I Was Entangled by the Pathological Protagonists [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Where… is this place?”

“Does such a place actually exist within the sect?”

Xiao Xiao’er looked at the dark cavern before her, her face filled with bewilderment.

She had originally intended to seek out the Sect Master; she never expected that instead of finding him, she would abruptly stumble into this unfamiliar space from within the quiet chamber where the Sect Master usually stayed.

Xiao Xiao’er looked down again at the brocade pouch in her hand. The fleeting glow upon it indicated that it was currently in an activated state; it was a top-grade protective magical treasure her father, Perfected Cultivator Nanyang, had once given her.

Not only could it autonomously protect its master in moments of crisis and withstand a full-strength strike from a cultivator below the Tribulation Transcendence stage, but it could also evade the prying of spiritual sense for about an hour.

Such an important protective treasure showed the depth of Nanyang’s care for Xiao Xiao’er.

Suddenly, Xiao Xiao’er caught sight of what seemed to be a desk deep within the cave, upon which sat several shadows resembling jade slips.

She hurried forward and lowered her eyes to look, never expecting to see two familiar characters. It was a name belonging to the black-clothed youth she had once admired: Yan Li.

Time seemed to pass for a long while, yet it also felt like a mere instant. Xiao Xiao’er stood there dazed by the information revealed in the jade slip in her hand.

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps reached her ears. Startled, she hurriedly hid in a deep, dark corner in her haste.

Deep within the dim cave, several night-luminescent pearls embedded in the stone walls faintly illuminated this space.

A figure appeared, his appearance gradually revealed under the soft light of the pearls. Clad in a set of sage-like white robes with a kind face, it was none other than Perfected Cultivator Wuyan.

He arrived at the center of the cave and frowned slightly. After scanning the surroundings and finding nothing, he couldn’t help but shake his head.

Then, he sat cross-legged on a circular platform. Immediately, a formation pattern composed of blood-colored light emerged beneath him, spreading until it covered the entire floor of the cave.

After a long time, Wuyan slowly exhaled. In his opened eyes, the blood-colored formation was reflected as it gradually returned to silence.

Wuyan rose from the circular platform and walked outside.

With his departure, shadows covered the area layer by layer behind him, and the night-luminescent pearls dimmed until there was not a trace of light.

A moment later, within a quiet chamber on the Main Peak of the Yaoguang Sect, Wuyan’s figure appeared as if stepping out from the wall itself.

The door to the chamber opened from the inside, and Wuyan instructed the attendant waiting outside: “Have Yan Li come here.”

“Yes, Sect Master,” the attendant responded naturally, not feeling surprised, as this was not the first time this had happened.

Every so often, the Sect Master would seek out Senior Brother Yan; presumably, he was offering guidance or testing Senior Brother Yan’s cultivation, since Senior Brother Yan was the Sect Master’s disciple.

Thinking of this, the attendant couldn’t help but reveal a hint of admiration. Since the conclusion of the Sect Grand Competition, everyone’s impression of Yan Li had changed, and he had gained many more followers.

The attendant, having served by the Sect Master’s side for years, didn’t know much about the previous bullying and isolation Yan Li faced from the disciples outside. Now, learning that Senior Brother Yan had taken the top spot in the competition, he was happy for him.

Having received the Sect Master’s order, he immediately ran off to notify him, completely unaware that the Sect Master he admired, Wuyan, had just emerged from a dark cave that shouldn’t exist within the Main Peak.

In less than fifteen minutes, Yan Li stood in the quiet chamber, respectfully bowing to Wuyan.

“Master.”

Wuyan gave an “en”: “Do you know why your Master has called you here?”

Yan Li’s eyes flickered, and he lowered his head again: “I hope Master will enlighten me.”

Wuyan looked at him and spoke slowly: “The demon that slaughtered your fellow villagers five years ago…”

Yan Li suddenly snapped his head up, and heard Wuyan continue:

“Now… its whereabouts have been found.”

…

Yan Lin felt as if he could hear the gears of fate creaking as they turned.

“So, you’re going to seek out that demon for revenge, then?”

Of course, Yan Lin, being familiar with the plot, knew very well that while the information about the demon’s whereabouts wasn’t false, it was merely a trap set by Wuyan.

It was for the Supreme Profound Spirit Bone, which was now nearly mature.

Seeing that Yan Lin was getting closer to the age of twenty-two, Wuyan could no longer restrain himself. He could never imagine the despair of watching his Lin’er die before him while being powerless, just like Han Ji over a decade ago.

Yan Li nodded, his gaze deep.

He had once sworn before the graves of his fellow villagers that he would make that demon pay every price.

Then, the darkness in his eyes faded, and he looked at the person before him, a hint of a smile appearing.

“Senior Brother… I will be back soon.”

Yan Lin waved his hand dismissively, thinking to himself: Of course you’ll be back soon, but not in a triumphant return after successful revenge, but rather being caught by Wuyan and locked in a cellar to have your bone dug out.

At that time, Yan Li’s disappearance could be blamed on the demon; it was essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Yan Lin was very gratified now. Not only had he solved the possibility of the protagonist dying halfway and revitalized him to look like a proper protagonist, but the plot had finally progressed to this step.

Once the Supreme Profound Spirit Bone in his body was dug out by Wuyan, the protagonist would once again fall into the abyss, being betrayed by the Master he trusted and so on.

Afterward, the protagonist would escape death, followed by the moment of rebirth like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

And he, as the villain, would consume the protagonist’s Supreme Profound Spirit Bone to mend his own lost soul and spirit, yet he would also stand completely on the opposite side of the protagonist.

Just thinking about it was a bit exciting.

Just as Yan Lin was seeing the protagonist off and looking forward to a bright future.

On the other side, Yan Li, having obtained the demon’s location from Wuyan and preparing to leave the Yaoguang Sect was blocked by a graceful figure.

The one blocking the path was Xiao Xiao’er.

It had taken her a long time to finally accept the truth.

By now, Xiao Xiao’er had completely lost any affection for the person before her, and she couldn’t help but think about his filthy, secret thoughts toward Senior Brother Lin’er—he truly had hidden them deep enough.

But suddenly thinking of something, Xiao Xiao’er’s aura as she stared at Yan Li instantly sharpened. Before the other could coldly drive her away, she spoke first:

“I know what you are going to do, but what I want to tell you is: do not lightly trust the Sect Master’s words.”

Yan Li’s steps faltered, and his eyes shifted slightly, seemingly giving her a deep look.

“Reason.”

Xiao Xiao’er frowned slightly, as if not knowing how to say it, but recalled the information she had glimpsed from the jade slips within the cave she had accidentally entered while looking for the Sect Master.

Even now, she found it hard to believe. She couldn’t believe at all that the Sect Master, who had always been upright, kind, and grandfatherly, harbored such dark intentions of plotting against his own disciple. Although she didn’t know the specifics, the mere fact itself was enough to make Xiao Xiao’er feel as if she were dreaming.

However, in the emergency, she didn’t have time to check other jade slips, let alone figure out the reasons. Having hidden in that cave and heard the conversation between the Sect Master and Yan Li from the quiet chamber, she was clear on one point: the Sect Master was likely about to move against Yan Li.

Incomprehension, confusion, shock, and panicked helplessness were probably her most authentic portrayals at that time.

And with her mind blank, Xiao Xiao’er could only temporarily think of a solution that wasn’t much of a solution.

If she could get Yan Li to leave the Yaoguang Sect and avoid the Sect Master’s plot, he could then immediately go far away and break ties with the sect from then on. If the Sect Master wanted to move against him later, he wouldn’t be able to if he couldn’t find him.

Furthermore, it was undeniable that Xiao Xiao’er had her own selfish motives. After realizing the unspeakable feelings Yan Li harbored for Senior Brother Lin’er… if he left the Yaoguang Sect, it would be equivalent to leaving Senior Brother Lin’er.

Steadying her mind, Xiao Xiao’er weighed her words and stated in a still-calm voice: “There is someone in the sect who wants to harm you, intending to use the Sect Master’s hand to strike at you while you are on your way to that demon.”

After a pause, seeing that Yan Li had no reaction, she continued:

“After you leave the sect in a moment, do not go to find that demon for the time being, so as to avoid the person who wants to harm you… However, this clearly treats the symptoms but not the root cause, and that person’s status in the sect is not something you can handle. So the best method is: I hope that after you leave, you do not come back.”

Having said this, Xiao Xiao’er stared fixedly at Yan Li, believing she had spoken comprehensively enough.

However, completely different from the reaction she imagined, Yan Li after a moment of silence suddenly let out a sneer.

Then, the corners of his mouth pulled back, his gaze clearly deep and cold. He stared at the somewhat dazed Xiao Xiao’er and spoke slowly:

“Then tell me, exactly which Elder finds me an eyesore and wants to harm me? Or, is it simply the… Sect Master you speak of?”

Xiao Xiao’er suddenly snapped her head up, unable to control the shock on her face.

“How do you—”

“How do I know?”

As if seeing through what Xiao Xiao’er was about to say, Yan Li cut her off directly. That cold gaze watched her quietly, as if he perceived everything.

“Does it matter whether I know or not?”

“As for you, do not do unnecessary things. Otherwise—”

In a daze, Xiao Xiao’er seemed to see again that kind of look Yan Li had once shown her sinister, distorted, almost polluting to the soul. Her heart couldn’t help but feel a shudder.

She opened her mouth, but for a long while, no words came out.

Yan Li let out a “he” of a laugh and no longer bothered with Xiao Xiao’er blocking the way, walking right past her and leaving.

No one knew that what he knew was far more than what Xiao Xiao’er knew.