From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

“There…” Yan Ruyu followed Xu Lin’an’s gaze and saw that the distance was shrouded in mist and chaos, like a giant beast lurking, which aroused fear.

"Are we really going? It looks dangerous there."

"I'd do anything for you." Xu Lin'an's eyes were firm as he gripped Yan Ruyu's hand tightly. "Besides, fortune favors the bold; how can you catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger's den?"

The two exchanged a glance; no words were needed, everything was understood without being said.

They made up their minds and headed deeper into the fog.

As soon as I stepped into the misty area, I heard a crisp "crack" sound under my feet.

Xu Lin'an reacted quickly, grabbing Yan Ruyu and narrowly avoiding the spike trap beneath their feet.

"It seems this place is more dangerous than I imagined," he said in a low voice, his tone grave.

A thick fog enveloped the area, making it impossible to see one's hand in front of one's face. The surroundings were eerily silent, save for the faint breathing of the two people and the occasional strange cry, which only added to the terrifying atmosphere.

Yan Ruyu gripped Xu Lin'an's hand tightly, cautiously probing the path, afraid of triggering some trap again.

"Hiss..." A chilling sound came from the mist, followed by several dark figures darting out of the mist and rushing towards the two.

These creatures were twisted and had ferocious faces. Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an quickly dodged, but found that these creatures were unusually fast and had extremely strong attack power.

“These creatures… seem to be affected by a curse.” Yan Ruyu observed the creatures while dodging attacks. “We can’t harm them; perhaps they are victims as well.”

Xu Lin'an understood Yan Ruyu's meaning, but he dared not take it lightly.

These creatures may look pitiful, but they attack without mercy, and you can get hurt if you're not careful.

The battle continued for some time, and the surrounding environment became even more chaotic, with swirling mist and swaying tree shadows, as if something was watching them from the shadows.

Suddenly, Yan Ruyu noticed that these creatures' attacks seemed to follow a certain pattern, and their eyes emitted a strange light when they attacked...

"Wait, I think I've discovered something..."

Yan Ruyu's eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed Xu Lin'an's arm. "I know! Look at their eyes! Their eyes will flash red before they attack, and the direction of their attack is the direction of the flashing red light!" Her excitement was palpable; she was practically ready to break into a dance party right there.

"It's practically a built-in predictive system, this is a sure thing!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lin'an immediately focused his attention and observed, and indeed it was as Yan Ruyu had said.

A confident smile played on his lips as he moved nimbly among the twisted creatures.

He could accurately predict and dodge every attack, then catch them off guard and defeat them with lightning speed.

"As expected of my wife, she's so smart!" He didn't forget to give her a compliment.

After identifying their weaknesses, the two worked together even better.

Yan Ruyu was responsible for observing and alerting the direction of the attack, while Xu Lin'an was responsible for both attack and defense.

Soon, the cursed creatures were repelled and disappeared into the mist.

"When the two swords are combined, they are invincible!" Yan Ruyu raised her eyebrows proudly and gave the two a thumbs up.

The two continued on their way, and the fog gradually dissipated, revealing the surrounding scenery in its full glory.

The air was filled with the damp scent of earth, and the sound of flowing water could be heard in the distance.

Yan Ruyu felt relieved and took a deep breath, laughing, "Finally out. This fog formation made me dizzy."

Having found a relatively safe place, Xu Lin'an immediately got to work.

He carefully examined his surroundings and, after confirming there was no danger, began searching for food and water.

"Are you tired? Take a rest first." He handed the wild fruit and water he had found to Yan Ruyu, his eyes gentle as water.

Yan Ruyu took the food and water, and looking at the busy Xu Lin'an, a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

His earnest and meticulous manner made it seem as if nothing in the world mattered to him, and that he only had eyes for her.

At this moment, the birdsong, the fragrance of flowers, the gentle breeze, and the flowing water all seemed to become a testament to their love.

After resting for a while and regaining some strength, the two got up again and continued towards their destination.

“It’s just ahead…” Xu Lin’an pointed to an ancient altar in front of him, his tone solemn.

Mysterious runes surrounded the altar, emanating an ancient and powerful aura.

Yan Ruyu felt a tightness in her chest, sensing an inexplicable sense of oppression.

"Wait..." She reached out, trying to stop Xu Lin'an from getting closer. "This feeling... isn't right."

Suddenly, the runes around the altar emitted a dazzling light, and an invisible barrier appeared in front of them, separating them from the altar.

"What's going on..." Xu Lin'an stepped forward and tentatively touched the barrier, but was bounced back by a powerful force.

The runes around the altar burst forth with blinding light, like tens of thousands of flashbangs exploding simultaneously, making it impossible for people to open their eyes.

After the intense light, a semi-transparent energy barrier suddenly appeared, completely surrounding the altar like a giant cocoon.

"Holy crap! Are you serious??" Yan Ruyu couldn't help but swear. This plot twist was truly unexpected.

Xu Lin'an was also completely dumbfounded. The seal came faster than a delivery, and he wasn't prepared at all.

The surrounding trees rustled, as if mocking their helplessness. Several unknown birds flew over the trees, making strange noises, as if saying, "Newbie, is that all?" Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes.

"What should we do?" Yan Ruyu broke the silence. This seal looked formidable, and forcing our way through was definitely not an option.

Xu Lin'an stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, a bold guess.

"Wait, this seal..." Xu Lin'an pointed at the barrier,

"Emotional power?" Yan Ruyu looked puzzled. "What emotional power? Do you want us to perform a crying scene on the spot?"

Xu Lin'an did not answer, but instead held Yan Ruyu's hand and looked at her affectionately.

"Do you remember the first time we met?" he said softly, his voice gentle as water.

Yan Ruyu paused for a moment, her thoughts returning to the scene of their first meeting.

As the two delved deeper into their memories, a strange energy flowed between them. Gradually, this energy grew stronger and stronger, eventually converging into a dazzling light that shot towards the barrier surrounding the altar.

With a "click," a crack appeared on the barrier. Then, the crack grew larger and larger until finally, the barrier shattered and disappeared without a trace.

"We did it!" Yan Ruyu jumped up excitedly and hugged Xu Lin'an tightly. "I knew it! We're the strongest couple!" The surrounding trees seemed to sense their joy, their branches swaying and rustling as if cheering for them.

Upon entering the altar, a huge, mysterious array appeared before them.

At the center of the formation, a black crystal ball emitted an eerie light, surrounded by complex runes, as if it contained enormous energy.

Yan Ruyu and Xu Lin'an exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

"Be careful..." Xu Lin'an said in a low voice, gripping the sword in his hand tightly.

Within the formation, the black crystal ball suddenly flickered, and a beam of red light shot towards Yan Ruyu…