Lin Muxian found herself in this savage land, deeply troubled by how to lead the cold, sharp-edged youth behind her out.
He still looked as if he were half-dead.
His lips were as pale as paper, making him appear pitiable.
Lin Muxian wanted to look, but the youth stubbornly refused to cooperate. As soon as she cast her gaze upon him, he would reveal a fierce expression. Helplessly, she could only turn her head away, grumbling in her heart.
Why was it that no matter the person, as long as they bore Ling Qianhe’s face, they would turn into his fierce and peculiar, yandere personality?
It was truly bothersome.
If this were to be adapted into a television series, and Ling Qianhe were to play the role again, she would genuinely have a headache.
She sighed softly, intending to just endure the night like this.
Who knew that after a few breaths, the youth behind her suddenly began to breathe rapidly—he stumbled to the ground, his entire body trembling!
Lin Muxian heard the clatter of his fall and was almost startled.
Lin Muxian could no longer afford to be so reserved.
She didn't care that the little brat was glaring at her.
She immediately stood up, hurried to his side, and then grasped his wrist.
His wrist was very slender, revealing how thin he was and how much he had suffered. His skin was fair, but the moment she held it, it sent a chill down her spine.
His eyes seemed to instantly lose focus, his lips bitten shut, unwilling to emit a cry of pain.
His lips exuded fragmented breaths, and blood flowed ceaselessly from their corners, a terrifying sight that made her heart tremble repeatedly. He was clearly in immense pain.
What was going on?
Although the sickly Qianhe was beautiful, this was hardly the time to appreciate beauty—he was spitting up blood so worryingly!
Lin Muxian looked at him, her heart aching deeply. After all, he looked exactly like Ling Qianhe…
With this character bearing Ling Qianhe’s face, it was impossible for her to remain calm and composed, as if nothing were happening.
It was as if Ling Qianhe himself were bleeding!
How could she stand by and do nothing? How could she pretend not to see?
At that moment, the little system immediately chimed in.
“Host, the script said so!”
“His stepmother dug out his spirit meridians and stripped him of his spirit bones, which is why he endures the pain of severed meridians and dislocated bones periodically. His current body is only barely holding together, sustained by a peculiar aura mixed with residual resentment and demonic energy.”
“Each time the pain of severed meridians and dislocated bones strikes, he suffers unbearable agony.”
“After each episode, his body becomes even more fragile, bringing him a step closer to complete collapse.”
“He will eventually scatter his soul. That's why his stepmother felt assured enough to abandon him in this dangerous place. Even if he wasn't devoured by fierce beasts, his flesh and blood would collapse on its own, turning him into a puddle of paste…”
Lin Muxian’s heart clenched.
However, her dual professionalism as a transmigrator and an actress told her not to panic.
All of this was merely following the plot.
He wouldn't truly die.
Otherwise, the subsequent plot would be ruined.
It wouldn't collapse; she could save it.
No need to panic.
“So, there must be a way to save him, right?”
The little system hummed.
“If left unattended, when his body finally collapses to its extreme, it will be consumed by demonic energy.”
“The demonic energy will regenerate his flesh and blood, bestowing upon him immense demonic power. However, he will then become a demon, a devil. Fierce energy, malevolent energy, and demonic energy will coalesce, causing him to completely lose his human emotions. His fate was inherently that of a demon.”
“He will become the most formidable demon in this world.”
“All deities and Buddhas will retreat three steps.”
“This demon of his can slay immortals and gods.”
“You can choose not to intervene in his current state; after all, he won't truly scatter his soul…”
“Meaning, he will become a demon.”
“However, if he becomes a demon, your situation will become rather dire…”
“Especially since he still dislikes you quite a bit.”
Lin Muxian pursed her lips in silence.
The youth opposite her had a face as pale as paper and deathly pale lips.
He was so fragile, yet so beautiful. His eyelashes cast shadows over his eyelids; due to the immense pain, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, yet it only amplified a beauty that was at its absolute extreme.
Like a butterfly about to break apart at any moment.
Broken wings, vulnerable.
His skin was so white it was almost transparent, and he gasped for air in great gulps.
She clenched her fingertips. When her touch met his body, he trembled all over but still tried to dodge her.
“Get… get away!”
He detested such touch.
He also detested appearing so vulnerable before a former maid.
But he didn't want to die.
The pain throughout his body surged like a tide. He nearly gritted his teeth to the breaking point. The only thought that flashed through his mind was that he could not die; he still had to seek revenge, his spirit meridians, his spirit bones… his ancient sword…
His pride had been brutally shattered!
This made him wish for death!
Clearly, clearly, his enemies still existed in this world.
How could he die?
He would never die!
Therefore, even if it meant grinding his teeth to dust, he would persevere.
Lin Muxian was pushed back by him, but with the pain of severed meridians and dislocated bones raging, how much strength could he muster?
He couldn't push her away completely, merely making her take a step back. She then walked back to Ling Qianhe’s side.
She squatted down, looking at his face, which was identical to Ling Qianhe’s.
This face, this expression, felt increasingly familiar.
Even his stubborn, unyielding demeanor in the face of extreme pain.
It was all identical to Ling Qianhe’s.
She felt increasingly unable to bear it. As long as it was Qianhe… she couldn't help but feel distressed.
Even a character created in Qianhe’s likeness, seeing him in such pain, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of pity.
She asked the little system.
“In the script, this woman with the same name as me, she wouldn’t have just stood by and watched, would she? She must have done something. Tell me, and I'll do it.”
Only then did the little system inform her.
“In the Hongze Great Wilderness, there is a Jade Bone Lotus, which can reshape a person’s muscles and bones. You must have heard of a legendary figure in the modern world named Nezha.”
“He drew the dragon sinews of the Third Prince of the East Sea. Later, when the Dragon King sought retribution, he returned his flesh to his mother and his bones to his father, dismembering himself.”
“Nezha’s later physical body was crafted from lotuses, no different from ordinary flesh and blood.”
“The Jade Bone Lotus in this world can serve the same purpose.”
Lin Muxian clenched her palm, clearly understanding.
“Jade Bone Lotus? Where is it, and how do I obtain it?”
“I'll go find it for him. Since there's an item that can prevent him from becoming a demon, according to the plot, shouldn't I find it even if it costs me my life?”
The little system hesitated.
“You can. However, if you don't help him now, I fear he will be in so much pain that he will die, and turn into a demon right before your eyes.”
Lin Muxian grew anxious.
“Then what should we do?”
“Surely you're not telling me the script intends for him to perish right from the start?”
The little system took a deep breath before offering a solution.
“Host, although this body of yours has ordinary spiritual root talent and mediocre spirit bones… it possesses a very special physique.”
“You can… share half of another person’s pain with yourself.”
“As long as you are willing and choose that person, you can bear half of all the pain they experience from then on.”
“However, your own pain will not transfer to them.”
Lin Muxian was slightly taken aback.
She looked at the future demon, Ling Qianhe, before her.
“So… you mean…”
She hesitated slightly.
“You want me to transfer half of his pain onto myself?”
“If this is what the script dictates, then I don't see why not—it’s just…”
“Will doing so hurt a lot?”
“Can you help me block the pain signals?”
“I’m afraid I might faint from the pain and be unable to find that Jade Bone Lotus for him.”
She knew there was something peculiar about her current body.
After all, someone capable of preventing the male lead from becoming a demon wouldn't just be an ordinary little maid.
The synopsis mentioned saving him and then killing him, a cycle of torment, indicating a deeply angsty romance.
It’s acting.
She could just close one eye and open the other.
She was a mission executor devoid of emotion!
Just doing her job.
If necessary, she would brave mountains of knives and seas of fire.
But generally, she could block pain signals—however, the little system stammered, coughed heavily, and then told Lin Muxian.
“Host, I believe in your willpower!”
“Go on, share some of your destined villain's pain, and besides, Host, he’s so pathetic, think of it as pitying him?”
“He looks exactly like Ling Qianhe!”
Lin Muxian rolled her eyes dramatically.
“But he’s just a character in a script.”
“Demon Lord Ling Qianhe isn't my husband Ling Qianhe himself, so why should I make such a sacrifice?”
But the pale-faced youth opposite her suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood again. The blood landed on her palm, a burning scarlet. Lin Muxian was slightly stunned—a hint of helplessness and pity flickered in her eyes.
“Fine, fine, I’ll give it a try.”
She sighed, for the sake of her career.
For a soul-stirring, melodramatic Xianxia novel!
For the male lead!
She could do it!
She would endure it for a while; it was all an illusion anyway.
Thinking thus, she recited a spell, forging a contract with the suffering youth before her, taking half of his pain onto herself. The moment the contract was sealed.
Her entire being instantly contorted into a mask of agony!
This…
It hurt too much!
Would this youth truly die from the pain?
This was practically torture in the human world!
Cold sweat poured down her body.
Even half the pain of severed meridians and dislocated bones felt like thousands of ants crawling all over her, a torment that neared the limit of human endurance. She didn't even know how she managed to bear it.
Ling Qianhe… no wonder this youth would become a demon!
Anyone would become a demon in such pain!
She drifted in a haze of agony.
Yet, she felt the pain was somewhat familiar, as if it weren't the first time. Unable to ponder it further, she gritted her teeth and threatened the little system.
“Give me… block the pain!”
“Otherwise, I’ll make sure you’re finished!”
Fortunately, the system finally proved somewhat useful. Seeing that she could barely endure it, it helped her share some of the burden, making the pain just bearable.
She heard the system sighing mournfully.
“That demon has an inherently rebellious nature and deserves to suffer. His destiny is fraught with hardship, a punishment from the heavenly dao. He was destined to become the most powerful demon lord in the world.”
“This level of pain is common fare for his future path. After all, only by enduring the bitterest hardships can one become the greatest among demons.”
“His suffering is the nourishment for his path to becoming a demon. The more he suffers, the stronger his demonic power will be in the future.”
“Host, if you want to defy fate, you're going to endure immense suffering.”
“Listen to me, abandon this script, okay?”
“Let’s leave this acting space and find a sweet romance drama; wouldn't that be a hundred times better than enduring such hardship?”
“Even acting through this much pain is heartbreaking!”
Lin Muxian could already feel the intensity of the pain.
Lin Muxian was drenched in cold sweat, her lips bitten raw, yet a sense of stubbornness bloomed in her heart.
A sense of refusal to concede.
“It’s just acting.”
“What am I afraid of?”
“The more agonizing the current suffering, the more difficult the future pursuit of this wretched demon Ling Qianhe will be, and the more spectacular the 'chase-the-wife cremation ground' will be! The audience will love it! I like this plot!”
“I absolutely will not give up!”
She forced herself to stand up.
The youth before her remained motionless, lying on the ground, covered in cold sweat, like a wisp of dust that could scatter at any moment. He had clearly fainted from the pain.
And she asked the system.
“Where is the Jade Bone Lotus?”
“I'll go get it and reshape this demon Ling Qianhe’s spirit bones and meridians.”
Having endured the hardship, she now felt a surge of exhilaration.
Villain, right? Demon Lord, right?
She was going to confront this nonsensical, melodramatic Xianxia plot!
Damn it, just because he wore a face identical to Ling Qianhe’s, she couldn't just ignore him!