A Thorny Rose (Transmigrate into a Book)

A friendly warning (potential landmines): This is an early work. There are quite a few male characters in the early and middle sections, and some of the wording is less than ideal. Before transmigrating, Zhong Zhaojun had a daughter (with her ex-girlfriend).

Character setup: A growing, faux-airheaded top x a tsundere bottom who says one thing and means another

Awful blurb: Blood seeped through the gaps between Zhong Zhaojun's fingers. Her bony hand couldn't plug the hole in Mu Xiyun's chest, and the other's life slipped away with her warmth.

The once-arrogant Mu Xiyun seemed relieved. Her breathtaking face turned deathly pale, like a rose stripped of its thorns, and soon withered away.

As Zhong Zhaojun's own face turned pale, a voice suddenly sounded in her mind:

"Ding. Due to the heroine's death, the novel world of 'The Thorned Rose' has collapsed. The Host must transmigrate into the book again to eliminate the variable who, like the Host, transmigrated from Earth into the male lead, Fang Jingtian. Help the heroine rise to the top. Please confirm or refuse. Refusal will result in immediate death."

I thought I had only transmigrated, but I actually transmigrated into a book, too? And it's a Western fantasy novel... Plus, that title doesn't sound like something from Green River at all. Before I transmigrated, I wouldn't have clicked on it... Zhong Zhaojun used complaints to calm her racing heart. With no choice but to choose, she pressed confirm, then belatedly asked, "Do I need to win over the heroine or the male lead?"

The System replied in a cold, mechanical voice, "This is a no-CP novel. The Host must ensure the heroine's safety. There are no romance-related objectives."

Good... Watching Mu Xiyun die had shaken her. She was going to stop the heroine from getting engaged to that scumbag and make sure the rose kept all its thorns.

After being reborn, Zhong Zhaojun not only grew stronger, but gradually noticed a change in Mu Xiyun's attitude. The System hadn't asked her to win over anyone romantically, but it was obvious that the things she did were giving the heroine the wrong idea. Why did it seem like the heroine, who hadn't been straight to begin with, was getting even gayer?

After trying to sound her out several times, Zhong Zhaojun came to a conclusion: she was straight.

So she let her heart do as it pleased and treated the heroine with boundless affection.

But she was wrong this time. Faced with an airhead she couldn't get through to, Mu Xiyun decided to be direct and confess boldly.

No longer able to deceive herself, Zhong Zhaojun closed her eyes and fell silent. Should she abandon her family and stay after the mission ended?

Silence spoke louder than words. Not wanting to lose control in front of the one she loved, Mu Xiyun wiped away her tears and left, while Zhong Zhaojun set out to find her answer.

If Mu Xiyun didn't forgive her, she would deserve it.

She couldn't bear a world without Mu Xiyun.

In the end, she discovered that she had had no choice at the beginning, and she had no choice in the outcome, either. "It was you!"

The five specific Extraordinary Paths (details filled in according to the main text; Sequences Nine through Seven have no special titles)

Path of the Hammer of Destruction:

Sequence Six (Metal Controller)

Sequence Five (Deceiver)

Sequence Four (Traverser)

Sequence Three (Disciple)

Sequence Two (Observer)

Sequence One (Void Servant)

Sequence Zero (Night Emperor)

Path of the World Tree:

Sequence Six (Puppeteer)

Sequence Five (Undying One)

Sequence Four (Trojan Horse)

Sequence Three (Dreamweaver)

Sequence Two (Prophet)

Sequence One (Dreamer)

Sequence Zero (Omniscient and Omnipotent)

Path of the Earth Mother Goddess:

Sequence Six (Medusa)

Sequence Five (Barrier Mage)

Sequence Four (Gate to the Underworld)

Sequence Three (Soul Hunter)

Sequence Two (Hand of Death)

Sequence One (Underworld Executioner)

Sequence Zero (Lord of the Underworld)

Path of the Source of Life:

Sequence Six (Freezer)

Sequence Five (Nameless Sword)

Sequence Four (Superfluid)

Sequence Three (Misfortune Mage)

Sequence Two (Self-Slaying Sword)

Sequence One (Sword of Unity)

Sequence Zero (Absolute Zero)

Path of the Light Priest:

Sequence Six (Artillerist)

Sequence Five (Holy Flame Bearer)

Sequence Four (Plasma)

Sequence Three (Fissionist)

Sequence Two (Fusionist)

Sequence One (Apostle of Annihilation)

Sequence Zero (Oblivion)

Half-Lord of Chaos = Lord of the Underworld

Lord of Chaos = Omniscient and Omnipotent + Night Emperor

Lord of Chaos = Absolute Zero + Oblivion

Theme: A rose has thorns to protect itself