When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 8

However, Yun Zhuoran soon loses interest in thinking about Ji Chen because his cultivation level increases again.

This time, the improvement isn’t substantial; it merely stabilizes his previously somewhat shaky mid-stage Transformation realm.

Yun Zhuoran gazes out the window with a complicated expression, watching the little black ball play among the water-blue flowers.

The heart demon hasn’t eaten as much this time, but it is still full of energy after its meal. Upon returning, it dashes straight to the flowers, having fun without pausing for a moment.

These water-blue flower vines are unintelligent spiritual plants and serve as a form of defense. Any evil spirits attempting to invade must first pass through the flower vines. Though crystal clear and delicate, these vines are powerful enough to ensnare low-level monsters. The heart demon, feeling playful, flits around, teasing the flower vines and causing them to tangle around itself in a chaotic mess.

As Yun Zhuoran watches, a sudden playful impulse strikes him, and he raises his finger to form a seal, manipulating the flower vines.

In an instant, numerous flower vines shoot from all directions, surrounding the small heart demon. They move so swiftly that only their afterimages can be seen. Within moments, they weave a delicate cage, determined to trap the heart demon inside.

The heart demon is momentarily stunned but then becomes even more excited, darting out through a small gap that is about to close, transforming into a dark cloud the size of a water barrel. It then turns around, preparing to aggressively swallow the bunch of flower vines.

After playing with the heart demon for a while, Yun Zhuoran withdraws his spiritual power. Realizing the flower vines have become rigid, the heart demon spits out the vines it has been biting, blinking its tiny black eyes in confusion as it floats back to Yun Zhuoran along the window lattice.

“Brother!”

Yun Zhuoran gazes at the little black mass, and his eyes seem a bit gentler than usual.

“Tonight’s feast isn’t satisfying; we’ll go again tomorrow night, and I’ll personally help you catch the Ghost King.”

The heart demon perks up, “Really?”

Yun Zhuoran nods, smiling.

He confirms something he has suspected for a long time: the little ghost king from Pojun Mountain that the heart demon has eaten previously is at the stage of spirit transformation. Later, the heart demon devours many evil spirits that have cultivated for thousands of years. This should explain why Yun Zhuoran jumps directly from the early to mid-stage of spirit transformation. The wolf demon and evil spirit consumed tonight are not powerful enough to provide more than a slight increase.

“If you eat well, my cultivation will also increase.” This is the first time Yun Zhuoran sees a heart demon that can nourish his source without any side effects.

In this case, Yun Zhuoran doesn’t mind using this method to help him grow faster. At the same time, the heart demon’s status in his heart greatly improves.

Such a heart demon can be nurtured.

But even if Yun Zhuoran has reservations about raising it, there is no choice; the heart demon must stay within his sight.

At that moment, Yun Zhuoran begins contemplating where to find another little ghost king at the transformation stage to consume the following night.

Upon hearing the good news, the heart demon first feels relieved and then cheers happily, “Great! The little demon will take care of his brother in the future!”

Yun Zhuoran can’t help but laugh. The little thing wants to take care of him?

But the heart demon continues, “I want to eat more and grow quickly, so my brother won’t be bullied anymore, and I can protect him!”

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow. “I was bullied?”

The heart demon floats in front of Yun Zhuoran, staring intently at him with its tiny black eyes. It is amusing, yet Yun Zhuoran can see its determination.

“I’m here, so my brother won’t be bullied anymore!”

The little one’s tone is very serious. When it focuses intently on Yun Zhuoran, for a brief moment, Yun Zhuoran seems to see a young boy before him—someone who promises him something, no longer just a soft little black mass, but a clear-eyed, stubborn child with the same cold expression he had as a young boy.

“He’s not big, but he’s ambitious.” Yun Zhuoran is momentarily taken aback, a slow smile creeping onto his lips. He blinks to hide the emotion in his eyes but can’t help but think that the little demon better not break its promise. Otherwise, if he can bring the heart demon into existence, he can just as easily make it disappear.

Because of Yun Zhuoran’s promise, the heart demon plays happily among the flowers all night. It is nearly dawn when it finally uses up its abundant energy, floating back to Yun Zhuoran’s room and curling up on him, snoring softly.

Yun Zhuoran notices the movement and opens his eyes. He finds it hard to concentrate on his cultivation anymore. Looking at the little creature resting on his legs, he realizes it is too dark to see clearly but can hear its increasingly loud snoring.

Quietly, Yun Zhuoran places the clingy heart demon on a soft pillow. When he goes downstairs, he finds the once sparkling and beautiful flower cluster in disarray, all tangled up.

This is all thanks to the heart demon.

Sensing the presence of its master, a few water-blue flower vines, which are fortunately not tangled, move to Yun Zhuoran’s feet, appearing somewhat aggrieved. Yun Zhuoran sighs quietly and releases his spiritual power to restore the flowers to their original state. The flower vines untangle themselves and dance joyfully in the sunlight once more.

After cleaning up the mess outside, Yun Zhuoran does not head back upstairs immediately. He contemplates whether he should visit Jiang Zhibai to inquire about the recent happenings in the cultivation world and see where more powerful demons might be lurking.

He has been in seclusion for over ten years, secretly forming a golden elixir. Each breakthrough—from the Core Formation to the Nascent Soul stage—occurs without the knowledge of the Tian Dao Sect. It is only this time, unable to avoid the thunder of the tribulation, that he descends the mountain. Aside from this, he has not heard any news from the outside world, has not ventured down the mountain, and has focused solely on his practice.

However, the higher one’s realm, the harder it becomes to break through.

Even if he spends another ten years in seclusion, Yun Zhuoran cannot be certain he will achieve another significant breakthrough.

At this moment, the heart demon appears, and Yun Zhuoran naturally cannot miss this opportunity.

Fortunately, due to Gu Shenshu’s death, while the Tian Dao Sect and Tianqing Sect resent Yun Peiran, they remain righteous and only monitor Yun Zhuoran. Aside from being forbidden from descending the mountain without a supervisor, he enjoys a certain degree of freedom within the Tian Dao Sect and can move around the sect.

Jiang Zhibai is at Qingjing Peak next door. As Yun Zhuoran prepares to head out, he looks up and notices a young man in white pacing back and forth outside the Baiyun Jian barrier.

“Gu Qiuming?” Yun Zhuoran is somewhat surprised. Why would Gu Qiuming appear here for no reason?

Actually, Yun Zhuoran’s deepest impression of Gu Qiuming comes from a line in the story told by Shen Lingshu: “You are Master’s treasure.” Gu Qiuming plays a significant role in the entire narrative. His relationship with Shen Lingshu begins after Yun Zhuoran’s death. When Shen Lingshu emerges from his retreat, he encounters his little apprentice, who has been in seclusion due to cultivation issues.

Gu Qiuming has faced a difficult life. He is an illegitimate child left by the second master of the Shengjing Gu family during his travels. His mother, lacking spiritual roots, remarried soon after giving birth to him. To prevent her husband’s family from discovering his existence, his grandfather sends him to the Shengjing Gu family. Though he eventually finds his biological father, he discovers that his father already has a partner.

After all, he is his biological son, so Gu Qiuming moves into the Gu family without hesitation. However, his biological father and stepmother ignore him, his siblings bully him, and he often faces shortages of food and clothing. After the death of his only kind maternal figure, Gu Qiuming, who is not yet thirteen, escapes from Shengjing, enduring various hardships to reach the Tian Dao Sect. Fortunately, with the help of kind-hearted friends, he enters the outer gate and eventually the inner sect. After working as a sweeping disciple for two years, he finally becomes Shen Lingshu’s apprentice by chance.

At the start of the story, Gu Qiuming has just established his foundation and comes down the mountain to train, almost being plotted against to death by the Gu family. Shen Lingshu saves him at the critical moment and comforts him with kind words.

Gu Qiuming is abandoned by his parents and treated like a piece of trash, yet Shen Lingshu makes him his treasure.

Yun Zhuoran replays Gu Qiuming’s story in his mind, automatically filtering out the dissonant elements where Shen Lingshu consoles Gu Qiuming with affectionate gestures and dual cultivation. He looks at the young man outside, lost in thought.

In the story, Gu Qiuming has no interaction with him as his “uncle” or “shimu” (teacher’s wife).

What could he possibly want?

At that moment, outside the barrier, the young man—now looking more energetic in a brand-new snow-white inner disciple uniform—calms himself and announces loudly, “Disciple Gu Qiuming, here to pay my respects to Senior Brother Yun.”

Having just entered the inner sect, Gu Qiuming is still in the process of attending classes and has not yet become a fully recognized disciple. He follows the other senior brothers in addressing Shen Lingshu and others as such.

So he truly comes to see him.

Yun Zhuoran can pretend not to see him, but looking at the young man’s bright, shiny black eyes, which keep trying to peer inside, he still responds from across the barrier.

“What do you want with me?”

His clear voice holds no emotion, yet it startles Gu Qiuming. His eyes widen in surprise as he presses a hand to his rapidly beating heart and bows toward the thick white barrier, where he can see nothing clearly. “Disciple Gu Qiuming here. I wonder if Senior Brother Yun remembers helping me in Qianshan during the inner sect examination? Although you say nothing, your willingness to let me follow you helps me avoid a great deal of trouble…”

Gu Qiuming’s dark eyes occasionally dart upward, trying to penetrate the barrier to catch a glimpse of the voice’s owner. “To be honest, had it not been for Senior Brother Yun’s assistance during the assessment, I might not have survived, and I would have missed this opportunity. Fortunately, I made it into the inner sect, which is why I’m here to express my gratitude today!”

Yun Zhuoran feels a bit confused for a moment. Is Gu Qiuming referring to him allowing Gu Qiuming to follow him? But at that time, Yun Zhuoran thought that the main road belonged to the Heavenly Dao Sect; if someone wanted to walk it, it was none of his business. He doesn’t particularly enjoy being close to strangers, but he isn’t that extreme.

After a brief silence, Yun Zhuoran replies in a calm voice, “I understand. You can go.”

Gu Qiuming is initially taken aback, his face flushing red as he stammers, “But did I disturb you, Senior Brother? I’m sorry. I know you are focused on your cultivation, and I shouldn’t have interrupted you, but…” His voice trails off, becoming quieter. “The back mountain isn’t a place I can visit casually, and I don’t often see you. I didn’t expect to be assigned the task of cleaning the North Mountain Cloud Pool. I happened to pass by Baiyun Jian and wanted to take the opportunity to thank you… Sorry!”

Gu Qiuming looks regretful and quickly bows to apologize.

Yun Zhuoran, who has already turned back, pauses, turns around in a hurry, and even waves his hand to open the barrier, looking straight at the boy with a pair of clear black eyes.

“Are you going to the Cloud Pool?”

Gu Qiuming nods honestly, his head lowered out of guilt, not even noticing that the barrier has opened. “I’m just going to clean the Cloud Pool. I heard that this task was just posted by Senior Brother Shen, and I happened to see it…”

Yun Zhuoran’s expression darkens. “Shen Lingshu?”

Gu Qiuming nods rapidly, inadvertently glancing up just in time to catch sight of Yun Zhuoran’s white robe with red corners. He freezes, his handsome cheeks flushing as he stares at Yun Zhuoran in shock, unable to speak.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t notice the change in his expression and asks in a deep voice, “Do you know that the North Mountain Cloud Pool is the place where Sect Master Gu Shensu practiced in seclusion? Since his fall, it has been closed for many years and has become a forbidden area!”

And for Shen Lingshu to open the barrier to the North Mountain Cloud Pool for a mere junior disciple…

Gu Qiuming suddenly comes to his senses and quickly explains, “I know… the senior brothers from Qingyun Hall mentioned it. I heard it was Senior Brother Shen’s intention.”

Of course, it is also because the only way to reach the North Mountain Cloud Pool is through the back mountain’s Baiyun Jian…

Gu Qiuming lightly clears his throat, hurriedly lowering his head to hide the flush on his face.

He finally finds an opportunity to thank Brother Yun in person, so he mustn’t embarrass himself!

Yun Zhuoran, unaware of Gu Qiuming’s thoughts, composes himself and silently studies the boy. Gu Qiuming has a fair, delicate face, bright eyes, and a charming smile. Perhaps due to his youth, he appears a bit too thin, which evokes some sympathy. Could it be that Shen Lingshu is concerned because of this…?

Yun Zhuoran isn’t foolish; he can guess the underlying intricacies—Gu Qiuming is in a tight spot and goes to Qingyun Hall to take a sect task, and coincidentally, Shen Lingshu has just posted a task for cleaning the North Mountain Cloud Pool?

The North Mountain Cloud Pool is the highest peak among the many mountains of the Heavenly Dao Sect. It is said to be the closest place to the Heavenly Dao and has once been the secluded practice ground of Gu Shensu, the first person under the Heavenly Dao. It is naturally extremely rich in spiritual energy.

Although Gu Qiuming has not yet built his foundation, after several visits to North Mountain Cloud Pool, he is only days away from achieving it. Shen Lingshu is truly working hard for his little apprentice.

Yun Zhuoran snorts lightly.

Gu Qiuming doesn’t have time to ask further when he sees Yun Zhuoran turn his back, his white-clad figure quickly disappearing behind the re-closed barrier, leaving behind only a very cold remark: “I have never helped you; no need to thank me, and there’s no need to come again.”

Yun Zhuoran’s figure is ultimately isolated within the barrier, Gu Qiuming gazes at the clouds and mist enveloping it, a profound sense of loss filling his eyes.

Because Gu Shenshu’s place of cultivation has been reopened by Shen Lingshu to please his future apprentice, Yun Zhuoran loses interest in visiting Jiang Zhibai and sulkily retreats upstairs, sitting beside his heart demon.

Even though Gu Shenshu is not his master, he has shown him considerable kindness.

Deep down, Yun Zhuoran recognizes that the man who once warmly called him “Xiao Zhuoran” has indeed left a significant mark on his life. For various reasons, he has never dared to approach the North Mountain Cloud Pool, the place where Gu Shenshu has cultivated. In the story, Yun Zhuoran meets his end there.

But now…

Shen Lingshu has truly opened the ban on North Mountain Cloud Pool.