The Cannon Fodder Supporting Female Character is Still Alive Today - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Mistaken Capture

 

46

 

The big men, who had taken the antidote beforehand, stood aside, waiting coldly for Luo Qi and Lie Ruyang to fully succumb to the medicine.

 

Speaking of it, the secret medicine “Mortalize” (化凡) not only had a somewhat pretentious name but was also very selective in its targets.

 

It penetrates through the skin and spreads via the meridians, making it almost inescapable, yet it has a significant limitation: it is only effective on martial artists who possess internal energy (neigong).

 

For weaklings like Su Mubai and Bai Yao, it was merely like smelling a few puffs of odorless white smoke.

 

Seeing Luo Qi and Lie Ruyang enveloped in the smoke, Bai Yao’s eyes glazed over, feeling mentally exhausted. She then turned her head and looked at Su Mubai with sympathy.

 

Sorry, little brother.

 

It seems this trip is going to be a party of four.

 

Ah.

 

Another day of being an unavoidable third wheel…

 

47

 

Among all the Dark Followers under Qin Mang, Lie Ruyang was one of the most quick-witted.

 

Her martial arts attainment was inferior to a First-Class Dark Follower, yet she was the only Dark Follower who could hold her own in a fight against one.

 

So, as soon as she realized something was wrong, Lie Ruyang quickly activated Plan B.

 

Just as she fell, she swiftly untied the cloth strips wrapped around her wrists. With a light flick of her arm, a row of silver needles (hidden weapons) flew out.

 

Unlike in the original book, Luo Qi’s martial arts had greatly advanced due to the internal energy she received from Gui An earlier.

 

As Lie Ruyang released her hidden weapons, Luo Qi also rapidly circulated her true qi to resist the erosion of “Mortalize,” and immediately raised her sword, ready to strike again.

 

The big men watching the fight were only waiting for the two to completely collapse so they could carry them away, but they didn’t expect the opponents to have a backup plan.

 

By the time they frantically dodged Lie Ruyang’s hidden weapons, Luo Qi’s long sword was already pressed close to their faces.

 

“No, no! These two maniacs are too powerful!”

 

“The medicine probably hasn’t fully taken effect yet! Everyone retreat, retreat, retreat!”

 

Following these panicked shouts, the big men quickly acted. In the midst of the chaos, two men rushed over, each hoisting Bai Yao and Su Mubai onto their shoulders, turning around, and flipping over the courtyard wall.

 

48

 

Character: Bai Yao.

 

Original Trait: Human.

 

Current Trait: Question Mark Generator.

 

I just want to ask, what is going on with these plot developments?

 

Did I transmigrate into this book just to generate question marks?

 

49

 

When she was thrown into the small woodshed with Su Mubai, Bai Yao felt that all the strands of hair on her head had turned into dense question marks.

 

Su Mubai saw Bai Yao’s expression and merely thought she was scared silly, so he comforted her, “Miss Bai, don’t worry…”

 

Bai Yao quickly interrupted, “You’re bad luck, don’t talk!” (Note: “You’re toxic milk/a curse,” meaning bad luck or jinx.)

 

Not understanding the meaning of Bai Yao’s words, but seeing her serious expression, Su Mubai wisely shut his mouth.

 

Both of them were tied up and couldn’t move easily. And this woodshed was practically a solid, inescapable room; the only vent window was terribly narrow.

 

Bai Yao collapsed onto the ground, practicing self-emptying meditation.

 

But before she could empty her mind for long, Su Mubai’s scream came from the side.

 

He edged closer to Bai Yao and said, “Th-th-th-there’s a bug!”

 

Bai Yao: “…”

 

Great. The Female Lead isn’t here, so the plot has been changed for her to handle it.

 

Maintaining the dignity of a Southerner, Bai Yao expressionlessly lifted her foot and sent the insect brother to the West. (i.e., killed it).

 

Su Mubai looked at Bai Yao, both surprised and delighted: “Thank you, Miss Bai!”

 

According to the book’s plot, Luo Qi should have offered gentle comfort at this moment, but Bai Yao had no intention of following the script and merely said perfunctorily, “Oh.”

 

Seeing her defeated expression, Su Mubai pondered for a moment and then said, “Miss Bai, you truly don’t need to worry.”

 

Bai Yao was about to stop his jinxing, but she heard Su Mubai continue thoughtfully, “I, Su, promise you that after we get out, I will definitely explain everything clearly to Young Master Luo and not harm your reputation.”

 

In Bai Yao’s astonished eyes, Su Mubai stated confidently, “Mubai believes that Young Master Luo treats Miss Bai so well, he definitely won’t doubt you for no reason!”

 

50

 

Bai Yao was speechless. Bai Yao only wanted to take action.

 

Bai Yao reached back and slapped Su Mubai on the head.

 

The slap wasn’t heavy, but Su Mubai was stunned by it and asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Bai Yao sincerely asked, “Can you hear the sound of water inside (the room)?”

 

Su Mubai was confused but honest: “N-no, I didn’t hear it.”

 

51

 

Fine.

 

52

 

After a while, Su Mubai couldn’t help but speak again: “Miss Bai, I was actually thinking that those men’s hairstyles are a bit strange.”

 

He said, “Although martial artists don’t have so many rules, one thing still caught my attention.”

 

Bai Yao said, “Just say what you know, stop with the nonsense.”

 

Su Mubai: “…”

 

Su Mubai: “Miss Bai has a very forthright personality.”

 

My internal monologue is: I just don’t want to have strange developments with the supporting male character.

 

Before Bai Yao could reply, Su Mubai, with a good temper, continued, “Although they have made some changes to blend in with local customs, the method they use to tie their hair is rarely seen. Coincidentally, I once read about it in a local custom record.”

 

Su Mubai lowered his voice and said, “I suspect those people are from Shuiyan.”

 

Bai Yao replied, “Young Master is learned enough to fill five carriages.” (A polite way of saying he’s very knowledgeable.)

 

The internal monologue is: You don’t need to suspect; they are.

 

53

 

Shuiyan is another major country bordering Shiyu Nation.

 

Shuiyan Nation values military strength, especially in some border regions, where people pride themselves on possessing ultimate physical strength. Thus, there are many strong, well-built men who have trained since childhood.

 

In the original book, those high-skilled big men were indeed smuggled over from the Shuiyan border and came to the Black Cloud Fortress after entering Shiyu.

 

These people relied on their superior strength to run rampant in Lingnan. Their criminal actions subsequently led directly to the appearance of Supporting Male Lead Number Two.

 

But that’s a story for later.

 

According to the original book’s progress, the plot should now be Luo Qi and Su Mubai trapped here together, dealing with the upcoming banquet, and then seizing an opportunity to escape.

 

More importantly, the main reason Luo Qi, who had lost her internal energy, could successfully escape with Su Mubai was largely because the Second Master of Black Cloud Fortress was greatly stunned by Luo Qi’s ethereal beauty (as disguised), and instantly fell for her…

 

But now, the most crucial character, Luo Qi, is absent.

 

So, who is going to be the one who gets “chosen”?

 

54

 

While Bai Yao was worrying, conversation sounds came from outside the door.

 

One person said, “Hey, the Second Master’s birthday this year is going to be a big spectacle.”

 

The other person chimed in, “If you ask me, this is a bit of a waste…”

 

The sentence was interrupted before it was finished.

 

The first person lowered his voice and said, “Hey! What are you saying! Can’t you see what the situation is in our fortress now? Don’t criticize the Second Master. Be careful, if the Second Master finds out, he’ll let you eat his fist.”

 

“Got it, got it.”

 

After a moment of silence, the person outside spoke again, “Then when should the people locked in this woodshed be sent to the Second Master?”

 

The other person replied, “The Third Master just returned. We should send the person to him first. He’ll personally spruce him up. He said he wants to fix him up nicely before showing him to the Second Master as a surprise.”

 

Bai Yao looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.

 

Su Mubai also heard the conversation outside the door. Hearing the people outside about to unlock the door and enter, and wanting to comfort Bai Yao, he quickly said, “Miss Bai, don’t be afraid! Although Mubai is just a scholar, he is still a man of honor. I will definitely protect you, even if it costs me my life…”

 

Before he could finish, he was lifted up by two men.

 

Su Mubai: “…”

 

Bai Yao sat on the ground and silently offered him a comforting smile.

 

Sayonara.

 

In Su Mubai’s astonished gaze, the person in the black cloth coat dragged him along and said, “But the Second Master is really something. If he likes men, he likes men, but he insists on dressing up men to look like women.”

 

The other person in the yellow cloth coat said, “Didn’t I just say not to talk about the Second Master?”

 

The man in the black cloth coat replied, “Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more.”

 

55

 

Bai Yao’s previous sigh was not out of concern for herself.

 

She was worried that Su Mubai’s appearance might not be good enough for the “beauty trap” plan to work.

 

After all, in the book, Luo Qi was captured while dressed as a man, everyone thought she was a man, and the Second Master, who was interested in men (a “cut sleeve”), fell for the “man dressed as a woman” Luo Qi.

 

Thinking carefully, the book never described what Su Mubai looked like in women’s clothing.

 

Bai Yao watched Su Mubai being dragged out of the room, shook her head with a click of her tongue.

 

Well, it’s probably going to be an eyesore.

 

Just as he was about to leave the door, Su Mubai, who had been in a state of confusion for a long time, finally reacted. He immediately turned to Bai Yao and said, “Miss Bai, I’m leaving!”

 

Bai Yao smiled: “Goodbye.”

 

Su Mubai said, “Don’t be scared being alone. Nothing will happen!”

 

Bai Yao: “…”

 

No sooner had he finished speaking than a person in a green cloth coat rushed over from outside the door. He pointed breathlessly at Bai Yao in the room and said, “The Fourth Master is back! Drag this girl out too and bring her to him later! It’s for the Fourth Master to see!”

 

56

 

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