The Male Lead I Wronged Has Blackened
CHAPTER 23: The Plan to Cultivate a True Brotherhood
Mu Yuanbai’s words made Jiang Shuo’s carefully restrained anger flare up instantly. His sharp gaze locked onto him.
“I told you, her affairs are none of your business.”
Jiang Shuo spoke coldly, ready to take Si Yao away, but Mu Yuanbai stubbornly blocked his path.
“She is a disciple of Xuanming Sect, and I am her Eldest Senior Brother. Why wouldn’t it be my business?”
Mu Yuanbai’s words carried a natural authority. The words “eldest senior brother” stung Jiang Shuo like nails on a chalkboard. He remembered how close Si Yao had been to Mu Yuanbai back then, always following him around and calling him “Senior Brother” sweetly.
Jiang Shuo’s face darkened, and he remained silent. His chest felt clogged, and the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. But Mu Yuanbai was the sect’s top disciple. If he hadn’t been from the same sect, Jiang Shuo would have smashed him until his head swelled worse than the butcher at the sect’s gate.
Mu Yuanbai saw Jiang Shuo’s silence and assumed he felt guilty or too embarrassed to argue. He continued, “Elder Situ instructed me to handle Si Yao’s entry into the sect. As a Xuanming disciple, she naturally must follow the elder’s orders.”
“Let go of Si Yao, or don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Jiang Shuo stayed silent, only because he feared a bloodied fight with Mu Yuanbai. But he hadn’t expected Mu Yuanbai to insist so relentlessly, acting like he had to take Si Yao from him at all costs.
Mu Yuanbai’s stubbornness only made Jiang Shuo’s anger boil higher. Forget about Senior Brother, top disciple, same sect loyalty! He'd just leave him alive, cripple him, and heal him! He'd cripple him and spend money to support him for the rest of his life!
With that thought, an overwhelming aura radiated from Jiang Shuo. He looked ready to start a full-blown fight.
Mu Yuanbai, realizing Jiang Shuo was completely enraged, went serious. He activated his spiritual energy, preparing for a clash.
Si Yao, having sobered up for a while, was then overcome by the effects of the alcohol. Standing behind Jiang Shuo, she squinted, feeling sleepy. If not for the occasional cold wind, she might have already toppled over and fallen into a deep sleep.
As the two prepared to confront each other, and it seemed nothing could end this peacefully, Si Yao’s exhaustion finally caught up with her. Her eyes closed, and she toppled straight forward, landing perfectly against Jiang Shuo’s back.
Jiang Shuo felt a sudden softness against his back and turned in surprise. Si Yao's unconscious body slumped down with his movement. Seeing Si Yao about to hit the ground, he quickly reached out and caught her, pulling her fully into his arms.
Si Yao’s small body settled against him, her delicate forehead resting on Jiang Shuo’s neck. She slept peacefully, long, thick lashes casting fan-shaped shadows across her flushed, tipsy cheeks in the moonlight.
Her expression was calm, her body soft and pliant as she curled obediently in his embrace, exhaling a faint, warm scent of wine.
Unconsciously gentle and innocent, Si Yao was like a calm sea that washed away the raging storm in Jiang Shuo’s heart.
He gazed at her sleeping face, feeling a deep serenity. In that moment, only she existed in his eyes and heart, and all thoughts of the confrontation with Mu Yuanbai vanished.
Fearing he might startle her, Jiang Shuo let go of his lingering hostility.
A cool breeze brushed past, and Si Yao shivered slightly in her sleep, subconsciously furrowing her brow. Jiang Shuo’s heart tightened, and his free hand quickly moved to shield her from the chill with his sleeve.
Realizing that the spot wasn’t suitable for rest, he carefully lifted Si Yao into his arms, holding her like a rare treasure. His movements were gentle and precise, cautious not to wake her.
Carrying her, he walked past Mu Yuanbai without a single glance in his direction.
Mu Yuanbai, surprisingly, did not pursue.
He had seen it clearly. The way Jiang Shuo looked at Si Yao was filled with tenderness powerful enough to drown a person. Every gesture was one of care, love, and protectiveness.
His instincts told him that Jiang Shuo would never harm Si Yao. Instead, he would cradle her in his hands, cherish her, and keep her close.
Watching Jiang Shuo’s retreating figure holding Si Yao, Mu Yuanbai was left with endless questions. He didn’t know the full story from back then, but one thing was certain. Jiang Shuo had once personally killed Si Yao and thrown her body off the cliff.
He had assumed their relationship could only be one of irreconcilable hatred. Yet Jiang Shuo’s current attitude left him puzzled. What exactly were Jiang Shuo’s true feelings for Si Yao?
—
Jiang Shuo carried Si Yao in his arms, walking calmly under the moonlight.
Everything around them was quiet, broken only by the occasional chirp of insects.
Si Yao’s head rested against his neck as she slept soundly, her soft, even breaths brushing against him and making his heart beat a little faster without him realizing it.
He had once imagined moments like this—holding her while they drank and laughed, strolling under the moonlight. In his daydreams, she would wrap her arms around his neck, chattering about the interesting things happening in the sect, and he would smile and listen.
But in reality, after each encounter, she only ever mocked him, looking at him with disdain.
Now, carrying her like this, Jiang Shuo felt as if he had stepped into a dream he never thought could come true. After that day, he had believed he would never see her again in his life.
After Si Yao fell from the cliff, he had searched for her for three whole months. He turned over every inch of the cliffside, but there was no trace of her. His vision blurred with anger and desperation, and in a fit of rage, he struck the cliff with a sword, splitting the back mountain in two. From that crack, hellfire surged up, and from then on, he sank into endless regret and unbearable longing.
He had told himself he hated her, yet now that he had seen her again, a joy he could not suppress filled his heart.
The more he thought about it, the more muddled his mind became. What exactly did he feel for Si Yao? Even he could not put it into words.
Jiang Shuo lowered his gaze to Si Yao’s sleeping face, his eyes soft and full of warmth. All he wanted now was for the walk back to take longer, just so he could hold her a little more, stay with her a little longer.
No matter how long the road, it eventually ends. Still, he carried her slowly, step by step, until they reached her room.
He pushed the door open. The room was pitch dark. Using his spiritual energy, Jiang Shuo activated a light-attributed spirit stone, and the room brightened instantly.
He carefully set Si Yao down on the bed. She slept soundly, completely undisturbed by his movements. As he straightened up, his forehead accidentally brushed against her soft lips. He froze for a moment, recalling the gentle touch of her kiss before, and felt a flutter in his chest.
He swallowed nervously, his thin lips unconsciously moving closer to her rosy mouth.
Just then, Si Yao murmured softly in her sleep, rolling over to a more comfortable position. Her lips happened to brush against the tip of Jiang Shuo’s nose.
It was like a spark had jolted him awake. He shot upright, heart racing, cheeks flushed all the way to his ears. Flustered, he hurriedly pulled a blanket over Si Yao and dashed out of the room.
Only after closing the door did he let out a long, shaky breath.
Since birth, Jiang Shuo had been steadfast, disciplined, unshakable. No charms from the Huaihe Sect, no illusions from demon cultivators could ever disturb him. Yet today, he had completely fallen for a sleeping, drunk girl.
A serious miscalculation.
Suppressing the racing of his heart, he fled the room as if his life depended on it.
Si Yao didn't wake up until late morning.
She had drunk way too much the day before, and the aftereffects of a hangover left her head pounding.
She rolled over, searching for a comfy position to burrow back into bed.
Just as she was drifting off again, the system’s notification pinged suddenly—
【Target’s favorability +100, reward points +50, charm +20, cultivation level increased by one small realm.】
Huh?
Si Yao jolted awake. How did the favorability spike all of a sudden? She hadn’t even done anything. She only drank a little wine yesterday, hadn’t she?
Shaking her head, she tried to piece it together. She remembered drinking with Shen Rong… but after that?
Ah, right. Someone had gotten way too drunk and completely blacked out.
Si Yao scrambled out of bed and realized her mask was gone. Her heart sank. Could someone have seen her real face yesterday?
【Next plot phase approaching: Jiang Shuo agrees to succeed as Sect Leader, Mu Yuanbai is promoted to Right Pavilion Elder, and Jiang Shuo will personally crown Mu Yuanbai as elder.】
【Host must ensure plot progresses normally—】
Si Yao: “……”
Why is this plot moving so fast? Her plan hadn’t even kicked off yet! Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai were about to clash, Jiang Shuo hadn’t even agreed to succeed as Sect Leader, the succession ceremony couldn’t even happen, and now they’re crowning someone? Ridiculous!
All thoughts of sleeping in vanished instantly. Si Yao’s mind raced as she asked the system, “When is the succession ceremony?”
The system responded:【According to the original plot, the succession ceremony will take place in seven days.】
Si Yao breathed a sigh of relief. Seven days—that was plenty of time.
Determined to get Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai to bond, Si Yao endured the pounding in her head from the hangover and spent the entire day reviewing the original text. By the end, she had crafted a complete plan to cultivate a true brotherhood for them.
Once the plan was finalized, Si Yao stretched lazily and confidently tucked her freshly made plan into her pocket.
“Hmph,” she thought. I'm an outstanding employee of the Quick Transmigration Bureau, handling multiple roles with ease. I refuse to believe I can't handle two mere men.
Under Si Yao’s strategic plan, Jiang Shuo and Mu Yuanbai must become the best buddies in the entire cultivation world!!!
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