System, You Didn't Say the Villain Can Read Minds! - Chapter 41

Chapter 41

◎Thank You, Master!◎

Mo Jiu barely felt any pain.

As the suspected nuclear bomb got closer, her vision grew brighter and brighter.

It reached its brightest point, and then… there was no ‘then’.

Opening her eyes again, Mo Jiu was still in the posture of holding someone, but there was no one in her arms.

A wave of emptiness washed over her. Reviewing the memories of the past, she slumped onto the ground, staring blankly at the white gloves on her hands resting on the icy surface.

White gloves…

As she lowered her head, soft, long hair fell from her shoulders, the color of snow.

Snow-white, slightly curled long hair… white gloves… strange clothing.

This body was not hers.

Or was it?

The ground was not ground, but a thick layer of ice. The bone-chilling cold invaded her palms and calves a moment later.

The ice couldn’t reflect her current appearance, but… she vaguely saw something beneath the ice.

A blue ball of light was flickering, very small, like a candlelight, but blue.

Mo Jiu wasn’t sure if this was its original color or if the ice had tinted it blue.

Mo Jiu: System.

Mo Jiu: System, where am I?

No matter how Mo Jiu called out mentally, the System did not respond.

Is this the world after death?

Is there no next world?

Why do I still have consciousness?

What about Yun Wenzhou…?

Thinking of her, her vision involuntarily blurred, and she couldn’t stop the tears.

She knew that Yun Wenzhou was different from her, and even if she were still alive, she would only exist as a false character in a false world… but she couldn’t help but fantasize—since even she, an NPC, could awaken consciousness, perhaps Yun Wenzhou, who was originally endowed with consciousness, could also retain her memories and go to another world? Maybe they could meet each other again?

The candlelight beneath the ice was still flickering, like a firefly whose wings were pinned down, struggling desperately to escape but only shaking in place.

It gradually captured all of Mo Jiu’s attention.

Mo Jiu lay down on the ice, moving her eyes closer to the surface.

Then she saw…

Yun Wenzhou?

There was actually a spacious area beneath the ice.

A woman was sitting with her knees hugged. A wall of ice was behind her. Her legs, including the hands wrapped around her knees, were sealed in ice. She was looking up towards the ice layer separating her from Mo Jiu. Her eyes were closed, but her face… it was clearly Yun Wenzhou’s face!

Eh?

Mo Jiu scrutinized the woman again. Her hair was not black, but a very faint grey-blue, with the color becoming redder further down, transitioning from blue to purple and then red. However, it wasn’t the blood-red color Mo Jiu’s hair became after condensing the Abomination Core, but a dim, greyish-red, like a sunset on a cloudy day.

Her skin was extremely pale, without a trace of color, making her look like a manufactured human doll.

There was something drawn on both her shoulders and both her knees, resembling some kind of magic circle.

And that blue light orb was hovering over her left shoulder, only able to move within the square frame in the middle of the magic circle despite all its struggles.

What is this?

Mo Jiu wanted to look closer, but her vision suddenly darkened, and her consciousness dissipated.

When she regained consciousness, she had been moved to an unfamiliar room, lying on an unfamiliar bed.

The System’s voice suddenly rang out: Jiu Jiu, you’re awake? Let me do the final settlement first!

System: Completed the final mission in the Order Restart world. 5000 reward points gained. Current reward points: 16610.

Mo Jiu: “…Who are you?”

The System’s tone had changed again, from its initial condescending tone, to lively, to mechanical, and now to… should she call it affectionate?

No, “overly familiar” was better.

Although Mo Jiu was used to the System’s presence, she wasn’t used to this personality—Who are you to call me Jiu Jiu? Xiaozhou didn’t even call me that.

Thinking of Xiaozhou, another wave of emptiness washed over her.

That Yun Wenzhou sealed under the ice, that thick layer of ice… was it a dream?

System: I’m the System, of course. Because you died, Jiu Jiu, I restarted with you. My personality changes a little after a restart, don’t worry about it!

Mo Jiu: Can’t you change your personality?

System: I can’t right now, but I can the next time I restart. What kind of personality do you want, Jiu Jiu? I’ll change it for you next time!

Mo Jiu: I want one that is gentle and considerate, obedient, doesn’t talk back to me, and is completely compliant.

System: Oh my goodness, that sounds exactly like me!

Mo Jiu: “…”

I’m done.

System: Jiu Jiu, let me introduce you to the current world. This world is called The Heartless Dao, it’s a Xianxia world. Xianxia means…

Mo Jiu: I know. Continue.

System: Oh, oh. It’s like this. In this world, you will play the role of the cannon fodder Master to both the Protagonist and the Villain. You will praise the Protagonist profusely, and make things difficult for the Villain in every way, ultimately causing the Villain to blacken, kill their Master, and fall into the Demonic path.

Mo Jiu: Almost the same script. Which unlucky person am I bullying this time?

System: It’s your Second Disciple—Yun Wenzhou!

Mo Jiu: “…”

Mo Jiu: Say that again. Who?

System: It’s your Second Disciple—Yun Wenzhou!

Mo Jiu was covered in goosebumps, unexpectedly hearing that name from the System again.

Same name, same surname, or…

Mo Jiu suddenly realized something and tentatively asked: Don’t tell me the protagonist’s name is Ye Lan.

System: You guessed it! The protagonist is your Third Disciple—Ye Lan!

Mo Jiu: Why?

System: Hmm?

Mo Jiu: Why are the names the same? Were these two books written by the same author?

Mo Jiu’s mood was very complex now.

She wanted to see Yun Wenzhou again, but she didn’t want to go through the same loop. But if the world changed…

If the world changed, Yun Wenzhou wouldn’t be Yun Wenzhou anymore…

System: Well, here’s the thing. Every world must have a protagonist, and it must have a villain. There are too many worlds. If every protagonist and villain had different names, it would be easy to get confused, so the Library System standardized these names.

Mo Jiu: It’s easier to get confused if they’re the same!

System: Those things aren’t important! Today is the inner sect competition, held once every twenty years. As the Master, hurry up and go preside over it! Your Second and Third Disciples are waiting for you!

Mo Jiu: Who is the First Disciple? Don’t tell me it’s Yue Xinghe.

System: Who is Yue Xinghe? There is no Yue Xinghe in this world.

Mo Jiu: Eh?

System: Your First Disciple seems to have already died. Anyway, the original book didn’t mention it, so it’s not important. Hurry and go see your cute Second and Third Disciples!

Mo Jiu stopped talking.

She sat up from the bed and saw a bronze mirror on the dressing table. She walked over and picked it up to look at herself.

Her face hadn’t changed, but her hair had grown long, reaching past her waist. Also, there was a red lotus-shaped mark on her forehead, which added a bit of color to her somewhat pale face.

She sat in front of the dressing table and tidied her hair unhurriedly.

Her hair was actually curly after growing long, which made it a little hard to manage, but it looked quite good when styled.

The System supplemented her settings while she was getting ready.

System: Jiu Jiu, you are currently playing the role of the Great Elder of the Moon Splendor Immortal Sect, second only to the Sect Master in rank.

System: Mo Jiu, the Great Elder of the Moon Splendor Immortal Sect, has an arrogant and dismissive personality towards everyone. She is extremely strict with her inner sect disciples, and any disciple who loses in a competition is inevitably subjected to her punishment.

System: In the upcoming inner sect competition, the protagonist, Ye Lan, whose strength has greatly increased after finding a divine sword, will completely defeat her Second Senior Sister, Yun Wenzhou.

System: What you need to do, Jiu Jiu, is lavish praise on Ye Lan, who takes first place, and severely punish the defeated Yun Wenzhou.

System: If Jiu Jiu doesn’t know what to do, I can assist you with a mission!

System: Mission issued: “The Weak are Unworthy of a Master’s Guidance”—

Mo Jiu: That is completely unnecessary.

System: —Time limit: One day. Go go go, Jiu Jiu!

Mo Jiu let out a “Tch.”

This damned System, no matter how many times its personality changed, it was still so self-centered.

The sect robes of the Moon Splendor Immortal Sect were mainly white, with the lapels and belt in cyan-blue.

Mo Jiu tied her belt, took her sword, and headed to the inner sect competition grounds.

The Moon Splendor Immortal Sect was built on a high mountain, shrouded in clouds and mist, like a celestial realm.

Mo Jiu didn’t have time to figure out how to fly on her sword for now, so she walked to the competition venue.

Excluding the Sect Master, the Moon Splendor Immortal Sect had four Elders.

The other three Elders each had one or two inner sect disciples, who were currently whispering among themselves.

When Mo Jiu arrived at the competition venue, her disciples proactively approached her.

The Third Disciple, Ye Lan, was the first to bow before her: “Master.”

The Second Disciple, Yun Wenzhou, followed closely: “Master.”

Mo Jiu’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to Yun Wenzhou. The familiar face, the familiar long, straight black hair, but because of the change in clothes, her entire demeanor was different.

She looked cold, indifferent, truly like the clouds in the sky, untouched by the mundane world.

Come to think of it, the original Yun Wenzhou rarely smiled. Her smile only gradually appeared after she became familiar with Mo Jiu.

No… she is not her. Don’t compare her to her.

Mo Jiu forcibly shifted her gaze to Ye Lan. Her clothes had changed, but her temperament hadn’t. She was still so heroic and valiant, more like a female general than a cultivator.

A long hairband partially tied up her hair, high at the back of her head. The part of the hairband near her hair was cyan, the same color as her collar and belt, and the end gradually faded to purple.

And her sword…

Mo Jiu’s gaze turned to Ye Lan’s back. There was a sheathless sword tightly wrapped in white cloth strips.

This must be the divine sword she found.

“If you can take first place, I will personally forge a scabbard for you,” Mo Jiu said flatly.

Ye Lan was stunned for a moment, then raised the corner of her lips happily: “Thank you, Master! This disciple will not disappoint you!”

“Master, what about me?” Yun Wenzhou asked.

Mo Jiu looked at her and saw unconcealed expectation burning in her beautiful eyes.

Even though she knew she wasn’t her, Mo Jiu’s heart still twinged. She managed to maintain a facade of indifference.

“What do you desire?” Mo Jiu asked her.

Yun Wenzhou thought for a moment and said: “Master hasn’t guided Wenzhou for a long time. If I can defeat my Junior Sister, would Master personally instruct me in the Water Moon Sword Art?”

“Good,” Mo Jiu agreed without hesitation. Anyway… she wouldn’t win.

But even if she doesn’t win, I can still guide her by punishing her, right?

It’s not the first time I’ve bent the mission rules, anyway.

Yun Wenzhou, hearing Mo Jiu’s reply, was momentarily stunned before hastily raising her hands in a bow: “Thank you, Master!”

Strange… I think I heard Master’s voice just now, but Master clearly didn’t speak.

Was it a spiritual transmission?

No, if it were a spiritual transmission, the wording wouldn’t be so self-reflective.

And… why is there a subtle throbbing in my chest?

After Mo Jiu turned to face the arena, Yun Wenzhou raised a hand and pressed it against her chest, her fingers slightly tightening and wrinkling her robe.

She suddenly found Master so beautiful…

Not only in appearance, but also in temperament…

She rarely smiled and seemed aloof and distant, yet Yun Wenzhou could sense a tenderness and an inexplicable intimacy.

It was as if two souls, spanning tens of thousands of years, had finally reunited, a feeling both sweet and sour.

Oh no, I think I like Master.

Not the kind of liking based on reverence, but—the kind of liking that involved improper thoughts about Master.

Is this allowed?

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