From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Without the slightest hesitation, Yan Ruyu walked straight into the depths of the forbidden area. The eerie sound seemed to possess some kind of magic, drawing her closer step by step.

Her steps were firm, each one seemingly treading on the hearts of everyone present, leaving a deep imprint.

"Miss Yan! You can't go! It's too dangerous there!" The town mayor was the first to react and hurriedly tried to stop her, his voice filled with anxiety and worry.

Liu the blacksmith and Wang the hunter also tried to dissuade him. Although they were afraid, they were more worried about Yan Ruyu's safety.

After all, that forbidden area was a place that even native locals dared not easily set foot in.

However, Yan Ruyu ignored their advice, her gaze fixed on the depths of the forbidden area, as if something important awaited her there.

Xu Mo didn't say anything, but silently followed behind Yan Ruyu. Although he was worried, he trusted Yan Ruyu's judgment even more.

He knew that this woman, though seemingly weak, was actually incredibly strong inside, and no one could change her mind once she made a decision.

The fog grew thicker and the visibility decreased, making everything around them blurry. Only the eerie sound grew clearer and more piercing, as if it were echoing right next to their ears.

Suddenly, an old figure appeared before them. The figure was hunched over and leaned on a cane, as if it had emerged from the ground, sending chills down their spines.

"You shouldn't have come here." The old man's hoarse voice, like a broken bellows, carried a hint of warning.

Yan Ruyu stopped and stared sharply at the old man, her heart filled with doubt.

Who is this old man?

Why is he here?

What does he know?

"Old man, do you know what secrets are hidden here?" Yan Ruyu asked bluntly.

The old man did not answer, but only gave Yan Ruyu a deep look, his eyes profound and mysterious, as if he could see into people's hearts.

"Some secrets are better left unknown," the old man said slowly, his tone carrying a hint of warning.

“But I must know,” Yan Ruyu said firmly, without the slightest intention to back down.

She had a premonition that this secret was related to the fate of the ancient town, and also to her own fate.

Xu Mo stood behind Yan Ruyu, silently holding her hand, offering her unspoken support.

The old man sighed, seemingly helpless. He looked up at Yan Ruyu.

"Do you really want to know?" the old man asked.

"Yes," Yan Ruyu answered without hesitation.

The old man was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Alright, I'll tell you..."

The old man slowly revealed the secret of the ancient town: a thousand years ago, the town suffered a plague. In order to avoid a similar disaster from happening again, the ancestors of the town established a rule to prohibit contact with the outside world.

Over time, this conservative mindset became deeply ingrained, limiting the development of the ancient town.

The forbidden area was the source of the plague back then, and it remains a source of eternal pain in the hearts of the people of the ancient town.

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruyu understood that this so-called "secret" was nothing more than an excuse for being complacent and closed-minded.

A slight upturn of her lips revealed a confident smile, and her eyes sparkled with wisdom.

"Old man, times are changing. Closing the country to the outside world will only make the ancient town more backward. Instead of being afraid of change, we should actively embrace change in order to find a new way out."

The mysterious old man looked at the confident woman before him. In all his long and muddled life, this was the first time he had ever seen such a courageous young woman.

Xu Mo gazed at Yan Ruyu with deep affection; his woman always brought him surprises.

Yan Ruyu relayed the old man's words to the town mayor and others, and proposed his own plan: gradually open up the ancient town, develop distinctive industries, attract foreign investment, and at the same time preserve the traditional culture of the ancient town.

She spoke passionately about her plans, her tone firm and full of confidence.

The town mayor and others were initially shocked, but as Yan Ruyu recounted the story, their expressions gradually changed from shock to thoughtful consideration.

The residents of the ancient town also gathered around, listening curiously to Yan Ruyu's plan.

They never imagined that this outsider could bring them such great hope.

“We can grow medicinal herbs, develop tourism, and also…” Yan Ruyu spoke eloquently, every word striking a chord in the hearts of the ancient town’s residents.

Miss Li and Hunter Wang exchanged a glance, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

They finally saw hope for change.

As night fell, the town square was brightly lit, and residents gathered together to discuss Yan Ruyu's plan with great enthusiasm.

Yan Ruyu stood in the center of the crowd, a confident smile on her face.

She knew that the fate of the ancient town was about to be rewritten...

"Tomorrow, we'll begin our operation!" Yan Ruyu's clear and powerful voice echoed in the silent night sky.

The next morning, golden sunlight shone on the cobblestone streets of the ancient town, and the air was filled with the fragrance of earth.

Some residents gathered in the square early in the morning, their eyes filled with determination, as if they had seen new hope.

Miss Li and Hunter Wang stood at the front of the crowd, full of fighting spirit, and had become Yan Ruyu's right-hand men.

The town mayor and Liu the blacksmith stood at the back of the crowd, their brows furrowed and their faces full of hesitation.

Their ingrained traditional values ​​faced unprecedented challenges, and their inner balance began to waver.

Yan Ruyu's proposal was like a pebble that broke the calm surface of the ancient town's lake, creating ripples.

Xu Mo stood beside Yan Ruyu, gazing at her with deep affection, his eyes shining with pride.

His women were always so dazzling and so captivating.

Yan Ruyu felt Xu Mo's gaze, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a happy smile.

She gently held Xu Mo's hand, feeling the warmth of his palm, and her heart was filled with strength.

The two looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

With everyone's concerted efforts, the ancient town began to radiate new vitality.

In the medicinal herb fields, medicinal herbs sprout from the soil and grow vigorously; on the streets, tourists come in an endless stream, creating a lively atmosphere; in the workshops, the busy figures of craftsmen compose a symphony of the ancient town's revival.

However, behind this thriving scene, there seems to be a hint of unease.

Yan Ruyu stood on high ground, overlooking the entire ancient town, her brows slightly furrowed.

She felt that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

In the distance, at the corner of the ancient town's street, a dark figure flashed by...

"Ruyu, what's wrong?" Xu Mo asked with concern.

Yan Ruyu shook her head. "It's nothing, maybe I'm overthinking it."

In the dead of night, Yan Ruyu lay in bed, but couldn't fall asleep.

She got up and walked to the window, gazing at the dark night sky outside, a vague unease creeping into her heart.

Suddenly, a rapid knock on the door broke the silence of the night.

"Miss Yan, something terrible has happened!" Miss Li's voice was filled with panic, "The medicinal herb field... something has happened to the medicinal herb field!"