Chasing the Villain with a Confused System (GL) - Chapter 4

There were very few disciples left in the cafeteria by the time Song Qi arrived to get her food. Not much was left, but Song Qi wasn’t picky; as long as she could fill her stomach, it was fine.

She ate hurriedly, her eyes a bit hollow. Her mind was entirely occupied by how to obtain that sword tassel, how to survive in this world with her “confused” system, and how she was supposed to change the final villain’s ending. It was true she liked Wen Wanxi, but changing her fate was a massive undertaking. Was she supposed to act like Tang Sanzang [1] and preach about kindness and virtue?

The very thought was hilarious. She felt that if she tried that, she wouldn’t last past the first episode.

That said, the food at the Divine Sword Sect’s cafeteria was actually quite good. The book had described it once as delicious, but as someone who had been “baptized” by the horrors of university cafeterias, Song Qi hadn’t believed it. She had initially thought food was just a means of survival, so it was a pleasant surprise to find it exceptionally tasty.

The credit for the delicious food went to the cafeteria auntie. This woman had left a deep impression on Song Qi; many in the sect whispered behind her back that she was a “She-Tiger.” Everyone from the top to the bottom of the Divine Sword Sect respected her, including the Sect Leader.

The cafeteria featured an open kitchen. One could see the auntie wielding her sharp cleaver, chopping vegetables and cooking with flair. The aroma of the food drifted everywhere, stirring the “gluttonous worms” in everyone’s bellies. This was why, despite the auntie’s explosive temper, the cafeteria was always crowded and highly praised.

Song Qi wasn’t a picky eater. After clearing her bowl, she let out a loud burp.

Burp~ Satisfied.

With her stomach full, it was time to think about the next step. Assuming Song Tianxing could actually get her into the Young Heroes Tournament, how was she to get close to Wen Wanxi? And even then, how was she to get that sword tassel?

She remembered that Wen Wanxi’s sword did indeed have a red tassel. The weaving method was unique—resembling both a flower and a butterfly—and could not be found anywhere on the market. It likely held a very special meaning to Wen Wanxi.

The grudge between Song Tianxing and Wen Wanxi was sparked at this very tournament. Wu City had sent Wen Wanxi’s junior brother, Xiao Sheng, to compete. Although he was strong, he was eventually defeated by the protagonist. From that moment on, Wen Wanxi took notice of Song Tianxing, viewing him as an obstacle on her path.

History proved her right; Song Tianxing would eventually kill her and earn the adoration of thousands.

“Oho! Isn’t this Senior Brother Song’s little sister?”

A sarcastic voice interrupted Song Qi’s thoughts. She looked up to see which “eye-less” person was bothering her, only to find it was Chang Yueyue, the granddaughter of an elder she had always been at odds with.

Like Song Qi, Chang Yueyue was a B-rank disciple. However, because she was the granddaughter of Elder Chang Wu, she was arrogant, overbearing, and pampered. She bullied many B-rank disciples, but Song Qi was the one person who wouldn’t take her nonsense.

In terms of martial arts, Chang Yueyue couldn’t beat her. In terms of arguing, Song Qi was a “King of Verbal Combat”!

She couldn’t lose, no matter what!

“Oh~ isn’t this Senior Sister Chang? What evil wind blew you in front of me today?”

Song Qi spoke with a smile, which was slightly different from the original host. The original Song Qi was a fighter, but she was blunt and head-on; she rarely used such biting sarcasm, as she was a bit “heartless” and simple-minded.

Thinking about it, the original host wasn’t actually simple-minded; she just knew the other party couldn’t beat her, so she didn’t bother with schemes. If it came to a real fight, she always had a way to get out of it.

The original host was able to endure for her brother and give him all the glory because she simply didn’t want to get involved in the troubles of the martial world; she only wanted to be left alone. Of course, to be left alone, one must have the strength to ensure it.

“What, does Junior Sister Song not welcome me?”

Chang Yueyue looked at Song Qi and scoffed. “I heard Junior Sister was pinned down by Senior Sister Bai again. Knowing you’re no match yet insisting on rushing in—Junior Sister is truly ‘brave’!”

At the training ground, there had only been her, Meng Tian, and Bai Luoyin. Bai Luoyin wasn’t a gossip, so the person who spread the news so quickly could only be Meng Tian.

Keeping a “Green Tea” like that around was truly like raising a tiger that would eventually bite you.

“Indeed. It’s certainly better than some people who ‘fall ill’ and forfeit every year during the disciple examinations as soon as they encounter a stronger opponent!”

Chang Yueyue was arrogant and a sore loser. Whenever she faced someone she couldn’t beat, she faked illness to forfeit, following the absurd logic that “as long as I don’t fight, I haven’t lost.” Everyone knew it, but no one dared say it for fear of offending Elder Chang Wu.

Slam!

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Chang Yueyue slammed the table and stood up, pointing at Song Qi in a rage. “What do you mean by that!”

Song Qi couldn’t stand her “Young Mistress” attitude, but she didn’t get angry. She just crossed her arms and smiled. “Why is Senior Sister so excited? Did you actually do such a thing?”

Song Qi hadn’t named names, but since someone chose to fit the description, she would take the opportunity to humiliate her.

“I only heard that someone did that. Could it be you, Senior Sister?”

Song Qi looked enlightened, but the smirk on her face was pure mockery. Though Chang Yueyue wasn’t the brightest, she wasn’t blind; she could clearly see the ridicule.

“You… you! Stop talking nonsense, I didn’t!”

Chang Yueyue’s eyes turned red with anger. Facing the stares of those around her, her face burned even hotter. As an elder’s granddaughter, when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

“You’re lying! I want a duel with you!”

“Huh?”

Song Qi smiled and stood up. Just when it seemed she would agree, she suddenly clutched her stomach with an expression of agony. “Oh, oh dear… Senior Sister, I must have eaten something bad. My stomach is in unbearable pain; I truly cannot take the field.”

When Song Qi said this, Chang Yueyue’s face turned even redder. These were the exact words—word for word, except for the title “Senior Sister”—that she had said to the instructors during the last examination.

Furious, Chang Yueyue moved to flip the table, but Song Qi pressed her hand down on it. The force was so immense that Chang Yueyue couldn’t budge the table an inch.

“Senior Sister.”

Song Qi gave a cheeky grin. “A friendly reminder: the auntie has a bad temper. If this table is ruined, even Elder Chang Wu won’t be able to save you from a scolding.”

Song Qi turned and walked away, refusing to waste more time on such a “cannon fodder” character. She needed to practice. Even if she didn’t compete, she needed self-defense skills to stay alive.

Chang Yueyue wanted to say something, but her hand was trembling from the exertion. She had tried with all her might to flip that wooden table, but with Song Qi’s single palm, it hadn’t moved. She had even used her inner qi, yet she couldn’t shake it.

This wasn’t just a contest of physical strength; it was a suppression of inner qi—absolute suppression. Since when had Song Qi’s inner qi become so powerful and overbearing?

Watching Song Qi’s back, Chang Yueyue thought: Was it an illusion? How could she be this strong? No way, it must be an illusion!

On the other side, Song Qi went to the training grounds to practice her swordplay—specifically the “Skiff Over Ten Thousand Mountains” technique. In reality, she had mastered this move long ago, but to maintain her “useless” facade, she continued to practice it.

After finishing, she didn’t follow her sisters to the bathhouse. Instead, she headed to the forest at the foot of the mountain where her master was waiting. They had an agreement to meet every three days, where the Drunken Sword Immortal, Cheng Ying, would inspect her progress.

Song Qi arrived on schedule to find Cheng Ying already drunk, snoring on a tree branch. This was the norm. Having inherited the original host’s memories, Song Qi knew this master was a bit of an eccentric joker who talked nonsense.

“Disciple, you’re here!”

Cheng Ying’s tongue was tied from the booze, yet the way he flipped down from the tree was incredibly graceful—surpassing even the Sect Leader, Yu Mingshun. He was covered in stubble, his face flushed from drinking. He was of medium build, thin, and dressed sloppily. On his back was a sword wrapped in cloth that never left its sheath.

Despite his disheveled appearance, Song Qi could tell he was a “handsome older man.” If he cleaned up, he’d likely be quite attractive.

“You smell like a brewery, don’t come near me.”

Song Qi pinched her nose in disgust, holding out a hand to stop him. “Drink less, or watch out for cirrhosis of the liver.”

“Cirrho-what?”

Cheng Ying’s eyes were glassy; he couldn’t understand her words. Song Qi didn’t repeat herself. “Old man, shall I start?”

“Yes, hurry up. Let me see how much you’ve improved.”

Song Qi demonstrated the “Seven Styles of the Wine Immortal.” This was Cheng Ying’s unique sword style—unpredictable and fluid. Every move transitioned into the next, making it a style that opponents found impossible to read or counter.

Song Qi drew her sword. First style: Offering Wine to the East Wind. The moves were sharp and fierce at the start, but turned soft and deceptive at the end, with a rhythm that was impossible to pin down. Song Qi had been worried she wouldn’t be able to perform it, but her muscles and meridians seemed to have a memory of their own. The moves flowed naturally; she had never imagined she could be so flexible and agile.

Second style: A Cup of Wine Amidst Spring Breezes; Third style: The Drunkard’s Heart Lies Not in the Wine; Fourth style: Laughing Away a Cup of Wine; Fifth style: Inviting the Moon Behind the Curtain with Wine; Sixth style: One Must Get Drunk While There Is Wine; Seventh style: Life Is But a Grand Drunken Dream.

Admittedly, the names of these styles were quite a mouthful and very poetic. Without the original host’s memories, Song Qi wouldn’t have remembered them all at once.

Cheng Ying watched, nodding repeatedly. When she finished, he spoke: “Hmm, not bad. You have the form, but the ‘intent’ is lacking a bit. It’s not quite polished, but it’s enough to handle most enemies.”

He flopped down, leaning against a tree trunk without any decorum. He fumbled for his wine gourd, took several gulps, and added: “However, you’re clearly distracted today. What’s wrong? Is your heart fluttering for someone?”

“Fluttering for your sister.”

“Hahahaha! If I had a sister, I’d definitely marry her off to you!”

Song Qi was stunned. I treat you as a master, but you want me to be your brother-in-law!

Moreover, were people in this world so progressive that they’d casually suggest marrying two girls together?

“Good thing it’s not you trying to marry me. Rejected—I’m not blind.”

“In your dreams!” Cheng Ying fired back with equal disdain. “You might be pretty, but you’re not my type.”

“As if you’re mine.”

Song Qi rolled her eyes. When it came to vanity, her master was in a league of his own, always exuding a mysterious sense of overconfidence.

“I want to go see the Young Heroes Tournament. Not as a competitor.”

Song Qi sat down beside him. Though she acted disgusted, she actually enjoyed being near him. She trusted him deeply, just as he trusted her.

“The Young Heroes Tournament? What’s there to see? The only highlight is the ‘Number One Beauty of the Martial World’.”

The Number One Beauty, Bing Xian—the female lead. That was how the book introduced her, though it also mentioned several times that Wen Wanxi’s beauty was on par with hers. Bing Xian only held the title because Wen Wanxi’s terrifying reputation was more memorable than her looks.

“Isn’t the world’s strongest, Wen Wanxi, also worth seeing?”

Hearing this, Cheng Ying suddenly turned to look at Song Qi. His smile vanished, replaced by a grave tone: “If you want to die, go ahead and provoke her!”

Song Qi’s face immediately fell.

I know my life is in danger! But what choice do I have? I have to seek life within danger! I’m desperate too, okay!