Competing with the Male Lead for the Female Lead (Transmigration) - Chapter 20
“A quick death, or a gamble? The choice is yours.”
The soft, indifferent voice flowed like a clear spring through Lin Niaoniao’s despairing and helpless heart. The weeping Lin Niaoniao stared blankly at Wen Wuning, a glimmer of hope igniting within her.
Her life hadn’t even truly begun. She didn’t want to die!
What’s more, she wanted revenge! She must kill Sheng Baihe, that beast in human skin!
Lin Niaoniao’s voice was hoarse from crying as she shouted, “I want to live! I want to live!”
The pain of flesh separating!
It hurt!
She would repay this pain a hundredfold, a thousandfold to Sheng Baihe sooner or later!
Lin Niaoniao was driven mad by the pain, constantly struggling between reason and madness, at one moment determined to live and seek revenge, at another moment weeping and begging Wen Wuning to give her a quick death.
By the time Wen Wuning withdrew her hand, there wasn’t a single patch of intact skin left on Lin Niaoniao’s body.
Lin Niaoniao’s breath was as faint as a gossamer thread. She was numb from the pain as she looked at Wen Wuning, who was sitting on the filthy bed that even she herself disdained, covered in bl00d and grime. For a moment, she couldn’t describe the taste in her mouth, feeling particularly wronged.
Lin Niaoniao suddenly said weakly, “Grandpa loved me the most. If he knew I was bullied like this by Sheng Baihe, he would definitely come to settle the score with Sheng Baihe even as a ghost.”
Wen Wuning’s bl00d-stained fingertip trembled. She thought of Wen Ran. “My elder brother was also very fond of me.”
“Your brother killed my grandpa.” Recalling the scene at that time, tears suddenly streamed down Lin Niaoniao’s cheeks.
But now, towards Wen Wuning, who was willing to wallow in bl00d and filth with her in her final moments, she felt more regret and resentment than hatred.
If she hadn’t competed with Wen Wuning at every turn, Grandpa wouldn’t have died, and she wouldn’t have ended up like this.
“My elder brother died in the ancient painting of your Lin family.”
Lin Niaoniao’s crying suddenly stopped. She looked at Wen Wuning. Wen Ran’s death didn’t bring her any joy. What she saw now was someone who had lost a loved one just like her.
Tears silently streamed down her face.
“Wen Wuning, you owe me. I will come to collect my debt in the next life,” Lin Niaoniao’s eyes were blurry with tears. With her last bit of strength, she clutched Wen Wuning’s sleeve. “In the next life, I want you to be my elder sister.”
You must always yield to me, protect me, and even sacrifice your life for me.
••••
Lan Feier settled Lin Niaoniao down. The sky was already slightly bright. Returning to the Wen family, she went directly to Wen Wuning’s residence.
As she reached Wen Wuning’s door, a pair of slightly red, moist eyes flashed through her mind.
Lan Feier stepped forward and knocked on the door.
The Wen Wuning who opened the door had already changed into clean clothes, her body carrying the fresh scent of bathing, without a trace of bl00d. The only remaining sign was the melancholy between her brows and eyes.
“Is it taken care of?” Wen Wuning asked, her gaze sweeping over Lan Feier. Although there was no obvious bloodstain, the smell of bl00d on her was strong.
Lan Feier nodded.
There was a moment of silence. Wen Wuning said, “Go back and wash up, then rest well.”
Lan Feier stepped forward, blocking the door that was about to close with one hand, and quickly said, looking up, “Senior Sister, I want to go to Lingyun Mountain with you.”
The young-looking Lan Feier didn’t seem like a youth at this moment. Her gaze was deep, firm, and composed.
Therefore, this decision had been carefully considered.
Wen Wuning’s eyelashes fluttered violently, her lips pressed tightly together. She stared at this calm yet still somewhat green face for a long while before asking with difficulty, “Have you thought it through?”
Seeing those eyes redden and become moist again, Lan Feier turned her head away.
Sheng Baihe was not only two-faced but also ruthless and cold-blooded. Traveling with such a person was almost equivalent to carrying an unstable explosive.
So, before Lan Feier could express her attitude, Wen Wuning had already made a decision for her.
She had intended to travel alone with Sheng Baihe, but did Wen Wuning really know what that meant?
Sheng Baihe would definitely not behave himself along the way, unless Wen Wuning was already prepared to accept him. Otherwise, given their personalities, they would definitely end up in mutual destruction.
However, Wen Wuning would absolutely not be able to defeat the protagonist Sheng Baihe. If it really came to that, her ending might not be better than Lin Niaoniao’s.
Lan Feier nodded and said coldly, “If I miss this opportunity, I might never have the chance in this lifetime to see the legendary Lingyun Mountain, where all spiritual power converges.”
Lan Feier was almost convinced by her own words. Although she feared trouble, wouldn’t it be a waste of this trip to this magnificent world of cultivation if she didn’t look around?
“Senior Sister, I’ll go back and pack first.”
Saying this, Lan Feier didn’t look at Wen Wuning again, turned around, and left. Her steps back were more confident than when she came.
This decision went against her way of dealing with the world, but she had always been unconventional.
She wasn’t doing it for Wen Wuning, but for herself. Although following Sheng Baihe was dangerous, wasn’t there a saying that the most dangerous place was often the safest?
She wasn’t entirely without advantages. At least she knew the plot.
The journey to Lingyun Mountain was long and arduous. In the book, three years later, with Sheng Baihe and Wen Wuning’s cultivation levels at that time, it took them more than ten months. Although it was also because the protagonist brushed through a few small side quests along the way, delaying them a bit, she didn’t know if those side quests still existed this time. But considering the current levels of the three of them, it would conservatively take at least as much time, if not more.
Sheng Baihe and Wen Wuning had already achieved Bigu, but Lan Feier still needed to eat. After packing her clothes, Lan Feier went to the kitchen intending to prepare some dry rations. But seeing the fragrant and colorful chicken, duck, fish, and meat cooking on the stove, thinking there was no need to wrong her stomach, she packed them all up to take away.
Lan Feier summoned the ginseng doll to find the Qiankun bag she had asked it to hide earlier. Taking back this familiar Qiankun bag, Lan Feier no longer felt any psychological pressure and stuffed all her luggage into it, including the tightly packed but still faintly fragrant food.
Wen Wuning was intelligent, calm and collected, and clear about her grudges, but she was soft-hearted, a person with a cold exterior but a warm interior.
This characteristic would definitely put her at a disadvantage in the future, and she would need her own protection then. Taking her Qiankun bag felt justified.
The originally spirit-filled Qiankun bag was now filled with fragrant food. The spiritual power overflowing from the bag’s mouth had now turned into the aroma of food. The two Qiankun bags were connected. She wondered what expression Wen Wuning would have when she opened her Qiankun bag.
Lan Feier happily put the Qiankun bag into her arms.
Going to meet up with Wen Wuning, she sorted out the side quests that Sheng Baihe and Wen Wuning would encounter on their journey three years later in the book and considered the possibility of encountering them again this time.
When she arrived, Wen Wuning and Sheng Baihe had just bid farewell to Wen’s father.
Wen Wuning had mentioned bringing a junior sister along to Wen’s father, a trivial matter that Wen’s father hadn’t paid much attention to, but Sheng Baihe was different.
He had originally thought he could have a world of two with Wen Wuning along the way, but he hadn’t expected to have to bring a third wheel.
Therefore, as soon as Lan Feier appeared, Sheng Baihe’s gaze towards her was very unpleasant. However, many things would happen along the way, and it wasn’t impossible for this third wheel to die in some “accident” at any time. Thinking of this, Sheng Baihe felt much more comfortable.
Lan Feier could feel Sheng Baihe’s displeasure.
She just greeted them and then retreated to the side, making herself very inconspicuous.
She was at a lively and active age but deliberately maintained a silent and taciturn demeanor.
This was Lan Feier’s way of saving her life. If her presence was weak, Sheng Baihe’s attention to her would be less, and she would be safer.
However, what surprised her a bit was Wen Wuning’s attitude towards Sheng Baihe.
Cold, only cold.
It was as if nothing had happened last night. Lan Feier smiled inwardly. It seemed she had underestimated Wen Wuning.
Actually, it wasn’t entirely so. In the book, Wen Wuning’s character was one who didn’t show her emotions easily, but she was particularly impulsive only when she was almost taken advantage of by Sheng Baihe.
A thousand-mile journey requires a good steed. Wen’s father hadn’t favored one over the others and had prepared excellent steeds for the three of them, each one plump and strong, looking very durable.
The three mounted their horses spiritedly, ready to set off.
Wen Wuning looked back at the high gates of the Wen family, remaining silent for a long time.
She had always thought she would travel this road with her elder brother.
Her elder brother had already established his foundation but had been waiting for her before setting off.
How could this journey be without him?
Unable to control her emotions, Wen Wuning abruptly pulled the reins, turned her horse around, and whipped it away.
The gentle breeze, like a warm hand, carried away the tears from the corners of her eyes.
Just like the hand that wiped away her tears when she was a child.
The long wind carries a message, may this journey lead straight to the clouds, fulfilling all hopes.