In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Forced to Fight the Heroine at the Start

Translation by: Weebsread👹

Within the grand courtyard, a striking young man with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes suddenly trembled, every muscle tensing.

“Holy crap!”

Jiang Qian jolted awake, the exclamation slipping from his lips before he could stop it.

A flood of unfamiliar memories surged through his mind—moments blurring and converging, leaving him staring into the distance in shock.

Wait… Did I just transmigrate?

In his previous life, he’d been hopelessly addicted to webnovels—especially fantasy epics of every kind.

Whether it was shounen blood-and-thunder or heart-fluttering shoujo, if it involved magic and adventure, he devoured it.

Yesterday, he’d been bingeing a female protagonist fantasy novel. Sometime after midnight, claims of “just one more chapter” echoing in his mind, he dozed off.

Now… he’d woken up inside that very world.

Honestly, transmigrating wasn’t the strangest thing he could imagine. But as the new memories rooted themselves in his consciousness, a far more terrifying realization dawned.

...

...

He hadn’t just transmigrated into the novel—he’d landed right in the story he’d been reading last night.

And, naturally, he wasn’t the chosen hero, a mysterious senior, or even a notable rival. No, fate had saddled him with the role of cannon-fodder villain—a living stepping stone destined for a spectacular downfall.

The novel itself was your classic fantasy, not all that different from the ones written for guys—except for one twist: the celebrated protagonist was a woman instead of a man.

No crowd of admiring beauties falling for the hero; this time, the leading lady collected a harem of dashing young men.

Her name was Jiang Zixuan, beloved daughter of the Phoenix Clan’s chief.

Betrayed and abandoned by her family as a child, she was later adopted by the Jiang clan and raised as one of their own.

Like countless legends, she was hailed as a prodigy—until a twist of fate stole her cultivation, and the world quickly branded her a failure and mocked her without mercy.

But after awakening the Phoenix Bloodline, she shattered every shackle, soared above every trial, and ascended to matchless strength!

And Jiang Qian? His new identity was simple: son of the Jiang clan leader.

Exactly the sort of cannon-fodder villain the genre loved—easy to despise, easier to defeat.

“I’m doomed… Completely doomed! How did I end up as cannon fodder?” Jiang Qian grabbed his head in despair, squatting on the ground in utter misery.

Just then—

An elder rushed over, breathless and panicked. “Young Master, you must come to the dueling arena at once! The clan’s hopes rest on you!”

“The dueling arena?” Jiang Qian stared at him, still dazed. “Why would I go there?”

“That good-for-nothing Jiang Zixuan refuses to marry into the Bai clan, and now—” The elder sputtered, words tumbling out in frantic bursts.

The more Jiang Qian listened, the colder he felt.

Wait. Isn’t this exactly where the heroine humiliates the whole clan and turns everything upside down?

He remembered it all too well: the so-called failure Jiang Zixuan had already unlocked her Phoenix bloodline.

According to the plot, he’d get struck down with a single palm from the heroine—dead on the spot.

And when the clan demanded justice, a talented disciple of a major sect—what was his name, again… Duan Yuqing? One of her future admirers—would suddenly arrive, sweeping in to rescue her and kill the current clan leader. In other words… Jiang Qian’s own father.

Stepping into that arena now would be a death sentence!

No. I have to change my fate!

Even as the thought flashed through his mind, Jiang Qian shot the elder a wary look, ready to refuse—or just bolt and make a run for it.

But before he could act, the old man picked him up like a sack of rice, hauling him away at blinding speed.

“Hey! This is kidnapping! I’m too young to die! I don’t want to fight her—she’s my cousin, for heaven’s sake!”

“Young Master, I know you’re tender-hearted, but the whole Jiang clan’s future depends on you defeating Jiang Zixuan. You have to win!”

Win, my foot! I’m just cannon fodder—how am I supposed to beat the protagonist, especially now that she’s awakened her powers?

This is suicide.

…

Jiang Qian was dragged into the dueling arena, forced to stand beneath the watchful eyes of the entire clan. Across from him was a girl whose face was at once unfamiliar and all too memorable—Jiang Zixuan.

Forcing a bitter smile, he called out, “C-cousin… Long time no see, right?”

She cut him off coldly. “Enough with the chit-chat. Make your move!”

Even as she spoke, a surge of power erupted from Jiang Zixuan, rippling through the arena like a tidal wave.

So this is what a true protagonist feels like… Terrifying, just as I remember.

Maybe I should just surrender now. Otherwise, I’m a dead man.

Just as Jiang Qian was about to declare defeat—

“Young Master, you’re the most handsome! We’ll always support you!”

“A worthless failure dares challenge our Young Master?”

“Exactly! If I were her, I’d be kneeling already, begging for forgiveness!”

“Haha! Kneeling? I’d be kissing the Young Master’s boots if it were me!”

…

Each new jeer from the crowd struck like a death knell.

Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. The only thing you all excel at is digging my grave even deeper.

Now he was stuck—surrender and suffer unbearable humiliation, fight and face certain death. He could only stand rigid, sweat trickling down his back.

“Clan Leader, you’ve truly raised an exceptional son—steadfast and poised, like an immovable mountain. I’m certain the Jiang clan’s glory will return soon!” Sitting next to Jiang Chenghai, the clan leader, an old matron offered honeyed words, her flattery laid on thick.

In truth, she was just currying favor.

But her words hit their mark. Jiang Chenghai stroked his beard with pride, nodding. “Hahaha, Grand Elder, you’re too kind. My Qian’er still has a lot to learn.”

Up on the stage.

Jiang Zixuan grew impatient at Jiang Qian’s indecision. With a frosty snort, she warned, “If you won’t attack, then I will.”

She lifted her hands. Flames burst to life in her palms, the very air warping with scorching heat.

“Go!” she commanded. The blaze coalesced into a miniature phoenix, wings of fire unfurling with a screech.

The phoenix shot forward, its call ringing like firecrackers on New Year’s Eve.

“Hah! Just a spark. Does she seriously think she can harm the Young Master? She’s still a useless waste!”

“So her meridians have recovered. She’s still trash!”

“That’s right. The Young Master has already mastered our clan’s greatest art—the Yin-Yang Cosmos Technique!”

“A little spark like that is nothing! This match is already decided!”

The disciples’ voices rose all around, convinced Jiang Zixuan’s flames were no threat at all.

As the flaming phoenix roared toward him, Jiang Qian acted on pure instinct, gathering his spiritual essence. A shimmering yin-yang symbol formed before his chest, defensive and solid.

Yet the moment the phoenix struck, the barrier shattered with explosive force.

Jiang Qian was sent flying across the arena, crashing down hard—sprawled at the edge, ears ringing.

Ow, ow, ow! Did she really have to go all out?

It wasn’t even me that hurt her in the past—it was the original Jiang Qian!

His entire body buzzed with numbing pain, fire burning in his chest where the attack had landed.

Jiang Zixuan strode toward him, her presence fierce and inescapable.

Suddenly, a mechanical chime echoed in his mind:

【Ding! Initiating Check-in System binding!】

【Binding successful!】

【Congratulations, Host! The Check-in System is now active. You may Check-in once per day at any location. Different locations yield different rewards!】

【Ding~ Special Jiang Clan location detected—Arena. Would you like to Check-in now?】

TL Note:

- Cannon-fodder villain: A disposable antagonist whose main role is to be defeated by the protagonist, serving as a stepping stone for their growth.