Transmigrated as the Narrator of a Danmei Novel

Three months had passed since their arrival at Sect Mount Dingbu, and in that time, the most shocking event wasn't the rigorous training or the discovery of ancient techniques—it was Xue Laohu's decision to chop off his hair, sending the entire sect into an uproar.

"Shizun!" Li Zhameng and Xue Tuzi yelled in unison, both running towards their master as if they'd just witnessed an unspeakable tragedy. Li Zhameng, wide-eyed, blurted out, "Why? What happened?"

Xue Laohu, completely unbothered, ran his fingers through the now short, shaggy strands of what was once his long, luscious black hair. "Hmm, this is more my style," he replied with a grin, thoroughly admiring the reflection of his new look. His hair was cropped at the top, but longer, wispy layers cascaded down the sides and back, giving him an effortlessly messy appearance. His bangs were a chaotic tangle, flopping into his eyes, refusing to be tamed. "Besides, this is what the girls like," he added, flashing a cocky smirk.

Xue Tuzi blinked. Girls? What girls? he questioned internally, his eyes still glued to Xue Laohu's uneven, nearly butchered haircut. The sight was jarring—this was their powerful, ancient grandmaster? Now he looked more like a mischievous boy who got apprehended by some thieves. It was hard to reconcile the juvenile, carefree look with the imposing figure he had once been.

Li Zhameng, however, looked like he was on the verge of a breakdown. "Shizun, do you even understand what you've done?!" His voice was filled with disbelief, as if he were witnessing some great injustice unfold before his very eyes.

Xue Tuzi, though calmer, took a step forward and spoke with the patience of someone explaining something very simple to a confused child. "Shizun, do you know the three reasons men cut their hair?"

Xue Laohu blinked, completely dumbstruck. "Uh… because it looks good?" he ventured, still admiring his reflection.

"No," Xue Tuzi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "The first reason is to join a monastery and forsake worldly attachments. The second is when a man becomes an outcast. And the third…" He paused, casting a meaningful glance at Xue Laohu's messy bangs. "The third is when a man dishonors his family ."

Xue Laohu froze for a second. Right. This wasn't the modern world where he could experiment with his hairstyle and get away with it. Back in his time, the girls at his school would have fawned over his new haircut—no one wanted a guy with better hair than them, after all. But here? In this world of cultivation, honor, and tradition? His impulsive decision to chop off his locks carried a weight he hadn't considered.

He sighed deeply, but quickly bounced back with a grin. "It'll grow back. Besides, it makes me look badass." He flashed a peace sign, completely disregarding the fact that no one in this world had any clue what that gesture meant. Li Zhameng and Xue Tuzi exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions a mix of concern and confusion. But Xue Laohu, in true form, seemed unbothered.

Li Zhameng and Xue Tuzi had been training diligently in martial arts. Though Li Zhameng struggled, Xue Tuzi was excelling in every form—already skilled and rapidly improving. It wasn't long before Xue Laohu, who was watching them from the sidelines, noticed them sparring in the open courtyard. Their movements were fluid, true qi coursing through their bodies as they sprinted up pillars with lightning speed, exchanging blows mid-air with a precision that defied gravity.

The scene was almost breathtaking. Twirling in the air, they landed delicately on the stones bordering the nearby pond, the splash of water catching the sunlight as droplets flew across their faces. Xue Laohu looked up just in time to see Xue Tuzi, his hair flowing in the wind, descending like a predator on Li Zhameng, who let out a startled yelp. Xue Tuzi's fierce speed and grace were almost too perfect.

Xue Laohu let out a deep sigh. Of course he's OP. Xue Tuzi was the main character, after all. It only made sense that he was this strong, outshining everyone else.

Just as Xue Laohu clapped his hands and called, "Alright, that's enough," signaling the end of the practice, his thoughts were interrupted by an all-too-familiar sound. The system had been suspiciously quiet, but now it returned with a vengeance, its grating, hoarse cough echoing directly into his ears.

Clasping his hands over his ears, Yi Ming winced as the system wheezed, struggling to catch its breath like a sickly old woman who had spent too much time smoking a pack of cigarettes. He groaned inwardly. Here we go again. This world was relentless, and so was the cursed system.

ENTER GONG ML: A FATAL ATTRACTION

Yi Ming stared blankly at the latest chapter title on the system screen, feeling a wave of exasperation wash over him. "What is up with these titles?" he muttered under his breath, hesitating to even look at the new mission prompt that had appeared in bold letters. This was the kind of scenario he dreaded—romance, drama, and, worst of all, another cryptic task.

AT THE FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN IS WHERE YOU WILL MEET. THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE IS WHO YOU SEEK.

Yi Ming groaned. "A riddle? Seriously? Can't this thing ever just be straightforward?" His annoyance bubbled up as he clicked for more information, only to be met with the system's annoying reply.

FOR 50 LIFE POINTS, USER MAY OBTAIN A SINGLE DESCRIPTION.

"Absolutely not!" Yi Ming shook his head furiously, slamming the screen shut. "I'm not falling for that scam again!" Last time he'd wasted points on a vague description, it had been a total disaster. The system's relentless coughing filled his ears again, making him clench his teeth.

24 HOURS. MISSION BEGINS NOW.

"Great," he muttered, standing there dumbfounded. "What mountain? Where? Who am I even looking for?" His mind raced with a thousand unanswered questions. The system wouldn't even offer a single clue without bleeding him dry of points. Frustrated, he tried to piece together what little he knew. The mission title hinted at a "Gong ML" and some form of fatal attraction, but that didn't give him much to go on.

Suddenly, it clicked. He remembered the title of the novel he was trapped in: Bound by Darkness, Yet Drawn by Love: The Demon's Eternal Curse and the Mortal's Unbreakable Heart followed by some unnecessary crap that he couldn't care to remember. It had sounded like melodramatic nonsense at the time, but now something stood out. There had been a mention of a demon—a dark, brooding figure—and that could only mean one thing. Xue Tuzi wasn't the demon. So, the mysterious "Gong ML" had to be the demon he was meant to find. 

"Of course," he nodded to himself, feeling smug about his deductive reasoning. "The Gong ML must be the demon."

But then his expression faltered as he recalled Lord Mao's warning from earlier. Stay away from the western foot of the mountain, he had said, explaining that the barrier there was weak, making it a hotspot for demons. Yi Ming grinned to himself, patting his own back well, that wasn't so hard, was it?

"That's it!" Xue Laohu declared with enthusiasm, his voice echoing through the training grounds. Li Zhameng lay sprawled on the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath. Nearby, Xue Tuzi drank calmly from his canteen. "Both of you will depart for the western foot of the mountain. It's time for both of you to put your skills to the test. You've both worked hard…" His gaze shifted from Li Zhameng, who still looked anxious, to Xue Tuzi, whose face was set with fierce determination.

"It's only been three months," Xue Laohu admitted, pacing slowly between them, "but I believe in your ability to conceal your aura. You've come far." He pulled a small stack of talismans from his robe. "Your task is simple. Pick a target and mark them with this talisman. Once you've done that, I'll know you've completed the assignment."

With a quick flick of his wrist, Xue Laohu doodled an intricate symbol on the talisman, muttering an incantation under his breath. The seals glowed faintly, and the energy rippled through the air, a subtle pulse of magic. He handed one to each disciple with a firm nod.

As they prepared to leave, Li Zhameng's face betrayed his lack of confidence. His eyes darted around nervously, his grip on the talisman tight, as if it might slip away. Noticing this, Xue Laohu placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, offering a gleaming smile. "You'll be fine. Trust in yourself. If Shizun has faith in you, then so should you."

Li Zhameng swallowed hard but bowed deeply. "If Shizun has faith in this disciple, then this disciple shall place faith in himself." His words wavered slightly, but his resolve strengthened. He turned toward the horizon, the sunset casting a golden glow across his face the green in his eyes shimmering. With one last glance at his master, he departed, the fading sunlight swallowing his form as he disappeared into the distance.

Xue Laohu turned his attention to Xue Tuzi, who bowed slightly, his movements sharp and swift. Without a word, he vanished into the shadows, his presence fading as quickly as a gust of wind.

As Xue Laohu was still adjusting to this bizarre new world, he watched his disciples vanish, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Little do they know one of them is about to meet the love of his life," he muttered, shaking his head at the absurdity of it all. The system had been unusually shady lately, and the ominous silence had him on edge.

His eyes narrowed. Something felt off. "Ugh, how could I have forgotten!" His hand smacked his forehead with a loud thud. Li Zhameng was just an NPC! A mere pawn in this world! What had he done, sending the poor guy off on a dangerous mission? Wasn't this exactly how NPCs met their tragic demise?

"No, no, no, not on my watch," He muttered to himself, quickly setting off in pursuit of his disciples. His heart raced, not for Xue Tuzi, the overpowered MC who could probably handle anything, but especially for Li Zhameng. He had practically sent him to his death. And if the system wasn't going to help, then he had no choice but to follow them both.