TSVSFL 07

Chapter 07

Lovesickness Lure

Ding Li thought, Who told you to bring along dead weight?

Looks like we’re both dying here today.

Second male lead and second female lead die upon arrival, while the main couple lives happily ever after—is that your plan?

So innovative. Beginning equals ending. Clearing all obstacles for the main couple’s romance. You should write the book yourself!

In that split second, Xiao Wenjing suddenly retreated, pulled out a black flute from his waist, and raised it to his lips.

A clear, melodious tune rang out.

The attacking vines and threads froze midair.

Whoa! He’s got some tricks!

The music grew deeper and fuller. The vines and threads seemed to lose strength, slowly falling to the ground.

Xiao Wenjing immediately advanced again, his sword now empowered by surging spiritual force—

This time, it pierced directly into the heart of the demon vine tree.

—

In the next second, the scene changed completely.

Ding Li had only one thought:

Damn… we fell for it.

Of course—how could the system’s challenges be so easy? Everything had been an illusion.

The two fell from the sky again.

“Hiss…” Ding Li struggled up, grimacing. Xiao Wenjing, beneath her again, looked equally displeased.

When he saw the surroundings clearly, his expression changed instantly.

Ding Li narrowed her eyes and followed his gaze.

The misty forest was gone. In its place was a thorny thicket.

Behind them came hurried breathing—someone was running.

There were people here?

Ding Li turned sharply.

But what appeared were two blood-covered children running desperately.

What was going on?

Ding Li frowned and glanced at Xiao Wenjing.

Since earlier, his gaze had been fixed on the children. His face was expressionless, but his eyes were dark and chilling.

Ding Li studied the children more closely.

As they drew nearer, she stepped forward, intending to say something—

Xiao Wenjing’s cold voice stopped her. “That’s an illusion.”

An illusion…

Ding Li immediately realized—this wasn’t ordinary.

This was the Soul-Devouring Demon Vine’s illusion.

Just like the townspeople—trapped in their deepest fears.

They hadn’t been parasitized, but the moment Xiao Wenjing pierced the tree’s heart, they had fallen into its trap.

This was the deepest fear within a person’s heart.

Ding Li looked again at the children.

As they got closer, she saw their faces clearly.

The boy being pulled along—

Was none other than Xiao Wenjing as a child.

No wonder he recognized it instantly.

The young Xiao Wenjing’s clothes were torn by thorns. He ran while constantly looking back, his face filled with fear.

What was he afraid of? Who was behind him?

Ding Li sensed she was about to witness something hidden.

The child pulling him looked slightly older. Though his face was unclear, his posture was firm—he never looked back, only ran forward.

Who was he?

The two children ran past them.

Yet Xiao Wenjing didn’t move at all. He didn’t even speak.

Ding Li turned to look at him—

And froze.

Xiao Wenjing was staring directly at her.

His eyes were slightly narrowed, calculating.

A chill ran down her spine.

That gaze was like a predator deciding how to tear apart its prey.

He was hesitating.

And suddenly, everything clicked.

Xiao Wenjing—unpredictable, sinister.

She had seen into his deepest fear.

There was no way—

He would let her leave alive.

Ding Li’s mind raced at lightning speed, as if the sewing machine in her brain was about to spark from overuse.

Think, brain! Hurry and think of something to say! Xiao Wenjing doesn’t mess around—he’ll really kill me with one strike!

But before she could come up with anything, she saw Xiao Wenjing’s furrowed brows slowly relax. Then, the corners of his lips curved slightly into a strange smile.

“No, wait!” Ding Li hurriedly raised her hand. “Immortal Xiao—!”

Xiao Wenjing merely let out a soft scoff.

It’s over… this is really the end…

In that split second, Ding Li suddenly remembered something—

“Immortal Xiao, look!” she shouted, pointing behind him with an anxious expression.

Xiao Wenjing paused and followed her gaze.

In the next instant, a strand of white light wrapped around Ding Li’s hand, and a spark shot straight into Xiao Wenjing’s chest.

He turned back to look at her, a hint of confusion flashing across his eyes—only to be replaced by his usual cold expression. “Are you insane?”

Ding Li let out a huge sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, totally insane.”

Xiao Wenjing looked at her with obvious disdain, then turned and walked in the direction where the two children had disappeared.

Ding Li finally relaxed, suppressing her trembling as she hurried after him.

The two exited the thicket and arrived at a wide, open clearing. At the far end of the clearing was a cliff.

So this was actually a mountaintop!

The two children ran to the edge. Seeing no way out, the older one looked around and finally spotted a narrow path along the mountainside. Without hesitation, he pulled “Xiao Wenjing” toward it.

Xiao Wenjing hesitated slightly before following.

But the “path” wasn’t really a path—it was a bend. Beside it was a hidden cave.

The older child hesitated for only a moment before pushing “Xiao Wenjing” inside.

He took out a small bronze compass from his waist and shoved it into “Xiao Wenjing’s” hands.

The young Xiao Wenjing looked panicked, as if realizing something. He grabbed the other child’s sleeve, lips trembling as if trying to speak.

The child said, “Stay here. I’ll go check if those people are still chasing us.”

“No, you can’t go!” the young Xiao Wenjing said, gripping tightly.

The cave was big enough for both of them, but the child didn’t enter. Instead, he pushed Xiao Wenjing further inside. “Don’t worry. I’ll come back for you soon.”

“No… don’t go… don’t leave…” Tears filled Xiao Wenjing’s eyes as he clutched the child’s sleeve.

But the child resolutely pried his hand away and ran back out.

As the child ran past Ding Li, she was suddenly shocked—

That wasn’t a boy.

It was a girl.

And that girl’s face—