After I Failed to Reform the Female Lead of a Tragic Novel - Chapter 20

Everyone entered the Ruoxu Illusion Realm one after another. Only Gong Dongling and Xie Yu remained at the entrance. Gong Dongling was in no hurry and began studying the map.

Standing beside her, Xie Yu felt somewhat anxious. She poked Gong Dongling’s elbow. “Senior Sister, if we don’t hurry in, what if someone else gets there first?”

Gong Dongling snapped the map shut, blinked, and said with victory already in hand, “Don’t worry. I’ve looked over this map. It’s real. With this, we’ll definitely be the first to find the Xuanji Grass.”

“Since Junior Sister is so certain, may I avoid traveling with you? After all, Master specifically instructed me to bring that thing and search for the Xuanji Grass together with you.”

Qiu Yan had actually not left yet. From the shadows, he slowly revealed himself in the distance. At some point, a huge golden rat had appeared on his shoulder, sleeping soundly.

Gong Dongling raised a brow. She knew what that thing was.

It was a treasure-seeking rat.

In the original novel, the reason the original owner’s group had been able to quickly reach the Xuanji Grass was precisely because of this treasure-seeking rat. It could always use its innate talent to find the most precious treasure in any given area.

Treasure-seeking rats were rare. This one did not belong to Buzhou Mountain either. It was a privately raised treasure-seeking rat that Daofa Zhenren had borrowed from an old friend. One could imagine how precious it was.

Seeing Qiu Yan holding the treasure-seeking rat, Gong Dongling suddenly thought of a possibility.

After all, the grudge between these two fellow disciples had already become known to everyone at that meeting. Xu Ruozhen could not possibly be unaware of it. Yet he had still chosen to place the treasure-seeking rat in Qiu Yan’s care.

He had never planned to let Qiu Yan bring her along to find the grass. Instead, he wanted Qiu Yan to get the Xuanji Grass first, then use it to control both her and Xie Yu.

That was right. Qiu Yan and Xu Ruozhen had already joined hands. The situation was not optimistic.

Thinking of this, Gong Dongling understood that this treasure-seeking rat would become the greatest obstacle on their way to finding the Xuanji Grass.

Still, she showed nothing and said, “That’s exactly what I want. Senior Brother traveling with the two of us would only be an eyesore.”

Qiu Yan snorted. Using qinggong, he vanished in a few steps among the towering trees at the entrance.

“A-Yu, we should go in too. We can’t dawdle on the road. We have to find the Xuanji Grass before Qiu Yan. Follow me. If we travel day and night, we can still do it,” Gong Dongling instructed Xie Yu.

Although the treasure-seeking rat could point the way, it had one fatal flaw. It loved sleep more than life itself. Very often, while leading the way, it would suddenly fall asleep and refuse to wake no matter what. One could only wait for it to wake up on its own.

If it was purely a matter of speed, then it was truly uncertain who would find the grass first.

Once they entered the Ruoxu Illusion Realm, Gong Dongling truly felt the difference between the cultivation world and the mortal realm.

The entire illusion realm was covered by giant plants so tall and dense they blocked out the sky. There was no sunlight, but the interior of the illusion realm was filled with blue-purple bands of light that shifted like auroras.

The spirit herbs and plants growing under this light all carried blue and purple tones, making them appear especially dreamlike and mysterious. Even the dust floating in the air shone with silver light, reflecting the illusion realm’s ever-changing colors.

The spiritual energy inside the illusion realm was so abundant it seemed about to overflow. Although Gong Dongling had cold energy inside her body and could not circulate spiritual power, she could still feel as if her entire body had been washed clean by the spiritual energy.

The plants here grew especially densely. Above them were ancient giant trees; below were short spirit grasses and shrubs. These plants crowded together, growing so vigorously that they had crossed their own boundaries and invaded the only path.

The thought that if she did not know the original novel or have the map, she might have to search through so much grass for one ordinary-looking Xuanji Grass made Gong Dongling feel suffocated.

Just then, a shadow fell in front of her. Gong Dongling lifted her head and saw a large mass of hanging strands descending from high above, forming a pale purple curtain.

At that moment, Xie Yu cried out, “Careful!” As she spoke, she pulled Gong Dongling back.

The soft hanging strands ahead suddenly tightened in that instant, weaving into a net as if trying to capture prey. If Gong Dongling had not been pulled half a step back, she might already have been tangled inside.

And above their heads hung countless netted cages.

“Wh-What is this?” Gong Dongling’s face turned pale from that instant of danger.

The danger of the illusion realm was hidden within its beautiful, tranquil scenery. If one was even slightly careless, these soft and obedient-looking plants could steal away one’s life.

“A mutated drooping-cage willow. After growing larger, its appetite is no longer limited to birds and beasts. It has started targeting people. If someone gets rolled inside, they won’t be able to move. Inside the cage, there isn’t even enough space to summon one’s sword.”

Xie Yu had read a complete collection of spirit herbs and plants, but this was also her first time seeing such a gigantic cage willow.

“Help—!”

A sudden clamor came from above.

Through the gaps in the netting, they could see two figures tightly wrapped inside.

Xie Yu looked upward, her gaze dim and unreadable. “Senior Sister, it’s the two people who confronted us earlier. They were swept up into the sky by the cage willow.”

“They’re the two who often bullied you?”

Just from seeing that scene, Gong Dongling knew this was not the first time such a thing had happened. It was only the first time those few had run into someone they could not push around.

Xie Yu did not speak, tacitly admitting it.

“Then if we just leave them hanging on this tree, what will happen?” Gong Dongling raised her voice, deliberately letting the two people above hear.

Xie Yu immediately understood. “Within three days, they’ll be strangled to death by the willow tree. Their bodies won’t remain whole for even a week before they’re completely devoured.”

“That sounds fine. Then let them hang there.”

The instant the two above heard this, they began screaming in panic. “No! You’d be killing people!”

“Right now, there are no other disciples behind us. If we pass them by, they’ll lose their lives here. And as long as we tell Buzhou Mountain that we never saw them, no responsibility will fall on us.”

Ignoring the waves of wailing from above, Gong Dongling spoke to Xie Yu very seriously.

“Don’t leave! Good Senior Sister, good Junior Sister! For the sake of us being fellow disciples, save us!”

After only a few sentences, they collapsed completely, crying and shouting in remorse. “We’re sorry, Junior Sister Xie! We won’t dare do it again! As long as you save us, we’ll agree to anything!”

Gong Dongling knew the fish had taken the bait. Unhurried, she said, “Oh? Anything you can do, we can do ourselves. Why would we need to ask anything of you?”

“I—I have a way!” the slightly smarter one suddenly shouted anxiously.

“I know Senior Sister and Eldest Senior Brother Qiu Yan have deep conflicts. To be honest, I accidentally learned one of Eldest Senior Brother’s secrets—a secret that could put him to death! If Senior Sister lets us down, I’ll tell you this leverage.”

Gong Dongling lazily lifted her peach-blossom eyes. “What use is leverage without evidence? What I want is someone who can truly help me bring down Qiu Yan.”

“We can! As long as Senior Sister saves us, we’ll help you deal with Qiu Yan!”

At last, the corner of Gong Dongling’s mouth curved upward. This was exactly the sentence she had been waiting for. “Only you and I know that you said you know Qiu Yan’s secret. If I save you and you don’t fulfill what you promised just now, I’ll tell Qiu Yan that you know his secret. You should know what the consequences will be.”

The secret of Qiu Yan’s identity was taboo. Anyone who knew it would die. Gong Dongling was very clear about this. She knew that once these two came down, they would not dare go against her.

“Xie Yu, let them down. After hanging there for so long, they should have reflected enough.”

Hearing this, Xie Yu drew Xuanling, tapped her toes against the tree, and used qinggong to leap back and forth across several branches.

Sensing a cultivator approaching, the cage willow seemed to come alive. The branches and vines of the entire tree whipped about wildly, one after another lashing toward Xie Yu’s path.

Yet Xie Yu remained calm and methodical. Each step was nearly struck, yet she always happened to leap to the next foothold by the slimmest margin.

Finally, she jumped to the highest point. Holding Xuanling tightly in both hands, she circulated qi and poured spiritual power into it. In the next instant, she descended from above and cleanly cut through the thick bundle of vines connecting the netted cage to the willow’s main body with one stroke.

The net cage crashed down, accompanied by the two people’s earth-shaking screams.

But Xie Yu grabbed onto the severed root of the vine and was instantly flung high by the now frenzied willow tree.

“A-Yu!” Gong Dongling could not help crying out.

But in the next second, when Xie Yu was swung to the highest point, she seized the chance and stabbed her sword into the trunk of a nearby tree. Letting go, she safely transferred herself onto another harmless tree, then took a few steps along the trunk and landed safely.

“Senior Sister, I was confident.”

Xie Yu turned around, panting slightly. Facing the light, she smiled brilliantly, her entire self looking like a spirited young person in full bloom.

“Mm. I believe you.” The worry on Gong Dongling’s face dispersed, and she smiled gently.

Although the two people had vines cushioning their fall, they had still dropped from such a height and were thrown into complete disorientation. It took them a long while to crawl out from the dead vines that had lost all vitality, both of them in a terrible state.

Their luxurious brocade robes were covered in the transparent slime released by the drooping-cage willow, looking especially disgusting.

“What are your names? From now on, you’ll be working for me. I can’t not even know your names.” Gong Dongling looked over their embarrassed and annoyed expressions and only found it funny.

“Qiu Zijian. Qi Tuo.” Although the two were angry that Gong Dongling still did not know their names even now, they did not dare act out and honestly reported them.

Among them, Qiu Zijian was the disciple who had negotiated with Gong Dongling, while Qi Tuo was the brainless one who had rammed into Xie Yu earlier.

“Thank you, Senior Sister and Junior Sister, for saving our lives. Another day, Qi Tuo and I will surely work like oxen and horses for you. We won’t stop until Qiu Yan is ruined!”

Qiu Zijian originally wanted to put on an act and express his loyalty. Who would have known that Gong Dongling would immediately pick up his words?

“Ah, with that willingness from you two, I feel relieved. There’s no need to wait for another day. You can start acting today.”

Gong Dongling smiled brightly, revealing two little canine teeth with ill intent.

The two looked at one another, their faces collapsing into misery. They did not even have time to change their clothes and could only obey Gong Dongling’s orders.

“When the time comes, you two will…”

Gong Dongling spread open the map and explained a long plan to them.

After listening, the others could not help looking at her suspiciously. “Will this really work?”

After all, there were far too many uncertain factors in this plan. It sounded more like Gong Dongling’s imagination spun out of thin air.

Gong Dongling smiled, not especially concerned.

“Do as I say. It won’t go wrong.”