After Chasing The Villain With A Clueless System - Chapter 5

Few people ever ventured into the dense forest at the foot of the Divine Sword Sect’s mountain. Wild beasts occasionally roamed there, and unless they had a reason, the people on the mountain generally stayed away.

Now, Song Qi and Cheng Ying stood in the forest, staring at one another.

Song Qi asked, “Could it be that even you can’t defeat Wen Wanxi, Master?”

“If we’re comparing actual combat experience, I naturally have more than she does. But if we truly fought, with her martial arts, I’m afraid I still wouldn’t be her match.”

Wen Wanxi was extraordinarily talented and skilled with many different weapons. Her swordsmanship was her strongest skill, followed by her Black-and-White Killing Threads.

The Black-and-White Killing Threads were two bundles of golden silkworm thread that were impervious to fire and water and sharp enough to cut. One bundle had been dyed black, while the other had been dyed silver. A slender poisoned needle was fastened to the end of each thread.

The black killing threads were used at night, while the white killing threads were used during the day. This allowed the threads to blend into the surrounding light and darkness, killing without ever being seen.

After her swordsmanship and the Black-and-White Killing Threads came her concealed weapons.

Wen Wanxi possessed a unique concealed weapon called Sunset Over the Yellow Springs.

Sunset Over the Yellow Springs was a flat, extremely thin, diamond-shaped weapon. It looked completely ordinary on the outside, but its surface was coated in deadly poison. Once it entered a person’s body, it would release six poisoned needles.

Surviving an attack from such a weapon would certainly be difficult.

Come to think of it, aside from her comparatively gentler swordsmanship, Wen Wanxi’s entire body was practically covered in weapons designed to kill. It was no wonder those so-called righteous martial artists both feared and hated her.

Wen Wanxi had killed her master, Wu Ye, and slaughtered the subordinates who refused to obey her.

Her actions were certainly contemptible, but they were ultimately internal affairs of Wucheng. Outsiders did not dare interfere too much. Because of that, Wen Wanxi had not yet been officially classified as a demonic villain.

At most, people privately called her a demoness.

Song Qi wondered whether she should consider herself fortunate that matters had not yet developed to their worst possible point.

【Yes, that’s right.】

“Should I give you an award for that?”

The moment Song Qi heard Hutu’s voice, she could not stop herself from mocking it aloud.

Unfortunately, she had forgotten that Cheng Ying was still beside her.

“What? What did you say?”

“Nothing, nothing. I was just saying that Wen Wanxi is truly formidable.”

Although Song Qi had once cried bitterly over Wen Wanxi’s ending, now that she had actually entered the world of Tianxing, she was still somewhat afraid of her temperament and overwhelming presence.

Wen Wanxi’s family had been exterminated when she was five. She began practicing martial arts at six, became the lord of Wucheng at twenty-five, and was destroyed by the main cast at thirty-two.

When all was said and done, she had lived only thirty-two years.

Her life had truly been tragically short.

“All right, all right. You can go watch, but don’t provoke anyone from Wucheng. None of them are easy to deal with.”

“I know!”

Song Qi leaned against the tree trunk beside Cheng Ying.

She listened to the insects chirping around them and the rustling of weeds stirred by the wind.

She ought to have been frightened, yet instead, she felt a rare sense of peace.

She had been in this world for less than a day, but she had already endured far more than someone her age should have had to bear.

To make matters worse, she had been saddled with a clueless system.

【Hey, Hutu. Can’t you give me some ideas? Help me figure out how to change the course of Wen Wanxi’s fate.】

Hutu did not answer immediately.

After a long pause, it finally said:

【Shouldn’t you understand her better than I do?】

It had answered, but not really.

Looks like I still have to rely on myself.

“I should head back.”

Night was approaching, and she needed to return. If she stayed any later, she might arouse suspicion.

“Fine, fine. I’m going to sleep too. I’m exhausted.”

“Hope you drink yourself to death.”

Song Qi tossed out the remark.

Cheng Ying laughed indifferently and was about to turn away when Song Qi called out to him.

“Master.”

“Hm?”

Cheng Ying turned back.

Song Qi looked as though she wanted to speak but found it difficult.

Cheng Ying assumed the girl must be worried about him and wanted to tell him not to drink so much, but was too embarrassed to say it.

He was just about to assure her that he would take care of himself when Song Qi finally spoke.

“Your trousers are torn.”

It was genuinely difficult to bring up.

If she did not tell him, Cheng Ying might walk all the way into town and embarrass himself even more.

“What?!”

Cheng Ying immediately covered his backside with both hands.

There really was a hole there, and it was nearly the size of his palm.

This was far too humiliating!

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I only just noticed! What was I supposed to do? I already want to wash my eyes!”

Fortunately, he was wearing undergarments.

Otherwise, she would need more than to wash her eyes—she would need to be reincarnated!

“I’m leaving!”

Cheng Ying did not remain for even another moment.

Most of his drunkenness vanished at once, and he fled in a blur.

Only then did Song Qi burst into laughter.

Cheng Ying truly had no dignity whatsoever.

She raised her head and looked toward the branch where Cheng Ying had been sleeping.

A piece of fabric had indeed been left behind, and it was the same color as his trousers.

Song Qi could not help sighing.

Trying to look impressive came with risks. Everyone should proceed with caution.

**

The following day, while Song Qi was practicing her swordsmanship, she received good news from Song Tianxing.

Song Tianxing pulled her aside and told her, “The instructors agreed. If I earn a place at the Young Heroes’ Assembly, I’ll be allowed to take you with me.”

“That’s wonderful!”

Song Qi was delighted.

This way, she could meet her dark moonlight without interfering with the protagonist’s development.

It was the best of both worlds!

“However, the instructors said you must stay obediently by my side and are not allowed to cause trouble.”

“I know, Brother.”

Song Qi usually caused trouble only to relieve her boredom.

Now that she had serious business to handle, she would not dare act recklessly.

“Good.”

Song Tianxing affectionately patted the top of her head and smiled.

“You little rascal.”

Song Tianxing’s kindness toward her was genuine.

It did not come only from guilt. He truly loved and cherished his younger sister.

No wonder the original Song Qi had been willing to hand all her glory over to him.

Song Tianxing would also be extremely useful to her in the future. At the very least, with the protagonist protecting her, her path would be much smoother.

During this Young Heroes’ Assembly, Song Tianxing would obtain a secret manual for the Waterfall Sword Art.

It could not compare to the Seven Forms of the Wine Immortal, but for Song Tianxing, it was a sword technique that could save his life.

Song Qi knew that every world possessed its own balance.

Song Tianxing needed to continue growing so that he could counterbalance Wen Wanxi’s overwhelming strength. If either side lost that balance, it would bring Song Qi no benefit.

Given Song Qi’s familiarity with this kind of system novel, even if Song Tianxing failed to obtain the Waterfall Sword Art this time, he would surely encounter some other opportunity that allowed him to develop as expected.

The process might simply become more complicated.

【Yes, you’re right. Song Tianxing’s opportunity value is two hundred and ninety-five. This is what we call having cheats.】

Song Qi immediately became curious.

【Then what about mine?】

【One hundred.】

【…I’m tired. Just destroy everything.】

The difference was far too enormous!

Was this what a true protagonist’s aura looked like?

“Little Sister, why are you staring into space?”

After Song Tianxing finished speaking, he noticed that Song Qi had fallen into a daze.

Thinking she might be troubled by something, he immediately asked, “Is something bothering you?”

“No, no.”

She was merely mourning how weak, pitiful, and helpless her opportunity value was.

“Brother, hurry up and practice! The disciple assessment is almost here. You need to do well so I can go to the Young Heroes’ Assembly with you!”

“All right.”

Song Tianxing had originally wanted to say that he would protect Song Qi well.

After thinking about it, he realized she probably did not need that reassurance.

Still, no matter what happened, he would do everything in his power to protect her.

After all, everything he had now had been given to him by Song Qi.

**

Half a month passed quickly.

During that time, Song Qi worked hard to adapt to the original character’s role.

Every day, she argued with Lu Xiaoming. The moment she turned around, Chang Yueyue would come argue with her. On top of that, she had to deal with the green-tea bitch Meng Tian.

Her daily life was a complete mess.

Apart from that, Chang Yueyue repeatedly tried to test Song Qi’s martial arts, but Song Qi cleverly avoided every attempt.

Chang Yueyue even called her a cowardly turtle because of it.

Song Qi remained unmoved and merely said that they would see the truth during the disciple assessment.

Fate was truly marvelous.

Song Qi’s very first match was against Chang Yueyue.

She could not decide whether Chang Yueyue had gotten her wish or whether Song Qi herself had.

Neither Chang Yueyue nor Song Qi was considered an outstanding disciple within the sect.

Naturally, their match could not compare with the excitement surrounding the Grade-A disciples competing on the neighboring training ground.

However, among the spectators, a cold-faced female disciple appeared.

She was Bai Luoyin, a Grade-A disciple.

“Why is Senior Sister Bai here?”

One of the Grade-B female disciples asked.

Bai Luoyin was one of the strongest among the younger generation. Her appearance among the spectators of this particular match was truly unusual.

Bai Luoyin merely glanced at the disciple and replied coldly, “To watch the match.”

After hearing that answer, the female disciple immediately felt that she had asked a foolish question and fell silent.

The two competitors began to fight.

Chang Yueyue attacked first and shouted, “Song Qi, take this!”

Her voice was far more powerful than her technique.

That was Song Qi’s assessment.

There was no way Song Qi could use the Seven Forms of the Wine Immortal here.

Secretly taking the Drunken Sword Immortal as her master without informing the sect elders was a grave violation of sect rules. Her martial arts would be crippled, and she would be expelled from the sect.

Song Qi was naturally not foolish enough to expose herself.

The Divine Sword Sect’s techniques were more than enough to deal with Chang Yueyue.

Chang Yueyue thrust her sword straight toward Song Qi’s centerline.

The strike was fierce and sharp, a move called Straight to the Point.

Song Qi neither dodged nor retreated.

Only when the sword was about to reach her did she pivot lightly on the tip of her foot and avoid it.

It was not that her reactions were slow.

She simply needed to commit fully to the performance.

She could not make it look too easy.

Taking advantage of the opening, Song Qi struck Chang Yueyue’s wrist with the hilt of her sword, then retreated several steps.

This made her movements appear extremely clumsy.

Many spectators below the platform sighed.

They felt the match lacked any excitement whatsoever.

In modern terms, it was simply two weaklings pecking at each other.

Bai Luoyin, however, did not think so.

Her gaze remained fixed on Song Qi, as though she feared missing even a single movement.

Chang Yueyue’s sword hand had been struck by Song Qi’s hilt.

Her wrist now throbbed with pain, and she could no longer exert strength through the sword.

Still, she refused to admit defeat so easily.

“Ha! Take this!”

Chang Yueyue switched the sword to her left hand.

Her movements were not as nimble as with her right, but at least she could still apply strength.

Her next attack was somewhat disorderly.

After exchanging several moves with Song Qi, she finally used A Light Boat Passes Ten Thousand Mountains.

This technique attacked directly along the centerline with a succession of slashes. It demanded great continuity of movement and flexibility from the user.

Chang Yueyue’s left hand was not particularly agile, so the technique’s effectiveness was greatly diminished.

Song Qi still pretended to struggle against it.

Inside, however, she could not stop wondering how Chang Yueyue could possibly be this weak.

The woman was making Song Qi’s acting look terrible.

Song Qi decided enough time had passed and stopped playing around.

She used Rain Falls, Scattering Blossoms to knock Chang Yueyue’s longsword aside.

Then she launched a rapid sequence of thrusts, forcing Chang Yueyue backward several steps.

Chang Yueyue lost her footing and fell heavily onto the ground.

Song Qi had never intended to injure her.

Rain Falls, Scattering Blossoms was a series of thrusts aimed at several major acupoints on the human body.

When executed swiftly at close range, it was extremely difficult to evade.

Song Qi had deliberately slowed her attack so that Chang Yueyue would have room to retreat.

Unfortunately, Chang Yueyue’s lower-body foundation was too poor, and she accidentally fell.

Song Qi immediately followed up and placed her sword against Chang Yueyue’s neck.

With a smile, she said, “You lost.”

Below the platform, Bai Luoyin had watched every one of Song Qi’s movements.

At last, she revealed a rare smile.

Just as I thought.