When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 127

Yun Duo leads people to search around Yun Peiran’s and Yun Tianqing’s homes but finds no one. No one has seen Yun Peiran’s sickly younger brother either, so she takes Yun Fushuang back with her group first and leaves a team of guards to continue searching for people in Yun City.

Basically, no one believes that a weak and sickly child who has just turned seven, even if brave enough to sneak away, can run very far.

More people think Yun Peiran’s brother might have been hidden by someone. If he hides himself, he should go home after dark.

Yun Duo doesn’t find him at home and leaves a few people there to watch.

If Yun Duo plans to wait and see, then the people she leaves behind are destined to be disappointed, and her calculations will fail, because Yun Zhuoran goes straight back to the City Lord’s Mansion after they leave Yun Tianqing’s house.

Now that so many guards are searching outside, no one expects he will come back to the City Lord’s Mansion himself.

The saying that the most dangerous place is the safest place holds true here—except that the City Lord’s Mansion is in chaos, and the people inside are also searching for Yun Zhuoran.

However, those in the City Lord’s Mansion don’t know they are looking for a child. They only know that a mysterious man has seriously injured their City Lord.

When Yun Zhuoran returns to the City Lord’s Mansion again, he gives up the small door that might have been exposed, puts on a talisman to become invisible, and enters directly through the main gate. At this moment, many people come and go through the main door. No one notices the invisible child slipping in, and no one knows this child is the mysterious person who seriously injured the City Lord, enraged him, and kept them busy through the night.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t catch up to Yun Duo and her group, but he is sure Yun Duo brings Yun Fushuang back to the City Lord’s Mansion. Knowing her temperament, she probably won’t lock up Yun Fushuang, whom she has captured, together with Yun Peiran.

If Yun Duo wants to imprison someone, it will be either in Yun Tianfeng’s territory or the High Priest’s territory—the latter being Yun Zhuoran’s destination.

To catch the assassin who sneaks into the City Lord’s Mansion, no one there is going to sleep tonight. All the courtyards are brightly lit, the dazzling lights illuminating every corner.

Therefore, when Yun Zhuoran walks in the backyard, the faint rays of light from his sleeves seem extremely weak. Even if noticed, they look like just a brief flicker.

By the time Yun Zhuoran arrives at the High Priest’s residence again, it is already four o’clock.

The crescent moon hangs silently in the sky like a hook.

Unlike many places in the City Lord’s Mansion, the area near the High Priest’s residence is extremely quiet. The guards searching nearby don’t dare approach this corner of the mansion at all, which gives Yun Zhuoran considerable convenience.

On the way there, Yun Zhuoran hears the guards say the High Priest seems to be with Yun Tianfeng. Given Yun Tianfeng’s serious injuries, it is natural for the High Priest—who is staying in the manor as a guest—to visit him. That means the High Priest probably hasn’t returned yet, so Yun Zhuoran can proceed with less caution.

Yun Zhuoran slowly breaks a small gap in the barrier in front of the door and follows the heart demon inside smoothly.

The High Priest’s residence is rebuilt by connecting several courtyards. Though still within the City Lord’s Mansion, it has its own door and courtyard, plus a small exit leading out of the mansion. The front yard facing the main gate has a wooden building with ventilation on all four sides, probably a place for meditation and cultivation.

The High Priest lives here alone. When he goes out, no one remains inside. It is very quiet.

Yun Zhuoran follows the route Ji Wuwang has shown them to find the secret room and goes to the backyard.

The backyard door is closed. Yun Zhuoran pushes it open and sees a square tripod in the middle of the room. Shelves line the walls, almost all filled with materials needed for formations. The High Priest’s residence has almost no personal belongings.

Yun Zhuoran finds the mechanism for the secret room and goes down to look around.

Sure enough, there is no difference from what he has seen before. The bamboo slip recording certain events is still in the exact place Ji Ruo says he found it.

Yun Zhuoran climbs the shrine, puts the bamboo slips back without glancing at the black wooden statue.

As soon as he jumps down, the shadow floats back anxiously along the ground.

“Brother! Be careful!”

“It’s fine.” Yun Zhuoran waves his hand. He always feels the heart demon looks at him like a porcelain doll. “Did you find anything?”

The shadow floats closer. “There’s a box of wooden sculptures over there, the same as this statue.”

Yun Zhuoran raises his eyebrows and asks the heart demon to take him there.

At the corner the heart demon indicates, he finds an open wooden box. Inside are black wooden sculptures like the statue, only palm-sized, exactly like the wooden sculpture pendant the High Priest’s subordinate who is killed by the heart demon’s shadow wears around his waist. Each is carved exactly the same. There are dozens, without any difference.

Sensing something, Yun Zhuoran strolls back to the altar, turns his back to the idol, and looks around the chamber from the idol’s vantage point. Directly before it sits a single meditation cushion. He walks quickly to it, crouches down, and runs his fingertip lightly across the black stone floor. Then he lifts his hand and rubs the particles between his fingers.

“Sawdust.” A hint of understanding flashes through Yun Zhuoran’s eyes. “These wood carvings should have been carved by the High Priest himself. A devout believer like him naturally kneels before his god every day and carves wooden statues of the god to prove his sincerity.”

The heart demon hears some sarcasm in his voice. “So these wood carvings are useless?”

Yun Zhuoran is about to nod but, after thinking for a moment, quickly walks back toward the box of wood carvings.

“Useful. Of course they’re useful. But we have to find a way to take these out. Weiran, think about what to do.”

The shrunken Yun Zhuoran has no strength to move the box, and the shadow without substance cannot move it either. The heart demon feels embarrassed but doesn’t want to disappoint his brother.

Fortunately, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t embarrass the heart demon in the end. He returns to the room outside the secret room, finds some talisman-making tools, and goes back to the secret room. When he comes out again, the box in the secret room is empty.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he opens the door, Yun Zhuoran comes face to face with a man in white standing right outside the door.

The shadow shrinks behind Yun Zhuoran’s heels vigilantly.

Yun Zhuoran and the young man in white stare at each other for a long time without a word.

No one knows better than Yun Zhuoran where this is—and how few people can possibly appear here. And of those, how many can be considered “good”?

Clearly, none.

The one standing before him is an extraordinarily refined and elegant white-robed cultivator. His gaze is upright and clear, his tall figure straight as jade, and there is a faint aura of purity about him—like a gentleman among lotuses. At a glance, he does not look like a demonic cultivator.

However, only a few people come in and out of this place.

This person is either the high priest or someone under him. The aura on him somewhat resembles the sacred golden light Yun Duo wields when attacking Yun Zhuoran. But Yun Duo’s eyes hold malice, while this man’s eyes are very clear.

After a while, the white-robed monk speaks first with a smile: “So you’re Yun Peiran’s little brother. What are you doing in my room?”

This is the High Priest’s residence!

Alarm bells ring in Yun Zhuoran’s mind. At the same time, he is surprised to realize this man really is the high priest.

The high priest looks down at the child not even as tall as his thigh, seeming very interested, and speaks gently, “Are you here in the City Lord’s Mansion to find your brother or your sister?”

Those with formidable cultivation almost always radiate a natural aura that makes it hard for others to meet their gaze—even if they try to suppress it, traces still leak through. But the High Priest has none of that. He seems no different from an ordinary mortal who has never cultivated, carrying no detectable spiritual power at all.

No wonder the high priest can deceive so many people into joining the Fengtian Temple. Just his handsome and sincere appearance wins much goodwill—at least they won’t reject him outright.

But people like this are harder to deal with.

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head slightly at the shadow on the ground, signaling not to act rashly, and pinches the hard object hidden in his sleeve with one hand.

The high priest’s many questions mean he does not want to kill him immediately.

Before Yun Zhuoran can reply, the high priest utters an “ah,” as if he has just remembered something.

“Perhaps you’re not only looking for them, but also for some of your other brothers and sisters. But little one, you’ve taken the wrong path. Those two aren’t kept here. Even if you’re in a hurry, you can’t just barge into my quarters. Remember not to do it again next time.”

Yun Zhuoran only knows the high priest’s tone is full of inexplicable malice, but his words immediately make Yun Zhuoran think of two people.

“Yun Tianqing and Yun Fushuang?”

The high priest glances around the door.

He doesn’t know what Yun Zhuoran has done before, but his room is a mess now. A large amount of cinnabar has spilled across the floor, staining it red.

The high priest frowns slightly but soon relaxes, returning to his benevolent immortal appearance. He steps aside and says, “If you want to see them, follow me.”

Caught red-handed, what else can Yun Zhuoran do?

He simply takes out the moonstone, holding it in his hand, and leaves the room with the shadow.

The high priest tilts his head to look at the moonstone in his hand, blinks, and walks leisurely beside him.

The door behind them creaks and closes automatically, and his smiling voice sounds above Yun Zhuoran’s head. “You just turned seven not long ago, didn’t you? I thought that except your brother Yun Peiran, no one else would dare break into my residence. I didn’t expect you to be like your brother… No, maybe smarter. I never realized that before.”

The high priest walks beside him without minding Yun Zhuoran’s short legs and slow pace. His words and manners make one feel cared for.

Turning a corner and walking up the corridor with the high priest, Yun Zhuoran keeps a blank expression and says nothing.

The high priest speaks gently, “Or perhaps, little one, you’ve simply changed too quickly.” He smiles with a strange relief. “People change easiest. There will always be differences between yesterday and today. Just like you—you were a simple child a few days ago, but today you can break barriers, sneak into my residence, and stay calm before me. You’re not afraid of me—I can tell. In fact, you even want to kill me.”

Yun Zhuoran looks up at him.

The high priest lowers his head and smiles. “But that’s all right. Heaven always favors clever children a little more—especially our God. You’re still you. You’ve simply given me a pleasant surprise.”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t understand what pleases him. He instinctively feels the high priest never plans to give up on him, or on the Taiyin True Fire that might come from him. It isn’t because he sees him as a child; it is pure excitement at having an opponent whose growing strength will make the game more challenging.

Yun Zhuoran is too lazy to care.

Fortunately, the high priest’s destination is not far.

When Yun Zhuoran sees Yun Tianqing lying weakly on the bed in the side room, coughing hoarsely, with Yun Fushuang guarding and caring for him, he notices the high priest’s expression shift from satisfaction to regret, even reluctance, as if unwilling to destroy a cherished piece of porcelain.

But such goodwill is only skin-deep; his true nature remains deeply hidden.

Yun Tianqing and his sister are also quite surprised to see Yun Zhuoran brought by the high priest.

Yun Tianqing hurriedly props his weak body up to sit, with Yun Fushuang supporting him, but the brother and sister don’t dare speak.

They want to know how Xiao Weiran ends up in the hands of the high priest, but everyone naturally fears him and no one dares to anger him.

Yun Tianqing must be injured; faint bloody marks are visible on his snow-white middle clothes, and Yun Fushuang’s wrists bear purple binding marks.

They don’t seem to have suffered directly from the high priest…

Yun Zhuoran turns to look at the high priest.

He doesn’t believe that the high priest—who wants to sacrifice 10,000 people in Yun City and regards human lives as ants—would be so kind.

“At first, I thought about throwing them into the well,” the High Priest says with a smile, “but then I think, your brother seems to care about them… and you as well. And now I have no need of them — since you came by yourself.”

Yun Tianqing forces himself off the bed. Hearing this, he and Yun Fushuang look at the pale child standing beside the high priest in disbelief. They hadn’t expected Xiao Weiran to come alone this time.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t want to beat around the bush with the high priest anymore. “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“I want to bring you here from the start, but I don’t expect you to run away. It’s good you’re back now. You’ve come to your senses in time, and the gods won’t blame you.” As the high priest speaks, a look of longing appears on his face. “I will send you to the gods’ side. But there are some things on you that the gods do not like. Before you meet the gods, those things must be removed.”

He almost says directly to Yun Zhuoran, do you know how much I envy you?

Yun Tianqing’s expression changes drastically, and he says anxiously, “Xiao Weiran, don’t listen to him!”

Yun Zhuoran gives him a calm look in return. His pale face is slightly flushed from the fatigue of walking all the way here, but his expression is very cold. “I’m not pious enough—why don’t you send yourself over?”

The high priest says, “I do want to, but the god told me I’m still far away from Him.”

Yun Zhuoran says coldly, “Do you want to send me to accompany your god, or do you want to take things from me for your god?”

After his words fall, the high priest looks at him with a different expression. After a moment, he smiles with curved lips and says, “Good boy, you’re too smart. I need you to accompany the god, and I also need things from you.”

Hearing this, Yun Tianqing and Yun Fushuang look at Yun Zhuoran with great concern.

The high priest sees this and says, “Don’t be nervous. This child is different from before, and I won’t force him. Why don’t you and I make a bet? If you lose, you’ll willingly sacrifice to the gods.”

His smile is full of confidence, as if sure Yun Zhuoran will not refuse. “If I lose, Yun Tianqing and his sister can let you take them all away.”

Yun Tianqing shouts, “No!”

The shadow at Yun Zhuoran’s feet also begins to move slightly, hesitating whether to stop it.

Yun Zhuoran is a little surprised at first. The high priest is actually giving him a chance to live.

He is curious yet puzzled. “How do we bet?”

The high priest lightly pushes with his palm. Yun Zhuoran does not feel any spiritual fluctuation, but water gushes out of the kettle on the table, quickly gathering into a crystal-clear mass in the air. In an instant, it forms an irregular water mirror.

Under everyone’s gaze, the weak back of Yun Duo gradually appears on the water mirror.

Yun Zhuoran frowns. “The dungeon.”

The dungeon where Yun Peiran is imprisoned.

Yun Duo is walking toward the cell where Yun Peiran is held.

“Originally, I wanted her to deceive your brother and find out your whereabouts, but Yun Duo must have turned the fake into reality and taken the opportunity to take Yun Peiran out of Yun City.” The high priest’s eyes show obvious malice as he smiles and asks, “Little guy, in your brother’s eyes, what’s more important—to escape Yun City and survive, or you?”

Yun Zhuoran already understands what he is trying to do.

“If he stays, I win?”

The high priest nods happily, his excited eyes staring at the water curtain. “I’m more looking forward to whether my student can satisfy me for once.”

Yun Zhuoran looks at him but remains unsure. In reality, Yun Peiran is indeed deceived by Yun Duo, but on the other hand, he doesn’t want to give up this bet. It isn’t about saving people—such events would happen regardless of his preparations.

Only then does he realize these events aren’t for him to choose but for Yun Peiran.

There is one more key to leaving here.

Yun Peiran.

Yun Zhuoran lowers his gaze and uses his eyes to reassure the shadow: wait a little longer, and watch.

Yun Tianqing and Yun Fushuang stare at the water curtain. They cannot stop the high priest from doing what he wants, let alone a child. They can only pin their hopes on his mercy.

A gentle sound of footsteps echoes in the empty dungeon of the City Lord’s Mansion. When Yun Duo is about to approach the cell, Yun Peiran—meditating with his eyes closed—opens his eyes, looking quite helpless.

“Why are you here again?”

Yun Duo says nothing but silently takes out the key and unlocks the intricate mechanism on the cell door.

With a click, the lock opens, and Yun Peiran stands up in shock.

“Yun Duo, you…”

“I beg the high priest for a long time before he agrees to let us go.”

Yun Duo’s eyes are slightly red, as if she has just cried. She slowly forces a smile. “There are so many people in Yun City, we really can’t save them. Brother Tianqing and Sister Fushuang are waiting for us outside the city gate. Brother Peiran, let’s leave Yun City forever.”

Watching the iron gate being pushed open by Yun Duo, Yun Peiran shakes his head and asks worriedly, “Wait, Yun Duo, how could the high priest agree to let us go after you begged him? What about Yun Tianfeng?”

Yun Duo looks at him for a long time with red eyes, as if she can no longer hold back. Her voice is hoarse as she shouts, “What’s the point of asking these questions now? Brother Peiran, don’t hesitate any longer. Let’s leave Yun City. It doesn’t matter how I ask the high priest for forgiveness; what matters is that I want you to live! Brother Peiran, Yun City is not a good place. Let’s leave. I just want to be with you.”

Hearing the desperation in Yun Duo’s voice, Yun Peiran is momentarily stunned. He reaches out in a panic to support her slender arm. “Don’t worry. I just want to know why the high priest would… help me. Yun Duo, you know I don’t want to have anything to do with people like the high priest. Even if I die, I won’t be his pawn.”

In the high priest’s residence, hearing this, the high priest smiles with admiration in his eyes. “This child is still so stubborn.”

Yun Zhuoran interjects, “He dislikes you.”

The high priest smiles and says, “Which is why I admire him.”

It must be said, Yun Duo’s acting skills have been impressive since childhood. The pain and restraint on her face soften Yun Peiran, who is already ashamed of himself.

Yun Peiran lets go of her hand, sighs, and takes the initiative to walk out of the dungeon. “Let’s go.”

Yun Duo’s eyes are misty and bright as she takes a few quick steps ahead to lead the way. “Brother Peiran, follow me!”

“What a pity,” the high priest sighs with a smile, lowering his eyes to the child in white beside him. “You lose.”

The Yun Tianqing siblings are already dejected.

Yun Zhuoran has heard about what happens in reality but still wants to gamble again. He stubbornly stares at the water curtain. “They haven’t left Yun City yet. It’s too early for the high priest to talk about winning or losing.”

The high priest appears indulgent but doesn’t really believe it. He nods and says, “Well, let’s wait and see.”

Yun Duo takes the deserted path in the mansion and soon brings Yun Peiran to the side door.

As Yun Zhuoran expects, Yun Peiran hesitates before leaving. He asks Yun Duo, “Yun Duo, did Weiran really leave Yun City?”

Yun Duo hurries to open the door. “Of course it’s true! Would I lie to Brother Peiran?”

Yun Peiran shakes his head. “That’s not what I mean.” He glances back at the City Lord’s Mansion, lit by firelight, frowning slightly. “What are they looking for?”

Since he’s already asked, Yun Duo answers casually, “Tonight, Yun Tianfeng is attacked—apparently by a mysterious cultivator using talismans. But the talismans aren’t very strong. The high priest examines him and says his injuries are to the soul and eyes, and have nothing to do with those talismans. Yun Tianqing’s steward says the one who snuck in to assassinate him is shaped like a child, and is holding something that glows…”

Outside the door, it is pitch dark, without a single person in sight. After confirming this, Yun Duo urges, “Hurry!”

“A child?” Yun Peiran doesn’t move. His tone is strangely concerned.

“I don’t know either. But since this person dares to try to kill Yun Tianfeng, he probably won’t escape. I guess it’s not that the assassin is powerful—it’s more likely Yun Tianfeng loses control and misjudges because of his old injuries. The guards will be back any moment now.”

Yun Duo sees Yun Peiran still doesn’t move, so she runs back and grabs his arm. “Brother Peiran, we…”

“I won’t leave.”

For some reason, Yun Peiran’s face darkens. Suddenly, he pushes Yun Duo’s hand away, turns around, and runs toward the brightest fire in the mansion.

Yun Duo is shocked and angry. “Where are you going?”

Not only Yun Duo, but the high priest also finds this scene hard to accept. The smile on his face disappears.

Like Yun Tianqing and his sister, Yun Zhuoran breathes a sigh of relief.

In fact, when Yun Duo mentions the assassin looks like a child using talismans, Yun Peiran immediately thinks of Weiran, because most of those talismans are drawn by Yun Peiran while watching Yun Zhuoran.

Yun Peiran knows the effects of the talismans he draws. After accepting his brother’s change, he can’t help but associate the assassin with Yun Zhuoran.

Yun Zhuoran chuckles inwardly. “It seems I win.”

The heart demon, who has been too nervous to speak for a long time, whispers something only Yun Zhuoran can hear: “That’s great, scared me half to death! brother, from now on you’re never allowed to gamble with someone’s life again! No!” The heart demon declared firmly, “Even if your luck at gambling is the best in the world, you’re never allowed to gamble again!”

Yun Zhuoran thinks to himself that it’s not like he enjoys gambling.

He shakes his head and looks at the high priest. “You lose.”

The high priest sharply catches the sarcasm in the calm child’s words and smiles again. “It doesn’t matter. It’s my honor to make the child I admire happy for a while.”

Yun Tianqing catches the implication and says in surprise, “High Priest, are you going back on your word?”

The high priest looks toward the watery screen. “Yun Peiran hasn’t left Yun City yet, and there’s no guarantee he’ll find this place. Isn’t someone already stopping him?”

At that moment, those who have been relieved Yun Peiran hasn’t left suddenly realize—he has run straight into Yun Tianfeng on the way!

This is no coincidence. Yun Peiran hears cries for help and rushes over, only to find a furious Yun Tianfeng venting his murderous urges.

“Yun Tianfeng isn’t smart, but he can always help at critical moments. He’s much more useful than my useless student,” the high priest smiles at Yun Zhuoran. “Little guy, do you think that Yun Tianfeng, who’s already gone completely mad, will kill Yun Peiran?”

At this time, Yun Peiran is targeted by Yun Tianfeng, and the entire water curtain seems stained with blood by Yun Tianfeng’s scarlet eyes. Yun Zhuoran grits his teeth and throws an object to Yun Tianqing.

“You go save Yun Peiran. Take him away first. I’ll find a chance to meet you!”

Yun Tianqing instinctively catches the object and sees it’s a bottle of medium-grade elixir for treating internal injuries. He is stunned and wants to argue with Yun Zhuoran—how can he leave a child alone?

But before Yun Tianfeng and his sister can react, Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon have already begun their plan. One uses a talisman to attack the high priest directly, while a black shadow strikes from behind.

Although the high priest has no spiritual power, he dodges the attack with lightning speed. In the blink of an eye, he retreats to the courtyard outside the door, his bright black eyes fixed on the black shadow on the ground.

“Is this the secret weapon that seriously injures Yun Tianfeng?”

Yun Zhuoran says nothing. He stuffs a few pills into his mouth, bites his fingertips, pinches his fingers, and waves a handful of talismans that light up with spiritual light, slowly forming a protective circle around him.

“Go!” Yun Zhuoran hisses softly.

Dozens of talismans turn into blazing fireballs, tracing hot arcs through the night sky.

Yun Tianqing and Yun Fushuang are truly enlightened this time. They haven’t expected a seven-year-old child who hasn’t even started formal training to do this. Even Yun Fushuang, who is at the peak of Qi Refining, feels herself inferior.

Yun Tianqing is seriously injured after all. After thinking it through, he grits his teeth and drags Yun Fushuang away.

After watching them finally run out of the yard, Yun Zhuoran secretly breathes a sigh of relief and immediately begins to retreat. His attack is just a surprise strike—the high priest has been toying with him and hasn’t fought seriously. The best strategy is to hide, not to battle the high priest to the end.

However, as soon as he begins to retreat, a spiritual light shoots from the high priest’s fingertips, striking at his back.

After dodging with all his might, Yun Zhuoran’s eyes flash with understanding. He rolls to the far end of the corridor and calls the heart demon to enter a nearby house.

Now Yun Zhuoran has to rely on external objects and the heart demon to fight the high priest, but the heart demon can barely touch the high priest’s shadow—the high priest is simply too sensitive and dodges whenever the heart demon approaches.

Sitting under the window, after swallowing a handful of Huiyuan Pills, Yun Zhuoran takes a small breath and explains to the shadow beside him, “It’s the power of will. The high priest’s willpower is endless, but ours isn’t.”

As long as there are people who believe in the high priest and supply him with willpower akin to faith, his strength will never be exhausted. The golden light on Yun Duo’s body and her wish power are similar in nature. Probably because the statue of the saint is worshipped by the believers of Fengtian Temple, Yun Duo’s wish power leans toward the power of faith, which is also similar to divine power.

Yun Zhuoran estimates conservatively that the high priest’s strength is second only to Yun Peiran in the future.

The heart demon sees Yun Zhuoran’s pale, anxious face, like an ant on a hot pan, and says, “Then let’s get out of here, quick!”

Yun Zhuoran nods and stands up with support from the wall. Unexpectedly, a white light attacks from behind!

Just as the attack of wish power is about to hit his hand, the spiritual device on his ear flares with sky-blue light, instantly expanding into a spherical barrier that encloses him completely.

At the same time, a shadow flies past, covering the location of this mysterious wish power.

Even so, Yun Zhuoran staggers back several steps from the strong shockwave.

A gaping hole bursts open in the window, and dust billows, making the already dim light even darker.

The high priest gives a curious “Oh?” and smiles. “And what is this? You really do surprise me.”

Yun Zhuoran’s voice is cold. “It surprises me too.”

Sometimes, Gu Shenshu’s resentment incarnation can actually be a good person—at least he hasn’t swindled him when giving him this artifact.