(GL) The Supporting Female Character Strategy Manual - Chapter 19

Jian Tongyao almost had the terrifying thought of trying it herself. Fortunately, the sight of the little white fox’s gently rising and falling belly dispelled her crazy idea. She checked on it and found the little white fox’s breathing was steady and smooth. It was just… asleep?

She found a nearby empty cave and half-tied, half-dragged the little white fox onto a prepared pile of grass. Seeing it lying there sprawled out and carefree, she could not resist. She carefully stroked it with a curled leaf, and sure enough, it had the fluffy texture she had imagined.

Once she started stroking, she could not stop.

When the little white fox woke up, it rolled around in the hay and discovered that the softest patch on its belly was now bald, revealing a patch of reddish skin. The bald spot was especially obvious.

“Xiao Chou, I-I-I’m shedding.”

Jian Tongyao guiltily turned her back. The two curled leaves she had used to pluck the fur shrank into a ball, like a baby’s clenched fist. She listened as the little white fox neurotically muttered about shedding, but within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the fox was jumping and hopping about again. It even wiggled its cute, round bottom and its distinctively short tail at Jian Tongyao.

Jian Tongyao glanced at its small, cute tail, which was perked up like a radar. She was not sure if it was her imagination, but she felt it had visibly grown by a few centimeters.

The little white fox was more aware of its tail’s length than she was. After all, it was a source of constant worry for it. If it had not been born a broken-tailed fox, it might have been a favored beauty among the fox clan.

“Xiao Chou, Xiao Chou, my tail grew longer! I’m so happy! I feel like my demon power has gotten a little stronger.”

Jian Tongyao could not handle the little white fox’s enthusiasm, but that did not stop her from continuing to stroke its fur when it got close, all while pondering the changes in the little white fox.

It seems…

After eating one of my curled leaves, it slept for several days…

The little white fox suddenly became coy. It retracted its sharp little claws and gently patted her curled leaves, one tap after another. Jian Tongyao felt as if it was trying to curry favor by kneading her. “Xiao Chou, can you let me eat another piece? Just one. I promise I’ll bite gently. I won’t make it hurt you too much.”

Jian Tongyao, “!?”

No, I refuse.

Before she could react, the little white fox bared its fangs and with one bite, chomped down on the vine she had not managed to pull back in time.

Damn it all to hell.

Without a second thought, Jian Tongyao swung a curled leaf and sent the little white fox flying with a smack. The little white fox hit the wall, fell into the pile of grass, and rolled twice. It was completely disoriented and saw stars, but unlike the day before, it did not pass out. After a moment, it transformed into a little girl. She struggled to her feet and rubbed the spot where she had been hit.

“Xiao Chou, you hit me so hard.”

“…”

I’m in so much pain, too.

It’s not just the bite that hurts, my heart hurts more.

She had considered this little white fox a friend, but she never expected it to be so heartless. It actually treated her as food, just like that big bird that flew high in the sky, taking a couple of bites whenever it got hungry. What a strange habit.

Jian Tongyao was so angry she could have died. She scurried far away in a flash, and by the time she came to her senses, she was already lost.

“Give me the target character’s location.”

“Proceed two hundred meters forward and to the left.”

The system’s positioning was always accurate. Jian Tongyao followed the directions, but the closer she got, the more puzzled she became. This was clearly near the deep mountains. She had heard the little white fox ramble on about how many demons lived in the deep mountains; it would not be an exaggeration to call it a gathering place for them. One of the great demons had reigned as king there for many years and had subjugated many little demons.

The little white fox had once tried to seek shelter from that great demon. However, after a little mouse demon skilled at gathering information exposed the matter of its broken tail, not only did it fail to get protection, but it was also beaten severely and almost killed. Finally, after being driven out by this group of demons, it encountered a rather withdrawn vine demon that had very little presence.

When Jian Tongyao found Qian Wanyu, she and her companion were asking questions of an old man who was passing by, gathering firewood. Jian Tongyao took one look and saw there was no old man at all. It was clearly an upright black bear, and the small bamboo basket hanging on its back looked as ridiculous as a little schoolbag.

But those two were completely unaware and followed it deeper into the mountains. Using her natural advantages, Jian Tongyao hid here and there, following them the whole way.

They continued until they reached a wooden cabin of the kind only humans would have. A large plot of land was enclosed by a fence of vines, and wisps of smoke drifted up, making it look just like a farmyard. If there had been chickens, ducks, pigs, and other poultry, the domestic atmosphere would have been even stronger.

Besides the woodcutter uncle, there was also a stooped rural woman with a face full of pockmarks that were hard to ignore. Next to her, a chubby boy sat on a wooden horse, rocking back and forth. One of his arms could probably crush Jian Tongyao’s true form flat.

Jian Tongyao did not know if there was something wrong with her eyes, or if demons could see through the disguises of other demons. With a single glance, she saw a black bear demon, a toad demon, and a wild boar demon…

The moment the toad demon saw the black bear demon bring back two people, her face blossomed into a smile. She greeted them warmly and welcomed Qian Wanyu and Jiang Qin inside, while the little boar demon stared at them without blinking as drool gathered at the corner of its mouth.

Jiang Qin did not like his foolish gaze, it made her feel inexplicably disgusted. “Senior Sister, this kid can’t be a fool, can he? Why does he keep drooling?”

Jian Tongyao, “…”

That’s clearly drool from craving you, you silly girl.

Qian Wanyu’s gaze rested on the clean farm tools and swept over the uncultivated land. In her peripheral vision, she seemed to glimpse a streak of green moving in the distance, but it vanished in an instant as if she had been seeing things.

“Since they are so hospitable, it would be rude of us to refuse their kind intentions.”

Jiang Qin, “Yes, Senior Sister.”

Jian Tongyao huddled together with a pile of weeds, watching the two of them enter the house. A long time passed, and they did not come out. She could not help but scratch her head in anxiety.

“Love-You-to-Death System, if the target character dies, will I…”

“If the target character dies, the Host’s mission will fail.”

So heartless.

So she absolutely could not let the target character die before her. Jian Tongyao stealthily circled to the back of the house, squeezed through a flimsy window crack, and saw the two of them slumped unconscious on the table.

“Eat them raw, or cooked?”

“I like to eat them raw. This one is mine, the other one is for you two.”

After the black bear demon spoke, he was about to grab Qian Wanyu, but the toad demon and the wild boar demon exchanged a look and blocked him with their small bodies.

“Old Hei, since they’ve come to our territory, wouldn’t it be improper not to send one to the great demon for her enjoyment?”

The black bear demon was initially displeased, but as soon as he heard the words “big demon,” his temper vanished. He could not help but smack his lips as he looked at Qian Wanyu. He had a feeling this person would be quite delicious.

Seeing that they were not going to deal with the target character for the time being, Jian Tongyao also remained still. Fortunately, this group of little demons knew the proper way of doing things. They would first offer the chosen ration to the great demon for her enjoyment before dealing with the other one.

The first choice for the highest quality ration was none other than Qian Wanyu.

After discussing it, the black bear demon and the toad demon left the wild boar demon to guard Jiang Qin. They tied Qian Wanyu up into a bundle and carried her away like a gift.

Jian Tongyao naturally had to follow, but when she saw the wild boar demon occasionally leaning close to Jiang Qin and drooling, she had a feeling this demon would not be able to control itself. The possibility of it stealing from its own watch was as high as ninety-nine percent.

“Xiao Chou, this is the great demon’s territory. Are you trying to get yourself killed by coming here?”

“…”

I was nearly scared to death.

Jian Tongyao moved aside and extended a curled leaf to point inside the window. The wild boar demon’s drool was about to drip onto Jiang Qin’s face. Its dark yellow tusks were enough to make one lose their appetite. It kept searching for a place to take a bite, looking as if it could not wait for the black bear demon and the toad demon to return before starting its meal.

The little fox demon said, “Wow, it’s going to eat her.”

Jian Tongyao pointed inside, then pointed in the direction where Qian Wanyu had disappeared. The little fox demon miraculously understood her thoughts.

“You want me to save her? But they’re the ones who want to kill us.”

Although her true form was a poisonous (not really) vine demon, she was still a human at heart. She could not just stand by and watch a fellow human be eaten by a boar demon. The mere thought of it was unacceptable.

Jian Tongyao gestured wildly at the little white fox. The little white fox suddenly got excited.

“You want me to tie her up and bring her to our own cave to eat, right?”

Jian Tongyao, “…”

As long as you’re happy.

After getting the little white fox’s promise not to start eating before she returned, Jian Tongyao hurriedly chased after her target character, following them all the way to the great demon’s real cave.

Demons followed their beastly instincts and liked to mark their territory. This was especially true for self-important great demons with some power, whose territory spanned a hundred li in every direction.

Jian Tongyao did not pay it much mind. The mountains were full of grass and trees, so she figured she could easily blend in. But it was not until she set foot in this great demon’s true lair that she realized how naive she had been. An overwhelming stench of blood filled the air and refused to dissipate. Most of the soil was brownish, and many trees had headless corpses hanging from them. As far as the eye could see, it was a gloomy scene, like hell itself.

There were also little demons patrolling in an orderly fashion on all sides, making it look somewhat like the stronghold of a bandit king. She was filled with worry, very concerned about whether she had the ability to get Qian Wanyu out of there in one piece.

Missing an arm or a leg shouldn’t count as a mission failure, right?

The black bear demon and the toad demon excitedly presented the ration to the great demon, flattering her for the time it took an incense stick to burn. The great demon leaned lazily on her throne, playing with the silky black hair of a handsome man in her arms, listening until she was almost asleep. At her feet, two little white rabbit demons were massaging her legs, not daring to slack off for a moment.

But when this beautiful snake demon heard the words “demon hunter,” her interest was piqued. She immediately had her demons bring Qian Wanyu forward.

Jian Tongyao was terrified that this beautiful snake demon would start eating without another word. After all, when she had briefly taken root in the soil just now, she had discovered many skeletons buried beneath this area. This great demon’s hands were stained with blood. She had killed many people.

Moreover, most of the demons patrolling the area were snake demons, showing that this mountain was the snake demons’ domain.

The snake demon’s eyes were full of allure, and on her own, she could be considered a stunningly beautiful snake demon. Unfortunately, compared to Qian Wanyu’s delicate and ethereally beautiful face, she instantly seemed a bit garish.

Without comparison, there was no harm.

Clearly, this great demon also noticed Qian Wanyu’s stunning, otherworldly beauty. A flash of jealousy and killing intent crossed her eyes, quickly replaced by pleased amusement.

“This face is truly to my liking. It would be a pity to eat it.”

Jian Tongyao nodded in agreement. It would be a great pity.

But the demon’s next words nearly made her fall out of the tree. She heard the snake demon say playfully, “Give her some medicine. I want to see how she looks panting delicately beneath me.”

Author’s Note:

Xiao Jiu: No, you don’t.