I Really Like the Male Supporting Character (Quick Transmigration) - Chapter 16

Wenren Jin had made this journey countless times before. However, this time felt entirely different, all because of Ah Luo’s appearance.

Ah Luo added vibrant colours and shapes that he had never known into his dark world.

He came to know that there were red, thumb-sized wild strawberries along the roadside, ripe to the touch and bursting with fragrant juice. One stretch of the path was lined with lotus ponds, where delicate blooms extended for miles. At one fork in the road stood an unusual stone, shaped as if someone were crouching in contemplation, uncertain of which path to take.

Whether it was a distant mountain that resembled a soaring eagle, or a colourful butterfly flitting close by, Ah Luo would describe each detail to him carefully.

There were many times when he couldn’t fully grasp her descriptions, but he remembered them all the same.

He now knew that a mountain on the outskirts of the capital was covered in red maple trees and that by the famous cold spring in Zhu County, many distinguished people had left their inscriptions; one of these stone steles, the one which the signature of a notorious court official from the former dynasty, had been humorously painted with a giant tortoise by an unknown hand. [1] In a nameless village, a resilient jujube tree sprouted from a crack in a family’s eaves, and now it bore a few green fruits. 

No one had ever shared these small details with him before.

She said that she would become his eyes, and indeed, she described everything she saw for him with dedication, without ever showing a hint of impatience.

Wenren Jin listened quietly to each of her explanations. Each phrase that she used created an image in his mind, and they ultimately coalesced into a vibrant, grand tapestry that portrayed the essence of the world’s everyday beauty.

This tapestry—and the girl who painted it with her words—might just be the finest gift he had ever received, one that even his own eyes could not have brought him.

Ah Luo didn’t know what Wenren Jin was thinking, but she could nonetheless sense that he seemed to be increasingly attached and clingy to her.

The once-elegant, unapproachable young master now seemed more like a henpecked ‘wife-slave.’ He followed her everywhere and frequently reached out to hold her hand, hug her, or steal a kiss, as if he would suddenly crave her touch.

She remembered their wedding night—how it had taken endless effort to coax him to bed, during which he had been entirely passive. For days afterwards, he reverted to merely holding her hand or an occasional embrace, without any further intimacy.

But this time… That night, while they were still on the road, as she lay on the grass gazing up at the stars and recounting tales of the constellations, Wenren Jin wrapped her in his cloak and drew close to her. 

In the quiet of the open field, under the starlight, with only the sound of night insects around, they shared a heart-pounding, intimate moment.

Afterwards, she curled up in his arms and asked with a laugh, “Ah Yu, why didn’t you ask me this time?”

With a deep, slightly husky voice, Wenren Jin replied, “Forgive me, Wife. I simply… couldn’t help myself.”

When they neared Tianmen Mountain, Wenren Jin finally relaxed a little. He no longer treated Ah Luo as if she were something precious and delicate to be guarded at all times, as if she might shatter if not handled carefully.

At the foot of Tianmen Mountain lay a modest, small town. Its residents greeted Wenren Jin warmly as soon as he arrived.

Ah Luo had felt bored from riding in the carriage for the past few days, so she rode on a horse with Wenren Jin today. The two of them shared a close, intimate posture as they rode into the town.

Though such intimacy might have been frowned upon elsewhere, here, the people merely asked out of curiosity, “Young Master Wenren, have you finally brought home a bride?”

Ah Luo, who was wearing a light veil, felt the broad chest that she was leaning on tremble slightly. The white-clad young man, graceful as ever, smiled and replied, “Yes, I’ve brought my wife to see my master.”

“The man who just spoke to you is thin, with a long white beard down to his chest,” Ah Luo quietly described to Wenren Jin. Then, noticing a girl nearby clutching a handkerchief and looking up at them, she casually remarked, “Ah Yu, are you familiar with everyone here?”

Wenren Jin gently replied, “I grew up in that temple. The townspeople often visit the mountain to offer incense, so we know each other well.”

“Oh,” Ah Luo murmured. She then asked, “And are there any girls here who have admired you?”

Wenren Jin paused, then chuckled. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, “No need to worry, Ah Luo. I’ve never had any female admirer.”

Ah Luo pulled her head away from him slightly and gave a small hum. From behind her, came his barely contained laughter.

Once they reached the mountain path, they encountered no one else. Wenren Jin dismounted first, then helped Ah Luo down. Qing Yuan, who had been following with the carriage, was instructed to rest in town rather than accompany them up the mountain.

The stone path, hidden beneath fallen leaves, stretched deep into the mountain forest. Wenren Jin intended to carry Ah Luo, but she declined and said that she wanted to show sincerity when meeting his master.

They took their time climbing, with Ah Luo resting a few times along the way, and finally, they reached the top after an hour and a half.

By the time they climbed the last step, Ah Luo was breathless and exhausted. She took her time to catch her breath while Wenren Jin waited with her in the cool breeze outside the temple gates.

Soon, a young Daoist monk emerged from the temple and, upon seeing Wenren Jin, lit up in delight. “Senior Brother Wenren!”

The young monk led them inside. He stole glances at Ah Luo as he guided her along. His eyes were wide with admiration, and they showed both astonishment and respect towards her.

Ah Luo couldn’t help but find it amusing. She wondered what impression Wenren Jin had left on this child for him to be so shocked upon hearing he’d married.

Changyun Temple was a modest place, with only a few buildings. These buildings were shaded by large green trees, and they had a peaceful and serene atmosphere. They went to the main hall to offer incense to the Three Pure Ones before heading to the rear courtyard to meet Daoist Master Qing Yi. [2]

Ah Luo couldn’t help but look around with great curiosity.

This was a place where Wenren Jin had spent much of his life, and her eagerness to understand him more deeply was almost insatiable.

When she saw a plum tree, she imagined him sitting under it as a child and trying to read characters in a book with painstaking effort.

In the corner of the yard, she noticed a set of wooden stakes used for martial arts and imagined him running across them, falling, and getting back up repeatedly with bruises all over.

When she entered the hall with the statues, she pictured a young Wenren Jin, dressed as a temple novice, offering incense with reverence before the imposing statues of the deities.

This simple temple had taken on new meaning in her eyes because of him.

He had been born blind. How much suffering and hardship had he endured to grow into the poised, graceful young man he was now?

At such a young age, how had he managed to learn to read, write, play music, and study strategy without sight?

Just thinking of this journey he had taken tugged at her heart.

While she was lost in thought, she felt a warm hand gently take hers and rub her fingertips in a soothing gesture.

“Ah Luo, this is my master.”

Her wandering mind returned, and when she looked up, she saw an elderly man with silver hair. His face was lined with wrinkles, and he was looking at her with a kind gaze.

“Child, come closer,” the man said.

His voice was befitting of his old age. His face was covered with deep wrinkles, but his eyes remained clear and bright. His gaze was serene and wise. 

Ah Luo stepped forward upon hearing his voice. Daoist Qing Yi examined her with a gentle smile on his face, then handed her a protective charm.

Though their exchange was brief, Ah Luo sensed a quiet resilience and calmness in him, a feeling she had also got with Wenren Jin.

After the simple greeting, Wenren Jin asked for a moment alone with his master. Ah Luo stepped out and called over the young Daoist monk who had guided them earlier.

“Young monk, tell me about your Senior Brother Wenren.”

Outside, the young monk recounted tales of Wenren Jin’s past to Ah Luo.

Inside, Wenren Jin knelt before his master and bowed his head. “Master, would you be willing to read my fortune one more time?”

Daoist Qing Yi looked at him knowingly. “Are you worried that she may be your destined obstacle, and that your fate has not changed?”

Wenren Jin closed his eyes. His face lost its usual composure. With a heavy voice, he said, “Yes, Master. I cannot… bear to lose her.”

Daoist Qing Yi’s gaze softened as he saw his disciple’s anxiety. Suddenly, a trace of relief flashed in his eyes, and he gently said, “I once told you that your fate included obstacles, but every challenge has a path of hope. She is your way forward, and your destiny has already changed. I cannot see what the future holds for you.”

When Wenren Jin emerged, he overheard his junior disciple telling Ah Luo about the time he was thirteen and went to perform a ritual in town, only to be accosted by a girl who insisted on marrying him.

When Ah Luo and the young monk saw him appear, they were startled. The young Daoist monk ran away in a hurry, while Ah Luo put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

“So, Husband, is this what you meant by never having any female admirer?”

Wenren Jin smiled and replied, “Ever since then, yes.”

Ah Luo was still upset even by the time they were going down the mountain. As if it was a matter of course, she stated, “This time, I’m not walking. You’ll have to carry me.”

Wenren Jin gently replied, “Of course.”

He bent down and lifted her securely onto his back.

Though she was still a little jealous, Ah Luo worried about him. “Is it alright for you to carry me like this? Are you sure I won’t make you trip?”

“I’ve walked this path a thousand times; I know each step like I know the back of my hand,” he reassured her.

Ah Luo was relieved to hear this. She had been exhausted from the climb. This time, she relaxed against his broad back. The gentle swaying of his steps soon lulled her into a drowsy calm.

The mountain birds sang in chorus, and a cool mountain breeze filled the air with the fragrance of fresh leaves and herbs.

Slowly, her breathing evened, and Wenren Jin slowed his pace. Each step he took became more measured and steady.

She was so light, as light as a delicate leaf, yet so heavy—heavy enough to ground each careful step he took with purpose.

Translator’s Note:

[1] Tortoise (王八) can be used to insult someone as a cuck, a bastard/’son of a bitch,’ or a gig*lo (Wiktionary).

[2] The Three Pure Ones (三清祖) are the three highest deities in the Daoist pantheon (Wikipedia).