When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 102

After half a month, the Cloud Boat arrives at Yun City.

Ji Ruo finally steps out of his room. He deliberately puts on a stern face and, under Yun Zhuoran’s cold indifference, quietly reminds him, “My uncle and cousin are good people. They’re not like other demonic cultivators… Yun Zhuoran, I’m telling you, you’re not allowed to bully them. If you do—if you do, I’ll go get my father to settle the score with you!”

The heart demon rolls his eyes at him, then happily grabs Yun Zhuoran’s arm and walks toward the bow of the boat.

In the distance, lush green mountains rise above vast stretches of white mist. A towering city sits atop a thousand-foot peak, with a massive flag bearing Yun City’s crescent totem fluttering proudly in the wind, exuding a majestic air.

The Cloud Boat slows down, gradually approaching Yun City’s gate.

Yun Zhuoran gazes ahead, slightly absentminded. A strange sense of familiarity wells up inside him, making his breath hitch. From the moment he approaches Yun City, he starts to believe what Tong Ye told him—it might really be true that he once lived here. Perhaps this city holds the memories he’s long forgotten.

“Brother.” The heart demon’s grip on his hand tightens slightly. “Don’t be afraid.”

Yun Zhuoran looks at him. “Afraid of what?”

The heart demon blinks and grins. “Don’t worry, Brother. I’ll protect you.”

Yun Zhuoran raises a hand to ruffle his hair, not taking his words seriously. As Yun City draws nearer, his brows furrow deeper.

What exactly happened in the great fire twenty-eight years ago that made Yun Peiran leave his hometown? Why does he lose all memory before the age of seven?

And will that flame from the other day appear again?

The flame emerges from his sea of consciousness. Yun Zhuoran now knows that the flash of white light he saw before is that very flame. But it appears only once and disappears right after. He can’t find it again in his sea of consciousness, though the mark on his forehead remains.

Finally, the Cloud Boat docks in front of Yun City’s gate. The guards recognize the Demon Palace’s insignia on the ship, and the barrier at the gate opens from within.

From a distance, they see someone has been waiting at the open gates for some time.

Ji Ruo takes the lead in bringing Yun Zhuoran and the Weiran ashore. Worried Yun Zhuoran might cause trouble in Yun City, he insists on accompanying him.

Yun Zhuoran has no objections. Along with the heart demon, they follow Demon Palace Master Ji and his eldest son, Ji Wuwang, off the Cloud Boat. The welcoming party immediately leads them to the City Lord’s Mansion.

Along the way, the stewards fawn over Ji Ruo, speaking to him with exaggerated flattery.

Ji Ruo finds the chatter tiresome. Fortunately, after being invited onto a flying artifact, they arrive at the City Lord’s Mansion in short order.

Standing before the grand and imposing main gate, Ji Ruo glances back. Don’t think he doesn’t notice—when the City Lord’s Mansion people first see Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon, they freeze completely, as if they forget who the real guest of honor is.

Still, Ji Ruo doesn’t dare show his displeasure while Yun Zhuoran and Weiran watch. He quickly looks away and demands, “Where’s your young city lord?”

The steward smiles awkwardly. “The young city lord is currently busy. You know how the city lord’s health has been deteriorating over the past two years. All of Yun City’s affairs are now handled by the young city lord…”

“Stop talking nonsense.” Ji Ruo cuts him off. “Where is he? I’m going to find him. When I used to come to Yun City, my cousin always came to meet me in person. I even sent a message ahead this time, but he didn’t show!”

As Ji Ruo storms into the City Lord’s Mansion, the guards on both sides bow respectfully.

Ji Wuwang and the Demonic Palace attendants, along with Yun Zhuoran and the Weiran, follow after him.

“Really, the young city lord is swamped with duties. Why not rest for a while? He’ll come greet you this evening when he’s finished… I had people prepare the Tidal Pavilion, where Young Master Ji usually stays. After such a long journey, surely you’re tired?” Cold sweat beads on the steward’s forehead as he forces a laugh, trying to block Ji Ruo, who is clearly headed straight for the study to find Yun Shaowei. “Why don’t I take you there now?”

But anyone familiar with Ji Ruo’s temperament knows that’s a losing battle. Even Yun Zhuoran and Weiran, who barely interact with him, can tell. Let alone the people at the City Lord’s Mansion, where Ji Ruo grew up.

Ji Ruo’s expression immediately darkens, clearly growing suspicious. He turns and shoots a glance at Ji Wuwang.

The latter instantly understands, stepping forward with a polite smile as he looks at the obstructing steward. “Manager Xu, long time no see.”

The steward’s lip whiskers twitch, and he quickly bows. “Greetings, Young Master.”

“I’m not doing well at all,” Ji Wuwang says with a soft smile. “Because my young master is angry. Do you know why? Because you’re blocking his path. Manager Xu, do you know how many people I’ve seen like you? Some of them died. Others… well, their entire families did.”

Manager Xu’s smile freezes. “Young Master, surely you’re joking…”

“Who’s joking with you?” Ji Ruo snaps. “Why are you stopping me from seeing my cousin Yun? What could possibly be more important than me in Yun City? Tell me! What happened to my cousin!”

Yun Zhuoran and Weiran exchange glances and quietly step back.

Unsurprisingly, Manager Xu can’t hold out for long in front of the Demon Palace’s young master and eldest son. He quickly gives in. “I wasn’t trying to stop you, truly… To answer your question, Young Master Ji—our young city lord has been placed in solitary confinement. He didn’t know you were coming. Without an order from the city lord, we’re not allowed to let anyone see him.”

“Solitary confinement?” Ji Ruo’s eyes widen. “Why was my cousin put in solitary confinement?”

“That…” Manager Xu stammers, “I really don’t know.”

“Forget it. What’s the use asking you.” Ji Ruo is thoroughly irritated. If the city lord himself doesn’t allow it, there is no way the steward can say anything. He motions for Ji Wuwang to step forward. “Where is my cousin being held? I’m going to see him right now. If my uncle asks, just tell him I gave the order.”

The heart demon leans close to Yun Zhuoran’s ear and whispers, “Ji Ruo is pretty impressive as the young master.”

Yun City, located in the northwest of the Demon Realm, has a relatively cold climate. Though it is already early summer, a lingering chill still hangs in the air both inside and outside the city. The breath from the heart demon brushing against Yun Zhuoran’s neck feels especially warm by comparison, making Yun Zhuoran uncomfortable. He rubs his forehead and gently pushes him away.

“Well, he is the young master.”

When Ji Ruo is born, his father is already the Demon Palace Master. He has been showered with affection his entire life, so it is no surprise that he has such an arrogant and brash temper.

The heart demon takes the chance to rub Yun Zhuoran’s palm and mutters, “He’s just a little dumb.”

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head and doesn’t respond. Not long after entering Yun City, Ji Ruo already senses something is off. He isn’t actually stupid. While he and Ji Wuwang pressure Manager Xu for answers, the chief steward of the mansion arrives in a hurry.

This chief steward has watched Ji Ruo grow up and is from Yun City himself. Ji Ruo gives him some face, motioning for Ji Wuwang to step back.

As soon as the chief steward appears, Manager Xu’s legs buckle and he quickly takes refuge behind him.

Ji Ruo sneers. “Manager Yun, perfect timing. You can take me to see my cousin Yun now.”

It seems that Ji Ruo won’t give up until he sees Yun Shaowei today. Steward Yun has quite a handsome face. Because his cultivation is higher than others, there’s no trace of time on his features. And unlike the others, he doesn’t seem frightened when facing Ji Ruo. He simply smiles and sighs, “It’s rare for Master Ji to return to Yun City. There’s no need to get angry at these ignorant servants. Since Master Ji wishes to see the Young City Master, I’ll naturally take you to him, but…”

Ji Ruo frowns. “But what?”

Ji Wuwang also turns to look at Steward Yun.

Steward Yun’s expression turns slightly awkward. “The young city lord was confined because he angered the city lord. But the punishment term is nearly over, and with the young master returning, the city lord just instructs me to release the young city lord early. If the young master wishes to come with me, that’s fine. However, the city lord also gives me a message to pass on to the two esteemed guests you brought back. Would it be alright if I deliver the message before escorting you?”

“Two esteemed guests?” Ji Ruo instinctively looks at Yun Zhuoran and Weiran. The only people he brought back are those two.

Yun Zhuoran and Weiran also appear confused. They keep a low profile the entire journey and reveal nothing of their identities. Judging by Ji Ruo’s reaction, he didn’t mention them in his letter to the City Lord. So how does the City Lord of Yun City, who hasn’t even shown himself yet, know about them?

Steward Yun follows Ji Ruo’s gaze and, upon seeing the two, reveals a surprised expression. In truth, their faces—nearly identical and exceptionally striking—make it impossible for them to go unnoticed. Steward Yun clearly already notices them, but he is smarter and thicker-skinned than most. Smiling broadly, he walks over and cups his hands in greeting.

He walks over to them with a smile and bows politely. “I believe you two are the masters of Penglai Island who have recently become famous in Shengjing. I am Yun Feng. I’m honored to meet you. May I ask—which one of you is the Young island lord?”

The heart demon steps forward silently and lifts his chin. “Looking for me?”

He suspects some hidden agenda behind the question, but unexpectedly, Steward Yun’s eyes light up with a strange joy. He looks at him with complicated emotion—and then drops to his knees.

Everyone—Yun Zhuoran, Ji Ruo, and the rest—is shocked by the steward’s action.

Steward Yun exclaims joyfully, “The Ninth Master has returned!” His eyes shimmer with tears, filled with both sorrow and joy. “After twenty-eight years, the Ninth Master finally comes home. Now, the City Lord can be at peace!”

Hearing this, the heart demon steps back and looks toward Yun Zhuoran, clearly confused.

Yun Zhuoran’s face remains calm, but a flicker of doubt appears in his cold eyes.

Ji Ruo is stunned for a moment, then strides forward with a shocked expression. “Steward Yun, are you mad? Even when you saw my cousin, you never knelt like this. Sure, he’s the Lord of Penglai, but who is this ‘Ninth Young Master’ you’re talking about?”

Ji Wuwang raises an eyebrow and looks at Yun Zhuoran and the others with curiosity.

Yun Zhuoran gently pulls the heart demon back and asks the steward, “What did you just say?”

“Young Master, are you testing me? Your father was the adopted son of the former lord of Cloud City, and your mother was his biological daughter. Among the legitimate line of the former lord’s children, you rank ninth. Though the old city lord’s lineage is now gone, you are still our Ninth Young Master. Since the news of you surfaced in Shengjing, our city lord told me that one day, the Ninth Young Master would return.”

As if remembering something, Yun Feng smacks his own forehead. “Please don’t blame me, Young Master. Our lord is gravely ill and can’t bear the wind. Otherwise, he would come in person to welcome you instead of sending me.”

“Ninth Young Master of Yun City?”

When Ji Ruo hears the title, he feels like laughing for some reason. The others are still reeling in shock, but he suddenly bursts into laughter.

Yun Zhuoran looks up, his eyes still cold.

Ji Ruo immediately freezes, covers his mouth, and quickly turns away, pretending nothing happened.

Ji Wuwang smiles faintly. “I didn’t expect the Young Island Master to have another identity.”

Ji Ruo silently agrees. How can Yun Zhuoran’s luck be this good?

First, at his lowest point, he becomes the Young Island Master of Penglai. Then he acquires a floating city. There are even rumors that the Tiandao Sect wants to invite him back to lead them, but he declines. Now, upon arriving in Yun City, he’s apparently the noble Ninth Master?

Because Yun Tianqing—the current City Lord of Yun City—is gravely ill and unable to face the wind, he only sees people once every three days during medicine delivery. According to Yun Feng, he has already seen someone earlier today, so he can’t host the welcoming banquet for Yun Zhuoran himself. However, he specifically instructs Yun Feng to invite Yun Zhuoran to visit him in three days. If Yun Zhuoran still has questions, he can ask Yun Tianqing in person.

Yun Feng is efficient. After explaining Yun Zhuoran’s identity and dismissing the mansion servants, he respectfully leads Yun Zhuoran to a specially prepared courtyard to rest. A welcoming banquet is to be held that evening.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t ask much throughout and quietly watches Yun Feng leave, hurried along by Ji Ruo.

Watching Ji Ruo and the others hurry toward the forbidden area in the back mountain, the heart demon drives out all the attendants that Steward Yun has left behind to serve them. Only after shutting the courtyard gate does he speak to Yun Zhuoran: “That person is really strange.”

Yun Zhuoran glances around the exquisitely decorated courtyard, nodding slightly. “Too enthusiastic.”

Not just Yun Feng, but even Yun Tianqing, the City Lord of Yun City, seems overly warm. Yun Zhuoran has no memory of ever being in Yun City, nor of meeting Yun Tianqing, so he can’t be sure of anything.

“Could it be that Yun Tianqing had a good relationship with Brother Yun Peiran?” Weiran speculates. “Or maybe he felt guilty toward Brother Yun Peiran? So now that you’ve returned to Yun City, he’s treating you so well?”

Yun Zhuoran sits down and looks out the door.

The courtyard is filled with fragrant peach and plum blossoms, tranquil and picturesque—but everything before him feels unfamiliar. The city gate stirs something in him, but this place stirs nothing.

He trusts his instincts. The unfamiliarity here means he’s unlikely to find many clues about the past he has forgotten within this City Lord’s Mansion.

Despite the barrier he and Weiran set up around the courtyard, there are still many servants stationed nearby, per Yun Feng’s orders. That night, even the busy steward comes again in person.

The steward’s excessive hospitality toward Yun Zhuoran is evident in both his extremely respectful attitude and the things he personally brings—spiritual food rich in aura, rare and suitable for high-level cultivators, as well as clothes embedded with various restriction spells.

Unfortunately, Yun Zhuoran has long since stopped eating, and the heart demon dislikes spiritual food. Besides, with Penglai at their back and the floating city’s treasure vault within reach, they have no interest in those items.

When the steward tactfully leads his people away, the heart demon notices that the man can now tell the difference between him and Yun Zhuoran, though he doesn’t say it aloud. Still, his attitude toward Yun Zhuoran grows noticeably more respectful.

Just as Yun Zhuoran expects, Ji Ruo, who can’t wait to get away from him, never comes looking for him again.

As the sky darkens, Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon quietly leave the City Lord’s residence and head for the old site of the original City Lord’s Mansion. He has learned from the steward that the current mansion is newly built. When the steward speaks of the old one, he repeatedly warns Yun Zhuoran not to go near it.

Yun Zhuoran notices something is wrong and asks him why. Steward Yun only gives a perfunctory explanation, saying that after Yun City experiences a great catastrophe, no one from the original City Lord’s Mansion survives. Perhaps too many people die, and the yin energy lingering there is abnormally heavy.

He doesn’t mention the strange fire from twenty-eight years ago, using the “catastrophe” as a substitute. His expression is solemn as he speaks, and he clearly avoids the topic, as though it’s taboo.

But from his tone, Yun Zhuoran can tell that Steward Yun believes he already knows the truth.

It seems that neither Steward Yun, nor the man behind him—Yun Tianqing—realize that Yun Zhuoran has no memory of ever being in Yun City.

Yun Zhuoran isn’t sure whether his guess is right, so he says nothing about having long forgotten Yun City. In this situation, he can’t directly ask Steward Yun about the strange fire, nor can he expect any help from him.

Fortunately, he obtained a map of Yun City from Song Shao before arriving. Even without Ji Ruo or Steward Yun leading the way, he can use the map to find the place he’s looking for.

Yun City is in a remote region. If it weren’t located at the junction of two spiritual veins, it would lack the resources of spiritual stones and never gain a foothold among the righteous sects.

Song Shao, who rarely works for the island master, trembles as he retrieves two versions of Yun City maps from nearly fifty years ago. The older map dates back over forty years, from when the original City Lord’s Mansion still stands. The newer one was leaked a decade ago.

A comparison of the two reveals that the newer map shows a much smaller Yun City. The area where the original City Lord’s Mansion once stands, along with the city center and the southern part of Yun City, are now vaguely marked as “mountains and jungles.” The layout of the new city has shifted outward, turning the former mansion site into the southernmost edge.

It’s possible that the cartographer never even enters the ruins and simply glosses over them. Or perhaps Yun City has deliberately leaked a misleading map, making it impossible to locate the original City Lord’s Mansion.

Yun Zhuoran expects it will be difficult to enter the former mansion site, but when he and Weiran arrive at its gates, his divine sense sweeps across a hundred-mile radius without detecting any guards. He immediately understands that the former is more likely.

A dense forest separates the ruins from the new city. Just stepping into the woods exposes one to the heavy yin energy leaking from the mansion, enough to dissuade most from proceeding further.

A full moon hangs high over Yun City, but the thick miasma shrouding the entrance to the old city blocks its light. The moonlight can’t penetrate the heavy yin aura covering the ruins. As Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon step inside, a vast cluster of buildings long abandoned by the new Yun City gradually emerges before them in the darkness.

The heart demon differs from ordinary people. While most fear the invasion of yin energy into their bodies, he only finds it refreshingly cool. Yun Zhuoran, for his part, feels nothing at all.

As the two of them step into the shadowed remains of the old city, Yun Zhuoran spreads his divine sense, now at the Integration stage, sweeping through the southern part of the city and the ruins of the mansion.

Years of darkness have left the buildings rotten and dilapidated. Yet not a single living creature stirs—not even an ant. Stranger still, there’s no sign of even a single ghost, despite the many lives lost here.

Tong Ye once said the strange fire harms the soul directly. Seeing the buildings untouched by flames confirms it—the fire indeed targets souls. Yun Zhuoran finally understands why the new city has abandoned the mansion ruins: most living beings simply can’t survive the yin energy that lingers here.

The old City Lord’s Mansion is the best-preserved structure. Through it, Yun Zhuoran can glimpse the prosperity of Yun City’s past. But to his disappointment, he feels no sense of familiarity.

The heart demon runs around the mansion, peeking into corners and touching everything with curiosity, as though exploring a playground. But the mansion is pitch-dark. Without excellent eyesight, they wouldn’t be able to see the path at all. After a few laps, the heart demon runs back, digs a night pearl out of the wall, and wipes off the dust. The pearl’s faint glow brightens, enough to light their way, so he proudly brings it back.

“Brother, are we going somewhere else?”

Yun Zhuoran lowers his eyes, hiding the disappointment within, and shakes his head. “Let’s go back first.”

The heart demon replies with an “oh,” glancing back at the grand hall with some reluctance. He has noticed many treasures, as well as skeletons scattered throughout the mansion. Some are likely from those who die in the fire, others perhaps from treasure hunters who sneak in later. But the thick yin miasma here can easily kill anyone who attempts to take those treasures.

Yet Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon come and go without trouble.

As they walk out of the mansion, passing the massive square opposite, Yun Zhuoran suddenly stops. His eyes lock onto a stone pillar at the center of the platform.

The pillar is only half a person tall, the rest buried underground.

The moment he sees it, Yun Zhuoran’s blood surges violently.

Golden light flashes in his eyes. A wave of murderous intent rushes up from deep within.

“Brother!” The heart demon’s urgent call pulls him back to his senses.

The boiling blood abruptly calms. Yun Zhuoran blinks, stunned, and turns to look at the heart demon.

Those dark, faintly blood-tinged eyes stare up at him, innocent and full of concern. Holding Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve, the heart demon asks, “What’s wrong, Brother? Why did you suddenly freeze?”

Yun Zhuoran just stares at him in silence.

The heart demon’s eyes dart uneasily. The night pearl in his hand quietly cracks.

He shifts his gaze and asks, under Yun Zhuoran’s strange expression, “Brother… is there something on me?”

Yun Zhuoran grips his wrist and pulls him back, eyes fixed on the stone pillar behind him—black and red with dried blood, looming in the darkness.

“That is…”

The heart demon tightens his grip on Yun Zhuoran’s hand. “Brother, it reeks of blood over there.”

Yun Zhuoran raises his hand to his forehead.

“Brother, what’s wrong?”

Yun Zhuoran’s brows knit tightly. “Just a bit of a headache.”

The fire-shaped mark at the center of his brow begins to glow faintly white, and the heart demon’s eyes widen slightly in alarm.

“Brother…”

Before he can finish speaking, a mournful sound of a flute pierces through the miasma.

The heart demon immediately turns his head toward the source of the sound, alert. “Brother, it’s coming from outside.”

Yun Zhuoran’s headache doesn’t last long. As the flute’s faint melody continues, it seems to disrupt the memory that nearly surfaces. The pain in his temples fades, and he exhales slowly. He looks at the heart demon, then grasps his hand.

“Let’s go check it out.”

The heart demon nods. Seeing that Yun Zhuoran looks fine aside from being a little pale, he breathes a sigh of relief. As they walk, he glances back toward the vast plaza behind them, a flash of hostility crossing his eyes.

“I’m fine now,” Yun Zhuoran says, noticing the heart demon’s displeasure, and gently squeezes his hand.

The heart demon turns around and mutters, “This place is really strange.”

Yun Zhuoran nods. “It is.”

He still isn’t sure whether the brief daze just now brings back any memories. He only knows that something on the high platform in that plaza draws him in. When he releases his divine sense, he detects remnants of some kind of formation. He intends to take a closer look, but the appearance of the flute music at that exact moment is far too suspicious, snapping him out of it. Even with his cultivation at the Integration stage, a lingering formation that can cause him pain and a flute sound that appears out of nowhere both make him wary.

When they exit the miasma forest, the flute still hasn’t stopped. The already sorrowful tune grows even more oppressive. Then, they see the musician.

A young man in white sits on a high boulder. Behind him are rows of deserted, unlit courtyards. The moonlight pours over his shoulders, casting a pale, lonely aura on his figure.

The heart demon wants to shout at him to stop showing off, as the sound gives him a headache. But as he looks at the young man’s back, he feels an odd sense of familiarity.

Grabbing Yun Zhuoran’s finger, he asks, “Brother, who is that?”

Yun Zhuoran recognizes him.

“…Yun Shaowei.”