“You’re saying that because the System was hit by an unknown attack, Yao-yao, who is now the System’s Controller, can’t wake up?” Que Tang sat anxiously by the bed, clutching Mu Yao’s hand.
“Meow~ Although the Supporting Female Lead attained the power of the Controller, there is still a higher-level Central Control System maintaining operations. This time, an external attack caused a collective system crash.” Little Mushroom stood before a whiteboard, wearing thick-rimmed glasses as he explained. “Currently, the Central Control System is barely holding things together, but if the Supporting Female Lead doesn't wake up soon, the entire System will collapse.”
“Then what’s the solution? A reboot? Installing antivirus software? Would Kingsoft Antivirus work? Or maybe 360 Security Guard?”
“Host, please calm down…” For the first time, Little Mushroom realized his Host was so ‘moe’ she was practically hopeless. He was so speechless he even forgot to say ‘meow.’
“How am I supposed to be calm?” Que Tang squeezed Mu Yao’s hand tighter. “I finally found her again…”
“Meow-wu… Host…” Little Mushroom lowered his head. Then, he shook it and looked up again. “Meow, it’s not like there isn’t a solution. Why am I getting depressed along with the Host?” He rolled his eyes in an adorable, cat-like fashion.
“A solution? How do we fix this?” Que Tang asked urgently.
“The Supporting Female Lead can’t wake up because her Soul Core was lost to another world during the attack. The Heroine—that’s you, Host—just needs to transmigrate to that world and retrieve the core like before. Meow~”
“I have a bad feeling about this…” Que Tang’s face twitched, but then she looked at Mu Yao lying on the bed. “Fine. Let’s go now.”
After a blur of motion, Que Tang’s vision refocused on a picturesque landscape of beautiful mountains and clear waters.
“This… isn’t… what I think it is, right?” She looked down at her simple but sturdy brown cloth garments, then at the only building in sight—a small wooden shack.
“Meow~ You’re exactly right! It’s exactly what the Host is thinking!” Little Mushroom nodded while clutching a piece of dried fish.
“Wait, wait, wait,” Que Tang shouted urgently. “So this time it’s a farming novel? Yao-yao’s Soul Core fell into this story?”
“Yes, meow~”
“Oh god, meow-wu…” Que Tang held her head in dismay. “Then… when will I meet Yao-yao?”
“In one year, meow.”
“Wait, why a year?” Que Tang caught the key point with precision.
“Because in the original story, the Heroine transmigrates to this world to farm. One day, while washing clothes by the river, she saves the ‘Demoness’ Supporting Female Lead—an enemy of the martial arts world who is being hunted by all the righteous sects. Having never been treated with such kindness, the Supporting Female Lead goes from suspicion to eventually trusting the Heroine as a sister. Unexpectedly, the Heroine later meets the Male Lead of the righteous path and falls in love at first sight. However, she feels her status is unworthy of him and can only pine for him in secret. Later, she discovers that the person the Male Lead is searching for is the Supporting Female Lead recovering in her home. But the Demoness is a master of martial arts; even while injured, the Male Lead cannot kill her. Initially, the Heroine doesn't want to betray her, but the Male Lead constantly brainwashes her, saying that eradicating evil is a righteous duty. Eventually, the Heroine is persuaded and helps the Male Lead trick the Supporting Female Lead into drinking poisoned medicine. Weakened by the poison, the Supporting Female Lead is taken to the Righteous Path Assembly and executed. The Heroine’s devotion is finally noticed by the Male Lead, and the two live happily ever after. Meow.”
“What kind of bastard author wrote that novel?!” The more Que Tang listened, the angrier she got. “How dare they treat my Yao-yao like that! If I ever meet that Male Lead, I’ll beat him to a pulp and then some.”
“Meow-wu~ Host, that’s not important. What matters is that you must win over the Supporting Female Lead and make her truly fall in love with you,” Little Mushroom reminded her.
Que Tang felt dejected, but then she remembered the one-year delay. “Wait, why do I have to wait a year? Can’t you arrange for us to meet tomorrow?”
“Because the Supporting Female Lead is naturally suspicious. If she discovers the Heroine is incompetent at farming, she would definitely kill her as a suspicious person on the very first day. Meow~”
Que Tang looked to the heavens in speechless frustration.
“So, Host, pick up your hoe and start your life as a self-sufficient farmer! Meow!” Little Mushroom bit into his dried fish and jumped onto the roof to bask in the sun.
Que Tang took a deep breath to suppress her urge to abuse the cat. Helplessly, she picked up a bucket and began tidying the house.
One year later.
“It’s today! It’s finally today! The plot can finally go online!” Que Tang was moved to tears as she carried a tub of laundry to the river.
“Meow-wu~ It’s been online the whole time. Host, don’t forget this is a farming novel.” Little Mushroom followed slowly at her heels.
“Who wants to read a farming novel? I’m here to save my Yao-yao, not to experience the joys of rural life. This past year, I’ve gathered herbs in the mountains, tilled the fields, raised chickens, and caught fish. Not to mention cooking and heating bathwater on a wood-fired earthen stove. If I went back to the real world, I could film a wilderness survival reality show.” Que Tang sighed with a weary heart. She reached the riverbank and began silently scrubbing the clothes. Exhausted as she was, the thought of seeing Mu Yao filled her with deep anticipation.
“Tell me, when will she float by?” Que Tang suddenly stopped scrubbing mid-way, looking at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle, asking Little Mushroom with a look of bright melancholy.
“Right now, meow.” Little Mushroom looked adorably toward the distance, where a flash of red clothing was drifting closer.
“Right now, huh…” Que Tang sighed softly, then… snapped back to reality. “What? Now?!” She squinted and indeed saw a woman drifting down the river, clutching tightly to a piece of driftwood.
“After all this time, you’re still such a scam! Couldn’t you have said something sooner?!” Anxiously, she hiked up her skirts. Although lifting one’s skirts was considered a scandalous act for a girl in this world, she wasn't planning on marrying anyone anyway. She rushed into the river, reached out to grab Mu Yao, and struggled to support her back to the small shack. After finally getting her onto the bed, Que Tang collapsed onto a wooden chair, exhausted.
“Meow-wu, because we’re afraid the Supporting Female Lead might wake up suddenly, we will switch to mental communication from now on.” Little Mushroom’s voice suddenly popped into her head.
“I didn't expect you to actually have some self-awareness for once. Tsk tsk. By the way, what is Mu Yao’s name in this world?” Que Tang remembered this crucial question and asked quickly.
“Hmph, I have always been this clever and sharp. The Supporting Female Lead’s name is Shuo Yue. Meow!”
“Shuo Yue… It really has that ‘Demonic Sect Enchantress’ vibe. Short and easy to remember.”
“Host, I suggest you handle the Supporting Female Lead’s injuries first. If her condition is delayed and she dies in this world, the System will collapse immediately. Meow~”
“What? Why didn't you say so earlier?!” Que Tang jumped up and rushed to the storage room to grab the change of clothes and medicinal herbs she had prepared long ago. Then she hurried to the kitchen to scoop a basin of hot water.
She carefully removed Shuo Yue’s clothes, using a damp cotton cloth to wipe her body down. She then applied the high-quality wound salve she had specifically gone into town to buy, wrapped the wounds in clean cloth strips, and dressed her in the new clothes she had prepared. By the time everything was finished, the sky outside had turned a dusky grey.
After tidying up, Que Tang ate a hasty dinner and went to brew medicine for Shuo Yue. Only after the medicine was administered did she lean against the bedside, watching Shuo Yue’s pale face with a sense of peace. Recalling how Mu Yao had lain motionless on the bed before the transmigration, her heart ached with uncontrollable pain.
She had thought that drinking the cold-dispelling medicine would break the fever, but Shuo Yue had been in the water for too long. Her heavy injuries and weakened state had allowed the chill to seep deep into her bones. Throughout the night, the fever fluctuated. Que Tang stayed by her side without closing her eyes, constantly using cool, damp cloths to lower her temperature. By the time Shuo Yue’s fever finally broke, the sky was beginning to turn grey with the dawn.
After confirming several times that the fever was truly gone, Que Tang finally relaxed and fell asleep slumped against the edge of the bed. Just as she drifted off, the person on the bed opened her eyes.
Shuo Yue turned her head. The moment her gaze landed on Que Tang, it flared with a dark, murderous intent. Looking down, she saw Que Tang holding her hand tightly without letting go, and her brow furrowed.
***
