“What beauty?”
The youth’s curious voice drifted over, having clearly overheard the conversation between the two.
Chu Ling’s gaze swept over the refined gentleman outside the carriage. Combined with how Ji Wuyuan had addressed him, the man’s identity was obvious.
However, what Chu Ling cared about was his role in the plot… described as Male Lead Number Two?
[Yes, Host. This person is the Prince that the protagonist, Jun Qing, attracts later on—Tang Zhen, the Third Prince of the Yan Kingdom,] the system interjected right on time.
[He appears gentle and refined, but in reality, he’s an old fox. While the other princes were killing each other for the throne, he leisurely stepped away, claiming to be interested only in nature. In truth, he secretly controls half the court. Later, he meets the protagonist and falls for his charms, eventually becoming the Emperor of Yan just to act as the protagonist’s backup.]
[Does he know the villain?]
[They have a cooperative relationship.]
Chu Ling understood. No wonder it was “Brother Ji” and “Third Master Tang”; the tone was very familiar.
Seeing the youth step out, Tang Zhen’s eyes lit up. Who doesn’t enjoy looking at a beauty?
He said with a warm smile, “I am Tang San. May I ask how to address the young master?”
The youth didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he turned to look at Ji Wuyuan, whose expression had turned inexplicably dark. “Big Brother Ghost?”
Ji Wuyuan suddenly curled his lips. The smile in his eyes was brilliant yet profound. He reached out and draped his arm over the youth’s shoulder, pulling him close as if staking a claim on his property.
“Chu Ling, A-Ling, Ling’er. He is a new subordinate I’ve just recruited.”
Is this ‘subordinate’ role strictly professional?
The youth’s face flushed. He tried to push against the firm, close-pressed chest beside him, but seeing he couldn’t budge the man, he turned to Tang Zhen helplessly. “My name is Chu Ling. It is an honor to meet you, Master Tang.”
This brief interaction was enough for Tang Zhen to see how special this youth was. The gentle curve of his lips deepened.
“A-Ling, don’t be so formal. You can call me Big Brother Tang, just like… your Big Brother Ghost. Isn’t that right, Brother Ji?”
The last part was clearly directed at Ji Wuyuan, dripping with a teasing undertone.
Ji Wuyuan’s face darkened. He shot a warning glare at Tang Zhen. The latter blinked, finally reining in his jokes, sensing that Ji Wuyuan might actually be serious.
However, in his heart, he grew even more interested in the boy.
On the surface, Tang Zhen shook his head with mock regret. Maintaining that approachable, gentle smile, he looked at Ji Wuyuan and sighed. “Brother Ji has a beauty in his arms; no wonder you’re unwilling to travel with me. I’ll just have to take another path. I’ll head to your sect first and wait for the return of you and little brother A-Ling.”
…
“Third Prince.”
An old servant approached with his head bowed, his voice high-pitched—clearly an old eunuch.
After the offer to travel together fell through, Tang Zhen stood still, watching the carriage surrounded by black-clad men disappear down the road.
He narrowed his eyes, a fox-like cunning leaking out.
Recalling the scene just now, it wasn’t hard to see that the youth wasn’t some “new subordinate.” The boy didn’t even seem to know Ji Wuyuan’s true identity, yet he received such special treatment…
Interesting—
Tang Zhen’s smile became gentle again, like putting on a hypocritical mask.
…
The rest of the journey to the Demonic Sect encountered no further obstacles. Along the way, Chu Ling followed his persona, curiously asking about Tang Zhen.
Ji Wuyuan’s lips curled, but the depths of his eyes were slightly dark. He suddenly leaned down close to the youth’s rounded earlobe, his long eyes shimmering with a dangerous mirth.
“Why is Ling’er asking about him?”
As he spoke, his warm breath brushed against the curve of the ear, staining it a delicate shade of pink.
The youth seemed oblivious, still high-spirited. “That Master Tang looks like a very nice person, and he has business with you. Why didn’t you let him travel with us?”
Ji Wuyuan narrowed his eyes, a trace of sinister volatility swirling in his gaze. “Do you like that Master Tang?”
“But he has business with you, doesn’t he?” The youth tilted his head, appearing genuinely confused.
Looking into those innocent, pure eyes, Ji Wuyuan suddenly laughed. His gloomy mood vanished, replaced by a subtle pleasure.
He relaxed his body, reclining on the cushions of the carriage. Propping his head on one hand, he used the other to toy with a lock of the youth’s black hair.
“He is the Third Prince of the Yan Kingdom—an insignificant person.”
The youth nodded blankly, seemingly surprised that Tang San’s background was that of royalty.
“Alright, Ling’er needn’t worry about others. We are about to reach the Light Divine Sect. Have you thought it through?”
Ji Wuyuan gave the youth one last choice, his gaze profound.
Voluntary? Or forced?
Once they entered the sect… there would be no more choice.
Chu Ling tilted his head, his long ink-black hair sliding down. His crow-feather lashes fluttered as he smiled with a mix of purity and allure.
“Big Brother Ghost, I said I would follow you. I am a man of my word.”
…
The headquarters of the Light Divine Sect was located on an extremely treacherous peak called Mount Tianmu—meaning “Eye of Heaven.” This name reflected the sect’s grand ambition: to inspect the world on behalf of Heaven, a goal even more arrogant than merely unifying the martial world.
In fact, due to its eccentric ideology and ruthless methods, the Light Divine Sect had become the number one demonic sect in the martial world over the past hundred years. It commanded countless subordinate factions, its influence spanning half the martial world, standing in direct opposition to the Martial Arts Alliance.
Mount Tianmu was rugged and steep, backed by a bottomless cliff, making it incredibly easy to defend and impossible to attack.
In front of the mountain lay a ravine several yards wide, with a turbulent dark current rushing below. Even the strongest swimmer would die if they fell in.
When the carriage reached the edge of the ravine, Ji Wuyuan made no move to get out. He remained lazily reclined, playing with the youth’s silk-soft hair.
The youth, however, pressed himself against the window, looking out curiously.
The jagged cliffs and crisscrossing ravines were breathtaking, not to mention the pavilions and golden palaces built upon the peaks, surrounded by a vast mist.
As the youth snapped out of his awe, he looked at the only two iron chains connecting the sides of the ravine. They appeared precarious, swaying in the howling wind. He was intensely curious about how they would cross.
The next second, he saw it.
Several men in black approached the carriage. They bent down and hoisted the carriage onto their shoulders. With muscles bulging, they leaped into the air, landing on the iron chains as if walking on flat ground, darting forward at high speed.
Chu Ling sat inside the carried carriage, heart racing as he watched the rushing water far below, yet he couldn’t feel even a slight shake.
Now, a problem arose: How am I supposed to transmit the stolen intel out of such a treacherous fortress?
[Host, in the original plot, the original host only successfully infiltrated. He was discovered while trying to steal the intel,] the system said while flipping through the script. [In other words, you don’t need to worry about actually getting the info out. Just follow the persona through the process.]
Chu Ling signaled “OK.”
[But wait, did exposing my special constitution have any negative impact?]
The system replied: [Host, you are cannon fodder of the lowest tier. Now that you’re inside the Demonic Sect, it won’t affect the main storyline far away in the Alliance. No big deal.]
Chu Ling nodded: [So as long as the main plot stays on track, it’s fine.]
[Exactly.]
That made things much easier for Chu Ling. Just like the system said when he was hit by the truck, these were “minor tasks.” If the main plot didn’t shift, his only job was to follow the persona. Even if he deviated a little, it wouldn’t change the grand scheme of things.
Simply put, he was there to fill a slot.
Since main plots rarely change on their own, for Chu Ling, this was basically a vacation. Aside from the temptation of a lineup of handsome men, experiencing the customs of different worlds was its own reward.
As Mount Tianmu drew closer, Chu Ling’s eyes crinkled slightly.
“What are you so happy about?”
The deep, magnetic voice reached his ears. Behind him, Ji Wuyuan was smiling—a smile that held a certain magic, wicked and joyful.
Chu Ling turned his head, his eyes burning with light. “Big Brother Ghost, are you really one of the four Great Hall Masters of the Demonic Sect?”
He had heard the name “Ghost Mask” from the men in the temple. It was a name known to everyone in the martial world. Even Young Master Chu, who hadn’t left his villa in over a decade, had heard of it, though he never had the chance to see the man.
Everything else he knew of the world came from books or hearsay. This was why he yearned for the world outside, despite being incredibly naive. A single ill-intentioned meal in a temple had been enough to lure him away.
Of course, that was what outsiders thought. On a deeper level, Young Master Chu had his own goals. He was secretly thrilled to encounter the Demonic Sect, letting himself be lured away on purpose.
Actually, he had no time to worry about the dangers; infiltrating the sect to steal intel for the person he loved had become his sole purpose.
And at the third level, there was Chu Ling with his “God’s-eye view” of the entire plot, thinking: I’ll play along with your performance—
The Demonic Sect had four halls: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise.
“Ghost Mask” was the title of the Azure Dragon Hall Master.
The young master had heard this, but he wasn’t certain. His question seemed silly and naive, making Ji Wuyuan chuckle. His fingers playfully twined a lock of the youth’s hair around his finger.
“Yes. You already call me Big Brother Ghost; who else could I be?”
The youth shook his head, his face showing some internal conflict, as if debating whether to say something.
“What is it?” Ji Wuyuan couldn’t ignore the thoughts written so clearly on the boy’s face.
After some hesitation, the youth spoke: “But earlier, Master Tang called you…”
Ji Wuyuan’s eyes darkened for a moment at the mention of Tang San, but he quickly smiled. “It’s just a name. I can be Brother Qian, Brother Zhao, or Brother Li… do you understand?”
The youth paused, then nodded blankly. I see.
With that, all his doubts vanished. A look of pure, unadulterated trust was cast upon Ji Wuyuan, making the latter feel exceptionally pleased.
Yes, just like this.
Trust me completely, with your whole heart, and never leave—
Ji Wuyuan felt that compared to kidnapping someone and being left with a hateful, dull shell, this was much better. To keep that innocent, clear personality, to have him trust me, fall for me, and sacrifice everything for me… it was incredibly lively and interesting.
Wonderful, isn’t it?