For Tang Li, food is the most important thing in life. Not only does she want to eat her fill, but she also wants to eat well. As a chef, her way of being good to people is to make lots of delicious food and feed those she likes.

Previously in the Ghostly Crying Forest, she couldn't fully utilize her skills due to the lack of ingredients and tools. Now that she's out, Tang Li feels she should at least make a good meal for the young deity first.

It's just... "I don't know if the shop owner will be willing to lend the kitchen." Tang Li is a bit worried.

Xun Nu leads her towards the kitchen, his tone calm and steady despite his hoarseness, "He will agree."

Tang Li smiles, "That's right, I see the shop owner and waiter here seem quite agreeable."

The "quite agreeable" shop owner indeed consented to Tang Li's request, though his smile is a bit stiff. Having obtained permission, Tang Li rolled up her sleeves and walked around the small kitchen, picking up the seasonings to examine them, then went to select ingredients.

The shop didn't have many ingredients either. The meats hanging on one side looked quite fresh, but the other vegetables were few and not very fresh.

While Tang Li was busy working in the kitchen, the shop owner stood there watching with a smiling face. Tang Li assumed he wanted to make sure she didn't damage anything in the kitchen, so she didn't mind. Xun Nu similarly stood motionless to one side, as if confronting the owner.

In the end, out of worry that Xun Nu would get hungry from waiting too long, and because there really weren't many ingredients, Tang Li only cooked a pot of noodles. Though it was just noodles, the broth used the shop's simmered soup stock, with a balanced mix of meat and vegetable toppings, seasoned with a secret homemade braising sauce. When served, the color, aroma and flavor are all excellent, whetting one's appetite.

The two quietly finish the noodles. Tang Li suddenly says, "I see it's still early, why don't we leave today and see if we can reach a nearby town."

Xun Nu didn't say much and nods in agreement.

After the two leave the shop and walk some distance, Tang Li slowly exhales, suddenly grasping Xun Nu's hand tightly and quietly telling him, "When I went outside the kitchen to get firewood, I discovered bloodstains under the woodpile with a corpse hidden underneath... There's definitely something wrong with that shop."

Originally planning to rest at that shop for the night, how could she dare stay any longer after seeing the corpse. If she hadn't seen so many corpses in the Ghostly Crying Forest the past few days, she probably would have lost her composure on the spot, let alone calmly returning to finish cooking the noodles.

Worried the owner would notice and silence her, she pretended to know nothing, enduring with great difficulty.

Hearing this, Xun Nu finally understood why she suddenly wanted to leave. Seeing that she still seemed a bit shaken, he can't help but reassure, "It'll be fine, they're just some ordinary black-hearted bandits." He doesn't take them seriously.

Tang Li listens and misunderstands. She sighs inwardly, seeing Xun Nu treat it so routinely, this world must be very dangerous. If shady inns are considered ordinary, they'll probably encounter them often in the future.

Actually, since transmigrating to this world, she first spent a few days at the city lord's manor in North City, then went to the Ghostly Crying Forest, not having experienced too many of this world's ways.

"This is probably just the cruelty of the jianghu." Lady Tang Li muses after letting her imagination run wild.

Xun Nu felt she must have misunderstood something, but thinking how she seems to lack wariness towards people, he decided not to explain. It was better to have some vigilance.

"There's a town nearby, but it's too far from us. I'm afraid we won't reach it before dark." Since Xun Nu said so, Tang Li decided the two of them will camp out for a night. Finding a place shielded from the wind, they built a campfire to rest.

Out of habit, even after discovering it was a shady inn, the young lady didn't forget to bring flatbreads before leaving. She stuffed the flatbreads with meat and vegetable fillings to be dipped in the accompanying sauce, and filled a pot with hot soup, so the two had another good meal in the evening.

The past few days, they had been camping out. Even with a small shed, it couldn't completely block the wind. Plus, with Xun Nu injured, the two had to huddle together to rest. But today, Tang Li looks at Xun Nu sitting by the campfire and feels it's not very appropriate to get close.

This is the strange thing about people. In a special environment where they rely on each other to survive, when conditions are harsh, it's very easy to cast aside other external factors and actually get close more freely. But once returning to human society, one can't be as unrestrained as before.

The wind is cold at night, with dew as well. The warmth from the campfire is limited. Tang Li buried her face against her knees, dozing uncomfortably, and toppled to one side in a daze. Xun Nu also closed his eyes to rest while holding his blade.

As Tang Li's body tilts, he seemed able to see it and swiftly reached out to support her, catching her head upright.

Tang Li's head rested on his hand as she woke, blankly glancing at him. Xun Nu opened his eyes and their gazes met. He then silently sat beside her, and Tang Li also silently leaned over, continuing to sleep.

Waking in the morning, Tang Li found herself lying in Xun Nu's embrace, her head pillowed on his thigh. Subconsciously turning to nuzzle, she discovered the tip of her nose is pressed against the front of his clothes, seeming to brush against his abs.

First thing in the morning, it's too stimulating.

The two set out again. Tang Li finally can't help asking Xun Nu, "Xun Nu, will you leave? You should have your own life, right?" She can't remember the original plot clearly and didn't know what happens next.

Xun Nu has also considered this matter, but he wasn't at ease about Tang Li. She seemed to not understand many things. So he says, "I won't leave. I'll go after you've settled down and gotten used to things."

Tang Li lets out an "oh" and looks at him, eyes smiling, "Can you tell me what you do?"

Xun Nu didn't hesitate and states directly, "Assassin."

Seeing he's not concealing it, Tang Li's smile grows wider, "I think you must be a very formidable assassin, so I know you won't walk with me for too long. I only know how to make food, and just want to find a slightly more stable place to open a small shop and make a living. In the future, if you think of me, or if you're hungry, tired, or injured, you can always come find me."

For some reason, she occupied someone else's body, but still had to live her own life. She had already made up her mind. The fate between people cannot be forced, and neither can feelings. If Xun Nu is willing to walk with her for a while, she will be very happy.

He is the most familiar existence to her in this strange world. For Xun Nu, she only has a wish from when she was a young girl - she hoped that he can live well and not be trapped by others.

The Xun Nu inside died for the female lead Chu Li, and now Chu Li has become Tang Li. Tang Li will not let Xun Nu die for her.

When the two stopped to take a short break, Xun Nu heard the sound of fighting not far away, and it was getting closer and closer to them.

"Wait here." After instructing, Xun Nu disappeared in the blink of an eye. He came silently to the place where the smell of blood was coming from, and saw a ground full of corpses. There were also seven people dressed as assassins surrounding and attempting to kill a young man in brocade robes.

The man's martial arts were not high, and in the blink of an eye, he was forced to the brink of death, but he was still struggling desperately.

At this moment, one of the seven assassins discovered Xun Nu and immediately warned, "Who are you? I advise you not to interfere in this matter, otherwise we will kill you along with him!"

The young man in brocade robes was in a desperate situation. Seeing Xun Nu, it was as if he saw a glimmer of hope. He didn't care about anything anymore and shouted, "I beg the hero to save me, I am Yuwen Jin, the ninth young master of the East City!"

Xun Nu took one look and was about to leave. This had nothing to do with him. Except for missions, he generally does not take action.

Seeing his expressionless face about to leave, Yuwen Jin was almost in despair. From the vaguely wary attitude of the few assassins, he knew that this passerby brother was very likely to be very powerful.

He originally thought it was a turn for the better, but who knew the passerby brother didn't want to get involved at all. Was he really going to die here today? Yuwen Jin gritted his teeth one last time and shouted without hope, "As long as you save me, I have a reward. You can have as much gold as you want! All the silver and money on my body are yours!"

A top expert would not be moved by this little benefit. Yuwen Jin was just struggling one last time. How could he have imagined that after shouting this sentence, the passerby brother actually stopped, turned around and drew his saber.

Yuwen Jin didn't even see his movements clearly. He only felt a gust of cold wind, and shadows flashed by his side. In the blink of an eye, the passerby brother who was standing on a tree branch looking down from above had already leaped down and forced back the seven assassins beside him.

Then there was another burst of clashing sounds of swords. Yuwen Jin only saw those assassins who had previously forced him to the point of breathlessness continuously retreating, each with a very ugly expression. The swords in their hands were cut off by that one frosty long saber. The broken swords fell to the ground and stuck into the mud.

Someone fell backwards clutching their neck, and someone knelt forward, each with a line of blood at their throats. Only one person luckily escaped at the last moment. He stared at Xun Nu with a face full of fear, muttered a "Xun" and then turned and ran.

Xun Nu raised his eyes. At the same time he sheathed his saber, the tip of his foot lightly kicked a broken sword. With a thud, that broken sword pierced into that person's back, right in the center, completely disappearing.

The last assassin fell. In just a short instant, the situation had greatly changed. Yuwen Jin was still standing to the side holding his sword in a daze.

Seeing Xun Nu walking towards him, he subconsciously took a step back. Xun Nu stared at him expressionlessly, staring until Yuwen Jin's legs went soft. Only after a long time did he react to what this big shot wanted to do. The sword in his hand clattered to the ground as he reached into his bosom and sleeve pockets, taking out all the money on his body.

"There's only a hundred tael silver note, these two gold ingots, and some loose silver." Yuwen Jin was a little ashamed. "I was just out for a stroll and didn't bring much money. Why don't you come with me to get..."

Xun Nu took the money, turned and left. "It's enough."

Yuwen Jin: What? It's enough? Just this little bit of money is enough, is my life only worth this little bit of pocket change?

He froze for a moment, looked back at the ground full of corpses, hurriedly picked up the sword on the ground and followed Xun Nu. "Friend, I'm serious. Actually, I think my life is still quite precious. Otherwise, you can escort me home and I'll give you ten times, no, a hundred times the reward."

Xun Nu suddenly stopped. His eyes like cold stars glanced at him, his voice hoarse and cold, "Don't follow."

Yuwen Jin shuddered. He had no doubt that if he followed, he would end up like those assassins. He didn't dare to follow anymore and could only stand there watching the person disappear with longing eyes.

Tang Li waited for Xun Nu to return. Seeing that he was clean and his breathing was steady with nothing wrong, she put her mind at ease.

"Nothing happened right? It seems to be a bit unsafe here, let's leave first." As Tang Li spoke, she saw Xun Nu take out the silver notes, gold, and loose silver and put them in her hand.

Tang Li was stunned for a moment.

Xun Nu said, "I helped someone just now and received this thanks in return."

Tang Li understood. The little male god had earned some extra money.

"You... it's because I said earlier that I wanted to open a shop but didn't have money, so you...?" Tang Li asked tentatively.

Xun Nu said, "I have money, but it's not convenient to get it from the organization right now. You can use this for the time being."

In this life, Tang Li had always been self-reliant. After becoming an adult, she was the one supporting others. This was the first time someone else earned money to support her.

She looked at Xun Nu's bright eyes, put away the money, and showed him a smile. "Okay, this is all your food and lodging expenses stored with me. It's enough for you to eat and stay with me for a long time."

The two left together. Meanwhile, Yuwen Jin, who had kindly provided a wave of startup funds, stood alone in the woods, pondering how to return by himself without a cent.

They didn't know that in the original story, the female lead Chu Li and Xun Nu encountered Yuwen Jin and saved him from the assassins. Chu Li's lively personality quickly made her become friends with Yuwen Jin, so they went to the East City together with him.

But now, because of Xun Nu's obstruction, Yuwen Jin didn't even meet Tang Li, and the three didn't travel together. The plot began to deviate from here.

In the North City lord's manor, in the closed secret room, Xiahou Xuanyu suddenly opened his eyes.

A panel appeared in front of him.

— "Has your inner personality already awakened?"

Xiahou Xuanyu said indifferently, "What do you think? In such a short time, how could my world have deviated again?" Although his tone was indifferent, his eyes were full of anger.

Not long ago, he had just lost the male lead's fortune in a world, having been cuckolded by the damn male supporting character Sima Jiao and the female lead Liao Tingyan. The anger hadn't even dissipated when he discovered that the world he controlled had once again experienced a plot deviation.

"What's the situation this time?" Xiahou Xuanyu asked.

The panel displayed - "Situation unclear. Alert, the plot deviation of this world is at six percent."

Xiahou Xuanyu frowned, "With such a small deviation value, it shouldn't be necessary to awaken my inner persona."

- "Both the storyline and the emotional line have deviated."

Xiahou Xuanyu clicked his tongue, "The emotional line has also deviated so quickly? By how much?"

- "The emotional line has deviated by one hundred percent. After inspection, the emotional state between the female lead and the second male lead of this world is mutually affectionate, to the extent of being completely devoted to each other."

Xiahou Xuanyu: ".................."

What the hell!?

Author's Note:

Original Male Lead: Just add a little green dye.

Me: No way.