When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 86

The sword intent is only the beginning. When Yun Zhuoran swings the three-foot jade branch, a dazzling and scorching golden light seal suddenly flares in the darkness. It clashes with the cold light of the jade branch and vanishes in an instant.

But in that fleeting moment, Yun Zhuoran clearly sees the opponent’s move.

“Golden Light Spell!”

Young Master Yin speaks the name at the same time.

Yun Zhuoran raises his eyebrows, conceals the jade branch in his hand, and turns to look at Young Master Yin.

The hall falls silent again, but the feeling of it being crowded and oppressive still lingers clearly.

The heart demon trots over and gently holds Yun Zhuoran’s hand. “Brother, are you hurt?”

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head. “No.”

Because Young Master Yin has identified the Golden Light Spell, the others are half-believing, half-doubting. After all, the Golden Light Spell is known as the Tianqing Sect’s signature technique. Is Young Master Yin implying that the strange intruder is from the Tianqing Sect?

But haven’t the blood demon vine seeds planted on Ji Ruo come from the Zhuyin Sect?

“Hiss…”

No one knows who draws in a breath. When they turn toward the sound, they see Gu Jinping crouched against a pillar in the corner, clutching the right side of her face. Even so, the red, swollen mark on her cheek is still very visible.

Just now, everyone’s attention was drawn to the little blue sparrow and the sudden sword intent. No one sees who strikes Gu Jinping. She hurries over to Shen Lingshu in a panic, glancing fearfully into the shadows as she stammers, “Just now… I think I touched something, and then someone suddenly hit me!”

The handprint on Gu Jinping’s face isn’t very distinct—just a few slender finger marks—but it’s very swollen and red. It seems like the hand that strikes her isn’t large, perhaps belonging to a woman or a child.

If someone from the inn really struck Gu Jinping, she would’ve cursed them out long ago.

So while Yun Zhuoran is fighting, is there another strange presence near Gu Jinping?

No—tonight, there are at least three strange persons: the one who uses the sword, the one who casts the Golden Light Spell, and the last, the most bizarre one, who slaps someone barehanded…

Everyone is left speechless.

Yun Zhuoran walks toward the little blue sparrow.

“You can talk now.”

The owner of Guanyue Tower is crouched on the table. It instinctively folds its wings and retreats a little.

“Talk… about what…”

Yun Zhuoran sits down directly across from it. “Tell me your clearance hints.”

The heart demon sits beside Yun Zhuoran. “Right, this sparrow seems to know something.”

Prompted by the two of them, everyone gathers around the Lord of Guanyue Tower.

The little blue sparrow hesitates, then under Yun Zhuoran and Weiran’s cold gazes, cautiously begins, “I’m only the owner of Guanyue Tower. The person behind Yuelai Inn is the City Lord. I don’t have much authority. But since you received Guanyue Tower’s reward… well, I don’t know much. There are only three clues the City Lord is willing to give. If you look carefully, you’ll find them. First, there is more than one strange person.”

Hearing this, everyone exchanges glances. They’ve all guessed as much but haven’t dared confirm it—because more strange persons means higher difficulty.

Yun Zhuoran nods. “What else?”

The little blue sparrow droops. “Second, the strange person is inside Yuelai Inn. Third, the strange person only appears at midnight. That’s all I know.”

These three clues won’t help them pinpoint the strange person immediately, but they could’ve figured them out after a few days of observation. Hearing them now still saves a lot of time and effort.

Yun Zhuoran stares quietly at the little blue sparrow, as though trying to dig out more information.

The bird shudders and wraps its wings around itself. “I really don’t know anything else!”

The heart demon lets out a disappointed sigh. “Brother, it’s so useless.”

The little blue sparrow stiffens, thinking bitterly—how is that my fault?

Yun Zhuoran soothes calmly, “Forget it. It wasn’t meant to be useful anyway.”

The little blue sparrow: “…”

With no more clues forthcoming, everyone quickly loses interest in the bluebird. They return to their seats, some meditating to heal, others silently sorting through what they’ve learned.

This time, Young Master Yin takes the seat across from Yun Zhuoran, holding his iron fan as he mutters thoughtfully, “One day and night in the inn lasts only an hour. That means midnight is shortened to the time it takes to drink one cup of tea. That’s how long the strange persons have to appear each time. How can we catch invisible strange persons in such a short time?”

Everyone looks at him.

Young Master Yin simply shrugs. “Looks like the strange persons won’t show up again tonight.”

Yun Zhuoran asks the heart demon, “Do you want to go upstairs and sleep?”

The heart demon shakes his head. “I’m not sleepy.”

No one else seems inclined to return to their rooms, so Young Master Yin joins them at the table, smiling as he glances at the little blue sparrow trying to make itself invisible.

“So this is the owner of the Guanyue Tower?” Knowing Yun Zhuoran won’t answer, Young Master Yin continues, “Young Master’s luck is truly enviable. First you got the pass key, then the Guanyue Tower’s support.”

Yun Zhuoran is used to Young Master Yin’s vague remarks and coldly replies, “Want it? Go try your luck at the Guanyue Tower.”

Young Master Yin smiles. “Forget it. I can’t compete with you.”

The heart demon sighs. “At least you know that much.”

Young Master Yin always feels the little island master speaks with hidden jabs—very pointed ones. But he still pretends to be helpless, like a child mimicking others. You can argue with him, but even if he seems harmless, he has a powerful brother watching you—waiting for you to slip up and expose your true nature… just so he can strike you down.

Thinking of this, Young Master Yin shuts his mouth in frustration and stops talking in front of the pair.

Half an hour isn’t hard to endure, especially knowing there will be no more attacks from monsters after midnight. Because it’s safe, the time seems to pass faster, and the dim sky quickly brightens.At dawn, Gu Qiuming and Ji Ruo’s injuries visibly improve, and the negative effects of the inn’s night cycle on their conditions temporarily subside.

As daylight arrives, the heart demon becomes so bored he nearly stews the little blue bird. For nearly half an hour, he whispers non-stop to Yun Zhuoran, and Yun Zhuoran answers patiently each time, which makes Shen Lingshu even more jealous.

The heart demon finally stands up, stretches, and gets ready to return to the room for rest.

Everyone else has similar thoughts. After half an hour, those with low cultivation or severe injuries clearly feel their internal strength being rapidly drained—they need to rest during the daytime.

Just then, Young Master Yin suddenly speaks up. “We all picked up a note on the first day we entered the inn, telling us to stay in our rooms at night. Could it be that the strange persons can’t enter our rooms?”

The haggard Ji Ruo forces his eyelids open and stares at him. “If you have something to say, just say it.”

Looking at his pale, miserable face, Young Master Yin laughs instead of getting annoyed. “Young Master Ji, don’t worry. What I mean is, we don’t know if your injuries—or Gu Xiaoyou’s—will relapse tonight. Why not stay in your rooms to avoid the strange persons’ sneak attacks and worsening your conditions? The rest of us can take turns keeping watch. What do you think?”

Ji Ruo instinctively looks at Yun Zhuoran.

The others don’t object to Young Master Yin’s suggestion for the time being.

Young Master Yin smiles and turns toward Yun Zhuoran and Weiran. “Starting tonight, I wonder if the Young Island Master and the Little Island Master would be willing to stand watch with me?”

The heart demon immediately says, “No.”

Yun Zhuoran presses the back of the heart demon’s hand and looks at Young Master Yin. “Alright.”

The heart demon looks confused.

Yun Zhuoran says, “We’ll talk upstairs.”

Weiran obediently nods.

Yun Zhuoran is certain that Young Master Yin must have a motive for inviting only him and Weiran. Looking at that hypocritical smile, he simply says, “See you in half an hour.”

Young Master Yin smiles as he watches them leave.

Though the others are slightly puzzled, they quickly return to their rooms.

Back in the upper room of the Tianzi suite on the third floor, with the door shut, Weiran can’t hold back any longer.

“Brother, why did that Young Master Yin ask us to keep watch with him tonight? What is he planning?”

Yun Zhuoran is surprised by Weiran’s sharp instinct. “What do you think?”

Weiran hesitates for a moment, then frowns. “I just don’t think he’s a good person. If he wants to take us aside like this, he must be up to no good.”

Yun Zhuoran touches Weiran’s hair bun, and a clear smile lights up his eyes. “Weiran is really clever. But don’t worry—if the enemy comes, we’ll deal with him. Young Master Yin can’t do anything to us.”

Weiran rubs his cheek against Yun Zhuoran’s palm and nods confidently.

“Yeah, he’s a weakling.”

Yun Zhuoran can’t help laughing. Seeing the heart demon yawn, he asks, “Sleepy?”

The heart demon nods, then buries his head in Yun Zhuoran’s arms like a spoiled child, naturally wrapping his arms around Yun Zhuoran’s slender waist. He mumbles sleepily, “A little.”

 Yun Zhuoran strokes his back helplessly at the childish tone. “Go to sleep.”

 The heart demon murmurs, “Brother, let’s sleep together.”

 Looking down at the moist, clear red eyes, Yun Zhuoran sighs softly.  “Alright.”

After the heart demon falls asleep, Yun Zhuoran lies on his side, thinking he has forgotten something. But when the heart demon smacks his lips and unconsciously snuggles closer into his arms, that thought completely vanishes.

 The room is a little stuffy, and the heart demon’s cheeks are flushed from the heat. Yun Zhuoran moves his fingertips, releasing a bit of spiritual energy.

 The spiritual power turns into a mist the color of water, gently falling and covering every corner of the room. The air cools instantly.

 Yun Zhuoran touches the heart demon’s cheek. Seeing that the heat has faded, he sits cross-legged beside the bed with peace of mind. He hasn’t truly slept in a long time and can recover his strength through meditation—he won’t waste even a moment. Even though he no longer needs to cultivate so desperately, that habit remains.

Half an hour passes. The third night at Yuelai Inn falls quietly.

At dusk, Yun Zhuoran wakes the heart demon. As he leads the sleepy figure downstairs, he notices the little blue bird squatting at the door—and only then remembers that he has forgotten about it.

The light outside has dimmed. Master Yin has been waiting in the lobby for a while.

Seeing Young Master Yin’s fake smile, the heart demon instantly becomes alert. He grabs Yun Zhuoran’s hand tightly, clearly unwilling to let him get too close to Young Master Yin.

“The two island masters are truly punctual,” Young Master Yin greets them with his usual smile, then glances meaningfully at the window paper.

The lobby lights are already on, and the fading glow of sunset outside is about to vanish.

It’s getting dark.

Isn’t this the perfect moment?

“It’s still early,” Yun Zhuoran replies coldly. “Are we standing here tonight?”

Young Master Yin stands up and suggests, “Why don’t we head to the back?”

Yun Zhuoran gives him a long, deep look, then follows with the heart demon and the very resentful blue sparrow in tow.

Young Master Yin must have ulterior motives for asking them to keep watch tonight. But seeing that the aura of death around him is weak, Yun Zhuoran surmises that he hasn’t pushed things far enough to warrant being killed—still, he doesn’t let his guard down.

The two men and one bird follow Young Master Yin and slowly make their way into the backyard patio.

Holding a lantern at the front, Young Master Yin asks with a smile, “The night before last, the strange person showed up here. Where do you think he’ll appear tonight?”

The heart demon reaches out and pinches the little blue sparrow flying low behind them. How could the bird still dare hold a grudge? It quickly says, “The strange person’s in the inn! He could show up anywhere!”

Yun Zhuoran replies, “Did you hear that, Young Master Yin?”

Standing in the shade of a tree, Young Master Yin casually sets down the lantern, turns around slowly, and smiles, eyes gleaming. “Young Master, really… there’s only the few of us here now, and you’re still trying to hide it? Do you truly believe your plan is flawless? Leaving behind such obvious evidence—did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Yun Zhuoran raises an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

The heart demon immediately grabs Yun Zhuoran’s sleeve, sensing the malice in Young Master Yin.

Still smiling, Young Master Yin says, “If that’s the case, don’t blame me…”

As he speaks, he suddenly swings an iron fan from behind his back. The sharp fan slices through the air like a blade—but Yun Zhuoran doesn’t move, only stares at him. Young Master Yin freezes mid-strike, a flash of pain crossing his face.

Yun Zhuoran tilts his head. “You still want to fight?”

Young Master Yin clutches his chest, pale-faced, but forces a smile. “As expected of someone at the Integration stage. You don’t even have to lift a finger—just your spiritual pressure alone could crush someone like me.”

Yun Zhuoran hasn’t even lifted the pressure yet. Young Master Yin holds on, unwilling to back down. His eyes soon turn bloodshot. Gritting his teeth, he says, “You may fool the others, but do you really think you can fool everyone?”

The heart demon looks bewildered. “What are you talking about?”

“You two really put on a good act—pretending to be so innocent,” Young Master Yin says mockingly, then suddenly shouts behind them, “Are you all coming out or not?”

The heart demon instinctively clutches Yun Zhuoran’s arm and looks back—candles flicker in the kitchen, and the six others who are supposedly resting in their rooms emerge. None are missing, but all wear expressions of confusion.

The talisman on the kitchen door that blocks detection instantly turns to ash.

Yun Zhuoran comments, “A high-level breath-concealing talisman? Seems like overkill for something like this.”

His spiritual sense has covered the entire inn—he already knows that no one is in their rooms. The kitchen is the only blind spot. He could’ve taken time to break through the talisman, but if the kitchen is the only place he can’t see, does he really need to guess?

Truthfully, Young Master Yin’s ploy to hide everyone in the kitchen is entirely unnecessary…

Even so, Yun Zhuoran still doesn’t understand what Young Master Yin is aiming at.

Seeing the others arrive, he withdraws his pressure. Master Yin exhales in relief, then points directly at him and says:

“Yun Zhuoran, you’re the strange person!”

Not just Yun Zhuoran—everyone else looks confused too.

Li Jianming asks, “You told us to hide in there just for this?”

Young Master Yin smiles silently and pulls a paper figure, about two fingers long, from his sleeve.

“This is the paper puppet I found in the kitchen the day the strange person first appeared.”

Ji Ruo weakly interjects, “Didn’t you say you found nothing back then?”

Young Master Yin says, “If I’d said so earlier, wouldn’t the young island master have been exposed?”

At that moment, Yun Zhuoran finally understands what Young Master Yin has been plotting all night.

Sure enough, Young Master Yin continues, “Look closely. This is a Penglai puppet! The monster that appeared the first night wasn’t even human—it was a paper puppet controlled by the young island master!”

Everyone is visibly surprised, though none look fully convinced. Still, the puppet does look unusual…

This is the first time Yun Zhuoran has seen that particular paper puppet, but upon closer inspection, he realizes that it indeed bears traces of Penglai-style puppet craftsmanship, which even catches him off guard.

Seeing Yun Zhuoran remain silent, Young Master Yin grows more confident.

“On the first night, Master Yun and Fellow Daoist Li were the last to arrive. With each of you testifying for the other, the suspicion on you was lifted. But you overlooked this puppet. Unfortunately for you, I grabbed it before it could self-destruct. I suspect the strange noises that night were your doing. Given your cultivation level, it would’ve been easy to trick us.”

The heart demon looks even more confused. “Huh?”

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head at him, signaling to stay quiet and let Young Master Yin finish his show.

“At first, I didn’t want to believe the young island master would do such a thing,” Yin continues. “But think about it—if the puppet was meant to fake monster attacks, and the victims just happened to be disciples of the Tiandao Sect, who have a grudge against Penglai, and Young Master Ji, who has a grudge against you—isn’t that too coincidental? But then, you went out of your way to help them—healing their wounds, even removing blood demon vine seeds from Young Master Ji. Why? Perhaps because the seeds were fake—just part of a setup to clear suspicion from yourself and distance yourself from the monster.”

Ji Ruo gives him a dumbfounded look. “Are you saying I didn’t know I had something planted in me?”

Jiang Zhibai adds, “Junior Brother Yun has high cultivation—what’s wrong with him noticing the monster first?”

“There’s nothing wrong with noticing it,” Young Master Yin replies. “But the problem is, the monster used the Golden Light Spell last night.”

He turns to Yun Zhuoran, “Young Island Master, your brother Yun Peiran was once a disciple of the Tianqing Sect. All their disciples know the Golden Light Spell. Are you saying your brother never taught you?”

Yun Zhuoran’s expression gradually turns cold. “He taught me.”

Li Jianming looks at him, shaking his head. “I didn’t expect this from you, Yun Zhuoran…”

Young Master Yin presses on, “You can wield a sword and use the Golden Light Spell. You removed the blood demon vine seeds from Young Master Ji. The paper puppet left behind on the first night bore Penglai characteristics. Last night, only Miss Gu—who had a grudge with you from Shuangluzhai—was slapped. I don’t think the young island master would secretly take revenge over something so trivial, so it must have been you, the island master, who made the move.”

Li Jianming wipes his face speechlessly. “I just didn’t expect Yun Zhuoran to know the Golden Light Spell. How do you know everything… Penglai’s puppetry, Tianqing Sect’s Golden Light Spell…”

He actually already knows Yun Zhuoran has learned the Golden Light Spell, but he still puts on a show of envy and asks, “Is there anything you don’t know?”

Yun Zhuoran answers honestly, “Sword Sect’s swordsmanship.”

It’s obvious that Li Jianming doesn’t really believe Yun Zhuoran is behind everything, but Gu Jinping does. She stares at Yun Zhuoran and Weiran in shame and anger. “You hit me!”

Weiran rolls his eyes. “If I wanted revenge, would you still be alive?”

Gu Jinping recoils in horror.

“Weiran,” Yun Zhuoran chides lightly, “don’t keep saying such terrifying truths.”

Weiran lowers his head obediently. “Got it.”

Yun Zhuoran turns to Master Yin. “Go on.”

He still wants to see what else Young Master Yin will reveal.

Master Yin notices his calm demeanor. As he looks at the other’s cold, beautiful face, his eyes brim with admiration. “Young Master, I suspect you from the moment I arrive at the inn. You stand out too much. Everyone else brings props to match their identities when they leave the room, but you bring nothing. I guess then that your mission must be different.”

Yun Zhuoran follows up, “So, my mission is to act like a strange person?”

Master Yin looks a little surprised. “You’re admitting it? Young Master, I suspect it from the moment I pick up the paper doll. You control it to hurt people while creating all kinds of strange phenomena to throw us into a panic. Then you show up with the strange person to make it seem like you can’t be the same person. Looking at it now, your plan is flawless. And with your cultivation overwhelming all of us, it is practically perfect.”

Originally, neither Li Jianming nor Jiang Zhibai would believe Yun Zhuoran is the strange person. But since Yun Zhuoran himself admits it—even if it sounds dubious—they are both shocked.

Jiang Zhibai still isn’t convinced. “Junior Brother Yun, are you really the strange person?”

Yun Zhuoran looks at Young Master Yin. “Are you done?”

Young Master Yin holds up the paper doll. “Here’s the evidence. What more does the Young Island Master have to say?”

Yun Zhuoran nods and turns to Jiang Zhibai. “Yes, I’m the strange person.”

Young Master Yin doesn’t expect him to admit it so easily. Stunned, he quickly follows up, “So the Young Island Master admits it?”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t deny it.

The heart demon also raises his hand. “Me too.”

Young Master Yin smiles. “Of course. The Young Island Master’s shadow would be in on whatever he’s doing.”

Li Jianming asks in disbelief, “Yun Zhuoran, did you really do all that?”

This time Yun Zhuoran denies it. “No.”

Young Master Yin rushes to argue, “But you just admitted you were the strange person!”

Yun Zhuoran gives him a cold glance. “I am. Weiran is. And so are you.”

Everyone is stunned.

Master Yin demands angrily, “What do you mean? You’re dragging everyone down with you?”

Yun Zhuoran replies calmly, “You’ve identified the strange person. So… have you cleared the level?”

That sentence strikes like lightning. Everyone jolts awake. Right—if Yun Zhuoran is really the strange person, and Master Yin has exposed him, why haven’t they cleared the level?

But both Yun Zhuoran and the young island master have admitted it…

Li Jianming tries to follow Yun Zhuoran’s logic, fails, and gives up. “Wait—what does ‘strange person’ even mean?”

Yun Zhuoran asks in return, “What do you think it means?”

Though his voice is calm, Li Jianming can’t understand a word. Frustrated, he scratches his hair. “I don’t know!”

“No rush.

Yun Zhuoran curls his lips into a smile, raises a hand, and begins forming a seal. He looks at Young Master Yin coolly. “Why don’t you see the Golden Light Spell I’ve learned first?”

Young Master Yin senses danger. His expression shifts and he turns to flee.

But no matter how fast he is, he can’t outrun the golden seal that suddenly forms beneath his feet. A glowing wall of golden light rises before him. He slams into it and can’t break through. Trying to detour, he realizes the ground itself has turned into a glowing cage. There’s nowhere to run.

The red-robed man who looks like a god withdraws his hand. The golden light fades from his fingertips, and his cold brows curve ever so slightly with a smile in his eyes.

Li Jianming is the first to react. The golden light spell last night was warm—like the blazing light of a Buddha. But Yun Zhuoran’s Golden Light is icy to the bone.

This isn’t the same person.

Yun Zhuoran walks toward Young Master Yin, and the heart demon follows, carrying the little blue sparrow.

Young Master Yin, trapped in the golden cage, feels his body go numb. A chill seeps into his bones as if he’s fallen into an icy abyss. Even with Nascent Soul cultivation, he can hardly endure it. He has only just realized the crucial difference between Yun Zhuoran and the strange person from the night before.

As Yun Zhuoran approaches, he panics. “It seems I misunderstood…”

“But I didn’t misunderstand you.”

Yun Zhuoran cuts him off, staring at the black mist being forced out of Young Master Yin’s head. It’s a swirl of death energy and demonic qi, but it doesn’t match Master Yin’s own.

Yun Zhuoran smiles with interest. “I’m curious—when did Gu Shenshu find you? Did he know you were this useless? What did he give you to make you dare to frame me?”

The heart demon exclaims at the sight, “That’s Gu Shenshu’s demonic energy!”

It smells so sweet.

“Master Gu?” Li Jianming is confused. “What are you talking about?”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t hide it. “Young Master Yin was right about one thing—my mission is different from his. Because he is the one with the special mission.”