When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 114

The news of Yun Tianqing’s awakening is personally delivered by Yun Shaowei. At the time, Yun Zhuoran and Weiran are preparing to head to the City Lord’s Mansion as usual. Upon receiving the news, they go directly with him. On the way, Yun Shaowei can’t stop smiling and even speaks more than usual.

The gloom that has weighed on his brows for so long is gone, and he seems unusually full of energy.

Yun Tianqing’s recovery is a joyful event. Compared to Yun Zhuoran and Weiran, who live outside the mansion, the guests staying within the new City Lord’s Mansion hear the news earlier. So by the time Yun Zhuoran and Weiran follow Yun Shaowei to Yun Tianqing’s residence, everyone else is already there.

After all, they’re living in someone else’s home, and now that the host is finally recovering, it’s only proper for the guests to offer their well-wishes. Especially Yun Duo, who has treated Yun Tianqing—she can’t avoid being present.

This encounter makes Yun Duo, Young Master Yin, and Shen Lingshu all feel a little awkward.

When Ji Ruo sees them, he runs over with Ji Wuwang in tow, his face brimming with joy. After spending half a month together, he assumes the previous conflict with Yun Zhuoran is behind them and has completely forgotten his earlier fear.

“Yun Zhuoran, my uncle is awake!”

Yun Zhuoran glances at him indifferently, not understanding what there is to be so proud of. He ignores Ji Ruo as usual and slowly heads toward Yun Tianqing’s room with the heart demon.

Seeing them leave, Ji Ruo trails after them without hesitation, pretending to accompany Yun Shaowei and Yun Tianqing as he has done before.

He bounds along happily and says, “My uncle just took his medicine and fell asleep again.”

Yun Shaowei still looks concerned. “Did he feel unwell after I left?”

Ji Ruo laughs twice and waves his hand. “After you left, my uncle rested for a while and then asked for you, saying we should wake you up. Aunt Yun Duo also checked on him and said he was weak from the long illness, couldn’t exert himself, and shouldn’t talk too much yet—but he’s fine now.”

Hearing their exchange, Yun Zhuoran looks back at Ji Wuwang, who has been silently following behind. They haven’t interacted much lately. All Yun Zhuoran knows is that Ji Wuwang and Young Master Yin have been dealing with followers of Fengtian Temple who have infiltrated Yun City. He hasn’t asked how it went, and no one has reported anything to him.

Ji Wuwang doesn’t grasp the meaning of Yun Zhuoran’s gaze at first, but after a moment, he quietly shakes his head.

Yun Zhuoran takes the hint—Ji Wuwang hasn’t been able to find Yun Duo or Master Yin either.

Yun Duo and Master Yin are acting as if they haven’t come for him at all, keeping a careful distance to avoid suspicion.

Meanwhile, Ji Ruo and Yun Shaowei chat a while longer. Once Yun Shaowei is reassured that Yun Tianqing is doing fine, he remembers something as they approach the bedroom and turns to explain to Yun Zhuoran.

“Father said he wanted to see Ninth Uncle as soon as he woke up, so I went to find you first.”

The heart demon tilts his head curiously. “Did he say anything else?”

Yun Zhuoran looks at the heart demon and sees no sign of annoyance in his expression. Clearly, Yun Tianqing has treated him decently as a child.

“No… Father didn’t say much…”

Yun Shaowei still doesn’t understand why his father hasn’t asked him to fetch a doctor upon waking. Instead, he clutched his hand tightly and mumbled Yun Zhuoran’s name, insisting they find him. Left with no choice, Yun Shaowei asked Ji Ruo and Ji Wuwang to stay and watch over his father while he went to get Yun Zhuoran. “Father couldn’t speak much at the time, so I don’t know why he insisted on seeing Ninth Uncle first.”

The heart demon glances at Yun Zhuoran, who calmly meets his eyes. It’s a silent gesture, giving him the choice. So the heart demon says, “Since we’re already here, let’s go in and have a look.”

Yun Shaowei gives a small nod.

Over the past half month, he has come to understand Yun Zhuoran a little. He knows his uncle is quiet, strong-willed, and indifferent toward people and things he doesn’t care for. He can be cold and ruthless. Often, it’s the heart demon who does the talking. Without him, Yun Shaowei wouldn’t even know how to communicate with this uncle of his.

The doors and windows of Yun Tianqing’s bedroom are closed. A bitter medicinal scent lingers in the air, as it always does.

When Yun Shaowei leads them inside, he quickly composes himself. His footsteps are light, but just as he approaches the bed, a hoarse voice comes from behind the curtains.

“…You’ve come.”

Yun Tianqing slowly opens his eyes. His face is deathly pale, still bearing signs of weakness and illness, but compared to the lifeless state he’s been in for half a month, he now has a spark of vitality.

Yun Shaowei’s eyes redden uncontrollably. He blinks rapidly to hide the moisture, then steps quickly to the bedside, bows slightly, and says softly, “Father, Ninth Uncle is here.”

He deliberately steps aside so Yun Tianqing can see clearly. At the same time, Yun Zhuoran and the others also get their first look at the awakened Yun Tianqing. He seems to have rested shortly before they arrived—his energy is better than expected. His eyes are bright and follow Yun Shaowei’s gesture as he looks toward them.

Yun Tianqing hasn’t grown a beard. He formed his core young, so his features still look youthful, though now they carry a haggard, aged air.

Even though they’ve seen each other several times in the past half month, this is the first time Yun Zhuoran truly meets Yun Tianqing’s gaze since he awakened. An inexplicable sense of familiarity stirs in his heart, and he finds himself briefly stunned.

For a moment, something seems to flash before his eyes.

But it’s too quick—too blurry.

He can’t catch it.

Yun Tianqing, still recovering from his long sleep, stares at Yun Zhuoran and the red-robed boy beside him, the one who looks exactly like him. He, too, freezes in place for a second.

Fortunately, Yun Shaowei is there to break the silence. Yun Tianqing studies the two closely for a long moment before finally distinguishing them. Then he slowly raises a hand toward Yun Zhuoran.

“…Can you come here?”

Yun Zhuoran instinctively looks at the heart demon, who gives him a small, hesitant nod.

He stands silent for a moment, then finally moves forward and stands before Yun Tianqing’s bed.

Yun Tianqing looks at Yun Zhuoran, who is standing nearby. A faint smile slowly emerges on his pale face, and his speech is noticeably smoother this time. “Peiran said you would definitely return to Yun City… It’s good you’re back. It’s good.”

The moment he mentions Yun Peiran, Yun Zhuoran’s eyes light up.

Surprised and confused, he asks, “Did Yun Peiran really return to Yun City?”

Yun Tianqing smiles and nods, but as soon as he opens his mouth again, he is overcome by a violent cough.

Yun Shaowei’s expression changes, and he hurries forward to support him so he can breathe more easily.

Yun Tianqing’s face turns blue, his expression pained, as if he can barely breathe. Yun Zhuoran grows anxious but can’t bring himself to ask anything at this moment.

When Yun Tianqing finally catches his breath, Yun Shaowei says solemnly, “Father, Aunt Yun Duo is still here. Should I call her in?”

He gives Ji Ruo a meaningful glance as he speaks.

Yun Tianqing continues coughing violently, even spitting up blood, as if he’s about to cough out his internal organs.

Ji Ruo grows anxious and nods, ready to run out, but Yun Tianqing quickly stops him.

“No need… I’m fine…”

Ji Ruo stands frozen, listening to the painful, gut-wrenching coughs, unsure whether to go or stay. He turns to Yun Shaowei, waiting for a cue.

Just as Yun Tianqing tries to speak again, his body suddenly relaxes. A gentle stream of spiritual power flows into him, easing the intense pain in his chest and throat. His dry lungs, raw from the coughing, feel as if they’re being soothed by a spring rain.

Startled, Yun Tianqing looks up to see Yun Zhuoran’s elegant face—expressionless as ever. Their eyes meet briefly before Yun Zhuoran awkwardly turns away.

With Yun Zhuoran’s help, Yun Tianqing’s complexion improves visibly.

Seeing this, Yun Shaowei and Ji Ruo relax. They no longer feel the urgency to fetch Yun Duo.

Yun Zhuoran soon withdraws the flow of spiritual power—Yun Tianqing, after all, is only at the Nascent Soul stage and can’t withstand too much. Overdoing it could be dangerous.

After finishing silently, Yun Zhuoran returns to stand beside the heart demon. But his eyes lower as he steals a glance at Yun Tianqing, frowning slightly at the faint aura of death still lingering around him.

He’s seen that aura before, though it has diminished today. Still, it pains him to see it.

Uncertain of the cause, Yun Zhuoran turns to look at the heart demon in confusion.

The heart demon simply smiles at him.

Yun Zhuoran feels a little reassured. It seems the heart demon supports his decision to help Yun Tianqing.

But Yun Zhuoran isn’t a true healer—he can offer spiritual power and elixirs, but he can’t fully treat the injuries.

Once the pressure on his body eases, Yun Tianqing begins circulating his own spiritual energy. After a while, he slowly opens his eyes again. When he looks at Yun Zhuoran, his gaze is full of gratitude and relief. He then turns to smile at Yun Shaowei and Ji Ruo.

“I heard you two talking by my side every day. Now that I’m awake, there’s no need to trouble Yun Duo anymore—but I must prepare a thank-you gift.”

“Don’t worry, Father,” Yun Shaowei replies seriously. “I’ll take care of everything.”

Yun Tianqing nods in satisfaction, then beckons Ji Ruo closer to speak with him. He treats Ji Ruo more gently than Yun Shaowei—perhaps because of Ji Ruo’s odd temperament, which only responds to kindness.

Yun Zhuoran wants to ask exactly when Yun Peiran last came to Yun City, what he said, what he left behind, and where he went. But Yun Tianqing is too exhausted. Even after exchanging only a few words with his son and the nephew he has raised like his own, he is clearly spent.

Yun Shaowei gently urges him to rest.

When the host sees the guests off, Yun Zhuoran feels reluctant but knows he can’t do anything. The heart demon drags him away.

They still don’t stay in the City Lord’s Mansion. On the way back to their small courtyard in the south of the city, Yun Zhuoran gradually understands. Yun Tianqing has only just recovered from a serious illness—he truly doesn’t have the strength to explain everything right now. His attitude toward Yun Zhuoran is also markedly different from how he treats Yun Duo.

That difference raises suspicion. It makes one wonder whether Yun Tianqing doesn’t fully trust Yun Duo.

But now that Yun Tianqing is awake, the gloomy atmosphere that has hung over Yun City seems to lift.

His damaged soul still needs time to recover. He’ll need spiritual medicine to heal slowly and carefully. But since he’s awake, there’s hope.

A few days later, Yun Tianqing is able to get out of bed. After more rest, the City Lord’s Mansion hosts a banquet to thank those who helped Yun Shaowei—especially Yun Zhuoran and Yun Duo—and to reconnect with old acquaintances.

The Heart Demon doesn’t want to stay under the same roof as Yun Duo, but Yun Tianqing personally extends the invitation, and Yun Zhuoran still hopes to learn more about Yun Peiran. With no proof that Yun Duo has malicious intent—and considering that she just helped save both Yun City and Yun Tianqing—neither Yun Zhuoran nor the Heart Demon can refuse.

They suppress their misgivings and attend.

This isn’t their first banquet at the City Lord’s Mansion. The first is ruined by Yun Shaowei, and the second is interrupted by Yun Feng. Neither goes smoothly. This banquet, however, is Yun Tianqing’s idea, and he entrusts Yun Shaowei to organize it himself.

Because Ji Ruo once grumbled privately about the previous banquets, Yun Shaowei is particularly nervous this time. That night, he even waits at the gates in person for Yun Zhuoran. Though he knows Yun Zhuoran and the Heart Demon will arrive on time, he still gets there a full incense stick early.

In recent days, Yun Zhuoran and Weiran haven’t been reporting to the City Lord’s Mansion as frequently as before. With help from Penglai Immortal, they obtain several formation diagrams resembling the evil array once used in the old City Lord’s Mansion. With more free time, Yun Zhuoran resumes studying the high priest’s sinister formation—something Weiran finds baffling.

Yun Zhuoran also asks Penglai Immortal to investigate Fengtian Temple, but no news comes.

Penglai Immortal has never heard of it and can only ask his contacts to look into it.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t expect him to know about the temple—after all, Penglai rarely leaves his island, and disciples of the Immortal Palace seldom interact with the outside world.

As for questioning Yun Tianqing about Yun Peiran, Yun Zhuoran can tell there’s no rush. Seeing Yun Tianqing’s relaxed attitude, he gradually settles down as well.

As dusk falls, Yun Zhuoran stores the newly obtained formation diagrams in the floating city and assigns others to continue investigating. Then, he calls the Heart Demon, who has been sitting by the door secretly carving rabbits, and the two head toward the new City Lord’s Mansion together.

It is already dark by the time they arrive at the City Lord’s Mansion.

The lights from thousands of homes illuminate Yun City, and bright lanterns hang in front of the mansion gates.

From a distance, Yun Shaowei spots Yun Zhuoran and the others approaching. He descends the stone steps to welcome them. While they exchange a few stiff pleasantries, Yun Zhuoran notices that Yun Shaowei’s ears are red again—just as they always seem to be. Yun Shaowei himself doesn’t seem to notice and quickly invites them inside.

As they pass through the gate, the Heart Demon glances at the busy servants in the distance and suddenly remembers how poorly the last two banquets ended. With a laugh, he says, “Brother, the last two banquets couldn’t even take place properly. I wonder how this one will go.”

Noticing Yun Shaowei hesitate, Yun Zhuoran quietly turns his black eyes in his direction.

The Heart Demon continues with a smirk, “The first banquet was ruined by the young city lord.”

Yun Shaowei’s fair cheeks—resembling those of the two men—turn slightly red. He turns around and bows awkwardly. “Please don’t blame me, uncles. It was because of Yun Feng…”

The Heart Demon’s eyes light up. He waves a hand and says, “Uncles? You’re calling me uncle too?”

Yun Shaowei looks even more flustered. This had been Yun Tianqing’s order—to avoid creating distance between him and the two island masters of Penglai. Since Yun Zhuoran dotes on the little island master and refers to him as his brother, that technically makes the little island master Yun Shaowei’s uncle as well. But now it sounds like the little island master isn’t exactly thrilled by the formality, and Yun Shaowei’s expression turns stiff.

“Little island master…”

The Heart Demon cuts him off, no longer smiling. “You better just call me Little Uncle. ‘Little island master’ sounds too distant.”

Yun Shaowei blinks in confusion.

The Heart Demon waits, then asks, “Well? Why don’t you call me uncle?”

Yun Zhuoran sighs helplessly and reminds him, “Calling him Little Uncle comes with a price.”

The Heart Demon blinks innocently at him.

Yun Zhuoran only gives a small shake of the head and doesn’t elaborate.

As they near the banquet hall, the voices of Master Yin and Yun Duo drift over in conversation.

Yun Zhuoran and the Heart Demon are the last to arrive, as they had been the furthest away. The Yun family banquet has separate seating arrangements. At the head table sit Yun Duo and Master Yin, chatting cheerfully with Yun Tianqing.

Yun Tianqing is seated in a wheelchair, still unable to walk freely, but he looks visibly improved—refreshed and much younger than before.

Ji Ruo and Ji Wuwang sit at a lower table. Across from them are Shen Lingshu and Gu Jinping.

When Yun Zhuoran enters, Shen Lingshu glances at him, then quickly looks away.
Gu Jinping keeps her head down the entire time. No one knows what she’s gone through, but the once proud and domineering young lady has transformed into a timid little white rabbit.

Ji Ruo, possibly unhappy with the seating, sits with an air of dissatisfaction. Ji Wuwang whispers something to her with a wine cup in hand, making Ji Ruo glare at him with widened eyes.

The moment Yun Tianqing sees Yun Zhuoran, he stops his conversation with Yun Duo and waves cheerfully. “Zhuoran, you’re finally here. Come, have a seat. Your sister Yun Duo and I have been waiting for you.”

At those words, Yun Duo nervously purses her lips, then looks toward the door with cautious expectation.

She clearly wants to get closer but is afraid of being rejected.

Yun Zhuoran suddenly frowns.

The Heart Demon looks confused as well. When Yun Tianqing first woke up, his attitude toward Yun Duo was obviously distant. Compared to how he treats Yun Zhuoran—like family—Yun Duo had been nothing more than a guest.

But in just a few days, Yun Tianqing is suddenly so warm toward her?

Seeing that neither of them moves, Yun Tianqing lets out a sigh and smiles. “I know there are some misunderstandings between you. Yun Duo has explained everything. Zhuoran, she’s still your parents’ adopted daughter, your brother’s adopted sister. The past is behind us. What matters is that we’re all alive now, isn’t it?”

Yun Zhuoran stares at him silently.

He can’t understand what has changed Yun Tianqing’s attitude so drastically.

The Heart Demon looks like he’s about to say something, his expression full of disdain for Yun Duo, but then his wrist is suddenly gripped. He turns in surprise to see Yun Zhuoran gently shaking his head. Then, Yun Zhuoran leads him forward.

Yun Tianqing visibly relaxes.

In truth, no one outside the family knows what caused the rift between Yun Zhuoran and Yun Duo. No one dares to ask. Yun Zhuoran is too aloof to entertain questions, and Yun Duo is kind to most, regarded as an elder by many. No one wants to dig up old wounds unnecessarily.

Once they reach the head table, Yun Zhuoran releases the Heart Demon’s wrist.

Yun Tianqing motions for them to sit on his right. Across from them sits Yun Duo. Seeing that Yun Zhuoran still hasn’t sat down, Yun Duo bites her lip and eventually stands up with her head lowered.

Yun Tianqing quickly interjects, “Wait, Sister Yun Duo!”

Yun Duo keeps her head down, her voice soft and full of guilt. “It’s my fault. Zhuoran doesn’t like me. Brother Tianqing put so much effort into organizing tonight… I don’t want to ruin it.”

Yun Tianqing shakes his head firmly. “Whatever the past, you’re still his sister. When he was little, you looked after him. After everything that’s happened in Yun City, there aren’t many of us left. Why let the past destroy what’s left of our family? I believe Peiran wouldn’t want to see the two of you estranged.”

At that, Yun Zhuoran narrows his eyes slightly and glances at Yun Tianqing.

Yun Duo’s face goes pale.

But Yun Tianqing just smiles calmly and raises his cup to the others. “Tonight, do me a favor—give me some face, and sit down for a drink. We’ll talk about the rest later. What do you say?”

Yun Duo bites her lip again, hesitates for a moment, then lets Master Yin guide her back to her seat.

Yun Zhuoran and Weiran stand there, their expressions cold.

Yun Tianqing glances at them, then presses a wine cup into Yun Zhuoran’s hand and says earnestly, “You and Yun Duo are both saviors of Yun City. Zhuoran, for Brother Tianqing’s sake, take a seat. No matter what faults Yun Duo may have, we can talk about them later. Tonight’s banquet is simply my way of thanking you all.”

Yun Zhuoran frowns.

Yun Tianqing looks at him deeply.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t understand—and doesn’t want to. But when Yun Tianqing lets go, he feels the older man’s fingertips brush against the back of his hand, either deliberately or by accident.

Startled, Yun Zhuoran lifts his eyes and meets the depths of Yun Tianqing’s gaze. Only when Tianqing looks away does Yun Zhuoran slowly tighten his grip on the wine cup, then, with a gloomy face, pulls Weiran down to sit beside him.

Yun Duo’s face lights up.

Yun Tianqing smiles and raises his cup, inviting everyone to drink.

Yun Zhuoran looks down at the amber wine in the jade cup, not intending to drink it. To his surprise, a hand suddenly reaches out from the side and takes the cup from him.

The Heart Demon, clearly suppressing his anger, snatches the cup from Yun Zhuoran’s hand. Under the expectant eyes of Yun Tianqing and Yun Duo, he forces out a sinister smile.

“If my brother won’t drink, I will.”

Yun Zhuoran moves to stop him, but the Heart Demon has already raised his hand. With a tilt of his head, he empties the cup in one gulp.

Yun Tianqing and the others are stunned.

The Heart Demon licks the wine from the corner of his lips, then sets the cup down with a heavy thud. He looks around with a smile. Though there’s a sweetness in his expression, the blood-red gleam in his eyes sends a chill down everyone’s spine.

“Would you like another drink, brother? Sister?”

He enunciates each word clearly, especially the word sister, thick with biting sarcasm.

Yun Duo turns pale and trembles slightly.

The atmosphere around the banquet table instantly turns awkward.

Yun Tianqing gives a light cough and tries to smooth things over with idle conversation, but neither Yun Zhuoran nor Weiran is willing to play along.

Before long, claiming fatigue, Yun Tianqing retires early. Yun Duo soon follows, her face still pale. Young Master Yin, not daring to remain at the same table as Yun Zhuoran, quickly takes his leave as well. Weiran then pulls Yun Zhuoran away.

The night wind in Yun City is sharp, instantly dispersing the lingering scent of wine around them.

Though in truth, only Weiran has been drinking.

Yun Zhuoran knows Weiran is upset. He himself doesn’t remember what happened in the past, but he instinctively rejects Yun Duo. Weiran, on the other hand, remembers everything—and refuses to forgive. That only deepens his resentment toward her.

As they walk, Yun Zhuoran gradually realizes something is off. Weiran is heading the wrong way—so far off course that they’re nearly at the city gate. Only then does Yun Zhuoran realize how quiet Weiran has been this whole time. He quickly reaches out and grabs him.

“Weiran!” Yun Zhuoran calls softly.

The heart demon halts and slowly turns back. His eyes glint blood-red, but they’re unfocused. His face is flushed—he’s drunk.

The cool evening wind carries the faint scent of alcohol to Yun Zhuoran’s nose. He grasps the heart demon’s wrist, checks him over, and finds no major issue. Then he laughs softly and raises a hand to pinch the soft flesh of the heart demon’s cheek.

“You’re drunk.” Yun Zhuoran is genuinely surprised. The heart demon is drunk from just one cup?

The heart demon doesn’t resist, letting him pinch his face quietly.

Yun Zhuoran is both helpless and amused. Truthfully, if the heart demon hadn’t insisted on drinking that wine, none of this would have happened. Who would’ve thought that a creature capable of swallowing countless monsters would be defeated by a single cup of wine?

Seeing the heart demon’s drunken, dazed look, Yun Zhuoran sighs and takes his hand.

“We went the wrong way.”

He doesn’t laugh at the red-clad youth who now looks so slow and dull—just patiently turns him around and leads him back.

But Yun Zhuoran doesn’t expect the heart demon to be so uncooperative. He pulls, but the other doesn’t budge. Looking back, he sees the heart demon staring blankly at him, blood-flecked black eyes wide and unblinking, looking both innocent and confused.

Yun Zhuoran hasn’t expected him to be this strong when drunk. Seeing that he refuses to move, he gently coaxes, “Let’s go back.” He points behind them to the tall city wall. “That’s the gate of Yun City.”

The heart demon opens his mouth and blinks. “Brother, why haven’t we gone back yet?”

Because the drunkard took the wrong road.

Yun Zhuoran answers, “We’re going back now.”

The heart demon looks up at the top of the city wall and asks blankly, “Where is this?”

He’s already forgotten what he just said.

For a moment, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.

The heart demon shakes his head, letting the cold wind blow over him for a while. Finally, he seems to come back to his senses. He releases Yun Zhuoran’s hand, pulls something small from his robes, then takes Yun Zhuoran’s hand again and presses the object into his palm.

“Brother, don’t be angry. Yun Tianqing was bewitched by Yun Duo. He probably thinks she’s his savior…” But it’s true, isn’t it? Yun Duo didn’t harm Yun Tianqing after all.

The heart demon racks his brain, thinks for a long while, then says, “Just ignore him, brother. Don’t be angry over something so small!”

When he lets go, Yun Zhuoran finally sees the object clearly—it’s the little rabbit the heart demon has been secretly carving.

But this one isn’t made of the same black wood he used before. It’s carved from the half-finished rabbit wood sculpture they found in that small courtyard.

That carving was originally done by Yun Peiran, but it was only a rough prototype. Now, in Yun Zhuoran’s hand, the droop-eared rabbit is complete—eyes and nose added, every detail finely worked.

It has truly been given to him.

Looking at the round, carrot-munching bunny, Yun Zhuoran smiles.

His heart demon refuses to study or read, but is willing to spend so much time on something so small.

The heart demon waits for a response, but when none comes, his expression turns panicked. He grabs Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve, asking anxiously, “I changed Brother Yun Peiran’s carving… is Brother angry?”

“Why would I be angry?” Yun Zhuoran gently strokes the rabbit’s long ears. The light in his usually cold eyes softens like moonlight. “Weiran’s gift is lovely. But tell me—what do you want in return?”

“You’re really not angry?” the heart demon asks, wide-eyed.

Yun Zhuoran smiles and nods.

Only then does the heavy weight on the demon’s heart finally ease. But when it comes to asking for a return gift, his eyes flicker, his cheeks flush an even deeper red, and he looks down, suddenly bashful like a guilty thief.

“Return gift… Brother…”

Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve is already crumpled from the heart demon clutching it. Seeing him so shy now, Yun Zhuoran grows curious.

“Just say it. What do you want?”

The heart demon looks up, his eyes sparkling. “Anything’s okay?”

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow. “What does Weiran want?”

The heart demon feels his face burning. He sneaks a glance at Yun Zhuoran, looks around furtively, then grabs his hand and pulls him off toward a corner.

Yun Zhuoran lets him lead the way to the foot of the city wall. He has no idea what the demon is up to, but finds his drunken clumsiness endearing. His eyes glint with amusement.

“I’ve been thinking about it for a long time…”

Yun Zhuoran is in a teasing mood and has just opened his mouth to make a joke when he suddenly feels a cold sensation on his lips.

At that moment, the clouds part, and moonlight spills down, casting the entwined shadows of the two onto the ground.

The heart demon kisses him—a light touch, then a quick retreat.

Yun Zhuoran stands frozen in place, stunned. He unconsciously purses his lips where the kiss landed, then quickly remembers that he ought to say something. He has to tell the heart demon: kissing the face is fine, but not the mouth.

Before he can speak, the heart demon reaches out and wraps his arms around Yun Zhuoran’s slender waist, gazing up at him eagerly like an overjoyed puppy. That brief kiss seems to have delighted him completely, but it still isn’t enough.

“Brother… I want to be your Dao companion.”

Yun Zhuoran’s ever-composed face finally cracks. He’s speechless.

Not far away, a man in white who has been walking slowly comes to a halt, his steps freezing mid-stride.

He doesn’t dare move.