"You useless piece of trash! You're an absolute disgrace to the Lin family!"
"You just got bumped into, why are you acting like you're dying?"
"The Family Head gave you so many rare potions, yet you can't even condense your battle aura. Your physical constitution is worse than a street vegetable vendor's..."
Su Cheng was jolted awake by the sound of cursing.
She opened her eyes in a daze, finding herself standing in a courtyard.
She was surrounded by lush greenery and dense foliage. Ahead of her was a stone-paved path half-hidden by flowers, and from the end of the path came a continuous barrage of clamor.
At the intersection stood a group of teenage boys and girls. They were surrounding a young boy sitting on the ground, relentlessly mocking him.
The boy looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. He was thin with handsome, delicate features. Right now, his face was deathly pale, blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth, and he couldn't stop coughing.
Su Cheng: "?"
Wasn't she just taking an afternoon nap at home? Where on earth was she?
"Hey! Someone's coming!"
The teenagers turned their heads one after another. Upon spotting Su Cheng standing by the path, their expressions instantly shifted.
"Miss Su," one of them greeted her with a smile, "please forgive the embarrassing scene. This guy, Lin Yun, is our clan's famous tra—"
Su Cheng blinked. "Lin Yun?"
They weren't speaking a language she was familiar with, but she could understand it without any barriers and even subconsciously reply in the exact same tongue.
"Yeah," another sighed, "you've only just arrived at our estate, so you probably haven't heard..."
Su Cheng looked at the boy sitting on the ground.
He sat there with his head hung low, his eyes devoid of life. A few seconds later, a bizarre and bewildered expression suddenly crept onto his face.
The boy slowly raised his hand and forcefully wiped the blood from his mouth.
Around his wrist was a thin obsidian bracelet, which was quietly transforming after coming into contact with his blood.
In the center of the chain was a dull gray jade pendant. Slowly, a strange and intricate pattern began to surface on the stone.
The boy's movements paused, and he froze completely.
Su Cheng: "..."
Wasn't this the classic scene of blood activating a special item!
It seemed the cheat-giving spirit grandpa inside the bracelet was already conversing with the male protagonist.
Yes, the male protagonist.
A few hours ago, Su Cheng had discovered an R-18 novel on an overseas site titled The Legend of the Divine Throne.
The male protagonist, Lin Yun, died in a car crash in the modern world and transmigrated to an alternate fantasy continent, possessing the body of a useless young master of the same name from the prestigious Lin family of Golden Amber City.
The useless Lin Yun was an orphan living with his uncle. Due to his abysmal talent for cultivation, he was constantly bullied by his relatives.
After transmigrating, the male protagonist accidentally activated the divine artifact left behind by his father. With the help of a thousand-year-old soul residing in the bracelet, he began his journey of counterattack.
But at the end of the day, it was a smut novel. The plot relied entirely on stacking popular tropes and took up very little space; the main focus was the male protagonist's entanglements with the female leads and side characters.
R-18 scenes emerged endlessly, hardcore plays came in countless varieties, and there were even some niche, heavy-core bizarre elements.
The novel had millions of words serialized, and its comment section was a perpetual bloodbath. There were people posting content warnings, cursing up a storm, cheering it on, arguing, eating popcorn on the sidelines, and even threatening to hack the author to pieces—it truly had everything.
Su Cheng had read the beginning portion, then skipped around to purchase later chapters, also catching some spoilers in the comment section.
Some said the plot got messier as it went on, the male protagonist's personality shifted so much he seemed to have a split personality, and the author kept forgetting their own settings until all logic died.
Others suggested the author should just focus on writing smut; if they couldn't write a plot, they shouldn't try. Even if they wanted to pad the word count, they should at least make it satisfying, instead of having the male protagonist get played like a fool all day like an absolute idiot.
There were also abstract plotlines like "the male protagonist was almost gang-raped by several male villains," "a certain deity who slept with the male protagonist was suspected to be a man before ascending to godhood," and "the mother and daughter who had a threesome with the male protagonist were actually abominations stitched together from skeletons, mud, and corpse parts." These caused many readers to suffer mental breakdowns, claiming that once the author made enough money, they unleashed their true fetishes and would sooner or later get bent over themselves.
Su Cheng had actually laughed while reading it.
It had been noon at the time. Feeling a wave of drowsiness, she turned off her phone and went to sleep. Who could have guessed that upon waking up, she would find herself here, arriving right at the opening scene of the novel.
After sorting through this body's memories, Su Cheng was absolutely certain that she had become a cannon fodder side character of the same name in the book.
This cannon fodder appeared in a total of two chapters in the entire novel, with less than three thousand words of screen time.
One chapter to make a background appearance, and one chapter to kick the bucket.
At the time, the comment section was filled with question marks because the author had specifically described her beauty, only for her to be killed by the male protagonist shortly after her second appearance.
The reason was also very simple.
Lin Yun had once sworn that since he had taken over the original owner's body, he would avenge the original owner's parents by killing all their enemies and every last descendant of those enemies' bloodlines.
Even if those descendants might be completely innocent and completely unaware of the grudges between the previous generation.
"Su Cheng" was one of them.
This plot point was heavily mocked as well. Some readers commented that the protagonist of a smut novel shouldn't try to pull off this kind of righteous, loyal persona; it just made him look like a joke.
"..."
Su Cheng looked at Lin Yun sitting on the ground.
He was staring intently down at the bracelet on his wrist. After spacing out for a few seconds, he suddenly scrambled to his feet.
"Lin Ting!" Lin Yun shouted loudly. "Was it you who sneak-attacked me just now?"
Hearing the commotion, the teenagers turned back one after another.
"Sneak attack?" A tall teenager took two steps forward. "I just accidentally bumped into you. You're not even a Tier One Warrior. If I had sneak-attacked you, you'd be dead already!"
Lin Yun looked at him coldly. "Apologize to me."
"Apologize?" Lin Ting let out a contemptuous laugh. "What kind of thing do you think you are? Are you even worthy? So what if I don't apologize? What, are you going to duel me?"
Lin Yun's lips curled up, his voice laced with a chilling intent. "Fine, Lin Ting. You set the time."
The rest of them burst out laughing.
"Has Lin Yun gone mad?"
"Did that bump just now break his brain?"
"He was never smart to begin with. Otherwise, after the Family Head used so many good things on him, how could he still fail to condense his battle aura!"
Hearing this, Lin Ting was stunned for a moment before throwing his head back in roaring laughter. "Hahahahaha! Since you're looking for death, I won't hold back. Considering you're injured, ten days from now—"
"Wait!"
Su Cheng suddenly spoke up, interrupting them.
Meeting their numerous confused gazes, she stepped forward twice.
Lin Yun's bracelet had been activated. The old spirit inside would provide him with assistance, and other female leads and side characters would deliver more cheats to him. From here on out, he would only get stronger with each passing day.
In the duel ten days later, Lin Ting's heart meridians would be directly shattered by Lin Yun's battle aura, killing him on the spot.
Although she couldn't care less whether Lin Ting lived or died, she also didn't want to just let Lin Yun develop his power unchecked.
Su Cheng cleared her throat. "Mr. Lin Yun, I would like to have a match with you as well."
"?"
Everyone looked at her in utter bafflement.
She was an in-law of the Lin Family Head, bearing no blood relation to the Lin family. This time, she was merely a temporary guest at the estate, waiting to participate in the academy's recruitment.
"You?"
Lin Yun turned his head and stared at her for a few seconds, a flash of astonishment at her beauty crossing his eyes. Then, he looked her up and down, his gaze sweeping over her several times.
A hint of a smile spilled from the corner of his mouth. "Although I don't know you, seeing as you're quite pretty, I'll satisfy you in ten days."
Lin Yun thought he would see anger or embarrassment on her face, but there was absolutely nothing.
"No," she simply stated calmly. "Right now!"
Lin Yun froze.
He had just finished conversing with the soul within the bracelet, learning the root cause of this body's inability to cultivate. He believed that given a little time, he could certainly be reborn anew.
By then, whether it was that damned Lin Ting or this troublesome woman, he would have ways to deal with them.
Especially since her looks were so stunning, and her figure was exceptional—he had never encountered such a top-tier beauty in the modern world.
When the time came, he'd definitely have his fun with her.
But—
Right now?
Are you kidding me?
"Young mistress," Lin Yun scoffed lightly, his gaze falling on her chest, "you are a full-fledged second-rank mage, yet you're so eager to challenge someone like me who isn't even a first-rank warrior. Do you truly wish to fight me? Or have you taken a fancy to me?"
He thought this time she would surely get angry, or at least show some change in emotion.
Yet, there was none.
She wasn't angered by the mention of a "challenge," nor did she seem uncomfortable with his final remark, and she didn't change her mind either.
Su Cheng feigned confusion, "Are you implying that in ten days, you'll have attained a rank?"
Lin Yun frowned.
That was indeed what he thought, but he couldn't expose the soul in the bracelet, so naturally, he couldn't openly express such confidence.
"Hah," Su Cheng laughed, "What difference would that make?"
The other youths looked at the two of them in puzzlement.
"...What's going on?"
"Why pick Lin Yun, that waste? He's not even a Battle Attendant!"
Based on aura strength, physical constitution, and overall combat power, warriors were divided into eleven ranks.
Battle Attendant, Battle Disciple, Battle Warrior, Battle General, Battle Master, Grand Battle Master, Battle Ancestor, Battle Venerable, Battle King, Battle Emperor, Battle Saint.
Each rank was further divided into nine stars.
These Lin family youths were all in their teens and had been certified by the Warriors' Guild, becoming Battle Attendants, or first-rank warriors, though their star levels differed.
Only Lin Yun had no rank at all.
And Su Cheng?
Everyone recognized the emblem on her chest.
Swirling mist and wind, a diagonally placed short staff with a spiral shaft.
Wind element, Apprentice Mage.
Like warriors, mages also had eleven ranks, with Apprentice Mage being the second rank.
Between mages and warriors of the same rank, combat power was generally comparable. As a second-rank mage, Su Cheng should pick a second-rank warrior as her opponent.
Let alone Lin Yun who had no rank; none of the Lin family members present should, in theory, be a match for her.
"You?!"
Lin Yun hadn't expected her to be like this and couldn't help but panic, "I'm just injured!"
Weren't people in this world supposed to value honor and glory highly?
Wasn't she afraid of being ridiculed for bullying the weak like this?
He currently had neither aura nor magic, his whole body was in pain—how was he supposed to fight?
Even an ordinary person could easily kill him now!
"Oh, that's fine." Su Cheng shrugged, "I'm not that particular."
Her expression was relaxed, but in reality, her heart was pounding wildly with nervousness, cold sweat was trickling down, and her right hand behind her back trembled slightly.
Then, between those trembling fingers, streams of wind suddenly surged.
Tiny air currents swirled and gathered, wind-element spirits dancing joyfully, flickering in and out of the air stream, quickly coalescing into a pale cyan blade.
—A single-cast Wind Blade was a second-rank spell.
Its lethality wasn't immense. If the target was a first-rank warrior with aura protecting their body, the damage a Wind Blade could inflict was quite limited.
But if it hit an ordinary person, it was a completely different story.
Su Cheng possessed the memories of her former self, so she naturally knew how to cast spells.
She gripped the Wind Blade and slashed at Lin Yun's neck.
Lin Yun's physical constitution wasn't good to begin with, not to mention he was injured.
He dodged backward in shock.
"No!"
The soul within the bracelet roared.
A moment too late, Lin Yun understood what it meant.
When ordinary people see an enemy swinging a blade horizontally at them, they usually dodge backward. However, the Wind Blade in a mage's hand was different from an ordinary sharp weapon.
That pale cyan blade of air flew from her hand, whistling as it struck the side of his neck.
What is the speed of wind?
Skin, blood vessels, and bone were all sliced open together, blood gushing forth, dyeing the pale floor tiles a deep crimson.
Lin Yun staggered back, clutching the wound, "You—"
Half his neck was cut open, blood seeping through his fingers. For someone without any rank, such an injury wouldn't last more than a few seconds.
He collapsed to the ground.
"What are you doing?!"
A furious roar suddenly came from behind, the voice rapidly approaching from a distance.
A tall, lean man who appeared young rushed over, looking at the scene in disbelief.
"Family Head..."
The surrounding youths trembled as they bowed in greeting.
The Lin family was one of the prominent clans in Gold Amber City. Family Head Lin Zhen was a Nine-Star Battle Master, a fifth-rank warrior, just one step away from advancing to the next rank.
In the entire city, he was already considered a top expert. Due to cultivating aura, he still looked quite young.
"Su Cheng!"
Lin Zhen's face was ashen as he looked at the boy in the pool of blood, veins bulging on his forehead.
"In consideration of you being from the same clan as my late wife, I have treated you with courtesy since your arrival in Gold Amber City. I believe I have not offended you in any way. Yet now, you have killed my nephew, the son of my own sister!"
An aura of furious might swirled around him.
A force full of oppressive pressure, eager and ready, surged toward the young girl before him.
Su Cheng quickly pulled out a handkerchief, using the cloth as a pad, and yanked the thin black stone chain from Lin Yun's stiffened arm.
"Family Head, look at this."
She held up the bracelet.
"I once had the honor of entering Archmage Dawson's magic tower and perusing some ancient texts in her library. One of them recorded a similar pattern—this is the symbol of a Dark God believer!"
The entire place erupted in an uproar.
Gold Amber City, where the Lin family resided, belonged to the Silver Moon Empire, the oldest and most powerful nation on the Northern Continent. And the entire Northern Continent was under the control of the Church of the God of Light.
On this land, any faith related to the Dark God was absolutely forbidden.
Over the past millennium, there had been more than one bloody case of families or even entire cities being exterminated for this reason.
There were even kingdoms that had fallen because of it, their vast palaces burning to ashes in holy light, and prosperous capitals crushed to dust under the iron hooves of the Paladins.
"Destroy it quickly!"
A Lin family youth screamed, "We can't become heretics! The Church will kill us all—"
"No, no, no! This belonged to Lin Yun! We knew nothing about it!"
They cried out in terror, "This has nothing to do with us!"
"You," Lin Zhen's face also turned deathly pale, "Miss Su, is everything you say true?!"
Su Cheng nodded slowly.
She had just pondered how to ensure her own survival.
But whether it was befriending the male lead, confessing her transmigration to him, explaining that she wasn't the original owner, hoping he wouldn't seek revenge; or changing her name and fleeing into obscurity—none seemed reliable. They all amounted to placing her hopes on others.
It was better to eliminate the source directly.
Since Lin Yun could kill her for such a ridiculous reason, she could also strike first.
And there was one most important reason.
—Right now happened to be when Lin Yun was at his weakest. There wouldn't be another opportunity like this later, as he had too many cheats and his growth speed was too fast.
Considering all factors, hesitation would mean missing the opportunity, so she simply gritted her teeth and made up her mind.
But she still needed an explanation that could satisfy the head of the Lin family.
A reason that would completely absolve her of guilt, ensuring she paid no price for the killing.
The best part was that the pattern on the bracelet was indeed connected to the Dark God.
The cheat-system old man had said so himself; he was full of resentment whenever he mentioned the God of Light,
Spring Day
and he had even taught the protagonist how to hide the bracelet, saying it must never be seen by anyone from the Church.
"Otherwise, why would I have challenged him to a duel?"
Su Cheng raised the bracelet higher, satisfied to see the people around her stepping back.
"It was because I saw this! We all bask in the grace of His Holiness the God of Light. I cannot allow anyone to openly wear such a filthy, blasphemous object of darkness!"
"...You're right."
Lin Zhen closed his eyes, quickly calming down.
He looked at the corpse, showing a trace of pity, then averted his gaze. "You are correct. It must be destroyed as soon as possible."
Given the gravity of the matter, Lin Yun's life naturally could not compare to the safety of the entire family.
Moreover, Lin Yun had poor talent and a reclusive personality. Although Lin Zhen had looked after him, the bond between uncle and nephew wasn't particularly deep.
"Alright," Su Cheng handed over the handkerchief. "This is a dangerous magical item. I advise you not to touch it directly with your skin."
Lin Zhen still had some doubts, wondering if she coveted the bracelet, as enchanted ancient artifacts easily attracted mages.
Seeing her hand it over so readily now made him believe her even more.
He didn't dare take it, simply gesturing for her to place it on the ground.
Without hesitation, Su Cheng set it down and stepped back several paces.
The next second, a ghostly black shadow shot out from the bracelet.
The shadow was indistinct, barely discernible as a humanoid outline, now flailing its limbs, appearing extremely furious.
"You!"
The shadow turned its head and hissed at Su Cheng, "You ruined everything! I... I've waited two thousand years—you lackey of the God of Light! Pitiful, foolish believer of a false god—"
Lin Zhen's face changed dramatically.
His last shred of doubt vanished.
Who in the Northern Continent would dare openly insult His Holiness the God of Light?!
He was the radiant and supreme deity, the ruler of all gods, the master of the divine realm, and the object of faith for all creation!
An existence capable of incinerating continents with merely a gaze!
Whatever was inside that bracelet would bring disaster upon the Lin family!
He hesitated no longer. A dazzling red light erupted from his hand as he gathered strength and smashed his fist down.
With a tremendous boom, the ground in the courtyard rumbled and shook, bricks and stones cracked and shattered, and dust filled the air.
Su Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and slowly retreated.
Immediately after, she was horrified to discover she couldn't move.
The entire world began to fade and lose color, turning into a black-and-white ink wash painting. Everyone around seemed frozen, as if someone had hit a pause button.
"You have indeed altered some events—"
She heard a sigh.
The voice didn't seem to come through her eardrums but rather seeped into the depths of her soul—a soft, icy sensation brushing against her consciousness.
"But now it seems... perhaps you are more suitable."
What?
Suitable for what?
Her thoughts were a chaotic mess, as if sinking into quicksand.
That voice was consuming her, dissolving her reason, stripping away her awareness, pulling her toward a distant, illusory world.
"Then you..."
Nothingness abruptly descended.
She could hold on no longer. Her consciousness completely scattered, sinking into a deep slumber.
In her dazed state, a light fell upon her eyelids, and a delighted voice sounded beside her.
"Hey! You're finally awake!"
Su Cheng opened her eyes to find herself in bed, in a cozy bedroom with light curtains hanging from the bedposts and warm, flickering yellow lamplight.
The head of the Lin family stood beside the bed, looking at her with an expression full of affection and pity.
"Chengcheng, you're still young. Let your uncle tell you, there are plenty of men out there. As the saying goes, out with the old, in with the new..."
Su Cheng: "???"
Get a grip! How could you be my uncle?
Your wife is my cousin's aunt—you're clearly my cousin's uncle!
Seeing her bewildered look, Lin Zhen sighed. "You fainted from anger when you saw the calling card they sent..."
He shook his head. "Rest well. They'll be here tomorrow. The merchants' guild is waiting for me, so I must go now."
With that, he left.
Su Cheng watched his retreating back in confusion, sitting up in bed utterly baffled.
Not long after, two youths pushed the door open and entered, both wearing gleeful, gloating expressions.
They looked somewhat familiar.
They seemed to be the ones who had been standing around Lin Yun earlier, sneering and mocking him.
"Hey, Su Cheng, we heard. That fiancé of yours studying in the capital has become quite the celebrity at South River Academy!"
"Ah, what a shame. Murong Yue is going to break off the engagement with you."
Su Cheng's pupils trembled in shock.
Murong Yue?
Wasn't that the name of the female lead, the original male protagonist's fiancée?!
