Wu dong Qian Kun: I, Lin Langtian, Refuse to be a Supporting Character

In the spacious room, Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow as he watched his fingertips press against Dugu Qi’s back. Withdrawing the black-gold light, he felt a surge of pure energy flow into his body alongside it, something he had come to expect after the past few sessions.

”Amazing,” he thought, retracting his fingers, ”even a small trace of energy from a Wheel-Turning Stage master holds immense power.”

He then lowered his hand and looked at Dugu Qi, who already appeared healthier than he had during the previous sessions.

”Elder Dugu, that’s as much as I can do for now. With my current abilities, removing the dark marks is limited to what we’ve done here.”

Wiping sweat from his forehead, Dugu Qi nodded gratefully. Each session of dark mark removal was agonizing, akin to fighting a powerful opponent. Still, he turned to Lin Langtian with sincere gratitude.

”Thank you, young friend Langtian. I can feel the dark marks diminishing in my body bit by bit.”

Lin Langtian returned the nod with a slight smile. ”We had a deal.”

With a look of resolve, Dugu Qi replied, ”Don’t worry. Once you fully remove the dark marks from my body, I’ll honor my commitment to serve as your bodyguard for ten years.”

With that, Dugu Qi leapt from the bed. A powerful surge of yuan energy suddenly erupted from him, far beyond what he had shown earlier and surpassing even that of Fire Division Leader Fen Cang. His strength had now fully returned to the peak Life Transformation Stage.

”Ahh, I’ve missed this feeling!” Dugu Qi laughed heartily. Although his peak days were far behind him, he could feel the hope of recovery, a reprieve from his previous state of simply awaiting death. For the first time in years, he felt elation and relief.

Lin Langtian observed Dugu Qi’s fully restored power and felt a wave of relief. Had Dugu Qi gone back on his word and turned on him, his peak Life Transformation power could have placed Lin Langtian in a dire situation. Fortunately, Dugu Qi was honorable and clearly saw the advantage of keeping Lin Langtian’s support.

”Elder Dugu, I’ll be heading back to my sect soon. Once I reach the Life Transformation Stage, I’ll return to help you fully rid yourself of the dark marks.”

Stretching lazily as he got up, Lin Langtian turned to Dugu Qi and respectfully bid him farewell.

”Leaving already, young friend?” Dugu Qi’s expression grew serious. Lin Langtian was the first person in many years who could help ease his suffering, so he found himself reluctant to see him go.

”I’ve already been away from my sect for nearly a month,” Lin Langtian explained. ”If I don’t report back soon, they’ll assume I’ve died.”

The deaths of Wood Division Vice Leader Mu Ku and Ling Jiang Qin Lang would surely have caused quite a commotion within Yuan Gate, and with his prolonged absence, the higher-ups likely believed he’d perished. Lin Langtian needed to return promptly to avoid being removed from the sect’s ranks altogether.

Dugu Qi nodded in understanding but remarked, ”With your talent, there’s no need for you to remain bound to Yuan Gate. Even the three old founders there aren’t necessarily fit to be your teachers. If you’re interested, I could introduce you to some old friends in the Western Mystic Region. Their reputations are comparable to mine, and they could train you as a personal disciple with access to resources far superior to Yuan Gate’s.”

Lin Langtian was momentarily taken aback by the offer, but he shook his head with a smile, declining politely. His goal wasn’t simply to secure resources but to obtain the Chaotic Demon Flame and the Ancestral Space Talisman, and Dugu Qi didn’t need to know this.

Seeing Lin Langtian’s polite refusal, Dugu Qi sighed, raised his hand, and a faint gray light appeared in his palm. He offered it to Lin Langtian.

”This is a soul imprint I condensed over the past few days. I won’t accompany you back to Yuan Gate, as I’d rather avoid any attention from its leaders. However, keep this imprint with you. Should you find yourself in trouble, it will allow you to summon me. I can handle any opponent below the Death Profound Stage.”

Lin Langtian’s face lit up with appreciation as he took the gray light. ”It seems I made a wise choice, hiring you as my protector, Elder Dugu.”

”Enough with the flattery,” Dugu Qi replied with a laugh. ”Hurry up and grow stronger. I can hardly wait to see my power fully restored.”

Lin Langtian’s words had fueled Dugu Qi’s hope. He had endured the isolation and suffering of Blood Horn Region for too long and was eager to return to his prime. Lin Langtian smiled back.

”Don’t worry, Elder Dugu. I’ll make sure to rid you of the dark marks. After all, having a formidable bodyguard by my side is something I look forward to as well.”

”Haha! That’s the spirit!” Dugu Qi laughed loudly. ”Once I’m back to my peak, I’ll protect you, even if the King of Hell himself shows up!”

After a few more pleasantries, Lin Langtian bid him farewell. As he watched Lin Langtian’s figure disappear out the door, Dugu Qi’s eyes narrowed, and he soon returned to his quiet life, just like any other old man.

Standing at the gates of Black Rock City, Lin Langtian took a final look at the towering walls and couldn’t help but reflect on his recent experiences. His time in the city had felt like a dream. The chances of stumbling upon a hidden powerhouse in a random shop seemed like something out of a story, but here he was, with his own legendary encounter, one that left him feeling both astonished and fortunate.

”Sigh… bumping into a former Wheel-Turning Stage master in a random shop. Is this luck or misfortune?” Lin Langtian muttered, shaking his head as he walked through the streets. Following his map toward the Yuan Gate, he asked casually, ”Ling Yi, what do you think—will he be a problem?”

Ling Yi replied thoughtfully, ”His power is still suppressed by the dark marks. He’ll likely honor his promise as long as he needs you to fully remove them. And from his temperament, he doesn’t seem the type to betray a benefactor.”

She continued, ”But just in case, when you’re finally able to erase the dark marks, I’ll leave a hidden failsafe in him. If he stays loyal as your bodyguard for ten years, fine. But if he turns on you, he’ll pay dearly.”

A glint appeared in Lin Langtian’s eye as he chuckled. ”Thank you, Ling Yi. I’d been wondering how to ensure control over him. He’s a Wheel-Turning Stage powerhouse, after all—a famous figure in the Western Mystic Region. Helping him regain his full power could give him leverage over me.”

Now, with Ling Yi’s assurance, Lin Langtian felt a weight lift. ”I’m in your debt, Ling Yi,” he said.

”Not at all, but always remember, true strength lies in yourself. Relying on others is risky; it’s something to keep in mind,” she advised.

Lin Langtian nodded. He knew that his own power was the ultimate foundation. He had only brought Dugu Qi on as a safeguard, a strategic asset.

Clapping the dust off his robes, he looked toward the distant horizon. His wings flared behind him, carrying him swiftly in Yuan Gate’s direction.

The return journey to Yuan Gate took nearly twice as long as his outward journey. Without Qin Lang’s flying beast, and unfamiliar with the area, Lin Langtian took almost half a month to get back.

”Finally home.”

As he entered the vast protective formation surrounding the Yuan Gate, the sight of familiar scenery made him let out a long breath. Although he held no particular affection for the sect, sleeping rough in the wild had taken its toll, and he was relieved to be back.

”First, I’ll head to the Fire Division and let them know I’m alive; otherwise, I’ll practically be a ghost,” he mumbled. But as he started walking, he heard the sound of swift wings. Looking up, he saw about ten figures approaching.

”The Enforcer Squad, huh?” Lin Langtian thought.

”You there, identify yourself! How did you sneak into Yuan Gate?”

The leader, a man in his thirties with a stern face, looked Lin Langtian up and down with a sharp gaze, shouting coldly.

With a slight frown, Lin Langtian clasped his hands and replied, ”I am Lin Langtian from the Fire Division. I lost contact with the Wood Division team while on a mission outside. Today, I’ve returned to the sect.”

”Lin Langtian from Fire Division…” The man’s expression showed a hint of recognition before he finally said, ”So… you’re not dead?”

Lin Langtian raised an eyebrow, sensing he’d hit the mark. With both Mu Ku and Qin Lang dead and his own disappearance, the sect probably assumed he’d died too. To avoid suspicion, he feigned ignorance and replied, ”Why would you think I’m dead? I was only missing for a while.”

This was his way of disassociating himself from Mu Ku and Qin Lang’s deaths, knowing that caution was always wise in the sect, where even a slight misstep could invite disaster.

The captain narrowed his eyes, his expression tightening. ”Did you know? Assistant Division Leader Mu Ku and Spirit General Qin Lang both perished in Blood Horn Region.”

”What?!” Lin Langtian affected a look of shock. ”How could that be? The Shadow Seven are strong, but there’s no way they could have killed Assistant Leader Mu Ku and Senior Brother Qin Lang.”

The captain replied, ”Oh, it wasn’t the Shadow Seven at all. Their killer was someone else entirely, and even the Head Master himself is being cautious about it. We assumed you’d also perished. But since you’re back, count yourself lucky. Go report to the Fire Division.”

Feigning surprise, Lin Langtian nodded and quickly headed toward the Fire Division’s hall. On his way, he calculated his story. As a newcomer, he was unlikely to be suspected of slaying high-ranking members like Mu Ku and Qin Lang, and he would not appear capable of it either.

As Lin Langtian proceeded, he couldn’t help but notice the looks from passing disciples. Whispers spread among them, their gazes filled with shock. Lin Langtian, the fastest-ever disciple to achieve the rank of direct disciple, was supposedly dead—yet here he was, alive and well.

Unperturbed, he walked straight to the Fire Division’s main hall. It seemed that news of his survival had already been relayed, as he found Division Leader Fen Cang awaiting his arrival.

Fen Cang sat in the main seat, his eyes half-closed. The Life Profound Great Master’s aura around him felt intense and commanding.

With his eyes opening slightly, Fen Cang’s gaze settled on Lin Langtian, and he spoke in a deep voice, ”About a month ago, our sect suffered a severe loss in the Blood Horn Region. An Assistant Leader and a Spirit General perished—a blow we haven’t felt in decades. So now, Lin Langtian, explain everything that happened in Blood Horn. Leave nothing out, or I won’t take it lightly.”

Lin Langtian nodded, his tone respectful, and shared a pre-prepared version of his story. He detailed his encounter with the Shadow Seven, his evasion of their pursuit, and his lone escape. Not once did he mention Qin Lang or Mu Ku, firmly denying any knowledge of their fate.

Fen Cang scrutinized him, but just as he seemed ready to question further, a voice came from outside.

”Division Leader Fen, Head Master Ren Yuanzi has summoned Lin Langtian.”

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