Chapter 2: Awaiting Destined Admiration and Betrayal
Mu Qiandan snorted, scoffing, “What’s there to be afraid of? Little brats this age are all stupid, easy to trick. Dazzle her with some immortal artifacts and she’ll be completely disoriented.”
The black hand sighed, “You underestimate the female protagonist. She’s not easily fooled.”
“Really?” Mu Qiandan’s expression remained indifferent. “That stupid face of hers isn’t very convincing.”
Silence hung in the air for a moment before the black hand hesitantly said, “Um… you don’t seem to like her very much. Is it because she bit you?”
Mu Qiandan retorted, “What else? Should I enshrine her? Thank her for tasting my blood?”
The black hand closed its eye, seemingly occupied. A rustling sound came from the other side, as if plastic wrap was being torn. Her voice was muffled, “You’re the female supporting character in this book. Your purpose is to motivate the protagonist, serve her, guide her onto the path of cultivation, act as her stepping stone, and help her grow. As the one who actively approaches and influences her, even if you don’t like her, you can’t show such obvious hostility.”
These words ignited Mu Qiandan’s fury. She hated two things most in life: being told her existence was meaningless or solely for the benefit of others, and being forced to do things she didn’t want to do. Right now, both were happening at once.
She curled her lip in a humorless smile. “Actively approach? Was it my choice to actively approach her?”
Hearing her hostile tone, the black hand knew things weren’t good. Just as it was about to backpedal, Mu Qiandan continued in a chilling voice, “You said earlier that I volunteered to come to this small world for the mission, and that I signed a consent form acknowledging the risks of transmigrating into a book, but I have no recollection of this. I don’t remember ever interacting with you.”
“You’re not here, just a voice telling me these things. I’m stuck here, unable to verify if it’s true or false. How do I know you’re not lying to me?”
The rustling on the other side stopped, followed by the sound of water, as if pouring hot water from a thermos. When the sound ceased, she spoke, her tone much more cautious, “I don’t know why you lost that memory, but I definitely didn’t lie to you…”
Mu Qiandan interrupted, “You’d better tell me the truth. If I go back after completing the mission and find out it’s not true, you and your transmigration agency can expect a lawsuit. Forcibly abducting someone against their will won’t end well.”
Black Hand: “…”
Mu Qiandan: “Respond.”
Black Hand: “…Understood.”
She fell silent for a moment, then the sound of slurping noodles filled the air. Mu Qiandan asked hesitantly, “What are you doing?”
Black Hand: “Eating instant noodles.”
Mu Qiandan rolled her eyes slightly, looked up at the sky, and stopped talking.
The eaves on both sides of the alley were like knives, slicing the blue sky into a long strip, with clouds flowing like a river.
Just a blue sky and white clouds, nothing special, an everyday sight that could be seen anywhere, identical to the sky of her previous twenty-seven years of life, yet no longer belonging to the same world.
Her past life—she supposed she could call the life she lived before coming here her past life—her last memory was of a snowy night.
Because of a painful incident she didn’t want to recall, she had fallen pathetically in an alley, covered in snow, her body stiff and unable to move. The alley was deserted, and she thought that would be the end of her life.
Before completely freezing, she suddenly heard the loud honk of a car.
Forcing her eyes open, she saw a blurry image of a luxury car breaking through the snowstorm, its headlights like the eyes of a tiger, the roar of its engine shattering the darkness, finally stopping beside her.
She remembered the screech of tires on the snow as the car braked sharply, leaving two long, black tracks. She also remembered the flashing headlights, the car door opening, and someone in expensive boots stepping out and approaching her.
She couldn’t see who it was; she was too weak and lost consciousness.
When she woke up again, her surroundings had completely changed.
She stood before a magnificent golden hall, with swirling immortal clouds and radiating light in the distance. In front of her was a cliff, and below, a boundless ocean. The waves crashed against the rocks, shattering into millions of gray bubbles, the cold, damp air rushing towards her.
Where was this?
The strangeness of the unfamiliar place didn’t last long, quickly replaced by greater astonishment.
She saw her own heart, shattered into pieces deep within her chest, and a pitch-black hand covering it.
Three realizations hit her instantly.
She could see her own heart as if she were looking at an X-ray. Her heart was broken. There was a hand on her heart.
…Was this still within the realm of human possibility?
Her mind raced, quickly arriving at an answer.
She was dead. This beautiful place was probably heaven.
She hadn’t expected this. She had thought that with the way she had lived her life, she would definitely go to hell.
Of course, reality was different.
The black hand opened its eye and, like a customer service representative answering a call, eagerly introduced itself:
Its name was Li Biyuan, and it was a researcher and observer at the Small World Observation Bureau. Its physical body was in the real world, and this was a world inside a book.
A world inside a book?
“With so many transmigration novels these days, you must have read some, right?… You haven’t? What about TV shows? Anime? You must have read novels? Not those either? Is there no entertainment in your life?”
“Well, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know. I’ll explain what transmigration is and what you need to do. Just listen to me and complete the tasks like an NPC in a game. Think of this as your starting village.”
“…You don’t know what a starting village is?”
Out of touch with popular culture, Mu Qiandan spent a considerable amount of time understanding the complex settings and her current situation.
This was an ancient fantasy romance novel, focused on a female protagonist. It told the story of a young girl named Shang Shang who, after unexpectedly becoming the disciple of Yao’e Immortal, the Lord of Cangqing Hall in Tianyu Gate, honed her skills in the immortal world, experiencing friendship, love, family, and a range of emotions, before ultimately killing her betraying master to achieve enlightenment, discovering her true identity as a dragon, and finally overcoming all obstacles to become a god.
After learning the whole story from Li Biyuan, as if undergoing a census interrogation, and with the real scene unfolding before her eyes, even the staunch materialist Mu Qiandan had to believe: In the blink of an eye after losing consciousness, she had a new identity—the villainous supporting character, Yao’e Immortal, the master who would eventually be killed by the protagonist.
When asked about the purpose of her transmigration, Li Biyuan explained: If the main world was considered an aquarium, the small worlds within books were like complete, self-contained fish tanks. Their creation and destruction didn’t require intervention from the main world, so most researchers were merely “observers.”
However, in certain special circumstances, such as a cracked tank, contaminated water leakage, or even escaping fish, which could endanger the safety of the aquarium, intervention was necessary.
Mu Qiandan asked, “So Shang Shang’s book, the tank cracked?”
Li Biyuan replied, “To be precise, a big fish escaped.”
Not long ago, during her routine observation of multiple small worlds, she discovered a deviation in the plot of this book. The most powerful cultivators in the book gathered together, and one with the power of prophecy foretold a very ominous future.
One day, a black dragon god, its body larger than mountains, its eyes brighter than the sun, would tear open the sky from the highest point in the world, causing mountains to collapse, oceans to surge, and heaven and earth to shatter, bringing great calamity to both the mortal and immortal realms.
This was completely different from the original story.
The black dragon was undoubtedly the protagonist, Shang Shang. However, under normal circumstances, she would become a benevolent god, protecting the world and revered by countless people. She wouldn’t commit such destructive acts.
Moreover, to Li Biyuan’s horror, she discovered that the protagonist was desperately trying to tear open the sky, seemingly to reach the main world.
This was terrifying!
Although no protagonist had ever successfully escaped from a book’s small world since they were first observed, Shang Shang might be different. Even the slightest possibility couldn’t be ignored.
After all, a creature like a dragon god was beyond human comprehension. If it truly broke through the dimensional barrier and entered the real world, the consequences would be devastating.
After reaching this conclusion, Li Biyuan began to ponder.
What happened to cause such a drastic change in the protagonist’s path?
And why was she so determined to come to the main world?
Not daring to delay, Li Biyuan began observing the progression of the small world, trying to pinpoint where the plot diverged. Fearing she might miss a detail, she worked day and night, dark circles forming under her eyes, even eating at her observation station.
Her efforts paid off. Half a month after the prophecy was revealed, she discovered that Yao’e Immortal, the crucial character who guided the protagonist onto the path of cultivation, had suffered Qi deviation during cultivation, causing her spiritual energy to converge on her heart and explode!
With no time to think, Li Biyuan immediately used a special tool from the Observation Bureau to enter the small world, transforming into a black hand, and at the moment the heart shattered, she grasped it, preventing the master’s body from dying.
Then, she placed Mu Qiandan’s soul inside, hoping that she would take over the role of the unexpectedly deceased master, following the original plot, preventing the story’s framework from collapsing, and guiding the protagonist back onto the right path.
Feeling the surge of spiritual energy in her palm, Mu Qiandan asked, “Where is your Observation Bureau located? Why have I never heard of it?”
Li Biyuan replied, “We’re a confidential government organization. Ordinary people don’t have the right to know. But don’t worry, when you wake up, you’ll be there.”
Since she was here and couldn’t leave on her own, Mu Qiandan, despite her dissatisfaction, could only temporarily accept this. She turned to confirm more important information, “If I complete the mission, the things you promised… are they real?”
Li Biyuan: “Absolutely.”
Mu Qiandan fell silent.
Under normal circumstances, her unwillingness to be manipulated wouldn’t have made her interested in such an activity.
But Li Biyuan said that all procedures for this transmigration were carried out with mutual consent. She also said how meaningful it was to experience a completely different life in another world. Moreover, the reward upon completion was substantial, enough to change her life completely.
Whether it was meaningful or not didn’t matter. Mu Qiandan needed that money to salvage her messy life.
But why didn’t she remember any of this conversation?
Had she been lying in the snow for so long that her brain froze and she lost her memory?
Li Biyuan said, “I know you have many questions, and I’ll explain them to you gradually later. Now, the main plot has already begun. Go find the protagonist.”
After a brief moment of thought, Mu Qiandan said, “Send me the location.”
There was no time to dwell on the past. The flow of time couldn’t be stopped. She didn’t have a “go with the flow” mentality, and she didn’t understand the rules of this new game at all, but for the sake of survival, she was willing to try.
And in a distant town, the female protagonist, Shang Shang, whom she was destined to introduce to the world of cultivation, with whom she would have a thousand entanglements and eventually fall out with, was waiting there.
Awaiting the arrival of destined admiration and betrayal.
A crash echoed in her ears, shattering the flashback. Mu Qiandan snapped back to reality, looking towards the source of the sound.
It turned out that Shang Shang, in her struggles, had kicked a water jar, clear water gushing from the crack, quickly soaking her clothes, darkening the fabric and clinging to her body.
Li Biyuan said, “The protagonist is the absolute center of the world, often imbued with the author’s infinite favor. Just look at the female lead, the author must have spent a lot of time crafting her. Such game model-like proportions look surprisingly natural on a real person! She’s so beautiful!”
Mu Qiandan scrutinized her from head to toe. The female protagonist was only fifteen years old, but her figure was already exceptional. Despite being bound by ropes and wearing patched-together rags, her slender waist and long legs were evident, her curves accentuated by the wet clothes.
“I really want to see what she looks like after she becomes a god, what her dragon form, more majestic and awe-inspiring than mountains, looks like. It must be so cool and exciting, I’m so looking forward to it…”
The other person’s praises continued, grating on Mu Qiandan’s ears. She withdrew her gaze. “It’s just the creator’s setting. If they want her to be beautiful, she’s beautiful. If they want her to be ugly, she’s ugly. Same goes for strength and weakness. She’s essentially a virtual character subject to change. What’s the point of discussing this?”
Li Biyuan said, “Of course it’s meaningful. It’s good for the observer’s eyes, that’s the meaning!”
Mu Qiandan said coldly, “Meaningless.”
Static crackled. Li Biyuan was silent for a moment before quietly asking, “Do you think virtual characters have no value of existence?”
Mu Qiandan replied, “At least it’s not necessary to waste too much thought on them.”
Li Biyuan slurped up another mouthful of noodles, abruptly changing the subject, “Are you going to start the plot now?”
Mu Qiandan, also having no desire to continue the conversation, stood up. “I’ll make a decision after confirming one more thing.”
Seeing her finally react, Shang Shang thought her kicking the water jar had worked and tried to kick her again. However, even with her long legs, she couldn’t reach the person standing far away, despite her best efforts.
Mu Qiandan watched her actions coldly, placing her palm over the wound again. The bite marks and the surrounding area throbbed with pain, impossible to ignore.
She rummaged through her storage pouch, which contained all sorts of artifacts, talismans, daily necessities, and odds and ends, but no medicine. Li Biyuan suggested, “Just wait until you go back to treat it.”
Mu Qiandan frowned slightly, pulling down her sleeve to cover the wound.
The female lead was still thrashing about, her stamina impressive. Mu Qiandan flicked her fingers, sending out a bit of spiritual energy to dissolve the cloth gagging Shang Shang’s mouth. Her tongue freed, the words trapped in her throat finally exploded, “You unreasonable moth! When I break free from these ropes, you’re finished!”
The girl’s voice was clear and resonant, like a sharp arrow piercing through the fog, ringing in the ears like crisp rain. Unfortunately, the content wasn’t pleasant.
Mu Qiandan said, “Your ears must be malfunctioning. It’s Yao’e, not moth.”
Shang Shang raged, “I’ll call you whatever I want! If you don’t want to hear it, you should have cut out my tongue!”
Mu Qiandan leaned closer, “Alright.”
Shang Shang froze, subconsciously shifting her body. The water gathered in the hollow of her collarbone trickled down her pale neck.
Mu Qiandan flicked her skirt, squatting beside her, her emotionless eyes fixed on Shang Shang. Then, she took out a dagger, her jade-like fingers slowly caressing the hilt.
The sun shone from behind her, casting a shadow over Shang Shang’s upper body. The girl stared at her warily in the darkness.
“I’ll ask you one last time…” Mu Qiandan began slowly, her voice like ice shards, with a barely perceptible hint of softness on the surface.
“Do you want to become my disciple or not?”
Shang Shang kicked her legs and snorted. She didn’t want to answer, but seeing the hand gradually closing around the dagger’s hilt, she quickly blurted out, “You’re so strange!”
Mu Qiandan: “Oh?”
Fearing the crazy woman might suddenly attack her tongue, even with the mask as a shield, Shang Shang spoke without opening her mouth too much, “Suddenly appearing, suddenly wanting to take me as your disciple, suddenly beating me up, it’s all so bizarre. I don’t want to go with someone like you.”
Mu Qiandan’s gaze drifted as she recalled the original plot. It seemed she had indeed acted rather abruptly.
In the original story, their first encounter was when Shang Shang witnessed Yao’e Immortal exorcising a ghost for the Liu family’s young daughter.
That scene of saving a life ignited a desire for cultivation in the girl who had never been exposed to immortal arts, leading her to persistently pester Yao’e to take her back to the sect. Yao’e initially refused but eventually agreed after being worn down by the girl’s constant requests, though the process wasn’t without its difficulties.
However, after transmigrating, Mu Qiandan hadn’t taken long to travel from Tianyu Gate to find Shang Shang. She hadn’t yet fully detached from her modern habits and mindset, even now.
So, adhering to the principle that only the result mattered, not the method, she wanted to skip the scary exorcism part and directly persuade the female protagonist to become her disciple.
After all, she had lived in a world without ghosts for twenty-seven years. If possible, who would want to face such things?
This line of thinking wasn’t inherently wrong, but Mu Qiandan forgot her own terrible personality and lack of communication skills. The conversation with the protagonist quickly went south, and she ended up getting bitten.
She rarely experienced such physical pain, and extreme pain translated into rage. So, in her fury, she tied the girl up and went off to have tea and rest. She hadn’t expected to run into the Liu family, who needed her help with the ghost exorcism, according to the plot.
Seeing the protagonist’s fierce resistance, she probably wouldn’t back down willingly. It seemed the exorcism was unavoidable.
Li Biyuan suddenly said, ‘Wait… it just occurred to me, you didn’t want to help the Liu family at first, could it be because you’re afraid of ghosts?’
Mu Qiandan froze, speechless. “Ridiculous, how is that possible?”
Li Biyuan said, ‘Really?’
Mu Qiandan’s voice was laced with annoyance, “Don’t make wild guesses, absolutely not.”
She stood up, as if to prove a point, picking up the dog-beating stick beside Shang Shang with her toe. Infusing it with spiritual energy, she passed the other end through the ropes binding the girl’s waist and hoisted her onto her shoulder like a sack of rice, “That’s enough, let’s go take a look.”
Long hair cascading down, Shang Shang stared at the upside-down world, dumbfounded.
Was there any difference between this and carrying a pig?!
This was humiliating! She was about to protest again when her mouth was sealed shut by spiritual energy, reducing her to muffled whimpers.
Carrying Shang Shang like this, Mu Qiandan returned to the tavern.
Liu Ying was still sitting on the doorstep, his fingers tangled in his hair, his face etched with worry.
As Mu Qiandan approached, the tavern owner happened to come out, handing a package of roasted fish to Liu Ying, “Here, and some side dishes, you… oh my!”
He had seen her leave, yet now he was face to face with those cold eyes again. The tavern owner thought he was having a nightmare, but then he heard the Immortal say to Liu Ying,
“Lead the way. I’ll save your daughter.”
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