The Failed Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The Wanyao Sect currently has barely one or two hundred disciples left, combined between the inner and outer sects. Although the Demon Realm only sent a dozen or so true high-level demons, the number of demonic cultivators following them is several times that of the Wanyao disciples.

While the Sect Master reacted quickly by offering pills and artifacts to recruit help, the morale of his own disciples has already crumbled; most are simply plotting how to abandon the sect and flee.

…

Gossip and Jealousy

It was three days later when Ruan Lan and her party returned from scouting the perimeter. The Wanyao disciples had been consolidated at the Main Peak, leaving the peak where Feng Qi and the others stayed completely deserted. This peak had once been used for secluded alchemy; while it lacked the decadence of a demon palace, it was far more comfortable than Ruan Lan’s bamboo hut.

As Ruan Lan approached, she heard laughter coming from Feng Qi’s room. The door was wide open, and the auras inside suggested a crowd.

Yu Qi, who had spent the last few days venting her frustration on demons after failing to find Zhao Xiu at the Main Peak, had already retired to an empty room to recover. Ruan Lan, however, went straight to Feng Qi’s room.

Inside, Ji Manqiu had monopolized the inner room, while Feng Qi was huddled around a square table with several Cangyun Sect disciples.

“Master!” Feng Qi’s eyes lit up the moment she spotted Ruan Lan. She dropped her brush and squeezed through the crowd to reach her. “You’re finally back! Where are the others?”

“They went to rest,” Ruan Lan replied, her gaze sweeping over the Cangyun disciples.

The disciples exchanged glances and nodded to Ruan Lan. “We won’t intrude any longer.” They left some Spirit Stones and pills on the table, smiling as they added, “Gifts for little Feng Qi.”

Once they were gone, Ruan Lan ignored the gifts and picked up the calligraphy brush. She raised an eyebrow. “Practicing your writing?”

Feng Qi gave a dry laugh and quickly crumpled up her messy attempts at calligraphy. “I just saw the supplies and wanted to try.”

Ruan Lan rescued the paper and smoothed it out. “When did you become so close with the Cangyun disciples?”

“I’m not sure myself,” Feng Qi admitted, tossing a Spirit Stone idly. “I suppose it’s boring here, and they needed someone to listen to their gossip.”

Ruan Lan’s brow furrowed. She grabbed Feng Qi’s wrist and led her to a different empty room, setting up a soundproofing boundary. “Have you forgotten what I told you? You are a cat demon; you must maintain your distance from cultivators.”

Feng Qi nodded obediently, assuming Ruan Lan was merely worried for her safety. She sat on a couch and asked about the situation at the Main Peak.

“Morale is gone; the sect is doomed,” Ruan Lan said, looking out at the mist-shrouded mountains. “The Sect Master is considering abandoning Nanshan.”

“Master, let’s stay a few more days,” Feng Qi said suddenly, her eyes bright. “I can smell a treasure. It’s in the mountains behind the Main Peak. I think… it’s something you can use.”

Ruan Lan looked at her with certainty and chose to believe her. “Fine.”

…

The Secret of the Silver Bell

The back mountain was the epicenter of the conflict. Liu Yue’s demons were swarming the area, though the protective array still held them at bay—mostly.

Feng Qi knew she couldn’t scout the area effectively while appearing as a low-level disciple; it would draw too much attention. But she knew Ruan Lan wouldn’t let her go alone.

“I have a way,” Ruan Lan said. “Turn into your original form, and I will carry you.”

That night, they stayed in the same room. As soon as the clothes dropped and the black kitten emerged, it crawled onto the bed and began grooming its paws next to Ruan Lan.

“You’ve grown again,” Ruan Lan noted, measuring the kitten with her fingers. “About this much.”

Feng Qi was shocked. I only grew a centimeter or two! How did she notice?

Ruan Lan scratched her chin and offered her a piece of dried meat. Then, she produced a small silver bell on a red string. Feng Qi tried to act dignified—she was an adult in a cat’s body, after all—and pushed the bell away.

“You don’t like it?”

Ruan Lan took the bell back, tucked a small piece of Silver Vine (catnip) inside it, and rolled it back to the kitten.

The effect was instantaneous. Feng Qi’s dignity evaporated. She went wild, batting the bell from one end of the bed to the other until she was exhausted. Ruan Lan watched with a rare smile, stroking the kitten’s back even as it playfully nipped her fingers.

…

Jealousy and Predictions

The next morning, Ruan Lan set out for the back mountain with the black kitten perched on her shoulder. Yu Qi was stunned. “Sister, why are you carrying that cat around?” Ruan Lan ignored her and headed out, running into Ji Manqiu at the door.

“What a clever little cat,” Ji Manqiu purred, her eyes deep with meaning. Feng Qi hid her face in Ruan Lan’s hair, pretending to be a normal pet.

For several days, they scouted the back mountain, avoiding other cultivators but slaying any demons that broke through the array. Finally, Feng Qi shifted back to human form to pinpoint the treasure, but they immediately ran into the Cangyun party.

Chen Lintian approached Ruan Lan with a smile. “Senior Sister Ruan, when do you plan to leave?”

“In a few days,” Ruan Lan replied coolly.

Feng Qi shuffled away to stand near Ji Manqiu. Chen Lintian, thinking he had offended her, apologized to Ruan Lan. “I was only worried for her safety… your disciple is quite impressive.”

Ruan Lan gave a cold grunt and walked away, leaving Chen Lintian wondering why she seemed even colder than before.

By the cliffside, Ji Manqiu whispered in Feng Qi’s ear, “Do you like that handsome cultivator? I’ve been wondering why you won’t return to the Demon Realm.”

“No!” Feng Qi hissed.

“His constitution is excellent,” Ji Manqiu mused, eyeing Chen Lintian like a piece of meat. “He’d make a fine ‘furnace’ for cultivation.”

“Stay away from him,” Feng Qi warned seriously. “He’s not simple. We all need to keep our distance.” She knew that as the male lead, Chen Lintian possessed immense luck and a hidden Bloodline. Crossing him without killing him was a recipe for future disaster.

…

The Trap

Ruan Lan decided it was time to part ways with the Cangyun Sect. Chen Lintian was hesitant—his gut told him to stay—but his fellow disciples insisted on returning to their sect to prepare for the inevitable fight over Nanshan’s territory.

As they flew toward the back mountain on Ruan Lan’s sword, Ruan Lan suddenly asked, “Do you like the people from the Cangyun Sect?”

“No,” Feng Qi replied, focused on the terrain below.

“What about that cultivator named Chen? Your attitude toward him is strange.”

Feng Qi’s heart skipped a beat. Is the female lead jealous? Already? “I don’t even remember what his face looks like, honestly,” she declared.

Ruan Lan looked at her for a long moment. “You know which one I’m talking about?”

“Huh?”

“There are two cultivators named Chen in the Cangyun Sect.”

Feng Qi froze. I’ve been playing.

“Stay away from him,” Ruan Lan whispered, reaching out to pat Feng Qi’s hair.

Feng Qi felt a bit dejected. She felt like her “close disciple” status was being threatened by the mere presence of the male lead. But Ruan Lan just watched her, thinking that the secret of Feng Qi’s identity was hers alone to keep.