I Just Want to be a Throwaway Character - Chapter 28

Chapter 28: The Confession and Its Aftermath

Oh my god, what a public execution scene. Ji Wan was so awkward, she felt like her toes were trying to dig a three-bedroom apartment. This guy looks good, but what’s wrong with his brain? If she accepted, it might have been a nice story. But she didn’t even know him! And he had to do it in front of a massive crowd. He might as well have made sure the entire cultivation world knew. If she rejected him too cruelly, people would call her heartless. If she rejected him too gently, she’d look like a player.

Is there really someone out there who thinks publicly confessing to someone who doesn’t like you is romantic? Ji Wan was agonizing over how to reject him.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the beautiful woman on the platform to answer.

Lin Morou’s fists were clenched so tight her nails dug into her flesh, but she didn’t feel a thing. She stared at Hu Yanxuan with a fierce gaze. A fire of rage built inside her, growing larger and larger. But at the same time, a sense of powerlessness ate away at her. She had no right to reject him for Ji Wan. She watched Ji Wan’s calm, serene face along with everyone else, her possessiveness spiraling out of control.

After Ji Wan’s long silence, the crowd began to whisper.

“No way, is Ji Wan so ungrateful that she can’t even be bothered with the cultivation world’s most handsome man?”

“How could our Senior Sister Ji Wan fall for a shallow man who only has good looks?”

“I think Senior Sister Ji Wan can’t fall in love with anyone, let alone this guy.”

“Ah, Hu Yanxuan, look at me! I’m willing!”

“Senior Sister Ji Wan, don’t say yes! The next one will be better. I’m a pure little puppy; I’m definitely your type!”

…

“I’m sorry, but I already have someone I like,” Ji Wan finally said after a long pause.

Hu Yanxuan’s eyes fell in disappointment. “I was presumptuous, Junior Sister Ji Wan. My apologies,” he said sadly. “But if I still have a chance, I’ll wait.” With that, he looked at her with determination before dejectedly leaving the stage.

Ji Wan suddenly felt a twinge of guilt for hurting such a pure young man.

The crowd instantly erupted.

“Ah! My heart is broken!”

“Which beast stole our cabbage?! Ah! Senior Sister Ji Wan!”

“Mom, I’ve decided to stay single for life to commemorate my love.”

“Give me a sword! I’m going to kill that scoundrel who got Senior Sister Ji Wan!”

“Oh, thank goodness! There’s hope for me, Little Xuanxuan!”

…

Lin Morou didn’t feel any relief after hearing Ji Wan’s words. Instead, a violent rage surged through her. She gritted her teeth, her expression grim. I didn’t watch you for two months, and you found a lover? An icy coldness stabbed into her heart, inch by inch. Lin Morou’s dark eyes began to take on a faint, reddish tint. A complicated emotion welled up inside her.

…

A Demonic Invasion

Suddenly, a terrified scream rang out from the crowd. “Ah! A demon… a demon! Help!” A person in the crowd twisted and swelled, taking on the grotesque appearance of a demon. He grinned sinisterly and grabbed someone, sinking his teeth into their fragile neck. Blood splattered everywhere, creating a gory scene. Several people with weak stomachs collapsed.

The crowd fell into chaos, and the low-level disciples scrambled toward the platform where the sect masters were. Du Gu’nuo’s face turned grim, and he regained his composure as a sect master. He summoned his spiritual sword, and a powerful aura surrounded him. In the next second, a sword pierced the demon’s heart. The demon stared blankly at the sword and then gave Du Gu’nuo a twisted smile before falling to the ground, its crimson eyes wide open in a terrifying sneer.

“Everyone, retreat to the back! Golden Core cultivators and above, stay!”

After killing the demon, Du Gu’nuo’s expression did not relax; it grew even more serious. The other sect masters also sensed a surge of malevolent demonic energy.

The smallest disciple, Ye Zisu, ran to Ji Wan and hugged her waist, looking terrified. “Senior Sister Wanwan, what’s going on? I’m scared.”

“Don’t worry, little one. You should go with the other senior sisters and hide. You can’t handle what’s about to happen. Be a good girl and listen,” Ji Wan said, kneeling and gently stroking Ye Zisu’s innocent head. Ji Wan’s own face was serious now.

“Okay, Senior Sister Wanwan. I’ll wait for you to come back,” Ye Zisu said obediently, following the other disciples as they retreated.

Soon, the vast arena was left with only a few people. Ye Ning stepped forward to block Du Gu’nuo. Lin Morou also stood beside Ji Wan. Seeing the beautiful girl who was a head taller than herself, Ji Wan felt a sense of security. Though Lin Morou was also the biggest threat to her life.

Lin Morou’s eyes were icy. The hatred deep within her surged up. She could never forget the tragic deaths of the hundreds of members of her family overnight, her parents’ gruesome state, and the cold, dark eyes of the demon who did it. Lin Morou stared at the strange phenomenon in the sky, searching for the most terrifying presence.

Everyone looked up. The once blue sky was now covered by ominous, bloody clouds. The entire space grew dark, and an oppressive silence descended, like the calm before a storm. The gentle breeze turned into a violent, howling gale.

At the center of the densest blood-red cloud, a vortex swirled, spewing out a terrifying demonic aura. All the disciples summoned their spiritual swords and stood ready, staring intently at the strange clouds.

Suddenly, ten demons of various appearances floated in the air, looking down at the mortals like they were ants.

“This is bad. Those are demon generals, all at the brink of the Tribulation stage,” Du Gu’nuo’s face went rigid. There were only seven Tribulation-stage cultivators there, and the demons had ten, not counting their leader. A single Tribulation-stage cultivator was worth a hundred Golden Core cultivators. If a fight broke out, the losses would be immeasurable.

“It’s okay, don’t be scared,” Ye Ning said, patting Du Gu’nuo’s back gently, even though his own expression was just as grim. But his eyes held a hint of affection as he looked at Du Gu’nuo. If Ji Wan had been paying attention to her master, she would have been ecstatic with gossip. But she could barely withstand the pressure from the Tribulation-stage demons and couldn’t pay attention.

“Surrender. We’re just here to tell you that our Demon Lord is about to conquer all three realms, and you will all become our prisoners,” a man in a blood-red shirt, his chest exposed, said with a sinister smile. His gaze roamed lasciviously over the people below before landing on Ji Wan’s stunning figure.

The man appeared in front of Ji Wan in a flash, too fast for anyone to see. He playfully lifted Ji Wan’s chin, examining her closely. Even Ji Wan was frozen in shock. But as soon as the demon felt the aura inside Ji Wan’s body, his face filled with surprise and terror.

The next second, the man’s hand felt an intense, burning heat. Lin Morou had furiously channeled her core’s spiritual energy and attacked the man. He just gave Lin Morou a twisted smile, instantly teleporting away, full of disdain. But his smile froze as his chest was instantly pierced. He spat out a mouthful of blood. She’s only a Golden Core cultivator, yet she… The man turned into a wisp of red smoke and floated back up.

The demons above were shocked by the one who had injured the man. “That bastard got Old Six hurt!” a strong, pig-headed demon yelled, his tusks pointing up in anger as he took a fighting stance.

“I didn’t expect to find a talented one among these ants,” a revealingly dressed female demon said, looking at Lin Morou with a strange desire in her eyes.

“Yingmei, don’t get all hot and bothered. You can have her after we catch her,” a demon who looked like a scholar said, fanning himself elegantly as he looked in Lin Morou’s direction.

“Hey, you sissy! I’ll go with you!” the pig-headed demon shouted.

The wisp of smoke floated into Yingmei’s hand and spoke in a serious voice, unlike the one before. “Leave the woman I was looking at for me. I can feel the aura of our Lord’s bloodline.”

“Haha, and you still want women when you’re in this state?” Yingmei laughed contemptuously.

“Don’t fool around. I can feel the Lord’s bloodline!” The wisp of red smoke’s voice changed, and he spoke with a serious tone.

The other demons were all shocked and turned their gazes to Ji Wan. How is that possible? The Lord’s bloodline is in the mortal realm! Ji Wan’s back went cold. Lin Morou stepped in front of her, giving the demons a cold stare. Ji Wan was her bottom line.

The disciples from the other sects were all stunned. Lin Morou, a mere Golden Core cultivator, had just instantly killed a Tribulation-stage demon general. Their eyes were filled with respect, admiration, and a host of other complex emotions. But Lin Morou ignored them all. She had sensed that the demons’ target was Ji Wan. She had to protect her.

“Little 1, my demonic blood stirred just now,” Ji Wan felt a slight tremor of demonic energy inside her.

“Great host, I think we’ve unlocked a hidden plot!” System 111 said excitedly. “Originally, you were supposed to be killed by Lin Morou here, but since you didn’t die, the plot has fixed itself. Your hidden identity is now the only bloodline of the Heavenly Demon Lord, Ba Ying.”

Ji Wan wanted to say a few choice words. Isn’t this just a cliché melodrama? She gave Lin Morou a complicated look. So, I have to be killed by the female lead no matter what? She was speechless. This backstory is ridiculous. Ji Wan’s mind instantly went to a common trope: “I love you, even though your dad killed my family and I killed your dad. But I still love you, so I’ll forgive you, and we can be together.” Ji Wan shuddered. Other people get a free pass with love, but what about me? My good looks? Ji Wan subtly moved a little further away from Lin Morou.

At that moment, Hu Yanxuan came closer. “Junior Sister Ji Wan, are you alright?” Ji Wan glanced at him and gave a polite nod. In her mind, Lin Morou was now the biggest threat.

Lin Morou noticed Ji Wan pulling away and felt a flash of confusion. When she saw Hu Yanxuan approach and Ji Wan’s indifferent reaction, a dark emotion surged in her chest. Lin Morou’s gaze grew dim and profound. Is Ji Wan rejecting me but allowing this man to come closer?

Everyone noticed the demons’ attention on Ji Wan. They all looked at her with concern. Du Gu’nuo and Ye Ning stepped forward, swords in hand, to stand with Lin Morou in front of Ji Wan, forming a protective circle.

“Retreat,” the strongest demon, a man with a golden mask, said. His voice was cautious and solemn. This matter was too important; it concerned the Lord’s bloodline. The stronger the demon, the harder it was to have offspring. They had to return and report.

“Yes,” the others said without a fight. They followed him, and the vortex in the blood-red clouds disappeared. The sky returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

The disciples present felt confused. That’s it? They had been so nervous, only to watch a demon flirt with Senior Sister Ji Wan, and then Lin Morou, a Golden Core cultivator, send them away with a single punch? Are you kidding me? Where was the promised battle?

This battle, or lack thereof, made a name for Lin Morou. The competition ended with Lin Morou, as a disciple of the Frozen Feather Sect, taking first place. This shocked everyone. The disciples in the back, who had no idea what happened, were stunned. What happened? Why did the Frozen Feather Sect, which was always last among the four great sects, win first place? But when the top disciples who had fought the demons came back, they remained silent, and no one objected to the result. Hu Yanxuan, who had been a favorite to win, was also silent. If he wasn’t mistaken, Lin Morou was the person Ji Wan liked. The terrifying feeling and sense of dread he felt from Lin Morou’s destructive gaze made Hu Yanxuan give up. He knew he could not compete with someone so terrifying.

Some of the elite disciples even became Lin Morou’s super fans, spreading stories about her. Of course, there were also some ridiculous rumors:

Breaking News! Senior Sister Ji Wan, the most beautiful woman in the cultivation world, repels demons with her beauty!

For the sake of love, she unleashed her hidden power!

So good! The story of the cold, powerful junior sister and the beautiful, bewitching senior sister.

Times have changed, and the sect’s outcast has returned as a king!

When Ji Wan heard this, her mouth twitched. If these people put all the time they spent gossiping into cultivation, the cultivation world would have a hundred more grandmasters. Ji Wan continued to sip her exquisite immortal tea, reading her copy of “Immortal Sect Gossip Secrets (Special Edition).”

In a short time, Lin Morou became the most popular candidate to lead the army against the next demon invasion.