From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

A damp and chilly aura rushed towards them, like a menacing demon, instantly engulfing the two.

The ground was sticky mud, and the air was filled with a pungent, putrid stench, like a hundred rotten eggs exploding at the same time, making one dizzy and nauseous.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an instinctively covered their mouths and noses, their brows furrowed, but their eyes burned like flames, firm and sharp.

They knew all too well that this was not a "feng shui treasure land," but a "haunted house."

Deep within the cave, eerie green lights flickered faintly, like venomous snakes lurking in the darkness, ready to strike at any moment, sending chills down one's spine.

The two cautiously explored forward, taking each step with extreme care.

Suddenly, a group of figures appeared ahead. The man in the lead had eyes like icy blades, so cold that they sent chills down one's spine.

Behind him stood a row of men in black, each one burly and menacing, clearly not to be trifled with.

"Oh ho, isn't this our Miss Yan and Young Master Xu? What, you want a piece of the pie too?" The leader's lips curled into a mocking smile, his tone sarcastic.

"You think you're worthy?" Yan Ruyu sneered. Xu Lin'an silently stood in front of her, his face still bearing a harmless smile, but his whole body exuded a dangerous aura, like a beast ready to pounce.

The cave was cramped, and the two sides were locked in a tense standoff, creating an atmosphere so intense it was almost suffocating.

It was as if the air itself had frozen into ice, ready to burst open at any moment.

A fierce battle seems inevitable.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" The leader's eyes hardened, and with a wave of his hand, the men in black behind him immediately drew their swords and charged towards Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an with murderous intent.

Just then, Yan Ruyu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile: "System, it's your turn to perform!"

Yan Ruyu smiled contemptuously, and with a slight movement of her fingertips, an invisible barrier instantly unfolded, like a huge transparent dome, firmly trapping the few black-clad men who were charging at the forefront.

They were like wild beasts stuck in the mud, brandishing their swords but only able to spin in place, letting out futile roars.

The scene was like watching a group of kindergarten children perform acrobatics—it was both comical and laughable.

"Holy crap, what the hell is this thing?" A man in black stared in horror, trying his best, but he couldn't budge the seemingly transparent barrier at all.

The others who were trapped followed suit, punching and kicking, making a loud "bang bang" sound. However, the barrier remained unmoved, not even leaving a mark. Yan Ruyu wanted to applaud them. How much strength did it take to make the air vibrate?

Upon seeing this, Xu Lin'an's lips curled into a wicked smile.

He was like a cheetah waiting for its chance, and with a flash, he darted into the battle like a ghost.

The folding fan in his hand was no longer a decorative object for romance and poetry, but a deadly weapon that reaped lives. Every wave of it carried a strong wind and was extremely sharp.

Over there, the battle between Xu Lin'an and the leader in black had reached a fever pitch.

The two figures clashed, exchanging blows and kicks, each collision producing a deafening roar, as if the air itself were being torn apart.

The leader's moves were ruthless, his punches like hurricanes, while Xu Lin'an's movements were graceful, each dodge perfectly timed, like dancing on a knife's edge, making the audience tremble with fear.

The two sides went back and forth, fighting inextricably.

A bloody gash appeared on the leader's face, making him look ferocious and terrifying. Xu Lin'an's clothes were already soaked with sweat, and traces of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Every attack seemed to use all his strength, and every dodge was like escaping from the clutches of death.

Yan Ruyu watched the fierce battle unfold before her, her heart pounding with anxiety.

She gripped the silver needle tightly in her hand, but did not act rashly.

She knew that Xu Lin'an was like a lone wolf at this moment, needing to face his prey alone, and she couldn't disrupt his rhythm.

Her eyes never left the battlefield, carefully observing and searching for the best opportunity to strike.

Suddenly, Xu Lin'an's eyes sharpened, like a drawn sword. He felt a new power surging within him, as if something was breaking out of its shell.

The folding fan in his hand suddenly became lighter, and every movement became smoother and more powerful.

The leader's attacks seemed to slow down, so slow that he could see them clearly.

"Something's not right!" Yan Ruyu muttered, staring intently at Xu Lin'an's changes, her heart pounding faster and faster. What had he just realized?

Xu Lin'an's eyes suddenly lit up, as if a lightning bolt had streaked across the night sky, illuminating his handsome face.

A confident smile played on his lips, and the folding fan in his hand seemed to come alive, spinning rapidly between his fingertips and creating gusts of wind.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, and time seemed to stand still at that moment.

He felt a powerful force surging from his dantian, flowing throughout his body, and every cell was cheering with joy.

This is……

"Use softness to overcome hardness, and use minimal force to move a great weight!"

He finally understood!

The leader opposite him only felt a blur before his eyes, and Xu Lin'an's figure disappeared.

The next second, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and his whole body flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He stared wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to comprehend how he could have been defeated by a seemingly harmless young master from a prominent family.

"Done!" Xu Lin'an chuckled, dusted himself off, and elegantly closed his folding fan.

Seeing this, Yan Ruyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She excitedly threw herself into Xu Lin'an's arms, hugging him tightly as if she wanted to meld him into her own body.

"You scared me to death!"

Xu Lin'an gently stroked her hair. "Silly girl, I'm fine, aren't I?" He held her tightly, feeling her body temperature. At this moment, it was as if the whole world had quieted down, leaving only the sound of their heartbeats.

In the dark cave, the two figures embraced tightly, like a dazzling light illuminating this dark and damp place.

Yan Ruyu lifted her head from Xu Lin'an's embrace, her eyes sparkling with excitement: "Quickly, see if there are any clues on him?"

Xu Lin'an nodded, walked to the leader's side, and began a thorough search.

Suddenly, his fingers touched something hard, and he carefully pulled a brocade pouch from the leader's clothes.

A delicate plum blossom was embroidered on the brocade pouch, emitting a faint fragrance.

He opened the brocade pouch, inside was a folded piece of paper.

Xu Lin'an unfolded the note, his expression changed drastically, and he abruptly raised his head, exchanging a horrified look with Yan Ruyu.

The note read in bold: Seize the "Mysterious Heaven Mirror" and control the destiny of the world!

"The Mysterious Heaven Mirror? It controls the destiny of the world?!" Yan Ruyu gasped in shock; this was an overwhelming amount of information!

No wonder this group of people are so crazy; it turns out they're fighting over a magical artifact that can change the fate of the entire region!

"Looks like we've really messed things up this time!" Xu Lin'an said with a wry smile, but his tone carried a hint of excitement.

This could be a life-changing opportunity!

The two exchanged a smile, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

The note in their hands is the key to uncovering the whole conspiracy!

Upon seeing their leader captured, the remaining members of the old forces scattered like birds and beasts, running faster than rabbits, fearing they would be caught by Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an.

Their disheveled, fleeing figures looked particularly comical in the dark cave, like a pack of stray dogs. Yan Ruyu just wanted to add background music to their scene.

"Let's row our oars, and the little boat will push through the waves..."

With the destruction of the old forces, the gloom that had shrouded the entire region dissipated, and the sun shone brightly once more, bringing birdsong and fragrant flowers—a scene of peace and tranquility.

The people were overjoyed, singing and dancing to celebrate this hard-won peace.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an became heroes in the public eye, their names were sung and became a legend.

However, in the midst of this joy of victory, Yan Ruyu suddenly felt dizzy and her body swayed precariously.

Her face was pale, and she was breathing rapidly, as if she was about to faint at any moment.

"Ruyu! What's wrong?" Xu Lin'an was startled upon seeing this and quickly helped her up.

Yan Ruyu shook her head weakly, forcing herself to say, "I...I'm fine..."

However, as soon as she finished speaking, the surrounding air suddenly became heavy, and an inexplicable chill swept over, as if something was awakening...

"Something's not right..." Xu Lin'an glanced around warily, his folding fan quietly unfolding. "It seems like something's coming..."

Yan Ruyu's body trembled even more violently. She gripped Xu Lin'an's hand tightly, her nails almost digging into his flesh.

"I...I'm so cold..."