The Villainous Supporting Character Ended Up with the Female Lead - Chapter 21

The moonlit night was as silent as spilled ink, with scattered fires flickering in the village.

When the villagers learned that two Immortal Maidens had traveled from afar to exorcise the demons plaguing them, they specially cleared out an empty room for Guan Ling and Tao Li to rest.

The room was small but well-equipped, even featuring a makeshift tea set on the wooden table.

Guan Ling reclined languidly on the soft, comfortable bed, propping her head up with one hand as she gazed at Tao Li, who sat upright on a wooden chair. Bored, she yawned.

She and Tao Li had both been raised by their Eldest Senior Sister. Tao Li was the youngest and newest member of their group.

By seniority, Guan Ling could easily call Tao Li Junior Sister.

She stared at Tao Li for a long moment, the flickering candlelight casting shifting shadows on the wall.

Suddenly, as if possessed by a whim, Guan Ling asked, Tao Li, how did you meet Yun Weiyan, that Demoness?

Tao Li’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Guan Ling. It was a cursed encounter best left unmentioned, he replied coldly.

Don’t be such a spoilsport, Junior Sister! Tell me about Yun Weiyan. I don’t know her well, but you were her only disciple after all—

Before Guan Ling could finish, Tao Li cut her off with a sharp, impatient tone.

Elder Guan.

His voice carried a hint of frost as he lifted his gaze, meeting Guan Ling’s eyes with an icy stare. Instead of dwelling on my Shizun, who died ten years ago, you’d be better off figuring out how to explain this mess to the Sect Leader.

Guan Ling felt somewhat uneasy under Tao Li’s gaze. She pressed her lips into an awkward smile and turned to look out the window, feigning nonchalance.

The entire Cultivation World knew that the Shangxuan Sect’s treasured artifact was the Square Inch Chessboard—a perfectly square chessboard with black and white lines crisscrossing its surface. It could contain mountains and rivers, even trap cultivators at or below the Tribulation Transcendence Stage within its confines.

But only Shangxuan’s core elders knew that the Square Inch Chessboard lacked its most crucial components the black and white chess pieces.

In short, the Shangxuan Sect possessed only the chessboard, but no pieces to play with.

A faint spiritual connection existed between the pieces and the board. After years of deduction, the Sect Leader had finally pinpointed the approximate location of the missing pieces just days ago.

Their current journey, undertaken on the Sect Leader’s orders, was to search for the legendary black and white chess pieces scattered across the world.

The thought of the Sect Leader’s mission made Guan Ling frown. She sighed heavily, I suspect the Sect Leader’s calculations were wrong. We’ve searched this place for three whole days, practically turning the ground inside out.

It’s been completely fruitless, Elder Tao.

She sat up with a sigh, retrieved talisman paper from her Daoist robe, spread them across the bed, and activated a spell. The talismans floated into the air and began to burn.

The burning talisman paper gradually coalesced, transforming into the shape of a South-Pointing Ladle. It spun twice before coming to rest in mid-air.

Tao Li, even my most treasured talisman paper can’t guide us, Guan Ling said, waving away the ashes. She stepped down from the bed and approached Tao Li, her face etched with helplessness. Honestly, we should just capture that demon cultivator and bring him back to the Sect to plead for forgiveness.

Tao Li’s expression remained impassive, revealing nothing of her inner thoughts.

Just as Guan Ling was about to urge Tao Li to abandon the mission, a gust of icy wind swept through the window, extinguishing the flickering candlelight. A dark shadow darted into the room, lunging straight for Guan Ling.

Watch out!

Before Guan Ling could react, she instinctively held her breath, only to be pulled into a protective embrace.

Tao Li wrapped one arm around Guan Ling’s shoulders, her other hand holding a talisman paper between two fingers, poised to confront the encroaching darkness.

Aaaah—!

A bloodcurdling scream pierced the night. Tao Li reached out and found the Daoist robe beneath her hand soaked with gushing bl00d.

Black mist enveloped the small room as the shadow savagely tore at Guan Ling. Tao Li could almost hear the sickening crunch of bones being chewed and swallowed.

Guan Ling, hold on! Tao Li roared, the talisman paper shredded by the shadow’s claws scattering across her Daoist robe.

With Guan Ling’s life hanging in the balance, Tao Li abandoned all concern for the Righteous Path. She swiftly executed a spell Yun Weiyan had taught her, forming a hand seal that unleashed a sudden, violent gale.

The howling wind crashed into the black mist with earth-shattering force, sweeping through the room like a tempest. In the blink of an eye, the mist recoiled, spitting out Guan Ling, who was covered in bl00d.

Tao Li caught Guan Ling as she collapsed backward, then waved his hand to erect a dense barrier of talisman paper, anxiously channeling spiritual power into her.

Junior Sister…

Guan Ling’s ghastly white bones were exposed where the black shadow had torn away her delicate skin. She forced her eyes open and offered Tao Li a weak smile, patting his hand. Her voice remained steady as she said, I won’t die. Don’t worry.

Tao Li had barely breathed a sigh of relief when the black mist began to coalesce again. The shadow lurked within its swirling depths, as if observing their fear.

Tao Li tightened his grip on Guan Ling, bit his fingertip, and flicked a drop of bl00d onto the floating talisman paper. Instantly, a blinding golden light flooded the room!

Yet the shadow remained unmoved, even devouring the golden radiance.

Guan Ling and Tao Li were practitioners of the Talisman Dao, whose Formation Arts originated from the laws of heaven and earth. In direct combat, they were far inferior to sects that cultivated martial arts with weapons.

Tao Li could only rely on the magical power of the talisman paper to endure the shadow’s onslaught. He shielded Guan Ling’s vital points while maintaining the protective barrier around them.

After a prolonged standoff with the black mist, Tao Li’s face was deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat, and the veins on her arms bulged as she sustained her body by burning her life force.

Am I truly going to die here?

Tao Li’s unfocused gaze drifted toward the black mist, separated by the barrier, and a profound sense of desolation washed over her.

Just as she felt utterly helpless, a treasured sword descended from the heavens, piercing straight into the heart of the black mist!

A voice Tao Li never expected followed

Demon! How dare you harm others!

Yun Hanmian wielded the sword, cleaving through the black mist. In the flickering light and shadow, the silver-white blade, radiating murderous intent, stabbed toward the mist’s core!

The Jade Rainbow Sword unleashed overwhelming spiritual pressure. Yun Hanmian gripped the hilt with one hand, her movements flashing like lightning, each strike a phantom-like blur!

Unable to withstand the sword’s intent, the black shadow let out a mournful wail. The mist rapidly condensed as Yun Hanmian withdrew the blade, her expression indifferent as she swung the sword again, cleaving toward the shadow!

In an instant, wind and clouds churned. The shadow, trembling violently, severed its tail and fled in terror. The black mist receded like a tide, leaving a severed tail plummeting from mid-air.

Tao Li stared in disbelief at the slender figure before her, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably. Stunned, she momentarily forgot about the gravely wounded Guan Ling in her arms.

In a daze, she seemed to see Yun Weiyan standing before her once more, just as she had in the past.

Her Shizun, whom she had once revered and loved beyond measure.

Shi…

She opened her mouth, but ultimately swallowed the honorific she hadn’t uttered in ten years.

How could I possibly mistake her?

Tao Li lowered his gaze, murmuring inwardly, Shizun has been dead for ten years.

Yun Hanmian swiftly dismantled the remaining Formation Arts outside the house, then confidently picked up the tail lying on the ground.

Bare and skeletal, a layer of skin wrapped around the tailbone, devoid of flesh, it emitted a faint, luminous glow in the darkness.

Yun Hanmian examined the tail closely. Since the black shadow had discarded it willingly, she could deduce that the shadow was likely a demon cultivator.

A severed tail for survival? Could it be a fox?

Yun Hanmian suddenly recalled the Nine-Tailed Fox she had encountered earlier—also shrouded in black mist, also walking the path of Demonic Cultivation.

She shook her head, tucking the question away for later, and turned to survey the two injured figures slumped on the ground below.

Guan Ling glanced sideways at Tao Li’s expression, guessing he was lost in memories of his Demoness Shizun. She sighed inwardly before looking up to thank the sword cultivator.

Thank you, Sect Leader Yun, for saving us.

Oh, just a thank you for saving your life? Typical of disciples from that dilapidated Shangxuan Sect.

A sultry, mature voice cut through the air, its mockery undisguised.

Guan Ling’s face flushed with anger. Ignoring Tao Li’s attempts to restrain her, she forced herself to stand, clenching her jaw as she glared at the woman approaching slowly.

Xu Jianchun surveyed Guan Ling and Tao Li’s battered, disheveled state and couldn’t resist mocking them

Well, well, old acquaintances! Elder Tao and Elder Guan, what brings you to this desolate backwater? Is Shangxuan running out of funds again?

Xu… Jian… Chun! Guan Ling roared, her voice trembling with fury. Shangxuan may be poor, but at least we’re not like Yaotai, wallowing in extravagance! Your disciples only know how to apply rouge, not cultivate!

Heh, you little brat! I’ll teach you some manners today on behalf of Sect Leader Kong! Xu Jianchun sneered, rolling up her sleeves and cracking her knuckles in anticipation of a beating.

Yaotai and Shangxuan shared the Kunlun Spirit Vein, with Shangxuan Sect occupying the northern slopes and Yaotai’s Jade Pool nestled on the southern side.

The two sects had long been at odds. Shangxuan Sect emphasized rigorous cultivation, simplicity, and austerity, while Yaotai disciples indulged in worldly desires and reveled in luxury.

The relationship between the sects deteriorated to its breaking point after Xu Jianchun assumed leadership.

Shangxuan Sect detested Yaotai Sect’s extravagance, while Yaotai Sect looked down on Shangxuan Sect’s poverty. The disciples of the two sects frequently exchanged insults across the mountain range, and occasionally even engaged in group brawls.

This rivalry had become a long-standing topic of gossip in the Cultivation World.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Yun Hanmian had no choice but to intervene.

Sect Leader Xu, there’s no need to argue with juniors. Elder Guan is Sect Leader Kong’s beloved disciple. I believe we can spare her a reprimand.

Xu Jianchun snorted coldly, but out of respect for Yun Hanmian, she refrained from further reprimanding Guan Ling.

Sect Leader Yun, Sect Leader Xu, since you’re both here, would you—

Before Tao Li could finish, Guan Ling guessed that he was about to ask Yun Hanmian and Xu Jianchun to heal her injuries. She had always been at odds with Xu Jianchun, their meetings invariably ending in conflict.

The thought of begging Xu Jianchun made Guan Ling’s chest tighten, and she surreptitiously scratched Tao Li’s palm repeatedly.

Ignoring Guan Ling’s subtle gestures, Tao Li earnestly pleaded with them

With my current cultivation level, I cannot heal my Senior Sister. Would you two be willing to lend your assistance? Once we return to our sect, we will prepare a generous gift to express our gratitude.

Before he could finish speaking, Yun Hanmian stepped forward to examine Guan Ling’s injuries.

Xu Jianchun, unable to resist Yun Hanmian’s request, glanced disdainfully at Tao Li and Guan Ling, muttered a curse under her breath, and strode over in two long strides to assist Yun Hanmian with the healing.