The Cannon Fodder’s Inner Thoughts Were Overheard by the Villain [Transmigration Into a Book] - Chapter 52

Jiang Minghuan looked at Pei Jingyuan with a puzzled expression.

‘Weren’t we always holding hands in public before? What’s different today?’

‘Even though Abbot Chaoshe and Monk Mojing are behind us, they’re too far away to see, right?’

Pei Jingyuan smoothly changed the subject, “Although you’re now the Sect Leader of the Cloud Sect, Abbot Chaoshe’s actions are unpredictable. He might still try to persuade you to become a Buddha’s Son at Three Treasures Temple. If you don’t want to deal with him, have Elder Nishang handle it. If that’s not possible, let me know.”

Jiang Minghuan, distracted by the change in topic, replied absently, “Alright, but it’s not a big deal. They can’t exactly kidnap me, can they?”

Pei Jingyuan replied gravely, “You never know. Back then, Abbot Chaoshe once went to the Jade Capital Sect demanding to take Gong Ming as his disciple. After being driven away, he later kidnapped Gong Ming during his travels and brought him back to Three Treasures Temple to recite scriptures.”

“Ah? A kidnapper?” Jiang Minghuan exclaimed in shock. “The Jade Capital Sect never destroyed Three Treasures Temple for that?”

Buddhist cultivators, though a major force in the Cultivation World, were divided into competing factions, with temples from different sects often at odds.

As one of the major sects, the Jade Capital Sect could easily have annihilated Three Treasures Temple, especially with such a compelling reason.

Pei Jingyuan shook his head. “Although they took Gong Ming away, they did save his life at the time. Even the Jade Capital Sect wouldn’t repay kindness with ingratitude. In the end, Gong Ming’s Master personally came to retrieve his disciple.”

Abbot Chaoshe’s actions might be outrageous, but he’s still clever enough to know what he can and can’t get away with.

Even after retrieving Gong Ming, the Jade Capital Sect still had to thank the Three Treasures Temple for their righteous intervention.

Jiang Minghuan asked curiously, “Is Gong Ming also a reincarnation of a Buddha’s Son?”

“No,” Pei Jingyuan replied, placing a small plate of pastries in front of him. “Abbot Chaoshe’s standards for accepting disciples are utterly unpredictable. No one knows his reasoning. He even took Mojing away while he was still an infant.”

Jiang Minghuan picked up a pastry and took a bite, his eyes lighting up. “This tastes delicious! Is it made with fresh flowers?”

Pei Jingyuan paused for a moment before replying with a hint of exasperation, “Yes, it’s made with Bizhu Flowers.”

This little glutton… can’t he focus on the important things for a moment?

Watching Jiang Minghuan’s attention completely absorbed by the pastries, Pei Jingyuan suppressed a sigh and said, “Abbot Chaoshe’s reputation in the Cultivation World is mixed. If you encounter him, you should still be cautious.”

‘Forget Abbot Chaoshe, your own reputation in the Cultivation World isn’t exactly spotless either.’

‘Huh? Why are all the people around me like this? Were we born villains?’

‘The Heavenly Dao is unjust! I spent years diligently studying and tirelessly conducting experiments, how did I end up as the villain?’

Pei Jingyuan, “….”

After mentally grumbling halfway through, Jiang Minghuan suddenly realized something. “Wait, if I encountered them alone, would they also ‘rescue’ me back to Three Treasures Temple?”

Pei Jingyuan felt a slight sense of relief. “Perhaps he wasn’t so fixated on Gong Ming back then. Now… it’s even harder to say.”

Jiang Minghuan grew wary. “Then… then what do we do?”

‘Should we go back? But that Secret Realm has ‘cheats’—even if I can’t get them, I don’t want Yun Ning and Jiang Zhou to benefit from them.’

‘Abbot Chaoshe is dangerous too, and I can’t beat him. Ah, why is the Cultivation World so difficult to navigate?’

Pei Jingyuan reassured him, “Don’t worry. With me by your side, he wouldn’t dare act rashly.”

Jiang Minghuan immediately edged slightly closer to him.

Pei Jingyuan poured him a cup of tea.

Hmph, so easily mollified, so easily deceived, and so soft-hearted. How could I ever let such a foolish child venture out alone?

Jiang Minghuan relaxed considerably at the thought that he was still relatively safe. Looking outside, he couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Huh? Why is there such a thick fog?”

As he spoke, he craned his neck to peer out the window, yet refused to approach the sill, as if Abbot Chaoshe might suddenly materialize and drag him out.

Pei Jingyuan glanced at him and explained, “This is the nature of The Water of the Heavenly River . They are the only path to the Fallen Dragon Abyss. Long ago, the Human Emperor and the Dragon Emperor fought their way along these waters, unleashing techniques of unparalleled power. Since then, The Water of the Heavenly River have been shrouded in this perpetual fog.”

Jiang Minghuan asked, “What happens if a cultivator heading to the Fallen Dragon Abyss gets lost?”

Pei Jingyuan replied casually, “Nothing happens. It simply means they weren’t meant to find it.”

Jiang Minghuan’s eyes widened. “So this is one of the trials?”

Pei Jingyuan shook his head. “Just fog? Hardly a trial. The real challenges lie within The Water of the Heavenly River themselves, Demonic Beasts of the Water Clan and unforeseen dangers like the sudden appearance of this Secret Realm.”

Jiang Minghuan’s thoughts churned with conflicting emotions. “Just how valuable are the treasures in the Fallen Dragon Abyss to justify such risks?”

To enter the Fallen Dragon Abyss, one must first secure a spot at the Long River Assembly. These spots are typically allocated by sect, so cultivators must stand out within their own sects to qualify. Even after securing a spot, they must navigate the dangers of the journey to the abyss itself.

This is no less arduous than the journey to the West to retrieve the scriptures.

Pei Jingyuan said, “Anyone who enters the Fallen Dragon Abyss will at least advance by a minor realm upon exit. Many cultivators even break through years-long cultivation bottlenecks. However, no one knows what truly happens inside; those who emerge always forget everything that occurred within.”

Jiang Minghuan asked curiously, “You forgot too?”

Pei Jingyuan affirmed, “Yes.”

Jiang Minghuan rested his chin in his hand and asked, “How long will the Fallen Dragon Abyss remain open?”

Pei Jingyuan replied, “Three months. Those who secure a spot within that period can enter, but they must also exit before the time limit expires. Otherwise, they’ll be trapped inside until the next opening.”

Jiang Minghuan asked, “Has anyone been trapped until the next opening?”

Pei Jingyuan shook his head. “Some failed to exit in time, but none of them ever emerged again.”

Oh boy, so the Fallen Dragon Abyss is even more dangerous than I thought.

Seeing the expression on Jiang Minghuan’s face, Pei Jingyuan knew exactly what he was thinking. “The dangers of the Fallen Dragon Abyss aren’t just inherent; other cultivators pose a significant threat as well.”

Jiang Minghuan was startled. So even inside the sect, cultivators still competed fiercely for opportunities.

Oh, right. That’s just how it’s supposed to be.

The Cultivation World is truly brutal.

He rested his chin in his hand and asked, “If Yun Ning manages to survive and escape, will he still have to go to the Fallen Dragon Abyss?”

Though he’d resolved to ignore Yun Ning’s fate, the protagonist was still the protagonist. Heroes in books always managed to turn danger into safety. Who knew if he might actually survive?

And if he does survive, enters the Fallen Dragon Abyss, and emerges stronger… Ugh, just thinking about it makes me uneasy.

“If he makes it out alive, retrieve the token and spare him the journey,” Pei Jingyuan said.

Jiang Minghuan looked at him in surprise. “We can do that?”

“Of course,” Pei Jingyuan replied, as if it were obvious. “If not for the Cloud Sect’s calamity, Yun Ning would never have been chosen. Among the remaining disciples, his cultivation level is the highest, but even then, he barely qualifies.”

Pei Jingyuan’s tone carried a hint of disdain when he spoke of Yun Ning.

He’s the Sect Leader’s son, blessed with the best cultivation resources since childhood, yet he’s still not even at the Golden Core stage. His combat ability is abysmal, barely better than someone who relies solely on potions.

Take Jiang Minghuan, for example. This little saltfish stumbled into cultivation after arriving here and still managed to defeat Gong Ming.

Jiang Minghuan had never relied on rare treasures or elixirs in his cultivation, relying solely on his own efforts. Even if his talent was lacking, Yun Ning had received ample resources since childhood, yet he still proved disappointingly ineffective.

Pavilion Master Pei completely overlooked his own role in this comparison. After all, he had merely provided some seeds and land, what did that count for compared to those precious medicinal pills?

Knowing he could strip Yun Ning of his qualification eased Jiang Minghuan’s worries, but he still hesitated, saying, “Isn’t this… a bit unfair?”

Pei Jingyuan replied, “Even if he emerges from the Secret Realm now, he’ll need time to recover. He couldn’t possibly reach the Fallen Dragon Abyss in time. With only a month and a half left before it closes, he simply won’t make it.”

Hearing this, Jiang Minghuan felt even lighter. Of course, it would be ideal if he could obtain the token and be rid of Yun Ning altogether. Best of all would be if Yun Ning, in a fit of rage, tore off the facade and followed Jiang Zhou to wander the world. Without the Cloud Sect’s backing, their path would surely become much more difficult.

Ah, well, can’t force him to kill. No matter how annoying Yun Ning is, he doesn’t deserve death.

As Jiang Minghuan pondered these things, he suddenly heard Duan Shui shouting from outside, “I see the Secret Realm!”

Jiang Minghuan immediately stood up to leave, but remembering Pei Jingyuan’s earlier words, he turned back to look at him.

Pei Jingyuan chuckled inwardly. He had intended to say that they were still safe on the Azure Jade Boat, as it was his territory. However, he found himself enjoying Jiang Minghuan’s dependent demeanor and decided against speaking. Instead, he stood up and said, “Let’s go out and take a look.”

As Jiang Minghuan stepped onto the deck, he understood why Duan Shui had been so certain they had found the Secret Realm.

Within a five-mile radius of their current position, there was no mist. Even newly formed mist was sucked away by the massive whirlpool on the water’s surface.

Staring at the enormous vortex, Jiang Minghuan felt a sense of danger. Uneasily, he asked, “We have to enter through there?”

Pei Jingyuan acknowledged his question with a nod, raised his hand to summon his Spirit Sword, and held out his other hand to Jiang Minghuan. “Get on.”

Jiang Minghuan paused, realizing Pei Jingyuan intended to retract the Azure Jade Boat. He turned to Duan Shui and beckoned him over. “Old Duan, you should come back too, so we don’t get separated.”

Duan Shui was about to protest, explaining that he had a faint connection with Whale Swallower and could return at any time. But when he met Pei Jingyuan’s gaze, he obediently retreated into Whale Swallower.

Jiang Minghuan was about to step onto the Spirit Sword, holding Pei Jingyuan’s hand, when he suddenly felt a tightness around his waist. By the time he realized what had happened, he found himself standing in front of Pei Jingyuan with the man’s arm firmly wrapped around his waist.

For a moment, Jiang Minghuan’s heart pounded like a drum as he stammered, “Wh-what… what happened?”

Pei Jingyuan’s tone was resolute. “The situation in the Secret Realm is unknown. If anything goes wrong, it would be too dangerous for you to be behind me.”

Jiang Minghuan was bewildered. Is that… really the reason?

Before he could react further, Pei Jingyuan propelled the Spirit Sword into the vortex.

In that instant, Jiang Minghuan instinctively leaned back and closed his eyes. Pei Jingyuan tightened his arm, turning Jiang Minghuan around and pressing his face against his chest.

“Be careful,” he said.

‘Careful? What’s there to be careful about? What’s happening? I haven’t even seen anything yet!’

Jiang Minghuan was utterly confused, the icy-cold fragrance from Pei Jingyuan lingering in his nose, his cheek pressed against the man’s soft chest.

In that moment, he had only one thought….

Does this count as getting buried in someone’s chest?