When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 68

As soon as Yun Zhuoran’s name appears on the floating order, the entire hall falls silent in shock.

For months, the Tiandao Sect and Tianqing Sect have been searching for Yun Zhuoran throughout the cultivation world. Among the many cultivators present—whether righteous or demonic—anyone who has stayed in Shengjing for even a few days has surely heard of his name.

The air seems to thicken as countless eyes turn to the young man in red standing in the courtyard.

They are stunned and uncertain. Is this person Yun Zhuoran, or the young master of Penglai Island?

In that brief moment of confusion, the group from Penglai quickly grows alert. Under Penglai Immortal’s lead, they swiftly move toward Yun Zhuoran.

Meanwhile, the heart demon finally realizes what a foolish mistake he has made in his earlier excitement. His face turns deathly pale. Seeing that the crowd is still frozen in disbelief, he hurriedly stuffs the floating order into his arms.

He has been running toward Yun Zhuoran, but halfway there, fear overwhelms him, and he stops half a meter away, staring blankly at Yun Zhuoran.

Would it help if he says now that the “Brother” he just called out isn’t referring to the Young Island Master of Penglai?

At the center of everyone’s gaze, Yun Zhuoran swiftly accepts the awkward reality. Perhaps this is fate—a blessing and a curse intertwined.

Seeing the heart demon standing timidly nearby, Yun Zhuoran sighs inwardly. He walks over slowly, and under the watchful eyes of countless suspicious cultivators, reaches out and grabs the heart demon’s wrist.

“Is it my name?” Yun Zhuoran asks.

The floating order is claimed by the heart demon, so Yun Zhuoran hasn’t expected it to bear his own name.

Back when the demonic cultivators attacked, he let the heart demon snatch a floating order first, thinking he could later challenge those cultivators and secure another one for himself. He hasn’t expected it to turn out like this.

Most overlook the key feature of the floating order—it records the true identity of its holder. Given that the floating order is taken in full view of everyone, Yun Zhuoran should have anticipated that some sharp-eyed cultivators would notice the name on it. Even if most are too distracted by their own disappointment or complicated feelings to react immediately, a few must have seen the name clearly when the floating order lands in the heart demon’s hand.

Even if the heart demon hasn’t shouted Yun Zhuoran’s name in excitement, someone would have eventually asked about the name on it.

Yet Yun Zhuoran isn’t particularly concerned. After all, at the Shen family’s banquet, there is no opponent present with a higher cultivation than his. The individuals he fears—the Buddhist disciple and the Sword Immortal—haven’t shown up today.

The only one with greater cultivation here is Penglai Immortal—and Penglai Immortal is on his side.

His identity being exposed is inevitable. Yun Zhuoran has accepted that. He simply treats this as a lesson for the heart demon, a reminder to be more discreet.

At this point, Yun Zhuoran feels no fear. If Sword Immortal and Tong Ye both come knocking tomorrow, Yun Zhuoran won’t be worried.

He has avoided revealing his identity before to protect Penglai, but Penglai Immortal’s sincerity over the past few months has slowly changed his mind. Yun Zhuoran is confident that he can find Gu Shenshu in the floating city and clear Yun Peiran’s name.

He is willing to gamble with Penglai’s reputation for the time being.

After all, within ten days, he will enter the floating city and close in on Gu Shenshu.

The cultivators around them gradually recover from their shock. They exchange glances, then silently and instinctively close in, surrounding Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon with defensive stances.

Seeing this, the heart demon doesn’t even dare to call him “Brother” again. He stands frozen, rigid with fear.

This time, he is truly terrified.

But Yun Zhuoran ignores the hostile stares. He reaches out and takes the two-inch-long white jade talisman from the heart demon’s hand. A few lingering wisps of spiritual light curl around it—and sure enough, it bears his name.

He is a little surprised, but then remembers how Song Shao once obtained a floating order because a puppet carried his aura. Could it be that since the heart demon originates from him, the floating order has mistaken them for the same person?

Now isn’t the time to dwell on that.

Seeing the heart demon still stiff with anxiety, Yun Zhuoran places his hand on his tense shoulder.

“It’s okay. Don’t be nervous.”

The heart demon’s eyes redden with anxiety. “Brother?”

“Don’t be afraid.” Yun Zhuoran’s tone remains calm, as if nothing has happened.

The heart demon finally relaxes, his tense shoulders drooping. He feels miserable. How could he have been so foolish—so proud for just a moment—that he exposed his brother’s identity like this?

While the two are talking, the cultivators surrounding them continue to close in, tightening the encirclement.

Just at this time, Penglai Immortal also appears behind the two of them. The tense and oppressive atmosphere in the courtyard dissipates at the sight of the fiery red dress. Everyone freezes in place, their gazes shifting to Penglai Immortal with puzzled expressions.

There is no sign of surprise on Penglai Immortal’s face, so strikingly beautiful it seems almost inhuman. With a slight smile, he says, “As long as the floating order is in hand, that’s all that matters. Let’s go.”

Everyone is stunned. Why does Penglai Immortal seem so indifferent, as if nothing has happened?

“Wait a minute!” The Qingyang Peak Master, who has been holding back, finally steps forward. With a dark expression, he points at Yun Zhuoran. “May I ask the young island master—what’s the meaning of the name on that floating order?”

Once someone speaks up, the others who have been restraining themselves become agitated.

The young master of Penglai Island has obtained the last floating order, making him the target of everyone’s resentment. Moreover, he is Yun Zhuoran—Yun Peiran’s younger brother. Even if Penglai tries to protect him, there are still people who would eagerly use this as an excuse to stir up trouble. If they can pressure him into giving up the floating order, that would be ideal. Even if that doesn’t happen, they can at least vent their frustration.

The young master of Demonic Star Sect smiles faintly and says, “I couldn’t help but notice something strange earlier. How could the floating order in Penglai’s young island master’s hands have the name ‘Yun Zhuoran,’ a disciple of Tiandao Sect? I thought it might be a coincidence, but it turns out they really share the same name?”

Jue Fei of Tianqing Sect quickly follows, eyeing the Penglai group with suspicion. “Just now, the young island master said the name on the floating order was his brother’s. May I ask, young island master, who is your brother?”

The young master of Yin Puppet Sect, who tried to block Yun Zhuoran from snatching the floating order earlier, grins slyly like a fox scheming in the shadows. “Are you kidding? Penglai’s young island master can’t be Yun Zhuoran.”

More voices join in, and the cultivators—ignoring Penglai Immortal’s status—close in, trying to pressure the young island master to reveal his identity.

Seeing the crowd grow increasingly hostile, Penglai Immortal seems a bit uneasy, but Yun Zhuoran shakes his head at him, signaling that he intends to handle it himself. Penglai Immortal presses his lips together and stands calmly aside.

Seeing this, Qin Zheng—who has been observing quietly—thinks Penglai Immortal is cooperating with them and steps forward. Though his tone remains polite, his words carry sharp undertones.

“Since the two island masters arrived in Shengjing, they have never shown their true faces. Would I be honored to see them today?”

At this moment, Shen Lingshu descends from the moonlit platform, his face pale—not from losing the Floating Order, but because he simply can’t believe this is Yun Zhuoran.

Yet as he stares at the Young Island Master of Penglai, he can’t bring himself to deny it.

Now that he thinks about it, the Young Island Master’s every gesture carries traces of Yun Zhuoran’s mannerisms.

Deep down, Shen Lingshu refuses to believe it. If this truly is Yun Zhuoran… then earlier, in the reception hall, hadn’t he told the Young Island Master to his face that he had severed ties with Yun Zhuoran and wanted nothing to do with him?

The thought that Yun Zhuoran might have been watching his performance the whole time makes Shen Lingshu’s face flush with humiliation and rage. He desperately hopes—prays—that it isn’t Yun Zhuoran. It can’t be his junior brother!

But Shen Lingshu’s luck has been poor lately, and this time fate refuses to cooperate.

After observing the crowd’s frustrated expressions—clearly wishing they could just rip off his mask but not daring to because of Penglai Immortal—Yun Zhuoran suddenly chuckles. He lowers his head slightly and reaches up to touch the jade mask on his face.

“Since Master Qin Feng insists, I will naturally… oblige.” Yun Zhuoran removes his mask, slowly raises his head, and meets Qin Zheng’s gaze with cold eyes. “Is Master Qin Feng satisfied?”

The moment Penglai’s young island master removes his mask, the courtyard falls silent.

The two young masters from the Demonic Path, who have been stirring up trouble, immediately fall quiet. In truth, they don’t know Yun Zhuoran personally—they have only heard that Penglai’s young island master is exceptional.

That cold yet strikingly beautiful face, bright as a spring morning, defies description. Whether in appearance or temperament, he is flawless—far surpassing the so-called number one beauty of the Demonic Path.

The two young masters of the Demonic Path are filled with regret. Such a breathtaking person… yet he is the young master of Penglai Island, someone they can only admire from a distance.

For those who have never seen Yun Zhuoran’s true face, it is shocking enough. But for those who recognize him instantly, the revelation is even more astounding.

The Young Island Master of Penglai is indeed Yun Zhuoran.

What’s more, Yun Zhuoran dares to reveal his face and admit it!

Does he not know he is a wanted man? Does he not understand that this is exactly what Tiandao Sect has been aiming for?

By this point, Shen Lingshu’s anxious heart plunges completely into an icy abyss. As if unable to accept reality, he stiffly falls backward. Shen Fu hurriedly supports him.

“Yu’er, is your old injury acting up again?”

Shen Lingshu can’t speak. His chest heaves violently as he tries to suppress the urge to cough up blood. All he can think of is grabbing Yun Zhuoran and demanding an explanation—Why is it you again? Why is it always you?!

He feels utterly deceived.

Others can’t fully understand Shen Lingshu’s pain, but those from the Tiandao Sect and others who have seen Yun Zhuoran’s face understand enough. Qin Zheng and the Qingyang Peak Master have been searching for Yun Zhuoran for so long, only to realize that he has been right under their noses the entire time—and they have been polite and even flattering toward him.

The Qingyang Peak Master grits his teeth. “So you’ve been by our side all along.”

They have spent so much effort hiring people to track him down, yet he has been right there the whole time!

Qin Zheng’s expression darkens. He stares at Yun Zhuoran with no trace of humor. “It’s good that you’re back,” he says coldly. “After all, you are the sect master’s disciple. We would never treat you unfairly. Nephew Yun, come back with us.”

The heart demon knows exactly what Qin Zheng is trying to do—coax Yun Zhuoran back to Tiandao Sect. If they genuinely want him back, why have they issued a wanted notice across the entire cultivation world?

The heart demon grabs Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve anxiously. Yun Zhuoran pats the back of his hand in reassurance and asks leisurely, “What are you talking about, Leader Qin? I’m already the young master of Penglai Island. How could I abandon Penglai and follow you back to Tiandao Sect?”

The Qingyang Peak Master sneers. “If you don’t want to go back today, you won’t have a choice.”

Qin Zheng hasn’t expected Yun Zhuoran to push back so directly—and even use Penglai as a shield. Yun Zhuoran has always seemed insignificant in Tiandao Sect, especially after Gu Shenshu’s death. His presence has been so minimal that most people only occasionally hear his name from Shen Lingshu. To them, Yun Zhuoran is a quiet, low-ranked disciple—the type to never resist or stand out.

But taking action now, with so many witnesses, is something Qin Zheng is reluctant to risk.

Seeing the Qingyang Peak Master reaching out toward Yun Zhuoran, Qin Zheng’s heart leaps in alarm. He forgets his anger and instinctively raises his hand to stop him—just as a cold chuckle echoes in his ears.

Qin Zheng’s eyes flick toward Yun Zhuoran, and he catches a faint sneer curling on his lips.

Why is he smiling? Qin Zheng wonders. Qingyang is about to strike—what is so amusing?

Before he can puzzle it out, a crushing pressure suddenly sweeps across the courtyard. This time, it isn’t aimed at any individual—it engulfs everyone.

Almost everyone feels the overwhelming force. Those with weaker cultivation fall directly to the ground, including Qin Zheng himself. His chest burns painfully, and his heartbeat pounds erratically. For the first time in years, he feels the suffocating illusion of death closing in on him.

The Qingyang Peak Master fares no better. His hand, poised to grab Yun Zhuoran’s shoulder, freezes mid-air. His face pales, his eyes widen in shock, and he staggers back helplessly. Qin Zheng reacts quickly enough to steady him, but both are left trembling and pale.

The intense pressure lifts as suddenly as it arrives. The moment it disappears, everyone gasps for breath. Only the strongest cultivators—the family heads and sect masters—remain upright. The rest—those who have kept their distance earlier and haven’t joined in confronting Penglai—are spared the brunt of the pressure.

It is obvious now—this is targeted.

The crowd’s gaze shifts to Penglai Immortal. To them, there is only one explanation: at today’s Shen family banquet, only Penglai Immortal could have wielded such power.

Yun Zhuoran’s dark eyes glint with a hint of amusement as he takes in the disheveled crowd.

“Are you sure you still want to stop me?” he asks calmly.

As Yun Zhuoran steps forward, the Qingyang Peak Master and Qin Zheng instinctively brace themselves.

Qin Zheng’s voice trembles with disbelief. “It was you…”

Yun Zhuoran smiles faintly. “If you have more to say, feel free to visit Penglai someday.”

There is no longer any need to fear the crowd. Yun Zhuoran’s true aim has been to shock those demonic cultivators — the ones who attacked him during the scramble for the floating order, the two demonic path masters who blocked his way, and the Qingyang Peak Master.

Now that he has made his point, no one dares speak.

Yun Zhuoran sweeps his cold gaze across the courtyard, then takes the heart demon’s hand and turns away without another word.

When facing Yun Zhuoran, the cultivators blocking the road behind him are initially startled and instinctively step aside to make way. Yun Zhuoran raises his eyebrows and calmly leads his people past them.

“Penglai Immortal!” The Qingyang Peak Master, unwilling to let things go, calls out from behind. “Yun Zhuoran is Yun Peiran’s younger brother! Are you sure he’s the master of Penglai Island?”

Hearing this, everyone perks up.

They aren’t just trying to get Penglai Immortal’s opinion — they are also reminding him not to support someone questionable.

However, this time, Yun Zhuoran and the heart demon ignore him. Penglai Immortal, who is following leisurely behind with Song Shao and Song Yun, pauses when he hears the question. He turns back with a puzzled expression.

“What?”

Qin Zheng still has lingering doubts. He can’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t Penglai Immortal who acted just now — yet he struggles to believe that it was Yun Zhuoran instead.

If it really was him…

The thought sends a chill down Qin Zheng’s spine. They have been so blind. Such a terrifying presence has grown right under their noses, and none of them noticed!

Jue Fei from Tianqing Sect isn’t willing to let Yun Peiran’s brother leave so easily — especially now that he has become Penglai’s young master, a position that can’t be easily challenged.

Taking a deep breath, he says, “Penglai Immortal, I won’t question how the island master made his choice, but I hope you’ll give us a chance to resolve the grievances between Tiandao Sect, Tianqing Sect, and Yun Zhuoran.”

“I didn’t intervene,” Penglai Immortal says bluntly. “If I had, would you all still be standing here?”

Jue Fei’s face turns pale at the remark, making Penglai Immortal reconsider. Perhaps he has been too harsh.

Since they seem to believe he acted to protect the young master, Penglai Immortal feels both amused and aggrieved. After all, it wasn’t him. Smiling faintly, he adds, “Let me put it this way — the master of Penglai Island is destined to be the master. It’s not just that you can’t change that — even I can’t.”

At that moment, Yun Zhuoran, already at the Shen family’s front gate, calls out, “Let’s go.”

“Yes, young master.” Penglai Immortal deliberately addresses him that way for effect.

Seeing the grim faces of Jue Fei and the others, Penglai Immortal feels quite satisfied and leads Song Shao and Song Yun toward the exit.

After Penglai Immortal and the others leave the Shen family’s estate as if nothing happened, a heavy silence lingers in the courtyard.

It isn’t just because Penglai Immortal called Yun Zhuoran “young master” — his earlier remark strongly implies that the powerful presence from before was Yun Zhuoran himself.

No one speaks for a while. The demonic cultivators seize the opportunity to slip away quietly. They know that by the end of the day, news of Penglai’s Young Island Master, Yun Zhuoran, will spread across Shengjing.

The two young masters of the Demonic Path exchange a knowing smile.

They haven’t come today just because they failed to seize the floating order — they also wanted to prevent powerful figures from the Righteous Path from claiming the floating order’s entry slots. Otherwise, if too many strong Righteous Path cultivators go up, there will be fewer benefits left for them.

They haven’t expected such an entertaining display from the Righteous Path. Although the suppression earlier was uncomfortable, seeing the powerful figures of the four major sects humiliated is well worth it.

But they never expect the Tiandao Sect’s so-called “ornamental disciple” to be so powerful.

There are still ten days until September 17.

The two demonic young masters part ways at the Shen family’s gate, returning to their respective territories to await the opening of the floating city.

Yun Zhuoran’s identity being revealed is sure to cause an uproar in the Righteous Path, while the Demonic Path will relish the chaos.

Yun Zhuoran’s warning today proves to be quite effective. Even Tiandao Sect and Tianqing Sect don’t dare to pursue the matter, let alone other nameless cultivators who had considered following suit. Most people can only envy in silence.

On this day, the Shen family banquet ends on an unpleasant note.

Shen Lingshu is probably the most miserable of all. First, he misses the floating order that seemed within his grasp. Then he discovers that his dream lover, the young master of Penglai Island, is actually Yun Zhuoran — the very person who once ruthlessly rejected him. On top of that, he realizes that his junior brother Yun, whom he always believed to be of modest cultivation, has in fact surpassed him long ago — only hiding his strength the entire time.

Feeling utterly defeated, Shen Lingshu locks himself in his room.

Having lost face so completely in front of Yun Zhuoran, there is no way he can let this go easily.

After returning, the two peak masters of Tiandao Sect immediately seek out Jiang Zhuo to discuss how to bring Yun Zhuoran back to their sect. However, after a lengthy conversation, Jiang Zhuo asks one simple question that leaves the Qingyang Peak Master speechless.

Jiang Zhuo asks, “Yun Zhuoran didn’t even lift a finger, and yet he still managed to overpower you so easily?”

Meanwhile, Yun Zhuoran’s group also returns to their inn, but their situation isn’t exactly smooth either. The Heart Demon, worried that Yun Zhuoran might abandon him, stays silent and doesn’t dare get too close. Instead, he clings tightly to Yun Zhuoran, unusually quiet compared to his usual self.

Yun Zhuoran knows exactly what the heart demon is worried about, but he doesn’t intend to comfort him right away. He has to teach the little thing a lesson so he won’t act recklessly again.

Still, it is already noon, and the heart demon needs to be fed.

Just as Yun Zhuoran places the demon core in the heart demon’s hand, the little creature, who has been holding back all this time, suddenly bursts into tears.

Yun Zhuoran is startled by the sudden outburst and simply sits in silence, watching as Penglai Immortal and the others try in vain to console him.

Penglai Immortal, clearly exasperated by the heart demon’s endless sobbing, gives him a new nickname—”Little Crybaby!”

Despite their efforts, the heart demon continues crying for quite some time. Before they can calm him down, an uninvited guest arrives at the inn.

The moment the barrier is disturbed, both Penglai Immortal and Yun Zhuoran notice it. The two exchange a look of mild surprise—not because they fear trouble, as they have anticipated this. It is simply that the visitor has arrived sooner than expected.

Yun Zhuoran thinks for a moment before suddenly smiling. “Not that fast—I’ve been expecting him for a while.”

The heart demon’s sobs halt. He looks up with his red, tear-filled eyes, wary and alert.

Seeing his obedient yet worried expression, Yun Zhuoran sighs inwardly and reaches out to ruffle the heart demon’s hair.

“Since Weiran knows he was wrong,” Yun Zhuoran says, “do you want to come out with your brother to make up for it?”

The heart demon, surprised that his brother isn’t angry—and has even fed him and tried to comfort him—nearly bursts into tears again. He quickly nods, bobbing his head like a pecking chick.

“Yes!” he sniffles, wiping his face with his sleeve. His rough attempt smears a large patch of red across his pale cheeks. “Brother, who’s coming?”

Yun Zhuoran’s brows furrow slightly. With a soft touch, his thin white fingers brush away the redness on the heart demon’s face.

“It doesn’t matter,” Yun Zhuoran says. “We’ll just send him on his way.”