From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Yan Ruyu and Li the hunter stepped into the deep, dense forest.

The forest was dark and damp, with gnarled tree roots winding across the ground like giant pythons, threatening to trip one over with the slightest carelessness.

The dense canopy blocked out the sun, with only a few rays of sunlight filtering through the gaps and creating dappled spots of light on the ground.

The air was filled with the damp smell of decaying leaves and soil, making it hard to breathe.

"This forest...it's so eerie, could it be haunted?" Li the hunter rubbed his arms and said in a low voice.

Yan Ruyu ignored his muttering and surveyed her surroundings with a determined look.

The system had already informed her that there was indeed a special medicinal herb nearby that could effectively suppress the spread of the epidemic.

She must find it.

“Hunter Li, if you are afraid, wait for me here,” Yan Ruyu said calmly, without pausing in her steps.

Li the hunter hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and followed. "I... I'm a grown man, how can I be afraid of these things! I'm just... just worried about Miss's safety."

The rugged mountain road wound its way upwards, the surrounding trees grew denser and the light grew dimmer.

Yan Ruyu took a deep breath, tried to maintain her balance, and carefully walked forward.

The male protagonist followed behind her, his eyes filled with worry, yet also with a hint of trust.

He knew that Yan Ruyu was not someone who gave up easily, and that she would definitely find that magical herb.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Yan Ruyu suddenly stopped.

On a stone wall covered with vines, grows a vibrant green plant that emits a faint fragrance.

"That's it!" The system's voice rang in Yan Ruyu's mind.

Yan Ruyu was overjoyed and was about to reach out to pick the fruit when suddenly, several dark figures darted out of the dense forest and surrounded them.

"Hand over the herbs!" The leader of the men in black stared greedily at the lush green plant, the sword in his hand gleaming coldly.

Yan Ruyu's eyes turned cold, and she confronted them without fear.

The male protagonist, Xu, also stood in front of her, his gaze coldly fixed on the men in black.

A tense atmosphere filled the air; a fierce battle was about to unfold.

"Heh, trying to steal my things? Don't you know who I am!" Yan Ruyu sneered, a dagger appearing in her hand at some point, its cold light gleaming.

"You're asking for death!" the man in black roared, brandishing his sword and lunging at Yan Ruyu...

"Stop!" A loud shout came from afar.

In a flash, Yan Ruyu moved like a ghost, displaying the top-tier lightness skill he had obtained from the system to its fullest extent.

The man in black only saw a blur before Yan Ruyu's figure disappeared.

The next second, they felt a numbness in the back of their necks and collapsed to the ground.

As Xu, the male protagonist, watched this scene, he knew all along that Yan Ruyu was not as weak as she appeared on the surface.

Yan Ruyu clapped her hands, as if she had only done a trivial thing.

"That's it? You think you can steal my things?" She glanced contemptuously at the man in black lying on the ground, then carefully picked the emerald green herb.

Upon returning to the city, Yan Ruyu immediately devoted herself to the research and development of the medicine.

She was focused, and every gesture she made exuded a confident aura, as if everything was under her control.

The recipe provided by the system was transformed into something magical in her hands, and before long, a bottle of potion emitting a strange fragrance was made.

When the medicine was delivered to the patients, a miracle occurred.

The patient, who was on the verge of death, miraculously recovered after taking the medicine.

The entire quarantine area erupted in cheers and cries, echoing through the sky.

Seeing all this, Xu could no longer contain his excitement. He hugged Yan Ruyu tightly and said affectionately, "Ruyu, you are amazing! I am so proud of you!"

Yan Ruyu smiled happily and leaned gently into Xu's arms.

"All of this is the result of our joint efforts."

People around them cast their blessings their way, happy for the couple who had weathered the storm together.

"Ruyu, marry me!" The male protagonist suddenly knelt on one knee and took out an exquisite jade pendant from his pocket. "I will protect you with my whole life!"

Yan Ruyu's eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded gently, "I do."

Cheers erupted again, blessings rang out, and the air was filled with the scent of happiness.

"Steward Wu, take all these rewards..." Yan Ruyu paused, her gaze fixed on the distance, her tone meaningful, "...all..."

Yan Ruyu paused, her gaze sweeping over the expectant faces of the crowd, a playful smile playing on her lips.

"All of it... was used to rebuild homes and to provide relief to the suffering people."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even louder cheers.

They had assumed that the young lady would keep the rewards, but they never expected her to be so generous!

Some people rubbed their eyes, as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Some people knelt down excitedly, praising Miss Yan's kindness.

Steward Wu stood there, holding the heavy reward in his hands, at a loss for what to do.

He had followed the master for many years and had met many important figures, but he had never seen anyone act in such a way.

His gaze toward Yan Ruyu held a newfound respect.

Yan Ruyu simply smiled faintly, as if she had done something insignificant.

She turned to look at Xu, her eyes gleaming with wisdom, "Now, it's time to settle the score."

Hu San was hiding in the crowd, trying to slip away in the chaos, but Yan Ruyu saw through him at a glance.

He was dragged out by the guards, his face pale and his whole body trembling.

"Hu San, you spread rumors and created panic. Do you know your crime?" Yan Ruyu's voice was cold, yet carried an undeniable authority.

Hu San was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, stammering incoherently as he tried to defend himself.

However, Yan Ruyu had already obtained conclusive evidence and exposed the crimes of Hu San and the merchants behind the epidemic to the public.

It turns out that these merchants deliberately spread disease and hoarded medicinal materials in an attempt to control the market for their own profit.

Their conspiracy was completely thwarted by Yan Ruyu, and they received the punishment they deserved.

When the truth came to light, the people suddenly realized what was happening and looked at Yan Ruyu with admiration.

The previous rumors that she was the source of the epidemic have naturally been debunked.

"Ruyu, we can finally live a peaceful life." After the epidemic crisis was over, Xu, the male protagonist, gently held Yan Ruyu's hand, his eyes filled with tenderness.

“Yes, let’s go to the area near the academy. It’s a quiet place, perfect for studying,” Yan Ruyu said, looking forward to her future life.

However, at that moment, they heard some rumors about the academy.

It is said that some strange things have been happening at the academy recently, causing widespread panic...

"Is the academy... really as rumored?" Yan Ruyu murmured to herself, gazing at the blurry outline of the academy in the distance.

Xu, the male protagonist, gripped Yan Ruyu's hand tightly. "No matter what, I will stay by your side."

A night breeze blew by, rustling the leaves as if they were whispering something...

The carriage slowly drove into the distance, leaving behind a long trail of ruts.