Competing with the Male Lead for the Female Lead (Transmigration) - Chapter 18
The rain fell all night and only stopped at dawn.
Outside the cave was a scene of damp mud, but inside remained dry and warm.
Lan Feier ate a fruit that the ginseng doll had found, forcefully throwing the core outside the cave. She looked back at Wen Wuning, who was still asleep, thinking, ‘She can really sleep.’
She got up and walked over, but before she could even take a step, her expression changed. She abruptly looked towards the cave entrance. Not giving herself time to think, she hastily wiped away any traces of her presence in the cave, turned around, rushed out of the cave, disappeared into the forest.
Less than three minutes after Lan Feier left, a tall figure appeared at the cave entrance.
Having searched all night, Sheng Baihe finally saw the unharmed Wen Wuning inside the cave, and he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. He patted the rain off his clothes, quietly stepped into the cave, sat down beside Wen Wuning, and turned to look at her peaceful sleeping face. The restlessness in his heart gradually calmed down.
Poor thing.
He had originally thought he could save the Wen family along the way, but it seemed that even if the events in the book could have been avoided, they ultimately couldn’t. Recalling Wen’s father’s reaction over the past half-month, it seemed he had also foreseen something.
He didn’t want to hurt Wen Wuning.
This person was so fragile and pitiful at this moment that Sheng Baihe couldn’t help but reach out his hand. Just then, Wen Wuning’s long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she opened her eyes. Because she had just woken up, her eyes were blank. Sheng Baihe touched her face with affection.
Wen Wuning’s gaze shifted to him. The emptiness in her eyes was instantly replaced with hatred. Sheng Baihe grabbed her wrist, preventing her from retreating, and said gently but firmly, “Senior Sister, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“In your eyes, I might not be a good person, but I will absolutely not hurt you.”
These were Sheng Baihe’s true feelings. He might not be a good person, he might harm others, but he would never harm Wen Wuning.
He stared intently at Wen Wuning and said, “Senior Sister, as long as I’m here, I won’t let anything happen to you. I will protect you.”
Sheng Baihe had already proven he could do this. They were the only two who had escaped from the Lin family’s ancient painting. If it weren’t for Sheng Baihe, Wen Wuning would have undoubtedly perished inside as well.
Perhaps thinking of Sheng Baihe’s life-saving grace, Wen Wuning calmed down. Her free hand pulled up the clothes that were originally covering her. She looked outside the cave and said calmly, “Let go.”
Wen Wuning sat on the pile of dry grass, wearing only a white undergarment, her black hair disheveled, her outer robe half-covering her body.
“Disgusting!” Feeling the gaze appraising her body, Wen Wuning turned her head and coldly scolded.
Sheng Baihe wasn’t angry at being scolded. He smiled and said, “My heart is set on Senior Sister. In this situation, it would be abnormal not to have wandering thoughts.”
“Disgusting!” Wen Wuning couldn’t believe there was such a brazen person. “Hypocritical!”
Such insults were like a tickle. Sheng Baihe’s heart felt like a pool of spring water melting, sweet and delightful.
Wen Wuning’s clothes were disheveled, and she couldn’t make big movements or break free. Suddenly, she remembered something.
A ball of green light suddenly flew out of Wen Wuning’s palm, circled the cave, and then shot straight at Sheng Baihe. Sheng Baihe was sensible and knew his limits. If he continued to tease her, Wen Wuning might really get angry. He released Wen Wuning and got up to dodge the green light.
Turning his head again, he saw a flash of white. Wen Wuning had already put on her clothes and was standing a few meters away, the green light returning to her hand and transforming into the green sword.
Holding the green sword, Wen Wuning stared at it blankly.
Seeing Wen Wuning about to overthink again, Sheng Baihe walked over and said, “Uncle Wen seems to have something to discuss with us. Let’s go back as soon as possible.”
Hearing this, Wen Wuning looked up, casually swept the cave with her sword behind her back, and walked towards the cave entrance.
She still remembered what happened last night, but she didn’t know where that person had gone.
“Senior Sister, the world is so big. Perhaps in the future, we can find a way to bring people back to life,” Sheng Baihe followed Wen Wuning to the cave entrance. Outside was a vibrant green scene. He whispered to Wen Wuning.
Wen Wuning was stunned and turned her head to look at Sheng Baihe.
Recalling the scene of her elder brother’s death, her eyes quickly turned red.
Her elder brother and that painting had been burned to ashes, nothing left. Bringing back the dead, she knew the possibility was too small.
Lan Feier hid far away, watching the two come out of the cave unharmed, surprisingly harmonious. She had to admit that their appearances were indeed a perfect match, pleasing to the eye when they stood together.
After the two walked far away, Lan Feier also came down from the tree and went straight down the mountain.
Returning to her room, Lan Feier closed the door and rested well. The ginseng doll sensibly stayed outside, not daring to go in and provoke her.
Lan Feier slept soundly this time. She was awakened by the sound of knocking on the door. Opening her eyes, she saw a room filled with dim yellow light. Outside the window, the evening glow had dyed half the sky red. At least tomorrow would be a sunny day. She got up, stretched lazily, walked to the door, opened it, and respectfully addressed the person outside, “Senior Sister.”
Wen Wuning nodded and came in. She glanced at the bed and then at Lan Feier’s sleepy appearance. She casually found a chair and sat down. “Thank you for your care last night.”
Lan Feier looked at her and found that her spirits were much better. Her voice was still a bit hoarse, but it was much better than last night. She just didn’t know if it was because she had rested well last night or because she had talked about something with Sheng Baihe.
“Does Senior Sister need something?”
Lan Feier walked up to her. There was a difference in their status, so she just stood there.
“Father wants me to go to Lingyun Mountain. We’ll set off in the next two days.”
Lan Feier’s eyelids twitched. She raised her eyes to look at Wen Wuning, not knowing what she meant by this.
“I hope you’ll come with me.”
Wen Wuning stated the purpose of her visit, “Although Lingyun Mountain only accepts disciples who have already established their foundation, exceptions are made for those with exceptional talent. While we don’t fall into that category, my great-grandfather has some influence in Lingyun Mountain and can make an exception to keep us there for now. Father has already sent a letter to inform him.”
Entering such a large sect was a huge opportunity for ordinary disciples like Lan Feier, one that could potentially change her fate.
As for Wen Wuning, entering Lingyun Mountain was only a matter of time. She just hoped that perhaps they could find a way to bring Wen Ran back to life there, although the possibility was extremely slim.
“Who else?” Lan Feier asked calmly. “Who else will go?”
Wen Wuning glanced at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said faintly, “Sheng Baihe will go with me.”
Lan Feier nodded. She noticed that when Wen Wuning mentioned this person again, the anger and hatred she had before were gone from her face. The journey of a lone man and woman was a good opportunity to cultivate feelings. What was she, a third wheel, going to do by following them?
“You don’t have to decide immediately. I won’t leave for another two days. Just tell me before tomorrow night,”
Interrupting Lan Feier, Wen Wuning got up and slowly walked towards the door, stopping and turning back to say, “If you don’t want to go with me, I won’t force you. I’ll ask my elder brother to take more care of you in the future—”
Halfway through her sentence, Wen Wuning realized something was wrong. She stood there blankly for a few seconds, her appearance momentarily reverting to the disheveled state of last night, but this time without the cover of darkness. Wen Wuning turned her head and hastily ended her visit, “Think about it carefully.”
Lan Feier watched Wen Wuning’s departing figure.
She returned to bed and lay down, looking at the roof beams.
Even if she didn’t go with Wen Wuning, she couldn’t stay in the Wen family.
The Wen family was too dangerous.
Pushing aside all the messy thoughts, she closed her eyes and began to plan for her future.
At this time, in the deepest part of the Wen family, in Wen’s father’s courtyard, Wen’s father was sitting under the Qionghua tree, looking at the tree full of white blossoms. The Qionghua tree, which had been uprooted by Wen Wuning, was thought to have few flowers this blooming season even if replanted, but this year’s Qionghua blossoms were more abundant and brilliant than any previous year.
So abundant that it seemed like a final burst of glory before death.
Wen’s father had aged more than ten years in half a month. The unease in his heart hadn’t lessened with Wen Ran’s departure. He knew this was just the beginning; the Wen family was doomed this time. He only hoped he could at least protect his only daughter.
Perhaps the killings that night were too heavy, and the cycle of karma had come.
The next day, also at dusk, Lan Feier entered the inner courtyard of the Wen family for the first time and asked for Wen Wuning’s residence.
However, she hadn’t walked far before she seemed to get lost. By the time she found Wen Wuning’s door, it was already dark, with a few sparse stars twinkling in the sky. She stood at the door, enjoying the breeze for a while before raising her hand.
“Have you thought it over?”
The voice came from behind. Lan Feier turned around and saw Wen Wuning standing behind her. Her expression was as usual, unreadable. Lan Feier nodded.
“Walk with me. We can talk while walking.” With that, Wen Wuning turned and walked out of the courtyard.
It was a matter of one sentence, so there was no need to talk while walking, but Lan Feier still followed.
It was very quiet along the way. They didn’t encounter a single person. Perhaps Wen Wuning had deliberately chosen a less crowded path. Neither of them spoke, walking one after the other in the quiet garden.
Wen Wuning walked slowly, seemingly without a destination, truly taking a stroll.
Were they even reminiscing about the past?!
“When did you enter the Wen family?”
Faced with Wen Wuning’s sudden question, Lan Feier was a bit confused. She flipped through the memories of this body and replied, “When I was thirteen. I’ve been here for four years.”
“Four years… You’re seventeen this year?” Wen Wuning slowed her pace, seemingly talking to herself, “When you first came to the Wen family, I was sixteen. I suppose even if I had met the thirteen-year-old you, we wouldn’t have gotten along.”
Lan Feier didn’t expect Wen Wuning to be thinking about such a boring thing. She rolled her eyes inwardly. Even if they had met, that Lan Feier wasn’t her.
“We’re here.”
A gust of wind, as if coming from the edge of the sky, blew towards them. Even though it was pitch black all around, Lan Feier knew they were now in a wilderness, but she didn’t know what Wen Wuning had brought her here for.
Wen Wuning suddenly turned around and grabbed her hand, leading her forward.
“Be careful not to fall into the flower field. There are poisonous thorns.”
Hearing this, Lan Feier followed Wen Wuning closely.
They seemed to be walking on a narrow ridge between fields. On both sides were lush plants. Since Wen Wuning said it was a flower field, it should be flowers, flowers with poisonous thorns.
Following Wen Wuning straight ahead for about ten minutes, she suddenly released her hand. Lan Feier looked up and realized they seemed to be in a small bamboo shed with only a roof. Wen Wuning walked to the front and crouched down, seemingly doing something. She only heard the gurgling sound of flowing water coming from all directions, and then her eyes widened.
Centered around the small bamboo shed where they were, all the dark flower fields around them had bloomed. The reason Lan Feier could see them was because the petals of these flowers all glowed with a faint blue light, and the stamens in the center swayed with specks of light yellow. The sea of light spread out in all directions like waves.
“Come up.”
After setting down the water, Wen Wuning flew up to the roof of the bamboo shed. Lan Feier followed and sat down beside her.
Looking down from above, this vast sea of flowers was even more shocking and dreamlike.
She hadn’t expected Wen Wuning to have such a girlish heart.
“Did you plant all of these?” Lan Feier asked casually.
Wen Wuning was silent for a moment, then shook her head. “Since I was little, besides cultivating, I’ve always played with flowers and plants. Once, I found a poisonous vine and planted it. Overnight, it covered half the mountain, and all the other flowers, plants, and wild animals on the mountain were poisoned by it.”
“As long as it has water, it will keep growing outwards, so I fenced off this half of the mountain to prevent it from continuing to spread. I come to prune it whenever I have time. Finally, only this patch is left, and other places have regrown flowers and plants.”
Lan Feier hadn’t expected a romantic story to turn into a horror story. But indeed, this was more like Wen Wuning; she wouldn’t have any romantic sensibilities.
“Is it afraid of fire? We should be able to burn it,” In her understanding, almost everything was afraid of fire.
“Yes, but setting fire to it before cutting it will provoke it. We can only isolate it and come to prune it when it’s asleep during the day, then burn it after a day of exposure. Every few days, we also have to water it, otherwise, if it gets too dry, it will also become angry and produce miasma.”
So fierce? Lan Feier couldn’t sit still. “When are we leaving?”
“When it’s drunk its fill of water and fallen asleep. We can’t get out now.”
Lan Feier was helpless. She really didn’t know what Wen Wuning had brought her here for.
To tell her that she was actually quite a troublemaker when she was young?
Perhaps sensing Lan Feier’s confusion, Wen Wuning said, “I used to come here alone to water them. When I was younger, my elder brother would occasionally accompany me. But this might be the last time I come.”
Lan Feier finally understood. It turned out she had just happened to catch Wen Wuning coming to water the flowers and wasn’t particularly invited.
What Wen Wuning didn’t fully say was that back then, because of her recklessness, the poisonous vine had almost occupied the entire mountain. The severity of the situation was such that, because it was her mistake, Wen’s father had only taken people to help her isolate the entire patch of poisonous vines. Later, the pruning, sun-drying, burning, and watering were all done by her alone. At that time, she wasn’t even as old as Lan Feier when she had just entered the Wen family, but she had already learned to take responsibility for her mistakes.
That was also the first time her father had hit her.
When all the poisonous vines fell asleep, Lan Feier also fell asleep.
When they returned, Wen Wuning was still leading the way, holding her hand.
Looking at the figure in front, Lan Feier felt it looked familiar. At the tomb mountain, Wen Wuning seemed to have led her in front like this as well.
Actually, after truly spending time together, she found that Wen Wuning was actually quite a gentle person.
She had rejected Wen Wuning before, and Wen Wuning hadn’t become angry or blamed her. So this time, Lan Feier, who was usually decisive in her actions, actually didn’t know how to speak up.