The Path Of A Cannon Fodder 6 Chapter 5- 1.5

The reason Bai AnLing was so mad was that this whole story about Lin Li's life and death was actually only the start of the novel.

"This plot is so messed up! Not only does Lin Li lose everything given to him by his grandpa, the things he created himself are taken away from him and claimed to belong to another person! Why is it that after he suffered all of this, even his death is only used to start the story progress?!"

Just as Bai AnLing said the story actually begins in Lin Li death, giving Shui Hong his fame and fortune, only described in a few sentences. The main plot is about how after 'he' succeeded and got famous Shui Hong meet He Ju, a famous gallery owner who fell in love with 'his' artworks. It speaks mainly about how it was love at first sight for the both of them and about how after dating for a some time and overcoming many struggles in their relations.h.i.+p together, they finally get married in the end of the book and even have two kids of their own.

His death was the last thing mentioned about Lin Li in this story, which infuriated Bai AnLing to no end. He once again walked to the book, stomping on it until the brown leather cover was turning white from dust and covered in shoe prints. Seeing it's host was getting out of control and was abusing the cover of the special plot information book, Vine decided to try and calm Bai AnLing down.

[Host, please calm down. Your missions are to prevent Lin Li's death, get revenge against the Shui family and to become a famous artist. You will surely get your chance to release your anger later on.]

Hearing the logic in Vine's words, Bai AnLing took a few breaths to calm down and in the meantime looked around him once again. After a minute or so, Bai AnLing was once again calm and able to think clearly.

"I see, these are good missions.... By the way Vine, I still don't understand why I'm in this shabby room. Isn't Lin Li supposed to still be rich and live with the Shui family at this point of the story?"

[.....]

Not hearing an answer Bai AnLing thought that maybe Vine was having some technical issues at the moment and repeated his question, only to encounter the same silence as before.

"Why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

He questioned Vine, his head slightly tilting to the side in suspicion.

[.....]

Vine kept quiet, making Bai AnLing wary of its behavior.

"Vine?"

He once again inquired, his phoenix eyes narrowing.

'Vine, you shouldn't dare to try and hide anything from me or lie to me, or else....'

His expression showed such warning on it in a very clear way, making Vine feel very uncomfortable, like a lamb waiting to be sacrificed. Bai AnLing narrowed his eyes even farther as he continued to question Vine, his image becoming one of a dangerous yet somewhat seductive young man. This image however, made Vine even more uncomfortable, as it felt virtual s.h.i.+vers running down it's spine.

"Vine, are you possibly hiding something very important from me?"

After another short silence Vine hesitatingly spoke, carefully and cautiously monitoring Bai AnLing's expressions for any change. Although it knew that it had no body for Bai AnLing to harm, its host at the moment was very scary in Vine's eyes.

[Remember how the information said you were in the 17 years old body of Lin Li?]

"Yes...?"

By now, Bai AnLing already realized something was very wrong and he probably won't like whatever it was.

[So....That information was prepared before you came to this world....]

"Are you telling me there is a mistake?"

[...]

Vine once again kept his quiet, as he was hesitant to talk.

"Stop stalling already! What is it?!"

Bai AnLing crossed his hands in annoyance. Whatever the mistake was, it will later on cause him a lot of headaches, that much he understood. Realizing there was no escaping its fate Vine got prepared to be yelled at, speaking in a small voice.

[Well....The thing is that you were accidentally Transmigrated to the 18 years old body of Lin Li instead, right after he lost everything....]

Bai AnLing could feel his eye twitching as he heard those words.

"So you are saying that I was accidentally transmigrated to the time after Lin Li was schemed out of all of his money and properties, so I can't prevent that from happening anymore?..."

Although his tone sounded light, when combined with the dangerous s.h.i.+ne in his eyes, it was obvious Bai AnLing did not find this situation entertaining at all. Another s.h.i.+ver ran down Vine's back as it answered.

[I'm afraid so... But because it was our mistake, you will not be panelized for failing to get Lin Li's fortune back...]

Bai AnLing's mouth twitched before twisting to a forced smile, he was so mad his hands trembled. He tried clenching his fists a few times in order to calm himself down, but didn't manage to succeed.

"...I...won't....be...panelized...?!"

His voice cracked as he spoke and he couldn't master the power to stand anymore, so he went to sit down on the small bed in the room.

[Yes host, you won't be penalized.]

".....And that's all?...."

After sitting on the bed he finally managed to stable his voice and talk properly. He spoke in the light hearted tone he used before again, making Vine cringe.

[What else could there be? It's a big gesture of apology....]

The naive system never knew what it was getting into by saying these words, regretting them later for a long time.

"You are saying....that for getting transported to the time after Lin Li lost everything, sequentially, causing him to lose his life only a year later....I get the 'amazing' gift of exemption from penalty?"

As he spoke, Bai AnLing's tone became more and more bitter, until it turned cynical at the end of it. Vine was confused, what did it possibly say that was wrong?

[Yes host, that is correct....]

"So right now, I'm in the body of someone that's going to die in one year of overwork and starvation, I have no means or money to prevent it and when I die one year later, I just won't be penalized?!?!"

Finally, he snapped. If Vine had a body, at that moment it would have been beaten to a pulp. Instead, Bai AnLing let all of his anger on the poor system, las.h.i.+ng on it for more than an hour while using some strong words that should not be repeated out loud. The verbal abuse only stopped after Vine had apologize incessantly and promised to make it up to Bai AnLing.

In order to compensate his host, Vine told Bai AnLing that it'll give him some skills that will not only help to prevent his death in a year's time but will also help to complete his missions more easily.

'The supervisors will not like hearing about this... It will probably be taken off my paycheck...'

The poor system thought to itself.

"You said you will give me skills right? What are they?"

[Yes host, the skills that I'll give you will be installed in your brain to freely use in this world. After you move to a new world though, they will be automatically removed.]

"I see. That's fine by me."

Vine sighed in relief, hearing their host was finally calm and accepted it's conditions.

[I am allowed to give you two skills. First, the skill to express in your art whatever you want exactly as you picture it in your mind, and second, the skill to persuade people to do as you wish them to do. The second skill only works as long as your wish is not totally against the person it was used on's beliefs or the laws. Both skills are active skills, as you need to consciously use them. They will not activate on their own.]

Hearing it's words till the end, Bai AnLing became lost in his thoughts and considering his options for the future.

"These aren't so bad... You did a good job Vine."

[Thank you host. I'm glad you are satisfied.]

If it had a body, Vine would have slumped on the floor on that moment, due to relief. It also made a note to itself to not ever again anger it's host, since Bai AnLing was extremely scary when he was angry.