This time, Half-Step Mad was blasted senseless for quite a while, the smell of roasted meat wafting off him. Ji Chuling even ran over, worried.
“It’s fine, I was just demonstrating a spell to Half-Step Mad,” Gu Baiqing said hurriedly.
When Half-Step Mad finally recovered, Gu Baiqing was about to speak again but Half-Step Mad immediately raised a hand. “Bro, I really can’t take it anymore. That’s not normal lightning, that’s divine tribulation thunder, it hurts. Your guess was right, that’s all I can say.”
Gu Baiqing awkwardly replied, “Looks like neither of us can spoil things.”
“You got struck too?” Half-Step Mad’s eyes lit up, oddly excited to find a kindred spirit, after all, technically, he was this world’s creator, the ‘father of all beings.’
“Yeah,” Gu Baiqing gave a dry laugh. “You’ll get used to it. You’re stronger than me anyway, take a few more hits and maybe you’ll ascend.”
“Ascend, my *ss. In my setting, becoming an immortal just means being forcibly sent to another realm to keep cultivating in boredom. I’d rather stay down here, free and happy. I just want to finish my task safely and enjoy life in the peaceful world Li Xiuran creates.”
“Even if you’re an old man?” Gu Baiqing asked.
“Can I change back to my good-looking self?” The moment Half-Step Mad said that, his body instantly transformed becoming a bright, handsome young man radiating sunshine.
“This…”
“This is my original appearance… with a little beauty filter added. How is it? Not bad, right?” Half-Step Mad put his hands on his hips and grinned proudly for a few seconds then poof! he reverted back, face full of frustration. He waved irritably at the Ascending-Cloud Stork standing nearby.
The Ascending-Cloud Stork strode over on its long legs, and Half-Step Mad immediately threw his arms around it, refusing to let go.
“Uh… what’s going on?” Gu Baiqing asked in shock.
“My spiritual energy has to be recharged,” Half-Step Mad explained, sulking. “Otherwise, with my cultivation level, I could brute-force any mission. So the system slapped this restriction on me. Here, official introduction, this is my mobile spiritual charger, brand: Ascending-Cloud Stork. Charge for five hours, use for five minutes. The last charge just ran out. Oh, right, what about you? You’re supposed to be the top combat power in this world, doesn’t your system restrict you too?”
“I’m the same as you,” Gu Baiqing said helplessly.
“Then how do you recharge?”
Gu Baiqing froze. “By having my disciple transfer spiritual energy to me.”
“Ah?!” Half-Step Mad’s face instantly read so unfair.
“But after I use it, it can trigger random side effects: weak limbs, fainting spells. If the timing’s bad, it could even be fatal,” Gu Baiqing added.
Half-Step Mad burst out laughing. “Okay, that balances things out. Honestly, that’s not bad at all, beats hugging a bird!”
Not bad, my *ss. This system was definitely dripping with gay energy again, something about it just felt off. Maybe the heavenly system assigned to him was a defective model from the start.
As that thought crossed his mind, Gu Baiqing suddenly asked, “Hey, since Heaven already sent you here, why did it need to send me too?”
Half-Step Mad froze, then frowned. “Oh yeah, why? Maybe they thought I couldn’t handle the mission alone, so they doubled up? D*mn! Who are they looking down on?! I’m the author of this world! With my understanding of the plot, how could I possibly fail… well, okay, maybe it’s a bit hard, but still doable!”
The truth was, the original story centered on the protagonist Li Xiuran had a ton of plot holes. The system’s main task for him was to fix those bugs and guide Li Xiuran’s growth.
Half-Step Mad suddenly felt a jolt of unease. If he followed that plan, Mo Xuanli would inevitably become the villain he was written to be and be destroyed by the hero in the end. That was a fixed outcome he couldn’t change. He had to follow Li Xiuran’s path; he couldn’t be everywhere at once trying to rewrite a villain’s destiny. But Heaven had still sent Gu Baiqing here, did that mean it didn’t want him to follow that route?
Well, actually… that wasn’t so bad. Mo Xuanli was one of the most tragic, pitiful characters he’d ever created, his own “son,” so to speak. He couldn’t help feeling attached. If Mo Xuanli could survive this time, that’d be ideal.
“Uh… sorry for dragging you into this mess,” Half-Step Mad said awkwardly. As a castrated author, being pulled into his own world to fix it was one thing but Gu Baiqing had just been unlucky. Was it really because of his name? Or because he’d voiced the master in the audio drama?
“It’s fine,” Gu Baiqing smiled. “I was an orphan anyway. Here, I’ve got status, wealth, good looks, not a bad deal. Besides, I’ve got a well-behaved, obedient, and filial disciple.”
In truth, he felt lucky, lucky to have come here, and lucky to be in a role that could protect and change Mo Xuanli’s fate.
“You’re surprisingly optimistic. Thanks,” Half-Step Mad said sincerely.
Just then, Ji Chuling came running over. “Elder Luofeng, your junior brother says if you don’t come out soon, he’s leaving. He’s tired of waiting.”
Caught up chatting with his “fellow transmigrant,” Half-Step Mad had completely forgotten Chu Fei was still waiting. He was just about to respond when Half-Step Mad hurriedly said, “Hey hey hey, don’t go yet! Let’s talk a bit longer, I’m dying of boredom! Besides, I’ll be leaving soon. Who knows when we’ll meet again?”
Gu Baiqing had no choice but to ask Ji Chuling to tell Chu Fei to head back first.
“Why are you leaving? Because of the Wuxiang Temple? They don’t seem hostile to you,” Gu Baiqing asked.
“They’re not,” Half-Step Mad said, shaking his head. “But when I transmigrated, I didn’t inherit this guy’s memories, just some basic identity info. If I get too close to them, I might slip up. If they think I’m a demon who possessed him, I’m done for. It’s too dangerous, I’d better keep my distance.”
That was strange, why had he inherited memories when Half-Step Mad hadn’t? Gu Baiqing didn’t dare mention it, afraid to trigger another round of jealousy.
“By the way, since you’re on a mission, why do you appear and disappear like a ghost?” Gu Baiqing asked.
“I am doing my mission! But the tasks the system gives me are all centered around the protagonist. Basically, I’m stuck doing fieldwork, can’t even get into the main storyline,” Half-Step Mad said helplessly. “Everyone says transmigrators get to be the main character, me? I’m stuck as background filler!”
Gu Baiqing stifled a laugh. “Well… you’re still the protagonist of your own life. So, are your next missions related to the God-Slaying Sword fragments? Do you know where the remaining ones are?”
Half-Step Mad opened his mouth to answer then stopped, pointing at the sky.
Gu Baiqing immediately understood. That would clearly count as spoilers. Even if Half-Step Mad knew, he couldn’t tell Mo Xuanli what to do.
“Speaking of which…” Half-Step Mad suddenly said, “I don’t know if I’m allowed to ask, but… did you do something in your sect that caused this whole butterfly effect? Your sect isn’t supposed to look like this.”
“Huh?” Gu Baiqing blinked.
“In the original, the two times they went to the Taixu Hall, that sword-obsessed little junior of yours wasn’t there. It was supposed to be your sect leader, your senior sister, who led the second disciple and you. Where’s your senior sister now?”
Gu Baiqing froze. “She went into seclusion before I transmigrated, I’ve never met her. Second senior brother’s been handling sect affairs. If he came here, he’d definitely bring junior brother. After all, since I can’t use my spiritual power freely now, junior brother’s our strongest fighter.”
Half-Step Mad looked completely confused, and Gu Baiqing frowned slightly as well.
“Forget it, background characters like us don’t need to worry about that.”
Hearing Half-Step Mad say this, at least proved one thing, at least the head senior sister wasn’t a villain.
So the two began to discuss their respective system missions in detail, since both concerned their own lives. However, since most of the details couldn’t be spoken aloud, they could only agree to form a cooperative alliance to help one another and walk a path of mutual support and friendly development.
Half-Step Mad would continue to guide Li Xiuran along the protagonist’s path, while Gu Baiqing’s task was to prevent Mo Xuanli from turning down the villain’s path, to find the fragments, break the Demon Realm’s conspiracy, and help Mo Xuanli manage his bloodline issue so that the demons couldn’t use him.
By the time they finished talking, the moon had already risen high. Ji Chuling came by again, bringing wine and dishes, of course, all the finest things from the Hidden Gods Clan.
Half-Step Mad immediately brightened up and began eating happily, chatting as he did about things from the modern world. Then, while looking up at the moon, tears suddenly rolled down his face.
“The same moon,” he sighed, “but not the same world. I don’t even have anything I’m truly attached to, but still… I feel a little sad.”
Gu Baiqing reached out and patted his shoulder, though he didn’t feel particularly moved. Clearly, he’d already formed too many attachments in this world: his little disciple, Three Bean, the Zixiao Sect, and so on. In fact, he found that he thought of Luofeng Pavilion more often than he missed the modern world. So even if given the chance to return, he wasn’t sure he’d want to leave anymore.
Half-Step Mad’s moods came and went quickly. He picked up the Hidden Gods Clan’s alcohol jug, sniffed it, and said, “Good stuff, infused with spiritual energy. Want to try?”
Gu Baiqing shook his head. “I can’t drink.”
“Huh? Why not? Alcohol allergy? You’re in the Tribulation stage, what’s there to be afraid of?”
“It’s not that, I just have no tolerance. I get drunk and act out.”
Half-Step Mad laughed and pulled out a white porcelain flask. “Then try this, my special treasure.”
Gu Baiqing hesitated. “But…”
“Just open it first,” Half-Step Mad said mysteriously.
Gu Baiqing curiously pulled out the stopper and a familiar scent immediately spread out, fizzing softly. He poured some out and froze. The liquid was orange.
“Orange-flavored… carbonated drink?!”
“Heheheh.” Half-Step Mad cackled proudly. “I made it myself. Amazing, right? The taste’s exactly the same.”
Gu Baiqing quickly took a sip, oh heavens. He had to admit, he really missed this taste. Even Mo Xuanli couldn’t replicate something like this.
“Come on, come on, fellow countrymen reunited, we have to clink a glass! I haven’t talked to anyone normally like this in ages. I’m so suffocated,” Half-Step Mad said, laughing heartily.
Gu Baiqing happily obliged, completely missing the mischievous grin on the other’s face. Half-Step Mad was sure Gu Baiqing had never tried sparkling alcohol before. Saying his alcohol tolerance was low? What nonsense, he was a man! There was no way Half-Step Mad would let him off easy. On such a joyous reunion day, it was only right that they both got drunk out of their minds.
“Ugh, with my current situation, I don’t even dare fall in love. You’ve only been here two years, I’ve been stuck here five!” Half-Step Mad started rambling as the drink loosened his tongue.
“It’s okay. Once we finish the missions, better days will come.” Gu Baiqing tried to comfort him.
“Yeah, yeah, you’re right. We’ll work hard together. Then, someday, we’ll find wives, settle down, have kids, live happily ever after. Gu Baiqing, I didn’t give your character a CP, but you can find your own. Just not one of the named ones, okay? You get it, this world’s big, there’s hope for us yet!” Half-Step Mad suddenly thought of someone and hooked his arm around Gu Baiqing’s shoulders. “Hey, you could go for your senior sister! She’s beautiful, strong, and has an amazing personality, I modeled her after modern women. She’d suit you.”
“Forget it, forget it. A rabbit doesn’t eat the grass by its own burrow. I’ll just see her as an older sister,” Gu Baiqing replied. In the original’s memories, he and senior sister were like siblings, after all, she’d taken him in when he was a wandering orphan. The one who admired her deeply was actually the little junior brother.
Gu Baiqing took another drink, a sudden impulse flashing through his eyes. “Li Xiuran has so many women around him, how come my disciple doesn’t? Did you give him a CP?”
Half-Step Mad nodded. “Of course.”
Gu Baiqing froze for a moment, drained his cup, and poured another. But before long, he couldn’t help smiling faintly. In the original story, without a protective master, that “little pup” might have stayed alone forever. But hearing now that he had a CP, at least it meant someone would love him. That was good.
“But it’s a bad ending,” Half-Step Mad added.
“What? Why? Who is she? Did something happen? Can it be changed?” Gu Baiqing immediately looked up, anxious.
Half-Step Mad sighed. “It’s that great beauty from Chuixue Pavilion, Si Chun. She was supposed to be his CP. But Mo Xuanli carried too much on his heart, you know that. He lived desperately, hiding his identity, focusing on becoming stronger. Later, after turning Demon Lord and pursuing revenge, romance wasn’t even on his radar. Si Chun tried to save him, but there was no way in. Then when I stopped updating… it was during the second war between immortals and demons. Li Xiuran fought Mo Xuanli; Si Chun died saving him, killed by mistake. Died in his arms. Everyone pitied her and blamed Mo Xuanli. But he’d already sunk too deep into demonic madness, he only looked at her once, coldly. To him, her sacrifice was meaningless. He wasn’t going to die anyway.”
Gu Baiqing imagined the scene, Mo Xuanli, emotionless, as the Demon Lord, and his brows furrowed tightly. “Why would you write it that way?”
“Well… villains always have to die in the end. For Si Chun, that ending made sense. I was planning for Mo Xuanli, when he finally died, to recall his life and feel a flicker of regret for her but I never finished writing it. I even had him warned back in Star-Stepping City to cherish the people before him. But he only seemed to care about the part where you were going to die.” Half-Step Mad sighed. “Still, since he didn’t fall into demonic madness this time, and with you protecting him, maybe he and Si Chun can have a good ending after all.”
Then Half-Step Mad leaned in, eyes gleaming with gossip. “By the way, he’s got tons of fangirls now, he could pick anyone. So… does he have someone he likes now?”
When Gu Baiqing said “no,” his voice sounded slightly unnatural.
Half-Step Mad laughed. “Just like I set it up, Li Xiuran’s surrounded by peach blossoms, while Mo Xuanli’s the kind of rare specimen who never had a single bloom. He’ll go his whole life without even holding a girl’s hand, a pure and untainted virgin to the end. But I still think Si Chun suits him best. After all, her master turned demon and joined the demon race, so compared to other girls, she’s more tolerant of demons. Even if she knew the truth, she wouldn’t discriminate against him.”
Half-Step Mad said this with smug satisfaction. “See? Even though he’s the big villain, I still designed him with care. Makes sense, right?”
Gu Baiqing thought for a moment and had to admit what he said did make perfect sense.
Si Chun… really was the most suitable match.
A master to protect him, a sect to rely on, a band of loyal brothers, the backing of the merfolk, a true dragon as a spirit beast and if he also had a beautiful, understanding lover, that would truly be a perfect life. That was the kind of life Mo Xuanli should have had, the kind this world owed him.
At that very moment, Mo Xuanli had already arrived at the Hidden Gods Clan’s floating island, where he met Li Xiuran and Ji Chuling.
“Your master and that old man have been talking the whole day,” Ji Chuling said as she led the way. “They seem to get along really well: chatting, laughing, drinking, admiring the moon together.”
Mo Xuanli frowned slightly. His master was never that close with anyone, especially someone he’d only met once. If the other weren’t an old man…
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