After Transmigrating into a Book as a Cannon Fodder Character, The System Turned out to be Completely Unreliable! - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Unlock – Hundred Herb Spirit

Outside the exam grounds.

Mo Huaishu and the others were watching the ceremonial incense burn down.

As soon as one disciple saw the incense nearly gone, he opened the gate to the exam area. The moment Ye Lingxi saw the light, she rushed toward it. Without her boss’s protection, she’d be dead for sure. Even if she could revive, the pain would still be real.

Just thinking about it made her shudder.

She stepped into the white light and stumbled forward a few steps upon exiting, barely managing to steady herself.

Letting out a sigh of relief, she patted her chest. “Whew, that was close. That would’ve been so embarrassing.”

Looking around, she noticed there weren’t many who made it through. She gasped, “Whoa, seriously? Half of them got eliminated?!”

System: Yes, Host.

“That’s intense.” Ye Lingxi swallowed hard. “Good thing I survived.”

System: Didn’t Mo Huaishu say the deaths weren’t real?

Ye Lingxi scoffed. “Someone as shady as her being that kind? Please. You could tell she was lying from the start.”

System: …

“She’s killed plenty of people in the original story. If those monsters were the bad guys, then she’s worse. She kills anyone who annoys her—doesn’t even see us cannon fodder as human.”

System: Cannon fodder is just there to fill the numbers.

“Fill your grandpa! So cannon fodder isn’t human now?” The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. “Whatever! I’m done talking to you. Let’s just see what happens.”

System: …

Once it was clear no one else was coming back, Mo Huaishu spoke. “Congratulations on passing the exam. Please hand over the magic cores you collected. In a few days, you’ll be eligible for the final advanced test.”

“Woohoo!”

The survivors cheered with excitement. Only Ye Lingxi knew the real story behind her magic cores. Looking at the ones in her hand—hunted down with great effort by that demon girl—it felt like such a waste to hand them over so easily.

She hesitated for a moment before finally letting go and submitting them.

From the stage, Mo Huaishu glanced at Ye Lingxi’s magic cores and subtly pressed her lips together.

System: Host, why do you look unhappy?

Ye Lingxi shook her head. “It’s nothing.”

“Very well. Everyone may now bathe and rest.”

With that, Mo Huaishu flicked her sleeve and left.

Ye Lingxi stood there in a daze—ding!

System: Congratulations, Host! You’ve obtained the Hundred Herb Spirit.

Ye Lingxi lit up. “Hundred Herb Spirit? What’s that? What does it do?”

System: It can cure any poison. Just one petal is enough.

Ye Lingxi looked at the flower icon on the screen and counted the petals. “One, two, three, four, five—five petals total.”

System: …

“So if I’m about to die, I can eat one and be saved? That way I won’t have to possess another body and can keep using this one?”

System: That’s one way to look at it.

“This is basically a life-saving kit!”

System: …

“Thanks, System! You finally gave me something useful!”

System: As long as you’re happy.

Back at the dorm, Ye Lingxi found the others heading off to bathe. There were only three of them left, but they still called her to join.

She accepted eagerly. “A bath! Finally! After being out there so long, I can finally soak properly! Bathhouse, here I come!”

System: …

With a leap, Ye Lingxi jumped into the pool. Someone already inside shouted, “Who’s there?!”

But she was already treating it like a swimming pool. “Wow, this feels amazing.” All her exhaustion melted away in an instant.

System: Host, you’re getting way too relaxed.

“Am I?” Ye Lingxi thought for a moment. “Oh right, speaking of relaxing, I should let her relax too.” She somehow pulled out her worn-out sword, dipped the tassel into the bath, and gently stroked the floating phoenix feather that housed Ji Fuyu. “You soak too, okay?”

System: Since when have you been this kind-hearted?

“I’m not that kind of person,” Ye Lingxi replied. “She helped me, so letting her relax a bit is just returning the favor.”

System: …

“What, what did you think it was?”

System: I thought you’d… switched teams.

Ye Lingxi: “…”

“What’s wrong with you?! Switched what? I’m a woman—one hundred percent, no doubt about it!”

The system clearly didn’t buy it. System: Really? Then why do you read these kinds of novels?

That one left Ye Lingxi speechless. “Well… uh…”

The system’s interface hovered close to her face. System: Well? What’s your excuse?

“I just clicked it by accident! But I’m straight!” Her eyes darted everywhere.

System: Are you sure?

“Totally! I was just curious. I’d never read that kind of story before, so I gave it a try. Didn’t expect it to be so dramatic.”

System: And you kept reading it even though it was dramatic?

“That’s exactly why I kept reading it!” Ye Lingxi couldn’t even look the system in the eye anymore.

System: Staring~

She definitely wasn’t going to admit her guilty pleasure—she just wanted to see how girls fell in love with each other.

Who knew the drama would be so addictive?

“Ugh, forget it. I got distracted from the real task.” Ye Lingxi climbed out of the bath, threw on her robe, and left wet footprints on the floor.

System: Where are you going, Host?

“Do you remember how Mo Huaishu took all our magic cores?”

System: Yeah, I remember.

“Guess what she’s doing with them?”

System: No idea.

“Exactly. The book didn’t explain it clearly. I only figured it out after reading ahead and learning more about her character.”

System: What is it?

Ye Lingxi smirked. “She gave the magic cores to the other female lead—Bai Luotang.”

System: Whoa, Host! You’re amazing!

Ye Lingxi lifted her chin proudly. “Of course. Who do you think I am?”

System: …

System: But why would she give them to Bai Luotang?

“Take a guess.” Ye Lingxi was tempted to smack it. “Your intel skills are seriously lacking. I know more than you do!”

The system backed off. System: I didn’t read ahead. I’m just here to assist you.

Ye Lingxi crossed her arms. “Assist? I haven’t seen you assist me with anything. You’re unreliable at best. I’m starting to wonder why the author even gave me a system like you.”

System: …

System: I can give you spiritual medicine, though.

Ye Lingxi: “…”

Okay… fair point.

“Let’s go.” She didn’t want to keep roasting herself. “If we don’t hurry, we’ll miss it.”

And with that, the system quietly floated along behind her.