In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Jiang Qian Is Left Speechless

Translation by: Weebsread👹

“Damn it, Sun Qianling actually set me up!” Jiang Qian spat, his vision tinged red with fury.

He gripped the reins of his Thunderflame Skywing Eagle, but something was wrong: a spell formation had appeared, etched directly into the majestic bird’s feathers.

No wonder the eagle’s mood soured by the second, its flight growing more erratic as its eyes turned wild and bloodshot.

Jiang Qian’s gaze locked onto the array. He muttered under his breath, “Just hang in there a bit longer. The formation’s effect will dissipate on its own soon.”

He plunged his hand into his storage ring, intent on retrieving a formation disruptor.

But before he could grab it, the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle let out a furious screech and went berserk, dive-bombing toward Bai Piaoxue below.

Bai Piaoxue’s eyes widened at the sight of the descending beast. “The Thunderflame Skywing Eagle... it’s being controlled!”

A chill swept through the air as frost crackled at her feet, snowflakes swirling around her like a miniature blizzard.

...

With a steadying breath, Bai Piaoxue exhaled, and ice instantly spread in a thin sheet across the ground.

The eagle closed in—now less than twenty meters away.

An icicle shot upward from the earth, aiming to skewer the onrushing monster.

But then, just as suddenly as the frenzy began, the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle shuddered and pulled out of its dive. It veered sharply, climbing back toward the sky.

Gradually, the madness faded from its gaze, and its flight steadied.

Jiang Qian exhaled in relief, slipping the formation disruptor back into his ring. “That was too close. For a moment there, I really thought that was it for me.”

“If I hadn’t brought this disruptor, I’d probably be dead already!”

He rummaged through his storage ring again, pushing past a jumble of oddities until his hand closed around a small pile of Zixuan coins—just over ten thousand.

“Seriously? A Sect Master’s only got a measly ten thousand coins to his name?” Jiang Qian muttered, disappointment in his voice. Then something else caught his eye: a battered manual, its cover half torn away.

His eyes lit up. “Found it!”

He pulled out the ragged book—Blood of Ten Thousand Demons: Fragment)—and quickly stashed the precious tome into his own ring for safekeeping.

Not much later, the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle descended, landing before Bai Piaoxue. Its gaze was full of guilt and regret.

Though it had only acted under the formation’s influence, the memory of nearly attacking her was fresh and stinging.

Bai Piaoxue approached, her expression gentle. “It’s okay. I know you weren’t in control.”

She turned to Jiang Qian, who just hopped down from the eagle’s back. “Did that demon finally die?” she asked.

“Yeah—it got eaten by the Thunderflame Skywing Eagle,” Jiang Qian replied. With a mental command, he pulled the eagle back into his Beastmaster’s Ring.

He flashed Bai Piaoxue a sheepish grin. “Senior Sister Bai, could I ask you a favor? Could you, uh, not mention to anyone that I have a Sixth-rank demonic beast? Just between us, alright?”

Noticing her hesitation, Jiang Qian’s heart thudded.

A secret between us, huh?

Bai Piaoxue’s cheeks colored, and she nodded bashfully.

Seeing her agree, Jiang Qian let out another quiet sigh of relief—only to belatedly realize that Jiang Zixuan was nowhere to be seen.

“Where’s Jiang Zixuan?” he asked.

Bai Piaoxue pointed into the woods. “She left that way.”

Jiang Qian’s brow furrowed as he glanced in the direction she indicated.

Has Wu Feiyu shown up yet? I’m really curious just what the future Demon Emperor is like in person.

“Senior Sister Bai, can you go help Chen Xiaoxiao? I’ll go check if Jiang Zixuan needs a hand.”

“Alright!” Bai Piaoxue didn’t want to leave, but she would never go against Jiang Qian’s wishes.

The two separated, each heading off on their own mission.

Before long, Jiang Qian tracked down Jiang Zixuan. Concealing himself in the leafy canopy of a tree, he masked his presence and watched her below.

Jiang Zixuan faced an unconscious young man—Jiang Qian was sure of it: Wu Feiyu.

With no hesitation, Jiang Zixuan drew her dagger and thrust it straight into Wu Feiyu’s chest.

She withdrew the blade, and blood fountained out, pooling rapidly beneath him.

Her expression remained as cold as ice. “You murder infants. Death is too good for you,” she spat. With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving the blood-soaked scene behind.

Jiang Qian’s mouth twitched as he stared at Wu Feiyu’s lifeless, blood-drenched body.

Wait—wasn’t she supposed to save him? This isn’t treatment... isn’t this flat-out murder?

In the original novel, he recalled, Jiang Zixuan's “healing” of Wu Feiyu was just glossed over, never described. But this? This was definitely more killing than curing.

Did my meddling throw the whole story off course?

Even as he wondered, something squirmed free from Wu Feiyu’s chest wound—a parasitic gu worm.

The worm wriggled a few paces, only for a sparrow to swoop down and gobble it up.

And then, in the same moment, the bloody hole in Wu Feiyu’s chest began closing, flesh knitting itself together with astonishing speed.

What kind of monstrous constitution is this? Stabbed through the heart, and he just... recovers!?

Beneath Jiang Qian’s dumbfounded stare, Wu Feiyu came to, groaning and clutching his head. He blinked, and finally sat up, inspecting his chest in shock.

“The gu worm... it’s gone!” Wu Feiyu was stunned for a moment, then his awe turned to joy. “Hahaha! I’m free—free of the Bian Sect’s control at last!”

He looked after Jiang Zixuan, his voice full of gratitude. “That female cultivator... she actually saved me. All this time, I thought she’d come to kill me, but she rescued me instead.”

“If I ever get the chance, I’ll definitely repay this debt!” He gazed longingly in Jiang Zixuan’s direction before finally departing, full of unwillingness.

In the tree, Jiang Qian could only stare.

Completely speechless.

Dude, she really did mean to kill you.

But, in a twisted way, I guess Jiang Zixuan did end up saving you after all.

Whatever. Jiang Zixuan and her harem of lost souls can figure this out; it’s got nothing to do with me.

With that thought, Jiang Qian slipped away, melting into the woods.

By the time he reached the entrance to Guxi Village, Bai Piaoxue and the other two women were already waiting.

Jiang Zixuan approached, a faint smile curving her lips. “Jiang Qian, I heard you were looking for me just now?”

He scratched his head, feigning helplessness. “Yeah, but I must’ve taken a wrong turn. Couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Jiang Zixuan chuckled softly. “Oh? I didn’t know you cared so much about me.”

She took a step closer.

Jiang Qian backed away, forcing a nervous smile. “Cous—Cousin, is there something you need?”

Before Jiang Zixuan could answer, Bai Piaoxue quickly slipped beside Jiang Qian, wrapping herself around his right arm and shooting Jiang Zixuan a possessive glare. Her meaning was clear, even without words.

Jiang Zixuan had no choice but to pause, a flash of resignation passing through her eyes.

Just then, Chen Xiaoxiao piped up awkwardly, breaking the tension, “Um... so, what do we do about the child?”