From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Rugo repeatedly stroked the letter, the distorted handwriting like wriggling worms crawling around in her heart.

The letter didn't mention a specific location, only "the shadow that follows," which reminded her of the strange little novice she had met in the back mountain during the day.

The young novice monk appeared innocent and naive, but his eyes flickered unpredictably, making him hard to understand.

The people around her were laughing and chatting, immersed in the joy of their successful prayers, completely unaware of her unease.

The lively atmosphere only highlighted her inner loneliness, as if she were in the center of a noisy stage, yet no one could understand her inner monologue.

The incense smell in the temple grew stronger and stronger, so sweet that it was suffocating, which made her even more irritable.

Beneath this peaceful facade, something unknown seemed to be hidden, and the air was thick with the tension of an impending storm.

She turned to look at Xu Yi'an, hesitating to speak.

The letter reveals too little information; revealing everything prematurely might alert the enemy.

"Yi'an, I feel there's something strange about this back mountain. Let's go take a look." She finally hinted at the back mountain with just a few words.

Xu Yi'an frowned slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

He didn't understand why Ge'er was suddenly interested in the back mountain, but his intuition told him that Ge'er must have discovered something.

He didn't ask any further questions, but simply replied gently, "Okay, let's go together." The two left the crowd one after the other and headed towards the back mountain.

Miss Murong noticed their actions, and when Guard Wu saw the young lady leave, he immediately followed her alertly.

Their every move was observed by Master Huikong's deep eyes, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips.

The back mountain is covered with dense trees that block out the sun, making it dimly lit and chillingly windy.

“Something’s not right here…” Yan Rugo paused, looked around warily, and whispered, “Something’s not right here.”

The darkness of the back mountain is like a wild beast with its jaws wide open, waiting for its prey to arrive.

The jagged rocks, like protruding bone spurs, pierce the gray sky.

The decaying leaves piled up into a thick carpet, making an unsettling "crunch" sound when stepped on.

The vegetation grew wildly, intertwining together like countless menacing claws, trying to drag people into an abyss.

A chilling wind, carrying the smell of rotting wood, caressed everyone's skin like an icy hand, sending shivers down their spines.

Suddenly, a low, mournful wolf howl broke the deathly silence.

Several pairs of green eyes shone like will-o'-the-wisps in the darkness.

Several wolves bared their teeth, revealing sharp fangs, and stared fiercely at them.

They growled, making gurgling sounds in their throats, as if showing off their power and waiting for their chance to strike.

Yan Rugo's heart tightened. This wasn't some pheasant or rabbit; it was a real wolf!

She gripped the dagger tightly in her hand warily, her eyes scanning each wolf intently.

Xu Yi'an shielded Yan Rugo behind him, his posture upright, like a drawn sword, exuding a chilling aura.

His eyes were firm, fixed on the wolf's every move like a cheetah.

One wolf launched the first attack, pouncing on Xu Yi'an with sharp claws that ripped through the air with a piercing sound.

Xu Yi'an nimbly dodged the attack and then kicked the wolf in the belly with a clean and swift motion.

The wolf retreated in pain, but he moved nimbly through the pack, his punches and kicks whistling through the air, causing the wolves to howl in terror.

Yan Rugo didn't sit still; she discovered that although the wolves were fierce, they seemed somewhat afraid of fire.

Her eyes lit up, and she had an idea.

She quickly opened the system interface and skillfully redeemed the ignition skill.

With a gentle flick of her finger, a cluster of flames danced at her fingertips, radiating a warm glow.

"Watch me, let them taste the flavor of hot pot!" She smiled mischievously and flung the flames at the wolves.

The flames instantly expanded, transforming into a fire dragon that soared into the air like a demon emerging from the depths of hell, its scorching heat causing the air itself to distort.

The wolves howled in terror, their fierce eyes instantly replaced by fear. They tucked their tails between their legs and fled in a panic, disappearing into the depths of the jungle in the blink of an eye.

The flames died down, and a faint smell of burning filled the air, like the smoke of battle, filled with the joy of victory. Xu Yi'an stood beside her, his gaze fixed on her intently, his eyes seeming to sparkle with starlight.

“Ge’er, you…” he began slowly, his tone filled with disbelief.

Xu Yi'an stared at Yan Rugo, his eyes flashing with disbelief.

Despite her petite frame, she displayed unexpected courage and wisdom in the face of danger.

He walked slowly to her side, gently put his arm around her shoulder, and the faint scent of sandalwood filled the air between them, as if time had frozen at that moment.

Yan Rugo turned her head slightly and leaned into Xu Yi'an's embrace, feeling the warmth and sense of security brought by his strong arms.

Her face flushed slightly, and a happy smile appeared on her lips, as if the whole world had become gentler.

Everything around seemed to stand still at this moment, with only the trees on the back mountain swaying gently in the breeze, making a rustling sound, and the occasional birdsong adding a touch of gloom.

In the dark forest, occasionally one or two eerie lights would flash by, as if invisible eyes were watching them from the shadows.

Despite this, their hearts were closely connected, forming an unbreakable barrier.

"Ge'er, you're amazing," Xu Yi'an said softly, his voice full of love and admiration.

Yan Rugo looked up at him, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and the distance between them seemed to shrink a little further.

"You're not bad either. I almost forgot you're from a prestigious family," Yan Rugo replied playfully, her tone tinged with teasing.

Xu Yi'an smiled slightly, picked her up and continued walking forward. Their heartbeats were accelerating in sync, showing perfect understanding.

They continued deeper into the mountains and soon discovered a cave hidden deep in the forest.

The entrance to the cave is hidden by vines and weeds, making it extremely difficult to find without careful searching.

The cave entrance emitted a putrid stench, as if some unspeakable secrets were hidden inside.

The darkness inside the cave was as black as ink, sending a chill down one's spine.

“This place…” Yan Rugo frowned, looking around warily, and whispered, “It seems to be hiding an even bigger secret.” Xu Yi’an nodded as well, his eyes revealing a hint of tension.

The two exchanged a glance, a knowing look of determination in their eyes, and decided to find out what was going on.

The cave was deathly silent, except for the sound of their footsteps echoing clearly through the cave walls.

Suddenly, a deep roar came from the depths of the cave, like the howl of a wild beast, echoing through the cave and sending chills down one's spine.

Yan Rugo and Xu Yi'an exchanged a glance, their hearts racing involuntarily.

They held up their torches and slowly walked towards the source of the sound, each step cautious, as if afraid of disturbing some unknown being.

"What do you think that roar is?" Yan Rugo asked in a low voice, her tone trembling slightly.

Xu Yi'an held her hand tightly and said in a deep voice, "No matter what it is, we will face it together." The two walked firmly toward the source of the mysterious roar, their hearts beating faster and faster.