Chapter 47: Don’t Get Close to the Female Lead; It Will Bring Misfortune

When the pedestrians saw the horrifying scene before them, they screamed and ran back into the house in panic, “Ahhh! It’s a water demon! The water demon is coming to harm us!”

The cultivators held their breath, all eyes fixed on the surface of the river.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Amidst the chaotic sound of water, countless pale hands emerged from beneath the river.

Soon after, shriveled, charcoal-like bodies followed.

They howled and rushed toward the group, eager to attack.

Everyone was shaken.

Jiang Ziyou’s eyes widened as he slapped his own cheek to ensure he wasn’t dreaming.

Once he realized this was real, his curiosity grew, and he eagerly drew his Feiying Liuyun Sword from his waist, ready to test it.

“Look at my sword! Look at my sword!”

This silly kid.

While everyone else had grasped the gravity of the situation, he was only concerned with testing the sharpness of his newly blessed sword.

Tang Murou dropped the green lotus she had been holding and stumbled back in shock.

“How… how could this happen!”

“You dare to pick things from this river? You really want to die.”

Song Shi growled through gritted teeth.

The spirits moved at breakneck speed, wildly swinging their arms as they charged.

Their wails echoed through the air, chilling everyone to the core.

The group fought back with their swords, but no matter how many spirits were slashed, the severed bodies would instantly regenerate, unless burned with fire talismans.

But the number of talismans was limited, and drawing new ones took time.

Many of the cultivators began to panic, retreating as they slashed, tripping over one another, and fleeing in chaos.

“Ahhhh! Help me! Help me!” a piercing scream rang out.

One spirit suddenly latched onto Tang Murou’s ankle, its sharp nails digging into her flesh, holding tight.

As someone who had always been treated like a princess, she never faced the fear of death.

She screamed and cried without restraint.

Nearby, a cultivator rushed to cut the spirit’s hand off, only to have another spirit’s hand pierce his chest, killing him instantly.

Another male cultivator grabbed Tang Murou.

“Miss Tang, pull yourself together! Stop crying! We need to get out of here, now!”

“No! I won’t leave! He got hurt saving me! I need to take him with us!”

Tang Murou clung to the dead cultivator’s body, refusing to leave.

“He’s already dead… The spirits are too many. If we don’t go now, we won’t make it!” the cultivator insisted.

Tang Murou continued to wail, “No! I won’t go! How can you all abandon him? Don’t you have any heart?!”

Jiang Niannian,”….”

Your mom, this is seriously off chart!!… He died saving you, and instead of reflecting on that, you’re blaming everyone else.

(T/N: F*ck)

Splat!

Another spirit struck, and the male cultivator protecting Tang Murou was killed, his throat slashed.

He died with his eyes open in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Tang Murou was safely carried to the rear by others, trembling in fear but unharmed.

Watching all this unfold, Jiang Niannian silently edged closer to Yin Buqi, trying to put more distance between herself and Tang Murou.

Never get too close to the female lead; it only brings misfortune.

With Tang Murou’s luck, whoever helps her gets unlucky.

Yin Buqi handed Jiang Niannian a pile of fire talismans while fending off the spirits.

Jiang Niannian stared at him in disbelief.

“You?!”

Yin Buqi remained calm, protecting her as he said, “I can handle myself. You keep these for your own safety.”

“Ah!”

Another scream erupted as Yin Ci’s sword was knocked from his hand.

A spirit lashed its grotesquely long tongue around his limbs, immobilizing him, while another moved in for the kill.

Suddenly, a deafening roar shook the ground.

A massive beast descended from the sky, shaking the earth beneath its weight.

The creature stood tall as a mountain, with horns that seemed to pierce the heavens.

With a single stomp, it crushed the spirits beneath its feet.

The beast positioned itself in front of Yin Ci, its massive eyes locking with his.

Song Shi raised an eyebrow.

“Is that… the Moon Shadow Beast?!”

Jiang Niannian nodded.

“Yep.”

A cultivator sighed in awe, “I’ve heard the Moon Shadow Beast is exceptionally fierce and powerful. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation.”

Jiang Niannian recalled how the creature would waddle its little butt after her in anger, poking her with its horns.

Fierce?

Powerful?

Yeah, not really.

“Thank goodness, we’re saved!” The group cheered.

But in the next instant, the massive beast shrank down into a small, cute black ball.

“Awoo, Awoo…” Shapeshifting had drained too much energy, Awooooooo.

The little Coal Ball hurriedly retreated, hiding under Yin Ci’s robe and biting onto the hem of his clothes, tears welling up in its big eyes.

“Awoo…”

Yin Ci, remembering how the creature had saved his life, resisted the urge to kick it, picking it up and tying it to his waist with his sash.

If this little beast tries to pull down his pants again, he will definitely beat its butt to pieces!

“What should we do now?” someone asked.

Yin Buqi, eyeing the spirits before him, spoke in a low voice, “These spirits are filled with too much resentment. With our current cultivation levels, we can’t kill them outright. Don’t fight head-on. I’ll cover you—Niannian, take the others and find a way out.”

His voice was calm and steady, like a rock in a storm, bringing a sense of security to everyone.

They began to retreat in an orderly manner.

Jiang Niannian’s eyes reddened.

“No! It’s too dangerous for you to stay behind alone!”

“Niannian, be good. Go now.”

Yin Buqi reassured her, slashing away a spirit’s outstretched hand.

“No! I’m staying!”

“Niannian, listen to me.”

“Yin Buqi!”

Jiang Niannian suddenly laughed, tears streaming down her face.

She said, “I didn’t raise you to use your life to shield me in times of danger. I raised you so we could fight side by side.”

“Don’t leave me behind.”

Yin Buqi was taken aback, staring at her in awe.

The wind blew through her hair, her messy locks, and her dirty clothes from the earlier battle, making her appear disheveled, yet to him, she looked breathtaking.

In this world… the only person he wanted to protect, the only one he needed, was his Niannian.

They exchanged smiles before plunging back into the fray.

As the horde of spirits swarmed them, Jiang Niannian, though frightened, remained composed.

After all, she had already died once—albeit quite unceremoniously.

She wasn’t all that afraid of death.

But if she could live, she’d rather not die.

Several male cultivators glanced at Jiang Niannian with admiration.

A woman so selfless and brave was truly enchanting.

Tang Murou was still sniffling, but the male cultivator carrying her felt increasingly irritated.

Earlier, her pale face and teary eyes had stirred some pity in him, but now he found himself thinking that a woman should have the same spirit as Jiang Niannian.

His fleeting feelings for Tang Murou quickly faded.

Tang Murou lifted her head and noticed how everyone was looking at Jiang Niannian.

Her heart skipped a beat.

She lowered her gaze, her eyes darkening.

She had only let Jiang Niannian steal the spotlight because she was too scared.

It wasn’t as if Jiang Niannian was the only one capable of fighting off the spirits.

She…she can do it too.

With that thought, Tang Murou wriggled free from the male cultivator’s arms and charged back into the fray, sword in hand.

“Miss Tang!”

Jiang Niannian was floating above the river, too focused on the fight to notice the figure flying toward her from behind.

Another spirit attacked, and Jiang Niannian dodged.

But in doing so, she collided with Tang Murou, whose sword accidentally slashed Jiang Niannian’s arm, sending blood splattering through the air.

Jiang Niannian lost her balance and plummeted toward the river, while Tang Murou was thrown back to the shore.

The spirits, drawn by the scent of blood, swarmed toward Jiang Niannian.

Tang Murou coughed up blood and struggled to her feet.

She covered her mouth, utterly shocked by what she saw unfolding behind her.