The Beauty's Misplacement: When Brother Becomes the "Heroine Harvester"

The sunset over the Magical Beast Mountain Range dyed the horizon a deep orange. Xiao Yan squatted by the creek, gnawing on dry rations while staring resentfully at Xiao Feng, who was chatting happily with Xun Er not far away. Ever since the teleportation array malfunctioned and brought them here, he had witnessed this scene three times—his brother always managed to hit the "hero saves the beauty" plot points with pinpoint accuracy, while the destinies that should have been his were sprouting wings and flying toward Xiao Feng instead.

"Yao Lao, do you think this is reasonable?" Xiao Yan transmitted his voice into the ring. "Xun Er was supposed to smile at me, but now she's blushing at Third Brother!"

Yao Lao's voice trembled with suppressed laughter. "Kid, your brother's temperament... ahem, mature and steady, plus he possesses the Emperor Flame; he's naturally more attractive to young ladies than a greenhorn like you."

"But he's my brother!" Xiao Yan felt like crying. He watched helplessly as Xiao Feng took off his coat and draped it over Xun Er's shoulders, and she actually accepted it with a shy expression. "And Cai Lin is even more ridiculous! Yesterday, she clearly came looking for me, but after seeing Third Brother, she handed him a Snake Clan Sacred Artifact right then and there!"

Yao Lao was silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "Perhaps... this is a system bug?"

As they spoke, a woman's cry for help echoed from the distance. Xiao Yan jumped up by reflex, only to see Xiao Feng had already dashed out a step ahead of him, the Emperor Flame dancing in his palm as he headed straight toward the source of the sound. By the time Xiao Yan caught up, he saw Xiao Feng confronting a woman in a green dress, who had the signature medicine pouch of Xiao Yi Xian hanging from her waist.

"This Humble One is Xiao Feng. Has the young lady encountered danger?" Xiao Feng asked gently, the patterns of the Emperor Scale glowing softly in the sunset.

The woman in the green dress blushed and actually threw herself into Xiao Feng's arms. "Big Brother Xiao, save me! Those bad people want to capture me to refine medicine!"

Xiao Yan's pupils constricted—wasn't this the exact scene of his first encounter with Xiao Yi Xian in the original story?! He watched as Xiao Feng patted the woman's back, whispering comfort, and when she looked up, her eyes were filled with pure adoration.

"Xiao Yi Xian..." Xiao Yan muttered. "Wake up, I'm the one you're supposed to end up with!"

Yao Lao finally burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Kid, it looks like your brother has stolen all your 'protagonist halo'!"

When night fell, the group rested in a cave. Xun Er took the initiative to sit by Xiao Feng's side, bandaging the scrapes on his arm; Xiao Yi Xian clutched her medicine pouch, insisting on feeding Xiao Feng the "Beauty Pill" she had just refined; even Yun Yun, who was passing by, was moved by Xiao Feng's "Xiao Clan righteousness" and left behind a communication jade slip from the White Cloud Sect.

Xiao Yan bit into his roasted meat, his mind frantically complaining: This plot progression is all wrong! What happened to Xun Er's cold and aloof persona? What about Xiao Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body? How did they all turn into the "Xiao Feng Fan Club"?

"Xiao Yan, pass me some water." Xiao Feng, completely unaware of his brother's psychological trauma, asked with a smile.

Xiao Yan passed the water skin with a blank expression, then a sudden thought flashed through his mind: "Third Brother, don't you think Lady Xun Er is very beautiful?"

Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow. "Indeed, the daughter of the Gu Clan has an extraordinary temperament."

"And what about Xiao Yi Xian?"

"Kind-hearted, with a high talent for alchemy."

"And Sect Master Yun Yun?"

"Righteous and noble, a respectable senior."

Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. This guy had no idea he was romancing the heroines! He decided to change his approach: "Third Brother, actually, they are all..." Before he could finish, a system prompt interrupted him:

Ding! Host has triggered the "Brother's Destiny" plot, obtaining the "Brother of a Brother" achievement!

Xiao Yan has obtained the title "Lonely Youth," with a "Single and Happy" gift pack x1 included.

"System, are you messing with me?!" Xiao Yan roared internally, but then he saw Xiao Feng point outside the cave: "Something is moving!"

The group rushed out of the cave to see the Soul Clan's "Nether Ghost Ship" hovering in the air, with Hun Dan and a controlled Gu Yuan standing at the bow. Hun Dan held the Soul Burial Abyss jade slip, waving his hand with a sinister grin as countless Nether Ghost Fires rained down upon the ground.

"Protect the ladies!" Xiao Feng shouted, the Emperor Flame transforming into a shield to keep Xun Er and Xiao Yi Xian behind him. Xiao Yan gripped his Heavy Xuan Ruler, only to see Yun Yun strike first, fighting side-by-side with Xiao Feng. Their coordination was seamless, appearing even more in sync than his own first team-up with her.

"Ahhh!" Xiao Yan screamed in despair, swinging his ruler at the ghost fire. "Did this broken system send my script to Third Brother by mistake?!"

Yao Lao coughed twice. "Calm down, this might be a good thing... Look, your brother is doing the legwork for you; won't it be easier for you to take over later?"

"Who wants it to be easy!" Xiao Yan felt like crying, but he watched as Xiao Feng and Yun Yun, after repelling the ghost ship, began discussing "how to rebuild the alliance between the Xiao Clan and the White Cloud Sect," while Yun Yun's gaze toward Xiao Feng was clearly filled with admiration and affection.

Hun Dan, witnessing this from the ship, suddenly laughed wildly: "Xiao Feng, you've stolen Xiao Yan's women, but do you know they all carry 'Destined Bonds'? Once the system bug is fixed, they will all return to Xiao Yan's side—and you will be left with nothing!"

Xiao Feng frowned. "What are you talking about?"

But Hun Dan had already vanished into the black mist. Xiao Yan looked at his brother's confused expression and suddenly had an epiphany—it was all a "character displacement" caused by a system glitch! Once the system was repaired, everything would return to normal!

Thinking of this, Xiao Yan suddenly felt relieved, even wanting to laugh. He patted Xiao Feng on the shoulder: "Third Brother, enjoy the 'protagonist treatment' while you can, don't be shy."

Xiao Feng was bewildered: "What protagonist?"

Xun Er misunderstood and said softly: "Brother Xiao Yan, do not be sad. Your brother is upright and righteous; he will certainly not let the ladies down."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded along: "That's right, Big Brother Xiao is one of the few truly good men in this world!"

Xiao Yan looked at their earnest expressions and almost laughed out loud. He decided not to reveal the truth for now; the system would fix itself anyway. He might as well watch how Xiao Feng navigated this "wrong script"—perhaps he could even use this opportunity to let Xiao Feng suffer a little?

The system prompt sounded right on cue:

Ding! Host has activated "Eating Melons and Watching the Show" mode, obtaining the "Brother's Resentment" buff (Attack Power +10%, Sarcasm Power +100%).

In the dead of night, Xiao Yan sat alone on the mountain peak, gazing at the starry sky. Yao Lao suddenly spoke: "Kid, are you really going to let your brother keep stealing your women?"

Xiao Yan chuckled: "No, I plan to help him steal them even more thoroughly—when the system is repaired, maybe I can even snatch Hun Dan's 'Destined Protagonist' halo. Besides..." A cunning glint flashed in his eyes, "Watching Third Brother scramble to deal with three women is much more interesting than cultivation."

Yao Lao shook his head and laughed: "You, you're becoming more and more devious. But that's fine; if this can help Xiao Feng break through his emotional shackles, he might be able to master the Emperor Flame even faster."

The mountain breeze brushed past, carrying the sound of Xiao Feng and Xun Er's conversation from afar. Xiao Yan's lips curled upward as he gripped the Heavy Xuan Ruler in his hand—no matter how chaotic the plot became, he always believed that the destiny belonging to him would never slip away. Besides... watching his brother look so troubled was simply too entertaining!