Chapter 4 - All The Protagonists I’ve Scummed Came To Me For Revenge

Ye Yueru obediently paused her hand, her bright eyes fixated on Xia Yu. There was no trace of anger from being rebuked; instead, her face displayed more delight than anything else. What kind of beginning is this?! Could it be that the system has kindly reverted her personality back to a saintly mode? Xia Yu pushed Ye Yueru's hand away. Ye Yueru did not resist, merely focusing her unwavering gaze on Xia Yu, amplifying Xia Yu's pressure. "Junior Sister..." "..." A tremor ran through Xia Yu's heart as she stammered, retreating half a step, "I’m not your junior sister. You must have mistaken me for someone else." Though Xia Yu was unsure about the current situation, she wasn't ready to acknowledge her identity. She needed to gather more information to ensure she wasn't making any missteps on her path. Ye Yueru's expression began to change. Watching her face turn increasingly menacing, Xia Yu couldn't help but shiver and retreated even further, her body tense and uncontrollable. "Junior Sister, are you...unforgiving of me?" Ye Yueru's voice was gentle, but she took a few steps closer to Xia Yu, who retreated in fear. Observing Xia Yu's retreat, Ye Yueru advanced, forced her into a corner. Xia Yu collapsed, hugging herself and crouching down like a frightened little beast, burying her head and trembling slightly. Seeing this, Ye Yueru fell silent. "Junior Sister..." Her voice trembling, barely audible: "You’ve mistaken me for someone else." I must have mistaken her. Ye Yueru couldn't help but laugh. Xia Yu’s face and voice were etched in her heart, unforgettable for a lifetime. Recollecting something, Ye Yueru’s expression improved slightly, and she said, "Fine, since you deny it, I won't force you." "Since you insist you are not her, can you tell me your name then?" Xia Yu dared not speak. Ye Yueru's expression didn’t change as she crouched down, looking at the shivering Xia Yu with a cold chuckle, her voice suddenly sharp, "Speak!" It was a single word, yet Ye Yueru's tone was full of murderous intent. Xia Yu, already weak and unwell, had exhausted her energy both physically and mentally from the encounter and strategies against Ye Yueru. Ye Yueru’s stern order hit at just the right moment; without thinking, Xia Yu closed her eyes and collapsed to the side. As Xia Yu suddenly hit the ground, Ye Yueru was reminded of the day she had held a blood-covered Xia Yu in her arms, her heart skipping a beat as she reached to catch her. Touching Xia Yu's forehead, Ye Yueru discovered her abnormally high temperature, realizing why the woman from the Qingcheng Sword Sect was delivering medicine, which Xia Yu had thrown away—a medicinal broth. She cradled Xia Yu's body, laying her onto her bed, her face as dark as night. "Someone, come!" "What are your orders, Sect Leader?" "Bring Li Qingcao here." The person outside the hall responded promptly, leaving hurriedly, not daring to delay, revealing the weight of Ye Yueru's accumulated authority. Xia Yu’s clothes were soiled and unwearable, and for convenience, she wore the attire of the woman from the Qingcheng Sword Sect after washing up. Looking at the clothes, Ye Yueru couldn’t help recalling the scene where Xia Yu pleaded for that person, feeling displeased. She ripped the outer coat Xia Yu wore to shreds and discarded it on the ground. What is the relationship between them? Why would Xia Yu plead for her? Ye Yueru's eyes held a complex emotion as she clutched Xia Yu's hand, feeling the familiar warmth before narrowing her eyes. Soon, Li Qingcao was brought to the Wind and Moon Pavilion. When she entered, Ye Yueru was seated by the bed, holding the hand of the woman lying there. A tremor ran through Li Qingcao's heart, and she dared not look directly nor look too much at the woman lying there. "Come, check on her." Li Qingcao, who was once a friend, was now just a subordinate, with no friendship left between them. Ye Yueru would not reveal her heart, and Li Qingcao feared Ye Yueru’s unpredictable moods and lethal tendencies. Ye Yueru was even more terrifying and mercurial than Xia Yu once was. Li Qingcao approached, and as she took the pulse, she couldn't avoid seeing the person on the bed—it was Xia Yu!! But isn’t she dead? Li Qingcao’s pupils widened, displaying shock and bewilderment, remembering witnessing Ye Yueru stabbing Xia Yu through with her own eyes! "Don’t look what you shouldn’t." Ye Yueru’s voice was calm, yet Li Qingcao knew it was a warning. Recalling those who offended Ye Yueru and were punished, she kept her head down, concealing her shock and disbelief. "...Just a fever and fright, nothing severe. A few days of medication should suffice for recovery." Li Qingcao hesitated before adding, "However, she’s very weak, and may need regular nutritional supplements to regain her strength after recovery." "Go prepare the medicine." "Understood, I shall take my leave." Li Qingcao dared not ask another question, completing Ye Yueru’s tasks, and fled the palace after receiving permission. Throughout, Ye Yueru hadn’t spared Li Qingcao a glance, her eyes affixed to Xia Yu without a moment's departure. I won’t make such a mistake again. Only you! Only you are what I desire! I will never let you leave my side again! Ye Yueru grasped Xia Yu's hand tightly. In her eyes remained a frightful, daunting madness. After what felt like an eternity, Xia Yu slowly regained consciousness from her foggy daze. Her head throbbed as if pierced by needles. As she opened her eyes, Ye Yueru was there, sitting by her side. Seemingly taken aback by Ye Yueru's presence, Xia Yu stared at her in surprise. "You're awake," Ye Yueyang said, retrieving the medicine set aside. She gestured to Xia Yu, "Come and drink this." Xia Yu pressed her lips together, her entire demeanor exuding resistance. "Come," Ye Yueru insisted with an unyielding tone. Reluctantly, Xia Yu moved closer. As she reached for the bowl, she was surprised when Ye Yueru didn't hand it to her. Instead, Ye Yueru scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to Xia Yu's lips. This was truly... Seeing her reluctance, Ye Yueru snorted coldly. Not daring to delay any longer, Xia Yu resigned herself to the situation, closing her eyes and swallowing the medicine. The concoction was still warm, and Xia Yu had no idea how long it had been since it was prepared or how long she had been unconscious. Ye Yueru's attitude was unexpectedly gentle. Both remained silent as they finished the bowl of medicine—Xia Yu drinking and Ye Yueru feeding, maintaining this routine until the last drop was gone. "You should rest a bit more. I'll come to call you later for a meal," Ye Yueru said, standing up. Xia Yu watched her leave. During Xia Yu's unconsciousness, Ye Yueru had arranged for someone to prepare the medicine. Upon awakening, she had also inquired Li Qingcao about Xia Yu’s condition. Li Qingcao reported that her meridians were intact with no signs of past ruptures, and besides being physically weak, Xia Yu had no other ailments. Li Qingcao harbored doubts that this wasn’t the former leader, but how could two people be so similar? If she truly was the former leader, then coming back to life after death, with a healed body, might not be impossible. The news of her healthy body was what Ye Yueru wanted to hear; the rest she cared little for. As for Xia Yu having sound meridians and bones, she had even less interest to pursue. She wouldn't let Xia Yu practice martial arts again—even if it was certain that Xia Yu couldn’t surpass her. She wanted to prevent any chance of incidents. She would protect Xia Yu. Never would she let any harm come to her. All Xia Yu needed was to stay there. Feigning amnesia, Xia Yu did not dare to move randomly. When Ye Yueru told her to rest, she rested; when told to eat, she complied. Xia Yu was entirely compliant. Ye Yueru did not bring up the subject of the junior sister anymore. This was where Ye Yueru slept. In the evening, she stayed and shared the bed, wrapping an arm around Xia Yu. Ye Yueru's presence enveloped Xia Yu, her body tense. Xia Yu now understood how she once felt when carelessly playing with Ye Yueru before. No, she felt even more uncomfortable than Ye Yueru had felt back then. At least Ye Yueru had thoughts full of revenge, while Xia Yu only feared Ye Yueru's potential actions now. "If I had known it would come to this, I should have transformed my character instead of teasing her." Xia Yu felt regretful, but even more confused by Ye Yueru’s actions. She had pushed Ye Yueru to drastic changes, yet Ye Yueru was not responding with violence—it was baffling. Could Ye Yueru really have developed feelings for me, causing the shock of my death at her hands to change her so drastically that... "Not sleeping yet?" Ye Yueru's lazy voice whispered close, pulling Xia Yu closer, a soft satisfaction coursing through her when feeling Xia Yu quiet in her arms. Her head leaned towards Xia Yu’s ear, speaking softly, "Or are you waiting for me to do something?" Xia Yu remained still, eyes shut, without responding. Ye Yueru chuckled softly, the complexity in her gaze palpable. Having someone lost returned to her arms left her uncertain how she managed to feel content with mere holding. After nuzzling Xia Yu’s cheek, sensing Xia Yu’s tension, Ye Yueru refrained from further actions, simply saying, "Sleep." The system is at least somewhat benevolent; from past experiences, she found herself in overwhelmingly advantageous roles whenever she transmigrated. Knowing the plot, she had absolute authority and power, acting with impunity without concern. Thus, she never paid much, nor was there fear on her part—it was on the protagonist’s side. But now, positions reversed, and she must stay close to the protagonist. The stark contrast was hard for Xia Yu to accept, and she could no longer view everything from an amused, omniscient perspective. No omniscient perspective remains; these worlds broken by her previous actions have twisted beyond recognition. The terrifying part now is understanding how Ye Yueru, twisted by her own actions, truly thinks and operates. Ye Yueru embraced Xia Yu, who felt prickly and uncomfortable, yet had no choice but to endure.