The Real Heiress Just Wants to Be a Lazy Fish - Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Sacrifice

Jiang Zitan instinctively clenched her fists so hard her palms likely bled, but only the sharp sting of pain kept her mind clear. Her heartbeat was so loud it almost interfered with her hearing; her legs felt weak and unsteady. She forced herself to remain as calm as possible in a situation like this, panic would be fatal.

She could tell the ghost’s position was directly behind her. She didn’t dare turn around, keeping her eyes fixed on the door just a few steps ahead. The door was closed, but there were other residences nearby; if she could escape outside, her chances of survival would be higher.

“Save me… save me! Save me…” On the phone screen, the female ghost’s tears of blood turned into a full hemorrhaging from every facial orifice. She grew closer and closer to the screen, which meant she was getting closer and closer to Jiang Zitan.

A few seconds later, the System spoke: Yes, but Host, aren’t you surprised?

“Surprised by what?” Tao Yitong replied. “First, I discover I’ve transmigrated as a villainous supporting character in a book. Then, I find out this villain looks exactly like me and has the same name. Now a system pops up the transmigration checklist is complete.”

The System fell silent for a long while. Host, you really know the ropes. This generation of hosts was far too experienced.

Tao Yitong wanted to scratch her head. “So, isn’t it easier for you since I know the ropes? Why were you crying?”

And crying for joy, at that? Surely that was overkill.

The System, still sobbing, wailed even louder: Waaaah, I’m sorry Host, I came too late.

“My recovery speed being so fast has something to do with you, right?” Tao Yitong said sincerely. “On that point alone, I have no right to complain about you being late to the job.” At least it didn’t arrive only in time to lay flowers on her grave. That was forgivable. “But I want to ask, what’s wrong with this world? It seems a bit different from what I know.”

Not a lot just a “billion” bit different.

The System replied sheepishly: Sorry Host, just like you, my knowledge of this world is limited to the original novel.

Tao Yitong paused. “Then you’re here for…?”

System: I am the ‘Villain Reformation System,’ meant to guide villains, supporting characters, and cannon fodder to be positive and live for themselves. Its tone grew dejected. That was my original mission.

Tao Yitong suddenly wanted to take back her earlier praise. You really did come too late; the person you were supposed to guide is gone. “So your current mission is?”

The System’s tone turned even more sorrowful: Exploring the New World.

Tao Yitong: What a timely update to mission parameters. “Fine. So you don’t know where that mysterious man who tried to kill me came from either?”

The System felt that a direct “yes” would make it seem too useless, so it pivoted: Host, although I don’t understand the hidden side of this world or who that man is, I can help you get stronger. Next time you see him, you can stab him back.

This caught Tao Yitong’s interest. “How? Open a mall? Give me drugs?”

The System said earnestly: Host, there is no such thing as a free lunch; those are traps. I can only help you improve your constitution so you can retrain your original skills. If your original strength were still here, you wouldn’t have been unable to even run away today.

Tao Yitong narrowed her eyes, smiling. “You seem to know a lot about my past.”

A system should have a basic understanding of its host to partner effectively. The System’s rigid reply was full of seriousness. Host, don’t feel regret. I can not only help you recover your original strength quickly but also break through your previous bottlenecks to reach a higher level.

Tao Yitong’s heart stirred. That was a tempting offer, but… “This partnership is great for me, but what do you get out of it?”

The System said: Binding with a host to complete missions is the reward. A solitary system will be rejected by the Will of the World without a host’s companionship.

“Is that so?” Tao Yitong smiled. The partnership was thus pleasantly established.

Her gaze fell on the closed window, remembering the attack by the man in black. His speed was terrifying; the moment she saw him, the blade was already in her chest. Thinking back, the only reason she saw his face was because he allowed it. With his speed, he could have killed her before she even reacted.

“That guy has a strong desire for performance,” Tao Yitong suddenly noted.

The System took a few seconds to realize who she was evaluating. Is… is that so?

Tao Yitong turned her gaze to the ceiling. “Before he struck, he told me, ‘How pathetic.'”

It was full of high-and-mighty pity and mockery. It wasn’t strange for a criminal with supernatural powers to hold such a condescending attitude toward a victim, but the words themselves were worth pondering. “System, I suspect he was hired to kill me.”

The original owner’s memory held nothing of supernatural powers. Such an abrupt attack made being a hired gun the highest possibility.

The System agreed: Your reasoning is sound, Host. It added worriedly, Could it be someone you offended before? There are far too many suspicious targets.

Tao Yitong chuckled. She thought so too. “I don’t know. The possibility is high.” Since there were no leads, thinking more was just blind guessing. She was more concerned with another question. “System, do you know anything about the girl who saved me?”

She said: “I feel like she knows me, but I have no impression of her. Is she also a character outside the plot?”

The System was suddenly at a loss for words. Ah, that…

Tao Yitong narrowed her eyes. “What?”

The System stammered: You do know each other, it’s just…

Tao Yitong found its reaction strange. How could she not remember someone so impressive? “What? Do we have a grudge?”

In a sense, yes.

The System was silent for a few seconds, then used a tone of pity usually reserved for terminal patients: Actually, she is the protagonist, Jiang Zitan.

All sound in the room vanished. Silence reigned for a long time.

The System said weakly: Host, please don’t be silent. I’m scared.

Tao Yitong sat up abruptly as if startled awake. “Hiss… Who did you say?” She clutched her chest, taking several sharp breaths. Her already pale face grew even worse.

The System said hurriedly: Host, don’t get excited, be careful not to tear the wound.

Neither it nor Jiang Zitan were miracle doctors; it took the combined effort of two types of power to stabilize her. While she wasn’t in mortal danger, she needed rest. She shouldn’t be making such big movements.

Tao Yitong still couldn’t quite process it. This shock felt greater than the near-death experience of being stabbed.

“Jiang Zitan,” she murmured the name. “But I…”

The System explained immediately: There is a power on the eye mask that disrupts the senses. Anyone who sees her will think she’s a stranger. Her voice, too it sounds like a stranger’s.

Tao Yitong finally accepted the fact. “No wonder.” No wonder she felt Jiang Zitan’s feelings toward her were so complex and full of dislike.

Currently, the original owner had only played minor tricks. She hadn’t reached the late-plot madness of hiring killers, tampering with her sister’s car, switching their mother’s medicine, or kidnapping the younger sister to force Jiang Zitan to jump off a roof. But the sarcasm, the stealing of gifts, and spreading rumors that Zitan was an illegitimate child were enough to earn her hatred.

If Tao Yitong were in her shoes, she wouldn’t just refuse to help; she’d probably finish the job. Helping and staying to protect her was an act of supreme virtue.

Tao Yitong said sincerely, “Jiang Zitan… what kind of peerless Living Bodhisattva is she?”

The System thought of the original plot and added: Perhaps this is the virtue and cultivation of a protagonist!

Tao Yitong sighed deeply. “System, I’m starting to feel a bit regretful. I asked her to stay and protect me that’s asking too much. She must be so annoyed seeing me.” It was a helpless situation. “I’m the scapegoat, and she’s the aggrieved victim.”

The System agreed that the situation was difficult for everyone. It tried to console her: Host, survival first. You’re so weak right now that a five-year-old could knock you down, let alone that assassin.

Tao Yitong knew it was right. She needed protection and couldn’t push her away, so complaining further would just be hypocritical. She tried to adjust her emotions.

The System found her struck-down look strange. Host, what’s wrong? Do you dislike the protagonist too?

“No.” Tao Yitong shook her head. Readers rarely dislike protagonists. She just thought she might have become friends with her; now, that seemed impossible. “Shouldn’t a life-saving debt be repaid by marrying the savior? Now I can’t even offer that.”

System: Are you serious? If you’re putting it that way, I helped save you too.

It felt she was joking. Host, I feel like you’re behaving differently than you do in front of the protagonist. You seem much more… mischievous.

Tao Yitong chuckled. Just as she was about to speak, the door opened gently.

Jiang Zitan entered with a first-aid kit. Seeing Tao Yitong sitting up, her brow furrowed slightly. “You don’t feel pain at all?”

Tao Yitong felt like a stranger to her tonight. Although she hadn’t known her well before, remaining expressionless after such a serious injury was not her usual style. Or perhaps, Tao Yitong simply had a different face for strangers and this face was much more likable than the old one.

Tao Yitong heard her voice, cold as falling snow and devoid of emotion. She felt a bit sentimental; the Jiang Zitan in the book was cool but gentle, not this icy and distant. She was enjoying this “exclusive treatment” only because of the history between them.

“It hurts, but I wouldn’t be at ease if you didn’t come back.”

The Village Cemetery

Unexpectedly, she saw a “familiar” face here! Upon seeing that face, her eyes widened instantly.

“That’s the thing I killed before it’s not dead!” Song Ying nearly screamed. Didn’t it die completely? What on earth is this, why is it so hard to kill!

The monster that can revive even when chopped into mincemeat? Tao Yitong realized what was trapping her. If it couldn’t be killed, she would just stuff it into Taotie’s stomach. Nothing was indigestible to that beast; it was very convenient for disposing of trash.

Taotie let out a roar of delight. Its phantom broke free from its restraints and manifested between heaven and earth. Tao Yitong grabbed the thing from the pool of blood and threw it out. Taotie opened its maw and devoured everything related to that monster.

Hai City

In a place where the sun never shines.

A body as decayed as a mummy slowly opened its eyes. One of its important offspring had been completely eradicated. Who? Who in this world still poses a threat to our clan?

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