When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 40

With Ji Ruo blocking him like this, Yun Zhuoran’s last bit of perception is completely cut off. His divine sense clearly covers a radius of a thousand miles, but the overflowing demonic energy from the place where the Qilin resides suddenly disappears without a trace. Without a doubt, this is either the work of Gu Shenshu or the Qilin. Yun Zhuoran, whose cultivation is too weak, has clearly been excluded from the situation and no longer has any chance to participate.

Yun Zhuoran’s gaze grows colder with each passing second.

Ji Ruo, unnerved by the intensity of his stare, takes a half-step back, instinctively recoiling. “You…” Ji Ruo stammers. “I ask you, Yun Zhuoran, who killed my Shebi Shi? Who came to save you that day?”

It is clearly a question, but he can’t raise any momentum, and his voice grows weaker and weaker. What Ji Ruo doesn’t realize is that, in this moment, he has angered Yun Zhuoran to the point where Yun Zhuoran is seriously considering ending his life.

Without warning, Yun Zhuoran begins walking toward him.

In a panic, Ji Ruo summons the Plague Monster and shoves it in front of him as he continues to retreat. “What do you want to do?” he demands, his voice trembling.

The Plague Monster, startled and shaken, notices Yun Zhuoran’s menacing presence and involuntarily trembles in fear.

Ji Ruo, embarrassed by the creature’s cowardice, hesitates before pressing the pendant on his neck. He has only two magic beads left—one for the Plague Monster, and the other still unopened.

Yun Zhuoran’s fury is unmistakable. He isn’t angry that he has lost the possibility of inheriting the Floating Immortal City. What enrages him is that, after finally finding Gu Shenshu, he has been thrown out before even asking a single question. His hope of returning is crushed the moment Ji Ruo appears. Anyone would be furious.

After all, that is his only chance to obtain any clues about Yun Peiran’s whereabouts…

Yun Zhuoran’s expression grows darker as he looks at Ji Ruo, before slowly turning away.

He knows deep down that even if he does return, Gu Shenshu will still likely kick him out. The gap in their strengths is too wide, and Gu Shenshu has been deliberately avoiding him.

The heart demon, sensing Yun Zhuoran’s subdued anger, notices that his eyes no longer burn with fury but instead show a hint of disappointment. The heart demon cautiously floats to Yun Zhuoran’s cheek and nuzzles it gently, attempting to comfort him in its own clumsy way.

However, upon seeing Yun Zhuoran walk away, Ji Ruo’s earlier suspicion—that Yun Zhuoran might be the one who killed Shebi Shi—dissipates. If Yun Zhuoran truly possesses such overwhelming power, why does he seem so timid?

Ji Ruo’s confidence swells. “Don’t even think about escaping!” he yells, then commands the Plague Monster to seize him. But the Plague Monster, sensing Yun Zhuoran’s overwhelming aura, hesitates, too terrified to approach.

Ji Ruo’s frustration mounts as he urges the creature multiple times. Even as he chants a spell, the Plague Monster reluctantly obeys, closing its eyes in fear as it charges toward Yun Zhuoran’s back.

But the heart demon is far quicker. With a snap of its ethereal form, it floats toward the Plague Monster, and before it can even scream for help, the heart demon opens its mouth and swallows the creature whole.

Seeing the entire scene unfold, Ji Ruo’s eyes widen in shock. He steps back in terror, unconsciously retreating.

Only then does Yun Zhuoran slowly turn around, looking at Ji Ruo with eyes full of sarcasm.

“Now that the Ten Thousand Beasts Forest is sealed off, danger lurks everywhere. Even if the Lord of the Demon Palace himself steps out to demand an explanation, without evidence, who could know whether you died at the hands of others or were eaten by a demon beast?”

Ji Ruo’s eyes tighten, and a layer of cold sweat breaks out on his body. He uncontrollably lets out a stifled, choking sound, quickly covering his mouth. His eyes fill with terror as he says, “You… you ate Shebi Shi!”

The Heart Demon seems to shudder in response, then vomits a mass of black substance, spitting it out.

The Plague Demon, which has been vomited out, rolls back to Ji Ruo’s feet, still in a dazed state.

Both Yun Zhuoran and Ji Ruo stand frozen for a moment. The Heart Demon, visibly uncomfortable, complains, “Brother, this thing is so disgusting, it’s fishy and smelly!”

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow. That isn’t right.

The Plague Demon has blood on its hands, and the Heart Demon relishes consuming such things. Yet, after eating the Shebi Shi, it is complaining about the Plague Demon?

The Plague Demon finally comes to its senses. Realizing its life has been spared only because it is unappetizing, it feels humiliated and frightened. It transforms into a ball of demonic energy and retreats into Ji Ruo’s magic bead.

Ji Ruo, still stunned, gazes at Yun Zhuoran and the Heart Demon, now growing more horrified. Could it be that this large black ball consumes Shebi Shis in the same way?

Suddenly, Ji Ruo understands how naive he has been.

In a panic, he tries to summon the Plague Demon again, but it refuses to come out!

With both Yun Zhuoran and the massive black ball watching him, Ji Ruo bites his lip. After a moment’s hesitation, he opens the seal on the last magic bead.

“You force me to do this!” Ji Ruo’s eyes redden, his voice thick with panic. If he doesn’t act, he is certain he will die.

Blood smears across the magic bead, and with it, the seal is unlocked, releasing bursts of frigid demonic energy.

This is Ji Ruo’s final pet. Yun Zhuoran had originally planned to take all of Ji Ruo’s pets, but now the timing is off, and the mood has shifted.

Yun Zhuoran’s eyes darken. He turns, signaling the Heart Demon to be cautious.

The Heart Demon’s gaze flickers, but it is eager to see what emerges from the magic bead.

Finally, the last demon pet is fully released. Ji Ruo, as though exhausted, leans against the tree behind him, panting heavily, while the black mist floating from the orb begins to take shape.

The black mist slowly coalesces into a one-year-old baby. Its limbs are like lotus roots, round and chubby, meant to be cute. However, the baby’s skin is grayish-white, and black demonic veins like vines crawl all over its body. Its eyes are a blood-red hue, and it grins with a raspy, eerie laugh, revealing sharp fangs.

Yun Zhuoran quickly realizes that the aura from it is different from the previous demon pets. “A Ghost Baby!” he mutters under his breath.

These creatures aren’t uncommon in the demon world. Their creation is an incredibly cruel process, but Ji Ruo’s Ghost Baby—though not as rare as a Shebi Shi—is by no means inferior. The sinister and powerful demonic energy surrounding it rivals that of Ji Ruo’s previous pets.

The Ghost Baby crawls out of the black fog, walking on all fours. It stares at Ji Ruo, then at Yun Zhuoran, its expression confused and curious.

Ji Ruo, clearly uncomfortable with the demonic energy emanating from the Ghost Baby, retreats, his voice hoarse and cautious. “Be good. Go grab that person over there.”

The Ghost Baby makes a sound and turns to Ji Ruo, its red eyes seeming to show it hasn’t understood.

Yun Zhuoran’s gaze hardens, signaling the Heart Demon to handle the Ghost Baby. Ji Ruo is still too naive. The Ghost Baby is terrifying, but sadly, it is still on the Heart Demon’s menu.

The Heart Demon receives the go-ahead, and the entire black mass is overjoyed. When the Ghost Baby indeed listens to Ji Ruo’s command and crawls over, its small body moving surprisingly quickly, the inner demon blinks its eyes and floats over with a smile. However, as soon as it makes a move, the Ghost Baby suddenly freezes, staying rooted in place. The inner demon floats closer, only for the Ghost Baby to suddenly turn its head and scurry toward Ji Ruo.

Ji Ruo is furious. How can this thing be as stupid as the Plague Demon?

In truth, the Ghost Baby isn’t stupid at all. As soon as it gets close to the Heart Demon, it senses that the other party isn’t to be trifled with. So, it looks around, finds a weaker target, and decisively switches its target. It grins and makes a creepy sound, “So hungry, so hungry, need food, Master smells so good!”

When the Ghost Baby gets closer, Ji Ruo finally hears its murmured words, instantly horrified. He turns and runs, biting his fingertip to draw a spell on the magic orb with his blood. The bead lights up with red light, and the Ghost Baby pauses for a moment. But it soon crawls toward him again, crying and giggling while shouting that it is hungry, the sound chilling and eerie.

Yun Zhuoran watches, his gaze cold. It is clear Ji Ruo can’t control the Ghost Baby, and his attempt has backfired. “You deserve it,” he comments with a sneer.

Ji Ruo fails to draw the spell properly and can’t take the Ghost Baby back. His heart sinks. He summons the Plague Demon in panic, but the Plague Demon still doesn’t respond. In desperation, Ji Ruo turns and runs into the woods, the Ghost Baby chasing after him, its eerie giggles growing louder.

Yun Zhuoran observes from the sidelines. Ji Ruo is asking for death—why should he intervene? He waits until the Ghost Baby has eaten Ji Ruo, then lets the Heart Demon take care of it.

Ji Ruo finally feels the taste of true fear. The Ghost Baby is fast, like a streak of blood in the night, catching up to him in just two or three steps. He swings his magic sword wildly, but it is hard to hit the elusive creature. The Ghost Baby only grows more ferocious.

“Go away! Go away!”

In his extreme panic, Ji Ruo loses his composure, hacking and shouting, his voice tinged with sobs. “Go away! Or… or I…”

The Ghost Baby snaps at the magic sword, biting it with a loud crack. It swings its head and sends the sword flying.

Ji Ruo screams and scrambles back, only to trip over a tree root and fall clumsily to the ground. His mind goes blank as he looks up to see the Ghost Baby crawling toward him!

How can Ji Ruo—master of the Ji family—let his pride stand in the way now? He kicks at the Ghost Baby in desperation, nearly in tears as it draws closer. “No, don’t come closer, Father, help me! Ji Wuwang, you bastard, where are you… Cousin Yun, hurry and take the Ghost Baby! I don’t want it anymore!”

At this, Yun Zhuoran turns to the Heart Demon, who blinks in confusion. Yun Zhuoran frowns and nods slowly.

Finally, the Heart Demon flies toward the Ghost Baby. But the Ghost Baby is alert. It lets out a quick scream, throws itself away from Ji Ruo, and twists its neck in panic, scanning its surroundings. Before the Heart Demon can reach it, the Ghost Baby turns into black mist and darts back into the magic bead!

The Heart Demon, frustrated at pouncing on nothing, hovers around Ji Ruo, unwilling to give up.

At this moment, Yun Zhuoran walks over, casting a quick glance at Ji Ruo. The young master seems to be completely stunned, eyes closed as he throws stones out aimlessly while his legs flail, creating a mess in the forest.

Yun Zhuoran lowers his gaze, inspecting the kinship line between him and Ji Ruo.

Ji Ruo slowly regains his senses and realizes that there is no pain, as he had expected. When he opens his eyes, he is met with the large, glossy black eyes of the inner demon.

“Ah!” he screams.

The Heart Demon is also startled and flies away.

Ji Ruo takes a moment to steady himself, checking his body to confirm he is unscathed. When he finally raises his head, he finds himself face-to-face with the shrunken black mass and the particularly handsome man in white.

As Ji Ruo’s eyes adjust, Yun Zhuoran speaks, “You just called out for Yun…”

Before he can finish, Ji Ruo blinks, and suddenly lets out a loud, wailing cry.

“Father!”

Yun Zhuoran: “…?”