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

”Oh? You want me to assassinate Lin Qingtan?”

Lin Langtian was momentarily stunned by Tian Yuanzi’s unexpected request. During his return journey to Yuan Gate, he had speculated endlessly about what task might await him. He even considered the possibility that Tian Yuanzi would send him on a mission to the Western Profound Territory, setting a trap to hand him over to the Tianxuan Sect as a bargaining chip.

After all, given the ruthless nature of Yuan Gate’s leaders, they were fully capable of such a scheme. Yet, to his surprise, Tian Yuanzi’s plan involved sending him to the Northern Profound Territory’s Palace of Darkness to kill Lin Qingtan.

Sensing Lin Langtian’s confusion, Tian Yuanzi’s black-and-white eyes narrowed slightly. ”I’m sure you recall everything that happened recently at Yi Mo City,” he said. ”As Lin Dong’s sister, Lin Qingtan now harbors deep hatred for Yuan Gate. Lin Dong’s fate remains unknown, but she has already sworn to bring us down. Normally, we’d dismiss such threats. Yuan Gate has stood strong on this continent for centuries, undeterred by empty promises of destruction.

”But Lin Qingtan is no ordinary individual. She’s the cherished disciple of the Palace of Darkness’s master, Bo Xuan, whose influence in the Northern Profound Territory surpasses even ours in the Eastern Profound Territory. Moreover, Bo Xuan holds Lin Qingtan in especially high regard. If she someday inherits both the Palace and the Ancestral Dark Symbol, she would become a formidable threat to Yuan Gate.”

At this, Tian Yuanzi’s gaze grew somber. The Palace of Darkness and the Ancestral Dark Symbol were significant pressures weighing on his mind. The latter, especially, possessed unmatched power; Bo Xuan, although a Reincarnation Realm master himself, was nearly impossible to subdue due to his control over the Dark Symbol—even three Yuan Gate leaders together could not suppress him entirely.

Tian Yuanzi’s eyes flashed with unease. ”If Lin Qingtan is destined to become such a threat, she must be eliminated now. My fellow leaders and I are too well-known to act discreetly in the Northern Profound Territory, and our elder council members are equally recognized. You, on the other hand, are both powerful and discreet, making you ideal for infiltrating the Palace of Darkness. Your shared lineage with Lin Qingtan could also provide a path to successfully carry out the mission.”

”So that’s why I was chosen,” Lin Langtian thought, looking down.

He wasn’t surprised by Tian Yuanzi’s desire to eliminate Qingtan; Tian Yuanzi’s character was well-known for its merciless nature and unwillingness to leave loose ends. The events at Yi Mo City had turned Lin Dong’s sister into a marked enemy—she was now the prized disciple of Bo Xuan and the heir apparent to the Dark Symbol. Such a person would be the most immediate threat to Yuan Gate, someone Tian Yuanzi could hardly ignore.

Yet, sending Lin Langtian on an assassination mission was a shock. Even if he were fully dedicated to serving Yuan Gate, he questioned whether he had the ability. Lin Qingtan’s status was nearly that of a princess within the Palace of Darkness, surrounded by powerful protectors. Even if Tian Yuanzi were to go himself, his chances would barely be better than fifty-fifty.

”Head Master,” Lin Langtian began, bowing slightly, ”while I may share a lineage with Lin Dong and Lin Qingtan, we’re from separate branches, and our bond isn’t close. Since joining Yuan Gate, we’ve taken entirely different paths. Given my current abilities, I doubt I’d be able to leverage that connection, and even attempting it may only expose Yuan Gate to retaliation from the Palace of Darkness.”

Lin Langtian carefully crafted his response, subtly refusing the assignment. Tian Yuanzi made a low, thoughtful sound, showing no outward reaction, nor any indication of disappointment. His expression remained a mask of calm.

Just as Lin Langtian thought Tian Yuanzi might abandon the mission, he spoke again. ”I understand the challenge involved,” he said. ”If Lin Qingtan were an easy target, I wouldn’t need to send you personally. The mission is dangerous, but it’s not without opportunity. Let me ask you this—if I could offer you a way, would you be willing to help Yuan Gate and myself rid us of this future threat?”

Though his thoughts seethed with contempt, Lin Langtian replied without hesitation, ”As a disciple of Yuan Gate, it’s my duty to serve and protect the sect.”

”Good.” Tian Yuanzi’s smile widened. Whether he believed Lin Langtian or not, he patted him on the shoulder. ”Truly a worthy disciple of Yuan Gate.”

Lin Langtian forced down his disgust and smiled. ”Head Master, may I ask what chance you referred to in aiding the mission?”

”Oh, you’ll understand soon enough,” Tian Yuanzi replied, a faintly sinister smile on his face.

At his words, he waved his sleeve, and the air around him began to ripple and contort. Within moments, Lin Langtian saw the outline of a figure emerging from the spatial distortion, along with a strange, unsettling energy.

The figure stepped through, its form shrouded in black mist. As the mist cleared, Lin Langtian saw a thin, cloaked figure with pale hands that extended from the sleeves. Slowly, the figure reached up, pulling down its hood to reveal a young, pale face with an unsettling intensity.

”Who…is this?” Lin Langtian thought, feeling an odd familiarity in the stranger’s energy.

Tian Yuanzi watched his reaction, his smile growing darker. ”This man,” he said, ”is Zhou Tong. Years ago, he infiltrated Yuan Gate alone, seeking vengeance against us. My two brothers and I had to work together to finally subdue him. He is, without a doubt, an extraordinary talent in Dao Sect, as formidable as Lin Dong himself.”

As Lin Langtian looked at the man’s pale face, Tian Yuanzi’s expression twisted into a darkly smug smile.

”Zhou… Zhou Tong, he’s still alive?! How is that possible? Wasn’t it said that you, Head Master, had killed him?”

Lin Langtian pretended to be utterly shocked, although he had already known Zhou Tong was imprisoned by Yuan Gate. This was no mere act, though; he was genuinely surprised that Tian Yuanzi had summoned Zhou Tong so abruptly. This wasn’t Yuan Gate’s most hidden card?

”Ha, Zhou Tong’s death was merely a ruse we spread. In reality, Yuan Gate has secretly held him under our control,” Tian Yuanzi replied smoothly, clearly enjoying Lin Langtian’s stunned reaction.

Zhou Tong’s stare fixed on Tian Yuanzi, his expression growing darker as the wind lifted his hair. A flicker of hatred deepened across his face, his entire body trembling, as if wrestling against something deep within. Faintly, a raspy voice slipped through his lips, hoarse with anger:

”Filthy... dog!”

The venom in his voice was palpable, a hatred so intense that Lin Langtian himself felt it, as if it had emerged from the depths of a hellish prison. Tian Yuanzi’s brows twitched, an angry spark lighting his eyes as he coldly waved his sleeve. Zhou Tong’s rebellious body went rigid, the bitterness in his expression fading as he returned to a puppet-like blankness.

”Yes, his mind is impressively resilient,” Tian Yuanzi remarked, eyes narrowing. ”Even after a century of mental erosion, he’s managed to retain some awareness. Though I haven’t done much to him—just replaced his loyalty to Dao Sect with a loyalty to Yuan Gate.”

As he said this, Tian Yuanzi’s gaze moved back to Lin Langtian, a subtle warning lurking in his expression, as though he were reminding him to remain loyal to Yuan Gate and avoid any thoughts of rebellion.

Lin Langtian suppressed a shiver, marveling at the ruthlessness of Tian Yuanzi’s methods—how he manipulated a person’s very mind, bending them to his will through brutal methods. Zhou Tong’s ability to endure such suffering, retaining enough awareness to curse Tian Yuanzi even once, showed why Lin Dong had respected him so much.

”Head Master, your skill in turning foes to allies is truly remarkable. I imagine Dao Sect’s Ying Xuanzi would be furious if he knew,” Lin Langtian said with feigned admiration, masking his disgust as he then asked what he truly wanted to know. ”Head Master, are you saying you want me to go to the Northern Profound Territory with Zhou Tong and assassinate Lin Qingtan?”

This thought made Lin Langtian’s heart skip a beat. Zhou Tong was not only a Reincarnation Realm master but also bore the Ancestral Space Symbol, a power as mysterious as it was formidable. If Tian Yuanzi intended to send Zhou Tong on this mission, he would have to worry about Qingtan’s safety. Among the Eight Ancestral Symbols, the Space Symbol was not the most forceful, yet it was one of the most insidious and difficult to predict. Used for assassination, it was a fearsome weapon that could catch even powerful beings like Bo Xuan off guard.

To Lin Langtian’s relief, Tian Yuanzi shook his head. ”Zhou Tong can’t be sent to the Northern Profound Territory. Though he’s as mindless as a puppet under my control, my influence over him remains somewhat unstable. Sending him so far from Yuan Gate could allow him to break free and flee. Not only would Lin Qingtan escape, but we’d also lose a dangerous enemy who knows too much about us. So, the task falls solely to you.”

”Alone?” Lin Langtian allowed himself a sigh of relief but then feigned confusion. ”Then why summon Zhou Tong here? I’m not certain my power alone is enough to assassinate Lin Qingtan.”

Tian Yuanzi didn’t answer right away. His gaze shifted to the hollow-eyed Zhou Tong, and a calculating grin curled his lips as he spoke.

”Tell me, Lin Langtian, have you ever heard of the Ancestral Space Symbol?”

”The Ancestral Space Symbol?”

At these words, Lin Langtian’s heart skipped a beat as he glanced at Zhou Tong, trying to mask his excitement. Achieving his goal of acquiring the Chaotic Demon Flame had been a major victory, but his second objective—gaining the Ancestral Space Symbol—had seemed almost impossible. However, with Tian Yuanzi’s focus on it now, was it possible that this goal was finally within reach?

”Indeed, Head Master,” Lin Langtian replied calmly, hiding his inner thrill. ”The Ancestral Space Symbol is one of the Eight Ancestral Symbols, wielding space itself. Alongside Bo Xuan’s Ancestral Dark Symbol, its reputation is unmatched. But I’d heard the Space Symbol hasn’t been seen on the continent for centuries. Why bring it up now?”

Tian Yuanzi gave a small, cold smile. ”Since I’m entrusting you with this mission to assassinate Lin Qingtan in the Northern Profound Territory, it’s only right you know. The reason the Space Symbol’s name has faded over the past century is because Yuan Gate has held it in secret all this time.” Tian Yuanzi’s smile deepened, his gaze cold. ”To be exact, the Ancestral Space Symbol lies within Zhou Tong. He is the Symbol’s host.

”It was due to this very power that Zhou Tong dared to attack Yuan Gate alone. That’s also why I chose to keep him alive and turn him into a puppet.”

Recalling the past, Tian Yuanzi’s black-and-white eyes glimmered with cold light. ”If Zhou Tong were to ’lend’ the Ancestral Space Symbol to you,” he asked Lin Langtian, ”would you feel confident in assassinating Lin Qingtan?”

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