When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 17

The heart demon takes a moment to digest it, then flies toward Yun Zhuoran with a gleeful smile. By the time it reaches him, the once-large black sphere has shrunk to the size of a fist, and its small tail proudly sways back and forth.

“Brother, am I awesome!” it exclaims.

Yun Zhuoran lets out a silent sigh of relief and raises his hand, signaling for the heart demon to land. However, just as he does so, a gust of wind suddenly whips up from the large formation behind him, causing his robes to billow violently, and a hidden, terrifying power surges out from it!

Fortunately, Yun Zhuoran is quick. He grabs the small black ball before the heart demon can be blown away by the strong wind. He barely has enough time to turn around when a few strands of hair whip painfully against his cheeks. Yet he pays no attention to the sting, for before him, a massive creature formed of malevolent energy is rising above the magic formation, blood-red lightning flickering across it. Within the swirling storm, a tall and slender figure begins to emerge.

As it materializes, an intense, chilling atmosphere spreads across Cloud Pool, and a heavy pressure descends, invoking awe and fear in all who feel it.

Amid the howling and deafening wind, a faint, weak voice emerges from beneath the figure. It is the dying Gu Qiuming. His face pale, he clings to his final breath, begging, “Save me, I don’t want to die…”

Yun Zhuoran does not dare approach rashly. Inexplicably, his heartbeat quickens.

Logic tells him that the figure is immensely powerful—stronger than anyone in the entire Tiandao Sect. He should retreat immediately. Yet the sense of familiarity grows stronger with each passing moment. He lifts his gaze toward the figure and stands his ground.

The fierce winds lash at the mountaintop, brimming with evil energy. Despite having reached the Transformation stage, Yun Zhuoran feels the sharp sting as the wind scrapes against his skin. Gu Qiuming’s body, by comparison, is covered in bloodstains.

Finally, the black miasma above the suspended magic circle begins to dissipate, revealing a tall, thin, and strikingly handsome figure. First, the edge of a thick black robe appears, with wisps of demonic energy faintly visible. As Yun Zhuoran looks higher, the man slowly lowers his head, his long hair partially obscuring his pale cheeks. Black and purple demonic patterns crawl up his slender neck, reaching his jaw.

There is no need to see his face—Yun Zhuoran has already recognized him. His eyes widen in shock.

At that moment, the man in black robes lifts his head, revealing a pair of blood-red eyes. They lock onto Yun Zhuoran, radiating a bloodthirsty and murderous aura that strikes fear deep into his heart.

Yun Zhuoran stands frozen, his voice barely a whisper as he mutters a name, “Gu Shenshu…”

Yes, it is Gu Shenshu, the former leader of Tiandao Sect, believed to have fallen more than 20 years ago…

He is actually alive!

Though his current appearance is vastly different from the image of the white-robed man Yun Zhuoran had known, there is no mistaking that overwhelming, familiar presence. Despite the demonic energy coursing through him, it is undeniably the same person.

Yun Zhuoran’s gaze becomes dazed, and the chaotic evil spirits and dark clouds looming over Cloud Pool seem to fade away in his eyes. He is transported back to the past—the Cloud Pool still before him, with the sky a pristine blue as if freshly washed. And standing there is still Gu Shenshu, yet the Gu Shenshu of his memory is clad in a simple white Taoist robe, his warm black eyes full of confidence and resolve.

The rumored number one under the Heavenly Dao stands with his hands behind his back, his laughter carrying a hint of arrogance. He says, “Across all nine states, only my cloud pool is the closest to the Heavenly Dao.”

At that time, the young Yun Zhuoran stands behind him, turning his face away in disinterest.

Gu Shenshu, undeterred by the lack of response, hints, “My Tiandao Sect has its merits. Unlike your brother, we don’t force our disciples to shave their heads.”

Yun Zhuoran stares down at the crisscrossing grooves on the ground, paying no attention at all.

Gu Shenshu continues, “This is the altar I built.”

At that, Yun Zhuoran’s pale face suddenly tenses.

Gu Shenshu is amused and chuckles, “Don’t worry, it won’t cost lives or go against heaven’s principles.” He points to the sky, “Like I said earlier, this is the place closest to the Dao of Heaven. How could anyone act recklessly under its watch?”

But now, in this sacred land under the Heavenly Dao’s gaze, the once revered Gu Shenshu has become a demon.

As Yun Zhuoran stares at the black-robed figure, overflowing with demonic energy, a memory resurfaces—what he’d asked Gu Shenshu after Yun Peiran had visited him for the last time.

He had asked, “Will you always be here?”

Gu Shenshu’s reply, with a faint trace of compassion in his eyes, is, “Tiandao Sect and Yun Pool are the guidance the Dao of Heaven has given me. Of course, I will always be here.”

Yun Zhuoran never truly understands what “guidance” the elusive Heavenly Dao has given Gu Shenshu. All he knows now is that, this time, Gu Shenshu hasn’t lied.

His breathing quickens, and a sense of confusion overtakes him.

“You are always here.”

In the Tiandao Sect, in Cloud Pool…

Right here.

While Yun Zhuoran stands there in a daze, the blood-stained eyes of the figure above glare down at him. The previously lifeless face slowly gains a sinister vibrance. Suddenly, Gu Shenshu raises his hand and unleashes a strike of demonic energy!

“Brother, be careful!” the heart demon shouts. The demonic energy shoots toward them with blinding speed. Yun Zhuoran’s eyes widen as he snaps out of his stupor, suppressing the unsettling emotions that have begun to rise within him. He quickly forms seals with both hands. A burst of golden-red spiritual light appears, transforming into a shield that blocks the attack.

The force of the demonic energy is overwhelming. Though Gu Shenshu strikes casually, Yun Zhuoran struggles against it. Hastily forming a spiritual defense array, he is nearly overwhelmed by the fierce impact.

It takes all of Yun Zhuoran’s strength to barely deflect the attack, forcing him to retreat half a step. Just as he is about to relax, a deafening dragon’s roar suddenly erupts behind him.

A cold wind sweeps past his ears, accompanied by an enormous, terrifying force. Fortunately, Yun Zhuoran senses the incoming attack just in time and instinctively leaps several feet away.

From the moment Gu Shenshu attacks to Yun Zhuoran being forced back twice, only two short breaths have passed. The rapid depletion of spiritual energy leaves Yun Zhuoran feeling a tightness in his chest, a faint pain settling in. His landing is unsteady. Suppressing the discomfort in his throat, he raises his gaze toward the source of the dragon’s roar.

The uninvited creature turns out to be a majestic mirage dragon, its body covered in black-gold scales. It soars across the sky, circling the top of Yun Pool. Its massive, imposing form casts a shadow below, and its cold, golden eyes gaze down at the ground with haughty indifference.

At this moment, Yun Zhuoran is the only one conscious at Yun Pool. His heart tightens. Gu Shenshu, at the peak of his power, is half a step away from ascension; Yun Zhuoran is no match for him. And now, this fierce mirage dragon has arrived, releasing a hint of demonic energy that already makes Yun Zhuoran feel the pressure. He can’t help but grow wary, and for the first time, he has a rare urge to flee as quickly as possible.

But then, the ferocious mirage dragon doesn’t even spare Yun Zhuoran a glance. Instead, it turns directly toward Gu Shenshu, lowers its massive head, and retracts its menacing aura, bowing in submission to Gu Shenshu!

The black-robed man descends gracefully, landing on the back of the mirage dragon. Sensing Yun Zhuoran’s gaze, he slightly turns his head and glances over.

Those blood-red eyes are utterly devoid of emotion, chilling to the bone.

At the same time, the mirage dragon slowly raises its head, carrying the man on its back, and flies into the sky. Its long tail sweeps through the black clouds over the mountain peak. The former sect master of Tiandao Sect, Gu Shenshu, leaves behind only a distant figure riding away on the dragon.

A clear dragon’s roar echoes from afar, and the demonic aura shrouding the peak of Yun Pool disperses with it. The sky brightens again, but the once-immortal spiritual energy has vanished, replaced by a chilling silence.

Without warning, the crisis is over.

Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon are both stunned.

If Gu Shenshu had intended to kill him, why didn’t he? And why had that evil mirage dragon appeared only to take Gu Shenshu away?

No!

Cold sweat trickles down Yun Zhuoran’s forehead.

That was Gu Shenshu, but at the same time, it wasn’t.

Yun Zhuoran can’t make sense of the situation, but one thing is clear: this Gu Shenshu is definitely not the Tiandao Sect Master he once knew.

But at least, he has come back to life.

“Brother?” the heart demon calls out, confused.

When Gu Shenshu and the mirage dragon had attacked, the heart demon had braced for a fierce battle, even preparing to shield Yun Zhuoran. Yet, to his surprise, their enemy had simply left.

Yun Zhuoran understands the heart demon’s confusion. He steadies his breath, attempting to regain composure. His hand, which gently pats the heart demon’s head, trembles slightly. “That mirage dragon… I think it’s the demonic dragon Senior Brother Jiang mentioned earlier. If it’s here, then the others should be alright. We shouldn’t stay here any longer. Let’s go.”

“Okay,” the heart demon responds, still a bit puzzled. He pauses, then grasps Yun Zhuoran’s wrist with his tiny claws, saying, “Brother, don’t worry. Weiran will protect you.”

Yun Zhuoran’s heart skips a beat.

Just then, a faint voice comes from the once still Cloud Pool.

Yun Zhuoran turns around and sees Gu Qiuming lying on the ground. The young man’s white robe is stained with blood, and he is barely clinging to life.

Yun Zhuoran glances at him briefly, then turns to leave with the heart demon.

“Help… save me…” Gu Qiuming’s voice is weak and hoarse, his body heavily damaged, with death looming close.

Several feet away, the heart demon floats up to Yun Zhuoran’s ear and whispers something. Yun Zhuoran hesitates, frowning slightly, then sighs softly in resignation and raises his hand.

A golden-red stream of spiritual energy shoots from his pale fingertips, enveloping Gu Qiuming’s entire body. Warmth flows through his limbs, soothing his injuries. Gu Qiuming’s lashes flutter slightly, and he opens his eyes just a crack.

In his blurred vision, he catches a glimpse of a figure in a snow-white robe walking away, but before he can focus on the water-red pattern he vaguely notices, exhaustion overcomes him, and he slips back into unconsciousness.