The Cannon Fodder Lead Just Wants to Slack Off and Cuddle Cats - Chapter 4

Qu Qi suddenly rolled over, mumbling fragmented words in her sleep.

The black cat approached her noiselessly, tilting its head to listen.

The girl’s low whispers were barely audible: “Hungry braised duck roast goose roast lamb leg. ugh, I want air conditioning and Wi-Fi…”

Complete gibberish.

As a wave of warm breath brushed its face, the black cat caught the girl’s comfortable, pleasant scent. Its nose twitched, and it instinctively curled its limbs, a slight tremor running through its body. A long-lost power began to surge through its meridians.

It tilted its head in confusion: What is going on?

The girl slept on, oblivious. Yet, those strange ripples of energy drifted toward the cat like a soothing spring breeze, weaving into its ravaged meridians and gently mending invisible wounds.

…It was actually quite comfortable.

The black cat controlled its impulses and quietly lay down beside her.

The Hour of the Dragon, Songting Study.

The moment Ruan Tang entered the classroom, a crowd swarmed around her.

“Fourth Senior Sister, I heard you went to the back mountains with Qu Qi?”

Ruan Tang took her seat as a group of eager disciples hovered by her desk. She opened her textbook and replied, “Yes, Elder Jing Shu ordered me to supervise her transition.”

The group began chattering all at once. “Did she try to run away?”

“Defying the Disciplinary Hall carries a heavy penalty. Qu Qi wouldn’t have the guts.”

“She’s being so obedient this time that it feels off. It’s probably just another one of her tricks.”

Someone snickered. “The back mountains are eerie and terrifying. Qu Qi is used to a life of luxury; living in such a dump will be a wake-up call. I heard there’s a mass grave up there with ghosts wandering around. I hope she’s scared to death when she wakes up at night!”

Listening to their schadenfreude, Ruan Tang suddenly slapped her forehead and gasped. “Oh no, I just remembered.”

“Remembered what?”

Ruan Tang looked conflicted. “The Elder told me to warn Qu Qi not to enter the depths of the graveyard… should I go back and tell her?”

“Hah, who would go into a graveyard for no reason? Is she that bored?” someone mocked. “Senior Sister Ruan, don’t worry about it.”

Ji Ling, who was listening in the crowd, glared at them. “That won’t do! What if Senior Sister Qu has an accident?”

The person shot back with a self-righteous look: “Honestly, she brought this on herself. If she runs into a graveyard knowing it’s full of ghosts, she deserves what she gets.”

“Exactly!” “She was so overbearing before; it’s about time she suffered a little!”

Ji Ling was soft-hearted and poor at debating. Hearing their malicious mockery, his fists tightened and his face flushed red with rage. Everyone disliked Qu Qi, but he firmly believed his Senior Sister had her reasons for everything she did.

Years ago, many had taken advantage of Elder Shouyi’s long travels to withhold or embezzle the pills and spirit stones meant for the two pupils of Wangxu Peak. Back then, he and Qu Qi were small and powerless. No one believed them, and they lacked the backing of a large group of siblings like the other disciples. They could only endure in silence.

Surviving in the competitive Inner Sect was never easy for the solitary.

At some point, Qu Qi had changed into who she was now. She became notorious and full of lies, yet she always shielded him, fiercely scolding anyone who tried to bully them.

He remembered her pinching his chubby cheeks and commanding: “Hey, don’t try to handle things alone in the future. Remember to call for your Senior Sister.”

Ji Ling had replied with teary eyes, “But Senior Sister, you’re very weak too.”

Qu Qi had been sitting in a tree, her long skirt draped like blooming wisteria vines. The bright, spirited girl had crossed her legs, fiddled with a wine flask, and looked down at him drunkenly. “You idiot, I’m here to distract them! As long as I’m around, they won’t pick on you.”

Ji Ling had looked at the bruises on her face and shaken his head.

Qu Qi had glared at him. “Kid, why are you so stubborn? If someone hits you in the future, you run. Run as far as you can. Do you hear me?”

“I’ll face it with you, Senior Sister,” Ji Ling had said.

Qu Qi froze, suddenly tilted her head back to drink, then slumped down dejectedly. She covered her eyes with the back of her hand and muttered hoarsely, “…Suit yourself.”

Though she wasn’t always “nice” to him, in Ji Ling’s heart, she was greater and stronger than any other disciple, a person as close as master and family. He would never allow her to be bullied.

Ji Ling took a deep breath and whispered, “If Senior Sister Ruan won’t go, I’ll go myself.”

Ruan Tang, recalling Qu Qi’s terrified expression when ghosts were mentioned, felt a pang of guilt. She whispered, “Junior Brother, it’s hard to get up there without the Elder’s permission. Don’t waste your energy.”

Ji Ling replied calmly, “Thank you, but I’ll find a way.”

He turned and left with determination. Ruan Tang watched his lean silhouette and sighed, feeling a bit uneasy.

Moments later, the teaching elder entered the hall with a stern face. “What are you all huddling for?” The gossiping crowd scattered instantly.

Two hours later, the morning lessons ended.

As Ruan Tang was packing her things, a soft voice called from behind: “Fourth Senior Sister.”

Ruan Tang turned and saw Su Fuwan walking toward her. She felt flattered. “Junior Sister, what is it?”

Su Fuwan stopped and asked gently, “Senior Sister, I heard you accompanied Senior Sister Qu to the back mountains. Is that true?”

Ruan Tang blinked. Why is the Junior Sister interested in this? “It is.”

Su Fuwan nodded. “You’ve worked hard, Senior Sister.”

She was breathtakingly beautiful, with skin like snow and eyes like jade, a look of fragile elegance that evoked pity. Ruan Tang found herself blushing under that gaze and looked down shyly. “It was nothing, just my duty.”

Su Fuwan lowered her eyes, appearing worried. “The back mountains aren’t like Wangxu Peak; the conditions are harsh. I hope Senior Sister Qu adjusts quickly and returns safely.”

To worry about the person who harmed her… Ruan Tang was moved by her selflessness. “Junior Sister, you really are too kind.”

Su Fuwan smiled and asked, “How was she after arriving? Did she say anything?”

Ruan Tang shook her head. “She didn’t say anything special.”

“Nothing strange at all?”

Ruan Tang found the question odd. “No. Why do you ask?”

“It’s nothing, just a bit of worry. Since she’s fine, I can rest easy.” Su Fuwan coughed slightly, a sickly pallor touching her cheeks. “I’ve troubled you, Senior Sister. I’m feeling a bit unwell and would like to go back and rest.”

The surrounding disciples immediately crowded around in concern. “Junior Sister!”

Ruan Tang’s confusion was replaced by worry. She stepped forward to support the frail girl. “I’ll take you back.”

Su Fuwan didn’t refuse. “Then I shall trouble you.”

Back in her room, Su Fuwan quickly dismissed Ruan Tang. She shut the door, double-checked the lock, and placed a restrictive ward.

She turned around, and her pitiable demeanor vanished. Her expression became cold and impatient. “I thought you said Qu Qi wasn’t a problem? Why is she the only one not following the script?”

A mechanical voice that only Su Fuwan could hear sounded in her ear: “Host, Qu Qi is merely a minor cannon-fodder character. Her deviation will not affect the main plot’s progress.”

Su Fuwan sneered. “Are you sure it won’t? What if she interferes with me courting the other characters?”

If she didn’t finish the main plot, she couldn’t return to the modern world. She hated this place. The whole mountain was smaller than her family estate, and it had nothing no phone, no high-quality food from her personal chef. She didn’t want to stay a minute longer.

“Since she’s just a minor character,” Su Fuwan said impatiently, “can’t I just kill her?”

The cold, inorganic female voice replied: “Of course not, Host. She is crucial to the villain’s growth arc.”

“Host, you only need to complete the main plot without going out of character. Before the Great War of Immortals and Demons, you simply need to offer Qu Qi as a sacrifice to Sheng Xizhu.”

Su Fuwan’s expression softened slightly. “Really? Then I can go home?”

“Yes,” the system replied.

Su Fuwan leaned against the door, idly playing with her slender fingers. “System, what if you’re lying to me?”

The system said calmly, “I have no reason to lie to the Host.”

Su Fuwan looked up and chuckled. “True. I’ll trust you this once.” She brushed her black hair behind her ear, looking quite smug. “Luckily I studied acting; playing a ‘White Lotus’ like this is a piece of cake.”

The system said: “That is why we chose the Host. You will certainly play the role of Su Fuwan perfectly.”

Su Fuwan hummed. “At least you have good taste.”

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