When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 6

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t use much strength. The heart demon makes a soft, waxy sound in its sleep but doesn’t wake up. It probably ate too much over the past three days and needs time to digest. Yun Zhuoran has no intention of bothering it, so he turns back to the bright light lock on his wrist, raises his two fingers to condense a golden and red spiritual light, and notices someone approaching outside.

This time, the person who returns is Jiang Zhibai, and Yun Zhuoran opens the barrier to let him in directly.

“Did Ji Chen come by just now?” Jiang Zhibai’s voice reaches the room before he even enters. Without waiting for a response, he continues, “I heard Senior Brother Shen brought him here. What did he come for? And he rushed out right after to Qingyun Hall to take on a task, hurrying down the mountain.”

Yun Zhuoran knows that Ji Chen is probably afraid of being forced by Shen Lingshu to apologize again, so he simply says, “It’s nothing.”

Jiang Zhibai looks doubtful, worry etched on his face. Suddenly, he widens his eyes and grabs Yun Zhuoran’s left hand. “What is this? Mingguang Lock?”

Yun Zhuoran simply nods.

Jiang Zhibai’s expression shifts several times. “Did people from the Tianqing Sect send it? No wonder someone came specifically two nights ago… Junior Brother Yun, are you okay?”

Yun Zhuoran replies, “I’m fine.”

Jiang Zhibai understands what the Mingguang Lock is and recognizes its power. “If I had come earlier, I could have stopped Ji Chen…”

He concludes that the Mingguang Lock is sent by Ji Chen, perhaps because Ji Chen, being the proud disciple of the acting sect leader and in charge of the Discipline Hall, is at odds with Yun Zhuoran, and he doesn’t suspect Shen Lingshu at all.

Indeed, Shen Lingshu is well-liked, his reputation rivaling that of his master, Gu Shenshu.

In reality, it is Shen Lingshu who has watched Yun Zhuoran put on the Mingguang Lock.

Jiang Zhibai has come specifically to deliver medicine to Yun Zhuoran. After returning yesterday, he has been worried, so he went to Qingmiao Peak to ask for pills that will help stabilize his cultivation and calm his spiritual energy, bringing back quite a few. Yun Zhuoran doesn’t hesitate to accept them and picks a few bottles of Peiyuan Pills and Huiyuan Pills.

Yun Zhuoran confiscates the rest, and Jiang Zhibai places it on the table without taking it back. He only asks, “What did Senior Brother Shen tell you?”

Worried that Jiang Zhibai will worry carelessly, Yun Zhuoran takes two Huiyuan Pills on the spot and casually replies, “He told me to wear the lock.”

“That’s it?” Jiang Zhibai doesn’t believe him.

Yun Zhuoran nods.

Jiang Zhibai’s expression turns serious as he lowers his voice and says, “I heard my father mention that ever since Senior Brother Shen broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, the Tianqing Sect has made several attempts to take you to their sect under the pretext of Senior Brother Shen needing to focus on his cultivation. They even found an excuse, claiming they want to take you under the Buddhist Seat.”

It is labeled as accepting a disciple, but in reality, it is monitoring.

“But you’re doing well in Tian Dao Sect. Why would you go to Tianqing Sect? Senior Brother Shen has already made his refusal clear. Yet, not long after news of your descent from the mountain spreads, they send the sect’s treasure, the Mingguang Lock… Junior Brother Yun, what are your thoughts?”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t even hesitate. “No.”

Jiang Zhibai shoots him a sideways glance. “Then let’s drop this. Let me tell you something new. Did you know that a few months ago, Senior Brother Shen went to Lingshan Sect to discuss the Dao, and Fairy Qingbo personally performed a fortune-telling for him?” He focuses intently on Yun Zhuoran. “She says that Senior Brother Shen is going to have a Dao companion soon.”

Yun Zhuoran remains indifferent. “Oh.”

There are a few lines in the stories that mention his fate with Shen Lingshu, which is said to be in accordance with destiny. Yun Zhuoran asks, “The disciple named Gu Qiuming, did he come first in the inner sect assessment yesterday?”

Jiang Zhibai had originally wanted to say that as the future sect leader of the Tian Dao Sect, if Yun Zhuoran becomes Shen Lingshu’s Dao companion, it will not only create a closer bond but also prevent him from being taken by the Tianqing Sect. However, seeing Yun Zhuoran’s lack of interest, Jiang Zhibai decides to hold off for now, though he still glances at Yun Zhuoran a bit longer when mentioning Gu Qiuming.

“Gu Qiuming indeed takes first place and enters the inner sect today, but it’s still uncertain under whose tutelage he will fall. It’s possible he could be under Senior Brother Shen…” Jiang Zhibai quickly explains, “Gu Qiuming is actually from the Gu family in Shengjing. He’s an unpopular bastard who entered the outer sect two years ago but is quite diligent and honest. You know the Shengjing Gu family has a close relationship with our sect leader, which is why Senior Brother Shen notices him.”

“Gu Shenshu’s nephew?”

“The sect master is also your master, after all. You shouldn’t call him by name so casually!”

Yun Zhuoran remains silent. In fact, he has not become a disciple, but to outsiders, he is seen as Gu Shenshu’s disciple. Especially in Tian Dao Sect, where everyone holds Gu Shenshu in high regard, Yun Zhuoran prefers to change the subject.

Realizing this, Jiang Zhibai quickly returns to the topic at hand.

“Gu Qiuming is a member of the Gu family, and Senior Brother Shen is looking out for him because of his relationship with the sect master.”

Gu Shenshu has once been the foremost figure under the Dao of Heaven; not only did he establish the Tian Dao Sect, but he is also a god-like figure in the entire cultivation world.

Even though Gu Shenshu has long since fallen, many people don’t even dare to speak his name directly.

Jiang Zhibai adds, “Gu Qiuming has moved to the main peak, but Senior Brother Shen hasn’t decided to accept him as his disciple yet. He wants to test his character again.”

Yun Zhuoran replies, “Oh.”

Now, Jiang Zhibai is certain that Yun Zhuoran has inquired about Gu Qiuming first, yet Yun Zhuoran doesn’t seem interested in either him or Shen Lingshu. He attempts to decipher something from Yun Zhuoran’s indifferent expression but ultimately finds nothing and has to give up. Before leaving, however, he stares at the Mingguang Lock for a long moment and can’t help but sigh.

Yun Zhuoran only sees him out of the barrier before returning to his room, deep in thought along the way. In the stories, at the beginning, Gu Qiuming is already Shen Lingshu’s disciple, with a few scattered mentions indicating that Shen Lingshu first notices Gu Qiuming during the inner sect assessment.

However, after he kills Yun Zhuoran, his cultivation level rises significantly after breaking through the emotional tribulation, and he only truly becomes interested in Gu Qiuming after emerging from seclusion. Before that, the relationship between the master and disciple seems rather distant.

It isn’t yet the beginning of the plot, and Yun Zhuoran doesn’t know if the events in the storybook will actually come true. He quickly pushes the thoughts aside.

The heart demon slept until nightfall before slowly waking up, sensing Yun Zhuoran’s aura. The entire dark mass perks up and floats toward him, excitedly drawn by the scent.

It is rare for Yun Zhuoran not to be cultivating; he sits by the window, reading scriptures. The faint spiritual light from the aquatic flowers climbs up the window lattice behind him.

A mass of heart demon pounces into Yun Zhuoran’s arms.

Yun Zhuoran looks down and says, “You’re awake.”

The heart demon rubs against Yun Zhuoran’s robe, seeming still half-asleep.

Yun Zhuoran observes him for a moment and suddenly says, “You have two more black spots.”

The heart demon sweetly protests, “Those are my eyes!”

Yun Zhuoran realizes, “You seem darker now.”

The heart demon can’t help but feel a bit wronged, clutching Yun Zhuoran’s wrist, and says, “I’m really hungry.”

Who is it that just ate without stopping for three days?

Yun Zhuoran silently put down the Jingjing Scripture, his gaze as cold as ever. “Your voice has changed.”

The heart demon’s voice is very low and weak, almost like a wisp of air, but it doesn’t prevent Yun Zhuoran from noticing his changes. His voice has evidently shifted from a soft, childlike tone to a clear and slightly husky adolescent voice.

If one only listens to the voice, they might imagine a handsome boy of about twelve years old.

The voice has changed, and it has developed eyes…

Yun Zhuoran says, “You’ve grown up.”

The heart demon rubs against the side of Yun Zhuoran’s neck, and then Yun Zhuoran adds, “You’re also darker.”

The heart demon pauses and whispers, “I’m so hungry…”

This time, Yun Zhuoran can’t pretend not to hear. He raises his left hand, letting his loose sleeves fall away to reveal the bright lock on his pale wrist. “I can’t get out, and we can’t go down the mountain.”

The heart demon then notices the golden ring on Yun Zhuoran’s left hand. It instantly shifts from its weak state and floats to Yun Zhuoran’s hand. “Who did this?”

My brother’s hands are burned red!

“Just some annoying things,” Yun Zhuoran replies, narrowing his eyes as he looks at the heart demon. “Now that things have come to this, Weiran will just have to stay hungry.”

The heart demon is stunned. “Then… does it hurt, brother?”

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow and nods slowly.

The malevolent energy within the heart demon instantly surges. It stares at the golden ring on Yun Zhuoran’s wrist and suddenly lunges at him. Fortunately, Yun Zhuoran dodges quickly and grabs the heart demon. “What are you doing?”

The heart demon strikes Yun Zhuoran’s hand and whimpers softly. “I’ll eat it! My brother won’t feel any more pain, and we can go down the mountain!”

Yun Zhuoran’s eyes flicker. “Can you eat it?”

The heart demon floats to the side of the golden ring and demonstrates how to consume the bright light lock. This time, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t hide. When the heart demon approaches, the bright light lock lights up with dazzling golden light. The heart demon doesn’t shy away but pounces directly at it. A faint cry echoes as a corner of the golden light vanishes.

Yun Zhuoran is surprised; the heart demon really can eat it. But the heart demon seems to be in considerable pain, trembling all over.

Yun Zhuoran’s expression darkens as he immediately moves the heart demon away. “Are you uncomfortable after eating something dirty?”

The heart demon climbs onto the back of Yun Zhuoran’s hand, coughs softly, and then exhales slowly, looking quite weak. “It’s so disgusting.”

Yun Zhuoran lowers his head in silence but can’t help laughing. He sets the heart demon aside and pinches his fingers, causing a little golden-red light to appear on his fingertips. Yun Zhuoran’s usually cold face slightly smiles, like ice slowly melting in the spring sun—gentle and radiant. “I was just kidding you. Why do you eat everything?”

The heart demon looks up and, upon seeing this smile, finds its sesame-sized eyes surprisingly bright. But Yun Zhuoran’s smile is as fleeting as a meteor; it vanishes in the blink of an eye. His expression turns serious as he quickly draws a spell on the golden ring. The golden-red light strikes the ring, producing a slight clicking sound as it opens by itself!

Yun Zhuoran wipes his wrist with spiritual power, and the red mark left by the Mingguang Lock disappears. He sneers, picking up the Mingguang Lock that still emits a burning golden light.

“Yun Peiran doesn’t know how many times he has worn the Mingguang Lock from Tianqing Sect. When has it ever really restrained him? Tianqing Sect still underestimates people.”

This is something damaged by Yun Peiran back in the day, yet they dare to bring it out for his brother to play with?

In his memories, that boy in a white robe, wearing the Mingguang Lock, has repeatedly demonstrated the eighteen methods of unlocking it in front of Yun Zhuoran, only to finally snap it back onto his scorched wrist.

Yun Zhuoran remembers asking him if it hurts. The white-robed boy listens for a moment, a hint of forbearance flashing in his eyes before he slowly raises the corners of his mouth.

It hurts—it hurts so much that I want to kill someone…

Now that Yun Zhuoran has also worn the Mingguang Lock, he understands that feeling all too well.

It really hurts; it hurts so much that he wanted to destroy the Tianqing Sect.

The heart demon says dazedly, “Brother?”

Yun Zhuoran comes back to his senses, his expression suddenly cold. He says in a low voice, “Don’t call out randomly.”

The heart demon is taken aback. When it realizes what Yun Zhuoran means, it bursts with joy and rushes into Yun Zhuoran’s arms like a cannonball.

“Brother! I’m so hungry!”

What a hassle…

Yun Zhuoran looks at the heart demon coldly for a moment, then turns his gaze away and pulls out a jade ring pendant from under his lapel. This is actually a high-level storage magic tool.

He found a palm-sized puppet and put it on the stool. A little spiritual light popped out from his fingertips and sank into the puppet. The small puppet slowly grew larger and finally turned into a human form, which was exactly the same as Yun Zhuoran, and even the expression on his face was extremely similar.

He finds a palm-sized puppet and puts it on the stool. A little spiritual light pops out from his fingertips and sinks into the puppet. The small puppet slowly grows larger and finally turns into a human form, exactly like Yun Zhuoran, even mimicking the expression on his face.

The heart demon squeals and floats toward the puppet.

“I have two brothers!”

Halfway through the flight, Yun Zhuoran catches the heart demon. He hugs it, looking at it with some displeasure before tossing the Mingguang Lock to the puppet.

With a flash of golden light, the Mingguang Lock flies to the puppet and clasps itself tightly around the puppet’s wrist.

With a substitute in place, Yun Zhuoran pinches his fingers to strengthen the barrier, picks up the heart demon, and stands up.

“Let’s go. We need to be back before dawn.”

Yun Zhuoran tucks the heart demon into his sleeves, dons a loose snow-colored cloak, and pulls the hood down to cover most of his face. When the heart demon emerges, disoriented, Yun Zhuoran crushes a jade talisman he has taken from somewhere in his hand. A magic circle appears on the ground, and dazzling white light erupts.

This is a short-range teleportation talisman. Once the spiritual light dissipates, Yun Zhuoran finds himself in the dark forest outside the gate of Tian Dao Sect, holding the heart demon. He squints slightly, unaccustomed to the light around him. The heart demon, however, clearly relishes the darkness. It cheers and floats away, leaving Yun Zhuoran’s arms empty.

Yun Zhuoran stares at the heart demon, slowly frowning as he begins to reflect on why he wastes so much time searching for food for this little creature.

If he had known, he wouldn’t have taken care of it.

But when the heart demon joyfully flies back to him, Yun Zhuoran ceases to ponder the matter.

He skillfully places the heart demon on his shoulder. Suddenly, his eyes shine with intent, and he hides among the trees.

The heart demon rubs against Yun Zhuoran’s cheek for no apparent reason. He raises his hand and catches it, stuffing it beneath his clothes. The heart demon pokes its head out, little claws gripping his garment. After Yun Zhuoran conceals himself behind a thick tree trunk, he looks sideways outside. Though he does not look down, he still manages to hold the heart demon accurately with one hand.

Just as they hide, a huge black shadow falls from the sky, kicking up dust around them. A white-robed monk follows closely behind and flies out of the dark forest, taking off on his sword without pausing. The black shadow on the ground struggles to rise. Suddenly, a sharp sword energy ignites in the darkness, piercing through the black shadow from top to bottom.

A shrill wolf howl echoes in the forest, and the overwhelming demonic power shakes the ground slightly.

The shadow is a wolf demon, gravely wounded and sprawled on the ground, thick blood wafting through the air as its breathing grows increasingly labored.

The white-robed monk snorts coldly, raising his hand to transform a white jade gourd. He limps over, his injuries only slightly lighter than those of the wolf demon.

“Brother,” the heart demon whispers, “Ji Chen.”

Yun Zhuoran notices the man and the increasingly dense black energy on Ji Chen’s forehead. However, at that moment, his attention shifts away from the black energy. He pinches the heart demon gently and asks, “Do you want to eat it?”

The heart demon makes a gurgling sound, its small, dark eyes shining brightly. “Brother, what do you want to do?”