“Qin Wan, this is your final chance from this master.”
With a crisp “ding,” a long sword wrapped in Tribulation-Transcending stage talismans fell before Qin Wanwan. A cold voice came from above without a ripple of emotion: “Either tell us the method to awaken Yueli, or—” the person above emphasized their tone, “—abolish your own cultivation. From this day forward, you and Wenxin Sect will have no connection whatsoever!”
Qin Wanwan dared not respond. She knelt on the ground trembling, staring at the array patterns specifically designed to seal cultivation and the sword meant for self-mutilation, listening to the surrounding voices crying out for her punishment, her mind buzzing in chaos.
Just before she opened her eyes, she had still been in the Immortal Realm, the legendary wealthiest, strongest, most beautiful, and noblest second-generation immortal—Jishan Nujun.
Of these four “mosts,” all were true except “strongest,” which was false.
She didn’t know if it was because she had transmigrated from the twenty-first century as a baby into the Immortal Realm, but from birth she had a weak constitution, found cultivation difficult, and was even predicted she wouldn’t live past three hundred years.
To save her, her parents decided to seek medicine in other worlds, but before leaving, worried she would be bullied, they bribed various heroes to establish her reputation as the “strongest second-generation immortal.”
This reputation did protect her peacefully for two hundred years, but who knew that a few years ago, someone named Jian Xingzhi suddenly ascended to the Immortal Realm—a reckless youth who claimed to prove the Dao through battle, beating up everyone of any fame in the Immortal Realm. In the end, he came for Qin Wanwan.
When they fought, how could Qin Wanwan be a match for this killing god? She was split into the ground with one sword strike. Not only that, but the opponent refused to believe this was her true strength and actually stepped on her head, pointing his sword at her threateningly: “If you don’t draw your sword again, I’ll level your mountain, smash your palace, and leave no living creature on your Jishan!”
At that moment, she was furious, agitated—she wanted to jump up and smash this person’s dog head.
But she could do nothing, only use her last bit of breath to cry out: “Help… me…”
And in that very moment, thunder crashed from the heavens, electric current crackling through her entire body, and then—she arrived here.
This was…
Qin Wanwan thought somewhat dazedly—had she transmigrated again?
“This body is called Qin Wan,” before she could get a definitive answer, accompanied by the crackling of electric current, a cold mechanical voice sounded in Qin Wanwan’s mind. “She is the malicious female supporting character in the novel ‘The Strongest Mary Sue.'”
Along with the system came a flood of memory images.
“She was originally the young miss of a famous cultivation world family, engaged since childhood to Jun Shu, the young master of Lecheng. After an accident, her family was massacred. City Lord Jun brought his young son to rescue her in time, sending her to Wenxin Sect to become the personal disciple of Sect Master Shen Zhiming. Wenxin Sect treated her extremely well. She regarded Shen Zhiming as a father, viewed her senior martial brother Song Xinian as a brother, and fell in love at first sight with Jun Shu who had saved her. To be worthy of Jun Shu and not disappoint her master, she diligently cultivated from childhood, entering Golden Core stage before the age of fifteen.”
“But at fifteen, the female lead Su Yueli appeared. She was originally just a farmer’s daughter. After her village was massacred by the demon race, she was adopted by Shen Zhiming and brought up the mountain. When Su Yueli came to Wenxin Sect, all the men fell in love with her—Shen Zhiming, Song Xinian, Jun Shu all revolved around her. Qin Wan was furious and resentful. To attract Jun Shu’s and her senior brother’s attention, she became self-destructive, increasingly willful, even buying a male companion named Jian Zhiyan and bringing him back to the mountain, trying to provoke Jun Shu’s jealousy. But all this only pushed those around her further away.”
“In an accident, Qin Wan and Su Yueli encountered danger together. They were attacked by an azure dragon. Qin Wan pushed Su Yueli off a cliff to save her, then fought the azure dragon for ten days herself, finally consuming the dragon’s core to survive. When she returned to Wenxin Sect alone, she discovered Jun Shu had already saved Su Yueli, but because Su Yueli remained unconscious, not a single person from Wenxin Sect came to search for her.”
“Not only that, they saw from Su Yueli’s Sushi Zhu that Qin Wan had pushed her off the cliff, and believed that Su Yueli’s unconscious state was Qin Wan’s doing. Thus, without distinguishing right from wrong, as soon as Qin Wan returned to the sect, they brought her to Shenming Platform, intending to expel her from the sect.”
“To protect herself, Qin Wan revealed the matter of the azure dragon. Unexpectedly, upon learning she possessed the dragon’s core, Shen Zhiming actually cut it from her living body to save Su Yueli, damaging Qin Wan’s Golden Core and making ascension impossible for her.”
“From then on, Qin Wan completely turned dark, siding with the boss, becoming the novel’s first malicious female supporting character, repeatedly fighting against the female lead and committing numerous evils.”
“As those around her gradually left, Qin Wan only had the male companion Jian Zhiyan she had bought. Jian Zhiyan repeatedly advised her to let go of past grudges and cultivate the righteous path, but Qin Wan refused to release her obsession, repeatedly committing evil acts until finally, she was besieged by Su Yueli and the Immortal Alliance at Xuanshan. Jian Zhiyan blocked a sword for her and died, while she herself was pierced through the heart by Jun Shu’s sword.”
“Before dying, she finally saw her fate as a supporting character and made two wishes.”
“First, to defeat the female lead and achieve the Great Dao.”
“Second, to do everything in her power to protect Jian Zhiyan.”
After the system finished speaking, past memories and present gradually merged into one. The headache nearly disappeared, and cold sweat soaked through Qin Wanwan’s clothes.
Qin Wanwan looked at the transparent screen displaying before her, written in standard script:
Task One: Preserve the dragon’s core and sever all ties with Wenxin Sect.
Accept this task?
Yes / No
The word “Yes” was enlarged, brightened, and constantly flashing—anyone could tell which answer the questioner hoped for.
“Accept the task. Complete the original host’s wishes and you can return to the Immortal Realm,” the system spoke coldly. “Don’t waste time.”
Qin Wanwan dared not speak. Like a quail, she cautiously raised her head and quickly scanned her surroundings.
First in view, closest to her left, was a man lying on the ground. He wore a white robe embroidered with plum blossoms, covered by a layer of thin gauze, his long hair scattered behind him, and on his exposed ankle was a flame-pattern brand representing his slave status.
This was Jian Zhiyan, who had just taken a palm strike from Jun Shu in Qin Wanwan’s place and collapsed directly here.
Whatever that palm strike from Jun Shu was, Jian Zhiyan seemed not to have recovered yet. He lay on the ground like a fish being periodically electrocuted, intermittently convulsing, seemingly in great pain.
Directly behind Jian Zhiyan was a white jade platform. Sitting on it was a purple-robed youth, his Daoist robe embroidered with cranes, his face jade-like.
He appeared to be in his twenties but carried the calm aloofness of someone long in a position of power. This was the master who had raised Qin Wanwan with his own hands, the Wenxin Sect Master, Shen Zhiming.
Behind Shen Zhiming stood a man carrying a broad blade, wearing tight-fitting clothes, with a burly physique and stern, resolute features. He looked at Qin Wanwan with worry—clearly the only senior martial brother in Wenxin Sect who felt sorry for her, Song Xinian.
To Song Xinian’s left sat Qin Wan’s fiancé Jun Shu. He lazily reclined against a cushion of pure gold white fox fur, idly twirling a jade flute in his hand, looking at Qin Wanwan with a smile full of coldness in his eyes.
Following Qin Wanwan’s gaze, the system created atmosphere on the side, providing cold commentary.
“What is there left to hesitate about? This is your new world.”
Its tone was cold enough to chill the heart: “As a malicious supporting character, in this world your master will abandon you, your senior brother will despise you, your beloved will personally kill you. In this world, the only one who truly cares for you is that useless soft rice-eating man beside you who fainted from crying.”
Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but glance at Jian Zhiyan again, discovering his convulsions had become more severe. She vaguely felt he seemed to be trying to get up, but his movements were so weak she thought it might be an illusion.
“So you must learn to be ruthless to others, and even more ruthless to yourself. Only then can you ‘contend with the heavens for your fate’ and defeat the female lead!”
“Come!” The “Yes” on the system panel flashed even more prominently, and the system’s voice couldn’t help but become excited. “Pick up the sword, stab it into your own body, and tell them loudly—from today onward, you and they sever all ties, with no connection whatsoever!”
Qin Wanwan said nothing. She swallowed, sorted through all the circumstances, confirmed she had no other options, then trembling, tried hard to control her fearful expression and crawled forward to pick up the sword on the ground.
The moment she grasped the sword, the “Yes” before her eyes lit up as if clicked, the entire page instantly vanishing, her mind filled with the system’s loading sounds.
“Congratulations on successfully binding the ‘Female Lead Counterattack System.’ Starting today, system number 3838438 will provide you with the highest quality counterattack service, create the most bold and awesome persona for you, and open a terrifyingly powerful counterattack life.”
“Now please follow instructions and complete the first step of system activation: stab yourself, and shout the slogan loudly: ‘From today onward, Qin Wan and Wenxin Sect sever all ties, with no connection whatsoever!'”
This action was very simple.
Qin Wanwan encouraged herself. She stood up trembling and raised her head to look at everyone.
It’s fine, very simple—just stab.
She continuously built herself up mentally. The wind blew, her blood-stained clothes swaying and rustling in the wind. One person, one sword standing at the center of Shenming Platform, looking like a blood-stained crane—proud and beautiful.
The disciples’ shouts for punishment suddenly quieted. Everyone froze, staring at Qin Wan on the platform.
Everyone knew that Wenxin Sect was Qin Wan’s home. Qin Wan’s entire heart was devoted to Shen Zhiming, Jun Shu, and Song Xinian. Previously, she would rather die than leave Wenxin Sect. Now that Shen Zhiming was forcing her with self-abolishment of cultivation and expulsion from the sect, would Qin Wan really rather become someone who left Wenxin Sect than save Su Yueli?
Did she truly not want to save her, or was she unable to save her?
Was it really Qin Wan who caused Su Yueli’s unconscious state?
For a moment, everyone wavered.
Meanwhile, Qin Wanwan kept encouraging herself internally:
It’s fine, raise the sword, summon the courage from when she got vaccinations—she was very brave! Very strong!
Thinking this, she tremblingly raised the sword, pointing the blade toward herself.
Everyone around watched her. Shen Zhiming frowned, Song Xinian looked worried, Jun Shu watched Qin Wanwan with interest, while Jian Zhiyan lying beside them began trembling with small convulsions.
“Stab!” The system saw her hesitating and encouraged her. “Don’t be afraid! The sword pierces through, the system sits within! With me here, don’t panic!”
“Um…”
Qin Wanwan thought of the sword strike Jian Xingzhi had given her before transmigrating. The pain made her still experience phantom limb sensations. She stared at this long sword bearing Tribulation-Transcending stage curse arts and really couldn’t help finally hinting to the system: “If I stab it in, will it hurt?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” The system was puzzled by her question. “Who doesn’t hurt when stabbed?”
“You…” Seeing the system wouldn’t take the hint, Qin Wanwan could only be direct. “Don’t you have some special ability, like pain perception blocking or something?”
“You’re a counterattacking female lead—what do you need pain perception blocking for?” This system number 38’s tone was full of disdain, then it raised its voice. “Come, stab it in, show them how ruthless you are!”
It seemed this system not only lacked pain perception blocking but also intended to supervise her in creating a female lead persona.
Qin Wanwan had the illusion of boarding a pirate ship. She stared at the sword tip, breathing rapidly. After a long while, she finally gathered her courage, raising her hand to stab herself. But just as she moved, she suddenly heard someone shout: “Wait!”
Hearing this, Qin Wanwan instantly stopped. She looked up excitedly to see the speaker from the high platform, looking at her with a smile.
“Wan’er,” Jun Shu on the golden seat twirled his jade flute and rose leisurely.
Qin Wanwan looked at him blankly, watching the white-robed young master descend the steps one by one, walking toward her. With lips parting, he used a gentle tone to describe an extremely cruel scene: “I never expected you would truly rather endure this intestine-piercing, stomach-rotting suffering than save Yueli.”
The moment the words “intestine-piercing, stomach-rotting” appeared, Qin Wanwan froze.
The system quickly comforted her: “Don’t listen to his nonsense. Just close your eyes and stab—it won’t hurt at all.”
“This sword carries the curse art of Daoist Tongzhen. With one stab, those curse markings will crawl like insects from your wound all the way into your extraordinary meridians. They will absorb your cultivation along the way. The pain will be like shattered bones, even worse than being torn apart by chariots.”
As Jun Shu spoke, he slowly walked to Qin Wanwan’s side. Hearing this, imagining those images, Qin Wanwan immediately broke out in cold sweat.
The system couldn’t help but curse: “Why is this person so annoying, blabbering on and on.”
“Moreover, it won’t hurt for just a moment. After all, Wan’er is at Golden Core stage—these curse markings will need three to five days to consume it all, right? During these three to five days, the wound won’t heal, blood won’t stop flowing, the curse markings will crawl along your meridians all the way into your internal organs…”
Qin Wanwan’s eyes went blank. Holding the sword, her legs went weak, and with a “thump” she knelt on the ground. Jun Shu smiled slightly and leaned close to Qin Wanwan’s ear: “By then, with intestines pierced and stomach rotting, your internal organs festering…”
“Master!”
Qin Wanwan suddenly had an epiphany. What system, what bullshit counterattacking female lead, what female lead persona—those who achieve great things can bend and stretch. All roads lead to Rome—why must she choose such a painful method?
Being human, happiness is most important. Having the dragon’s core extracted by hand is painful, stabbing herself with this sword would be even more painful. Surely there must be a better solution that satisfies everyone?
There must be!
Qin Wanwan’s brain operated at a speed exceeding the highest level of both her lifetimes. Even the system was stunned: “You… what are you planning to do…”
“This disciple knows her error,” she raised the sword, looking sincerely at Shen Zhiming on the high seat. “Give me a chance to reform. I will never again…”
Before she finished speaking, Qin Wanwan saw white robes flash before her eyes. Someone suddenly pulled her up, half-embracing her, grasping her hand and steadily drawing a sword light.
The sword still carried Shen Zhiming’s curse art. This fierce slash actually forced Jun Shu to retreat three zhang. Qin Wanwan hadn’t even had time to react to what happened when she felt the sword tip turn, then without hesitation, decisively, fiercely and resolutely—it stabbed into her body!
Qin Wanwan’s knees went weak, and she knelt back on the ground.
She stared blankly downward, seeing the sword hilt protruding from her stomach. A hand with distinct knuckles held her hand on the sword hilt. Blood flowed from her stomach, staining both overlapped hands, then dripped along the sword tip onto the white wide sleeves hanging down to the ground, complementing the plum blossoms embroidered on the white sleeves.
The sword pierced through both their bodies. The man embraced her from behind, his black hair falling from both sides like a curtain, separating a space for her, as if protecting her in his arms.
“No need for Daoist to trouble yourself,” the man’s voice carried the clarity unique to youth, yet also possessed the cold composure only found after long battles. Word by word, he spoke the line she hadn’t had time to say: “From today onward, Qin Wan and all of you sever all ties, with no connection whatsoever!”