Chapter 19: Slacking Off, Day Nineteen
“Master, please don’t abandon me,” the seven- or eight-year-old boy whimpered, looking up at Wen Ying with a pleading gaze.
Wen Ying: “…”
The scene was already quite misleading, and the boy’s words made it even worse.
Wen Ying could already imagine the aftermath.
Wen Ying looked down at the boy with disgust, then—
Kicked the boy who had emerged from the box away.
“Waaah.” The boy sobbed softly, lying half-prone on the ground like a scorned lover.
“This… this… not only did she assault such a young child, but she also abandoned him afterward… That’s so shameless,” even Elder Zhi Jian, who had seen many things, was dumbfounded.
Clearly, Elder Zhi Jian had a powerful imagination.
“Yes, yes,” the boy cried, wiping away tears, whining, “You saw me, and now you’re cruelly abandoning me, sending me back to that dark world… Waaah… Master, how can you be so heartless… Waaah…”
Wen Ying: “…”
When the box had insisted on sticking to her, Wen Ying had anticipated the boy’s shamelessness, but not to this extent.
Elder Zhi Jian’s imagination was matched by his empathy.
“You… you… you…” Elder Zhi Jian pointed at Wen Ying, stuttering before finally managing a sentence. “Although your preferences are utterly shameful, you saved him, so wouldn’t you give him… better treatment?”
Wen Ying heard Elder Zhi Jian’s thoughts.
Elder Zhi Jian had completely “reconstructed” the story in his mind.
Zhi Jian had heard rumors of people outside the sect who liked young boys and the existence of brothels specializing in them.
Wen Ying must have frequented such places when she went down the mountain on missions, explaining why her missions were always incomplete.
Perhaps, unsatisfied, she used her family’s influence to redeem a child and had fun with him… until they were discovered.
Wen Ying thought that the fifty-two stories combined from her five dozen cycles as the second female lead were nowhere near as creative as Elder Zhi Jian’s imagination.
The system should really give the pen to Elder Zhi Jian; let him write!
“Zhi Jian, no need to say more,” Zhi Xu intervened, placing himself in front of Zhi Jian. “Wen Ying, regardless of this person’s origin, you should know that Xun Xian Sect doesn’t allow outsiders to enter. We wrongly accused you, causing you to be imprisoned for nearly a day. To apologize, we’ll pretend we didn’t see this. But you must quickly send him out of Xun Xian Sect!”
“You’re right,” Wen Ying nodded approvingly. “I’ll throw him out.”
This was the first time Wen Ying agreed with these old men.
Wen Ying grabbed the boy from the ground; his ragged appearance made even Elder Zhi Fa avert his gaze.
Just as Wen Ying was about to leave, the narrow dungeon entrance was blocked.
The one who came was the male lead of the Substitute Novel, Mu Rong Mo.
The elders wouldn’t have come to the dungeon for no reason.
They were here to imprison the bandaged Xu Huang—she was following behind the four elders, silent and unable to speak.
Wen Ying wasn’t surprised by Mu Rong Mo’s appearance.
As Wen Ying had said, Xu Huang couldn’t be written out so quickly.
“Mu Rong Mo was dressed in black, holding a black long sword, handsome and imposing, with an air of authority, but his expression was calm and steady, not easily showing his emotions.”
The description from the novel was quite accurate.
Until Mu Rong Mo saw what Wen Ying was holding—
“Yingying, you… what is that…” Mu Rong Mo was astonished, almost incredulous.
Wen Ying could understand Mu Rong Mo’s exaggerated expression.
Don’t forget, she was the white moonlight in Mu Rong Mo’s heart. The plot had just begun, Xu Huang hadn’t fully taken her place yet, and Mu Rong Mo still admired Wen Ying.
Admiring Wen Ying, who was infamous in Xun Xian Sect, was a miracle.
“It’s a person,” Wen Ying blinked. “As you see, an outsider.”
“Is… that so…” Mu Rong Mo lowered his eyes slightly.
He had long known that Yingying’s heart wasn’t with him…
He would make the decision; since Yingying had rejected him, he wouldn’t make her uncomfortable or cling to her.
He had come here for Xu Huang.
He didn’t want to… but he had to save Xu Huang.
This was something he owed her.
“Xiao Mo?” Elder Zhi Xu was surprised. “Why are you here? Is it for Xu Huang…”
“Elder Zhi Xu is correct,” Mu Rong Mo clasped his sword, bowing respectfully to Zhi Xu. “Mu Rong knows my wife’s crime is serious, but can Mu Rong take her punishment in her place?”
“You… why?” Elder Zhi Xu sighed involuntarily.
“Elder Zhi Xu, she is my wife. When a wife commits a crime, the husband also bears responsibility,” Mu Rong Mo shook his head.
“Sigh…” Elder Zhi Xu sighed again. He stroked his beard, speaking slowly, “Xiao Mo, being sentimental isn’t wrong, but do you know that excessive sentimentality… will harm yourself!”
Mu Rong Mo only lowered his head and remained silent.
This scene, though the location was different, was a familiar story to Wen Ying.
In every previous cycle, after Wen Ying escaped suspicion for releasing the ferocious beast and Xu Huang was exposed, this scene would play out.
Xu Huang’s position as the female lead relied not only on framing but also her intelligence.
Even though she was the culprit, she could turn it around and blame Wen Ying, making Mu Rong Mo feel guilty and pity for her, thus promoting their relationship.
In the Substitute Novel, Wen Ying would become an obstacle in their relationship, mostly thanks to Xu Huang.
Wen Ying was tired of Xu Huang’s acting.
Now, dealing with this brat was more important.
Wen Ying ignored the sounds from Xu Huang, who had finally managed to loosen her bandages, and left the dungeon without looking back.
[Mission failed…
(Small text) Why?! Host, why did you leave?! It was such a good opportunity!]
As Wen Ying left the dungeon, gray words appeared.
Wen Ying used the brat to knock the prompt away.
Seeing Wen Ying striding away and that no one else could be used, the boy finally had no choice but to hug Wen Ying’s arm, crying, “Waaah, Master! Master! Please don’t abandon me!”
Seeing the boy was about to wipe his snot and tears on her sleeve, Wen Ying shook him off like she was getting rid of dirt.
Wen Ying looked down at the boy coldly. “Weren’t you quite shameless just now? Why, when you were shameless, didn’t you think you’d have to beg me like this now?”
“Hehe, my shamelessness… was I not learning from you, Master?!” The boy fawningly approached, flattering, “How is it, Master? Did I learn it well? Did I get the essence?”
Learning from her?
Wen Ying frowned.
What was this brat saying?
And the suggestive term “Master…” Actually, Wen Ying had wanted to ask that earlier.
Author’s Note:
There’s a new character!
That’s right—a bratty kid!
Bratty Kid: Didn’t expect it was me!
P.S.: I’m not very satisfied with some of the previous plots, and I may revise them in the near future, but the story’s development will not be affected. If you see “edited,” you can ignore it~