From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Following the strange footprints, Yan Ruyu and the male protagonist Xu arrived at a precipitous cliff by the sea.

The wind howled, whipping up thousands of waves that crashed against the cliff face with a deafening roar.

The cliff edge is lined with jagged rocks, resembling the sharp claws of giant beasts reaching out towards the churning, raging waves.

Looking down, the bottomless darkness below the cliff inspires fear.

"The footprints disappear here." Yan Ruyu frowned slightly, her tone tinged with doubt.

The male protagonist stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp as he scanned his surroundings, his thin lips pressed tightly together, exuding an aura of vigilance.

This place has an eerie feel to it.

Suddenly, a dark shadow streaked across the sky, as fast as lightning!

"Watch out!" The male protagonist Xu suddenly pulled Yan Ruyu behind him, and at the same time drew his sword. With a flash of cold light, he blocked the attack.

"Hmph, you reacted quite quickly." A cold voice rang out, and the mysterious man slowly emerged from the shadows, revealing a masked face that obscured his features.

He held a strangely shaped weapon in his hand, which emitted a faint, cold light.

"Who are you?" Yan Ruyu asked coldly, while secretly activating the system, preparing to retaliate at any moment.

"The ones who will take your lives." The mysterious man sneered and launched another attack.

His moves are unpredictable and difficult to defend against.

At the same time, several dark figures darted out from both sides of the cliff, clearly the mysterious man's accomplices.

The male protagonist, Xu, fought against multiple opponents without being at a disadvantage.

The sword flashed, each strike deadly.

Yan Ruyu was not to be outdone, skillfully dodging the enemy's attacks and looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

During the fierce battle, rocks kept falling from the cliff, making a loud rumbling sound, as if the whole world was shaking.

"A mere trick." Yan Ruyu's lips curled into a cold smile as her gaze fell on the weapon in the mysterious man's hand. "Your weapon is rather interesting..."

Yan Ruyu's eyes flashed, her gaze sharp as if she could see through all illusions.

She noticed that before each attack, the mysterious man would make a subtle, almost imperceptible gesture—his right thumb would gently rub the end of his weapon's hilt.

“Xu Lang, his right thumb! That’s his weakness!” Yan Ruyu’s clear voice was particularly distinct in the howling sea breeze.

Upon hearing this, the mysterious man's expression changed drastically, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes beneath the mask.

He never expected that his habit would be seen through by the other party!

"Damn it!" he cursed under his breath, his attack rhythm disrupted, leaving him vulnerable.

Xu, the male protagonist, understood immediately and seized the opportunity, pointing his sword directly at the mysterious man's wrist.

The two worked together seamlessly, like flowing water, forcing the enemy into a series of defeats.

"Hmph, a mere trick!" Enraged, the mysterious man unleashed a desperate killing move.

The weapon in his hand shone brightly, and a sharp, cold light shot straight toward Yan Ruyu.

Without a second thought, Xu, the male protagonist, leaped forward to shield Yan Ruyu and took the blow head-on.

"Xu Lang!" Yan Ruyu exclaimed, her eyes filled with anxiety and heartache.

The male protagonist let out a muffled groan, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, but he still stood straight, like a majestic mountain, protecting his beloved behind him.

His deep gaze fell on Yan Ruyu's face, carrying a hint of tenderness and determination: "I'm fine." At this moment, even the sunlight on the beach seemed to soften, reflecting on their tightly clasped hands, as if all things in the world were moved by it.

Seeing that his first attack had failed, the mysterious man took out an exquisite box from his robes and slowly opened it…

Inside the box lay a jade pendant, crystal clear and radiating a soft glow.

"This jade pendant, isn't it the token of love you gave me?" The mysterious man pointed at Yan Ruyu, his tone laced with sarcasm. "I never imagined you could be so heartless and ungrateful, abandoning even me for this man!"

His words were like a thunderclap, exploding in Yan Ruyu's ears.

She was stunned. This jade pendant…

She had never seen it before!

The male protagonist's face darkened, and his gaze, sharp as a knife, shot towards the mysterious man: "Who exactly are you? Why are you trying to sow discord?"

The mysterious man laughed wildly, his laughter filled with madness and despair: "Who am I? I am a pitiful wretch whose family was destroyed by you! You took everything from me, and now I will make you taste the bitterness of loss too!" His face was ferocious, like a demon crawling out of hell, sending chills down one's spine.

The air around them seemed to freeze, and the atmosphere became extremely tense.

Yan Ruyu's heart was in turmoil. She tried her best to remain calm, her eyes fixed on the mysterious man.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind, and a bold guess came to her.

"I know who you are!" Yan Ruyu's voice was clear and firm, with a hint of mockery. "You're not an old acquaintance of Master Xu at all; you're Master Zhao's subordinate! Master Zhao was defeated by Master Xu in the capital, and you've come here for revenge!"

Upon hearing this, the mysterious man's expression changed drastically, and his eyes behind the mask were filled with terror.

He never expected that his identity would be discovered!

He turned to run away, but was grabbed by the male protagonist, Xu.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Xu, the male protagonist, sneered.

After the mysterious man's identity was exposed, he became like a stray dog, losing all his previous arrogance.

"Fisherman Chen, is the method you suggested for leaving the island really feasible?" Yan Ruyu stood on a simple wooden raft, gazing at the vast sea, her heart filled with trepidation.

Fisherman Chen stroked his gray beard and said with a smile, "Don't worry, girl, I've lived on this island for decades and know the currents and wind direction like the back of my hand. Just follow this current and you'll reach the other side."

A gentle sea breeze caressed the raft as it slowly sailed away from the island, heading towards an unknown destination.

The way Yan Ruyu and the male protagonist Xu held hands tightly seemed to move everything in the world.

"Xu Lang, where do you think we'll go next?" Yan Ruyu nestled in Xu Nanzhu's arms and asked softly.

The male protagonist gently stroked her hair, his gaze deep and his tone mysterious: "Wherever you go, I will accompany you."

The raft drifted on the sea, gradually disappearing into the vast darkness of the night...

"There seems to be light ahead..."