From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Ruyu stared in the direction where the old man had disappeared, her eyes as firm as a rock.

"Danger? I'd like to see what kind of demons and monsters are playing tricks on me!"

Xu Mo held her hand tightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, yet he still looked at her tenderly and said, "I'll stay with you." He knew her stubbornness well; rather than trying to dissuade her, he would rather fight alongside her.

As night fell over the ancient town, an indescribable unease permeated the air.

Every household stayed indoors, and the occasional barking of dogs added to the eeriness.

The once bustling streets were deserted, with only the creaking of the old signs in the wind, as if whispering ancient secrets.

Following the clues provided by the mysterious old man, Yan Ruyu and Xu Mo arrived at a forbidden area in the back mountain of the ancient town.

Here, ancient trees reach for the sky, blocking out the sun, and the air is filled with a damp, decaying smell.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, which made a "rustling" sound when stepped on, like the whispers of ghosts.

A chill ran from the soles of my feet to my heart, sending shivers down my spine.

Deeper into the forbidden area, they discovered a hidden cave.

The entrance to the cave is covered by vines and is difficult to find without careful observation.

A chilling aura emanated from the cave entrance, mingled with a faint smell of blood.

Upon entering the cave, in the dim light, Yan Ruyu discovered that the cave walls were covered with strange symbols, resembling some kind of ancient script or some kind of eerie pattern.

Scattered on the ground were some white bones, which looked particularly eerie in the darkness.

"Where...where is this?" Even Xu Mo, who was well-traveled and knowledgeable, couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

Yan Ruyu carefully examined the symbols on the cave wall. Suddenly, her expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed, "I know! This is...this is a curse!"

Meanwhile, at the mayor's home, the atmosphere was somber.

The mayor and several conservative residents were pale, with fine beads of sweat on their foreheads.

“She…she found out!” the mayor said, his voice trembling with fear.

“What should we do? What if she tells the truth…” another resident asked in alarm.

The residents of the ancient town also noticed something was wrong, and a sense of unease spread among the crowd.

They gathered in the square.

"What happened?"

"I...I heard...there's a curse on the back mountain..."

Just then, Yan Ruyu and Xu Mo came out from the back mountain.

Yan Ruyu stared intently at the town mayor and said, word by word, "I know what you're afraid of..." A confident smile curved Yan Ruyu's lips, and her eyes gleamed with wisdom.

"The so-called curse is nothing more than an illusion created by someone using the radiation emitted by a special mineral." She took out a black stone from her bosom and waved it in front of everyone. "This is the key!" She explained that this mineral releases a special energy, and long-term contact can cause hallucinations, dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms. The residents of the ancient town mistakenly believed it to be a curse.

The mayor and the conservatives were ashen-faced, wilted like frostbitten eggplants.

Their carefully crafted lies were easily exposed by Yan Ruyu.

“No…impossible…” the mayor muttered to himself, staggering backward and almost falling to the ground.

The other conservative members also looked ashen-faced, like defeated roosters, dejected and crestfallen.

Xu Mo gazed at Yan Ruyu with deep affection, his eyes filled with admiration.

"I knew it, you could do it." His voice was gentle yet firm, like a warm current flowing into Yan Ruyu's heart.

In the days that followed, Yan Ruyu began to study how to eliminate the effects of ore radiation.

Xu Mo stayed by her side every step of the way, grinding medicinal herbs for her, organizing information, and even cooking for her himself.

Their relationship deepened after going through this ordeal together.

Late at night, Yan Ruyu was engrossed in her work, her brow furrowed.

Xu Mo gently placed a cup of hot tea beside her and tenderly stroked her hair.

"Take a rest if you're tired," he said softly.

Yan Ruyu raised her head and met Xu Mo's affectionate gaze, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

She smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling, her gaze radiant.

"With you here, I don't feel tired."

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

Outside the window, the night was deep, insects chirped, and the ancient town gradually returned to its former tranquility.

However, in the shadows, the mayor's face was grim, and his eyes flashed with resentment.

"Yan Ruyu, you ruined my plans, I will never let you get away with this!" He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

He turned and disappeared into the darkness, leaving only a chilling phrase echoing in the night air: "Just you wait..."

The mayor's face was contorted like old tree bark, and his eyes were blazing with fury.

"Yan Ruyu! You ignorant little girl, how dare you ruin my plans!" He gritted his teeth, his voice low and menacing, like a roar from hell.

Yan Ruyu sneered and met his gaze without fear.

"You're the real sinner for playing tricks and fooling the people!" Her eyes were sharp and her tone firm, like a drawn sword pointing straight to the mayor's sore spot.

In the square, the residents automatically split into two factions.

Some people stood behind the mayor, their faces filled with fear and unease; others gathered around Yan Ruyu, the air thick with tension, like a taut string that could snap at any moment.

"Follow me!" Yan Ruyu commanded, leading her supporters in a grand procession toward the back mountain.

Miss Li and Hunter Wang walked at the front of the group, like two guardian deities protecting Yan Ruyu's safety.

The mayor and his conservative members slumped helplessly to the ground, their faces filled with despair.

They watched helplessly as Yan Ruyu's entourage disappeared into the distance, powerless to stop it.

The authority that once existed has vanished in this moment.

Upon arriving at the forbidden area in the back mountain, Yan Ruyu began setting up an array as planned, in preparation for breaking the curse.

Residents rushed forward to help, moving stones and digging pits, their faces beaming with excitement and anticipation.

However, just as the formation was about to be completed, a sudden change occurred!

The once clear sky suddenly became covered with dark clouds, a strong wind blew, and sand and stones flew everywhere.

The earth began to tremble violently, as if something terrible was about to burst forth from the ground.

Yan Ruyu's expression changed, and an ominous premonition welled up in her heart.

She looked up at the sky and saw a black lightning bolt rip through the night sky, striking straight towards the center of the formation.

"Oh no!" Xu Mo exclaimed, leaping towards Yan Ruyu and pulling her tightly into his arms.

After the deafening roar, everything returned to calm.

However, an even more eerie atmosphere permeated the air.

Yan Ruyu lifted her head from Xu Mo's embrace, "What...what is this?"

Xu Mo gripped Yan Ruyu's hand tightly, his expression grave.

"Watch out, something's coming..." Before he could finish speaking, a dark figure slowly emerged from the darkness, letting out a chilling laugh: "Hehehe... I've finally waited for you..."