Chà Chà Novel

【That person’s identity is classified plot information. If the host wishes to learn it ahead of time, the cost is fifty thousand points.】

【Host’s current balance: -5,000 points.】

The corner of Qin Yu’s mouth twitched. “We’re partners, aren’t we? Shouldn’t you be helping me for free?”

【In your dreams.】

【Ninth-grade Restoration Pill: five thousand points.】

“Ha-ha. I don’t want to know who he is anymore.”

The man had no further part in the story anyway. Besides, he had killed the original owner of this body, not Qin Yu. It had nothing to do with him. He would forget about the man soon enough.

【I advise the host to remain curious about his identity. You never know—it might come as quite a “surprise”!】

“Give it a rest. You just want to swindle me out of my points.”

He had a mild obsession with money. In his previous life, even a single cent disappearing from his bank account would leave him deeply uncomfortable. Now that negative balance had him squirming.

The system abandoned its sales pitch and moved on to business.

【Cannon fodder that doesn’t aspire to become the protagonist is no good at all. The host’s mission is to seize the male lead’s protagonist halo and save the world. Once the mission is complete, you may return to the modern world.】

Qin Yu: “???”

What the hell?!

He had read about all sorts of systems—ones that extended lives, offered assistance, or helped win people over. But he had never encountered one that demanded he bring down the original male lead to save the world. Had he been scammed?

“Are you sure a cannon-fodder character like me can beat Jiang Fu when he has the protagonist halo?”

As a reader, he knew better than anyone just how powerful that halo was.

Jiang Fu was no conventional hero who punished evil and upheld justice. He was selfish and unscrupulous, and everything he did served his cultivation. Anyone or anything that stood in his way would be ruthlessly eliminated, even someone who had once shown him kindness… In short, his moral compass was seriously crooked. Yet this was the very man who sailed through life with the protagonist halo over his head.

With such an absurdly powerful advantage on Jiang Fu’s side, how was sending Qin Yu against him any different from sending him to his death?

【As long as you complete the system’s assigned tasks on time, you will not die. You will also receive the corresponding points to pay off your debt.】

Now that the system had him in its clutches, what else could he do?

Cooperate, of course.

Just then, the gentle murmur of flowing water drifted from deep within the forest. The sound immediately tempted Qin Yu.

He was covered from head to toe in blood, mud, and sweat. The stench was nauseating, and he could hardly wait to wash it all off. Without a second thought, he got up and headed toward the water.

Only when he drew closer did he discover an enormous natural lake hidden among the trees. His steps grew lighter and quicker.

He reached the shore and was about to undress and step into the water when he suddenly noticed a figure in the lake. A familiar terror swept over him once more.

【Aaaah… Host, run! You’ve walked straight into his path again!】

“Fuck!”

He turned to run, but the moment he did, a chilling voice sounded behind him like a summons from death.

“Heh. So you really aren’t dead.”

His body froze on the spot. He dared not move another inch as his mind raced for a way to survive.

There was no chance of outrunning this man. If he was caught, his head would be crushed.

As for begging for mercy… He had seen something he should not have. The man would surely kill him to keep him quiet.

“If I die again, can you still bring me back?” he asked the system, clinging to a faint hope.

【No! Unless the host can offer something more precious than a soul in exchange.】

Even his soul no longer belonged to him. What else did he have left to trade?

As expected, he could rely on no one but himself.

Qin Yu drew a deep breath. “Can you temporarily seal off my sight for free?”

【I can, but host, what are you planning to—】

He cut it off. “Just seal my sight first.”

The system complied. His eyes immediately lost focus, and everything went black.

The very next second, an icy force clamped around his neck and hoisted him into the air.

“You’ve got some nerve, playing dead right in front of me.”

Qin Yu clutched at the invisible force with both hands and forced out the words, “Young… young master, I only heard water and came to find something to drink. I meant no offense.”

The man paused. A mocking curve touched his cold lips.

Young master? Now that was a new form of address.

He drew Qin Yu closer for inspection, ignoring the face flushed red from lack of air. His cold, bloodthirsty gaze settled squarely on Qin Yu’s unfocused eyes.

“Blind?”

You certainly have a way with words.

Then again, given how brutally this man killed people, Qin Yu could hardly expect courtesy.

He did his best to slip into the role of a blind man.

His struggling expression faltered. Then his grasp gradually loosened, and his head drooped, as though he had lost the will to live in a single instant.

“I am… blind. I’ve been a burden to everyone… I’m nothing but a useless wretch. Staying alive is just a waste of food.”

That eagerness to die somehow struck a chord in the man.

An amusing toy, after all. Killing him now would be rather dull.

He set Qin Yu down to stand on the surface of the lake. “Your family despises you because you’re blind?”

The instant he was released, Qin Yu gulped down air, only to choke and dissolve into a fit of coughing.

“Cough… cough… Who wouldn’t despise someone as useless as me?”

It seemed his gamble had paid off.

But just as he breathed a sigh of relief, the man’s next words nearly made him pass out with rage.

“You are indeed useless.”

Qin Yu: “…”

I can’t beat you, so whatever makes you happy.

The man’s blood-red eyes swept over his face once more. Seeing nothing but dejection, he tossed Qin Yu aside.

“Wait here. Move so much as an inch, and I’ll break your legs.”

Qin Yu let just the right amount of fear show on his face and obediently stood still, not daring to budge.

The man said nothing more. Qin Yu’s world grew so quiet that only the sound of water remained.

Had he restored his sight just then, he would have seen the man soaking in the lake, his silver-white hair spread across the shimmering surface. A faint, bloody glow lingered among the strands, making the scene unsettling from every angle.

Qin Yu had no idea how long he had been standing there. All he knew was that his legs had gone completely numb.

Just as he began nodding off, the system’s warning sounded in his mind.

【Host, he’s coming.】

His drowsiness vanished instantly. He “looked” toward the approaching man.

“Young master?”

The man stopped beside him and lowered his head to study him.

“Are you really blind? Somehow, you don’t seem like it.”

Qin Yu’s heart leaped into his throat again. Had the man noticed something?

“Would you be willing to treat me like an ordinary person, young master?”

Most people would have felt at least a little compassion when faced with those unfocused eyes and the glimmer of hope within them. Unfortunately, the man before him had no heart at all.

“If you want to be treated like an ordinary person, keep up on your own. If I discover you have any ulterior motives… Hmph.”

Qin Yu did his best to ignore the threat at the end and let anticipation brighten his face.

“Are you taking me out of here, young master?”

“To tell you the truth, I lost my way and ended up here tonight. I’ve been gone so long that my family must be worried…”

Before he could finish, a hand suddenly clamped around his chin.

“Don’t you know I’ve already killed them all?”