Ye Ran had noticed something strange about Lu Li lately.
He seemed obsessed with being harvested by her—or more precisely, with raising her cultivation. Ever since they’d arrived at this nameless mountain, Lu Li spent every day either cultivating with her or finding excuses to let her harvest from him.
In just half a month, Ye Ran’s cultivation had risen to the Mahayana stage. By the standards of the cultivation world, she was now a true expert—more than capable of taking on ten opponents at once.
Now she understood why, in the novel, the male lead and the other side characters had been so desperate to harvest the female lead. At this rate of advancement, few could resist the temptation.
At the same time, she felt profoundly grateful that she had chosen to cling to Lu Li’s thigh. Otherwise, no one would have been willing to be her antidote, let alone let her harvest from them.
But soon, Ye Ran noticed that Lu Li was acting stranger still.
Often, he wasn’t in the cave. Sometimes, even when she extended her spiritual sense across the entire mountain, she couldn’t find him. And when he returned, he was evasive, never telling her where he’d been.
One morning, Ye Ran woke to find him gone again.
Just as she was about to search for him with her spiritual sense, the system’s chubby form rushed over and burrowed into her arms.
“Host, the big villain left last night after you fell asleep, and he hasn’t come back yet.”
Without waiting for her to speak, the system hugged her arm and volunteered the information.
But Ye Ran lifted it up by the scruff and looked at it suspiciously.
“System, I’ve noticed you seem very interested in Lu Li’s whereabouts lately.”
It had been like this the last few days too. Every time she woke to find Lu Li gone, the system would immediately report where he’d been, acting even more anxious than she did, as if trying to guide her into doing something.
This time was no different. After telling her that Lu Li had been gone all night, the system’s tail kept swishing, looking even more eager than before.
“D-do I? I just want to be your most loyal servant, host, and keep an eye on the big villain for you.”
As it spoke, its eyes darted around, the picture of guilt. Ye Ran’s suspicion deepened. But just as she was about to press further, the system squirmed free and nuzzled her arm.
“Host, aren’t you curious about what the big villain is doing?”
It had hit the mark. Lu Li’s recent behavior was indeed strange. He was often nowhere to be found. She did want to know what he was up to.
“Of course I’m curious. But I don’t know where he is.”
“Host, you could wait for him on his way back. You might just discover his secret.”
As it spoke, the system’s voice carried a hint of excitement. Its large eyes were fixed on her, clearly hoping she would agree.
Ye Ran, not noticing, considered the idea. Under the system’s expectant gaze, she finally nodded.
“Let’s go! That’s what we’ll do.”
She scooped up the system and left the cave.
She wasn’t sure the plan would reveal what Lu Li was doing, but it might uncover some clues.
Ye Ran made her way down the mountain.
These days, her routine was fixed: either harvesting from Lu Li or cultivating. This was the first time she had walked down the mountain path.
And what she saw made her uneasy. The trees below were withered and decaying, as if something had drained them of their vitality.
The further she went, the stronger her unease grew.
Just as she neared the foot of the mountain, she felt a strange disturbance in the air.
“System, do you feel something moving around us?”
Ye Ran stopped and looked around. The system, more alert than she was, immediately pointed a paw in one direction.
“Host, over there!”
Instinctively, Ye Ran followed its gaze.
In a nearby patch of forest, a faint blue glow flickered.
Its color was almost identical to the Blazing Spirit inside Lu Li.
Ye Ran immediately thought of the formation he had drawn days ago. Though he had said it was a defensive formation, she had never seen it. And her instincts told her it was more than that.
Without hesitation, she took the system and walked toward the glow.
Pushing past some bushes, she found a formation radiating a pale blue light.
The formation seemed to have malfunctioned, revealing itself. Though Ye Ran couldn’t identify it, she could tell it was no defensive formation.
She plucked a leaf and tossed it at the formation.
The moment the leaf touched it, it disintegrated into powder, carried away by the wind.
The formation was that lethal.
Ye Ran was startled.
But more than surprise, she felt confusion.
They hadn’t even reached the mountain’s base. Why would Lu Li set up such a deadly formation here?
If it were meant to keep Lingxu and his people out, it should be placed around the mountain’s perimeter.
Setting it this deep felt like a trap to confine and kill anyone who entered.
The thought gave Ye Ran a chill.
She became certain—Lu Li was planning something big.
“System, what do you think Lu Li is trying to do?”
“Host, have you forgotten? He’s the big villain. Of course, he wants to destroy the world.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ye Ran patted the system’s head.
But what she didn’t see was the flash of disappointment in its round eyes, followed by a quiet sorrow.
“Never mind. Let’s go wait at the foot of the mountain.”
Pushing aside her questions, Ye Ran went with the system to the mountain’s base.
There, she saw no defensive formation. It was as if the mountain was an open gate, welcoming all comers.
Though her unease grew, Ye Ran found a hidden spot and waited for Lu Li.
Thanks to their frequent dual cultivation, she now carried traces of his aura. As long as she stayed hidden, he couldn’t sense her.
She only waited a quarter of an hour before spotting Lu Li.
But she also sensed several unfamiliar presences not far away.
Someone was tailing him.
Ye Ran shifted, ready to help. But before she could step out, Lu Li stopped, turned, and drew his sword—exposing those who followed.
They wore the uniforms of the City Lord’s Mansion. Lingxu’s men.
They seemed intent on fleeing rather than fighting. The moment they were discovered, they ran.
But Lu Li gave them no chance.
With a sweep of his sword, they all fell.
Relieved, Ye Ran stayed hidden, watching.
After dispatching them, Lu Li didn’t leave. Instead, he looked in another direction.
Ye Ran cautiously extended her spiritual sense.
She picked up another faint, unfamiliar presence—one that seemed to be fleeing. Strangely, Lu Li remained where he was, making no move to pursue.
It was as if he had deliberately exposed himself.
Ye Ran withdrew her spiritual sense and stared at him in disbelief. Only then did Lu Li finally turn and head back.
She waited until his figure vanished before emerging from the bushes.
In the moments that had passed, many thoughts raced through her mind. Finally, she looked down at the system in her arms.
“System, tell me the truth. Do you know something? Or rather, is our mission truly just to prevent the female lead from becoming a cauldron?”
After some reflection, she had found the cracks.
If that were truly her mission, it should have been completed long ago.
Though the system had said the mission wouldn’t officially end until the story’s abrupt close, with Meng Xuan already out of the picture and the original plot completely derailed, logically, she should have succeeded.
Yet every time she asked, the system hedged, saying it wasn’t yet time to leave this world.
There was only one possibility: her mission wasn’t finished.
Connecting Lu Li’s strange behavior and the system’s recent urgency—as if trying to guide her—Ye Ran guessed that her real mission had always been about Lu Li.
“Host, what are you talking about? I don’t—”
The system’s guilty face and attempt to play dumb were obvious. But before it could finish, Ye Ran grabbed the scruff of its neck and held it to eye level.
“If you want to complete the mission, tell me the truth.”
That silenced the system. It stared at her. Seeing her resolute expression, it sighed and finally spoke.
“Then brace yourself, host.”
“Just say it.”
Ye Ran set the system down. The first words out of its mouth stunned her.
“Actually, our real mission is to stop the big villain from destroying the world.”
“Destroy the world? Who? You mean Lu Li?”
Ye Ran thought the system was joking. But there was no trace of humor on its face. Under her gaze, it nodded again.
“Yes. The reason I didn’t tell you initially was that I was afraid it would scare you.”
“Why? Is Lu Li really that terrifying?”
Though Ye Ran had been afraid of him at first, she hadn’t found him that frightening.
“Of course he is.” The system shuddered at the memory. “Host, you’re actually the eighth mission taker. The previous seven not only failed—some were killed the moment they got near the big villain. We only have eight chances to rewind time. You’re the last one. So to be safe, headquarters ordered me to hide the true mission from you.”
Now Ye Ran understood why the system was so scared of Lu Li. It had already failed seven times.
“But why did you choose me for this mission?”
With the final chance so crucial, they should have chosen someone formidable. Ye Ran didn’t see anything special about herself.
“There’s a reason for that. Perhaps you’ll find out someday.”
The system was reluctant to say more.
After digesting everything, Ye Ran looked at it again.
“So Lu Li still hasn’t abandoned his plan to destroy the world? And if he does, will he die too?”
“Yes. He’ll use the Blazing Spirit to annihilate the entire cultivation world—and himself with it. The Blazing Spirit’s power is too great. If left unchecked, it will cause an energy imbalance and affect other worlds.”
The words silenced Ye Ran.
She had known Lu Li suffered. But she hadn’t realized he hated the world so much that he would rather die with it.
But she didn’t want Lu Li to die.
She didn’t want to lose him. She still wanted to take him to meet her grandmother.
With that thought, Ye Ran turned and ran back toward the cave.
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