When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 14

Without Ji Chen as bait, Yun Zhuoran could never imagine that a place as sacred as Tiandao Sect harbors so many evil spirits. This truly shouldn’t be the case.

Yun Zhuoran speculates that there must be an issue with Tiandao Sect’s mountain-protecting formation. However, most of the evil spirits summoned during the night are transformed from the natural malevolent energies of heaven and earth, possessing low spiritual awareness.

For the Heart Demon, the taste of these entities is certainly inferior to the magical beings that formed their Nascent Souls the previous night, or to the wolf demon from the night before. Sampling the occasional bland dish is fine, but it’s ultimately unsatisfying.

Still, all these evil spirits combined only amount to the power of one Golden Core, leaving the Heart Demon feeling unfulfilled.

Before dawn, Yun Zhuoran casually tosses Ji Chen back to Qingyang Peak and takes the small black ball back with him to Baiyun Pavilion. Over the past few days, he has snuck out every night to forage for food, arranging his cultivation time during the day. Fortunately, not many people have come looking for him, so he has enjoyed some relative freedom.

Around noon, several guests arrive at Baiyun Pavilion.

The Heart Demon, after playing among the flowers for a while, begins to doze off.

After receiving a message from Shen Lingshu, Yun Zhuoran carefully encloses the black ball with a barrier and puts on the Mingguang Lock before heading downstairs. 

The Heart Demon is very unhappy about being confined, especially upon seeing Shen Lingshu.

Yun Zhuoran ignores the mutterings, thinking that if the Heart Demon knew what had happened at Qingyang Peak the previous day, it would have scolded him long ago.

Yun Zhuoran opens the barrier as usual and waits under the pavilion. Shen Lingshu doesn’t come alone this time; he brings two junior brothers from Qingyang Peak.

Yun Zhuoran feels both shocked and suspicious. Wasn’t yesterday’s incident resolved? Or had Ji Chen complained after returning home this morning?

When Shen Lingshu sees Yun Zhuoran looking behind him, he quickly explains that this is an apology from the Peak Master of Qingyang Peak, including a middle-grade robe and a high-grade spiritual weapon.

In reality, the Peak Master of Qingyang hadn’t planned on apologizing, but the Peak Master of Qinghe had made some harsh comments the previous day. 

After a night of contemplation, the Peak Master of Qingyang grudgingly had someone select a magic weapon to send over, though his expression was grim.

Yun Zhuoran happily accepts the gifts.

Though he doesn’t lack treasures, it’s worth it to make the Peak Master of Qingyang Peak feel a bit of pain.

The two junior disciples hurriedly place the items down and quickly take their leave, and Yun Zhuoran doesn’t try to stop them.

Once they’re gone, Shen Lingshu hesitates for a long time before finally speaking. “Junior Brother Yun, what happened yesterday was actually all Senior Brother Ji’s fault.”

Is this an acknowledgment? Yun Zhuoran is taken aback.

Shen Lingshu looks ashamed. “Junior Brother Ji has been helping me manage the Discipline Hall all these years, but I never noticed his malice towards you. I thought it was just a petty quarrel between children, that he would grow out of it. I never imagined the real problem would be me.”

He pauses and looks directly at Yun Zhuoran with earnest eyes, his hint extremely strong and obvious.

Yun Zhuoran asks, “What does this have to do with Senior Brother Shen?”

“If I hadn’t given Junior Brother Ji extra attention back then, he wouldn’t have thought too much about it. If I had noticed his intentions earlier, Junior Brother Yun wouldn’t have been wronged all these years.” Finally, Shen Lingshu smiles bitterly. “I made this clear to Junior Brother Ji face to face, and he won’t trouble you again.”

Yun Zhuoran thinks to himself that he had just returned Ji Chen—who had been frightened half the night—before dawn. It seems Shen Lingshu had dragged him out again before he even had a chance to rest. The man must be exhausted.

Seeing Yun Zhuoran frowning, Shen Lingshu becomes nervous. “Junior Brother Yun, I swear on my honor that I’ve never intended to harm you. You have to believe me; we are brothers in the same sect after all. Before Master’s accident, he told me to take care of you, so please trust me, Junior Brother Yun. I would never harm you!”

Yun Zhuoran snaps back to attention. “I know.”

Shen Lingshu presses his lips together, then suddenly reaches out to grab Yun Zhuoran. But Yun Zhuoran reacts, pulling his hand back quickly, as if it had touched fire.

Withdrawing his hand in frustration, Shen Lingshu says, “Junior Brother Yun, don’t be afraid. I truly have no intention of hurting you.” He lowers his gaze, looking quite lonely. “I just want to tell you that if you’re willing, I can teach you the ruthless path left by our Master. It will help you break through as soon as possible, and those unpleasant rumors outside will vanish.”

Yun Zhuoran can’t help but be surprised. “Senior Brother Shen, are you serious?”

Shen Lingshu replies sincerely, “Junior Brother Yun, you and I are brothers in the same sect. Naturally, you can also learn the great ways that our Master left for us.”

Yun Zhuoran feels an urge to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Just yesterday, he said in front of several peak masters of the Tiandao Sect that he had never received guidance from Gu Shenshu. Now Shen Lingshu is offering to teach him the Unfeeling Dao left by Gu Shenshu. If he learns it, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face?

For a moment, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t know whether he should think that Shen Lingshu is too clever or too naive.

He quietly watches Shen Lingshu for a moment before finally responding, “Senior Brother Shen, you’re overthinking it. Gu Shenshu once told me that I’m not suited for his path.”

Shen Lingshu looks astonished, then lets out a long sigh of regret and frustration. “I’ve been too simplistic. But Junior Brother Yun, you must believe me. Within the Tiandao Sect, I have always been the one who cares the most about you. I promise that incidents like Ji Chen’s will never happen again. I will do everything in my power to protect you.”

Shen Lingshu speaks earnestly, “With me around, you can stay in the Tiandao Sect forever.”

Yun Zhuoran feels a strange discomfort in his heart; it seems Shen Lingshu has said this many times before. He frowns slightly and replies perfunctorily, “I believe you.”

Shen Lingshu smiles slightly. “Then, Junior Brother…”

“Junior Brother Yun, you have a guest!”

The voice from outside the barrier abruptly interrupts Shen Lingshu’s words. As soon as the voice finishes speaking, Jiang Zhibai enters, saying, “The barrier is open, so I’m coming in too… Why is Senior Brother Shen here?!”

Jiang Zhibai suddenly halts at a distance, seemingly surprised to see Shen Lingshu, before quickly rushing over. Yun Zhuoran can’t shake the feeling that Jiang Zhibai regards Shen Lingshu with some defensiveness. This impression becomes even stronger when Jiang Zhibai dashes into the pavilion, standing protectively in front of Yun Zhuoran.

Shen Lingshu is puzzled but soon notices the faint smile on Yun Zhuoran’s face, inviting Jiang Zhibai to sit down. Before the two have even spoken much, Shen Lingshu can already feel the closeness between them. At the very least, Yun Zhuoran wouldn’t smile at him like that.

“Junior Brother Jiang, what brings you here?” Shen Lingshu’s gaze remains fixated on the rare smile on Yun Zhuoran’s face, like a crystal-clear flower blooming on frost, momentarily captivating him.

Unfortunately, the smile fades quickly, and Yun Zhuoran stops smiling when he looks back at him.

“I made an appointment with Junior Brother Yun to come to my place today to see my newly acquired magic weapon. Yes, isn’t Junior Brother Yun good at spell formations and spells? Can you help me set some restrictions along the way?” Jiang Zhibai says, suppressing the sudden goosebumps that appear on his body, while staring at Shen Lingshu from the corner of his eye with a forced smile.

Is there such a thing? Yun Zhuoran is momentarily taken aback, but when he sees Jiang Zhibai turning his back to Shen Lingshu and blinking at him, he replies calmly, “That’s true.”

Jiang Zhibai secretly breathes a sigh of relief. “Then we won’t bother Senior Brother Shen. I heard from my father that Senior Brother Shen has been very busy lately—practicing, preparing for upcoming training, and searching for monsters that have infiltrated the sect. There’s no need to delay! Senior Brother Shen, please go quickly! Don’t worry, I’ll help take care of Junior Brother Yun!”

As Jiang Zhibai speaks, he winks at Shen Lingshu. Shen Lingshu recalls that Yun Zhuoran had been in seclusion for over ten years. He only occasionally saw Jiang Zhibai when he emerged and would ask Jiang Zhibai to help bring things in and put in a good word for him. Although Jiang Zhibai seems a bit odd today, Shen Lingshu turns to Yun Zhuoran, who displays an unusually calm demeanor. Shen Lingshu suppresses the displeasure in his eyes and, when he looks up again, wears a gentle and satisfied expression.

“Then I’ll spare Junior Brother Jiang the trouble,” Shen Lingshu says after a moment’s thought. “Junior Brother Yun, don’t worry; you can accompany me to Pojun Mountain for training soon.”

At the mention of Pojun Mountain, Yun Zhuoran’s eyes light up. He recalls the half-mountain evil spirits that had been consumed by the heart demons. Why not take the opportunity to let the heart demons go back and feast on them?

Shen Lingshu doesn’t miss the subtle change in Yun Zhuoran’s expression. His restless heart finally calms, and he regains some of the confidence he had lost earlier.

However, Jiang Zhibai’s expression changes abruptly as they leave. “He said he wanted to take you to Pojun Mountain? You agreed? What’s going on?”

Yun Zhuoran smiles but doesn’t answer. Instead, he asks, “Senior Brother Jiang, what’s the emergency?”

Jiang Zhibai seems troubled.

After returning home yesterday, he had replayed the events in his mind, finally concluding that Shen Lingshu often projects care for Yun Zhuoran to the outside world. However, every time Jiang Zhibai discusses Shen Lingshu’s kindness with Yun Zhuoran, he notices that Yun Zhuoran doesn’t react much.

Initially, Jiang Zhibai thinks Yun Zhuoran is simply young and naive, or perhaps shy. But now, he realizes that the good intentions Shen Lingshu expresses might not align with what Yun Zhuoran actually wants.

Since Gu Shenshu’s death and Yun Peiran’s disappearance, Yun Zhuoran has been monitored by both the Tiandao Sect and the Tianqing Sect. Even Jiang Zhibai knows that Yun Zhuoran has to keep a low profile if he wants to live well.

Despite living in seclusion in the Baiyun Pavilion, rumors about Yun Zhuoran—both good and bad—continue to circulate, most of them linked to Shen Lingshu.

Jiang Zhibai can’t help but start doubting whether Shen Lingshu truly cares for Yun Zhuoran.

Of course, Jiang Zhibai doesn’t ask Yun Zhuoran directly. After Lianyue’s reminder, he feels that Yun Zhuoran has likely been aware of this for a long time, and he worries that he might be overthinking things.

Before he gets to know Shen Lingshu better, he doesn’t want Shen Lingshu to get close to Yun Zhuoran—he has a gut feeling that no matter what has happened before, Shen Lingshu getting close to Yun Zhuoran is certainly not a good thing.

Thus, Jiang Zhibai’s gaze at Yun Zhuoran becomes quite complicated at this moment.

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow. “Is there something on my face?”

Jiang Zhibai thinks about it, distressed, and asks tentatively, “Has Senior Brother Shen been visiting you often lately? Has he mentioned that he’s looking for a Dao companion?”

Yun Zhuoran replies, “You mentioned that before.”

Jiang Zhibai genuinely forgets and quickly changes his wording. “Senior Brother Shen is very busy. He hardly has time to practice on weekdays, so if we have nothing to do, let’s not disturb him. He needs some time to find a Dao companion.” He knows it sounds illogical, so he presses on, “Junior Brother Yun, have you ever thought about finding a Dao companion?”

Yun Zhuoran senses the underlying meaning in his words and finds it strange but doesn’t expose him. Instead, he gives him an obscurely odd look. “I can’t go out. Should I find someone to be trapped here with me?”

Jiang Zhibai urges, “Even so, you can’t just agree to anyone’s proposal! Junior Brother Yun, listen to me. If someone tells you that marrying them will grant you freedom, that person is most likely a fraud. Even if there’s a slight chance they might be sincere, don’t agree immediately. Think it through, okay?”

Yun Zhuoran’s gaze shifts. “Are you suggesting…?”

Jiang Zhibai hurriedly waves his hands. “No, no, I’m not saying anything!”

But Jiang Zhibai’s hint has already planted a seed in Yun Zhuoran’s mind. Coupled with what he had read in the novel earlier, it would be foolish for Yun Zhuoran not to think in other directions. He can’t help but consider it. Reflecting on the story, Yun Zhuoran finally understands why the protagonist in the storybook would marry Shen Lingshu—not for anything else, but to stay in the Tiandao Sect.

If Shen Lingshu in the novel had been hinting that the Tianqing Sect wanted to claim Yun Zhuoran, then it makes sense that Yun Zhuoran, who prefers the comfort of the Tiandao Sect, might fake a marriage with Shen Lingshu for temporary freedom.

Yun Zhuoran suddenly realizes, “So that’s it.”

Jiang Zhibai, who only intended to hint, perks up at this and becomes a bit alarmed.

“What?!”

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head and laughs lightly. “It’s nothing.”

He merely thinks that the plot in the storybook could reflect a real possibility for future developments. With the storybook’s appearance, Yun Zhuoran will no longer tolerate Shen Lingshu’s tricks as he had before.

There is no need to tell Jiang Zhibai about these matters, so no matter how much he presses, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t say anything. By the time Jiang Zhibai lingers until the sun is setting, it’s nearly time for Yun Zhuoran to return and practice his sword, yet he still refuses to leave.

Yun Zhuoran sighs silently. If Jiang Zhibai doesn’t leave, the heart demon will be crying in frustration. He’s clearly right there in the Baiyun Pavilion, yet he has to stay cooped up because there are outsiders.

Jiang Zhibai, still afraid of his father, doesn’t manage to pry any information out, and eventually, he has to leave. Yun Zhuoran accompanies him out of the barrier and spots a familiar figure in the distance.

“Isn’t that Gu Qiuming?” Jiang Zhibai says in surprise. “What’s he doing here?”

Against the backdrop of a splendid sunset, the young man in white walks toward the front mountain, seemingly unaware that the barrier of Baiyun Pavilion has opened behind him. Yun Zhuoran squints slightly as he observes from afar, dazzled by the glow of the sunset.

“He cleans the Mountain Cloud Pool every day, so he passes by here.”

“Mountain Cloud Pool? Is it that North Mountain Cloud Pool?”

Jiang Zhibai is also taken aback and turns to point at the towering solitary peak in the north.

The peak is shrouded in white mist, as if it’s bathed in clouds.

Yun Zhuoran nods, but his fingertips suddenly tighten. The boy in white walking away exudes a few wisps of death energy. Unlike the death energy associated with Ji Chen, this energy is arrogant and claws at the air.

However, the death energy is too faint, and Yun Zhuoran believes there won’t be any problems. After seeing Jiang Zhibai off, he returns to prepare to take the heart demon out to search for food.

Fortunately, the heart demon is asleep in the back. Though he seems a bit aggrieved when Yun Zhuoran wakes him, he doesn’t fuss too much. Seeing his obedient and cute demeanor, Yun Zhuoran feels a pang of guilt and plans to give him something special tonight.

Darkness engulfs the sky as night falls.

At Qingyang Peak, a wisp of black mist quietly enters Ji Chen’s room, moving with incredible speed. Before long, it wraps around Ji Chen, who is meditating on the couch.

“You…”

As the voice echoes in his ears, Ji Chen immediately grits his teeth and interrupts.

“No, I’m not fine at all!” This is the fourth time!

This is the fourth time!

Ji Chen takes a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger, but his voice still trembles. “Uncle! You are my ancestor! I beg you, please just kill me! Don’t keep catching a fat sheep and fleecing it, okay?”

Yun Zhuoran closes his mouth regretfully, looking innocently at the heart demon’s little sesame-like eyes. He had prepared a longer greeting than last night to be more polite, but it seems Junior Brother Ji doesn’t want it?