Chapter 278

Liuming Mountain and Fanyin Temple have collapsed.

Ning Ning stood before two dead fish, her complexion equally grim.

It wasn’t just because of the tragic state of Yonggui and Bai Ye; there was another, more significant reason.

The moment Bai Ye descended from the sky, an unbearably piercing sound sliced through her ears, like a sharp blade stabbing directly into her mind.

It was the system’s notification sound, which startled Ning Ning when it suddenly rang out.

—So, what the plot now?

Her mind was a blur.

As she helped the two up from the ground, she carefully read the words that floated in her mind.

[Ning Ning stared at Meng Jue’s back, so close to her, with a glint of vicious malice in her eyes.

Although he was nominally the senior brother, he always looked down on her. Whenever he saw her making things difficult for Pei Ji, he would always take Pei Ji’s side, causing her no end of frustration.

She couldn’t accept it.

Why does everyone side with Pei Ji? He’s just the son of a demon cultivator, a disgraceful monster, while she comes from a noble family with limitless potential. No matter how she thought about it, she should be the one receiving all the love and attention.

A bunch of idiots!

Recalling Meng Jue’s usual mockery, a thought slowly rose in her heart.

Ning Ning thought, she would kill him.

The 62 Floor is extremely dangerous. Now that only she and Meng Jue are left, as long as she finds a blind spot in the spirit vision orb nearby and sets up a small trap…

Once he dies without a burial place, who could hold her accountable?]

Ning Ning felt her scalp tingle, and a cold breeze swept across her back.

In her previous tasks, although the system had arranged for her to enact some scenes fitting the role of a vicious supporting character, they were usually harmless verbal spats or pranks.

This time, however, it was entirely different.

She was to make a lethal move against Meng Jue.

Memories buried deep in her mind began to awaken, and Ning Ning vaguely recalled the plot related to the Demon Refining Tower.

Pei Ji was a solitary figure, rarely interacting or cooperating with others, so there were very few descriptions of other disciples in the original story.

Whether it was fortunate or unfortunate, Ning Ning was one of those “few.”

As long as the plot stayed on track, they would soon encounter Meng Jue, and the four would pair up to explore the secrets of this place separately.

When she and Meng Jue reached the cliff’s edge, standing in a blind spot of the spirit vision orb, Ning Ning was supposed to push him forward.

—Of course, this move was bound to fail.

Meng Jue was exceptionally perceptive.

The moment she quietly approached, he would sense something amiss, and just as her hand was about to touch him, he would turn around.

And he would see her outstretched hand, full of ill intent.

It seemed Meng Jue had anticipated this all along.

The very reason he turned at that moment was to maximize her embarrassment.

That clearly murderous posture would leave her with no excuses.

Just imagining the scene made Ning Ning’s face flush red, her skin crawl, and yet she couldn’t help but think:

Even in such a life-threatening situation, Meng Jue wouldn’t miss the chance to toy with her. Truly, a black-hearted person.

Her brain must have been enlightened.

As this thought filled her mind, a familiar, clear male voice rang in her ears: “Junior Sister Ning Ning?”

She looked up to meet a pair of smiling black eyes.

Meng Jue, her soon-to-be assassination target, was completely unaware of anything, perhaps amused by the little girl’s dazed expression as the smile in his eyes deepened: “What are you thinking about?”

“I… I was thinking—”

Ning Ning’s brain raced.

Though she was bound by the system, she at least had a brain and wouldn’t blindly obey it.

Based on her past experiences, the system usually didn’t care about the outcome, only the meticulous execution of the process.

In other words, as long as she made the motion of pushing him at the cliff’s edge and came up with a plausible reason, she might avoid being caught red-handed by Meng Jue and forever despised.

With this in mind, Ning Ning’s eyes lit up.

She had an idea.

Meng Jue crossed his arms and quietly observed the dramatic changes in his junior sister’s expression.

Her earlier lost and forlorn look resembled a bighead carp fish, eyes bulging and blowing bubbles constantly.

Now, she suddenly seemed full of energy, her whole body jolting as if she were a millennium-old zombie that had resurrected from the dead.

He found it amusing and couldn’t help but curve his lips into a smile.

Seeing that he was in a good mood, Ning Ning also smiled with bright eyes but spoke with a mysterious tone: “Senior Brother, have you ever heard of a palm technique that descends from the sky?”

Meng Jue played along: “Oh? Tell me.”

The little girl, having gained his permission, chuckled and slowly extended her hands, making a pushing gesture.

Her movements were clumsy, her expression solemn, as she raised her arms with excruciating slowness, accompanied by slight body shifts, her hands swaying in the air to form two perfect semicircles.

From a bighead carp fish, she had transformed into a turtle granny with a distinct sunset glow.

“This is a traditional martial art from my hometown, called the Taichi Eight Trigrams Palm.”

Ning Ning said with a serious tone, “I’ve been practicing diligently lately, hoping to showcase this palm technique atop the mountain peaks, surely with the demeanor of a martial arts master.”

Having finished this nonsensical speech, Ning Ning wanted to give herself a round of applause.

This is what it means to turn something rotten into something magical, to pull off a miracle in a dire situation.

She was practically a genius!

Later, when they reached the cliff, and as soon as Meng Jue sensed her presence and turned around, just as he was about to sternly question her—

He would see her full of righteousness, taking a martial stance, her hand moving in circles behind him, and finally issuing a sincere invitation: “Senior Brother, come practice Taichi with me!”

(Tai Chi…)

(T/N:Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art. Initially developed for combat and self-defense, it has evolved into a sport and form of exercise. Tai chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise in which practitioners perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths.)

So convincing, so irrefutable.

Before long, the cliff, shrouded in dark mist, would undoubtedly feature two figures side by side practicing Taichi, light and graceful, full of righteous energy!

Ning Ning nervously touched her nose.

…M-Maybe something like that.

=====

Fate couldn’t be avoided.

After Bai Ye and Yonggui finished bandaging their wounds, everything began to unfold smoothly according to the original plot.

The 62 Floor was overrun with demonic beasts, and dense demonic energy filled the air.

Determined to earn more points on this barren mountain, the group briefly discussed and decided to split into pairs to search for the hidden opportunities and fierce demons in the secret realm.

And for the yet-to-be-seen Pei Ji.

As fellow disciples, Ning Ning and Meng Jue were naturally assigned to the same group, moving steadily towards the mountain top.

With guilt in her heart, Ning Ning was extremely nervous along the way, but Meng Jue seemed in a good mood, enthusiastically finding topics to talk about.

The mountain was quiet, and all that could be seen were clusters of dry, blackened tree skeletons, like restless spirits casting twisted shadows in the darkness.

No signs of demonic creatures appeared along the path, only the occasional cries of unknown animals, mournful as if soaked in deep malice and hatred.

Following Meng Jue as they searched around, Ning Ning looked around nervously, and before she knew it, they had reached the mountain top.

At that moment, the unsettling notification sound rang out once again.