The Villainous Supporting Character Ended Up with the Female Lead - Chapter 22

Guan Ling’s injuries were horrifying to Yun Hanmian. Her blue-gray Daoist robe was drenched in bl00d, and deep, jagged claw marks crisscrossed her porcelain-white forearm.

As Tao Li supported her, he carefully extracted the shards of horn embedded in her flesh. He noticed Guan Ling’s face had turned pale, her pearly teeth clenched tightly on her lower lip, yet she remained utterly silent.

This demon cultivator possesses profound cultivation and its claws are coated in potent poison, Yun Hanmian observed, examining the wounds closely. She used her spiritual power to staunch the bleeding and said with concern, I’m not skilled in medicine. This poison is exceptionally virulent. If we can’t find an antidote within three days, it will cause your entire body to rot and decay, and your cultivation will be gradually devoured by it.

What?! Guan Ling nearly fainted from shock at Yun Hanmian’s words. Leaning heavily on Tao Li’s shoulder, she struggled to maintain consciousness, her gaze fixed desperately on the only lifeline in sight.

Elder Guan, my heart is willing, but my abilities fall short, Yun Hanmian said, shaking her head with a sigh. The Yun Clan specializes in sword cultivation. Elder Tao, you should immediately leave for Penglai and seek assistance from the Dao Xing Sect. They excel in both medicine and poison—

Wait. Xu Jianchun finally dropped his smug expression and stepped forward, grabbing Guan Ling’s forearm.

The sudden attention startled Guan Ling, causing her to instinctively recoil. She hadn’t anticipated Xu Jianchun’s grip would be so strong, pinning her firmly in place.

Han Mian! Xu Jianchun exclaimed, her pupils contracting sharply as she examined the claw marks on Guan Ling’s forearm. This is truly monstrous! The poison carries the aura of a taipan viper, yet the wounds are clearly five-clawed scratches.

Sect Leader Xu means, Yun Hanmian mused, that the demon cultivator refined or devoured a taipan viper?

It’s likely more than mere refinement, Xu Jianchun replied. The viper’s venom has been transferred to its claws. It must have first been swallowed whole by the snake, then killed the viper from within its belly, merging with the serpent’s essence.

Vile beast! Tao Li roared, his fury finally erupting. Survival is understandable, but to master such a sinister method to plague humanity? I will never forgive it!

Yun Hanmian concealed the indifference in her eyes and exchanged a meaningful glance with Xu Jianchun. Xu Jianchun immediately understood, forming a hand seal and waving her hand to store Guan Ling within her Storage Ring.

Sect Leader Yun, Sect Leader Xu, Tao Li said, his gaze shifting between the two sect leaders, confusion evident in his eyes. Behind his back, his hand gripped a crimson talisman paper.

This talisman paper was every Shangxuan Sect disciple’s last resort. In life-threatening situations, they could activate it.

The talisman contained a trace of the Sect Leader’s spiritual power. Even if it couldn’t save their life, it would at least inform the Sect who had slaughtered their disciple, ensuring vengeance would be exacted.

Hmph.

Xu Jianchun snatched the talisman from Tao Li’s hand and kicked him three feet away. He shook the paper dismissively in front of her, sneering, Shangxuan Sect disciples are still so petty.

You—!

Tao Li clutched his chest, his mouth filling with the metallic tang of bl00d. Xu Jianchun’s kick had been delivered with full force. Having exhausted all her cultivation power in the earlier battle with the shadow, Tao Li had no strength left to withstand the attack.

He struggled to his feet, swaying as he stood before them. Clenching his jaw, he swallowed the bl00d rising in his throat, his eyes now burning with murderous intent.

Elder Tao, Yun Hanmian said with concern, Sect Leader Xu acted rashly out of worry and accidentally injured you. I apologize on her behalf.

Tao Li snorted coldly, turning his head away, unwilling to engage with either of them further.

Holding the severely wounded Guan Ling hostage right in front of him, Yun Hanmian and Xu Jianchun were playing good cop, bad cop, treating him like a fool to be manipulated.

Seeing Tao Li’s defiant posture, Xu Jianchun’s anger flared anew, her fingers itching to teach him another lesson.

The relationship between Yaotai and Shangxuan had always been precarious, like walking on thin ice. In the past, Tao Li and Guan Ling had often stood up for the disciples of their Shangxuan Sect.

If not for the three agreements made with Sect Leader Kong a millennium ago, she would have already razed Shangxuan to the ground to avenge her Yaotai disciples who had been wronged.

Stay calm, Yun Hanmian’s voice echoed in her mind, urging Xu Jianchun to restrain her impulsive actions. Don’t alert Shangxuan and jeopardize our plan.

Unlike Tao Li and Guan Ling, who had come here under the Sect Leader’s secret orders to search for a Divine Artifact, Xu Jianchun and Yun Hanmian had abandoned their Sect’s myriad affairs to pursue a single person.

Han Mian, are you certain Yun Weiyan is still here? Xu Jianchun asked, not out of mockery, but because she distrusted Yun Hanmian’s judgment. Based on her understanding of Yun Weiyan, now that his hiding place had been discovered, he would undoubtedly seek an even more secluded location to heal his wounds.

Yun Hanmian remained silent, her silence conveying her unwavering conviction.

Seeing Yun Hanmian’s certainty, Xu Jianchun finally felt a sliver of reassurance. She took a deep breath, lowered her haughty demeanor, and muttered to Tao Li, My recklessness.

Before Tao Li could speak, Yun Hanmian interjected, taking over Xu Jianchun’s explanation. Sect Leader Xu’s Storage Ring was a gift from Dao Xing. It has restorative properties that can aid in healing injuries. She offered it hoping Elder Guan’s wounds would heal more quickly.

Tao Li’s expression finally softened, his hostility dissipating. He nodded to Yun Hanmian. I thank both Sect Leaders on behalf of my Senior Sister.

Yun Hanmian quietly observed Tao Li, a sudden thought crossing her mind What would happen if Tao Li learned that Yun Weiyan had been reborn?

Tao Li was Yun Weiyan’s only disciple, and he harbored a deep-seated hatred for her.

Ten years ago, upon hearing of Yun Weiyan’s death, he had even approached the Yun Clan, demanding custody of her corpse. He vowed to tear her body into a million pieces to appease the spirit of his Eldest Senior Sister.

But the thought vanished as quickly as it had come. Yun Hanmian couldn’t be certain she could control Tao Li.

An awkward silence descended between the three of them.

The dense black clouds parted, revealing a bright moon high in the sky. Its silvery light filtered through the dappled bamboo shadows, casting long, distorted shadows of the trio across the ground.

Xu Jianchun glanced sideways at Yun Hanmian. Her face was flawlessly sculpted, her features radiating a serene coldness. Dressed in white robes and carrying a treasured sword, she resembled a celestial maiden banished to the mortal realm.

Truly, she is destined for Ascension by the Heavenly Dao, Xu Jianchun thought to herself. Once Yun Weiyan is eliminated as this tribulation, Yun Hanmian will likely advance to the Tribulation Transcendence Stage.

With this thought, Xu Jianchun cast an approving glance at Yun Hanmian. Just as she was about to break the tense silence, a blinding blaze of light flooded the courtyard.

Immortal Maiden! We’ve come to rescue you!

Immortal Maiden, are you safe?!

A mob of villagers, torches in hand, surged into the courtyard, surrounding Yun Hanmian and Xu Jianchun. Their faces grim, they roared, Demons! How dare you harm the Immortal Maiden?!

Yun Hanmian ……

Xu Jianchun ……

Tao Li helplessly pressed his forehead against his palm, his mind racing with a single thought We’re doomed.

Yun Hanmian, the world-renowned first cultivator, the Yaotai Sect Leader who had dominated the Cultivation World for three thousand years, was now being called a demon…

Tao Li stole a glance at Xu Jianchun beside him, noticing her forced, unnatural smile. A growing sense of dread settled in his heart.

Xu Jianchun’s notoriously capricious nature was well-known among the Six Major Sects. He rewarded those who pleased him and annihilated those who angered him, holding mortals incapable of treading the Path of Immortality in utter contempt.

As for Sect Leader Yun…

Tao Li subtly shifted closer to Yun Hanmian, glancing around at the still-clamoring villagers as he swiftly calculated how to extricate them from this situation.

Unlike the Cultivation World’s widespread disdain for mortals, he still harbored a sliver of compassion for them. Moreover, these villagers had gathered and stormed the courtyard under the mistaken belief that he and Guan Ling were in danger.

For both personal and moral reasons, Tao Li had to swallow his pride and stop Xu Jianchun.

Everyone, Yun Hanmian suddenly spoke, drawing Tao Li back from his thoughts. He couldn’t help but lift his gaze, staring in awe at this renowned prodigy of the heavens.

I am Yun Hanmian, Sect Leader of the Yun Clan. The person beside me is Xu Jianchun, Sect Leader of Yaotai at Kunlun Mountain.

Yun Hanmian rarely showed such warmth. She gracefully performed a cupped-fist salute with her sword, her voice ringing with a smile as she continued

Sect Leader Xu and I were traveling through this region when we heard that your village was being plagued by demons. The thought of their cruel methods filled us with compassion.

Her amiable tone gradually calmed the villagers’ unease. Some who had visited cities began whispering to their neighbors, discussing the matter.

Could this be our lucky day? What merit have we earned to witness the splendor of the Yun Clan and Yaotai Sect Leaders?

Hey, have you actually seen them before? They might just be imposters using the names of Immortals to trick us!

But looking at their celestial bearing and jade-like beauty, they hardly seem like the type to falsely claim titles and deceive the world.

Yun Hanmian took in the villagers’ hushed whispers and knowing glances with a gentle smile. She stepped forward to stand before the elderly man at the head of the crowd.

The elder raised his hand, signaling the villagers to fall back behind him. The fiery glow of the torches illuminated his weathered face.

After clearing his throat twice, the elder fixed his cloudy eyes on Yun Hanmian, who stood leaning against her sword in the center of the courtyard.

Can we trust you? he asked, his voice humble. The village had suffered too many recent deaths, and as the eldest, he felt compelled to consider the village’s future.

Of course, Yun Hanmian replied confidently, her gaze sweeping across the crowd. Raising her voice, she declared, Sect Leader Xu and I have already located the demon’s lair. Tonight, if you’re willing, you can join us in its extermination.