☆, Chapter 18: The Male Lead Has Gone Dark

Do you dare to add scenes like this, you bastard?!

They're stuck reciting long, tedious lines like the main character, while receiving meager wages as extras. Isn't that exploitation of laborers?!

Out of selfishness, Shen Qingqiu struggled to raise his hand and patted Luo Binghe's head. Luo Binghe, whose gaze had been stubborn, froze, as if a handful of clear spring water had extinguished the barely concealed anger.

Shen Qingqiu smiled and said, "However, don't worry too much. If you can't become stronger, I will stay by your side and protect you."

If Luo Binghe were to become the invincible BOSS who dominates the immortal, demon, and human realms in the future, it would be better if he remained a pitiful little white flower. Shen Qingqiu would not mind taking him by her side and caring for him for the rest of his life.

His thoughts were so simple, but they were interpreted very differently by others. Luo Binghe was completely stunned.

No one had ever made such a straightforward and fervent promise to him.

The world is vast, but how many people can say, "You don't need to become stronger. With me here, I naturally won't let you be bullied?"

And it wasn't just empty talk. Shen Qingqiu meant what he said he would do. He had proven with his actions several times that he would rather be severely injured himself than let Luo Binghe suffer even the slightest harm.

Moreover, the affection for his disciple in those words seemed excessive. After the initial surge of warmth subsided slightly, a burning sensation quickly spread across Luo Binghe's face.

Shen Qingqiu coughed for a while, then painfully realized she couldn't cough up blood in the dream. She pinched his arm and said, "Okay. Help me up first."

Luo Binghe felt no pain or itching on the spot where his wrist had been twisted, but suddenly a tingling numbness crept over him. He immediately realized that his thoughts had strayed from the proper path and scolded himself inwardly. At a time like this, thinking about such trivial matters was truly disrespectful to his master. He quickly composed himself and did as instructed.

Suddenly, a voice rang out abruptly. The old voice exclaimed "Eh!" and said in surprise, "Young man, you actually managed to break through my barrier. You're not simple."

The sound seemed to come from a valley, echoing around them, its direction impossible to discern. Shen Qingqiu was overjoyed: The boss of this level has finally appeared! That means his cameo is over, he can go home! Quick, quick, boss, take the protagonist away!

Luo Binghe supported Shen Qingqiu without getting up, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes. The appearance of the Dream Demon when Shen Qingqiu was injured was a very unfavorable situation. He was determined that if the Dream Demon wanted to kill him, he would do his best to hold it off, even if his strength was weak, in order to buy his master a chance to survive.

He made this decision in the blink of an eye, and then the voice said again, "Come here and let this old man see what kind of young hero has such ability."

Luo Binghe looked at Shen Qingqiu. His master hadn't spoken, so the disciple shouldn't act on his own. Shen Qingqiu was in a good mood and even had the energy to tease him: "They're asking you, young hero, so give me an answer?"

Luo Binghe blushed, turned around and said loudly, "Breaking the senior's barrier was entirely due to the power of my master. This young hero dares not accept such praise."

The voice snorted, seemingly quite disdainful.

Shen Qingqiu knew why he hummed. This was Luo Binghe's dream world, and he could only rely on his own strength. Although he had blocked an attack for Luo Binghe, in the end, Luo Binghe still needed to quickly regain his senses to break the barrier.

However, Shen Qingqiu was too lazy to explain. He knew exactly how things would develop from the start. He asked, "Are you perhaps Senior Dream Demon?"

The voice said, "I sent you here, but I didn't expect this mortal cultivator from the Azure Sky Mountain Sect to come as well. Let him take a nap first."

As expected, just like in the original work when Ning Yingying was there, everyone except Luo Binghe was driven away by the dream demon.

Shen Qingqiu had a headache and collapsed heavily.

Luo Binghe was shocked and quickly supported him, calling out, "Master?"

The Dream Demon said, "Don't worry. I just sent him into a dream within a dream, and he's sleeping even more soundly. You, come here quickly!" This time, the voice could be heard coming from a dark cave in the west.

Luo Binghe couldn't wake Shen Qingqiu, so he gently laid him on the ground and turned to the source of the voice, saying, "My master calls you senior, so I should treat you with even more respect. I hope you won't make things difficult for my master."

The nightmare demon chuckled and said, "Kid, I've seen your memories. Your master hasn't been very good to you either. Why don't you let me just get rid of him? I'm doing you a favor."

He mostly looked at the original, unedited memories of Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe's interactions. And those memories indeed made up the majority...

Luo Binghe shook his head: "Master is not what you think, senior. No matter what, Master is still Master. He can treat me however he wants, but as his disciple, I cannot be disrespectful."

If Shen Qingqiu could still hear this, he would definitely roar in his heart: Brother Luo, I hope you will remember what you said when you turn evil in the future!

The Dream Demon sneered, "Nonsense! All the righteous sects in the human realm are so hypocritical. They don't care about teachers or respect. Anyone who bullies or harms them should be killed! He knew your cultivation was insufficient to deal with the Heavenly Hammer, yet he still sent you to the arena. What are his intentions? Can't you see through them?"

Luo Binghe said calmly, "At that time, even I didn't believe I could win. But my master believed in me, not only giving me a chance but also encouraging me during the competition. In the end, I did win."

There was one more thing he silently told himself: "My master shielded me from two attacks to save me. He is truly good to me."

The Dream Demon had only glanced at some fragments, not knowing much about Shen Qingqiu's character, and didn't want to dwell on the matter. However, he was very satisfied with Luo Binghe's attitude: "Kid, you're quite a loyal and righteous person."

Luo Binghe said, "It's not even a fraction of what my master has done for me."

If the nightmare had a mouth, it would have twitched long ago. He decided to change the subject.

After a moment of contemplation, the Dream Demon said, "I sense something extraordinary about you. Although I don't know what it is."

Luo Binghe was slightly surprised: "There's something there? Even you can't see it?"

The Dream Demon chuckled and said, "Our clan has produced many capable individuals. It's not impossible that someone more outstanding than me has sealed something within you."

Luo Binghe was shocked.

Surely the Nightmare Demon wouldn't stoop so low as to deceive a teenager like him after hundreds of years of history. He asked incredulously, "Senior, do you mean that the thing on me... is related to the demon race?"

The Dream Demon sneered, "What? You're not happy now? Are you in a hurry to distance yourself from the Demon Clan?"

Luo Binghe's shock didn't last long. His thoughts returned quickly, and after a moment of silence, he said firmly, "The Demon Realm has committed numerous evils and has injured my master many times. Naturally, I must not have anything to do with them."

The dream demon said irritably, "Boy, do you dare to stop talking about your master all the time? I bet your next question is, 'Senior, is there a way to get rid of him from me?'"

Luo Binghe smiled wryly and said, "Even if I ask, would you tell me, senior?"

The Nightmare laughed loudly: "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just that I'm really powerless. I can't even see clearly, so how can I get rid of you? If I weren't so clueless about you, I would have killed you both long ago. I wouldn't have bothered getting involved for so long. Do you think I'm so carefree?"

Luo Binghe remained silent.

He was thinking, "You've lost your physical form; you're just a phantom parasitizing someone else's dream. If you're not free, who is?"

Although he was kind-hearted by nature, that was the truth...

Unaware that he was inwardly criticizing him, the Nightmare said, "I am powerless to eliminate you, but there is a way to suppress you."

Luo Binghe was surprised. He tentatively asked, "Senior, would you be willing to tell me the method?"

The nightmare demon coaxed, "Not only can I teach you how to suppress him, but I can also teach you more."

Luo Binghe understood.

His heart sank, and his voice turned cold: "You want me to cultivate demonic arts?"

"What's wrong with cultivating demonic arts? If you can cultivate demonic arts, that layer on your body will greatly benefit your cultivation. Advancing a thousand miles a day and surpassing ten thousand people is not just empty talk. Given time, even becoming a supreme immortal demon is not out of the question!"

Upon hearing the last sentence, Luo Binghe's heart stirred.

Traveling a thousand miles in a day, above ten thousand men, the supreme being of immortals and demons. That... must be the strongest being, right?

He quickly rejected the idea.

Master detests demons and monsters the most. If I cannot resist the temptation of this dream demon and fall into evil ways, how can I face Master?

Whether Shen Qingqiu is heartbroken or furious, it is definitely not what I want to see.

"No way." Luo Binghe refused decisively.

The Dream Demon sneered, "If you refuse to learn from me, I'm afraid you won't be able to suppress the demonic energy within you. It's well hidden now, so it's fine if you can't see it, but I can sense that the seal on your body is weakening. Once it breaks free one day, how will your good master, who hates evil and takes it upon himself to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path, treat you?"

When Luo Binghe's biggest concern was mentioned, his expression darkened, and he said, "Senior Dream Demon, I am just a lowly mortal cultivator. Why must you force me to cultivate demonic arts?"

That's a really insightful question. Aside from the author, nobody really understands why all those extraordinary and powerful figures are always begging the protagonist to become their disciple/successor/son-in-law.

No, in fact, even most authors probably don't know the answer to this age-old mystery.

"Young man, don't be ungrateful! I see you possess extraordinary abilities and are unwilling to let your skills vanish with my body. Many people would beg for such a thing!"

Luo Binghe remained expressionless. Seeing that he didn't respond, the Dream Demon suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

Sure enough, when Luo Binghe spoke again, he had a smile that was hard to decipher.

He said slowly and deliberately, "Senior is so eager to teach me, I'm afraid it's not just because you don't want your skills to be lost without a successor, is it?"

The nightmare knew something was wrong.