When the Cannon Fodder Male Supporting Role Picks Up the Script - Chapter 93

Among the few cultivators assigned female identities in the group, Ji Ruo is the most unwilling to wear that little white dress. When he hears the little blue sparrow’s words, his face—which is as radiant as peach blossoms—instantly darkens like ink.

“We have to wear it in order to leave?”

The little blue sparrow glances at him. “You can leave the same way you came. Problem?”

Ji Ruo grits his teeth. “But we came through a teleportation array!”

The little blue sparrow sneers. “Then go find one now.”

Ji Ruo is so furious that his face twists with rage, but there’s nothing he can do against this little blue sparrow. He silently curses, “Stupid bird,” then reluctantly runs upstairs to dig out the skirt he tossed into some random corner. If not for the fact that the fabric is so high-quality it can’t be torn or burned, it probably wouldn’t survive in Ji Ruo’s hands this long.

Ji Wuwang retrieves the string of Buddhist prayer beads he receives upon entering and hangs them around his neck. He silently watches Ji Ruo’s retreating figure, then turns to glance at the only true Buddhist practitioner in the inn. The beads in his hand seem to stir something thoughtful in him.

Meanwhile, everyone else is searching for their assigned props.

Tongye holds a jade hairpin wrapped in golden thread.

Looking closely, Tongye’s identity card reads: A lover who came for the courtesan.

Ji Wuwang comments in surprise, “Master Tongye, your hairpin is quite beautiful.”

Tongye gives no response, as if he hasn’t heard the teasing.

The heart demon, who also sees Tongye’s identity card, looks displeased. He glares at Tongye in disgust before retrieving the courtesan’s red skirt and handing it to Yun Zhuoran.

Yun Zhuoran’s expression is blank, but his refusal is clear. Seeing this, the heart demon sighs, opens the robe, and prepares to wear it himself.

But Yun Zhuoran stops him, holding his wrist.

The heart demon looks confused.

Yun Zhuoran shakes his head gently.

Weiran realizes Yun Zhuoran means that he doesn’t need to wear it—but why?

Many people, like Ji Ruo, leave their props in their rooms. Over twenty people scramble to retrieve and wear their items.

When Ji Ruo comes back downstairs, his expression is terrible. Under Ji Wuwang’s gaze, he is determined to put on the skirt, but pauses when he sees that Yun Zhuoran and Weiran haven’t worn theirs either. They are the only ones not in costume. Even Shen Man, unconscious and controlled by the disciples of Tiandao Sect in the corner, has been dressed in her exclusive red flower prop by Shen Xi. Ji Ruo hesitates, drapes the skirt over his arm, and doesn’t wear it.

The little blue sparrow sweeps his sharp eyes across the crowd and finally spots Ji Ruo.
“Why aren’t you wearing your prop?”

Ji Ruo confidently points at Yun Zhuoran and the others. “They’re not wearing theirs either.”

The heart demon holds the courtesan’s red skirt, looking heartbroken. He really wants his brother to wear it.

But Yun Zhuoran just gives him a cold look.

Ji Ruo quickly pulls his hand back like he’s been burned—but still refuses to wear the skirt.

What infuriates Ji Ruo even more is that the little blue sparrow, upon seeing Yun Zhuoran, drops the subject entirely as if nothing has happened. He clears his throat and announces, “As long as you still have your identity tag, the door can be opened. But once you step through that door, you’ll only return to the place you came from.”

Ji Ruo’s eyes widen. He suspects it, but still curses the snobbish sparrow inwardly. Unable to contain his anger, he says, “If only the identity tag is needed, why force us to wear these props in the first place?!”

The little blue sparrow sneers. “If you don’t wear your props, you won’t receive any rewards for clearing Yuelai Inn. This host is simply being kind—reminding you so you don’t leave your rewards behind.”

This explanation barely calms Ji Ruo’s temper but stirs discontent among the others.

“We finally got close to the City Lord’s Mansion, and now we’re just going back?” asks Young Master Yu of the Zhuyin Sect.

The little blue sparrow laughs coldly. “You can’t even clear a small Yuelai Inn, and you think you’re ready for the City Lord’s Mansion?”

Young Master Yu’s face goes pale. He speaks in a low voice, “So we really have no choice but to go back?”

“You don’t.” The little blue sparrow is firm. “Unless you’d prefer to stay here forever. My advice to you: take your reward and leave. At least that way, you’ll walk out with your life.”

The complaints fall silent.

Naturally, leaving with a reward is better than being trapped forever in the eerie Yuelai Inn. But being so close to the City Lord’s Mansion and having to go back—no one is willing.

The little blue sparrow has no intention of further debate. It flaps its wings and flies into the air. It closes its eyes, and when it opens them, a brilliant white light bursts from its single eye. The identity cards in everyone’s hands vanish at once. At the same time, the inn’s door creaks open slowly.

But now, what lies beyond is no longer the abyss they saw before. Instead, a massive vortex surrounded by golden light spins before them.

“Step through this teleportation array, and you’ll return to where you stood before entering Yuelai Inn.” The little blue sparrow’s tone drips with superiority. “Take your rewards and go. There’s only one path in Yuelai Inn—leave, or stay forever. Are you going or not? I’m leaving either way.”

With that, some in the crowd begin to approach the teleportation array. The first to move are several demonic cultivators like Young Master Yu and Young Master Yin. Young Master Baili and Gu Jinping from Shengjing also walk forward, though they all pause near the entrance, clearly hesitant to be the first to step through the array.

“If you keep dawdling, I’ll go first!” barks the little blue sparrow. “When the teleportation array closes, don’t think you’ll have another chance to leave.” With those words, the blue sparrow turns into a stream of blue light and flies toward the door.

Seeing this, most people rush forward.

Gu Jinping, closest to the teleportation array, suddenly turns back to look at the Tiandao Sect. When he sees Shen Lingshu beside Qin Zheng still hasn’t moved, he hesitates, politely declines Young Master Baili’s invitation, and heads toward the Tiandao Sect’s position.

But when he leaves, only Young Master Baili is left standing in front of the teleportation array, while Young Master Yin and his fellow demonic cultivators stare at him covetously. He steps into the array without looking back, which makes people uneasy.

The little blue sparrow glances at him coldly and urges, “You won’t be able to leave after dark.”

“Let’s go.” Qin Zheng nods to his disciples, takes the two girls from the Shen family, and approaches the door. The elders of Lingshan Sect follow behind with Chief Disciple Luoying.

Meanwhile, at the front of the formation, the three demonic cultivators near the array—Young Master Yin, Young Master Yu, and White Protector—all three demon cultivators—lock their eyes on Young Master Baili, seemingly just one step away from shoving him in to test whether the teleportation array is real or not.

Yun Zhuoran stands quietly, clearly unwilling to let the people from Penglai pass.

Opposite him, Tongye remains unmoving.

Ji Wuwang, noticing the abnormal tension between the groups, pulls Ji Ruo’s arm and says with a meaningful smile, “Young Master Yin and Young Master Yu are certainly cautious.”

Annoyed, Ji Ruo slaps his hand away. “It’s almost dark. Are you going or not?”

Ji Wuwang smiles toward Yun Zhuoran, Tongye, and the others. “No rush. Since the two Island Masters of Penglai and Master Tongye are staying, why not wait a little longer?”

As soon as he finishes speaking, Young Master Yin—who is about to shove Young Master Baili into the teleportation array—freezes. The disciples of Tiandao Sect and Lingshan Sect near the entrance also stop and turn around.

With so many eyes on him, Ji Wuwang puts on an exaggerated show of surprise and raises his hand to cover his mouth. “Oh no, did I say that out loud?”

Ji Ruo’s mouth twitches. He hurries over and whispers, “What do you mean?”

Ji Wuwang smiles at the Penglai group and Tongye. “That’s for them to explain.”

With that hint, no one is in a hurry to leave Yuelai Inn anymore.

Despite the attention, Yun Zhuoran remains calm. He glances at Tongye with a questioning look—only to find Tongye looking back with the same puzzled but resolute gaze.

Ji Wuwang observes the silent exchange between the two and finally asks with a smile, “May I ask, why is Master Yun not leaving? Have you made a new discovery? Or… are you heading somewhere different from the rest of us?”

Before Yun Zhuoran can respond, the little blue sparrow anxiously interrupts, “Are you going or not? It’s almost dark! After that, I won’t be responsible for what happens!”

Yun Zhuoran shoots him a look. Instantly, the little blue sparrow—perched on the threshold—lowers its voice and mutters, “Just a friendly reminder. If you don’t leave now, the teleportation array will shut down after dark.”

“Young Island Master, what exactly did you discover?” Young Master Yin can’t help but ask. He clearly wants to leave, but curiosity keeps him rooted in place.

Tongye also asks, “Why won’t you leave?”

Yun Zhuoran assumes Tongye has figured something out, but seeing his clear and upright gaze, with no hint of concealment, Yun Zhuoran considers for a moment. His cool eyes sweep over the group, and he answers coldly, “You’re right. I intend to go to the City Lord’s Mansion.”

Tongye frowns slightly, about to speak, when Qin Zheng in the crowd suddenly exclaims, “You’ve found the way?” He quickly reins in his excitement and asks, “Young Island Master, would you consider cooperating with Tiandao Sect?”

Yun Zhuoran responds only with a cold glance.

Though Qin Zheng and Yun Zhuoran once belonged to the same sect, they aren’t close. But even he can clearly read the look—it definitely means yes, he minds.

Qin Zheng chokes for a moment, then cups his fists and says, “Why not reconsider, Island Master? With Tiandao Sect’s support, your efforts would surely be twice as effective.”

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t speak, but his heart demon has no such restraint. He rolls his eyes dramatically. “Just be grateful if you don’t stab us in the back. Now you want to help? Who would believe that?”

“Weiran,” Yun Zhuoran calls softly, silencing his heart demon’s sharp tongue. Then he turns to the others and says slowly, “The City Lord’s Mansion may be very dangerous.”

Qin Zheng immediately responds, “If the Young Island Master has a reason to go, so does Tiandao Sect.”

After all, how can they find the Floating City Lord—who resembles their missing sect master—if they don’t go to the City Lord’s Mansion?

Under Yun Zhuoran’s cold, disapproving gaze, Ji Wuwang still smiles cheerfully. “I’d also like to see this mysterious City Lord with my own eyes. Young Island Master, please be kind and take me with you.”

Yun Zhuoran narrows his eyes slightly, a dangerous light flashing within them.

No one knows how thick Ji Wuwang’s skin is. He even goes as far as pretending to be pitiful, giving Yun Zhuoran an eager look.

Ji Ruo immediately distances himself, stepping behind him with a disgusted expression.

Outside, the sky darkens to dusk.

The little blue sparrow grows more and more frantic. “Ugh, you’re all so annoying! Are you leaving or not?!”

Hearing this, Song Shao and Song Yun exchange worried glances. Seeing that their two Island Masters have no intention of leaving, they have no choice but to suppress their anxiety and quietly fall in line behind them.

The Penglai members aren’t leaving. Tongye doesn’t seem to be going either. Ji Wuwang declares he’ll stay with Yun Zhuoran. Ji Ruo isn’t moving. Tiandao Sect seems ready to negotiate with Yun Zhuoran…

Elder Ruoshui of Lingshan Sect observes the situation and calmly leads the female disciples to stay as well.

Young Master Yin and Young Master Yu look at each other, then turn toward Yun Zhuoran, silently agreeing to follow his lead.

The little blue sparrow finally snaps. “You’re really not leaving?! Then stay here forever!” It turns and flies toward the teleportation array, seemingly to vent its frustration. But just as it reaches the golden array, a strand of golden thread shoots out from the hall and wraps tightly around its wings.

Its wide eyes fill with shock as the golden array, once within reach, now draws further and further away.

In the blink of an eye, the bird is yanked back into the inn—back into Yun Zhuoran’s presence.

It all happens in an instant. A golden thread, formed from spiritual energy, coils around the little blue sparrow’s body. An invisible force suspends it in midair.

And in front of it stands Yun Zhuoran, his cold gaze unwavering.

The afterglow of the setting sun slants through the window paper, casting a few rays of light across Yun Zhuoran’s flawless face. The dusk fades quickly, and the light of the teleportation array dims slightly, but everyone seems to have forgotten the time.

Undoubtedly, Yun Zhuoran has an extremely beautiful face. If he restrains his cold and fierce aura, he would surely attract countless admirers.

The heart demon glares at those who are staring at Yun Zhuoran in a daze, confused about the little blue sparrow’s presence. “Brother, why are we catching it?”

A golden-red light flashes in Yun Zhuoran’s eyes, then he stares firmly at the little blue sparrow and says, “You are the eyes of the Floating City Lord.”

The little blue sparrow slowly recovers. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“From the moment I entered the Floating City—from Guanyue Tower—you’ve been watching me,” Yun Zhuoran says calmly. “Cheng Ruyi, who came from Guanyue Tower, was one of your avatars. After he was exposed at Shuanglu Zhai, you showed up.”

Most people present are stunned. Even those who have seen Cheng Ruyi and Gu Shenshu before can’t immediately understand what Yun Zhuoran means.

Yun Zhuoran doesn’t explain further but looks at the little blue sparrow and says slowly, “On the first day we entered Yuelai Inn, the Floating City Lord met Young Lord Yin right under my nose, and I didn’t notice. Perhaps the array here is complex, but more likely—it’s because you were near me the entire time, silently obstructing my vision.”

The little blue sparrow blinks. “What?”

Yun Zhuoran suddenly curves his lips into a smile. “I’ve already found the direction of the City Lord’s Mansion.”

The topic changes too abruptly. The little blue sparrow blurts out without thinking, “Where?”

Though the heart demon still looks bewildered, his gaze toward Yun Zhuoran is filled with absolute trust.

Yun Zhuoran gently takes his hand and, with cold eyes, sweeps a glance over everyone present, committing every detail of the inn’s layout to memory.

“Yuelai Inn is the City Lord’s Mansion.”

When those words come out, everyone is shocked.

“This is the City Lord’s Mansion?!”

Everyone looks around subconsciously, re-examining the Yuelai Inn where they’ve stayed for a month. To find clues for leaving, they’ve searched every corner, touched every object, and conducted many experiments to confirm whether this is really the City Lord’s Mansion.

The little blue sparrow’s single eye seems to widen in surprise. “…Yun Zhuoran, are you sure?”

Yun Zhuoran stares at it, his black-and-white eyes shining with brilliant light.

“Gu Shenshu, I found you.”

The hall falls completely silent.

Qin Zheng’s face changes drastically. He looks at Yun Zhuoran in disbelief. The critical name he’s suspected and tried to hide is now spoken openly by Yun Zhuoran…The Venerable One is still alive!

Qin Zheng abruptly looks toward Tongye, then nervously glances at those beside him and around the hall. Clearly, the secret can no longer be kept…

Just as Qin Zheng worries he has lost control, the little blue sparrow calms down. The excess white in its single eye flushes red, and the black pupil deepens into a fierce blood color. Rich black and red demonic energy suddenly surges, nearly reaching the ceiling.

Qin Zheng has no time to worry and immediately stands up to protect the disciples without hesitation.

“Be careful!”

The golden threads of spiritual energy binding the little sparrow are quickly dissolved and devoured by the powerful demonic aura. Before everyone’s eyes, the once-beautiful little blue sparrow melts away until only a terrifying blood-red eyeball remains.

Everyone retreats warily, except Yun Zhuoran, who stands calmly in front of the eyeball.

The blood-red eyeball doesn’t attack. A gloomy male voice sounds, “Yun Zhuoran, I’m curious. I didn’t leak a trace of demonic energy—how did you see that?” The voice pauses, then asks, puzzled, “Don’t tell me your eyes can see this.”

Yun Zhuoran’s eyes are clear. “I guessed.”

The scarlet eyeball pauses. “You… just guessed?”

The demonic energy in the inn stirs restlessly, and a cold, fishy wind blows through everyone’s hair and clothes.

Yun Zhuoran tightens his grip on the demon whose appetite has been provoked, raising a golden light barrier to block the demonic energy.

“I was gambling. You kept avoiding me, yet after we arrived in the Floating City, you created an avatar to repeatedly appear near me, deliberately drawing me away from the direction I needed to go. So I asked myself—had you planted a watchful eye beside me from the very start? Even if I lost, I had confidence I could still escape Yuelai Inn. At least, I never turned back—I didn’t retrace my steps to the beginning. That would’ve only taken me further from you. Seems my luck was good. This time… I won.”

Yun Zhuoran calmly lays out his deduction and resolve. Then he looks up at the eye again and repeats firmly:

“Gu Shenshu, I’ve found you.”

The scarlet eyeball stares steadily at him. Yun Zhuoran doesn’t flinch or retreat; his dark eyes meet it firmly and persistently.

After a stalemate, the scarlet eyeball is swallowed by thick black fog and disappears before everyone’s eyes. Before panic can rise, the dense black magic energy in the entire inn suddenly dissipates.

Gu Shenshu’s angry voice echoes above the inn, causing everyone to look up simultaneously—

“You won. Come and see me.”

By then, it is already pitch black outside. The teleportation array at the door has vanished, replaced by a patch of open sky.

Since entering the floating city, they finally see the bright moon again. The stars and moon shine together, their light as bright as day illuminating every corner of the floating city.

A wide open space slowly appears before the Yuelai Inn’s door. Blue bricks on the ground depict complex totems. In the mist, a towering, solemn palace shadow looms—seeming both very close and very far away.

Yun Zhuoran’s heart skips a beat, his eyes fixed on the palace corner hidden in black clouds.

That place… is the City Lord’s Mansion.

And it is where Gu Shenshu awaits.