The Outcast Male Sub-Lead Stole the Female Lead’s Role - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Hey, you jinx, what are you doing standing there?” Junior Sister was aggressive, her delicate face twisted in a deep frown. The red mole under her left eye seemed to brighten with her temper. She stood there, hands on her hips, looking furious. Despite being significantly shorter than Jiang Xu, her aura was formidable. “Are you going to make the entire sect wait for you?”

The arrogant, beautiful girl before him was Fu Bihan, the daughter of Sect Leader Fu Yuchuan. Pampered since childhood, she had developed a willful personality. Because of her youth, most people indulged her, which only made her behavior worse over time.

Fu Bihan was the type of person who had to trample on anyone she disliked, and among those people, Jiang Xu was the prime target.

The original Jiang Xu in the book was already unpopular, and coupled with his eccentric personality, almost everyone in the sect—except for the Senior Brother Shi Jingyu—would go out of their way to avoid him. This Junior Sister loved bullying Jiang Xu most of all. When the disciples of the same generation ascended the mountain, they had to undergo a month of training; Fu Bihan, leveraging her status as the Sect Leader’s daughter, had constantly tripped Jiang Xu up.

However, the author never explicitly explained why this sister hated the original host so much, merely brushing it off with a line about “feeling a natural aversion and finding him unpleasant at first sight.”

“I’m talking to you! Why aren’t you saying anything?” Fu Bihan’s frown deepened. She stepped closer, tilting her face up. “Don’t tell me you’re planning on skipping out again?”

Coming back to his senses, Jiang Xu looked at the proximity of Fu Bihan and instinctively took a few steps back, his brow furrowing slightly. “I can hear you just fine, Junior Sister. Why do you need to stand so close?”

Fu Bihan’s eyes widened. “You think I want to be near a jinx like you? Don’t flatter yourself! I’m only here to summon you on behalf of Senior Brother. Come or don’t, I don’t care. Hmph!” With that, she rolled her eyes at Jiang Xu, turned on her heel, and marched away.

“…” Jiang Xu watched her receding figure and sighed. “She’s exactly like she was in the book.”

“What book?”

A crisp, cold voice drifted from behind him. Startled, Jiang Xu spun around to see Wen Hexue, who had appeared out of nowhere.

During major events, the attire for masters and disciples differed slightly. While generally white, the sleeves featured intricate patterns—mostly fine embroidery that individuals customized according to their taste.

Today, Wen Hexue was also clad in white. The cloud patterns on his lapels were elegant and ethereal, his wide sleeves fluttering. Unlike the common motifs of white plum blossoms or bamboo leaves, this celestial figure actually had small cat and dog paw prints embroidered in fine white thread on his cuffs. They were subtle and unique.

Those adorable little paw prints instantly captured Jiang Xu’s attention. He rubbed his eyes, fearing he had misseen. He had thought someone like Wen Hexue would surely have snowflakes embroidered on his sleeves; he never expected such a cute detail.

“Why no answer?” Wen Hexue didn’t seem to notice his gaze. Rather than being annoyed, his expression softened, a hint of a smile touching his eyes. Even his cold voice sounded a bit more approachable.

Jiang Xu hurriedly withdrew his gaze. “…Just a storybook I read a few days ago.” He peeked at Wen Hexue’s expression before continuing, “Why is Master still here?”

He remembered that this Master was usually elusive and mysterious. Why did he keep bumping into him every few days?

Wen Hexue lowered his head to adjust his sleeves. Even such a casual movement looked exceptionally graceful when he did it. “I am heading to the Liulan Platform.” He took a step forward, looking at Jiang Xu. “Since we have met, we might as well go together.”

Jiang Xu stared at him for a long moment, doubting if this was a fake Master. Weren’t they supposed to be cold and aloof? Why did he seem so approachable now?

“Who does Master want to go with?” He blinked, shifting his gaze away while still holding onto a sliver of hope.

Wen Hexue gave him a faint look. “There seems to be no one else around.”

Jiang Xu was momentarily speechless. He truly didn’t know how to interact with this Master, not to mention their status was worlds apart. Wouldn’t it be awkward to walk together with nothing to say?

“You look unfamiliar. Are you a new disciple?”

Just as he was agonizing over how to politely refuse, Wen Hexue’s question gave him an opening. Since this man had been in seclusion and had never met the original host, he wouldn’t know what kind of person the “old” Jiang Xu was. And since he didn’t seem as untouchable as the rumors suggested, Jiang Xu decided to relax a bit.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xu rolled his eyes, stroked his chin, and smiled. “Then I shall accompany Master.”

Wen Hexue nodded slightly. After watching him for a few seconds, he suddenly reached out toward Jiang Xu. Frightened, Jiang Xu grabbed his hand. “…Master, what are you doing?” Is he going to attack me because he finds me annoying?

“Your head,” Wen Hexue said softly, his eyes glancing briefly at the hand holding his. “There is a bamboo leaf.”

“Eh?” Stunned, Jiang Xu quickly let go. He reached up and indeed found a bamboo leaf. He held it awkwardly and gave a dry laugh. “Thanks for the reminder, Master. Uh, shall we go?”

Wen Hexue said nothing more. He gave Jiang Xu a brief once-over and then reached out, tapping the air. A faint blue light merged into Jiang Xu’s body. “Your spiritual power should be usable now.”

He then set off toward the Liulan Platform.

Jiang Xu blinked. After a moment, he actually felt a surge of power flowing through him. But how did Wen Hexue know he couldn’t use his spiritual power?

He tossed the bamboo leaf aside, looked at Wen Hexue’s back with confusion, and followed.

The Liulan Platform was located at the summit of Jingming Peak. It was a square structure with a long stone staircase leading to the highest point. Seats were arranged in the four cardinal directions; the main seats were for the Sect Leader and Elders, with six major seats below for the Peak Masters. Disciples were stationed at the north end, lined up on both sides.

Two deep ponds flanked the stone steps, with lotus flowers drifting lazily on the water, emitting waves of delicate fragrance.

At this moment, the Liulan Platform was packed. Surrounded by disciples in pale white robes, Jiang Xu followed behind Wen Hexue. Seeing such a grand scene for the first time, he couldn’t help but look around. Soon, however, he realized everyone was staring at them—their expressions filled with undisguised shock.

Why are they all looking? Am I really that late?

Lost in thought, Jiang Xu didn’t notice Wen Hexue had stopped. He accidentally bumped right into him. Letting out a low yelp, he rubbed his nose and stood straight, quickly apologizing. “…Master, I was distracted. I’m sorry.”

Wen Hexue raised an eyebrow. Without a word, he reached out and, to Jiang Xu’s shock, lightly flicked the tip of Jiang Xu’s nose. His fingertip was cool and felt comfortable against the skin. “It is fine.” He then turned and walked toward the upper seats, leaving Jiang Xu standing there dazed.

What kind of development is this? Why did he flick my nose so intimately?

He subconsciously touched his nose, feeling the gazes from the crowd grow even more intense. He soon found out why. The Junior Sister who had just harassed him blocked his path again, her disgust even more apparent.

Jiang Xu looked at her with a headache and tried to walk away, but she grabbed him. Fu Bihan raised her voice, shouting his name in dissatisfaction. “Are you intentionally pestering Master?”

Master??

He glanced around and realized that among the crowd below, more than half were looking at Wen Hexue with admiration and longing. The remaining small portion was directed at him—filled with suspicion and speculation.

Jiang Xu rubbed his temples helplessly. How could he have forgotten? Although Master Wen Hexue never even appeared in the original book, he was the “White Moonlight” in everyone’s heart due to his ethereal temperament and beauty. But this White Moonlight was usually cold and distant; people could barely see him, let alone talk to him. Now, not only did this White Moonlight arrive with him, but he also performed such an intimate gesture…

“Oh boy,” he muttered, rubbing his brow. Looking at her hand still gripping him and the surrounding crowd, he gritted his teeth and grabbed Fu Bihan’s wrist. “Let’s go down and talk.”

Standing on this high platform was way too conspicuous!

Once Jiang Xu found a corner, Fu Bihan shook off his hand, her face flushed. “Not only are you a jinx, you’re a lecher!”

“?” Jiang Xu shrugged innocently. “I kindly pulled you down from a platform where thousands were watching, and instead of thanking me, you slander me. Isn’t that a bit ungrateful, Junior Sister?”

“Don’t ‘Junior Sister’ me! Who is your sister?” Fu Bihan crossed her arms and turned away. “Don’t change the subject. Why were you with Master? And why were you so… close!”

“How was that close?” Jiang Xu thought to himself it was just a flick on the nose.

“How is that not close?” Fu Bihan snapped her head back, her long hair whipping around. “Master never lets anyone get near him! You must have used some trick to get close to him intentionally!”

A willful Junior Sister might be cute in a book, but in real life, she was just annoying. Jiang Xu didn’t want to argue, so he took a step back. “Why would I want to get close to Master? He looks freezing. What’s the benefit of being near him?”

As he said this, he instinctively looked up at Wen Hexue sitting far away on the high platform. To his surprise, their eyes met. He felt a chill down his neck and quickly turned away. “Did you see that? Master just glared at me. He must really hate me.”

“Master would never do something so unrefined… What are you looking at!”

Jiang Xu put a finger to his lips. “Shh—be quiet.”

The jade flute had already sounded three times on stage. The new disciples entered one by one, forming four rows in green robes. The tall woman standing at the very front was the female lead, Yan Huan.

As the Senior Brother, Shi Jingyu was presiding over the disciple selection. Jiang Xu stared at the female lead’s back. If he remembered correctly, this was where the male and female leads first met. The female lead’s cold and proud personality would soon catch the male lead’s attention.

But now that the plot had changed, he wondered if things would still proceed smoothly…

“Hmph, this year’s disciples are nothing special,” Fu Bihan muttered beside him.

Looking at her, Jiang Xu had a sudden flash of inspiration. He secretly circulated his spiritual power, and a crystal-blue butterfly flew from his fingertip. The butterfly circled twice in the air before fluttering toward Yan Huan.