"How is Yin Ming doing lately?" the Grand Elder, seated in the Demon Sect's secret chamber, asked from afar.
The guard, kneeling on the ground, felt the immense pressure emanating from the Grand Elder and was so frightened that he dared not utter a sound. "He... he seems to have not been fulfilling the tasks the Elder assigned to him properly lately."
Upon hearing the guards describe Yin Ming's series of actions that defied the logic of the mission, the Grand Elder frowned, his imposing presence radiating authority.
"Hmph, does he intend to rebel? Bring him before me, I want to ask him what he's really up to!"
"Wait!" A graceful figure emerged from the darkness. She sat down beside the Grand Elder with alluring steps, her soft hand intentionally or unintentionally brushing against the back of the Grand Elder's hand. "Grand Elder, why are you so angry?"
She whispered something in the elder's ear.
The elder's eyes grew brighter with each word she spoke, and he turned to the guard, saying, "Listen carefully, I need you to relay the following words to Yin Ming word for word..."
***
Behind the screen, the steam rose, vaguely outlining an elegant figure.
Yin Ming leaned against the edge of the bathtub, contemplating life. He didn't know what the next two years would bring, and he was worried.
Well, to be precise, it should be one year and three months. It seems that the original work didn't mention any important events during this period.
According to the original storyline, there is only one more stage left before the male protagonist's rebirth, which is the half-month before he goes to the Misty Forest and obtains his exclusive sword.
It was because of that instance that the male protagonist was able to advance to the eighth realm—you can tell it's a super instance just by hearing it. You have to know that the seventh and eighth realms are a watershed. Only from the eighth realm onwards can one truly step onto the path of cultivation.
So what should he do now? I suddenly feel so lost.
Oh right, he needs to think of several ways to ensure his future survival.
But it's been so long and I still haven't figured it out, it's really frustrating.
After thinking it over, the only way out is to cling to the male lead.
But if that happens, the elders of the Demon Sect will definitely not let him off easily.
Ugh, this is such a headache.
But speaking of which, it seems like the guards haven't given him any yellow card warnings lately. Could it be that the elders have recalled them?
Yin Ming's eyes lit up. Couldn't he take this opportunity to gain more favor?
As if remembering something, Yin Ming's eyes darkened again. Trying to win his favor was useless; in the end, Yin Ming still had to personally send the male lead away.
Moreover, in order to successfully arouse the male lead's resentment, even if Yin Ming is unwilling, he may very well have to repeat the behavior of the villain in the original work.
Given the male protagonist's vengeful nature after his transformation, even if Yin Ming had been kind to him in the past, he would never let Yin Ming live. Please refer to the original work for details.
Some might say that's not necessarily true; the villain in the original story never treated the protagonist well, so it's only right for the protagonist to take revenge.
But that's actually a thought we have when we're looking at things from a reader's perspective.
Before his rebirth, the male protagonist viewed the villains in the original work through a lens of prejudice. No matter what the villains did to him, he would always believe that the villains were doing it for his own good.
In the male protagonist's eyes, Yin Ming is now just someone who has gone from subtly trying to help him to openly being kind to him.
Although Yin Ming could still place his bets on the female lead, he couldn't put all his eggs in one basket. What if the female lead's words didn't carry any weight?
Therefore, we still need to find more ways to increase our survival rate.
Yin Ming leaned back in the bathtub, his neck tilted back, revealing the perfect curve of his Adam's apple, and closed his eyes in deep thought. But no matter how much he thought, he remained clueless. Could it be that he truly couldn't escape the fate of dying young?
Yin Ming rubbed his body with a towel, feeling depressed. After soaking in the bath for so long, his skin started to turn pink, and he felt a little dizzy.
Just as he was about to get up and put on his clothes, he suddenly sensed something strange behind him. Yin Ming quickly lowered his body to avoid being exposed and turned his head at the same time—but there was nothing there.
Wait a minute, I definitely felt someone coming just now. Could it really have just been my imagination?
Oh no, could it be that they're after the male lead?!
Yin Ming quickly got up, put on his inner clothes, and went around the screen to check. Fortunately, Ling Yao was still lying quietly on the bed, with nothing unusual about him.
Her face was still a little red, and you could smell a hint of osmanthus wine when you got close.
Yin Ming reached out and touched his face, feeling the burning heat on his fingertips. Yin Ming hesitated – should he wake Ling Yao up to take a cold shower to cool him down before going back to sleep?
"Ah Yao, Ah Yao?"
Lingyao kept his eyes closed and his breathing steady, showing no reaction.
Seeing this, Yin Ming pursed his lips and decided to let it go.
Since Lingyao can still sleep, it proves that he doesn't feel uncomfortable, so let's leave it at that for now.
Yin Ming extinguished the candle, lay down in the empty spot where Ling Yao had been, pulled the blanket over himself, and tucked Ling Yao in as well.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Yin Ming had fallen asleep, so he didn't notice that a hand was quietly wrapping around his waist from behind.
***
At the same moment, inside the study of the city lord's mansion.
"Father, what nonsense are you spouting!" Yao Ling stomped her foot playfully.
"Haha, Ling'er, don't be shy. Father really can't always be by your side, so Father has to find someone trustworthy to take care of you in Father's place. Young Hero Ling is a very good candidate." Yao Fu stroked Yao Ling's hair and said with a serious expression.
"Father, you... Ling'er is ignoring you!" Yao Ling pouted, looking very cute and playful.
In Yao Fu and Yao Chu's eyes, this was clearly a girl's reaction of being embarrassed and angry after her thoughts were exposed, which was quite charming.
"Father has already asked your brother and Steward Qin. Don't you also happen to be interested in Young Hero Ling?"
“Young Master Ling and his companions won’t be staying in our Yao City for long. We don’t know when we’ll meet again. If you don’t want to miss out, your father will risk his reputation to arrange this marriage for you.”
Yao Fu gently patted her daughter's shoulder, her tone tinged with a touch of melancholy. Time flies; the tiny baby of yesteryear is now of marriageable age.
"I...when did I ever say I had feelings for Young Hero Ling..."
"Don't I know you? Look at you when you met Young Hero Ling, you were like a complete fangirl." Yao Chu laughed and exposed her.
"I didn't!" Yao Ling bit her lower lip and stubbornly insisted, but her heart began to waver. Yes, why would Ling Yao and the others stay in Yao City? They only kindly brought them back and had no reason to stay.
"That was before, now..."
"Now what?" Yao Fu and Yao Chu asked instinctively.
"Ling'er... Ling'er only loves Yin Ming." Yao Ling gritted her teeth and finally poured out her heart. What did pride matter for the person she loved?
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