The Outcast Male Sub-Lead Stole the Female Lead’s Role - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Along the way, Wen Hexue remained silent, so Jiang Xu found it difficult to speak. He could only communicate quietly with 001 in his mind, wanting to ask about Shizun and the Demon Lord, Bai Liu, from earlier.

[What the host is asking is also what the system wants to know,] 001 replied coldly.

Jiang Xu was genuinely curious. He rolled his eyes, looked at Shizun ahead, and transmitted his voice to 001, “But the original book didn’t explain the history between Shizun and Bai Liu! From what I saw just now, they must have known each other before, and their relationship is quite deep! Aren’t you letting me complete the task? If we know this, we might find out why the plot has deviated so drastically. It would help me complete the task, and wouldn’t that only benefit you too?”

001 remained silent for a long time before speaking: [According to the information provided in the original book, Wen Hexue and Bai Liu were not acquainted. Demon Lord Bai Liu was tyrannical and cold, never trusted others, and always acted alone. However, in the original book, he was willing to help the original host attack Lingyun Mountain in one fell swoop.]

With just these few simple sentences, Jiang Xu’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re saying the one who secretly assisted the original host was Bai Liu?”

In the original work, a certain character was constantly mentioned—someone extremely mysterious who always wore a silver mask and black robes, appearing and disappearing like a ghost. His origins were unknown, yet he was the greatest help to the original Jiang Xu. It was precisely because of him that Jiang Xu didn’t suffer a “cultivation deviation” when he switched to practicing demonic arts; instead, his progress was lightning-fast.

Near the grand finale, Jiang Xu was cornered at the peak of Duwu Mountain by the people of Lingyun Mountain, led by Shi Jingyu. He was eventually run through by Shi Jingyu’s Longyuan Sword and fell off a cliff.

That mysterious person had only appeared before everyone a few times from beginning to end and vanished without a trace after the villain was struck down.

When the author was writing, they were always very vague and never explicitly stated who the mysterious person was. Later, this missing mysterious person became a “plot hole” that readers cared about, with many clamoring to know who he actually was. Since the mysterious person would help the original host, he must have had his own purpose; how could he just disappear like that?

In the original work, Bai Liu didn’t have much interaction with the original host. There were only two instances: once when Lingyun Mountain directly clashed with the demons and the two had a brief encounter during battle, and another when Bai Liu raided Lingyun Mountain at night, killing many disciples. Although the original host saw him then, he didn’t immediately notify the Sect Leader or the Elders.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xu became even more confused. “If it were Bai Liu, he definitely wouldn’t have just disappeared after the original host died, right?”

001 said icily, [Perhaps the author knows why.]

“…” Choked by the system’s sass, Jiang Xu turned to ask: “But looking at Bai Liu’s attitude today, he clearly knows Wen Hexue. Since this connection didn’t exist in the original book, if we investigate their relationship, we might find something!”

[The host may do as he pleases. As I told the host, the plot has shifted, so I cannot provide much information. Furthermore, I am going away for a repair and upgrade next month.]

“So you’re leaving me alone?” Jiang Xu gnashed his teeth in anger. “What is there to upgrade on a ball of fluff like you!”

001’s voice became ethereal. [That is still better than a host who cannot even use spiritual energy properly.]

“Damn it! You little puffball!” Infuriated, Jiang Xu accidentally shouted out loud. He immediately slapped a hand over his mouth and blinked toward Wen Hexue ahead. Seeing that the other man didn’t react, he breathed a sigh of relief and continued, “Then at least tell me how to improve my spiritual energy! It’s hard to get things done without it.”

[Does the host want the fast method or the slow method?]

Jiang Xu’s eyes lit up. “The fast one, obviously! Lay it on me.”

[Ding—Resource pack loaded. Generating vessel…]

Following 001’s voice, a blurry shadow appeared before his eyes. A few seconds later, something landed with a thud. Jiang Xu caught it just in time and found it was a slightly aged, thread-bound book with a deep blue cover. On it were a few simple words: Cultivation Methods.

“…Isn’t this a bit too crude? Puffball?” He rubbed the cover and tucked the book into his robes, realizing 001 had gone silent. “Puffball?”

Gone again…

“Were you frightened just now?” Wen Hexue’s voice suddenly drifted back.

Jiang Xu startled and coughed twice before replying, “…No, thank you for your concern, Shizun.”

Wen Hexue gave a slight nod, opened the barrier in front of the mountain, and sealed it again after letting him through. “It is best that you were not. Return now.”

Looking at his retreating back, Jiang Xu suddenly felt that this Shizun was quite approachable. Maybe he could just ask him directly?

Never mind, I’ll deal with it later, he thought, shaking his head and catching up.

Jingming Peak had the most disciples. Along the way, Jiang Xu spotted many brothers in white robes. He wasn’t familiar with most of them, but whenever he tried to strike up a conversation, they avoided him like the plague, as if they were terrified of even bumping into him.

“Was the original host really this disliked?” Shaking his head, Jiang Xu gave up on socializing and strolled slowly back toward his small thatched cottage.

The bamboo leaves rustled outside. Standing before the door was a figure in green. As soon as Jiang Xu entered the courtyard and saw the silhouette, he hesitated for a moment before moving forward.

As if hearing his footsteps, the figure turned around. It was Fu Bihan, whom he had met not long ago.

She was holding a food container. Seeing Jiang Xu return, she took a few steps forward but then stopped as if reluctant. Her tone was spoiled and bossy: “You’re finally back.”

Jiang Xu hadn’t expected to see Fu Bihan here. One doesn’t visit a temple without a reason, but given his relationship with the Junior Sister, he really couldn’t think of a reason why she’d be willing to “condescend” to visit this place.

“Does Junior Sister have something to discuss with me?”

Fu Bihan’s expression was awkward, her apricot-shaped eyes wide. “Can’t I come find you if I don’t have ‘business’?”

Jiang Xu shrugged. “That’s up to you, Junior Sister. After all, when there’s nothing going on, I never see you around.”

“You!” Fu Bihan bit her lower lip. She brought her hand out from behind her back and thrust the food container toward Jiang Xu. “…Fine, I won’t argue with you today.” She looked up at him cautiously, her face slightly flushed. “Today… thank you for saving me.”

This actually caught Jiang Xu off guard. The Junior Sister didn’t seem like the type to say thank you. And now she’d brought… He glanced at the container and pursed his lips. “…It was nothing. What is this?”

He still remembered how fast the girl had run away back then. Why was she coming back to thank him now?

As if reading his mind, Fu Bihan’s face turned even redder—a rare sight for the usually arrogant and overbearing Junior Sister. “I didn’t mean to run away that day! That man was a Demon Lord, he’s very powerful. I wanted to go find people to help, but I didn’t expect…”

Jiang Xu nodded, and she continued, “These are snacks I made myself.” Biting her lip, she ran forward a few steps, shoved the container into Jiang Xu’s hands, her face crimson. “Consider it a thank-you gift… I’m leaving!”

The food container felt heavy. Jiang Xu turned to watch Fu Bihan disappear in the blink of an eye. He opened his mouth and murmured softly, “Didn’t expect an actual gift.”

Not being one to stand on ceremony, Jiang Xu went inside and opened the container. To his surprise, the Junior Sister—who he assumed never lifted a finger in the kitchen—had made snacks that looked quite decent. They were glossy and appetizing. Since he was hungry, he couldn’t wait to pick one up and take a bite. Instantly, his face soured.

“Pah, pah, pah!” He struggled to swallow the half-bite he’d taken, put the rest back, and hurriedly poured a cup of water to wash it down. “Yep, definitely handmade. This level of saltiness… did she use salt instead of sugar?”

What a pity for a box of such beautiful-looking snacks. All form, no substance; it seemed they would have to go to waste.

Jiang Xu shook his head and planned to go out and find something to fill his stomach. He’d been running around all day and was starving.

The sky was growing dark. Lingyun Mountain was perpetually shrouded in immortal clouds, and as twilight settled, the thick layers of clouds were tinted with a beautiful crimson glow.

Jiang Xu wandered leisurely down the stone path and encountered a group of white-robed disciples, with Shi Jingyu leading the way.

He stepped forward, deciding to say hello and, while he was at it, check on the progress between him and Yan Huan.

Shi Jingyu had seen Jiang Xu from a distance. He originally thought Jiang Xu would ignore him and walk right past, so he was surprised when the younger man approached with a smile.

“Eldest Senior Brother!” Jiang Xu smiled and slapped Shi Jingyu on the shoulder, glancing at the disciples behind him. “Where are you all headed?”

Feeling the hand on his shoulder, Shi Jingyu paused for a split second before answering, “These are today’s new disciples. I am taking them to the Medicine Valley for their studies.”

“It’s getting late,” Jiang Xu looked up at the sky and smiled. “Hard work!” He smiled at the new disciples, but he didn’t expect them to all be looking at him with strange expressions. He choked for a moment, thinking, What’s their problem? I greet them with a smile and they look at me like I’m a freak?

Shi Jingyu glanced at him and smiled. “Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother. Might I ask where you are going?”

Jiang Xu rubbed his nose sheepishly. “I’m a bit hungry, I was going to look for something to eat.” He leaned closer to Shi Jingyu, throwing an arm around his shoulder to pull him aside.

Shi Jingyu wasn’t prepared for the move. The two were suddenly very close, and his earlobes instantly turned red. He whispered, “…Junior Brother, what are you doing?”

Jiang Xu glanced behind them and leaned mysteriously into his ear. “Senior Brother, that female disciple from today—she was selected too, right?”

“Female disciple?”

“Oh, you know,” Jiang Xu gestured with his hands. “The one about this tall? The one as beautiful as a celestial being—Junior Sister Yan Huan.”

As beautiful as a celestial being? Shi Jingyu gave him a strange look, then pursed his lips. “Junior Sister Yan Huan was indeed selected. She has already been accepted as a disciple under Sect Leader Fu.”

Jiang Xu nodded thoughtfully, then looked at him again. “Then doesn’t that make her your direct Junior Sister?”

Shi Jingyu didn’t know why he was asking all this, so he simply nodded. “Yes.” After a pause, he couldn’t help but ask, “Is it possible that Junior Brother is interested in that Junior Sister?”

Jiang Xu gave a mysterious smile, answering ambiguously, “You could say I’m quite interested.” After all, I can only go back if I set you two up, so of course I’m interested. “So, Senior Brother, where is that Junior Sister now?”

“She is with Junior Sister Fu. They should have reached the Medicine Valley by now.”

Jiang Xu nodded. “Ah!” He looked at the waiting disciples behind them and pushed Shi Jingyu’s back. “I’ve delayed you, Senior Brother. Hurry on.”

Shi Jingyu nodded, completely bewildered, and after saying his farewells, led the group away.

Jiang Xu watched them leave with satisfaction and started to follow. After just a few steps, he heard the last few disciples whispering: “Didn’t they say this Senior Brother Jiang has a strange temper, is hard to get along with, and hates the Eldest Senior Brother? He didn’t seem like that at all.”

“Shh, shh, shh. I think since everyone says so, there must be some truth to it. Maybe he was just being two-faced in front of us…”

“Makes sense!”

Jiang Xu, who had only walked a few paces: Thanks, guys, I heard every word.

The original host really did have a terrible reputation. Only the Eldest Senior Brother could be so kind and gentle to him.

Jiang Xu shook his head. Seeing the group getting further away, he hurried to catch up.

He couldn’t miss the chance to play matchmaker for the male and female leads!