Chapter 5:

Lin Jiujiu’s last memory was of Liu Junzhuo’s merciless gaze. The sword Jingzhe pierced through her chest, the pain forcing her to her knees as she clutched Liu Junzhuo’s sleeve in disbelief.

“Jun… Junzhuo.”

“You disgust me.” Liu Junzhuo shook off her hand and walked step by step toward Xue Ying in the distance. He kissed the back of Xue Ying’s hand and knelt humbly before her.

“Senior Sister, I’ve already killed her. Please… comfort me, won’t you?”

Lin Jiujiu pressed a hand to the wound in her chest, blood seeping between her fingers. Her vision blurred as fragments of memories with Liu Junzhuo flashed through her mind.

She had loved Junzhuo so deeply—from the very first moment she saw him. She had been willing to give him everything—resources, treasures, even her body. But why wouldn’t he spare her even a glance? What was so special about Xue Ying? She was supposed to be dead, yet she had returned to steal Junzhuo away, only to discard him like trash.

She hated Xue Ying—hated her to the bone. A disciple of the Tai Xuan Sect entangled with demonic cultivators—she was nothing but a vile enchantress, a monster who brought ruin!

She deserved to die. That wretched Xue Ying deserved to die!

“Junzhuo…”

Lin Jiujiu’s voice faded as she weakly reached toward Liu Junzhuo’s retreating figure. She was so cold… so unbearably cold…

The biting chill jolted Lin Jiujiu awake from her nightmare. She stared blankly at the flowing silk canopy above her, taking a moment to regain her senses.

She had dreamed again.

She was Lin Jiujiu, daughter of the Tai Chu Sect’s supervising elder, and also a character in *The Great Dao*—a mere obstacle in the love story between Xue Ying and Liu Junzhuo, the villainous supporting female lead.

She had never understood why Xue Ying was so universally adored, why luck always favored her. No matter what Xue Ying did, someone always defended her. Even after falling into demonic cultivation, people still risked their lives for her.

And Lin Jiujiu? She had foolishly fallen for Liu Junzhuo, driven to madness in her rivalry with Xue Ying.

But now, reborn, Lin Jiujiu understood. She was merely a supporting character in a story, meant to add color to someone else’s life.

Someone else’s… Tears slipped unbidden from Lin Jiujiu’s eyes. In her past life, in her obsession with defeating Xue Ying, she had recklessly used forbidden sect treasures, causing her father to suffer in her stead—wounds that ultimately claimed his life. Later, seeking vengeance, she had pushed Xue Ying into the Sword Forge, only for her eldest martial brother to perish in the flames trying to save Xue Ying, his soul obliterated beyond reincarnation.

Father… Eldest Martial Brother…

The memories overwhelmed her, and Lin Jiujiu broke into sobs. All her loved ones had died because of her, yet even after their deaths, she had still groveled before Liu Junzhuo, content to be nothing more than a replacement.

In the end, she was expelled from the Tai Chu Sect and met her death at Liu Junzhuo’s hands. She had deserved it—every bit of suffering was her own doing.

But this life… Lin Jiujiu wiped her tears and smiled faintly. She touched the jade bells hanging from the canopy, taking in the familiar furnishings of her room, the recent memory of her father’s voice, her eldest martial brother’s presence. She hadn’t yet made enemies with Xue Ying or met Liu Junzhuo. There was still time—everything could still be changed.

She had spent a lifetime hating, resenting, and loving. Now, granted a second chance by the heavens, she vowed never to repeat the mistakes of her past. She would stay far away from Xue Ying and Liu Junzhuo, living a peaceful life.

She would serve her father dutifully, protect her eldest martial brother, and be a disciplined disciple of the Tai Chu Sect.

Outside, her maidservants whispered among themselves. Seeing that Lin Jiujiu was awake, one hurried in to complain, “Miss, that Xue Ying from the Tai Xuan Sect actually came to our Tai Chu Sect! Doesn’t she know today is our disciple recruitment day? Is she here to cause trouble?”

“Exactly!” another maid in a goose-yellow robe chimed in. “It’s chaos outside. You wouldn’t believe it—Qingling Junior Sister turned on Huaijin Senior Brother just because of something Xue Ying said!”

Lin Jiujiu felt drained, the nightmare leaving her temples throbbing and her face pale. Pressing a hand to her forehead, she regarded the two maids who had served her since childhood. In her past life, she had gotten them killed by Liu Junzhuo.

“Enough!” Lin Jiujiu snapped.

The maids froze. Lin Jiujiu had always been soft-spoken, never harsh. Her sudden outburst startled them into kneeling and begging forgiveness.

Exhaling, Lin Jiujiu decided to assert her authority. “From now on, no one is to mention Xue Ying in my presence, nor are you to provoke her. If I find out otherwise, you will be expelled from the Tai Chu Sect.”

The maid in yellow protested, “But Miss, that Xue Ying has wronged you—”

“Silence!” Lin Jiujiu cut her off sharply. “I won’t hesitate to make an example of you first.”

The maids fell silent. Lin Jiujiu then helped them up gently, softening her tone. “Just hearing her name makes me upset—my chest aches, I lose my appetite. If Father notices, he’ll punish you both. The three of us grew up together, as close as sisters. Why let an outsider come between us?”

Moved to tears, the maids vowed never to speak of Xue Ying again and instead focused on attending to Lin Jiujiu.

Relieved, Lin Jiujiu resolved to stay secluded in Bihuo Peak for the next few days, avoiding Xue Ying entirely.

But barely half a cup of spirit tea later, the maid returned, looking uneasy. “Miss… Xue Ying from the Tai Xuan Sect requests an audience. Should we let her in?”

Lin Jiujiu’s grip on her handkerchief tightened, her face paling. Had she encountered Xue Ying during the disciple recruitment in her past life? The memory was too distant. Now, with Xue Ying suddenly at her doorstep, Lin Jiujiu bit her lip. She reminded herself not to fear—this was the Tai Chu Sect. Xue Ying wouldn’t dare act recklessly here.

“A guest is a guest. Let her in.” Lin Jiujiu interlaced her fingers, steadying herself, then instructed the other maid, “Take my jade token and fetch Eldest Martial Brother.”

Once prepared, Lin Jiujiu pressed a hand to her chest, bolstering her resolve.

She could do this.

—

Xue Ying hadn’t expected Lin Jiujiu to agree so quickly. Normally, Lin Jiujiu would have left her waiting for hours. But then again…

Xue Ying touched her face. Maybe without Guanhuo, Lin Jiujiu didn’t dare act recklessly.

This was good news for Xue Ying—it increased her chances of obtaining Chixing Dust and Wuyu Rain.

The maid emerged from the formation, inviting Xue Ying to Qixia Pavilion. Since Lin Jiujiu couldn’t cultivate, Bihuo Peak was lined with formations for her convenience. Xue Ying stepped carefully onto the formation, eyeing the high-grade spirit stones embedded along the edges with envy.

The life of the wealthy was truly effortless.

Bihuo Peak was eternally spring-like, warm and lush. Qixia Pavilion, Lin Jiujiu’s residence, was extravagantly built—rare Ningxin Stones, fought over elsewhere, were used as floor heating, while priceless mermaid silk served as window drapes. And that was without mentioning Lin Jiujiu’s daily attire, meals, and possessions—all treasures that would be enshrined in the Tai Xuan Sect.

Before she even reached the door, Xue Ying spotted Lin Jiujiu. Frail since birth, Lin Jiujiu stood delicately in the breeze, her slender waist seeming ready to snap, her sickly pallor lending her a fragile beauty that made men ache to protect her.

Honestly, part of why Lin Jiujiu was the supporting female lead was because she resembled the heroine, Xue Ying, too much.

Both were delicate, but Xue Ying leaned toward sweetness, while Lin Jiujiu embodied a sickly grace.

Having not seen each other in so long, the silence between them was awkward. After a prolonged stare, Xue Ying finally spoke. “The wind is strong out here. Should we go inside?”

Lin Jiujiu nodded silently. They entered the pavilion, but the tension remained. Xue Ying sipped the rare spirit tea cautiously, stealing glances at Lin Jiujiu.

The girl was oddly subdued today, lacking her usual arrogance. She sat quietly, almost like the Lin Jiujiu from the original novel.

Xue Ying dismissed the thought. She had transmigrated—how could there also be a reborn supporting character? More likely, Lin Jiujiu was wary of the Diting’s Truth and didn’t dare misbehave. Cutting to the chase, Xue Ying spoke.

“Junior Sister, I wish to forge Guanhuo. Ziya Junior Brother said only you possess Chixing Dust and Wuyu Rain. I’ve come to request them. If you grant me this favor, I will repay you handsomely in the future.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the maid beside her exploded. “Chixing Dust and Wuyu Rain are priceless treasures! You can’t just demand them—that’s outright robbery!”

“Zhen’er.” Lin Jiujiu finally spoke, reprimanding the maid softly before turning to Xue Ying. Her gaze flickered away almost immediately. “If Senior Sister Xue Ying needs them… I will give them to you.”

Xue Ying exhaled in relief, about to thank her when—

*Ding.*

That damned system chimed in again.

**[Reborn Lin Jiujiu only wishes to stay far from Xue Ying and Liu Junzhuo, to never entangle with them again. She’s tired—truly tired.]**

Xue Ying: “…”

She’d forgotten—Bihuo Peak’s spiritual energy was denser than elsewhere.

Lin Jiujiu’s jade cup clattered to the floor, her face draining of color. She stared at Xue Ying in horror.

In the tense silence, Xue Ying forced a laugh. “Junior Sister, what a… fortuitous encounter.”

Lin Jiujiu swayed on her feet. Spotting Duyi Zhou approaching, she cried out, “Eldest Martial Brother, run!”

Duyi Zhou had just returned from the disciple recruitment, his crane-feather cloak still draped over his shoulders. Seeing the maids shielding a terrified Lin Jiujiu, he glared at Xue Ying. “What are you doing?”

Xue Ying scratched her cheek sheepishly. “Well…”

**[Duyi Zhou would never forget that night—when his sworn brother and the woman he loved most betrayed him behind his back…]**

Duyi Zhou drew his sword instantly.

“GET OUT!!!”