Chapter 1: There is a plot kill
Six years.
Six whole years.
Cheng Mo—no, she should be called Shuyue now, the Misty Moon Fairy—stood at the peak of Startled Swan Peak, shrouded in clouds and mist, gazing down at the vast plaza paved with white jade that stretched all the way to the mountain gate.
A chill surged from the base of her spine to the crown of her head, colder than the perennial snow that capped this peak.
The plaza below buzzed with activity.
Today was the Canglan Sword Sect’s decennial ceremony for accepting disciples, drawing young boys and girls from the cultivation world, all hoping to leap through the dragon gate.
Spiritual energy swirled, immortal cranes cried out, a scene of celestial prosperity.
But to Shuyue, it was no different from a death warrant.
Clad in a flowing moon-white immortal dress, her face veiled by a faint layer of spiritual mist, only the vague outline of her peerless beauty was visible, along with those eyes… eyes that, to the assembled cultivators, appeared cold and aloof.
Only Shuyue knew that behind the mist, her pupils were trembling, desperately struggling to maintain composure.
‘Help! Today! It’s today!’
She, Cheng Mo, an unlucky transmigrator, had the misfortune of reincarnating into the game as the so-called “Misty Moon Fairy,” a lofty title masking a vicious NPC destined to serve as a foil to highlight the true heroine, Wanqing’s kindness and beauty—only to be crushed to dust by Wanqing and her harem in the end!
Recalling these past six years, she had lived in constant fear, never daring to rest.
Relying on her scant memories of the game’s early plot and cultivation techniques, coupled with this body’s decent aptitude, she had cultivated like her life depended on it—driving her fellow disciples to tears with her relentless drive.
She had turned the “Misty Moon Fairy” title into the top figure among the younger generation of the cultivation world and even secured an elder’s position ahead of schedule.
For what? To gain enough strength before the main storyline began, to steer clear of those chosen ones and cling to her little life!
She had planned it perfectly: as an elder, she’d breeze through today’s selection ceremony, avoid looking at any key characters, take no disciples tied to the main plot, and cut off all connections from the source! Flawless!
But…
Shuyue’s fingertips trembled slightly within her wide sleeves.
Why was her heart pounding so hard?
Why did she sense something slipping out of her control?
Below, the selection process had concluded, and new disciples were stepping forward one by one to be evaluated by the peak masters and elders.
She wasn’t alone on the high platform; several fellow elders sat beside her.
“Tch, this batch of seedlings isn’t bad. A few have exceptional physiques, perfect for my body cultivation lineage.”
A robust voice sounded nearby, brimming with unmasked satisfaction.
It was Elder Xuanshi, in charge of body cultivation, stroking his chin as his eyes gleamed at a few sturdy youths below.
Across from him, Elder Yuheng, dressed in green and fanning himself with a folding fan, chuckled lightly.
“Brother Xuanshi, selecting disciples isn’t just about physique. Heart and comprehension matter more.
Look at that girl in blue—her soul is clear and pure, a natural talent for talisman crafting. She’s destined for my Tianxuan Peak.”
“Talismans? What good are those sneaky tricks?” Elder Xuanshi snorted.
“A true cultivator breaks through with raw power, shattering all techniques with a single fist!”
“Barbarian logic,” Elder Yuheng scoffed, fanning himself more leisurely.
“Sister Shuyue, don’t you agree? Oh, I forgot—your swordsmanship is unparalleled. You probably don’t care for our petty squabbles.”
Caught off guard by the sudden mention, Shuyue: “…”
She sat as still as a mountain, not even shifting her gaze, though the corner of her mouth twitched behind the spiritual mist.
‘Petty squabbles? Argue all you want, just leave me out of it! I just want to be an invisible backdrop!’
Another elder, Qingxu, with a refined face and calmer demeanor, mediated.
“Enough, brothers, don’t lose decorum in front of the new disciples.
That said, Sister Shuyue’s peak remains empty of disciples.
Perhaps today you’ll find one or two worthy successors for your sword techniques.”
Elder Qingxu’s tone was gentle, with a teasing warmth.
“I wonder what kind of prodigy could catch the eye of our Canglan Sword Sect’s top fairy?”
The other elders chuckled, their gazes subtly sweeping over Shuyue.
Clearly, this youngest elder, with her outrageously high cultivation and near-reclusive demeanor, was a shared point of curiosity.
Their looks felt like needles to Shuyue.
Barely maintaining her cold persona, she let out a soft “Mm” from her throat, her voice steady and emotionless, not daring to say a word more.
‘Thanks, but I don’t want disciples—especially not those ones down there! Please, focus on your own recruits and ignore me!’
But the heavens clearly ignored her pleas.
A clear voice from a deacon disciple rang out: “Next, Chu Yi, age seventeen, dual metal-fire spiritual roots, mid-Foundation Establishment.”
Shuyue’s mind buzzed as if struck by a massive bell.
‘He’s here! The game’s number one male lead! The future sword sovereign! The head of Su Wanqing’s harem! And one of the ruthless figures who later cripples her cultivation and throws her into the Ten Thousand Demon Abyss!’
Instinctively, her gaze shot downward.
The youth, clad in black, stood tall like a pine, his handsome face sharp with a piercing edge in his brows.
As if sensing her stare, he suddenly looked up, his eyes locking onto hers from the high platform.
That gaze… fervent, focused, with a hint of… admiration?
‘No! This look is all wrong!’
She instinctively tried to look away, but it was too late.
Under countless watching eyes, the youth named Chu Yi strode forward, bypassing all other disciples, and
stopped directly beneath the main seat of Startled Swan Peak.
Then—
Thud!
He dropped to his knees without hesitation, his knees striking the white jade floor with a crisp sound.
The entire plaza fell silent, all eyes converging on the scene.
The youth raised his head, his voice resounding like a bell, echoing through the quiet mountains:
“Disciple Chu Yi has long admired Elder Misty Moon! I earnestly request to be taken as your disciple! I swear to train diligently, inherit your legacy, and never betray you in this life or the next!”
Shuyue: “Cough! Cough! Cough!”
She felt her soul nearly jolted out of her body, floating above her head.
The aloof fairy on the high seat swayed almost imperceptibly, the cold spiritual mist around her flickering for a moment.
“Whoa!” Elder Xuanshi sucked in a breath, his bell-like eyes widening.
“This… this kid’s got guts!”
Elder Yuheng snapped his fan shut, his face a mix of shock and amusement.
“Dual metal-fire spiritual roots, mid-Foundation Establishment… exceptional talent and resolve.
Sister Shuyue, your charm puts us all to shame.”
Even the composed Elder Qingxu stroked his beard, visibly surprised.
“This boy’s resolve is unshakable, coming straight for you.”
The elders’ murmurs buzzed like background noise, but Shuyue heard none of it.
‘Take you as a disciple?! Inherit my legacy?! Never betray?! You’re the one who’ll grind my bones to dust for Su Wanqing, big brother! The plot! The plot’s gone completely off the rails!’
Amid the dead silence, a soft, timid female voice cautiously rose from the crowd of new disciples:
“Um… Senior Sister…”
Shuyue stiffly, ever so slowly, turned her head toward the sound.
There stood a girl in a faded light-green dress, looking at her shyly.
Her delicate features and clear eyes marked her as none other than the game’s heroine, Wanqing!
Wanqing seemed startled by the sudden focus of the crowd, her cheeks flushing, but she mustered her courage.
Her eyes sparkled with pure admiration as she gazed at the distant, moon-like fairy on the platform:
“Senior Sister… your sword is amazing… Can I… learn swordsmanship from you someday?”
Elder Xuanshi scratched his head.
“What’s going on now?”
Elder Yuheng stopped fanning, his gaze darting between the kneeling Chu Yi and the standing Wanqing, a deeper smile curling his lips.
“Interesting, truly interesting. Sister Shuyue, it seems today’s bound to be lively for you.”
Shuyue stared into the heroine’s pure eyes, hearing that soft, earnest “Senior Sister” and “learn swordsmanship” request.
Below, the future male lead knelt with burning devotion; around her, the elders’ teasing remarks fueled the spectacle…
The thread of rationality in her mind snapped with a pop.
Amid the swirling immortal mist, the Misty Moon Fairy’s aura remained icy, but only she could hear the desperate, sky-shattering wail within:
‘My! Perfectly! Planned! Low-profile! Script!!’