From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

The shadowy figures gradually came into focus; they were the town mayor and Liu the blacksmith, followed by several fierce-looking townspeople.

Yan Ruyu sneered; it was indeed a last-ditch effort.

She patted Xu Mo's hand gently to reassure him, her eyes gleaming with confidence.

The town mayor gritted his teeth, his face filled with resentment: "Miss Yan, are you really going to drive us to our deaths?!"

"I have never intended to be an enemy of anyone," Yan Ruyu said calmly, yet with an undeniable firmness. "It is your stubbornness that is hindering the development of the ancient town." She looked around and saw the worried eyes of the residents, which strengthened her resolve. "Today, I will break these old shackles and restore a bright and clear world to the ancient town!"

The town mayor and Liu the blacksmith exchanged a glance, as if they had made a decision.

They suddenly pulled out weapons hidden on their bodies and charged towards Yan Ruyu with a roar.

Several other townspeople also rushed forward, waving their weapons, ready to fight to the death.

Xu Mo's eyes narrowed, and he was about to make a move when Yan Ruyu stopped him.

"I can handle these small fry myself." A confident smile appeared on her lips, and she vanished in a flash.

The next second, she appeared in front of the mayor and kicked him away.

The town mayor fell heavily to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Liu the blacksmith swung his hammer and smashed it at Yan Ruyu.

Yan Ruyu dodged to the side and struck Liu the blacksmith in the chest with a backhand, causing Liu to fall to the ground.

Seeing this, the other townspeople were somewhat intimidated, but having been forced into a corner, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue the attack.

Yan Ruyu moved nimbly through the crowd, her every move decisive and ruthless.

Soon, she knocked all of them to the ground, where they wailed in pain.

"Is that all you've got? You think you can fight me?" Yan Ruyu clapped her hands, looking disdainful.

She walked up to the mayor, looking down at him. "Now, do you still want to stop me?"

The mayor clutched his chest, his face pale, his eyes filled with fear.

He knew he had been utterly defeated.

Miss Li and Hunter Wang led the other residents who supported Yan Ruyu over, their faces beaming with excitement.

Suddenly, an aged voice rang out from the crowd: "It's not over yet..."

Yan Ruyu stood tall and proud, a confident smile playing on her lips, like a triumphant queen.

Her eyes darted around as she looked down at the defeated town mayor at her feet, as if he were an ant.

"Times have changed, old man."

The mayor's face was deathly pale, his eyes unfocused. His former arrogance had vanished, leaving only deep fear and despair.

Liu the blacksmith clutched his chest, groaning in pain, tears of regret mingling with sweat as they streamed down his face.

The other townspeople collapsed to the ground, trembling like stray dogs.

"Miss Yan is awesome!" Miss Li shouted excitedly, raising her arms, and the cheers instantly ignited the entire ancient town.

Residents flocked to the streets, singing and dancing to celebrate this hard-won victory.

With the deafening sound of gongs and drums and the crackling of firecrackers, the ancient town was immersed in a sea of ​​joy.

The once lifeless streets are now brimming with vitality, and everyone's face is filled with happy smiles, as if they can see a bright future.

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

He slowly walked up to her, gently cupped her face, and said softly, "Ayu, you are amazing. I am so proud of you."

Yan Ruyu's eyes reddened slightly, and tears of happiness welled up in her eyes.

She looked at Xu Mo with deep emotion, her voice choked with sobs, and said, "All of this is because of you..."

The two embraced tightly, and amidst cheers, Xu Mo gently kissed Yan Ruyu's forehead, whispering affectionately, "Ayu, I love you."

Just then, the mysterious old man reappeared in the crowd. He gave Yan Ruyu a meaningful look and slowly said, "Congratulations, young lady, you have successfully lifted the curse of the ancient town, but..." He paused, then turned his gaze to the distance, "...the real challenge has only just begun."

Before the mysterious old man could finish speaking, a fast horse galloped up, and the rider shouted, "Report! News has come from the capital..."

The night sky over the ancient town was lit up by dazzling fireworks, and deafening cheers rose and fell like boiling water, threatening to melt the entire town into joy.

Red lanterns hung along both sides of the street, illuminating the happy smiles on people's faces.

The sounds of suona horns, gongs, drums, and firecrackers intertwined, creating a stirring symphony.

Children, dressed in new clothes, frolicked and ran through the crowd, while adults raised their glasses, singing and dancing to celebrate this hard-won new life.

Yan Ruyu stood in the center of the crowd, dressed in a red dress that was as dazzling as a flame. There was a hint of fatigue in her eyes, but a smile of satisfaction on her lips, like a queen looking down on the world and receiving the worship of her subjects.

She looked around at the happy smiling faces and felt a sense of accomplishment.

This isn't some "comeback story" script; it's an epic tale she wrote herself, and she's the most dazzling character in this story.

Xu Mo stood on the periphery of the crowd, his gaze gently fixed on Yan Ruyu, a doting smile on his lips, as if he were admiring a rare treasure.

He knew she deserved all of this; she was the most dazzling light in this ancient town.

He slowly walked forward, gently took her hand, and the two smiled at each other, everything understood without words.

At this moment, the prosperity of the ancient town became the most beautiful backdrop for their love.

Sunlight spills onto the bluestone streets of the ancient town, where shops line both sides of the street and pedestrians come and go in an endless stream. The sounds of children playing and vendors hawking their wares intertwine to create a vibrant scene.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Mo strolled hand in hand along this once lifeless street, appreciating the hard-won prosperity.

The residents cast their blessings their way, and the future of the ancient town, like the warm sunshine, was full of hope.

However, in this warm atmosphere, a secret letter from the capital broke the temporary tranquility.

The letter contained only a few words, yet it cast a shadow over Yan Ruyu's heart: the geisha house harbored a hidden secret.

At night, the geisha houses are brightly lit, bustling with music and dancing, filled with an atmosphere of decadence and debauchery.

The air was filled with a strong, pungent scent of cosmetics, which made people feel depressed.

Yan Ruyu changed into an elegant dress and wore a veil to cover her stunningly beautiful face.

She stood quietly in the shadows, watching the heavily made-up women, her eyes filled with vigilance and worry.

This place was far more complex than she had imagined, and seemed to be hiding a huge conspiracy.

Xu Mo stood not far away, looking at Yan Ruyu with deep eyes, worry and reluctance intertwined on his face. "Ayu, take care." He murmured softly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Yan Ruyu didn't turn around, but simply raised the corners of her mouth slightly, her eyes firm.

“But this time…” She paused, her voice low but with a hint of amusement, “I want to change my identity, change my name.”