Cannon fodder in a classic cultivation story

3. This world was a story.

"How troublesome."

Feng Zhi Hao's words sent a cold sweat down Su Jing's spine.

Su Jing kept her breath, afraid to be noticed. But as she stood hidden, she couldn't help but take notice of the black fog that was quickly spreading around. It got towards the place where Feng Zhi Hao killed the man, increasing in density as it circled Feng Zhi Hao.

That surely did not announce good news. Although Feng Zhi Hao appeared unaffected by it, Su Jing couldn't ignore what this strange mist did to the other previous persons. Every time that fog showed up, it coincided with someone losing their mind entirely! If Feng Zhi Hao fell into one of those deep dream states and went bonkers, too, Su Jing knew she'd be in big trouble.

Her heart raced as she debated whether to warn Feng Zhi Hao and get her out. But would it even work? That fog looked seriously tough to handle - Feng Zhi Hao herself was a difficult person!

As if to confirm her guesses, Feng Zhi Hao placed a hand on her forehead, knitting her eyebrows. She bit her lip as she tried to resist the force taking over her. Her eyes glinted with intense hatred toward whatever haunted her thoughts.

A cold shiver ran down Su Jing's back, seeing this. She never saw such intense emotions.

While the fog gradually enveloped Feng Zhi Hao's body, and her memories hazed her, Su Jing tried to move and tiptoed back down the stairs. Her slight hopes of saving Feng Zhi Hao were long gone—now she wasn't sure about her well-being!

But even her futile wish to run away seemed unreachable. She attempted again to lift her legs, but they remained unmoving.

Feng Zhi Hao also seemed strangely silent. Su Jing glanced at her and saw how the mist almost swallowed her whole, showing her awful memories. This was by far the most enormous black cloud she had seen on this mountain—and supposedly the one at fault for not allowing her to move!

Su Jing struggled, the panic slowly getting through her body. The edge of the cloud had reached her, feeling ominous and with Feng Zhi Hao's full emotions of resentfulness.

As it slowly crept over her body, Su Jing felt a cold pressure surrounding her. Her vision darkened, and despite trying to keep her eyes shut to avoid any hallucinations, something still appeared before her, demanding her attention.

Because of that, once Su Jing opened her eyes, she saw a different landscape—a beautiful garden with sunny rays. Su Jing still stood on the ground, but someone else was with her.

To be more exact, she was kneeling beside an older woman, her head carefully massaged in her lap. Su Jing had the urge to get up and slap the fingers that were touching her, but her body continued to be still, sometimes acting on its own.

"Her" palm reached over her mouth as "she" took the air in boredom. The old lady smiled gently as she was treading Su Jing's hair, and the multiple bracelets from her wrist hit Su Jing's forehead with a cold touch.

Everything seemed so alive, yet when Su Jing looked closely into the grandmother's eyes, she couldn't quite discern what emotion she was hiding. This lady was so distant—so unreal and obvious, at least from Su Jing's perspective—that she was merely an illusion.

"Grandmother, I think my elder sister has already understood what she did wrong. She shouldn't stay further like that."

Coquettish words started coming from Su Jing's mouth, and her voice was far different from her real one or Feng Zhi Hao's. Su Jing would have frowned and cringed, but even her facial expressions were not in her control.

The old lady shook her head disapprovingly, her smile dropping into a cold one.

"Huabao, you are too kindhearted. Your sister's fault shouldn't be so easily dismissed. If we did that, she wouldn't learn how to repent."