Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration] - Chapter 33

Hu Li was dragged into a vertical tunnel, plummeting downward under the relentless pull of gravity.

Fortunately, after a brief moment of disorientation, she quickly regained her composure. She jammed the Peachwood Sword she gripped in both hands into the earthen walls on either side, anchoring herself against the descent.

But the Black Hairy Hand had no intention of letting her go. It remained tightly coiled around her ankle, yanking her downward again and again, trying to drag her into the endless darkness below.

Unable to break free, Hu Li gritted her teeth, braced her hands against the Peachwood Sword, and silently chanted an incantation. She drew glutinous rice from the cloth pouch slung over her shoulder and scattered it over the Black Hairy Hand.

At first, the hand recoiled, mistaking the rice for some kind of exorcism artifact. But when it realized the rice posed no real threat, it surged back with renewed force, pulling Hu Li down even harder.

By now, Hu Li had little strength left to resist. She lowered her gaze to the Black Hairy Hand, her mind drifting inexplicably to a product advertisement. She pictured the spokesperson’s pained expression as they used the product.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She addressed the System in her Sea of Consciousness—the same System that had been as bold as an ox moments ago but was now trembling like a leaf: “Do you have any Powerful Hair Removal Strips?”

“Powerful Hair Removal Strips?” The System flickered, sensing Hu Li’s intention, and promptly tossed a stack of them into her hand. It even added helpfully, “These are beeswax strips—they’ll pull the hairs out by the roots.”

Hu Li smiled, indicating she understood.

Using her spiritual power, she conjured a hand to tear open the packaging of the Powerful Hair Removal Strips. She carefully peeled off one strip and meticulously applied it to the Black Hairy Hand. Anxious that the strip might not adhere tightly enough, she pressed down firmly after applying it, ensuring a perfect seal.

Meanwhile, the Black Hairy Hand remained blissfully unaware of the impending disaster.

It luxuriated in the cooling sensation of mint from the strip, pausing its movements in contentment as Hu Li methodically covered every inch of its surface with the strips.

Then, when Hu Li suddenly ripped off the first strip, the Black Hairy Hand shuddered violently.

Hu Li watched the Black Hairy Hand tremble like a leaf. Though she heard no sound, she could almost hear its anguished wail emanating from the now-smooth, hairless patch:

“My fur!”

[Wow, that’s brutal! Classic Hu Li.]

[What brand are these Powerful Hair Removal Strips? Gotta avoid that like the plague.]

[Pfft! This is hilarious! What a way to play it.]

[The original story has completely shifted from a dark, angsty drama to a hilarious comedy. I’m dying of laughter.]

[Mommy, hurry up and tear off the second strip! I’m loving this!]

Hu Li’s gaze lingered on the last comment. She smiled, signaling that she was of the same mind.

Her conjured hand seized the Black Hairy Hand, which was already trying to retreat. In mere moments, she ripped off all the Powerful Hair Removal Strips with a swish, swish, swish.

The strips worked flawlessly. The Black Hairy Hand instantly lost all its fur. Yet the slightly reddened skin beneath sent a shiver down Hu Li’s spine. These hair removal strips really deserve a warning label, she thought grimly.

After using all ten strips, Hu Li flipped the Black Hairy Hand over and over, confirming not a single hair remained. Satisfied, she dismissed her conjured hand.

Now free, the Black Hairy Hand dared not linger. It scurried into the darkness and vanished without a trace.

Hu Li, Peachwood Sword in hand, tossed her head triumphantly, ready to leave the Ghost Tunnel.

But before she could fully savor her victory, a thud echoed from the tunnel walls. The two spots where she had wedged the Peachwood Sword suddenly gave way.

Hu Li: …

She stared speechlessly at the ceiling for a moment, then plummeted into the darkness.

The vertical tunnel plunged nearly a hundred zhang deep. Hu Li conjured a spiritual barrier to cushion her fall, and after a long freefall, she landed safely on her toes.

At the bottom of the vertical tunnel lay a horizontal passage paved with jade bricks. The walls were smooth, polished marble, clearly carved by human hands.

Hu Li closed her eyes and checked her location in her Sea of Consciousness, surprised to find she was now closer to Gu Sheng.

After a moment of adjustment, she immediately ventured deeper into the tunnel.

The passage eventually split into two paths. Following her internal compass, Hu Li chose the left-hand path.

But this path led to a small, sealed chamber resembling a tomb.

Hu Li’s breath caught in her throat. She turned to flee, but her gaze landed on the chamber’s contents: piles of gold, silver, and jade treasures. She froze.

Ever since the Soul Swap with Gu Sheng, Hu Li had realized her Storage Bag was utterly empty, leaving her feeling deeply insecure.

Faced with such overwhelming temptation, Hu Li declared to herself: Hesitating now would be disrespecting money itself!

Using the Iron Transformation Technique, she transformed her Peachwood Sword into two iron blades. Wedging them against the chamber’s stone door, she cautiously entered.

********

At the very center of the chamber lay a Crystal Coffin, surrounded by towering piles of gold, silver, and jade artifacts that nearly submerged it. This arrangement had prevented Hu Li from noticing the coffin when she was outside the chamber.

Now inside, however, the coffin became an impossible-to-ignore presence. The moment Hu Li stepped through the doorway, she nearly died of fright on the spot.

Excellent, this is undoubtedly the tomb chamber.

Hu Li pinched her philtrum, forcing herself to calm down. Then, summoning her courage, she began gathering the gold, silver, and jade artifacts scattered at her feet, stuffing them into her Storage Bag.

[Actually, the real treasures are those dazzling diamonds on the coffin. I remember in the first edition of the original novel, Xi Qingyang became the wealthiest person in the Cultivation World overnight thanks to those diamonds.]

[To be more precise, the ten large diamonds embedded in the coffin are: two High-Grade Cloud Jade, three High-Grade Blood Jade, and five High-Grade Xin Jade. All are precious materials for forging swords, each worth a fortune.]

[This Fox Spirit is so clueless. Can’t she tell those things on the ground are just fakes? She’s collecting them so enthusiastically, but they won’t fetch much.]

[Good girl, Li Li, listen to your mama and go pry off those diamonds.]

[Good girl, Li Li, listen to your mama and carry the Crystal Coffin away too.]

[The Crystal Coffin thing is a bit much.]

[Actually, the Crystal Coffin is empty. It’s a waste to just leave it here. The Fox Spirit might as well take it.]

Hu Li paused her hand, which had been reaching for gold, silver, and jade artifacts. She silently flipped her Storage Bag inside out, dumping its contents onto the ground.

With a flick of her wrist, she conjured a dagger and approached the Crystal Coffin.

As the saying goes: “Leave a thread, and you’ll meet again someday.”

Hu Li had no intention of hauling away the coffin someone had prepared for her. She only wanted to pack up the dazzling diamonds adorning it.

She wedged the dagger’s tip into the gap between the Crystal Coffin and a large diamond. With a forceful push, the gem fell into her gaping Storage Bag.

Then, two more, three more… ten.

Hu Li’s technique grew increasingly refined. After the final diamond dropped into her Storage Bag, she even considered using the dagger to reshape the Crystal Coffin and take the leftover shards.

But the thought of salvaging the fragments vanished the instant Hu Li spotted a crimson figure inside the coffin.

The Comments had misled her. Where was the promised emptiness?

********

Hu Li watched the large diamond fall, its red silhouette visible through the grooves, her smile more strained than a sob.

She hunched her shoulders, tiptoeing toward the exit, but in the next instant, the Crystal Coffin’s lid slid open on its own. A figure sat up, long black hair cascading across her face, eerie and terrifying.

Hu Li’s gaze shot upward, her thumb pressing into her philtrum again. “Good sister,” she blurted, “I was wrong!”

Inside the Crystal Coffin, Gu Sheng brushed her hair aside, her cold gaze sweeping over Hu Li, who was trembling violently. She slowly climbed out of the coffin.

“It’s me,” she said.

Hu Li cautiously turned her head, her heart slowing as she recognized the familiar face. Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer and asked bluntly, “Why did you want to swap souls with me?”

Gu Sheng looked away, refusing to answer.

Hu Li grabbed her wrist, pulling her close and forcing her to meet her gaze. “Why did you want to swap souls with me?” she repeated.

Feeling Hu Li’s warm breath on her neck, Gu Sheng’s fingers curled slightly. She remained silent, refusing to look at Hu Li.

*******

Hu Li pressed her lips into a thin line, wanting to reach out and straighten Gu Sheng’s face.

But just as her hand was about to touch Gu Sheng, the Crystal Coffin suddenly flipped over, and a black-haired monster crawled out.

No, it wasn’t entirely a black-haired monster.

Hu Li pulled Gu Sheng behind her, staring at the monster’s right arm—completely clean and hairless—and nearly burst out laughing on the spot.

The black-haired monster, seeing Hu Li’s face contorted with suppressed laughter, flew into a rage.

How dare this woman mock me, the mighty Fudi Demon!

He was furious, but also afraid.

[Fudi Demon—what a pretentious name.]

[In the original novel, this Fudi Demon was a real piece of work. He captured Sheng Shengzi and forced her into servitude.]

[The most detestable character, bar none.]

[Go get him, Lilli! He’s bullying your wife!]

Hu Li glanced at the sparse comments drifting by, frowned, and tightened her grip on the dagger. Then, she reached her left hand behind her and whispered to Gu Sheng, “Give me the Red Jade Hairpin.”

Gu Sheng looked up at her, hesitated, but ultimately retrieved the Red Jade Hairpin from her sleeve and placed it in Hu Li’s hand.

Taking the Red Jade Hairpin, Hu Li immediately channeled a wisp of Spiritual Power into the dagger in her right hand. With a swift motion, she hurled the dagger at the Fudi Demon.

The Fudi Demon reacted swiftly, dodging the attack with a nimble sidestep.

The dagger pierced the Crystal Coffin behind him, shattering it into countless fragments.

The Fudi Demon’s pupils constricted in fury. “How dare you—!”

Before he could finish his sentence, a Spiritual Arrow sliced through the air, hurtling toward his face.

The Fudi Demon executed a nimble backflip to evade the arrow. Hu Li released the bowstring again, firing three arrows in rapid succession.

The Fudi Demon couldn’t dodge in time. The Spiritual Arrows pierced his bare right hand, sending blood splattering.

Seizing the opportunity, Hu Li prepared to fire a third arrow. But suddenly, her vision blurred, and dizziness overwhelmed her.

It’s over, she thought grimly. Gu Sheng’s Black Hole Physique can’t store enough Spiritual Power.

At the same moment, the Fudi Demon noticed Hu Li’s momentary distraction.

He smirked sinisterly, teleported behind her, shoved Gu Sheng aside, and raised his Demonic Sword to strike.

Support Stepping in for the Heroine to Crush the Protagonist Group [Transmigration]