The Villainous Supporting Character Ended Up with the Female Lead - Chapter 20

Yun Weiyan ignored the System’s frantic screams within her Divine Sense. Her fingers tightened, her pearly white nails sinking into the festering flesh of the woman’s neck.

Host! Show her no mercy this time!

The System urged Yun Weiyan to strike the unexpected woman down without hesitation, its voice burning with urgency.

Yun Weiyan!</i> it roared. <i>Remember how she deceived you! Don’t fall for the same trick twice!

As the System’s furious roars echoed in her mind, Yun Weiyan curled her fingers, her palm sensing the woman’s still-beating pulse.

Yun Weiyan lowered her gaze, her eyes dark and unyielding, refusing to break eye contact for a long moment.

The woman’s eyelids drooped weakly, her breathing growing shallow and ragged. Her body was a mangled mess, tortured beyond recognition.

Sensing the danger, the Little Fox leaped onto the woman’s body, tilting her head and gently licking the bl00d from her face with her pink tongue.

A familiar profile gradually came into focus before Yi’an’s eyes.

It’s… it’s her?!

The Little Fox’s eyes widened in shock, her snow-white fur stark against the crimson bloodstains. The pungent, metallic stench filled her nostrils.

The woman’s name nearly escaped her lips.

Simultaneously, a flood of questions surged through Yi’an’s mind. But she knew one thing for certain regardless of whatever grievances the woman and Yun Weiyan held against each other, the woman couldn’t die here.

With this thought, the Little Fox’s tail trembled as she wrapped it around Yun Weiyan’s wrist. Tears welled in her eyes as she lowered her front paws, emitting soft, pleading whimpers.

Yun Weiyan’s expression remained unchanged, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on the creature.

To kill, or not to kill.

The decision rested entirely on her will.

Is… is that you, Xiaoyan…?

The woman suddenly spoke, tiny droplets of bl00d instantly filling her torn lips.

Before Yun Weiyan could respond, the woman struggled to squint open a slit of her eyes. Though the bl00d blurred her vision, she could still vaguely make out the person before her.

Xiao… cough, cough… Xiao Yan…

Hearing that long-abandoned nickname, Yun Weiyan visibly stiffened. A faint ache stirred in her heart, leaving a heavy feeling in her chest.

Her gaze settled calmly on the woman’s slowly shifting hands. The once-delicate, pale fingers had been utterly ruined.

Pitted, bl00d-filled blisters crowded the slender palms, and the fingernails were half-detached at the edges. The woman tilted her head back to look at Yun Weiyan, a flicker of hope in her eyes.

The wind rustled through the tall, verdant bamboo grove. The woman flinched instinctively, then gathered her strength to speak. I… I wronged you in the past. Her hoarse voice sounded as if she hadn’t spoken in ages.

Kill me.

The woman closed her eyes contentedly and whispered to Yun Weiyan, Karma… I owe you this.

Yun Weiyan remained silent, quietly studying the woman’s wretched state. After a long moment, she finally erupted into a desolate laugh.

Ha ha ha… You owe me? You owe me so much that even your soul’s annihilation couldn’t repay it!

Chu Ran, Yun Weiyan murmured with a low laugh. You deserve this wretched fate. You think I’ll kill you? Dream on.

She gently stroked the hideous scars on Chu Ran’s face, then leaned close to her ear, her eyes gleaming with malice. Her voice dripped with false sweetness as she whispered, I’ll make you experience a fate worse than death.

Chu Ran’s eyes remained tightly shut, her body growing increasingly rigid, her pulse fading to a faint flutter.

The Little Fox, sensing the mood, leaped to the ground with a soft whine, watching as Yun Weiyan removed her outer robe to wrap around the woman. She then lifted Chu Ran into her arms and carried her toward a hidden cave deep within the bamboo forest.

On the mountain path near the bamboo grove, a group of villagers huddled together, furtively trailing behind the two women in Daoist robes.

They were the lowest rung of the Cultivation World.

Generations ago, some of their ancestors had been fortunate enough to embark on the Path of Immortality. But due to limitations in Spirit Root, talent, or other reasons, they had been unable to continue cultivating. Unwilling to abandon this world entirely, they had settled resentfully in the Ninety-Nine Eighty-One Cities.

There, they found partners, had children, and clung to the hope that the next generation might follow in their ancestors’ footsteps and reclaim the Path of Immortality.

Most of these people ended up living in the cities and surrounding mountain forests, subject to the jurisdiction of various sects, and dismissed by cultivators as mere mortals.

Are you ever going to stop following us?

One of the women finally snapped, unable to endure their persistent pursuit any longer. She grabbed a handful of talisman papers from her Daoist robe, ready to scatter them at the villagers, but her companion stopped her.

Elder Guan, be cautious, Tao Li said, patting her shoulder. Harming mortals would damage our sect’s reputation.

Convinced by his reasoning, Guan Ling snorted coldly, flicked her sleeve, and turned to confront the villagers. Why are you following us?

The villagers exchanged nervous glances before, under Guan Ling’s burning glare, they abruptly knelt before her and Tao Li.

Please, immortals, grant us justice! the bearded villager cried, slamming his forehead against the ground. Our village is nearby. We were born dull-witted, with Five Spirit Roots—we can’t even reach Foundation Establishment!

So, you want to join our sect? Guan Ling interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. Go cool off somewhere else. Our sect doesn’t accept disciples with fewer than Three Spirit Roots. Five Spirit Roots and you think you can cultivate? Give up that delusion now.

Tao Li silently took half a step back, distancing himself from Guan Ling as he coldly observed the unfolding farce.

An older villager picked up where the bearded man left off, bowing respectfully to Guan Ling with a resounding kowtow.

We didn’t mean to disturb you two immortals, he said, his gaze darting nervously around as he continued, his breath ragged. But… but we’re truly desperate. This place is haunted by a demon.

A demon? Guan Ling was bewildered by the villager’s words. She repeated the question incredulously, You saw it yourselves? A demon?

The remaining villagers nodded vigorously, their expressions conspiratorial as they chimed in with fragmented accounts.

That demon snuck into my yard at midnight. The next morning, all my chickens were dead, their throats slit, the ground soaked in bl00d!

Exactly! And it sucks people’s life essence! Old Wang at the village entrance was found as a dried-up corpse!

Amid the villagers’ chaotic, fragmented testimonies, Tao Li’s initially indifferent expression gradually turned grave.

She and Guan Ling exchanged a glance, both reading the same thought in each other’s eyes

Demons?

There were no demons in the Cultivation World.

It was more likely that a demon cultivator who fed on human bl00d had emerged nearby.

The Heavenly Dao was benevolent, treating all living beings equally, for all things possessed spirits.

The transformation and cultivation of monsters were not unheard of. According to records from the Human Race’s ancestors, seven thousand years ago, the power of demon cultivators had once rivaled that of human cultivators.

Unfortunately, after that calamity, the demon cultivators’ strength waned, gradually fading into obscurity within the Cultivation World, leaving no trace behind.

In the seven millennia since, while the Human Race had grown steadily stronger, they had never encountered a single demon cultivator.

Tao Li, more composed than Guan Ling, gave her a subtle signal to retreat to her side, intending to take the lead in questioning the villagers.

Guan Ling sulked, reluctantly closing her mouth and watching Tao Li flaunt his authority before her.

Truth be told, ever since the death of their Eldest Senior Sister, Guan Ling had harbored a lingering resentment toward Tao Li, often finding fault with him.

Tao Li completely ignored Guan Ling’s private feelings, his expression grave as he asked, Elder, did any chickens survive in the village? How many people have died so far?

Ah, Immortal Maiden, the old man sighed, his voice heavy with sorrow. More than ten lives have been lost. It’s not just the chickens—all the livestock in the village have suffered.

Tao Li nodded, then pressed further, Old man, didn’t you seek help from Changli’s Overseeing Disciple? This area falls under Changli’s jurisdiction.

That’s precisely why we’re pleading with you two Immortal Maidens, the Bearded Man interjected, his brow furrowed. This demon belongs to Changli, but they turn a blind eye, pretending not to see it.

What?! Guan Ling couldn’t contain herself any longer. She lunged toward the Bearded Man, Changli harbors demons—

Before she could utter the word cultivation, Guan Ling realized Tao Li had cast a Mute Spell on her, silencing her completely.

Tao Li swiftly pulled Guan Ling behind him, calmly exchanged a few more words with the villagers to confirm their account, then accepted their invitation to stay in the village for a couple of days.

Though Guan Ling’s cultivation was at the Late-Stage Spirit Transformation realm, the same as Tao Li’s, her expertise lay in Talisman Dao and Formation Arts. In terms of raw spiritual power, she still fell short of Tao Li, who had once been a disciple under the Demoness.

Since Tao Li had agreed to help the villagers, Guan Ling had no choice but to reluctantly stay in the village with Elder Tao/Demoness.

She would never admit she wanted to help too.

Deep within the bamboo forest, in a hidden cave, the Little Fox sneezed incessantly for over an hour. Her delicate pink nose was rubbed raw by her paws.

Yun Weiyan released Chu Ran’s hand, exhaling a breath of stale air. She had barely managed to keep Chu Ran alive.

Chu Ran lay on the stone bed, her lips deathly pale and her face ravaged. A dense network of scars, like twisted centipedes, crawled across her features.

Tongzi? Yun Weiyan called softly to the System in her mind.

The System, sulking and refusing to acknowledge her, deliberately remained silent, hiding within her Divine Sense.

I— Yun Weiyan’s expression turned slightly guilty. She knew the System had urged her to kill Chu Ran for her own good, but…

She glanced sideways at Chu Ran’s lifeless form on the stone bed, a flicker of reluctance in her eyes. Then, she channeled another surge of spiritual power into Chu Ran.

Yun Weiyan, you’ve slaughtered countless people, even showing ruthless cruelty to the female lead. Why—

Sensing its Host’s wavering resolve toward Chu Ran, the System’s data circuits went haywire. It stormed into her Divine Sense, its voice crackling with fury.

Why can’t you bring yourself to be merciless toward her? If not for her, your legs wouldn’t have been broken, and you wouldn’t have been cast out of the Yun Clan like a stray dog!

But if not for her, I wouldn’t have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Yun Weiyan’s eyes dimmed as she beckoned to the fox cub at the cave entrance.

The little fox wagged its beautiful tail and darted to her feet, leaping into her warm embrace.

Tears welled in Yun Weiyan’s eyes, and she blinked involuntarily, the name Chu Ran echoing in her heart.

The flood of memories overwhelmed her. In her youth, at the Yun Clan, she had been constantly ostracized, despised, and mocked. Though she bore the title of Second Miss, she never earned genuine respect from anyone.

Because she was the Vicious Female Supporting Character, the villainous foil meant to highlight the heroine.

This was the fate the Heavenly Dao had ordained for her.

Later, as a Demonic Cultivator, Yun Weiyan often recalled those childhood years, remembering how she had once lurked like a rat in the shadows, spying on others’ perfect lives.

Especially Yun Hanmian’s.

Suppressing her surging emotions, she stroked the little fox with one hand while channeling spiritual power into the other, aiming it at Chu Ran’s cheek.

A flash of white light erupted, adding a fresh, bloody gash to her already disfigured face.