After Transmigrating into a Book as a Cannon Fodder Character, The System Turned out to be Completely Unreliable! - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: The Truth Behind Rong Nation’s Fall (Part 1)

Ye Lingxi stroked her chin. “Are you sure she’s a princess? She just looks like an ordinary person to me.” Honestly, she’d never heard of her before.

Lan Mushu replied, “The broken forehead mark on her head is proof.”

Ye Lingxi tried to look closely, but no matter how she examined it, it just looked like any other mark. She brushed aside the girl’s stray hair and stood up. “I still don’t see anything special.”

Lan Mushu: “…”

And here you looked so serious about it.

“Oh well, you’ve probably never seen this kind before, so it makes sense you wouldn’t recognize it. This type of forehead mark only appears among the royal family of Rong Nation.”

“Ah, sorry. My knowledge is pretty limited,” Ye Lingxi said with some embarrassment.

Lan Mushu: “…”

Just then, the supposedly unconscious princess abruptly sat up in horror, scaring Ye Lingxi so badly she flailed her legs and grabbed onto the clothes of the two women on either side. “Sorry! Sorry for the earlier offense!” she quickly apologized.

Both of them glanced at her but said nothing, their attention focused entirely on the now-awake princess.

“You’re awake?” Lan Mushu was the first to show concern.

The princess was disoriented at first, hiding her head under the bedding.

As expected—she was still frightened. Lan Mushu gently placed her hand on the trembling girl’s head. “It’s me. I’m the one who said yesterday I would help you,” she said with a soft voice full of warmth. The princess lowered her guard. She pointed to Lan Mushu, then to herself.

Lan Mushu understood what she meant. “You didn’t hear wrong. I wasn’t lying.” She took the princess’s hand and placed it over her own heart as a sign of sincerity.

“Can you tell us now what happened here?”

The princess nodded and then closed her eyes.

Lan Mushu channeled her spiritual energy into the princess’s forehead mark, drawing them into her memories.

A hundred years ago, this was still a small but prosperous nation. Though not large, it was more flourishing than many of the bigger countries, thanks to a rare kind of spirit stone. These crystals could greatly enhance the cultivation of any practitioner, so many cultivators flocked here to purchase them.

In the palace, a girl about fifteen or sixteen years old was running around. Servants behind her called out, “Princess, slow down!”

Yes—she was the youngest princess of this country: Princess Rong An.

“Come catch me if you can!” She ran so fast that she turned a corner too quickly and accidentally bumped into her father, the king, who was accompanied by a man. That man was incredibly handsome—smiling with gentle eyes, refined and elegant.

“Rong An, mind your manners.”

She didn’t seem to hear her father at all. Her gaze was fixed on the man. Not until the servant behind her caught up and knelt in greeting did she come back to her senses. “Greetings, Royal Father! Royal Father, who is he?”

“Rong An.” Her father turned to the cultivator. “Forgive her. My daughter is spoiled. I hope you won’t take offense.”

The man chuckled warmly. “No offense at all. She’s still young. It’s good to be carefree and happy.”

Hearing this, Rong An shyly lowered her head.

“Greetings, Princess,” he said with a smile she would never forget. Back in her room, she was still in a daze.

“Nanny, was that man really a cultivator?”

“Of course. He’s the Sect Master of Baicao Sect—Immortal Fuguang.”

“Immortal Fuguang? Are all cultivators that handsome?”

The nanny replied, “Princess, you must not know—Immortal Fuguang was once the disciple of the God of Bright Moon, and is the junior brother of Bai Luotang from Yunfeng Sect.”

“Really?”

“Does he have any disciples?”

“Disciples? I don’t think so. But he does have a younger sister.”

“A sister?”

“Yes. He came this time for his sister’s sake. She nearly perished during cultivation and wants to quickly pass a difficult trial.”

“So he came for our spirit stones?”

“Indeed.”

“Oh, I see…” Rong An’s mind was full of unknown thoughts. The next thing she knew, she was standing outside Fuguang’s quarters.

He had just come out of the main hall when he ran into her and bowed. “Fuguang greets Princess Rong An.”

Rong An cleared her throat. “You’re here for the spirit stones?”

He paused, then smiled. “Yes, the princess is perceptive.”

“Cut the flattery. All cultivators who come to Rong Nation want to easily pass their breakthroughs and buy spirit stones from us.”

Fuguang smiled. “What you say is true. I underestimated the princess.”

“I’m not as dumb as you think!”

“Mm.”

“If you want, I have plenty. Want some?” Rong An offered. When Fuguang looked hesitant, she took out a handful from her pouch. The colorful stones gleamed—absolutely beautiful. “Here, look!”

Fuguang said, “Princess, I’ve already received what I needed. These, I’ll have to decline.” He gently gestured for her to keep them.

“You think my spirit stones are fake?”

“No.”

“Then why won’t you accept them?” She stared straight into his eyes, trying to understand his reasoning.

Fuguang said, “Because no one should be greedy. One is enough. Please keep the rest for yourself.”

Rong An pouted, turned to leave, then came back and stuffed a sachet into his hand. “Our country isn’t so stingy about spirit stones. Take these as a gift from me.” Then she strode away confidently. But when she turned the corner, she picked up speed and peeked secretly from the wall to see his reaction.

Fuguang stood dazed, looking at the stones in his hand and the spot where she disappeared. Then he said, “Thank you, Princess. Fuguang will accept these for now. If you wish to take them back, come to Baicao Sect.”

Rong An’s heart fluttered. Was that… an invitation to visit his home?

The next day, she disguised herself and sneaked out of the palace. After passing through a bustling city, she arrived at the temple of the Bright Moon God, which was near Baicao Sect.

She followed her map, braving mountains and rivers, and finally reached Baicao Sect. But before she could go in, she was stopped.

“Who are you?” the gatekeeping disciples asked.

“I…” she stammered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

“If you don’t have a token or command from a master or elder, you may not enter Baicao Sect.”

Rong An was thus blocked at the gate. After they shoved her back, she sat on the ground, exhausted and filthy, but she pulled herself up and dusted off her clothes.

She’d grown up pampered, but never had she been physically pushed like this. Though angry, she was too tired to argue.

She sat on the stairs, back to the guards. Looking at them, she thought, Why is this place just like the palace, with all these rules?

Touching her rumbling stomach, she muttered, “I’m so hungry. All my food’s gone.” She’d been on the road for three days straight. She never realized how much more stamina cultivators had than regular people.

If I can’t wait for Fuguang, will I starve to death here? And she couldn’t return home now either.

“No! I can’t just sit here and wait to die!” She stood up.

The disciples watched her warily. She didn’t try to force her way in, just wandered near the gate until they let down their guard.

Now was her chance!

As soon as they relaxed, she sprinted past them. They couldn’t stop her, and she dashed deep into the forest beyond the trees.

“We have to report this to Master!”

“I’ll go. You stay here and guard.”

“Got it.”

Rong An ran until she was breathless, finally stopping under a tree, panting. Surrounded by lush greenery, she was in awe of the natural beauty. “So this is Baicao Sect?” She looked around and didn’t realize someone was in front of her—

She crashed into them, and both landed on the ground.

“Ow!” They cried out in unison.

“Who the heck runs around without looking?!” They pointed at each other, shouting.

Staring, she saw the other was a girl about her age, wearing green clothes and braided pigtails.

The girl eyed her—dirty clothes, tattered hat. “Who are you? How did you get into Baicao Sect?!” She fired off several questions, leaving Rong An speechless.

“I…”

“You’re a demon!” The girl summoned a whip. Rong An’s eyes widened. “I’m not a demon! I’m just a regular person!”

“A regular person? Why are you dressed like that, sneaking around in the forest?!”

Rong An couldn’t defend herself. She had snuck in, but she didn’t know this was Baicao Forest. “I didn’t mean to trespass!”

“Didn’t mean to? How could someone without permission get into our sect? Demon—prepare to die!” She lashed out with her whip. Rong An dodged, but still fell to the ground.

“I’m a princess! How dare you act so insolently?!” Rong An shouted, puffing up with royal pride.

“Princess?” The girl frowned. “You’re a princess?”

“That’s right!” She planted her hands on her hips, full of pride.

“Hmph! I’ve never seen a princess dressed like that. Still trying to lie to me?!” She raised her whip again—only to be stopped.

“Stop!” A white-robed man suddenly flew down, blocking the strike and deflecting it.

The force knocked the green-clad girl to the ground.

Rong An was shocked by the scene. The man had landed in front of her, back facing her.