After Transmigrating into a Book as a Cannon Fodder Character, The System Turned out to be Completely Unreliable! - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Acting Leader of Qingyang Sect

Ye Lingxi noticed Mo Huaishu’s expression didn’t look too pleased, so she quickly said, “Uncle Bai, please allow this disciple to decline.”

“Why?”

Because you’ve just recovered from illness and shouldn’t be touched—would you believe that? She sneaked a glance at Mo Huaishu and broke into a cold sweat.

Sis, please don’t make me dig my own grave. She was on the verge of tears.

“Uncle Bai has just recovered, and I dare not approach,” Ye Lingxi explained. “Also, I’ve applied incense that might not be suitable for being near Uncle Bai.”

Bai Luotang didn’t press. “There’s still time in the future. No need to rush.”

Mo Huaishu was satisfied with her answer. “You knew your uncle was ill and couldn’t be near incense, yet you still used it. Shouldn’t you be punished?”

Ye Lingxi had just walked into another trap. “This disciple accepts punishment.”

“Then one month’s salary deduction—sound fair?”

Huh? That’s it? Looks like she really was important to them right now. She accepted the punishment. “This disciple accepts.”

Thank goodness it wasn’t death.

“I’ll be entering seclusion today. I hope you’ll take your role as acting leader of Qingyang Sect seriously—and look after your uncle as well.” Every word emphasized: the sect is fine, your uncle is the priority.

The reason she was entrusted with this role wasn’t just her strong spiritual power—she also had Bai Ling Grass, which could save Bai Luotang if anything went wrong.

In the original novel, this responsibility was given to Yu’er, but the one who actually took over was Su Yunli, the sect leader of Jiuxuan Sect.

Jiuxuan Sect specialized in runes and was second only to Qingyang Sect. Originally, Yunfeng Sect held that position, but since Bai Luotang fell ill, Mo Huaishu had taken over everything. It was practically like the two sects had merged.

“This disciple accepts the mission.”

After giving her instructions, Mo Huaishu left Bai Luotang with a few words and went into seclusion.

It was said that their cultivation retreat was in a cave beneath the statue of the Moon God on Longtou Mountain. With the Moon God’s blessing, cultivation there was especially effective. Unfortunately, that statue had already been destroyed—by her and the demon queen.

Hopefully her cultivation won’t be affected. Once the plot finishes, I can survive to the finale and finally go home. Living here every day, constantly on edge just to stay alive, is exhausting. If I die and have to start over, all the trust I’ve built with them will be gone. I can’t afford that.

No, I have to survive in this body until the end.

She absentmindedly kicked a pebble, which flew into a pond. That snapped her out of her thoughts—just as a voice rang out.

“Didn’t expect that. You’ve gotten bolder.”

Ye Lingxi looked up to see Ji Fuyu lounging in a tree. She asked, “Where did you go after you left yesterday?”

Ji Fuyu pointed around lazily. “Here.”

“You stayed here the whole time? Lying there for so long—aren’t you uncomfortable?” Ye Lingxi asked, genuinely puzzled.

Ji Fuyu didn’t respond, remaining silent.

Ye Lingxi suddenly realized why. “So… did you figure out why you were swollen?”

She really wanted to know if Ji Fuyu was a man. If so, that meant she’d slept beside a guy. In a world of cultivation, not knowing something like that could be dangerous.

“Do you have nothing better to do?” Ji Fuyu’s voice turned cold.

Ye Lingxi: “???????????”

I was just being concerned! Is that not allowed now?

Fine, fine. If you don’t want concern, I won’t give it. If I weren’t trying to cling to your thigh, I wouldn’t even bother.

She turned to leave, but Ji Fuyu called out, “Tonight, you’re coming with me to find my sword.”

Ye Lingxi: “…”

Ugh, you were just brushing me off, and now you’re ordering me around? No way. Find someone else.

She ignored her completely. Ji Fuyu quickly jumped down and blocked her path. “Getting bold, are we?”

“No.”

“No?” Her red eyes narrowed as she wrapped an arm around Ye Lingxi’s waist. “No? And yet you’re refusing me now? Who gave you the courage to defy me?!”

Ye Lingxi: “…”

She turned and looked up—Ji Fuyu was much taller. “It’s not about courage, it’s just…”

She just wanted to survive, that’s all. But Ji Fuyu never considered her life, never even asked if she wanted to go.

“And just what?” Ji Fuyu asked, eyes narrowing.

Ye Lingxi replied, “Tonight won’t work.”

“Why not?”

Tonight I’m on night duty watching over Bai Luotang. What if something happens? “It just won’t work tonight. Can we go tomorrow instead?”

Her refusal clearly bruised Ji Fuyu’s ego. “You dare defy me?”

I’m not defying you—it really won’t work tonight, okay? Your sword isn’t going anywhere.

“Can’t you be reasonable? I already said tonight’s no good. Tomorrow is fine.” She explained patiently, but Ji Fuyu still didn’t understand.

Ji Fuyu laughed. “Hahaha, so now that you’re the top disciple, you think you’ve grown some guts? Starting to defy my orders? Have you forgotten who helped you pass your trial?”

“It was you,” Ye Lingxi admitted without hesitation.

“And who helped awaken your divine sense?”

“Still you,” she replied—though technically, it was only half awakened.

Ye Lingxi grew anxious. “I know you’ve helped me a lot, but tonight really isn’t possible.”

Ji Fuyu frowned. “After everything I’ve said, it’s still a no? What exactly do you want?”

Ye Lingxi: Seriously? I’ve said it like five times already—TOMORROW. Can she not understand human speech?

“I… I have night duty tonight,” she finally explained.

“So what?”

Ye Lingxi: “…”

She pushed Ji Fuyu away. “I… I can’t talk to you right now.”

Ji Fuyu was stunned by the shove. “What does this have to do with retrieving my sword? Or are you saying you’re done with me?”

Ye Lingxi: “…”

Is this woman dense? I’ve explained it clearly—why is she still like this?

Her temper flared, and she snapped, “Think whatever you want,” before storming off.

Ji Fuyu stood there, confused. Why is she mad all of a sudden? I’m the one who should be upset.

“Humans are so hard to understand.”

Whatever. She was getting her sword back tonight, no matter what.

Ye Lingxi hadn’t gone far before she stumbled slightly. The spirit cat system flew over.

System: Host, are you okay?

She waved it off. “I’m fine. Just mad.”

System: At who?

“Who else?!”

System: Mo Huaishu?

“No, she’s in seclusion now. How could she piss me off?” Ye Lingxi rubbed her temples.

System: Don’t tell me… the demon queen?

“Mm.” Ye Lingxi didn’t even want to talk about it. She hadn’t expected talking to someone to be so exhausting.

System: Well, no matter what, the plot has officially started.

That did cheer her up a bit. “Yeah… I just hope nothing goes wrong.”

System: It shouldn’t. Everything’s been smooth sailing so far.

And that was true. Things had been going well—until the middle of the story, when Bai Luotang was possessed by a demon. Mo Huaishu had to personally strike her down, even though her divine sense returned, leaving her body like a soulless shell.

Eventually, Mo Huaishu used a fragment of her own divine sense to save her. But Bai Luotang lost all memory of her and seemed to fall for Su Yunli of Jiuxuan Sect at first sight. Mo Huaishu was furious—nearly killed Su Yunli—and ended up imprisoning Bai Luotang until she remembered her. Over time, Mo Huaishu reached godhood, but because part of her divine sense remained with Bai Luotang, she considered giving it all up.

Bai Luotang secretly returned the divine sense to her and wished her well in becoming a god. Then she fell into a coma. Mo Huaishu self-destructed, and the demon ran rampant. The end.

That was where Ye Lingxi had stopped reading. The ending was vague, and she never found out what really happened between them. Nor did the story explain why Bai Luotang was susceptible to demonic possession. Some said she was a demon, not a celestial. That couldn’t be ruled out—but if she were truly a demon, how did she have divine sense?

System: Host? Host? Are you zoning out again?

It floated in front of her face.

Ye Lingxi snapped out of it, annoyed. “No.”

System: You totally were.

Ye Lingxi glared. “I said I wasn’t.”

System: Okay, okay—no need to yell.

Back in her room, Ye Lingxi grabbed a blanket so she wouldn’t get cold during her night shift.

The spirit cat followed her as she prepared for her first-ever night duty. She’d stayed up late playing on her phone before, but never pulled an actual night shift—especially not without a phone.

Before long, she started nodding off. “So sleepy…” Her eyelids drooped. “Just a quick nap won’t hurt, right?” She was out before she finished the sentence.

Inside the room, Bai Luotang lay peacefully asleep. But a black mist crept in, swirling above their heads.

Meanwhile, Ji Fuyu had found her sword. But when she reached out to touch it, a jolt of electricity surged through her hand.

Pain shot through her palm. “D#mn it—there’s a barrier!”

A sudden scream shattered the silence.