Chapter 1: Wait a Minute, There's Something Off About This System

Emergency Room.

Chu Qiao sat weakly on a chair, her head wrapped in thick gauze. Her face, arms, and every patch of bare skin bore the raw marks of the accident. Yet the emergency room was packed with people far more seriously injured than she was—cries of pain, sobs, and desperate pleas for help mingled into an oppressive cacophony that made it hard to breathe.

Above her, the television broadcast the latest news: “On the afternoon of October 25, a major traffic accident occurred on Changqiao Avenue, resulting in ten fatalities so far…”

Chu Qiao clutched her phone tightly, summoning her courage for a long moment before finally dialing a number.

It was answered quickly.

A flicker of hope rose in her chest as she softly called out, “Mom…”

But the woman on the other end ignored her, her voice filled with fondness and praise as she spoke to someone else: “Our little princess is truly stunning tonight! Mr. Lu will be utterly taken with you!”

Chu Qiao fell silent, then called louder, “Mom!”

Only then did her mother notice her, her tone tinged with impatience. “Qiao Qiao? Didn’t I tell you to accompany your sister to Mr. Lu’s banquet tonight? Why are you calling instead of hurrying home to help?”

Chu Qiao was used to her mother’s favoritism. She replied softly, “Mom, I was in a car accident…”

Her mother hesitated, her tone gentler when she spoke again. “Are you all right? Is it serious?”

“It’s not too bad—a mild concussion.”

Her mother let out a breath of relief. “That’s good, that’s good. Qiao Qiao, do you think you can endure it and come with your sister to the banquet? You know, if it weren’t for Mr. Lu’s grandmother’s illness, and his decision to invite top medical experts from across the country to help, we wouldn’t have this opportunity… Your sister’s teacher is Academician Cai, a giant in the medical field—this is her best chance to catch Mr. Lu’s attention. There have been ugly rumors about our family’s character and harmony; if you don’t show up, won’t it just prove them true? If Mr. Lu forms a bad impression of our family or your sister because of this, you’ll have ruined her entire future!”

Chu Qiao closed her eyes in despair, her heart turning icy cold.

Three years ago, the Chu family had brought her home from the orphanage, claiming she was their biological daughter—Chu Han’s twin sister. To be accepted, she was told she had to be obedient, thoughtful, and filial—a good daughter and a good older sister.

For three years, she never once contradicted her parents or refused any of Chu Han’s requests. Even when Chu Han bullied classmates in her third year of high school, Chu Qiao took the blame and the disciplinary record.

She wasn’t expelled, but that stain would remain on her file forever.

Chu Qiao thought this would win her a family. In the end, she was still an outsider. In her mother’s eyes, even a car accident mattered less than Chu Han’s banquet.

Perhaps it was the brush with death, but in this moment, Chu Qiao suddenly saw things clearly. Why wait for someone else’s love, when she could love herself?

“Qiao Qiao, did you hear what I said?” Her mother called again, impatient at her silence.

“I heard you,” Chu Qiao replied flatly.

Her mother sighed in relief. “Good. Which hospital are you in? I’ll send the driver to pick you up. If you feel unwell, just bear with it until the banquet is over—then I’ll personally take you to see a doctor…”

Chu Qiao cut her off. “There’s no need. I won’t be coming back to the Chu family. From now on, I have nothing to do with you.”

Her mother froze, then, realizing what Chu Qiao had said, exploded in anger. “Chu Qiao, can’t you be a little more sensible? I said I’d personally take you to the hospital—what more do you want? Must you make a scene at your sister’s important banquet?”

Chu Qiao had no intention of listening further. She hung up.

Her mother called several more times, but Chu Qiao ignored them all. Perhaps stung by her silence, her mother sent a message: “Chu Qiao, if you keep this up, don’t even think about interning at the City Hospital! A top-tier hospital like that would never accept a high schooler nearly expelled for bullying!”

She was threatening her with this?

Fury flared in Chu Qiao, and she couldn’t help but text back: “You promised when you made me take the blame for Chu Han that you’d fix it, that it wouldn’t affect my future! How can you do this?”

Her mother knew full well that working at City Hospital was her greatest dream.

But she didn’t reply. Her meaning was clear: if Chu Qiao didn’t obey, she’d destroy her future.

Chu Qiao trembled with rage, her heart sinking into icy water. Was compromise her only option? Was there no way to fight back?

Ding! Congratulations, host, on awakening the Villain’s Counterattack System!

Chu Qiao was stunned.

Lines of small text suddenly appeared before her eyes.

You were once the personal disciple of Lin Yanfeng, the Elder of the Medicine Garden of the world’s greatest sect, Supreme Mystery Sect. Later, considering the world too foolish to be saved, you defected and embraced the demonic path, choosing destruction over salvation.

After ten thousand years of arduous cultivation, you finally gained the power to end the world! But just as you were about to succeed, you were defeated and sealed by your beloved junior fellow disciple—Lu Jingtian, your precious little junior.

Reborn once more, you resolve to learn from your mistakes. This time, you will befriend Lu Jingtian while he is still weak, win his absolute trust, and instill in him the belief that the demonic path is the righteous one—making him a powerful ally in your quest for destruction!

Chu Qiao was utterly baffled.

What was this? Could this be the legendary system?

Granted, she’d just been thinking about resisting, but starting with world destruction seemed a bit much! And what kind of backstory was this? Sects? Cultivation? What did any of it have to do with her?

System? she tried, setting her grief aside to inquire mentally. What time is it? What world is this? Who am I?

A cold, mechanical voice sounded in her mind: It is the year 700 of the Celestial Era, on the Tianxun Continent. You are the greatest demonic cultivator of this world—Chu Qiao.

Wait… Did that mean there was a demonic cultivator in another world with her exact name, and the system had picked the wrong person?

Chu Qiao had endured enough misfortune—she had no desire for an inexplicable system. She tried to clarify: System, this is the modern world, the 21st century, in Huaguo… You’ve got the wrong host.

The system fell silent for a long time.

Then, in a mechanical monotone, it issued a mission:

First mission:
Go to the Lu residence in the capital and cure Old Madam Lu’s rare illness. Establish yourself in Lu Jingtian’s eyes as a peerless master. Gain his absolute trust and exchange contact information.
This is a novice mission and cannot be abandoned.
Reward: Ten mid-grade spirit stones, one beginner demonic skill.
Completing system missions will allow you to cultivate both righteous and demonic paths without betraying your sect, greatly increasing your chance of world destruction. Please cherish this opportunity!

Chu Qiao: ???

Why did the system sound as though it had simply given up?

But this wasn’t a cultivation world—how was she supposed to complete the mission? Was it insane?

She had no patience for this nonsense and prepared to leave the hospital. Her mood, already poor, worsened at the system’s absurdity.

Mission time limit: ten days. If you fail, you will be struck by lightning; your soul will be utterly annihilated.

Chu Qiao froze in her tracks.