When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 111

Yun Duo does not answer the heart demon’s question. Instead, she looks at Yun Zhuoran, seemingly searching for his attitude, but sees only his cold, handsome face and the faint indulgence he shows toward the red-clothed little island master.

Yun Duo gives a bitter smile and sighs. “I knew it. I was the one who personally handed you over to the High Priest back then. Of course you still blame me.”

The heart demon sneers. “Good, so you remember.”

This time, Yun Zhuoran is confused. His eyes sweep over Yun Duo, who lowers her head, and the heart demon with its mocking expression. He only knows Yun Duo was tricked into revealing some old memories he himself has forgotten—but how is the heart demon able to speak so fluently and naturally?

Yun Zhuoran never expects his simple heart demon to act so well.

Yun Duo thinks the heart demon’s words and actions are influenced by Yun Zhuoran himself. She lowers her eyes and says, “Back then, the High Priest and Yun Tianfeng set up the Ten Thousand Demons Blood Formation and wanted to use all the people in Yun City to form the array. I got the news in advance and leaked it to Brother Peiran. I wanted to escape Yun City as soon as possible, but I didn’t expect Yun Tianfeng to suddenly imprison Brother Peiran. At that time, I really had no choice. I couldn’t save Brother Peiran, but I couldn’t ignore you.”

Yun Duo looks up at Yun Zhuoran, her tone anxious. “Weiran, sister really didn’t expect that the High Priest was using me. I only wanted to take you away before Yun City was sealed!”

Yun Zhuoran says calmly, “It’s too late to say these things now.”

“I know, I know.” Yun Duo’s voice is hoarse, like crying, and her eyes glisten with moisture. “No one would have thought that the High Priest would set his sights on you—just a child at the time—and insist on making you the core of the sacrificial formation… I wanted to save you, but I was taken away by the High Priest’s men. When I finally escaped, the old Yun City was engulfed in the sea of fire, and I could no longer find Brother Peiran or you. My cultivation was low back then, and Tianqing Sect was far away. When I came out of retreat two years ago and inquired about your news, I learned that Brother Peiran had been missing for many years and that you had changed your name.”

Yun Zhuoran stares at her intently, trying to judge the truth behind her words, but in the end it is fruitless. He unconsciously turns his head to look at the heart demon, as if expecting an answer.

The heart demon only asks coldly, “Then how did you know my brother would return to Yun City?”

Yun Duo shakes her head. “I didn’t know. I only knew something happened in Yun City. Do you remember when you were young, you lived in the backyard of the City Lord’s Mansion with Brother Peiran, and Brother Tianqing and Sister Shuang took good care of you? Later, I heard you had become Lord of Penglai and that Brother Peiran’s grievances had been cleared. I thought everything was fine, so I rushed to Yun City first. It’s a coincidence that I was with my master and had dealt with Fengtian Temple. They repeatedly invited my master to enter the temple and used many dirty tricks. My master hated them very much, but fortunately, because of our relationship with Demonic Star Sect, these people didn’t dare act rashly.”

Yun Duo speaks with shame. “Before I arrived in Yun City, I caught a believer of Fengtian Temple and learned what they and Yun Feng were planning. Through them, I also learned you would come to Yun City with Ji Ruo. Weiran, on the day you arrived in Yun City, I watched you from afar but felt guilty and didn’t dare approach. I was afraid of alerting the enemy, so I didn’t rush into the city.”

It must be said, the heart demon’s earlier hint makes sense—this is all too coincidental.

Yun Duo’s explanation is riddled with holes, and she must know it. She admits she personally delivered Yun Zhuoran to the High Priest, and even though she later claims she was used, she also says she only found out about Yun Peiran and Yun Zhuoran’s fates a few years ago. Yet judging by how respectfully Young Lord Yin treats her, she shouldn’t be so ignorant.

There are too many suspicious points. It’s hard to believe her.

What’s more… Yun Zhuoran’s eyes darken. The mention of the sacrificial array’s core strikes a nerve.

When Yun Duo mentions the core, Yun Zhuoran’s heart suddenly sinks. He feels a chill for no reason, and then a sudden, inexplicable murderous intent surges up. At the same time, when he looks at Yun Duo again, the vague dislike he originally felt only deepens.

He has the impression that Yun Duo is definitely not innocent. Whether or not she was truly used by others as she says, she once betrayed him.

Seeing Yun Zhuoran and the little island master in red beside him both wear extremely cold expressions, Yun Duo’s guilt deepens. She bites her lip and says, “Sister knows I have wronged you, and I want to make it up as much as possible. Weiran, I don’t know why you have changed your name over these years, and I won’t force you to understand. I just want to know, do you really not know where Brother Peiran has gone?”

Yun Zhuoran says flatly, “Why are you so sure I am Yun Weiran?”

Yun Duo is stunned for a moment, then smiles bitterly. “Brother Peiran only has you as his biological brother. I entered the Yun Mansion when I was very young and grew up with Brother Peiran. He treats me like his own sister, but I am only his adopted sister after all. Since you were born, Brother Peiran has loved you very much. Later, my adoptive parents were killed, and I was trapped by the High Priest. Only Brother Peiran and you depended on each other outside. I know Brother Peiran has only this one brother, and he would never mistake who his brother is.”

Yun Duo’s eyes soften. “You’ve changed a lot. When you were young, you were always sickly and rarely went out, but everyone liked you. You were well-behaved and loved to laugh. Your smile was sweet and soft. When Brother Peiran asked you to practice calligraphy, you always complained that you were tired and acted like a spoiled child.”

Her eyes slowly drift away, as if returning more than twenty years, and her voice becomes gentle. “In fact, you were actually very smart. You only needed to be taught once to understand your lessons.”

Yun Zhuoran falls silent.

For as long as he can remember, his name has been Yun Zhuoran. Yun Peiran never once told him that he used to be called Yun Weiran. Just as Yun Duo said—Yun Peiran would never mistake someone else for his younger brother, which means Yun Zhuoran is his brother. Clearly, Yun Peiran lied to Tongye.

But if that’s the case, why did that one surviving member of the old City Lord’s mansion—Fourth Young Master Yun—mention the name Yun Weiran before dying? Could it be because the High Priest used Yun Weiran as the sacrificial core? And did Yun Tianqing kill Fourth Young Master Yun simply for the city’s inheritance?

Furthermore, the “little Yun Weiran” that Yun Duo describes seems to match the personality of the heart demon exactly.

The old Yun City swallowed by the strange fire leaves many unresolved questions, like a tangled mess.

And Yun Peiran must know the truth.

Perhaps the one person who truly knows the truth—Yun Peiran—disappeared over twenty years ago.

Yun Zhuoran’s expression is unreadable. He remains silent for a long time. Beside him, the heart demon’s gaze is also icy cold.

Yun Duo understands, and a very obvious disappointment appears on her face. She whispers, “No one knows where he went. Could it be that he hates me so much that he really never wants to see me again?”

Yun Zhuoran frowns. “Does he know what you did?”

Yun Duo smiles bitterly. “I’m only guessing.”

Yun Zhuoran suspects Yun Duo is hiding something. She is very likely the second person after Yun Peiran who knows the truth about the disaster in Yun City that year.

Yun Duo avoids looking at him and quickly changes the subject. “You were in very poor health when you were a child. When Brother Peiran and I were not around, it was Brother Tianqing and his sister who helped take care of you. Now that Brother Tianqing is in trouble, I should have come back to help him. Wei… Zhuoran, don’t worry, I will do my best to wake Brother Tianqing up.”

The heart demon says faintly, “Yun Tianqing has closed his sea of consciousness. How are you going to wake him up?”

“Yun Feng said that Brother Tianqing voluntarily closed his sea of consciousness. Judging from his current condition, Yun Feng should have searched his soul, but because his sea of consciousness is completely closed, Yun Feng didn’t get much information. Even so, Brother Tianqing’s soul was greatly traumatized. I can heal the Yin energy and the damage to his soul, but I can’t wake him up directly,” Yun Duo says cautiously, looking at Yun Zhuoran. “The only way to wake him up is to awaken his consciousness. I cleared the Yin energy in his body last night, and the damage to his soul can be slowly healed. I think it must be because he felt it was too dangerous around him, so Brother Tianqing kept closing his sea of consciousness. Now that the culprit Yun Feng has been driven out of Yun City, as long as we wait patiently, Brother Tianqing will wake up. Zhuoran, do you want to go see him? Maybe he will wake up faster when he hears your voice.”

The heart demon is just about to speak coldly, but Yun Zhuoran presses a hand to the back of his to stop him.

“Is Yun Feng really the culprit?” Yun Zhuoran asks.

Yun Duo says without hesitation, “No. But the people of Fengtian Temple are hiding very tightly. As long as they don’t show up, no one can catch them, and no one knows where their temple is.”

Yun Zhuoran looks at Yun Duo steadily. She doesn’t dodge anymore; her expression is very calm.

Yun Duo is tight-lipped. Perhaps she is telling the truth, so she can be so calm. But Yun Zhuoran also finds it difficult to ask what she doesn’t want to say. Because once he asks, he will easily expose that he lost his memory before the age of seven, which would give others more opportunities to deceive him.

So Yun Zhuoran nods. “Okay.”

The three of them go to visit Yun Tianqing.

Yun Zhuoran and Weiran still walk side by side. Yun Duo seems guilty and keeps some distance from the two of them. She doesn’t ask what kind of existence the heart demon is, and she doesn’t say much on the way.

Speaking of which, the heart demon doesn’t like Yun Duo, but he has no objection to visiting Yun Tianqing.

Yun Zhuoran quietly observes the two people beside him. He knows very well they are both lying to him. Yun Duo’s purpose is unclear for the time being, and Weiran has become very abnormal since Yun Duo appeared last night.

Coincidentally, all the people who were at the old City Lord’s mansion last night come to visit Yun Tianqing.

Yun Shaowei is receiving guests in the front hall. His injuries are not serious and are all external. Now, except for a pale face, he has almost recovered. Ji Ruo, worthy of being his cousin, is helping him at this moment.

When the three of them enter, the heart demon suddenly pulls Yun Zhuoran and motions for him to look at the corner next to Shen Lingshu, where there is a person who shouldn’t be there.

Gu Jinping.

The heart demon frowns unhappily.

When Yun Duo walks into the front hall, Yun Shaowei immediately stands up. Even Ji Ruo, usually arrogant, seems to restrain himself when Yun Duo arrives. His eyes brighten as he goes forward obediently.

“Senior Yun Duo!”

Yun Shaowei, like Ji Ruo, shows rare gratitude in his usually cold gaze as he looks at Yun Duo.

In just one night, Yun Duo gains the favor of Yun Shaowei and Ji Ruo.

Yun Zhuoran turns to look at Ji Wuwang beside him, who smiles while holding a tea bowl and glances meaningfully at Yun Duo and Master Yin in front of her.

Yun Zhuoran seems to understand, but not completely, and slowly withdraws his gaze.

“Thank you for your help, Aunt Yun Duo. My father is resting peacefully now.”

Seeing Yun Shaowei bowing, Yun Duo hurriedly stretches out her hand to stop him. She puts on a veil again, a thin layer of gauze with silver tassels on the outside that hardly covers her face but fades the scar on her cheek.

“There’s no need to thank me. We’re family.”

Even so, Yun Shaowei still insists on bowing. “If it weren’t for Aunt Yun Duo’s help, my father would probably still be tortured by the Yin energy in his body.” He is a man of few words. He turns to look at Yun Zhuoran. His fair face is a little tense, but the tip of his ear turns red for some reason. He bows and says, “Thank you, Ninth Uncle, for your help last night.”

Yun Zhuoran says bluntly, “I came to visit the city lord.”

Yun Shaowei hesitates for a moment and says, “Then, please follow me, Ninth Uncle.”

“Not yet,” interrupts a youthful, cold voice. “It seems there are more people here who shouldn’t be here.”

Everyone watches as the little island master glances coldly at Gu Jinping behind Shen Lingshu.

“This one—is she also an honored guest of Young Lord Yun?”

Since the Gu family incident, there has been no news about Gu Jinping. Many think she has been locked up by the new head of the Gu family, but no one expects her to appear in Yun City with Shen Lingshu.

Compared to the last time they met, Gu Jinping is obviously much thinner. Perhaps without her father and family’s protection, her pride has disappeared. At this moment, she looks pale, her eyes dazed, her whole body haggard.

When the heart demon sees her, she acts like a frightened bird, quickly hiding behind Shen Lingshu, her back trembling slightly as if she has seen a ghost.

Yun Zhuoran originally plans to ask Ji Wuwang later, but since the heart demon asks, he stands waiting for the answer. Unexpectedly, it’s not Yun Shaowei who responds—but Young Lord Yin.

“I brought her.”

Ji Wuwang chuckles. “How did Young Master Yin end up getting close to the Gu family girl?”

It is hard to tell who he is mocking, but both Young Master Yin and Gu Jinping’s faces instantly darken, as if they have just swallowed a fly.

“I brought them here.” A gentle voice comes from Yun Duo as she looks at Shen Lingshu and Gu Jinping. “Do you remember what I said last night? Shen Lingshu is one of the spies I sent into Cloud City. I had him enter the city first as a cover for Young Master Yin’s subordinates, and sure enough, he drew Yun Feng’s attention. With him around, Zhuoran would be more alert.”

Young Master Yin adds with a laugh, “Funny how things turn out. When Shen Daoyou and Miss Gu fled from Shengjing, they were being hunted down and happened to be rescued by Aunt Cloud Duo. They told her they were eloping lovers. My aunt took them away because she felt sorry for them. Later, I recognized them, but unfortunately, they had already arrived in Yun City. My aunt asked Shen Lingshu to go to Yun City first; and said we’d deal with the rest later.”

Yun Duo looks at Yun Zhuoran softly. “Now that you’re also in Yun City, and since Shen Lingshu was once your senior brother, whether to send him back to Tiandao Sect or not will be up to you to decide.”

Shen Lingshu’s face is livid, but he says nothing. Gu Jinping is the same.

Zhuoran glances at the two, and the strange feeling in his heart only deepens. Seeing Shen Lingshu so silent and restrained, he nearly begins to doubt whether this is even the same person.

He shakes his head slowly. “Let’s go see the City Lord.”

Yun Zhuoran does not say how to handle the matter. Shen Lingshu is stunned but seems relieved.

Only Yun Duo, Yun Zhuoran, and Weiran go to visit Yun Tianqing. Yun Shaowei leads the way.

After the four arrive at Yun Tianqing’s room, Yun Shaowei becomes very careful and speaks in a low voice. “When aunt left at dawn, father went to bed and hasn’t woken up since.”

Yun Tianqing’s features are proper and dignified, but he has no color in his face as he lies quietly on the bed.

It was dark last night, so Yun Zhuoran didn’t look closely. Now, looking more carefully, he finds Yun Tianqing’s face indeed looks somewhat familiar. Unfortunately, this familiarity isn’t enough to remind him of the old memories he has forgotten.

Yun Duo whispers softly, “Although he has closed his sea of consciousness, he still has a trace of consciousness, but it is too weak. After a while, when the damage to his soul is healed, he will be able to hear the sounds of the outside world.”

Yun Shaowei breathes a sigh of relief, his face full of gratitude. “Thank you, Aunt Yun Duo.”

“You’re being too polite, child.”

Yun Duo shakes her head gently and sees Yun Zhuoran standing straight in front of Yun Tianqing’s bed, staring into Yun Tianqing’s eyes as if a ray of golden light flashes through them.

“Zhuoran?”

The heart demon immediately steps out to block the space between her and Yun Zhuoran. “Brother doesn’t like outsiders calling him by his name like that. Please respect yourself. Please show some respect. You may call him the Young Island Master of Penglai or the Lord of Floating City.”

Zhuoran closes his eyes briefly and calls, “Weiran.”

The heart demon turns obediently. “Brother, why did you suddenly call Weiran?”

Yun Zhuoran says nothing, just looks quietly at Yun Duo.

Her face is pale, and the corners of her mouth beneath the thin veil lift in a reluctant arc before she lowers her eyes, her eyes red.

Yun Shaowei presses his lips together. “Aunt…”

“I was just telling the truth.” The heart demon doesn’t miss the disapproving look Yun Shaowei gives him secretly. He grabs Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve confidently. “Yun Duo once wronged my brother. If she didn’t apologize, the matter could be considered never happened. Even if Brother Yun Peiran were here, he would probably be as angry as I am.”

Yun Duo lowers her head. “I know…”

Seeing this, Yun Zhuoran slowly frowns.

The heart demon’s hostility toward Yun Duo is too obvious.

Yun Shaowei also notices. Since Yun Duo is his benefactor now, he seems to want to say something but doesn’t know where to start. At this moment, he suddenly notices that Yun Tianqing’s fingers move.

Surprised, Yun Shaowei blurts out, “Father! Father moved!”

Hearing this, everyone’s attention returns to Yun Tianqing. Yun Shaowei explains he saw Yun Tianqing’s fingers move, but the three of them watch for a long time and Yun Tianqing doesn’t react anymore.

Yun Shaowei is stunned. “I didn’t see wrong; my father’s hand did move just now!”

Yun Zhuoran stands at the edge of the bed and stares at Yun Tianqing’s pale face. “What were you talking about just now?”

The others look at each other, but the heart demon reacts quickly. Yun Zhuoran isn’t asking because he didn’t hear—he is reminding them that Yun Tianqing heard.

And some words have made Yun Tianqing react strongly.

Yun Duo smiles and sighs. “I think it was Weiran… Young Island Master’s name that Brother Tianqing heard. After all, when you were young, you and Brother Peiran and Brother Tianqing were like siblings. He really treated you and Brother Peiran as brothers. If the young island master visits Brother Tianqing more often, maybe he will wake up soon.”

Yun Shaowei looks at Yun Zhuoran with burning eyes.

Yun Zhuoran says, “I will come often.”

Yun Shaowei and Yun Duo both breathe a sigh of relief.

The heart demon curls his lips, looking a little unhappy but says nothing else.

It seems he does not hate Yun Tianqing.

After leaving Yun Tianqing’s residence, Yun Zhuoran rejects Yun Shaowei’s invitation to continue living in the new city lord’s mansion and returns to the old, small courtyard in the south of the city with his heart demon—the place where he and Yun Peiran once lived.

But because Yun Zhuoran promises to visit Yun Tianqing often yet chooses not to live in the new city lord’s mansion, many suspect that the real reason is the little island master.

The little island master of Penglai obviously hates Yun Duo, Shen Lingshu, Gu Jinping, and Master Yin. In private, Ji Ruo tells Ji Wuwang that he too dislikes the latter three and, if not for wanting to stay behind and help his cousin, wouldn’t want to live under the same roof with those people either.

Yet no one understands why the little island master hates Yun Duo.

Yun Duo has only been in Yun City for two days, and she has almost won everyone’s favor. Anyone who speaks to her is immersed in her magical tenderness.

On the way back, the heart demon’s steps are uncommonly light, and the cold look he wore the whole time in the new City Lord’s residence has melted into a smile.

Yun Zhuoran sees this and can’t help but ask, “Why do you dislike the city lord’s mansion so much?”

“Well… there are people you hate there.” The heart demon replies vaguely, pushes open the door to the main room of the courtyard, pauses, opens his eyes wide, and looks back at Yun Zhuoran innocently. “Brother, are you upset?”

“You’re the one who’s upset.”

Yun Zhuoran pushes the door open, walks past the heart demon, and enters the house. “Yun Duo should know what happened that year, but…”

The heart demon follows him anxiously. “But what?”

Yun Zhuoran looks back. “She didn’t ask a single word about the treasures left by Yun Peiran.”

The heart demon opens his eyes wide. “I forgot about that too!”

Yun Zhuoran smiles. “There are more strange things.” He sits down on the edge of the half-person-high table and reviews last night’s events point by point. “Yun Feng claimed to be the sworn brother of Fourth Young Master Yun. He took revenge with the help of Fengtian Temple. The welcoming banquet was for the treasure left by Yun Peiran. It seemed straightforward, but he escaped too easily. Yun Feng’s accomplices only appeared in Young Master Yin’s words; no one else saw them. Young Master Yin is good at lying, so all his words can be ignored. And Yun Feng is very strong. Since he has the strength to fight me, why did he escape from Yun City without hesitation the moment he realized his support was eliminated?”

The heart demon says, “Maybe Yun Feng is still in Yun City?”

“Maybe.” Yun Zhuoran frowns. “It’s strange how these people are connected.”

The heart demon isn’t sure if Yun Zhuoran is including Yun Duo in that group. “What about Yun Duo?”

Yun Zhuoran looks at him silently.

The heart demon rubs his face. “What’s wrong?”

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head. “Maybe Yun Peiran really left a treasure here. When we find it, all the mysteries will be solved.”

The heart demon asks, “Then shall we go find it?”

In truth, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t know if Yun Peiran really left a treasure.

Seeing the expectation in the heart demon’s eyes, he nods. “Alright. We’ll do as Weiran says.”

The heart demon likes hearing that and laughs happily. “Then let’s go!”

Yun Zhuoran gives him a long look before turning and walking calmly toward the door.

When the two return, it is midday. The sun shines brightly and the heat is strong. After passing through the miasma forest and entering the old city lord’s mansion, the sky darkens as the yin energy blocks the sun, and the light inside is weak.

No one knows if Yun Peiran’s treasure is real, but they still come.

The two enter the old city lord’s mansion again and search more carefully than before—from the porch to the main hall, from the front yard to the backyard. After walking past the dried-up pond, they reach a high wall.

Yun Zhuoran recognizes the direction. “Behind this wall is where we live now.”

The wall is nearly two meters high. The heart demon looks up and jumps a few times, then finds what seems like a kind of membrane on it, locking the rich yin energy firmly inside the wall.

No wonder there’s no yin energy in their yard.

The heart demon looks confused. “What did Brother Yun Peiran leave here?”

The heart demon looks back.

Yun Zhuoran’s black and white eyes still study him. “But Fengtian Temple must want it. Maybe it’s related to the strange fire that burned the city 28 years ago. Weiran, do you know what it is?”

The heart demon smiles. “I don’t know what my brother doesn’t know.”

“No, you do.” Yun Zhuoran’s eyes grow extremely serious.

Under those clear, penetrating eyes, the heart demon feels as though he has nowhere to hide. The smile slowly fades from his face.

Then he hears Yun Zhuoran speak again, calm but certain: “Weiran, you’re hiding something from me. Tell me. What do you know?”