When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 64

The heart demon just touches it once before running out happily, clutching the storage bag.

The spot where Yun Zhuoran has been gently kissed starts to warm up. He looks up suddenly, only to see Penglai Immortal and Song Shao both acting as if nothing has happened. Compared to them, he seems to be overreacting.

Yun Zhuoran is stunned for a moment, then says, “The next batch of floating orders may appear on the 7th of next month.”

Penglai Immortal replies, “The timing sounds right, but the location is uncertain.”

Yun Zhuoran is unsure as well. The first batch of floating orders appears at Yunshan College, and the second batch near the Shen family. Both are in Shengjing, yet there is no clear pattern. It seems that luck will determine the next location.

However, the second batch’s appearance also indicates that a third batch will follow. This will help ease the chaotic rush of cultivators from various factions flocking to Shengjing in pursuit of the floating orders. Investigating the identities of the demon cultivators causing trouble in Shengjing, as well as the two individuals who have obtained floating orders, remains important.

Since Song Shao is currently carrying a floating order and can’t leave, this task has to be entrusted to Song Yun.

Song Shao is selected by Penglai Immortal from Penglai Immortal Palace. As the top disciple of his cohort, he is the natural choice when Penglai Immortal seeks a capable companion for his journey. The Immortal Palace elders have great respect for both Penglai Immortal and the island master of Penglai Inner Island, so they strongly recommend Song Shao and add Song Yun as a by-product — believing that two trusted individuals would better support Penglai Immortal’s position outside the island.

This concern leads Penglai Immortal to create numerous puppets for himself…

Fortunately, Song Shao and Song Yun prove as dependable as the elders have claimed, and Penglai Immortal Palace has its own unique methods of gathering information — one person can accomplish the work of ten.

With this in mind, Penglai Immortal and Yun Zhuoran have full confidence in them, leaving Song Yun to handle matters for now.

Meanwhile, the heart demon, thrilled with his new storage bag filled with demon cores, excitedly runs around in circles before returning to devour fist-sized demon cores while keeping the storage bag securely hidden.

Previously, Yun Zhuoran would only feed the heart demon three demon cores per meal, all below level 3. This storage bag contains over a hundred. It’s no surprise the heart demon is overjoyed — and paranoid enough to stash it in the storage bracelet on his wrist, fearing Yun Zhuoran might take it back.

Before hiding it, the heart demon manages to snack on a few cores. Although they are all low-level, they are still like desserts to him. However, since Yun Zhuoran has entered the Integration stage, the heart demon has only grown taller after consuming them, providing very little feedback to Yun Zhuoran. This worries the heart demon greatly.

If he can’t help his brother improve his cultivation, will he be considered useless and abandoned?

The heart demon frets for days, and when Yun Zhuoran notices, he doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Cultivation has no shortcuts. Yun Zhuoran is content with having reached the Integration stage nearly fifty years ahead of schedule, thanks to the heart demon’s help. He is mentally prepared to continue cultivating the usual way from now on.

Once in the Integration stage, progressing further requires at least a hundred times more effort than before. Many people spend their entire lives stuck at that bottleneck. Without the heart demon’s feedback, Yun Zhuoran isn’t anxious. Besides, the less feedback the heart demon provides, the more energy it retains — allowing it to grow faster.

Still, despite devouring Yun Zhuoran’s month’s worth of food reserves, the heart demon has only grown half a fingernail’s length…

It seems all those demon cores have been eaten for nothing.

With food supplies running low, Yun Zhuoran begins planning when to take the heart demon out to harvest more demons.

While he is thinking, the heart demon suddenly flops into Yun Zhuoran’s arms and begins acting spoiled with natural ease.

“Brother, brother!”

Yun Zhuoran silently glances at the crumbs of demon cores stuck at the corner of the heart demon’s mouth. Has he eaten without wiping his mouth?

“…Yeah.” Yun Zhuoran plucks the glittering crumbs and flicks them out the window.

The heart demon, unfazed, smacks his lips and flashes a bright smile.

“Brother, it’s time for lunch!”

Yun Zhuoran: “…”

Hasn’t he just eaten in secret?

Looking outside, it is indeed noon. Turning back to the heart demon’s expectant gaze, Yun Zhuoran sighs and reluctantly takes out three demon cores — no more, no less than usual.

“Brother is the best!”

The heart demon gleefully reaches out his claws to grab the demon cores. But before he can, Yun Zhuoran suddenly lifts his hand out of reach. The heart demon blinks in confusion.

Yun Zhuoran’s expression turns serious. “You can eat… but I have something to say first.”

The heart demon looks at the demon cores in Yun Zhuoran’s hand. One of them is from a 4th-level demon beast, filled with demonic energy and exuding an alluring sweet scent that makes him eagerly nod his head.

“Brother, tell me!”

Yun Zhuoran is quite disappointed. Don’t think he doesn’t hear the sound of the heart demon swallowing his saliva. How can this little thing be so greedy?

Yun Zhuoran sighs lightly. “Weiran, remember this. If someone gives you food, you can thank them, but you can’t kiss them. You mustn’t eat things given to you by strangers. Do you hear me?”

The heart demon blinks. “Oh.”

Yun Zhuoran immediately corrects his tone. “Most people don’t kiss others randomly.”

“Well, that’s all?” The heart demon wears a confused expression, as if to say, That’s it?

Yun Zhuoran isn’t sure if the heart demon really understands and worries that today’s kiss in exchange for a reward will turn into him kissing strangers tomorrow.

The heart demon suddenly grins, stands up straight, and kisses Yun Zhuoran’s fair cheek again. “Brother, are you saying we can’t do this?”

Yun Zhuoran is stunned.

The heart demon laughs, seizes the moment to snatch the demon pill from Yun Zhuoran’s hand, then pouts. “Brother is so stupid. I don’t kiss those stinky people. I only like you, and I’ll only kiss you!”

Yun Zhuoran can still feel the warmth lingering on his cheek. He freezes again when he hears those words. Exhaling deeply, his expression turns complicated.

He is trying to teach the heart demon not to kiss people randomly, so why does the heart demon call him stupid?

Yun Zhuoran collects himself, fists clenching slightly.

Even he can’t just go around kissing people!

But seeing the heart demon’s innocent, pure smile, Yun Zhuoran’s frustration gradually fades. After all, he really is just a child.

The rain has just stopped in Shengjing, washing away the blood on the streets. A peaceful calm settles over the city, as though the month-long tension has finally been cleansed as well.

At the end of a long street stands an old building in a quiet corner.

Shen Fu pushes open the weathered wooden door and is about to open his oil-paper umbrella when a voice drifts in from behind.

“Don’t forget about the little island master of Penglai.” Raindrops slide down the eaves, dripping into a puddle by the threshold. Shen Fu opens the umbrella and replies calmly, “The strength of the two Penglai island masters is unpredictable, not to mention the Penglai Immortal. They can’t be dealt with easily.”

The black-robed demon cultivator leaning against the doorframe sneers. “No matter how strong the Penglai Immortal is, he can’t defeat Gu Shenshu. There’s always a way.” He pauses, then lowers his voice with a chuckle. “The people of Penglai already have their eyes on the Shen family. You should know that.”

“I know.”

Shen Fu walks into the rain without a change in expression, never once looking back. He seems calm and unfazed, as though no one has spoken to him at all.

The back door of the old building creaks shut behind him. Inside the courtyard, a young man dressed in the Shen family’s attire lies silently in the grass, his body soaked in blood. The black-robed demon cultivator ignores him completely, stepping over the body and entering the house.

The rain seems to part around the demon cultivator’s presence, not a single drop staining his robe. He holds the floating order in his hand, watching with interest as the word ‘Shen’ slowly shifts into the word ‘Cui.’

With one month remaining until the 7th of next month, Yun Zhuoran makes the most of his time. He helps Penglai Immortal recover every two days, practices calligraphy with the heart demon during the day, and cultivates at night once the heart demon is asleep.

It’s impossible to expect rapid breakthroughs in just three months.

However, Yun Zhuoran uses the time to consolidate his foundation and starts considering refining a personal life-bound magic weapon. After refining several high-quality weapons in succession, he finally chooses to let the matter go.

Perhaps his opportunity hasn’t arrived yet, and that’s why his life-bound weapon remains elusive.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t dwell on it too long. With the heart demon’s food supplies running low, he picks a high-grade spiritual sword and asks Penglai Immortal to accompany him while taking the heart demon out. The recent increase in demon cultivator activity in Shengjing makes it easier for Yun Zhuoran to include them in his hunting list. After a few days, Shengjing becomes noticeably calmer, but the heart demon is still not satisfied.

The two have no choice but to embark on a longer journey.

About a hundred miles outside Shengjing, there is a swamp beside the Sealed Demon Well. Rumors claim that the area is filled with countless monsters, their bones littering the ground — a truly terrifying sight.

Yun Zhuoran chooses this swamp. The heavy yin energy in the area has nurtured many monsters and poisonous plants. In reality, it isn’t as frightening as the rumors claim, but it’s still unexpectedly brimming with powerful creatures.

As soon as the heart demon arrives, he is certain there are plenty of things he likes to eat in this place.

Because of that, the two end up staying for more than half a month. Yun Zhuoran stores enough food to last the heart demon two months before preparing to leave.

Nearby is the Sealed Demon Well. Since Yun Zhuoran is already there, he figures there’s no reason not to take a look. However, as the rumors claim, the Sealed Demon Well has been destroyed too thoroughly. All the demons once imprisoned by the righteous sects have escaped, and the monks who once guarded the well have long since left.

Peering down into the vast mouth of the Sealed Demon Well, there is only endless darkness.

This well has been built by the ancestors thousands of years ago as a prison for humans, demons, or monsters who have committed serious crimes but were not sentenced to death. Most of those locked inside are powerful yet wicked beings who have caused harm for centuries. Under the seal formation, they would either never see the light of day again, be killed by other demons within the well, or live out a hopeless existence. No one ever cares about how those imprisoned survive.

Since the Sealed Demon Well was constructed, no one has ever escaped alive.

Yet not long ago, the well’s seal formation has been broken, and all the dangerous criminals have fled.

But where had they gone? Why had there been no news at all? Yun Zhuoran wonders — if he had been imprisoned for years and suddenly gained freedom, he’d surely cause a commotion.

But instead, these demons vanish without a trace.

It’s far too strange.

“Brother?” The heart demon emerges from the woods, holding a branch of bright red flowers. Seeing Yun Zhuoran deep in thought, he hurries over. “Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

The Sealed Demon Well’s gaping mouth lies right at Yun Zhuoran’s feet. When the seal formation broke, the ground around the well split apart, shattering the carved reliefs into scattered rubble.

As the heart demon rushes over, he accidentally steps on a piece of talc and stumbles — falling directly toward the well!

Yun Zhuoran turns back just in time to see him fall. His eyes widen in shock, and he lunges forward to grab the heart demon. He catches him just in time, but his heart is still racing.

Even though Yun Zhuoran knows the seal formation is gone and the heart demon can easily climb out even if he does fall, the fear in his heart refuses to fade.

“Be careful,” Yun Zhuoran says softly, still breathless. His face turns pale as he helps the boy to his feet. With a stern expression, he scolds, “You’re already grown up — why are you still so reckless?”

Despite his harsh tone, the way he gently brushes the stray hair from the heart demon’s face is incredibly tender.

“Are you hurt?”

In the sunlight, the heart demon’s fair face lights up with a well-behaved smile. He shakes his head, then stuffs the flowers he’s been carrying into Yun Zhuoran’s palm.

“Brother, look! I brought you a flower.”

It is a Lycoris flower, a species unique to the forest near the Sealed Demon Well. Its petals are as red as blood, blooming brilliantly — beautiful yet dangerously alluring.

The heart demon stares at Yun Zhuoran’s delicate features, then glances at his red robes. “The flowers are pretty, but they’re still far less beautiful than my brother.”

Yun Zhuoran looks down at the Lycoris flower in his hand, the corners of his mouth curling helplessly.

“Alright, let’s go back to Shengjing.”

The heart demon nods, his gaze sneaking toward Yun Zhuoran’s empty left hand. His dark eyes flicker with mischief, and without a word, he quietly grabs Yun Zhuoran’s hand.

Yun Zhuoran sighs inwardly but says nothing, simply leading the heart demon out of the forest.

The heart demon can’t help but giggle to himself, occasionally glancing up at Yun Zhuoran’s shoulder.

“Brother, I’ve grown taller again!”

Yun Zhuoran responds absentmindedly, “Really?”

The heart demon nods earnestly and shows a small gap between his thumb and index finger.

“A lot taller!” The heart demon beams expectantly. “Soon I’ll be taller than you!”

Yun Zhuoran glances down at the loose bun on top of the heart demon’s head, the corners of his lips rising slightly.

“Very good.”

Seeing the heart demon so happy, Yun Zhuoran decides not to correct him. In truth, the heart demon hasn’t grown at all — his so-called growth is just an illusion.