up!

【Because the host requested that, unless it was life-threatening, the system should not interrupt you during conversations.】

Li Yu: “…”

So logical, completely irrefutable.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but she still couldn’t escape the fate of revising her plans.

Talk about unpredictable.

She thought she was here to ship the couple; turns out she was here to break them up!

 

Chapter 5: She Felt She Needed Company More Than the Little Protagonist

Li Yu was one hundred percent certain that this body the original owner left her did get hungry!

If the original owner didn’t eat earthly food, she must have consumed some kind of immortal elixir or regularly absorbed spiritual energy from the heavens.

In short, she couldn’t have just gone without sustenance.

Reflecting on her past life, from school to work, the questions Li Yu pondered most were—what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Undoubtedly, she could endure hardships, but not hunger.

Carbs were her lifelong addiction.

Forget that she had absolutely no clue how the original owner practiced inedia [T/N: abstaining from food]. Even if she knew, she would never give up eating!

So, she stammered for a moment before finally managing to utter four words:

“I’ll stay with you.”

Though her reasoning was weak, her tone was firm.

“Master…stay with me…”

Mu Tao almost thought she was hallucinating. She repeated her master’s words in disbelief, trying to confirm their reality.

“With you!”

For a moment, Li Yu’s eyes were as resolute as someone pledging allegiance to a cause.

She picked up her chopsticks and placed a large helping of food into Mu Tao’s bowl, adding, “Eat.”

The action, the tone, as natural as a mother.

Under Mu Tao’s astonished gaze, her character compatibility dropped slightly.

But she didn’t care. As long as it wasn’t a continuous drop, whatever.

Even if she were going to die, she’d eat first.

Thus, the fake master and disciple finished their mediocre meal in a somewhat strange atmosphere.

The little protagonist was very considerate of her master, barely touching the dishes at first, appearing picky. But after Li Yu put down her chopsticks, she silently finished everything left on the plates.

Li Yu’s heart softened as she watched.

This wasn’t pickiness. She clearly wanted to eat, but she was afraid of eating too much and leaving her master without enough, so she waited patiently until the end.

Mu Tao put down her chopsticks and carefully glanced at her master.

Her gaze met those deep blue eyes, as vast and tranquil as the sea, yet no longer as cold and distant as before.

It feels like a dream.

A smile finally appeared on her frostbitten face, her almond-shaped eyes filled with fresh tears and joy.

“I’ll wash the dishes!” she said, sniffing, and began clearing the table.

Li Yu instinctively wanted to offer to do it, but the thought of her precarious character compatibility stopped her.

After a moment of consideration, she silently closed her supposedly noble mouth and watched as her injured, yet eager disciple carried the food box, her tail swaying, her steps unsteady, out of the room.

The moment Mu Tao gently closed the door, Li Yu couldn’t help but sigh.

She had to admit, she felt a twinge of guilt.

But then she thought—

The protagonist has a demonic constitution. Not dead means alive, able to move means healthy.

She cooked the meal. It’s reasonable for the person who didn’t cook to wash the dishes.

It would be suspicious for her, with her status, to wash dishes. A disciple serving their master is perfectly normal.

Okay, no more guilt!

Sitting so straight is tiring.

Li Yu slumped onto the table, lost in thought.

This little girl, barely able to walk steadily, still insisted on washing the dishes. Her life must have been very difficult.

The protagonist in the novel endured all kinds of hardships in the first half of her life, and in the end, she had to resort to darkness to reclaim what was rightfully hers.

Why did she find that satisfying when she read the novel?

The original owner was foolish. She managed to turn such a well-behaved and understanding disciple evil. She clearly didn’t understand the root of the problem.

Did the protagonist destroy the world because she had a Demon Bone?

—NO!

She destroyed the world because she felt her life was miserable!

If she had a good life and was well-fed, would she bother destroying the world?

Although the system’s mission seemed abstract, Li Yu felt she understood everything and had found the right direction.

There were only two things she had to do.

Prevent the protagonist from turning evil, and ensure the protagonist experienced true looovveee!

To achieve these goals, she first needed to understand the original owner’s relationships and use this identity to gain a foothold.

The original text didn’t offer much description of “her” character. The information she could recall seemed to match the string of titles provided by the system.

Aside from those generic labels, there were only three things she remembered.

First, her “colleague,” Qingxuan Revered One, Si Qinglan, didn’t like her.

Second, her other “colleague,” the male protagonist’s master, Lingyao Revered One, Weisheng Xuanzhu, had a well-known, unrequited love for her and had resided on Mount Chao Yao for three thousand years solely because of her.

Third, apart from her two “colleagues” and her disciple, she had almost no interactions with anyone, a pure-blooded, introverted immortal.

Li Yu couldn’t remember anything else.

It was her fault for skimming through the early and mid-sections of the novel. By the time she got invested, the character she was now inhabiting was already dead.

To learn more, she would have to find a way to extract information from the people she knew.

The little protagonist rarely saw her master and held a low position on Mount Chao Yao, so she probably wouldn’t be of much help.

Weisheng Xuanzhu was in love with the original owner and must have known her very well. The risk of her being exposed in front of him was immeasurable—unless absolutely necessary, it was best to avoid him!

That left only Si Qinglan.

This colleague, how to put it…

Carefree, straightforward, not very bright or scheming.

Although she didn’t like the original owner, dislike also meant unfamiliarity, and unfamiliarity meant a lower risk of exposure—she seemed like a good starting point for understanding this world.

Besides, just because Si Qinglan disliked the original owner didn’t mean she would dislike her.

If she could win over this powerful healer, her chances of survival would greatly increase!

Thinking of this, Li Yu couldn’t help but ask, “System, do we have something like a character favorability rating?”

【I apologize, emotions are complex. The system cannot accurately measure them.】

“But other novels have it.”

【This system is unable to provide that!】

“…” So straightforward?

Li Yu gritted her teeth, about to retort sarcastically, but was startled by approaching footsteps. She immediately sat up straight, snapping back into character.

The door opened.

A gust of wind and snow entered the room before the door closed again.

“Master, the dishes are washed.”

Mu Tao was covered in snow, her face pale, her thin body trembling uncontrollably. Yet, she just stood quietly by the door, not taking another step inside.

Her large, innocent, puppy-like eyes looked at Li Yu expectantly, clearly awaiting permission.

“Come in.”

“Yes, Master!”

Mu Tao quickly walked to Li Yu’s side and stood still, like a loyal shadow.

Exasperated, Li Yu pointed to a nearby seat.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, Master!”

Mu Tao obediently sat beside Li Yu.

She lowered her head, clearly unsure of what to do.

The wind and snow were harsh outside, and she was already seriously injured. Her clasped hands, along with her arms and body, trembled slightly.

Li Yu couldn’t help but ask the system, “Can I warm her up?”

【Request received. Assistance for [Basic Cold Dispelling Spell] is ready!】

【Host, please raise your hand.】

Li Yu skeptically raised her left hand towards Mu Tao.

A gentle blue light flowed from her palm, instantly brushing away the snow and dispelling the cold from the girl’s body.

She saw the surprise and confusion in Mu Tao’s eyes as she looked up, and also the fluctuating character compatibility.

When the light faded, Li Yu discreetly withdrew her hand.

After a long silence, the fluctuating compatibility finally settled at 81%.

“For so many years, I’ve only thought about paving your path, but I’ve neglected your feelings.” Li Yu paused, confirming the number hadn’t changed, and continued, “You are so badly injured, it’s all my fault. I’ve wronged you.”

“No, Master! It’s this disciple’s…” Mu Tao tried to explain, but her thoughts were interrupted by the warm touch of fingers on her ear.

She instinctively flinched and didn’t dare speak.

“From now on, I will try my best to make it up to you, to be with you, protect you, and care for you.” Li Yu thought for a moment, deciding to add the most important part, “From today onwards, I will eat every meal with you.”

“Master, really?”

“Of course.”

Of course, this is important.

Eating alone is not as enjoyable as eating together.

Besides, in this desolate place, she felt she needed the company more than the little protagonist.

This was a win-win situation.

“I’m not dreaming?”

“No.”

Although she truly wished it were a dream. A dream where she could wake up, go to the office, submit her proposal, pass, or revise it if needed.

At least then she would still be in a normal world without demons and monsters, where her life wasn’t tied to a percentage.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a dream.

The little protagonist, unable to contain herself, was moved to tears again by her insincere, yet heartwarming words.

【Protagonist Blackening Value -5%!】

【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 20%!】

Just having a meal buddy makes her so happy. Not only did her blackening value decrease, but her tail also started swaying unconsciously.

She really is wagging her tail and whimpering!

Li Yu had never liked children crying in front of her, or older people for that matter. She always found it noisy and annoying.

But Mu Tao was different.

Her crying was so restrained, so quiet, as if she wanted to hide all her pain if no one was watching.

Her helpless yet stubborn appearance wasn’t annoying at all. It only made Li Yu want to hug her.

And she has a fluffy tail!

That big, red tail looks so soft and fluffy. I can’t imagine how comfortable it would be to touch!

…

Stop it, Li Yu, you’re not a furry!

Even if you were, you can’t think about that!

As a master, patting your disciple’s head is acceptable, but touching their tail is a bit perverted!

Chapter 4: 【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 25%!】

【Keep going, Host! You can do it!】

Keep going my foot!

All you can do is cheer, without giving any helpful hints!

Li Yu gritted her teeth, quickly regaining her composure.

After a brief moment of thought, just as the percentage dipped to 77%, she had an epiphany.

The original text only described the male protagonist caring for the female protagonist. This doomed master had no role whatsoever in this scene.

Given the original owner’s personality, she might have left before her disciple even woke up, let alone stay to care for her.

It’s all about staying in character.

Fine, I’ll leave, is that what you want?!

Suppressing her frustration, Li Yu discreetly withdrew her hand, re-adjusted Mu Tao’s blanket, and silently got up, leaving without looking back at the pleading gaze.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, painting the world in white.

Li Yu wandered aimlessly through the snow. The cold wind, though unable to penetrate her body, made her head buzz.

She felt like someone who had just clocked in, hadn’t even sat at their desk for an hour, and was then told they could leave early.

It was fantastic news, but the thought of going “home” to a place with no electricity, internet, or phone left her at a loss.

The good news was that her character compatibility steadily climbed back to 85% as she walked away.

So, this damn number is just trying to drive me away!

“Do you systems even have a conscience? You want me to survive, but you won’t let me improve my relationship with the protagonist.”

Seriously!

Some things became more infuriating the more she thought about them.

So infuriating that her footprints in the snow became noticeably aggressive.

【The host misunderstands! The value changes solely based on the in-text characters’ perception of the host. The system would never manipulate the value to force the host to comply with the main storyline!】

“Is that so?”

【Yes! That’s exactly it!】

Li Yu stopped, looking back at the snow-covered courtyard.

In the original text, Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal, always maintained a certain distance from her kind-hearted, Demon Bone-bearing disciple.

It wasn’t that she didn’t care for the child, but a constant worry lingered in her heart—if one day this child truly opposed the world, she would have to personally eliminate her.

She didn’t dare care too much, nor get too close, fearing the day she would have to take action.

But how can you raise a disciple like that?

Look how much the little protagonist is suffering, crying and begging her master not to leave, then becoming suspicious when her master doesn’t. How insecure must she be!

She just left without a word. The girl must be feeling terrible.

How can she make it up to her…?

Li Yu bit her lip, lost in thought.

As she pondered, her stomach growled.

Right, someone who has knelt for three days and three nights must be starving.

Wouldn’t bringing her a meal move her to tears?

And she herself was hungry. This was a win-win situation, killing two birds with one stone!

Li Yu’s spirits lifted.

Having lived alone for so long, she could still cook!

“System, where’s the kitchen?”

As she spoke, the guiding line reappeared in the snow.

Li Yu followed the directions, her steps as light as if she were on a paid vacation, ready to show off her skills in a field she was finally familiar with.

However, the moment she found the kitchen, she was stunned—Damn it, I only know how to use an induction cooker.

How do I light this stove?

…

Years later, perhaps Li Yu would recall the first time she lit a stove in her life—it wasn’t a failure, but it wasn’t exactly a success either.

With the system’s assistance, she managed to light the firewood in the kitchen using basic spells.

There weren’t many ingredients available, so she chose familiar ones and made three simple dishes, along with two portions of lean pork porridge.

Though the process was somewhat tortuous, it was quite an achievement for someone who had never worn such inconvenient clothes, had such inconveniently long hair, and was always cautious about lighting birthday candles for fear of fire.

Ancient people had it rough.

Who was the kid who, when their parents weren’t home, draped bedsheets over themselves, fantasizing about being an ancient person?

—Oh, it was her. Never mind.

Li Yu reminisced about the convenience of modern technology while packing the food into a wooden food box.

She had never used a stove like this before and had no idea how to control the heat while cooking.

So, the taste of the dishes, compared to her usual cooking, was… probably a bit of a disaster.

She swore she had tried her best and really didn’t want to put herself through this again anytime soon.

As long as it’s cooked, it’s fine. A little burnt is okay.

She had tried it herself, it was edible, not exactly a culinary abomination. The little protagonist had been starving for three days; surely anything would taste delicious…right?

With this thought, Li Yu carefully held the square food box and followed the system’s guidance back to the small courtyard.

At the entrance, she paused, closed her eyes, and took three deep breaths.

She knew, she knew it in her bones, that the moment she pushed open that door, that damned character compatibility would start dropping again.

But fortune favors the bold!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

You can’t catch a wolf without risking your child! [T/N: A Chinese proverb about taking risks for greater rewards.]

Don’t be afraid, it’ll be fine!

Be brave, just do it!

It’s just a little wolf’s den, not some dragon’s lair!

She refused to believe that she would lose her life just by kindly delivering a meal.

Li Yu opened her eyes, exhaled heavily, and strode towards the closed door like a condemned prisoner—though looking like she was going to her death, each step carried the momentum of a prison break!

Of course, this momentum only lasted until she placed her hand on the door.

Li Yu pushed the door gently, but even the slightest push made a sound.

The small figure curled up under the blankets flinched at the noise.

The next second, she met Li Yu’s gaze as she peeked out from the covers.

Red-rimmed eyes, tear-filled, conveying utter disbelief.

“Master…”

【Warning! Warning!】

Li Yu: Hold on, don’t call me yet, I know what’s happening.

Isn’t it just the character compatibility dropping again?

Practice makes perfect. This was the third time today. If it didn’t drop every time she did something or said something, she’d feel out of place.

Ignoring Mu Tao’s surprised look, Li Yu walked to the table with the food box, took out the dishes, and sat down in a spot facing slightly away from the bed.

She remained silent, looking down at the steaming food, recalling all the things in her life that had made her feel guilty or regretful.

She imagined her face must be carrying a natural air of melancholy.

Her character compatibility, which had been steadily dropping to 80%, suddenly started fluctuating between 80% and 81%.

Good, just like that. This was the perfect time to speak.

“Are you resentful that I punished you?”

Mu Tao immediately got out of bed and knelt on the floor. “This disciple wouldn’t dare to be resentful…”

Li Yu turned slightly, summoning every ounce of her deeply buried aloofness, and cast an unreadable gaze upon Mu Tao.

The little protagonist looked no older than sixteen or seventeen.

Pale face, purple lips, and a thin frame, as if a gust of wind could knock her over.

If she hadn’t read the novel, Li Yu would find it hard to believe this was the future demon lord who would stab her.

Whether this girl would become a demon lord or not was yet to be seen, but her current defiance was quite apparent.

If she had answered “not resentful,” it would have been fine, but the word “dare not” was a bit nuanced.

Since things have come to this, I’ll try to soothe her first.

Thinking this, Li Yu deliberately let out a soft sigh.

The little disciple’s ears twitched, and her head drooped.

Li Yu: “You dare not be resentful, but I can’t help but resent myself.”

Mu Tao: “…!”

Li Yu: “Do you know why you were punished?”

Mu Tao: “This disciple is incompetent. I shouldn’t have signed up for the Cloud Platform Trial. I brought shame to Master…”

“I hear the whispers outside Chaoxi Pond. I know the doubts in your heart.” Li Yu sighed, weaving her elaborate lie. “I brought you back to Chaoxi Pond because your constitution is different from others. You cannot walk the path of ordinary beings.”

Mu Tao’s expression became pained. “Master, I…”

“I haven’t finished.” Li Yu interrupted. “Just because you cannot walk the path of ordinary beings doesn’t mean you cannot walk my path. But to walk my path, you need a heart tougher than ordinary people and a body untainted by the world, only then can you inherit my true teachings.”

Hmm, that sounds a bit strange, like some weird virgin cultivation technique.

Better explain that quickly.

“What I mean is, those ordinary immortal techniques are not suitable for you. They will only disrupt your foundation. I have techniques that are suitable for you, but the time hasn’t been right to teach them.” Li Yu cleared her throat slightly. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Mu Tao kept her head down. Li Yu couldn’t see her expression and didn’t know how much of this nonsense she believed.

Li Yu glanced at her character compatibility. 82% seemed stable, giving her the courage to continue her fabricated story.

“I didn’t intend to punish you so severely, but that day, I forcefully broke through my cultivation, damaging my spiritual power and unsettling my mind, which is why I lost control.” Li Yu’s voice was filled with remorse. “Seeing you unconscious today, I deeply regret it…”

Li Yu stood up, walked over to Mu Tao, and pulled her up by the arm.

The little girl was kneeling so rigidly, as if terrified of getting scolded if she stood up. Li Yu had to half-pull, half-drag her twice before managing to get her up and support her to the table.

During those few short steps, Mu Tao was incredibly timid, her metaphorical tail tucked tightly between her legs.

But no matter how timid she was, she still needed to eat.

Li Yu calmly pushed Mu Tao into the seat and placed chopsticks in her hand. “You must be starving. Eat something first.”

Mu Tao clutched the chopsticks tightly, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Did…Master make this…?” she asked softly, as if seeking confirmation.

Li Yu smiled and stroked her ear. “Eat before it gets cold.”

Mu Tao sniffed, picked up her bowl, and started eating silently, her head lowered.

The girl ate quickly, clearly famished.

As she ate, she couldn’t stop sniffing.

Tears welled up in her eyes and fell into her bowl like broken beads, which she silently swallowed along with her food.

Li Yu watched, a sigh escaping her lips.

To cry like this while eating, how much grievance must she be holding inside?

【Ding——】

【Protagonist Blackening Value -5%!】

Huh? What just dinged?

【Current Protagonist Blackening Value: 25%!】

Holy crap, there’s such a stat?!

The plot has barely started, and she already has a blackening value?

【Yes, the higher the protagonist’s blackening value, the more dangerous the host’s situation!】

You…

Oh, wait!

This was just stat monitoring, like a favorability rating. It was definitely a good thing to have such a clear visualization!

Li Yu felt a little relieved.

She glanced at the three dishes on the table, the hunger previously suppressed by her nerves now returning with a vengeance.

Might as well eat!

Li Yu walked lightly to a nearby seat.

Just as she picked up her chopsticks, she felt a gaze from the little protagonist beside her, a mixture of surprise and confusion.

【Warning! Warning!】

Mu Tao: “Master has long since ceased needing earthly food. Why are you…”

Wait, you, I…

Then, she…

Ugh…

This is incredible!

The original owner even had that setting.

 

 

Chapter 3: Lost All Strength and Means

【Novice Mission (1): Now that your internal injuries have been stabilized, it’s time to check on your disciple.】

“Does this mean I should end her punishment?” Li Yu looked out the window at the unfamiliar world blanketed in snow, a sense of resistance rising within her. “But I don’t know the way.”

—With all this snow, do I really have to go out?

As Li Yu hesitated, the yellow exclamation mark dissolved into tiny particles of light, eagerly hopping off the bed and flowing towards the door, forming a faint, guiding line within seconds.

The answer was obvious. The system had already planned the route for her.

Li Yu sighed, put on her shoes, and followed.

Stepping out the door, the expected cold didn’t arrive.

It seems this body is more capable than I thought. Although that massive skill tree is locked, the basic constitution of being impervious to heat and cold, and not getting tired from walking, is still there.

The snow was thick on the mountain. Li Yu followed the system’s guidance. Her footprints appeared behind her, only to be erased by the wind and snow moments later.

“How much longer do I have to walk?”

【Almost there!】

Li Yu always maintained a healthy skepticism towards the phrase “almost there.”

But this system seemed honest. It really was almost there.

Just a few minutes after she asked, the much more energetic guiding line bounced around a corner and into a courtyard.

Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal in the novel, had a very laissez-faire approach to raising her disciple. They rarely saw each other, leading Li Yu to believe they lived quite far apart.

Now, it seemed they lived much closer than her daily commute to work, only about a twenty-minute walk. Yet they managed to barely see each other all year!

If I knew someone who lived that close in real life, we’d definitely be meal buddies, eating together every few days.

This master is a failure. No wonder the disciple stabs her later.

Lost in thought, Li Yu unconsciously stepped into the quiet courtyard.

The next second, the bouncing guiding line transformed into specks of light and vanished before she could react.

She looked towards where the guidance had disappeared and saw a figure dressed entirely in white kneeling in the snow.

The heavy snow almost completely covered her.

If it weren’t for the slightly thin figure still trembling beneath the snow, she would have thought someone had built a snowman!

Li Yu gasped.

Si Qinglan said “she” had punished her too severely. Could it be because the original owner made this girl kneel in the snow for three days and three nights?!

What kind of good master punishes their injured disciple by making them kneel in the snow?

Li Yu instinctively wanted to help her up, but after taking two steps forward, she worried about the impact on her character compatibility.

After a brief hesitation, she lowered her voice and said as sternly as possible, “If you know you were wrong, then go back inside.”

As she spoke, she glanced at her character compatibility.

Neither increasing nor decreasing, reassuring.

But why wasn’t the little snowman moving?

Could it be that she was still defiant?

Hmm…

Actually, it makes sense for her to be defiant.

She doesn’t know the danger hidden within her.

From her perspective, she was the one maliciously injured during the Cloud Platform Trial, and she was the one punished in the end. Anyone would be resentful.

This was awkward. How could she rephrase her words to get the protagonist back inside without contradicting herself?

In a few seconds, Li Yu considered more than ten possibilities.

Finally, she took a deep breath, walked over, and imitating the stern yet secretly soft-hearted parents in period dramas, patted the little snowman’s back.

Li Yu: “It’s windy out here. If you must kneel, kneel inside.”

This pat proved effective, but the result was very different from what she had imagined.

The little snowman fell over…

She simply, directly, rigidly, and without any warning, collapsed face-first into the thick snow from that gentle pat!

Li Yu’s mouth hung open, her hand still hovering in midair.

—She was stunned.

After a brief moment, she crouched down and frantically flipped the person in the snow onto their back.

The young girl’s lips were purple, her flushed face covered in frost. Her already thin body was now numb from the cold. Holding her felt like holding an ice sculpture.

Original owner, original owner, you deserved to be stabbed!

Killing you wasn’t about hardening her heart. If I were the protagonist, I’d be overjoyed to kill you!

This little protagonist is going to become a world-destroying demon lord in the future.

If I don’t save her now, things won’t be easy later!

【Novice Mission (2): The wind and snow are too strong in the courtyard. Quickly carry your disciple inside.】

Li Yu instinctively assessed the size difference between herself and the girl in her arms.

Doesn’t seem that much different.

Carry her inside quickly?

—Me?

…

Have you ever taken care of a completely drunk colleague?

Getting them home and into bed is definitely several times harder than carrying a sober person—actually, a frozen person isn’t that different.

Li Yu was incredibly grateful that Chaoxi Pond was a secluded place.

As long as it was secluded enough, no one would witness the scene of Li Yu, the Exalted Immortal, who should be as aloof and ethereal as the moon in the high heavens, gritting her teeth, using all fours, practically straining every muscle to drag her frozen, corpse-like disciple back to bed, then collapsing onto the floor, gasping for air.

She thought she had been wrong.

Her outlook on life was too optimistic.

She was just a lowly office worker, weak, unskilled, lazy, ignorant of practical matters, whose only real talent was slacking off at work!

A mere novice mission had drained her of all strength and means, leaving her sprawled on the floor like a dog, panting—how was she supposed to stop the protagonist from destroying the world?

Was she supposed to rely on the maternal love of a 27-year-old peony, a love that might never awaken?!

“Seriously, is this really my job?”

“Fine, the powerful moves are locked, but not even giving me any basic skills, isn’t that too much?”

“Are you just going to exploit me like this? Do you think I’m some kind of pushover?”

However, these heartfelt questions received no direct answer from the system.

All she got was a new mission step.

【Novice Mission (3): Your disciple is already seriously injured, and now her heart meridian has been attacked by the cold. She likely needs some spiritual medicine. Send a message butterfly to Qingke Hua to request some.】

“What? What flower?”

【Qingke Hua, located north of Chao Yao, is the residence of Lingyao Revered One, Weisheng Xuanzhu!】

So, the flower is actually a place.

Since this mission involved Weisheng Xuanzhu, it also involved his disciple, the male protagonist of the novel.

Great, first punish, then beg for medicine. After all this roundabout nonsense, isn’t this just a way to get the “protagonist is so pitiful” message to the male protagonist, triggering the subsequent “daily care” plot?

Plot demands.

Got it, I get it!

Li Yu: “So, what should I do?”

【Host, please raise your hand.】

Huh? Just raise my hand?

Confused, Li Yu raised both hands piously, like receiving a red envelope.

After a brief moment of bewilderment, she saw a glimmer of spiritual light in her right hand, which suddenly drew an incomprehensible rune in the air.

The next second, a pure white butterfly appeared within the mysterious rune. It lingered on her fingertip for a moment before fluttering away into the swirling snow.

“I didn’t even say anything…”

【It’s all written in the rune.】

“So that’s how it is!”

Li Yu lowered her hands and pondered for a moment, a nagging feeling growing within her.

The system can clearly assist me with spells, but it didn’t lift a finger when I was struggling to carry her…

—Excuse me, is this really fair?

【Congratulations to the host for completing the novice mission and allowing the main storyline to proceed smoothly!】

【The system has unlocked partial assistance for basic spell usage. To avoid suspicion, the host should only attempt to use them when no one is around.】

Fine, I got the reward, so what more can I say?

The person still needs saving. There’s no point in nitpicking over details.

Thinking this, Li Yu turned to look at Mu Tao, who was still unconscious.

The young girl had curled up into a ball at some point, clutching a corner of the blanket. Her frostbitten hands seemed to have nowhere to go, wrinkling the blanket in her grip.

Her brows were furrowed, her eyes slightly wet. Her small, red ears twitched occasionally, as if she were trapped in a bad dream.

Li Yu sighed again.

This little protagonist is stubborn. The person who punished her to kneel didn’t show up once in three days, and she didn’t even think to go inside.

She almost froze to death in the snow.

Fortunately, the room had a protective barrier against the cold, and her physique was stronger than ordinary people. Now, with the snow brushed off and tucked under a thick blanket, a hint of color was returning to her face.

In the novel, the protagonist’s cultivation was low in the early stages. She couldn’t even fully maintain her human form, a fact that both Chao Yao disciples and mountain spirits loved to mock her for.

Those pointy little ears are quite cute, though.

Fluffy, I kind of want to touch them.

Li Yu stared at the ears for a moment.

She shifted her position, moving closer to the head of the bed.

After a brief hesitation, she extended a finger and touched the ear closest to her.

Soft, slightly cold.

So nice, just as comfortable as I imagined.

It would be even better if the owner of these ears hadn’t opened her eyes…

The moment their eyes met, Li Yu felt the intense awkwardness of a cold CEO caught red-handed playing with an employee’s daughter’s plush toy.

Although she wasn’t cold, nor a CEO, and this wasn’t even remotely the same situation, given the original owner’s special status, the feeling of not knowing what to do was quite similar.

Just as she was hesitating whether to withdraw her hand, the small head nuzzled into her palm.

“Master, I was wrong,” Mu Tao said, her voice soft and weak, like a whimpering puppy, tears welling up in her eyes. “Don’t leave… I’ll be obedient… Don’t abandon me…”

Li Yu: “I…”

【Warning! Warning!】

【The host’s character compatibility is decreasing!】

Seriously?! I haven’t even said anything!

Li Yu glanced at her compatibility, which had suddenly dropped to 82%, and immediately engaged in some intense self-reflection.

The problem might be with how I addressed myself.

“This Master…”

—81%

Seems wrong.

“This Revered One?”

—80%

Huh? That doesn’t work either?!

“…”

—79%

This is ridiculous! It drops even when I don’t speak!

How can someone beg me not to leave while simultaneously doubting I’m me?!

System! Tell me!

Do I even deserve to live in this world?!

Chapter 2: I’ve Got the Strength and the Means!

Before Li Yu could breathe a sigh of relief, a surge of spiritual energy flowed into her body.

Like a warm current in winter, or a cool breeze in summer.

Though difficult to describe precisely, it eased the dull ache in her chest.

In the novel, Si Qinglan possessed remarkable healing abilities. Even if someone were burned to a crisp, as long as their soul remained, she could bring them back. She was the undisputed best healer in the entire story.

She couldn’t keep up the act in front of such a person. Some things needed to be clarified immediately!

—System, System, are you still there?

【Yes! The system will provide the host with exclusive, one-on-one service anytime, anywhere!】

Well, aren’t you helpful…

So, what’s the situation now? Can I get a recap?

【Request received. Retrieving recap for the host.】

A moment later, a few lines of recap appeared clearly in her mind.

Li Yu quickly scanned through them, getting a general understanding of the current situation.

Three days ago, the little protagonist had just experienced her first major plot point – the Centennial Cloud Platform Trial of Mount Chao Yao.

In the early stages of the novel, only two people knew about the protagonist’s Demon Bone.

One was Si Qinglan, who had taken her to Mount Chao Yao out of kindness. The other was Li Yu, who had accepted her as her only direct disciple.

In secret, these two revered ones had worried constantly about the Demon Bone within her, reinforcing the seal that suppressed the demonic energy time and time again, all for the sake of the child’s peaceful life.

However, this seal, while suppressing the demonic energy, also hindered the flow of spiritual energy within the protagonist’s meridians, making it difficult for her spiritual roots to be nourished.

Mount Chao Yao, blessed by immortals and gods, was as rich in spiritual energy as the heavens.

Even a random mortal brought here would gain enough power to achieve minor feats after ten years.

The little protagonist had lived here for over two hundred years, yet she struggled with even the most basic spells, inevitably becoming a target of ridicule and ostracization.

That’s why the first chapter of Demon Bone opened with a mocking poem about the protagonist.

Li Yu still remembered it.

Mount Chao Yao, gathers spiritual qi,
Exalted Immortal Li Yu takes a disciple, you see.
A little waste, can’t be helped,
Wagging her tail, whimpering and yelped.

The poor “little waste” didn’t know about her Demon Bone or the seal within her. She always believed she was genuinely inept at cultivation, living in a state of self-deprecating insecurity since she could remember.

She knew that her master was the head of the Three Revered Ones of Chao Yao, the only Exalted Immortal on the mountain, always aloof and detached, never bothering with worldly affairs.

Her grievances couldn’t reach her master’s eyes.

There were so many beings on Chao Yao, but so little kindness.

For over two hundred years, only the senior brother who had stumbled upon her sobbing in the dead of night would tell her, “There’s no need to rush.”

He said that spiritual roots were like flowers, each with its own blooming season.

Others simply bloomed earlier than her; they wouldn’t necessarily be as brilliant or long-lasting.

Look at the moon, he’d said. Though not as bright or hot as the sun, it has existed for thousands, tens of thousands of years, eternally unchanging. Whether it’s cold or warm, full or waning, depends only on your mood and the season.

You are not human, your lifespan is long, you can take your time.

The senior brother was a direct disciple of Revered Lingyao, a renowned prodigy of the immortal sect, yet he was the only one willing to approach her, encourage her, and tell her that everything could be taken slowly.

After much contemplation, the little protagonist finally decided to participate in the latest Cloud Platform Trial.

The Cloud Platform Trial was the only way for outside cultivators and mountain spirits to join Mount Chao Yao. It was also an opportunity for outer disciples to ascend to the inner sect and for inner disciples to be chosen as direct disciples by the Three Revered Ones.

The little protagonist was already a disciple of Cangming Revered One and didn’t need such an opportunity.

But for her, it wasn’t an opportunity, but the first step towards self-acceptance.

A fire had been lit in her heart.

She clutched at the flame in the long night, refusing to let go even as it burned her palm.

She told herself that it didn’t matter how others mocked her, even if they broke her bones, she had to try.

And not just this time, but every hundred years, she would see how far she could go with all her effort.

This was a positive thought, the vision was grand, but reality was harsh.

Becoming the only disciple of Cangming Revered One was an opportunity many longed for their entire lives. For such an opportunity to fall into the lap of a little waste, a little waste who wasn’t even striving, naturally rubbed some people the wrong way.

So, someone deliberately used excessive force during a sparring match with her.

—Not fatal, but it damaged her heart meridian.

Thus, the renowned little waste of Chao Yao was severely injured on the Cloud Platform, the Demon Bone within her was stimulated, and the demonic energy almost broke free. If Li Yu hadn’t arrived in time, her demonic nature would have been exposed.

However, when the Cloud Platform Trial began, Li Yu was in secluded cultivation in the forbidden grounds.

Sensing the anomaly in the seal, she broke through her cultivation prematurely, causing her cultivation level to regress and inflicting significant internal injuries.

So, the reason “she” had called Si Qinglan here was most likely to discuss the matter of the protagonist’s Demon Bone.

But the original owner hadn’t left behind a single memory. Li Yu had no idea how to “discuss” the Demon Bone issue without arousing suspicion.

Perhaps she should feign ignorance and muddle through this encounter until she had a clearer picture.

With this in mind, Li Yu steeled herself, furrowed her brows, and coughed softly. Si Qinglan’s anxious voice immediately reached her ears.

“Are you alright?” she asked, immediately helping the person in her arms sit up.

“I… I’m fine…” Li Yu replied weakly, adding politely, “Qingxuan Revered One, you needn’t expend your spiritual energy on me.”

If she remembered correctly, Si Qinglan had never liked Li Yu. If it weren’t for the secret they shared, they probably wouldn’t interact at all.

Despite Si Qinglan’s casual use of “you,” as if they were close, it was actually just her habitual informality and a lack of respect.

As for Li Yu, she always addressed Si Qinglan formally, maintaining a cool distance.

It proved to be the correct approach.

With just a single sentence, her character compatibility started to increase.

“I’ve already used it, what’s the point of saying that now?” Si Qinglan withdrew her supporting hand, turned, and crossed her arms. After a moment of annoyance, she couldn’t help but turn back. “I see no other abnormalities in your body besides the disordered spiritual energy, why did you suddenly faint?”

“I don’t know…” Li Yu felt her brain working at light speed. “Perhaps it was the failed closed-door cultivation, and the backlash from repairing the seal. I’ve been feeling dizzy lately, unable to distinguish reality from illusion… Perhaps summoning you was just sleep-talking. I don’t remember the reason.”

She pondered her explanation, finding it reasonably plausible, and breathed a sigh of relief.

It had to be said, when survival instincts kicked in, the brain did work faster than usual. Even lying felt effortless.

“You suffered a backlash? Why didn’t you say so earlier…Let me see!” Si Qinglan said, her hands glowing as she moved forward to examine her.

Li Yu quickly waved her hands in refusal: “It’s fine, it’s nothing…”

She can’t look! The novel never mentioned anything about a backlash from the seal. This was just an excuse for her strange behavior. If anyone dared to look, she’d be exposed!

The situation was getting awkward. It seemed she needed to change the subject urgently.

Thinking this, Li Yu raised a hand to her forehead and coughed lightly. “It’s just my disciple…”

She sighed.

The pause, the tone, combined with the weary expression of someone completely worn down by life, conveyed a perfect sense of unspoken worry and concern—enough to make relatives want to set her up on a blind date and friends hesitate to lend her money.

Si Qinglan’s expression shifted subtly.

She opened her mouth slightly, then pursed her lips. When she spoke again, her words were noticeably more tactful.

“I know you were only angry with her for her own good, but she doesn’t know what’s inside her. The little girl just wants to prove herself.” Si Qinglan paused, then gently persuaded, “Since this incident ended without serious consequences, and she’s already badly injured, why punish her so severely?”

Li Yu was taken aback.

Was the protagonist punished in this part of the story?

She only remembered that after becoming a disciple, the protagonist had always lived with Cangming Revered One at Chaoxi Pond.

This Exalted Immortal disliked crowds and didn’t eat earthly food. For thousands of years, she had taken in only one disciple. The vast Chaoxi Pond didn’t even have a single servant disciple. It was so quiet that even a gentle breeze was audible.

Because of this, after being injured, the protagonist was left unattended. Hearing about this, the male protagonist went to care for her every day, and their relationship grew closer.

During this daily care, the male protagonist discovered that the protagonist hadn’t learned any cultivation techniques from Cangming Revered One, and he promised to personally teach her some simple spells after she recovered.

This laid the foundation for the protagonist’s later insistence on following the male protagonist to the mortal realm for training. The subsequent heartbreaking plot points that led to her blackening were all built upon this foundation.

So, the question was…

Li Yu: “Did I punish her severely?”

As soon as she spoke, she felt Si Qinglan’s utterly speechless gaze.

“No, of course not,” Si Qinglan said exasperatedly. “She’s your disciple. How you teach or punish her is none of my business.”

This tone…

Si Qinglan must have misunderstood.

Heaven and earth could bear witness, she absolutely didn’t mean to forbid anyone from commenting. She was simply curious about how “she” had punished the protagonist.

However, it had to be said, this statement seemed perfectly in line with the original character’s personality.

Although she had annoyed Si Qinglan, her character compatibility had risen back to 85%!

So, was there still a need to explain?

As Li Yu hesitated, Si Qinglan frowned, turned, and transformed into a streak of green light, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Whoa, so fast?!

As expected of an immortal, so amazing! Can I do that too?

The moment the thought arose, the system obligingly provided an instant reply.

A towering tree slowly materialized in her mind.

Its trunk was dark, its leaves a deep blue. Its vast root system was firmly planted in the boundless deep sea, surrounded by a moon-like, gentle spiritual light amidst the misty waters.

Li Yu couldn’t help but exclaim, “Is this my skill tree?”

【This is Li Yu’s spiritual root. It’s not entirely wrong for the host to understand it as a skill tree.】

“Then I’m too overpowered, starting as a max-level boss…”

Before Li Yu could finish, countless red prohibition symbols appeared on the tree.

She stared blankly for a moment, then curiously clicked on one of them.

—”Locked” popped up in large, flamboyant letters!

Her smile froze.

…You’ve got to be kidding me!

Such a huge skill tree, completely locked from top to bottom!

What does this mean? Am I not worthy?!

【Because the original owner’s cultivation was unfathomably deep, and the host has no cultivation experience, directly inheriting it would likely cause the host’s body to explode. For the host’s safety, the system has temporarily locked the original owner’s power.】

【But rest assured, host, the system will assist you in gradually adapting to this body and safely unlocking all abilities!】

“How will you assist me? Tell me more.”

【The system will gradually lift various restrictions, including the skill tree, based on the host’s “Mission Completion Rate”!】

As soon as the system finished speaking, a yellow exclamation mark appeared before Li Yu’s eyes, brightly reminding her—Time to accept the novice mission!

Li Yu: …

Things had come to this, she could only roll up her sleeves and get to work.

Bring it on! Whatever the mission, throw it at me!

I’m not a pathetic office worker anymore. I’ve got the strength and the means!

…Probably!