From cannon fodder villain to beloved heroine

Amidst the flashing swords and clashing blades, Yan Ruyu was immobilized after her pressure points were sealed.

She felt a sudden dizziness, and when she came to her senses, she was locked in a cold and damp cave.

The biting cold spread along the stone wall, seeping into her clothes and raising goosebumps.

Water droplets dripped down the cracks in the cave ceiling, making a "drip, drip" sound that was particularly clear in the silent cave, like a death knell.

The two guards at the cave entrance were expressionless, like two guardian deities, their cold gazes sweeping over her, sending chills down her spine.

Yan Ruyu tried to calm herself down and analyzed the current situation.

This group of people was well-trained and came with great force, clearly having come prepared.

Who are they?

Why arrest her?

Could it be because of the male lead, Xu?

"Hmph, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!" A cold voice echoed in the cave.

Elder Mo strode in with a gloomy face, followed by Xiao Die, who looked worried.

He sized Yan Ruyu up and down, a greedy glint in his eyes. "If you know what's good for you, hand over the Xu family's secret manual, otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Yan Ruyu met Elder Mo's gaze without fear, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Is this all you martial artists can do, resort to such despicable methods?"

Elder Mo's face darkened.

"Let's see who dares!" Yan Ruyu shouted sharply, her imposing manner in no way inferior. "You'd better think carefully. If you mess with me, the Xu family will not let you off!"

"The Xu family?" Elder Mo sneered. "A fallen scholarly family dares to threaten me?"

"Down and out?" Yan Ruyu's lips curled into a mocking smile. "The Xu family is down and out, yet you've gone to such lengths to capture me. It seems you're nothing special after all."

Xiaodie watched from the side, her eyes filled with worry.

She secretly tugged at Elder Mo's sleeve and whispered, "Elder, perhaps..."

Elder Mo impatiently shook off Xiao Die's hand and shouted sternly, "Shut up! You have no right to speak here!"

Xiaodie was so frightened that she withdrew her hand.

Yan Ruyu took in all of this, and a thought struck her...

"Elder, I suddenly remembered something..."

Yan Ruyu's eyes darted back and forth between Elder Mo and Xiao Die, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips.

She keenly caught the fleeting resentment in Xiaodie's eyes and had already made up her mind.

“Elder, I suddenly remembered something,” Yan Ruyu said, feigning panic. “I have something on me that is the Xu family’s most precious treasure, which is related to the life and death of the Xu family. I originally intended to give it to Young Master Xu, but now it seems…” She hesitated, her gaze sweeping over Xiaodie intentionally or unintentionally.

Xiaodie's heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously looked at Elder Mo, but seeing that he hadn't noticed her, she turned her gaze to Yan Ruyu.

she was

"What is it?" Xiaodie couldn't help but ask.

Yan Ruyu smiled slightly, leaned closer to Xiaodie, and lowered her voice to say, "It's a letter, and it says..." She paused deliberately, observing Xiaodie's reaction. Seeing her curious expression, she continued, "It says... Elder Mo is colluding with outsiders, intending to murder Sect Leader Ling and seize the position of Sect Leader!"

Upon hearing this, Xiaodie's expression changed drastically, her eyes filled with shock and fear.

She glanced at Elder Mo instinctively, only to see him still looking smug, completely oblivious to their conversation.

"You...you're talking nonsense!" Xiaodie said, trying to remain calm, but her voice trembled slightly.

"Whether it's nonsense or not, you know in your heart." Yan Ruyu smiled faintly. "I can give you this letter, but you have to do me a favor."

Xiaodie hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

Meanwhile, the male protagonist, Xu, was galloping along the mountain path, whipping his horse into action.

His face was anxious, and his heart was filled with worry for Yan Ruyu.

He knew Yan Ruyu was clever and quick-witted, but this opponent was different from the past, and he dared not imagine what Yan Ruyu would encounter.

"Yu'er, wait for me!" Xu Nanzhu silently murmured in his heart, recalling all the moments he shared with Yan Ruyu, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

Inside the cave, Yan Ruyu leaned against the cold stone wall, her heart filled with longing for Xu, the male protagonist.

She recalled his feigned innocence and cuteness, and a slight smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.

Suddenly, footsteps came from the cave entrance, growing louder as they approached.

Yan Ruyu gathered her thoughts, her eyes sharpening.

"Who?"

"It's me." A deep voice rang out, and the newcomer was none other than Sect Leader Ling.

When Sect Leader Ling stepped into the cave and saw that Yan Ruyu was safe and sound, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was slightly relieved.

Just as he was about to ask, Yan Ruyu said, "Sect Leader Ling, I know what you want. I can help you find something even more precious than the Xu family's secret manual."

Sect Leader Ling was taken aback, his thick eyebrows furrowing into a knot.

What is this girl up to?

He looked Yan Ruyu up and down, trying to read something from her face, but all he saw was composure.

Meeting Sect Leader Ling's questioning gaze, Yan Ruyu spoke sincerely: "Sect Leader Ling, I was captured here against my will. I am willing to lend your sect a hand in exchange for my freedom."

Elder Mo sneered from the side, "Do you think we'd believe your nonsense?" Yan Ruyu ignored Elder Mo's sarcasm and continued, "I know your sect has been searching for the lost 'Heavenly Dragon Treasure,' and I can help you find it."

The moment the words "Tianlong Treasure" were uttered, the atmosphere inside the cave instantly froze.

Elder Mo's expression changed, and he stared at Yan Ruyu suspiciously, as if trying to see through her.

Over the next few days, Yan Ruyu used the pretext of searching for the "Heavenly Dragon Treasure" to wander around the sect's stronghold.

Her actions attracted the attention of different factions within the sect, and there was a great deal of discussion.

"Does this girl really know the whereabouts of the treasure?" "I think she's just using this as an excuse to escape!" "Sect Leader Ling actually believed her; he's so foolish!"

Faced with various doubts, Yan Ruyu remained calm and composed, as if everything was under her control.

She skillfully maneuvered among various forces, gradually winning the trust of some people, including Xiaodie.

Xiaodie felt deep sympathy for Yan Ruyu's plight and secretly helped her gather information and provide assistance.

However, Elder Mo became suspicious of Xiao Die's behavior and secretly sent people to monitor her every move.

Yan Ruyu sensed something was amiss in her surroundings, and a sense of unease welled up inside her.

She discovered that no matter where she went, there was always a pair of eyes watching her in the dark.

She didn't know what Elder Mo had discovered, nor how long her plan could continue.

The cave was silent at night, with only the sound of dripping water echoing in the air.

Yan Ruyu lay on the cold stone slab, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

Suddenly, she heard faint footsteps coming from outside the cave, getting closer and closer, and then stopping at the cave entrance.

"Who?" Yan Ruyu asked in a low voice, her heart racing.