When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 113

This is just a passing thought on Yun Zhuoran’s part. But when he sees the heart demon avoiding his gaze in embarrassment, he suddenly sobers. The light in his eyes dims slightly. “You didn’t sense his aura.”

The heart demon lowers his head, as if admitting it.

Yun Zhuoran presses his fingers to his brow. “We have no leads, and no one knows what Yun Peiran left behind here. That’s enough—let’s go back for now.”

Every time he recalls something, a sharp and splitting pain follows, leaving Yun Zhuoran weak, as if he’s being punished for brushing against a forbidden memory buried deep within his sea of consciousness.

Now, too, Yun Zhuoran is already exhausted and frail. With only the heart demon accompanying him, there’s no need to keep up appearances. His steps grow lighter and more unsteady.

The heart demon notices. Without a word, he suddenly strides forward and hoists Yun Zhuoran onto his back with a firm motion. The unexpected lift startles Yun Zhuoran, who is still a bit dizzy. But once he registers the heart demon’s familiar aura, he can’t help but laugh softly and gives him a gentle pat on the shoulder.

“I’m just a little tired. Put me down—I can walk.”

“No.”

The heart demon turns his head slightly, arms wrapped tightly around Yun Zhuoran’s legs, refusing to let go.

“Brother is tired, so let me carry you.” His voice is stubborn, his black eyes tinged with a faint, blood-colored glow filled with worry. “I told you—I was born to protect you.”

He carries Yun Zhuoran onward. Back when Yun Zhuoran is 189, the heart demon still looks like a young teenager—slender, slightly underweight, and a few centimeters shorter. If Yun Zhuoran is like a tall, resilient stalk of bamboo, then the heart demon’s back is like a fragile blade of grass.

Yet he carries Yun Zhuoran steadily.

Yun Zhuoran is genuinely tired now. It’s deep into the night, and this place is deserted and eerie. With no third person watching, he lets himself rest fully on the narrow back of the heart demon. His clear black-and-white eyes quietly observe the still-youthful profile beside him.

After being stared at for a while, the already thin-skinned heart demon flushes. “Brother, what are you looking at?”

Yun Zhuoran turns his face away thoughtfully, eyes falling on the dim corridor ahead.

“I was just wondering if I underestimated Weiran before. Maybe you’re not as naïve or fragile as I thought.” He notices the heart demon’s back instantly stiffen and pauses, then adds slowly, “So you’ve really existed for a long time. I always wondered—my cultivation was stable, so how did I suddenly give birth to a heart demon?”

The heart demon’s steps slow. His baby-fat cheeks are full of anxiety. “Brother?”

Yun Zhuoran can see the nervousness on his face. A sly glint flashes in his eyes, and a faint smile curls at his lips.

“But I suppose that’s a good thing. You always acted like a spoiled child in front of me. Now that I know your true nature, I can rest easy. If I’m no longer around, I won’t have to worry about you being bullied.”

Weiran’s breath catches. Panic spreads across his face. “Why wouldn’t Brother be around anymore?”

“Just like usual—sometimes we’re apart.”

Seeing Weiran’s face turn pale, something in Yun Zhuoran’s heart softens. He stops teasing, thinks for a moment, then sighs and lowers his head to rest lightly on Weiran’s shoulder.

Weiran’s back stiffens. His steps halt, but he says nothing.

He turns his head slightly and sees Yun Zhuoran’s pale profile in the night.

Weiran knows—his brother is tired.

Yun Zhuoran rarely shows such weakness. In the past twenty years, there has hardly been a moment when he has leaned on someone so quietly and so freely.

For a moment, Yun Zhuoran can’t tell whether it’s his body or his heart that feels more weary. His gaze drifts, unfocused, to a distant wall. The heart demon hesitates, unsure whether to move again for fear of disturbing him.

“Let’s go.”

At his words, the heart demon quietly breathes a sigh of relief and obediently continues toward the gate of the old city lord’s manor.

“Brother, are you sleepy?” he asks softly.

“Yeah.” Yun Zhuoran responds casually, then suddenly asks, “Have you ever thought about breaking the blood contract between us?”

The heart demon’s heart clenches, as if struck by lightning. Resistance fills his eyes. “Why would you break it?”

Without it, he could only rely on tools like the spiritual-link talisman to sense his brother’s emotions.

“I was worried you wouldn’t listen at first, so I made the contract,” Yun Zhuoran says.
“Now that I know who you really are, doesn’t it seem unfair to keep it? If we don’t break it, you’ll never be able to go far from me.”

The heart demon looks confused and aggrieved. “Why would I want to leave Brother? I don’t understand!”

He’s already burdened with guilt over concealing the past of Yun Cheng. Hearing this, he fears that Yun Zhuoran wants to sever the blood contract as a way of cutting ties. Without it, they wouldn’t even be able to use spiritual-link talismans to sense one another. Wouldn’t that be the same as being abandoned?

So, before Yun Zhuoran can say anything else, the heart demon makes his stand. “Brother’s not allowed to break it either!”

Yun Zhuoran reminds him calmly, “If I do, you’ll be free.”

“I don’t want to be.” The heart demon frowns, his voice fierce, revealing a rare temper. But he doesn’t realize that this angry expression makes his delicate face look especially lively and adorable. “It’s decided!”

Yun Zhuoran looks at him in silence, eyes full of helplessness.

“All right. Then I won’t.”

Hearing this, the heart demon finally relaxes. His steps grow lighter.

Before long, he carries Yun Zhuoran out of the miasma-filled forest.

In the distance, their small courtyard glows faintly with firelight—just the old oil lamp they left burning before they left. It’s the only light in this forgotten, abandoned stretch beyond Yun City.

It’s late at night. The heart demon walks quickly along the gravel path. Just as he’s about to remind Yun Zhuoran that they’ve reached the courtyard, he turns his head and sees Yun Zhuoran asleep on his shoulder, eyes closed.

He pauses in surprise, then carefully adjusts his pace, even holding his breath. After tiptoeing into the room, he gently lays Yun Zhuoran down on the bed and finally relaxes.

He tucks in the quilt with care, then leaves briefly to check outside. When he returns, he brings over a small stool and sits beside the bed.

Just as Yun Zhuoran once guarded him, he now keeps watch over his brother’s rare moment of sleep.

The heart demon doesn’t realize that behind him, Yun Zhuoran has quietly opened his eyes. Though his face is tired, his gaze is clear. He raises a hand and gently touches the silver-white flame mark between his brows.

That fire is the strange flame that nearly destroyed Yun City and took close to ten thousand lives.

A soft sound comes from the room. Yun Zhuoran turns slightly, looking at the heart demon who sits with his back to him.

Under the dim candlelight, the red-robed youth is wholly focused on carving a wooden rabbit in his hands.

Yun Zhuoran is surprised to see that the carving has already taken the shape of a rabbit. The wood is new, and although he’s always been by Xinmo’s side, he has no idea when the boy began fiddling with these things.

As he watches, Yun Zhuoran’s gaze softens.

When dawn breaks, Yun Zhuoran wakes on time. Though the heart demon hasn’t slept, he appears full of energy. Seeing him quietly put away the rabbit sculpture without any intention of showing it, Yun Zhuoran says nothing. He can’t tell whether it was carved for fun—or for him.

It’s getting late, and they need to visit the new City Lord’s mansion.

This time, only Yun Shaowei and Ji Ruo are present at Yun Tianqing’s residence.

Yun Shaowei explains that Yun Duo has taken the initiative to avoid Yun Zhuoran. Young Master Yin previously offended him and doesn’t dare show up either. He’s even taken Ji Wuwang to deal with the Fengtian Temple followers who infiltrated Yun City some time ago.

Yun Shaowei and Ji Ruo rarely mention Yun Duo these days. After all, Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon have made their dislike for her clear. But neither man seems to mind her voluntary retreat. In fact, when Yun Zhuoran arrives, Ji Ruo runs over happily, full of enthusiasm.

The reason is simple: Yun Tianqing’s condition has improved significantly. He’s even begun to unseal his sea of consciousness on his own. Yun Duo says that if soul treatment keeps up, he could wake within a month.

This is good news.

Yun Tianqing is likely the last person to have seen Yun Peiran before his disappearance. If Yun Zhuoran wants answers, he needs Yun Tianqing awake.

Yun Shaowei seems unusually cheerful today. No longer cold and reserved, he looks at Yun Zhuoran as though he’s a lifeline. “It’s all thanks to Ninth Uncle. After you left yesterday, Xiao Ruo spoke to Father about you for a long time—and Father responded.”

Ji Ruo nods, clearly overjoyed. He pats his chest shamelessly and declares, “When Uncle wakes up, just say the word. Even if I have to use all the Demon Palace’s strength, I’ll find it for you!”

The heart demon rolls his eyes. “Go on, brag. You’re not the Palace Master—who’d listen to you?”

But Ji Ruo doesn’t mind. He’s too happy to bicker. Looking eagerly at Yun Zhuoran, he drops heavy hints, “Since you’re here, why not talk to your uncle in person? Maybe hearing your voice will help him recover faster! And don’t you want to find something left behind by your brother? For that, we need to wake Uncle up first!”

His intention is plain—he doesn’t care about Yun Peiran’s things. He just wants Yun Tianqing to wake up.

Everyone has the same goal, so Yun Zhuoran lets it be. Like yesterday, he sits by Yun Tianqing’s bed for half an hour. He only responds when Ji Ruo prompts him, and even then, not as much as the heart demon. Yun Shaowei remains quiet throughout. Ji Ruo talks the entire time and is constantly shut down by the heart demon.

By the time Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon leave, Ji Ruo’s lips are dry from talking, yet he’s still learned nothing useful.

He can’t even find out Yun Zhuoran’s favorite food.

Truly, getting information from Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon is harder than reaching the heavens.

Fortunately, Ji Ruo is only curious—he isn’t disappointed.

After sending them out of the courtyard, Yun Shaowei hurries back to care for Yun Tianqing. Once he’s gone, Yun Zhuoran whispers to the heart demon, “Can you tell what’s wrong with Yun Tianqing?”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t believe his condition has improved so suddenly after Yun Duo’s involvement. He suspects foul play, hence the question.

But the heart demon quickly shakes his head. “I can’t sense anything.”

“Then there’s probably nothing,” Yun Zhuoran replies.

Still, the heart demon is troubled. In his eyes, Yun Duo isn’t trustworthy. But he has no evidence to prove she’s returned to harm Yun Zhuoran. She tries her best to treat Yun Tianqing, and even goes out of her way to avoid any conflict. If her goal is Yun Zhuoran, wouldn’t she be trying to get closer?

Her behavior truly seems like she’s returned to help. Yet the heart demon can’t shake the unease. Grabbing Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve, he reminds him again, “Brother, don’t trust her.”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t respond.

The heart demon frowns. He can’t tell if Yun Zhuoran believes him or Yun Duo. He remembers clearly—it’s Yun Duo who sent Xiao Weiran to the high priest. He doesn’t dare lower his guard against her. What he fears most is Yun Zhuoran being betrayed again.

Just then, Yun Zhuoran raises a hand to signal silence and stops walking.

He looks across the road.

Shen Lingshu is approaching them. He hesitates at a distance when he sees them, then finally walks over.

If Yun Duo is the person the heart demon dislikes the most, then Shen Lingshu is the one he truly hates.

Seeing him, the heart demon tenses and steps in front of Yun Zhuoran, expression cold.

“I mean no harm,” Shen Lingshu says. He stops five steps away, his tone calm but cautious. The red-clothed youth shows no attempt to hide his wariness or irritation. “Young Island Master, did you just visit City Master Yun?”

Lately, Shen Lingshu has kept to himself. Why is he speaking to them now?

The heart demon stays alert. “So what?”

Shen Lingshu turns his gaze to Yun Zhuoran. “Young Island Master, I heard that you have a grudge with Yun Duo?”

“Yes,” Yun Zhuoran replies plainly.

Shen Lingshu looks as though he wants to say something. But each time he opens his mouth, he glances nervously behind him.

Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon are both confused by his behavior.

The heart demon, more annoyed than curious, snaps, “What do you want to say?”

“No, I didn’t.” Shen Lingshu lowers his head again, his expression clearly evasive.

Yun Zhuoran frowns slightly and asks in a low voice, “Is it related to Yun Duo?”

Shen Lingshu looks up at him but still doesn’t answer. His reaction, however, is as good as confirmation.

Yun Zhuoran asks, “How much do you know?”

Shen Lingshu looks visibly uncomfortable, his gaze darting all over as he replies, “I don’t know anything. There’s no need for you to ask me either. In this Yun City, whether it’s you or me, we all have to be careful.”

The heart demon frowns. “Why are you speaking so strangely? What a weird way of—”

Seeing Yun Zhuoran shake his head gently, the heart demon stops talking, though he still stands protectively between Shen Lingshu and Yun Zhuoran with a guarded look.

Shen Lingshu says nothing more. He turns and leaves in silence.

Watching the golden light that shields his body, Yun Zhuoran suddenly recalls Gu Shenshu’s resentment incarnation, the one who demanded the return of the immortal bone. He says to Shen Lingshu’s back, “Yun City isn’t a place you should stay. You should know that even if Tiandao Sect wants to send you to the Ice Prison to atone, at least you’d be spared. But in the Demonic Path, there are many who covet Gu Shenshu’s immortal bone. What was taken must eventually be returned. You’d best go back to the Tiandao Sect.”

Shen Lingshu stops in his tracks. He purses his lips and looks back at Yun Zhuoran with a complicated expression. “Junior Brother Yun… can we ever go back to how things were?”

Yun Zhuoran’s face remains impassive.

The flicker of hope in Shen Lingshu’s eyes slowly dies. Under Yun Zhuoran’s silent rejection, the corners of his lips tremble slightly before he forces out a bitter smile. “I understand.”

Yun Zhuoran says nothing more. He turns and leaves the City Lord’s Mansion with the heart demon.

Shen Lingshu stands rooted in place, eyes locked on their backs. His fists clench tightly at his sides, his expression darkening with every passing second.

Just then, someone steps out from behind the archway.

Startled by the sound, Shen Lingshu turns to see Gu Jinping. Under his cold gaze, she hesitates briefly before walking over with her head held high.

“Brother Shen…” Gu Jinping clutches the edge of her sleeve nervously. Since arriving in Yun City, she has constantly carried an air of unease. Taking small, cautious steps toward Shen Lingshu, she whispers, “Brother Shen, Yun Zhuoran is right. Let’s go back… Yun Duo and Young Master Yin are both terrible. As long as you ask Yun Zhuoran, Yun Duo will hand us over to him, and we can leave!” Her eyes light up at the thought. “You could regain your freedom after surviving a hundred years in the Ice Prison and returning the immortal bone, right? I’ve thought it through now. The immortal bone is dangerous—especially for you, Brother Shen. You’re still weak right now, it’s not the right—”

“You look down on me too?” Shen Lingshu coldly cuts her off, his voice sharp. “You think I’m unworthy of Master’s immortal bone?”

His gaze toward her is laced with murderous intent.

Gu Jinping’s heart gives a jolt. She instinctively backs away, then stumbles and falls to the ground. Suddenly gasping in pain, she raises her pale right hand, revealing several crimson scratches across her palm.

Shen Lingshu gives her a cold sidelong glance, as if issuing a warning, then turns and leaves.

Though Gu Jinping looks both shocked and afraid, she can’t shake her obsession with him. She scrambles up and chases after him, continuing to plead in a low voice, “Brother Shen, only Yun Zhuoran can save us…”

Shen Lingshu hides the irritation in his eyes and quickens his pace, trying to shake her off.

Gu Jinping isn’t wrong. If Yun Zhuoran is willing, he could indeed save Shen Lingshu—and Gu Jinping could follow him in escaping from Yun Duo and Young Master Yin. But she takes too much for granted. She never imagines that Shen Lingshu has no intention of saving her at all.

Just then, a voice suddenly echoes in Shen Lingshu’s ears.

“Do you want to surpass Yun Zhuoran?”

It’s a clear, youthful voice that drifts out of nowhere.

Shen Lingshu freezes and shouts, “Who’s there!”

Gu Jinping jumps, startled by his reaction. She looks around instinctively but sees no one. The back garden is quiet and deserted, not even a servant in sight.

She doesn’t realize the voice is something only Shen Lingshu can hear.

“I’ll teach you how to use the immortal bone.”

Shen Lingshu’s eyes fly wide in shock.

The voice lets out a soft laugh.

“Come to my side, Shen Lingshu.”

For the next half month, Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon travel back and forth between the new City Lord’s mansion and their small courtyard in the south of the city. Every day, they sit by Yun Tianqing’s bedside for half an hour, speaking to him in hopes of awakening his sea of consciousness. Occasionally, they search the old Yun City mansion for clues or items left behind by Yun Peiran, but even after turning the place upside down, they find nothing.

At the same time, Yun Tianqing’s condition steadily improves.

Whether due to Yun Duo’s superb medical skill or the attentive care from everyone, Yun Tianqing recovers faster than expected. Just half a month later, he wakes up—sooner than even Yun Duo predicted.