The Cannon Fodder’s Inner Thoughts Were Overheard by the Villain [Transmigration Into a Book] - Chapter 50

Jiang Minghuan couldn’t help but marvel at his own good temper.

Hadn’t he come here from Xiao Shao Hall precisely because this place offered complete living quarters?

‘What was Pei Huaizhan thinking, tearing the place down without a word?’

‘If it were anyone else, they’d be challenging him to a fight right now!’

Pei Jingyuan didn’t answer. With a flick of his wrist, a delicate, miniature courtyard materialized in his palm.

He tossed it onto the ground, and the structure rapidly expanded like a flower blooming in the wind, transforming into a full-sized courtyard.

The scene felt strangely familiar to Jiang Minghuan. He vaguely recalled how the Old Sword Pavilion had been summoned to Golden Goose Peak, and even the architectural style of this courtyard bore a striking resemblance to the pavilion.

The tiny structure that had seemed like a smartphone charm moments before now stood as a charming little courtyard, its nameplate inscribed with the words “Tracing Light Pavilion.”

Jiang Minghuan had to admit that this courtyard was indeed far superior to the previous one.

Pei Jingyuan turned to him. “Do you like it?”

Jiang Minghuan nodded, then belatedly realized something. “Hm? Are there other styles available?”

Pei Jingyuan flipped his hand, revealing a miniature cityscape in his palm.

Jiang Minghuan leaned closer for a closer look. The complex appeared vast, but upon closer inspection, much of it was unusable, with two large empty spaces in the center.

Recalling the Old Sword Pavilion and this courtyard, he looked up at Pei Jingyuan and asked, “Was the Old Sword Pavilion dismantled from this place?”

Pei Jingyuan nodded affirmatively. Elder Nishang, standing beside him, hesitated before asking, “Could this… could this be the Immortal Palace?”

Pei Jingyuan gave a slight nod. Elder Nishang sighed, “I never imagined the Immortal Palace would be in your hands, Pavilion Master Pei. Rest assured, I will keep this secret.”

Pei Jingyuan replied nonchalantly, “It doesn’t matter.”

In the current Cultivation World, unless those Deity Transformation Stage old-timers emerged, who could possibly snatch the Immortal Palace from him? Moreover, such external artifacts held little value for Deity Transformation Stage cultivators, and they wouldn’t risk everything to seize it. After all, Pei Jingyuan’s reputation for killing cultivators beyond his own realm was well-established. Anyone contemplating theft would have to weigh the risk of getting themselves killed in the process.

Noticing Jiang Minghuan staring blankly at the Immortal Palace in his hand, Pei Jingyuan asked, “Do you like it? It’s yours.”

Even Elder Nishang, who had long suspected a close bond between the two, couldn’t help but glance at them in surprise.

The Immortal Palace wasn’t just any ordinary magical artifact; it was a relic from the ancient past.

It was said that there were multiple Immortal Palaces, but cultivators who obtained them kept them secret, fearing others would try to steal them.

In the past, even devoted Dao Companions had turned against each other over Immortal Palaces. Yet now Pei Jingyuan was… offering one away so casually?

Jiang Minghuan snapped out of his thoughts and shook his head. “I don’t want it. I just noticed this Immortal Palace seems incomplete, with some of the structures in ruins.”

Pei Jingyuan observed Jiang Minghuan carefully and noticed he didn’t seem particularly interested, just deep in thought. He put the palace away and said, “Mm, most Immortal Palaces were destroyed by the end of the Immortal era.”

Jiang Minghuan asked curiously, “Can they be restored?”

“It’s possible, but not worth it,” Pei Jingyuan replied casually. “They usually only contain some legacies, nothing particularly useful.”

What arrogance!

Jiang Minghuan exchanged glances with Elder Nishang, both seeing envy and jealousy in each other’s eyes.

In all the world, only Pei Jingyuan could speak of Immortal Palaces with such dismissive indifference. After all, he was the man who had independently created his own sword technique, and the Four Seasons Sword Domain was the first sword domain to appear in the Cultivation World.

‘Who said Immortal Palace legacies are useless? After Jiang Zhou obtained his Immortal Palace legacy, he embarked on an invincible path, crushing all his peers. And you dare say Immortal Palaces are worthless?’

‘But the original story only said Jiang Zhou entered the Immortal Palace to claim his inheritance. It never said he took the palace itself. Could the Immortal Palace actually recognize a new master?’

Pei Jingyuan glanced at Jiang Minghuan. Of course, the Immortal Palace couldn’t just accept a new master so easily. In the “plot” Jiang Minghuan knew, Jiang Zhou failed to obtain it simply because he didn’t know the method.

What remained a mystery was where Jiang Zhou actually acquired the Immortal Palace. If there was ever an opportunity, Pei Jingyuan might pay a visit and snag one for Little Saltfish to play with.

Elder Nishang remained oblivious to the pair’s musings—one questioning the plot, the other scheming about Immortal Palaces. She simply couldn’t stand staying here any longer.

Interacting with these unparalleled Chosen was overwhelming. She’d previously believed that avoiding attention would ease her discontent, but now she realized that even standing beside them made her sigh at the unfairness of fate.

“Elder Nishang said to the Sect Leader, “Since you already have a residence, I won’t impose any further. Farewell.”

After Elder Nishang departed, Pei Jingyuan led Jiang Minghuan into the courtyard for a stroll.

Upon entering, Jiang Minghuan noticed that while the courtyard was undeniably beautiful, it was excessively austere, even giving off an air of lifelessness. It was as if time itself had stopped here; even the wind refused to blow through the gates.

Apart from these additions, the room remained true to Pei Jingyuan’s minimalist style: a bed for sleeping, a table for meals and tea, and a wardrobe for clothes—nothing more.

Oh, and even the wardrobe wasn’t strictly necessary, since Great Pavilion Master Pei possessed a Storage Pouch.

Noticing Jiang Minghuan’s disapproving expression, Pei Jingyuan said, “I rarely use this residence. If you feel anything is missing, just let me know.”

Jiang Minghuan nodded, ran around the courtyard to survey the space, mentally planned his layout, and then began scattering seeds across the ground.

The seeds sprouted rapidly, and a Phoenix Tree soon stood in the courtyard. It wasn’t that he particularly favored Phoenix Trees; rather, the seeds Pei Jingyuan had provided were exclusively for this variety.

Jiang Minghuan simply wanted to add some greenery and wasn’t particularly picky about the tree species. Besides, this Phoenix Tree seemed different from the ones he knew in the modern world.

While modern society boasted many types of Phoenix Trees, none featured the golden veins and faint golden lines along the leaf edges and trunks, as seen in the Cultivation World’s version. The overall effect was a subtle golden shimmer against the green, creating a strikingly beautiful sight.

Legend had it that in autumn, the green parts of the Phoenix Tree would turn fiery red, earning it the name “Phoenix Tree.”

Jiang Minghuan didn’t rush to make the Phoenix Tree turn autumn colors; he simply let it grow, leaving the rest to the seasons.

After the tree matured, he scattered various flowers throughout the courtyard. Beautiful blossoms competed in vibrant hues, creating a stunning display.

In addition to the flowers, he planted herbs known to aid cultivators in maintaining focus and tranquility. Since these plants only worked while alive, he not only planted them in the courtyard but also called Duan Shui to bring some clay pots. They placed potted plants inside the house.

The plain clay pots surprisingly complemented the pristine white jade-like Immortal Palace.

Jiang Minghuan and Duan Shui busied themselves all day. The once lifeless residence gradually transformed into a vibrant, lively space.

Perched on a branch of the Phoenix Tree, Pei Jingyuan watched the two—big and small—come and go. As the courtyard changed completely, an indescribable feeling stirred within him.

Once satisfied with his efforts, Jiang Minghuan clapped his hands and declared, “That’s good enough for now. We can add more later if we think of anything else.”

He had merely added some plants for decoration. To truly bring life to the place, he needed more than just flowers and foliage.

To be honest, during his earlier stroll, he had already envisioned a complete soft furnishing plan for the house.

After finishing, Duan Shui looked up and said in surprise, “Eh? You haven’t been cultivating?”

Pei Jingyuan closed his eyes and replied, “You were too noisy.”

He found it strange that he had wasted so much time watching Jiang Minghuan fuss around instead of cultivating. He even felt it was somehow right. It seemed Jiang Minghuan had influenced him more than he realized.

Jiang Minghuan shrugged at Duan Shui.

‘If you’re bothered by the noise, go cultivate in Xiao Shao Hall. It’s empty, or just find some random mountain peak. You definitely won’t be disturbed, though I can’t guarantee there won’t be any ghosts.’

Pei Jingyuan closed his eyes and circulated his Dao Essence. If he were truly in such a hurry to cultivate, would he have come here at all? What a clueless fool.

Jiang Minghuan returned to his bedroom and sank into bed. The bedding was comfortable, but for some reason, he felt like something was missing, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

He closed his eyes and instinctively checked his Dao Essence. Suddenly, he realized what it was—this wasn’t his Cold Jade Bed. He didn’t need to mobilize his Dao Essence to counteract the cold, which made him feel oddly unsettled. Even if he tried to mobilize his Dao Essence like he used to, it just felt… off.

Apart from that, Pei Jingyuan wasn’t here either, which felt even more unfamiliar.

‘That traitor Pei Jingyuan! He’s ruined me!’

Perched on the Phoenix Tree, Pei Jingyuan opened his eyes in bewilderment. After a moment of silence, he returned directly to the room and addressed Jiang Minghuan, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, feigning sleep. “I have something for you.”

Jiang Minghuan opened his eyes, sat up, and looked up at him. “What is it?”

Pei Jingyuan handed him a teardrop-shaped pendant, entirely blue and translucent.

Jiang Minghuan initially thought it was a Storage Pouch, but upon taking it, he realized it wasn’t. “What is this?”

“It’s the key to the Cloud Sect’s Secret Ground.”

“Huh?” Jiang Minghuan was surprised. “Didn’t they say everything from the Cloud Sect was plundered? How could the Secret Ground still be intact?”

He knew about the Secret Ground. Most sects had such places, where they stored their sect’s heritage, precious treasures, and divine weapons.

“The Cloud Sect’s founding ancestor was unparalleled in the art of formations. Even if someone stole the key, without knowing the secret to activate it, the Secret Ground would remain sealed. So it’s likely never been opened.”

Jiang Minghuan suddenly understood. “No wonder you wanted me to become Sect Leader. It’s all for this Secret Ground?”

Pei Jingyuan wasn’t doing this for himself, but for Jiang Minghuan. The Cloud Sect still had some resources, and the cultivation foundation of this body he now inhabited had been established within the sect. Those resources should prove useful to him.

Moreover, Jiang Minghuan was originally the Cloud Sect’s Chief Disciple. What problem could there be with him inheriting the sect’s legacy?

Previously, Pei Jingyuan hadn’t let Jiang Minghuan compete for the sect’s leadership mainly because Yun Ning was here. But now… he had already mentally condemned Yun Ning to death.

Jiang Minghuan played with the water drop pendant and suddenly asked, “How did you get this?”

Pei Jingyuan removed his mask and sat down, saying, “I obtained it by chance.”

In truth, he had purchased it from the Hall of Extinction. He didn’t care if the Hall’s master wanted to sell it; he wanted to buy it.

Looking at Pei Jingyuan’s half-destroyed face, Jiang Minghuan suddenly lost his enthusiasm for venturing into the Cloud Sect’s Secret Grounds in the middle of the night.

He said, “Let’s arrange the sect affairs tomorrow, and then we’ll go to The Water of the Heavenly River Secret Realm.”

‘Let’s get the medicinal herbs back as soon as possible and plant them. Fortunately, the Cloud Sect still has Spirit Fields. Even though the herbs were stolen, the soil remains fertile.’

Pei Jingyuan lowered his gaze and softly replied, “Alright.”

The next day, Jiang Minghuan swiftly arranged the sect affairs at top speed.

Fortunately, the Cloud Sect was small, with fewer than a hundred members, all Outer Sect Disciples. Though they might not be familiar with him as the Chief Senior Disciple, they respected his authority—perhaps even more than they did Yun Ning.

In the Cultivation World, strength ultimately reigns supreme.

Jiang Minghuan hadn’t yet decided how to organize the Outer Sect Disciples, so he treated it like a game, assigning them tasks to rebuild the sect grounds.

He also dangled promises before them, assuring them that upon his return from the Secret Realm, he would select the most talented among them to enter the Inner Sect.

Not all Outer Sect Disciples lacked talent. Many possessed wood attribute affinity, which was considered the lowest tier in the Cultivation World. The stronger their affinity, the more they were seen as lacking talent.

With a quick assessment, Jiang Minghuan identified several promising individuals among the Outer Sect Disciples. He appointed them to manage the others, offering them even grander promises.

As for the rest, he entrusted them to Elder Nishang.

Elder Nishang felt somewhat helpless. After great effort, they had finally brought back the Sect Leader, only for him to want to leave—ah, no, to go save his Junior Brother.

She couldn’t stop Jiang Minghuan. Even though Elder Nishang believed it would be better for Yun Ning to stay away, she worried that if he callously allowed Yun Ning to die, such a cold-hearted Sect Leader might prove a blessing or a curse for the Cloud Sect.

This current situation wasn’t bad. At least the Outer Sect Disciples now had a pillar of support and were no longer as panicked as before. Instead, they were beginning to look forward to the future with hope.

In just a few short days, Elder Nishang felt that this was how a Sect Leader should truly be.

News of Jiang Minghuan’s succession as Sect Leader spread like wildfire, quickly reaching every corner of the Cultivation World.

Before he could even fully adjust to his new role, envoys from other sects began arriving. Though Jiang Minghuan had ordered the mountain gates sealed, refusing to receive visitors until the Cloud Sect’s reconstruction was complete, people kept coming. He was forced to station staff at the gates specifically to handle these visitors.

The first to arrive were mostly minor sects. Though they weren’t outright exploiting the situation, their intentions weren’t entirely pure.

Jiang Minghuan was growing impatient with these matters. He had initially been hesitant, worried that such actions might tarnish the Cloud Sect’s reputation.

When Pei Jingyuan learned of this, he simply said, “What use is reputation? As long as you’re strong enough, they’ll naturally look up to you.”

Jiang Minghuan paused, wanting to argue.

‘Bro, won’t this strain your relationships?’

‘It’s fine for now, but if trouble ever comes, countless people will jump on you.’

‘Do you know how you lost in the original story? Jiang Zhou allied with other sects to declare war on the Sword Pavilion.’

‘But the main thing was Yun Ning deliberately exploited your Heart Demon to create the illusion of you massacring innocents, giving them an excuse.’

‘Never mind. As long as you don’t give Yun Ning an opening, you’re still safe.’

After all, even Pei Jingyuan ultimately died from being overwhelmed in a siege, single-handedly taking on the entire Cultivation World, including Deity Transformation Stage cultivators.

This feat was truly remarkable, leaving a deep impression on Jiang Minghuan when he first learned of Pei Jingyuan’s demise.

It must be said, Pei Jingyuan’s approach allowed him to avoid many complications.

Jiang Minghuan decided to set these matters aside for now. He planned to head to the Secret Realm to seize opportunities and search for medicinal herbs—ah, no, to rescue someone.

After all, he had a valid reason. Even if he stated it openly, no one could call him impolite. Was he supposed to let his Junior Brother’s life hang in the balance while he stayed here to receive guests?

Besides, he was the Sect Leader of the Cloud Sect, and his cultivation level was undeniable. He wasn’t obligated to entertain just any random visitor.

Before leaving, Elder Nishang said, “There’s one more matter. Recently, many disciples have been requesting to return to the sect. What are your thoughts, Sect Leader?”

Jiang Minghuan raised an eyebrow. “They want to return? Why?”

Duan Shui sat cross-legged on a cloud, his cheek propped up in one hand. “What else could it be? They heard you became Sect Leader and now want to come back.”

Jiang Minghuan initially wanted to ask what difference it made that he was the Sect Leader, but he quickly realized it was a significant change.

He scoffed. “What do they think the Cloud Sect is? A place to come and go as they please? Issue a notice: any Cloud Sect disciple who hasn’t returned by now is no longer welcome back. Let them find their own paths. The sect will expel them.”