TSVSFL 14

Xiao Wenjing’s expression was complicated, hard to describe. After a long pause, he finally asked, “What did you see me doing?”

Ding Li smiled sweetly. “Naturally, I saw Senior Brother Xiao looking handsome, dashing, elegant, and full of heroic spirit…”

Xiao Wenjing’s brows furrowed deeply, looking like he wanted to stab her to death on the spot.

Ding Li added, “Nothing much, Senior Brother Xiao. I saw you being killed, and I was deeply heartbroken. I swore to avenge you, no matter the cost.”

Xiao Wenjing: “……”

After walking a while, Ding Li suddenly realized something. “Where’s Lin Ziyuan?”

“Don’t know.”

Heh.

Ding Li laughed inwardly. Could this transmigration world please drop a rechargeable-free voice recorder out of nowhere? She really wanted to record Xiao Wenjing’s indifferent tone and play it for Lin Ziyuan.

Still want to follow your Senior Brother Xiao? Does he even care whether you live or die?

He might not care, but Ding Li couldn’t ignore her one and only coworker-slash-gossip buddy. She immediately turned around, about to go back and find Lin Ziyuan.

Xiao Wenjing said, “By this time, he’s already left this miasma. Are you going to find him and discuss why you’re only getting out now?”

Ding Li immediately turned back again. “Then why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought he was about to die and was waiting for me to save him at the last moment.”

Xiao Wenjing: “……”

Ding Li asked again, “What about your little followers?”

Xiao Wenjing: “Little followers?”

Ding Li: “Your junior brothers and sisters.”

Xiao Wenjing gave her a strange look. “You were the last one to come out of the illusion.”

……

Alright, say no more.

But even after walking for quite some time, they still couldn’t get out of the miasma.

At this moment, sounds of celebratory fireworks echoed from outside—that meant someone had killed a demon and earned points.

Ding Li said, “Senior Brother Xiao, why don’t you go ahead? If I delay you and you fail to take first place, that wouldn’t be good.”

Xiao Wenjing replied indifferently, “It doesn’t matter.”

Fine then, Ding Li thought. Even dragging along dead weight, the second male lead could still crush a bunch of cannon fodder effortlessly. No need to worry.

Just as she was thinking this, a familiar voice came from ahead:

“Are you two alright?”

Ding Li looked up, her eyes lighting up.

It was Chu Zilan!

“Senior Sister?!” she called out immediately.

Chu Zilan responded with a soft “Mm.”

Ding Li was delighted. “Senior Sister, why are you here?”

Chu Zilan said, “I heard there were casualties among disciples from other sects. I was worried you might be hurt, so I came to check.”

Ding Li grinned. “How could that be? We’re disciples of Cangshan Sect!”

She had already walked up to Chu Zilan and was about to reach out to grab her sleeve—

But suddenly, Xiao Wenjing grabbed her.

Ding Li paused, confused, and looked at him.

Xiao Wenjing looked at Chu Zilan and said, “This is not a place to linger. Since Senior Sister knows how to get in, you must also know how to get out. Please lead us out first.”

Chu Zilan paused for a second. “Alright.”

She turned and started walking to the right.

The moment Xiao Wenjing grabbed her, Ding Li knew something was wrong. She hadn’t reacted earlier, but now it hit her—

Casualties among disciples?

This was a trial. Even if someone wasn’t strong enough, in such a short time, injuries were far more likely than death. How could people already be dying?

Ding Li carefully examined the person in front of her again. Based on her years of reading experience, this “Chu Zilan” had to be fake—definitely some demon or monster in disguise.

What puzzled her, though, was how Xiao Wenjing could see through it at a glance when she herself found no flaws.

Shouldn’t he be excited upon seeing the person he liked in such a dangerous situation? Shouldn’t he fall for it first?

Yet he didn’t even blink. Judging by his expression, he clearly didn’t care at all—he probably just wanted to stab this imposter to death.

What a cold, heartless, unpredictable man.

But…

Ding Li felt puzzled again.

Hadn’t they just come out of the illusion?

According to normal plot logic, shouldn’t they be able to leave the miasma now?

Why were they still stuck here, and now there was even a fake “Chu Zilan”? What kind of trick was this?

It felt like the system was glitching.

Ding Li didn’t dare say anything. She could only sneak a glance at Xiao Wenjing.

His expression was calm, utterly unreadable.

Even if he had a plan, this was still wasting time.

Suddenly, Ding Li cried out, “Ah!” and stopped walking.

Chapter 18: You’re the One Who’s Sick

Both “Chu Zilan” and Xiao Wenjing looked at her.

“What’s wrong?” “Chu Zilan” asked.

Ding Li put on a pained expression. “I twisted my ankle—it hurts so much. Senior Sister, can you carry me?”

Xiao Wenjing: “……” His expression remained unchanged.

“Chu Zilan” twitched slightly, seeming hesitant.

Ding Li made a pitiful face. “Senior Sister, you used to carry me before…”

Only then did “Chu Zilan” reluctantly walk over.

But just as she stepped in front of Ding Li and bent down—

Ding Li’s eyes turned sharp. With one hand, she grabbed “Chu Zilan’s” arm tightly, and with the other, she swiftly drew her sword and pressed it against her neck in a flash.

“Chu Zilan” froze, her expression changing. “Junior Sister, what are you doing?”

Ding Li didn’t buy it at all. “What ‘Junior Sister’? I’m not your junior sister!” She pressed the blade closer and demanded sharply, “Who are you really?”

Xiao Wenjing also stared coldly at “Chu Zilan.”

At this point, “Chu Zilan” realized she had been exposed from the beginning. There was no need to keep pretending.

She showed no fear—only a strange smile.

Standing at her side, Ding Li couldn’t see her expression.

Suddenly, Xiao Wenjing’s face changed. In an instant, he dashed forward, his sword striking sharply toward “Chu Zilan’s” chest—

But “Chu Zilan” was extremely fast. She bent backward, raised her elbow to strike Ding Li’s chin, and used the moment Ding Li dodged to escape her blade—while also evading Xiao Wenjing’s attack.

Now their positions reversed: Ding Li and Xiao Wenjing stood together, facing “Chu Zilan.”

This isn’t right. This isn’t a miasma demon!

According to the plot, the creature appearing now should be a miasma spirit—but this clearly wasn’t!

“What exactly is she?” Ding Li asked.

Before she could finish, the figure across from them shifted. The fake “Chu Zilan” tore away her disguise, revealing a black-clad figure with a covered face.

Before Ding Li could react, the person split into multiple forms and charged at them with lightning speed.

Holy—

This is a tough opponent!

Although Ding Li was no longer as weak as three years ago, she was still no match for someone like this. She could only fight alongside Xiao Wenjing.

Xiao Wenjing raised his sword, blocked an incoming attack, then smoothly pivoted and thrust his blade through one opponent’s throat.

The black-clad figure instantly dissipated.

Just a phantom!

At that moment, another attacker struck from behind Xiao Wenjing, their sword wrapped in black mist.

Xiao Wenjing slightly shifted to dodge, but the enemy in front of him kept him occupied, preventing him from turning to deal with the one behind.

Ding Li’s gaze hardened. As the attacker’s blade shifted direction, she stepped in and blocked it.

The opponent pressed down with the sword in his right hand while striking Ding Li’s shoulder with his left palm.

Ding Li didn’t retreat. Instead, she advanced, twisting her blade and driving it straight into the opponent’s torso.

The figure vanished instantly—just like the previous one.

At the same time, Xiao Wenjing’s sword pierced the heart of the enemy in front of him. He swiftly turned his blade, spun upward, and struck downward, cleaving through the last remaining figure.

All the shadows disappeared, leaving only a single corpse of a black-clad figure on the ground.

Just as Ding Li stepped forward to remove the cloth covering his face, the corpse also dissipated.

“Demonic cultivators,” Xiao Wenjing said coldly, sheathing his sword.

The demon race?

Ding Li froze.

In the original novel, the demon race only appeared briefly at the beginning—when Ding Li was first introduced. Their role was simply to massacre civilians, which led to her being severely injured and brought back by Chu Zilan.

After that, until much later in the story—when Lu Qianchuan misunderstood Chu Zilan—they never appeared again.

Although the novel’s summary mentioned them, their role must have been minor, since Ding Li barely remembered it.

Even if they were to appear, it should have been much later.

So why were they showing up now?

And more importantly…

This wasn’t just a simple change or insertion of plot elements.

Ding Li suddenly realized—if the demon race appeared this early, it meant they would likely keep appearing later.

That would cause a chain reaction.

Under the butterfly effect, the entire storyline could be overturned.

Then what was the point of the original novel?!

Earlier, the system said it would adjust the plot according to the final objective. Ding Li had thought it was just minor tweaks.

But now, she couldn’t help feeling confused.

So… was the plot collapsing completely?

Did she read “Crossing Green Tea to Love You” for nothing?

No ultimate skills, no plot foresight, no hints—

Not even a single cheat ability?