In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Chen Xiaoxiao’s Recklessness

Translation by: Weebsread👹

A man in black robes materialized before the four of them like a shadow slipping from the night.

Jiang Zixuan’s eyes narrowed. “Are you with the Bian Sect?”

The man grinned slyly. “Sharp, aren’t you, little miss? I’m surprised you even know about—” His words faltered as he noticed the token at Jiang Zixuan’s waist.

Etched into the jade disk were two bold characters: Azure Mountain Sect.

In the entire Longyan Kingdom, only one sect allowed its disciples to carry a “Azure Mountain Sect” token. There was no doubt: these were members of the Azure Mountain Sect.

“So, Azure Mountain Sect disciples…” The man clucked his tongue theatrically. “What an unexpected delight. A rare catch—almost too good to be true.”

As he spoke, his right hand rose an inch, and the blood-red formation surrounding Jiang Qian and the others pulsed with an even fiercer crimson glow.

Chen Xiaoxiao collapsed, writhing as pain contorted her features. She clutched her chest, breath shallow. “S-Senior Brother…”

“Hiss—” Bai Piaoxue’s brows knit together, pain flaring through her heart. She flicked her wrist desperately, summoning a flurry of shimmering icicles from thin air—

—they shot toward the man in black, but slammed uselessly against the barrier of blood.

Bai Piaoxue staggered, her face beaded with sweat, barely able to stand.

“Hahaha! Feels good, doesn’t it?” The black-robed man’s laughter echoed, manic and cruel. “This is one of Bian Sect’s deadliest cards. Unless you’re at the Nascent Soul level, you can forget about breaking out.”

“Try forcing your way, and you’ll only feed the backlash.”

His tongue flicked out, eyes glittering with hunger. “The more I look, the more I want to taste that tender, unspoiled flesh… and savor your sweet blood!”

His laughter rose higher, wild and gleeful, reverberating through the gloom.

“Are you done?” Jiang Qian took a step forward, his gaze cold as steel.

The black-robed man snickered. “Hahaha! You fool. You think you can stroll out? Go on, try! If you take a single step out, I’ll eat shit right here!”

Jiang Qian’s eyes held no warmth. “No need. You won’t live to do anything at all.”

Under the man’s stunned stare, Jiang Qian simply walked through the formation—untouched. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of the man, fist flying.

Crack!

The punch landed square on the man’s jaw, snapping bone.

Before he could react, the Northwind Ice Wolf erupted from Jiang Qian’s ring, its fangs closing around the black-robed man and hurling him into the darkness.

A single, brutal crunch. The chill of death.

The moment the man died, the bloody formation vanished.

Chen Xiaoxiao exhaled hard, finally able to breathe. “Hah—ahh— I really thought I was done for. That scared me half to death.”

Bai Piaoxue took a shaky moment to catch her breath.

Jiang Zixuan, composed as ever, approached Jiang Qian. “He said only Nascent Soul cultivators could break the formation. Did you…?”

Jiang Qian shrugged it off. “No. I just found a flaw, that’s all.”

He called the Northwind Ice Wolf back into his Beastmaster’s Ring without another word.

Jiang Zixuan frowned as she studied him. The more she saw of Jiang Qian, the less she felt she understood.

He was like an onion—you peel back one layer, only to find another, hidden and elusive.

Someday, I’ll peel them all away and reveal what you truly are.

With that resolve, the four continued toward Guxi Village—moving quieter, more carefully than before.

At the outskirts, the sky hung oppressively dark, black clouds brooding above the rooftops as the innkeeper had warned.

The four climbed a tall tree, lying low as they observed the scene below.

A woman, ragged and desperate, clung to her baby, tears streaming down. “Please… I beg you, don’t—don’t take my child…”

The villagers ignored her pleas, coldly tearing the infant from her arms.

Chen Xiaoxiao’s knuckles whitened—she was seconds from doing something rash when Jiang Qian grabbed her, forcing her to stay put.

He shook his head, eyes warning her to wait.

Fuming, Chen Xiaoxiao turned to whisper, “Senior Brother, are we really going to let them butcher a baby?”

“Of course not. But now isn’t the time.” Jiang Qian’s gaze remained fixed on the swirling clouds above the village.

If my guess is right, there’s a Nascent Soul expert hiding inside those clouds.

These villagers aren’t puppets—they’ve chosen to follow the Bian Sect of their own will, practicing demonic arts.

They’re willingly turning themselves into fuel, helping that Nascent Soul cultivator break through to the Void Severing Realm.

If we move now, we’ll only scare him off. We have to wait—wait until he reveals himself.

Jiang Zixuan’s voice was a tense whisper: “Jiang Qian, Chen Xiaoxiao just jumped—”

“What?!” Jiang Qian spun around—Chen Xiaoxiao was gone.

All eyes shot back to the village. There she was, charging headlong into the madness.

Jiang Qian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Get ready—we’re going in after Chen Xiaoxiao!”

She’s going to be the death of me!

He led Bai Piaoxue and Jiang Zixuan in a fast sprint toward the village.

In the center of the ritual, Chen Xiaoxiao’s expression burned with fury. “Wake up! All of you, snap out of it! Bian Sect, you monsters—how dare you drink the blood of innocents!”

She lunged, snatching the baby back. For a heartbeat, her rage softened into warmth as she offered the baby to its mother.

But as she did, the woman’s face twisted into a cruel sneer. From her sleeve flashed a dagger, stabbing straight at Chen Xiaoxiao.

Shock shot through Chen Xiaoxiao—she had never dreamed the mother would attack. But even then, her first instinct was to shield the baby.

A voice rang out—cool and exasperated. “I can’t decide if you’re noble, or just hopelessly naïve!”

Jiang Qian’s foot blurred in from nowhere, smashing through the attacker’s skull in a sickening instant.

Chen Xiaoxiao looked up at him, guilt and relief mingling in her wide eyes. “Senior Brother, I—I’m sorry…”

“Save it! Take the baby and run!” Jiang Qian barked.

Chen Xiaoxiao hesitated just a moment, then bolted, cradling the infant close.

Clap, clap, clap—

From the shadows stepped several Bian Sect disciples, led by a striking woman with a cascade of crimson hair.

She regarded the newcomers with a devilish smile. “Welcome, honored guests of the Azure Mountain Sect. We’ve been expecting you.”

Jiang Qian’s eyes glinted with amusement. “So you noticed us the instant your underling died.”

The red-haired leader grinned wider. “Of course. The moment his soul faded, I sensed you. I’ve been waiting ever since.”

She pointed straight at Jiang Qian. “Kill them.”

Her lips curled with smug confidence. “You’re a righteous sect, aren’t you? Surely you wouldn’t harm these innocent villagers.”

Her eyes shone, cold and merciless, as the trap sprang shut.