Qian Chang dashed into the woods, his speed so fast that he was just a blur, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Yao Shu, who was on the outermost side, was bumped on the shoulder and fell backward.

Behind her was another grave mound with its coffin lid wide open, but this time, it contained broken bones.

A sharp, pointed bone was aimed directly at Yao Shu's heart. The slippery mud fell, and her fall was so fast and strange that she didn't even have time to roll over and dodge.

At the critical moment, she felt someone grab her wrist and pull her backward.

"Clatter".

The emerald green jade bracelet on her wrist was stuck tightly in the crack at the edge of the coffin. The inertia caused her body to tilt, and her back slammed hard into the coffin. Bone spikes pierced through the air near her ears.

The burning bloodstains quickly started bleeding again. Yao Shu was pulled up by Fu Guanzai. She turned her head and asked urgently, "Did you just pull me up?"

"no."

He didn't even see how Yao Shu turned her body. The moment she fell, he thought Yao Shu was going to die.

Yao Shu swallowed hard, hugged her bracelet and kissed it several times. Her godfather was such a reliable person, her second parents!

Her joy lasted less than a second before she immediately asked, "What about Qian Chang?"

Jiang Xiaowan's expression was not good: "They are thinking of a solution."

Compared to Jiang Xiaowan, Shi Jinzhe's expression was slightly more solemn.

Qian Chang wasn't particularly outstanding among the nine people, but he didn't hold them back either. The idiotic plot wasn't his intention. The speed at which he chased after Yao Shu was just as fast as when she fell, which was unbelievably fast.

This was by no means his way of saving himself in response to Sheikh's words; rather, it was more like triggering the pattern that "people in horror movies always chase after strange people."

He took a picture of Shekh and said, "Please pass on my message."

Shekh nodded, put the vase to his ear, and translated in unison, “When I entered the game, I guessed that Qian Chang’s character was reckless and impulsive. He would use his intelligence to drive the plot, so he wouldn’t die too early. If he died late, there would most likely be a growth and sublimation plot. So I guess he is a very common protagonist configuration in youth adventure dramas.”

Fu Guan chimed in, "Yes, that's what I think too. This kind of character was very popular in old dramas. From today's perspective, it's hard to like this kind of character, but if we go back more than ten years, there were quite a few protagonists like this."

"That's the problem. The protagonist's character design from over a decade ago wasn't popular. So, to attract more readers, what do you think the author would do?"

Jiang Xiaowan: "...Let's replace the lead role with someone more popular."

Shi Jinzhe affirmed her point of view and asked Shehe to continue to help convey, "Qian Chang's suicide attempt just now may have been abandoned by the author because he was not likable enough. There will be a new protagonist among the eight of us."

"Will this really work?" Shekh couldn't stand this kind of last-minute plot change. Would anyone still watch if the main character was changed?

“I’ve never encountered this situation before, but the changed protagonist can be ruled out as me,” Yao Shu said. “The plot still wants me dead.”

Shi Jinzhe: "Our story has been constantly changing, and many of the twists and turns are particularly abrupt. Now I am certain that this is because the story was not yet finished when these events occurred. The author was constantly changing the plot. This is a serialized novel."

Only in this way can the sudden love triangle and the teacher-student relationship that begins after only one day of knowing each other be explained.

Because the author wants to attract readers with this kind of plot, they seek quick popularity. Awkward plots and disjointed transitions are not problems. As long as people are watching, they can write whatever people like.

Shi Jinzhe affirmed himself, "It's just a novel. If it were a movie or TV series, there would be actors, but our image is always ourselves. Novels make more sense."

He turned the golden vine ring, and the leaf buds on it pointed in the direction where Qian Chang had disappeared.

"The change of the main character has a huge impact. Even the most popular character will have some fans. Everyone needs to focus on the later plot. Yao Shu has escaped death twice, and no one has died yet. To increase the gore and violence, the author will make the deaths even more unexpected later on, like when Qian Chang knocks Yao Shu down—it's impossible to prevent, and..."

Shi Jinzhe lowered his eyes in thought, "I advise the five of you to pay more attention to your relationships, especially our 'Sea King'."

Fu Guan didn't want to express his opinion, but Shi Jinzhe's words were loaded with meaning. He had entanglements with every female player, which perfectly met the conditions for building a harem.

The four tarot cards previously sent out, guided by Jin Teng, were used to chase after Qian Chang. They were to find out whether the former male lead was dead or alive. If he was not dead, he would be allowed to return and continue as the male lead.

Fu Guan took out a cigarette, lit it, and asked, "Anyone want one?"

"Give me one." Jiang Xiaowan reached out her hand, comforting him, "Take it easy."

"I can't let it go. Love can transcend gender, but it can't transcend the number of people involved, okay?"

Shi Jinzhe was able to describe the abrupt turn of events, so he must have experienced something more than them. Since everyone was together throughout the entire story, it must have been based on feelings.

The fact that he could say something so abrupt in a relationship, and the way he looked like he'd had his life force drained that morning, definitely means something must have happened.

Ye Zhan said sarcastically, "Brother is really popular with the opposite sex."

"You're thinking of asking me for advice, maybe you could come and talk to me?"

Shekh recited her lines like a death knell, and no one except herself realized that the line was originally meant to be provocative.

Ye Zhan was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "I'm only fifteen years old."

"It's alright."

Anyone will do; all she wants is vitality and life. The dead are not distinguished by rank.

Fu Guan retorted, "Being fifteen years old doesn't stop you from envying me."

Ye Zhan wanted to say something, but his ankle tightened as the golden vines binding him sprouted sharp thorns that pierced his skin. Ye Zhan pulled back, "Brother...ga."

The unexpected quacking of the duck made everyone burst into laughter. Lin Shu laughed exaggeratedly, "Oh my, where did this duck come from?"

After time had passed and he had transformed from a duck into a pig, Ye Zhan's face fell. He had never been so humiliated. The worst part was that Shekh was keeping a close eye on him, and he couldn't move.

Shekh spoke up, "I have a bad temper. You're only alive now because Qian Chang is still reckless. If he dies, you'll be next."

It's still uncertain whether the task issued by the system is just a word game. If Qian Chang is the one who needs to change the course of death first, their self-rescue will fail because of his death.

If he dies and everyone else is fine, then her patience with Ye Zhan will run out.

If Qian Chang hadn't died, she would have endured until the game was over, since she hadn't settled the score with him for throwing his scythe when he charged in during the slander dungeon.