After Becoming a Cannon-Fodder Lackey, I Swore to Protect the Young Lady to the Death - Chapter 31

Whether it was because the system had forcibly bound her to the quest or just pure luck, Li Xi felt as if she had suddenly activated a “cheat code.”

First, she accidentally stumbled into a hidden ruin; then, she somehow picked up a legendary artifact. To top it off, she encountered a woman of breathtaking beauty and ended up pulling off a classic “hero rescues the damsel” routine.

The day had started normally enough. She was hurrying along as usual, her mind preoccupied with the endless tasks at hand, when a figure streaked across her vision like a falling star. It was a woman in white, her robes fluttering as if she had just descended from a celestial realm. Her figure was elegant and alluring, and her face was so stunning she looked like a literal goddess. Most striking of all, however, was the cold, gleaming sword she gripped in her hand, which radiated a terrifying aura.

Li Xi froze, struck by the mystery and beauty of the woman before her. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, and the rest of the world blurred into insignificance, leaving only the woman with the sword in sharp focus.

Li Xi: There are actually living people in this realm?

Just as she was about to slip away, a demonic beast lunged at the woman. The stranger swung her sword, turning the beast to ash in a single stroke, but then…

“Wait, she actually knocked herself out from the recoil?” A look of utter bewilderment crossed Li Xi’s small face.

Driven by a “sidekick survival instinct” developed from years of playing a cannon-fodder role—the urge to find a powerful patron for protection. Li Xi dragged the woman into a nearby cave. After all, leaving someone lying out in the open in a place like this was basically offering up a defenseless piece of prime meat to the local monsters.

Hiding in the cave was the only logical choice.

To prepare for dinner, Li Xi scoured the forest for fruit trees. She eventually found a grove where the branches were heavy with ripe, tempting fruit. Rubbing her hands in excitement, she leaped onto an apple tree with agile grace. She balanced carefully on the branches, picking the largest, reddest apples and inspecting each one for wormholes before tucking them into her pockets.

When she hurried back to the cave, she found the woman in white sitting quietly by the “bed.” Her gaze was soft and slightly dazed, though she had clearly regained consciousness. As the sunlight filtered through the cave entrance and danced across her, she looked ethereal—like a fairy who had stepped out of a painting. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, brushing against her pale skin.

Li Xi stared, momentarily speechless. Wow, she really is gorgeous! she thought.

The woman parted her lips and said in a soft, melodic voice, “Thank you for your help. My name is Shangguan Ruyan.”

Isakana: What a classic protagonist name…

“May we meet again.”

And with that, she vanished.

Li Xi: Wait, I saved you because I wanted a bodyguard! Why are you leaving already?! Hey!

Her cheeks puffed out in frustration, and she squeezed the apple in her hand so hard it nearly bruised. With a loud crunch, she took a massive, moody bite out of it, putting all her annoyance into the chew.

*****

Back at the Villa:

As her eyelids grew heavy and her consciousness began to blur, Lu Jiaoyue finally succumbed to sleep.

I’m so tired… why hasn’t she come back yet…

Outside the door, Li Gangjiao stood hesitating. She looked like a puppy that knew it had done something wrong, her head hanging low and her hand hovering over the doorknob without ever pressing down. After a few deep breaths, she turned toward the guest room instead.

Forget it. I shouldn’t bother her while she’s angry.

In the guest shower, the water drummed against Li Gangjiao’s skin. She scrubbed at the spots where the blood had splattered, over and over, until her skin was raw and red. Her clothes lay discarded on the edge of the tub. She looked at the various body washes on the shelf, wondering which scent would be best at masking the smell of iron.

Jiao Jiao must hate the smell of blood. I need something strong… She scrubbed until it stung, only stopping when her skin felt like it was on fire.

Creak—

The bedroom door opened. Li Gangjiao crept in, hunched over and tiptoeing like a thief in the night.

Lu Jiaoyue’s lips were pale, her eyes were shut tight, and a fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead. She looked like she was suffering through a nightmare. Panicked, Li Gangjiao reached out to feel her forehead and found, unsurprisingly, that she was running a high fever.

“What took you so long?” Lu Jiaoyue murmured, her voice a low, raspy whisper. She bit her lip and said, “Li Gangjiao… hold me.”

Li Gangjiao froze for a second before a smile broke across her face. She reached out and gathered Lu Jiaoyue into a tight embrace. For a moment, the world ceased to exist, leaving only the steady, synchronized beat of their hearts.

Li Gangjiao opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. Finally, she summoned her courage and whispered, “I’m sorry…”

“I don’t want you to be afraid of me.” Li Gangjiao looked at her earnestly, her eyes brimming with guilt and regret.

“I’m not afraid of you. I trust your judgment,” Lu Jiaoyue explained, resting her head on Li Gangjiao’s shoulder. “I’ve just never seen anything like that before. I was… in shock.”

“Alright, stop blaming yourself. Give me a goodnight kiss.”

Lu Jiaoyue began whispering “Jiao Jiao” and “Darling” repeatedly. Seeing that her words weren’t quite enough to chase away the guilt, she began to kiss her. She nipped at Li Gangjiao’s lips, her tongue tracing the smooth interior of her mouth. As she retreated slightly to tease her lip, the “vicious dog” who killed without blinking transformed into a docile, obedient golden retriever.

When they finally broke apart, a thin silver thread of saliva connected them. Lu Jiaoyue lowered her head, her ears burning red as a few stray hairs swayed near her face.

“There. Are you okay now?” she asked softly.

“I… I want one more.” Li Gangjiao, never one to miss an opportunity, pushed her luck. She pulled Lu Jiaoyue closer by the waist and leaned in for a bold, lingering kiss.

It started as a soft pressure against her mouth, a tender touch that made Lu Jiaoyue’s mind go blank for a second. Sensing her distraction, Li Gangjiao’s kiss grew more assertive; her plush lips nipped at Lu Jiaoyue’s as she forced her tongue inside.

“Mmm…”

The kiss turned aggressive, a wet, heavy entanglement that felt almost predatory. Li Gangjiao eventually broke away from her mouth, but only to shift her focus downward. She traced a path along Lu Jiaoyue’s neck to her collarbone and bit down hard.

Support