Transmigrated Into A Book And Became A Heartthrob Male Protagonist - Chapter 16

Having acquired a valuable and practical spirit boat, Lin Qing was in such a good mood that he wanted to hum a little tune. However, given the crowd and the need to maintain his persona, he restrained himself. Now that he owned his own spirit boat, he naturally lost interest in this external vessel. He walked toward the deck to enjoy the breeze and the scenery in high spirits.

However, his good mood was soon ruined by a troublesome presence. Yun Fan approached him with a tender and sticky gaze. “Master, the wind is strong outside. Let me help you inside to rest.”

[Ding! Detected: Yun Fan’s Passion Level increased by 5.]

Yun Fan reached out to grab Lin Qing’s arm, but Lin Qing dodged him in a panic. “Do not touch me.” Had there not been so many people around, Lin Qing would have kicked him overboard. Sensing Lin Qing’s hesitation, Yun Fan stepped forward again. “Master, I am only concerned for you.”

Lin Qing was about to snap when two voices interrupted him. “Master! Master!”

A-Man and A-Xiong, who had been listening to the elders’ teachings, ran back at some point. They seemingly accidentally brushed Yun Fan aside and stood before Lin Qing. A-Man looked nervous. “Master, we are about to enter the Ethereal Sect for the competition. I am a bit anxious. Could you give me some guidance?”

A-Xiong added, “Master, I am nervous too. Can you stay with us?”

Yun Fan gritted his teeth in hatred. “If you have questions, resolve them yourselves. Do not pester Master.”

A-Xiong turned his head and spoke sarcastically. “Ah, it is Senior Brother Yun Fan. I did not realize you were here. My apologies.”

Yun Fan retorted, “You are just nominal disciples. You are not qualified to consult Master.”

A-Man looked surprised. “Whether we are qualified is up to Master to decide. Since when did you start making decisions for him, Senior Brother? Do you think Master has to listen to everything you say?”

Yun Fan looked at Lin Qing in a panic. “Master, I did not mean it like that.”

Seeing that the three of them were quite talkative, Lin Qing spoke expressionlessly. “Your Senior Brother Yun Fan has participated in sect competitions before. If you have questions, talk to him.”

A-Man, A-Xiong, and Yun Fan all looked at Lin Qing simultaneously. Their eyes were filled with the resentment of being abandoned, as if accusing him of being heartless. “Master!”

Lin Qing shook off the goosebumps. “Fine, it is settled.”

The Demon King spoke up then. “If they annoy you, we can leave first.”

Lin Qing paused. He realized that was right. This spirit boat was prepared for the participating cultivators. The leaders of small sects dared not leave and the elders were too busy hosting affairs to step away. But no one said a free man like him could not go.

Lin Qing immediately jumped off the spirit boat. In the rapid fall and the whistling wind, he experienced the thrill of bungee jumping. He summoned his immortal sword beneath his feet, leaving a trail of sword qi in the air as he sped away from that den of trouble.

With his cultivation, his sword flight far exceeded other cultivators, though it was still not as fast as a dedicated spirit boat. By the time the second and third elders arrived at Ethereal Peak with the disciples and arranged the accommodations, he had only just arrived.

The third elder looked at him and said helplessly, “Sword Venerable Lin, where did you go?”

Lin Qing replied solemnly, “I noticed an abnormality on a rocky mountain from the spirit boat and went to investigate.” In reality, he had just been sightseeing along the way.

The third elder straightened his posture. “And what did you find?”

Lin Qing blinked guiltily. “Nothing major. A few members of the demon race were causing trouble, but I have dealt with them.”

The third elder did not press further and handed Lin Qing a jade tablet. “This is the courtyard reserved for you. Rest well. The grand competition begins tomorrow at the hour of the Dragon.”

“Thank you.” Lin Qing took the tablet.

This area was specifically built for participating cultivators. Each courtyard had a unique identifier similar to a modern house number. Lin Qing looked at the carving on the tablet and searched for his courtyard while recalling the upcoming plot. This part of the story mainly took place in the newly discovered secret realm of the Ethereal Sect, which was actually a trap set by the Ghost King. The Ghost King’s original plan was to send countless evil ghosts into the realm to kill the elite talents of the cultivation world, ensuring the sects would have no successors.

However, he did not expect to run into the protagonist trysting with his disciple, the Demon King, and the Demon Lord while setting his traps. Watching and listening from the shadows, he became obsessed with the protagonist’s body and face. After the others left, he entered the cave to seize the protagonist for himself.

This sudden obsession actually had a melodramatic backstory. The Ghost King, named Lin Chengzhou, was the protagonist’s former half-brother. Years ago, the imperial family had selected both brothers for cultivation, but the Eternal Immortal Venerable only chose the protagonist, leaving the other behind. The emperor was disappointed in the rejected prince, leading to years of ridicule and isolation from the other princes.

The petty prince grew to hate the cultivation sects, the Immortal Venerable who rejected him, and especially the brother who was chosen. He refused to admit he was less talented than his brother. Even after becoming Emperor, his obsession with cultivation remained deep. He sought out third-rate Taoists to teach him arts and spent his life pursuing immortality, only to die young from consuming too many toxic elixirs.

However, while he failed in life, he gained a ghost cultivation inheritance after death. His power surged until he reached the position of Ghost King. He never forgot the past; he still loathed cultivators and envied the protagonist. He never forgot that face. Seeing the protagonist in such a submissive state in the secret realm made him feel that the person he once looked up to was now in the dirt. This gave him immense psychological and physical satisfaction.

To be honest, if he were not the one involved, Lin Qing might have found the plot interesting, as many deviants enjoy such tropes. But since it involved him, he only had two words: Run away! Being the protagonist of an nP novel is not a job for everyone. This Ghost King was so petty that whether his plan succeeded or not, a grudge was inevitable.

Back in the courtyard, Lin Qing lay on the bed with a heavy heart. As an ordinary person who had lived in the mortal world for over twenty years, he still preferred to rest his body and mind at night, even if his current cultivation meant he did not strictly need sleep. In the modern city, he was surrounded by mechanical noise and exhaust. Here, in this spirit-filled mountain courtyard, he finally found a moment of peace. Lin Qing closed his eyes and listened to the birds outside.

His hometown in the modern world was also in the mountains, but after moving to the big city for university, those memories had faded. If he ever got his revenge, he might choose to return to the mountains and find a place like this to live. Compared to the fast-paced and deceptive city life, perhaps this kind of life suited him better.

Snap!

Lin Qing wondered what that sound was. He realized someone might be there.