Will Definitely Drag the Plot Back on Track...

The Evil Sect, Iris Island. 

Young Master’s residence. 

Although it was late at night, the hall in the Young Master’s residence was brightly lit. The Chrysanthemum Hall’s Elder stood trembling in the centre. Under his feet crawled a thin young boy, shivering.

Seeing that the boy was only thirteen or fourteen years old, and thinking of his previous behaviour, Su Yang felt an explosion was about to be set off in his head—what was this? He was just a child! This Elder, this old bastard…How could he arrange a child for him? As a bed servant?!

Su Yang sat on the room’s head chair with his cloak draped over his body. Pressing a hand against his forehead and pointing at the trembling boy with his other hand. “Lian Jiu, cover him up with some clothes. It’s cold at night, don’t let him catch a cold.”

Following the Young Master’s order, the servant from the Lotus Hall, number nine, immediately brought a cloak and covered Ju Nian. Then he lowered his head in a bow and stood aside.

Su Yang confirmed with the Chrysanthemum Hall’s Elder, “What you are saying is, he was picked up by me during my time strolling outside the wasteland a few years ago? Besides him, I also snatched several other ones just like him?”

The Elder bowed his head and said respectfully, “That’s correct, Young Master. When you were traveling, you brought back many beauties to be raised in the Tiger Lily Hall. Now you’ve completed your training, and not to mention your coming of age ceremony next year… This one also considered gathering others to serve you. In the past two years, when you were not in the Sect, I chose the two with the gentlest tempers for training, so they become...” 

Su Yang waved his hand and interrupted the Elder. 

With a gloomy expression, he asked, “The Tiger Lily Hall? How many are there? Are they all around this age?”

Surprised by his question, the Elder said smiling, “Ah! This one overlooked that the Young Master’s great wits have short memories.”

He explained to Su Yang the working of the Tiger Lily Hall under his hall.

After listening to the Elder’s explanation, Su Yang finally understood that it was the Young Master who originally established the hall himself. Located close to his residence and under the Chrysanthemum Hall’s management. 

And this Evil Sect’s Young Master prefers males, especially the beautiful ones that have not yet reached maturity. At first, all the ones he abducted, deceived, or coerced from various forces in the Jianghu were boys, ranging from the ages of twelve to sixteen.

Now, two years later, the children have grown up. The Elder was afraid that he wouldn't accept the older ones, so he didn’t choose the more mature boys to serve him. He only ordered the youngest one, Ju Nian, for the task.

Su Yang hugged his hurting head and mouthed “Stay in character, stay in character…” these few words repeatedly. The only thing that stopped him swearing like a sailor. 

What was the script about? It never mentioned about the Young Master being homosexual! 

But now he thought about it, even if it was mentioned in the original novel, the screenwriters would have to edit out these important details, otherwise, the script wouldn't have passed censorship. If he carefully recalled some lines and deeds during his time on set, there were segments where he flirted with men, but without making it super obvious. 

He was, after all, a supporting character, who would care about a supporting character’s sexuality? 

Su Yang started to feel a migraine again. 

Although he was considered a half-professional actor, it did not contradict that the role he played was a homosexual villain. Furthermore, he did not agree with the Young Master’s three views… 

The one that forcefully seized these boys was done by his host from before. Although he didn’t have the opportunity to touch any of these captured children due to the limitation of his training, he was still the one who abused his power to take them away from their families, so he couldn’t just ignore them.

Fortunately, the internal affairs of the Sect were not included in the script. That meant no matter how he distorted them, they shouldn’t affect the main plot. Things like this—he could control them. 

Once he calmed down, he brought out his persona and declared coldly, “This Young Master doesn't like them anymore. You, gather them up and figure out where they are from. Return them to their respective homes along with some severance payments.”

The Elder said in surprise, “Young Master, that’s not feasible!”

Su Yang said impatiently, “What’s not feasible? When they were forcibly captured, they must have wanted to go home then. Isn’t it a positive thing to let them go back?”

A complicated face appeared on the Elder’s face as he said bitterly, “Young Master, this…when they were first brought under my care for lessons, they naturally refused to give in. This subordinate is in charge of the Chrysanthemum Hall and handles training yours and the Leader’s dolls. They had to go through countless trials and tribulations. Resulting in the grudge they bear on me. If we set free these troubles back to the mountain, they will breed calamity against us in the future .”

After that, he ground his teeth and added, “Young Master, if you no longer like them, take this one’s suggestion, why not just kill them all, it will make things more convenient.”

Hearing this, a numbing feeling started from Su Yang’s neck and expanded to his head. He pretended to be impatient and waved his hand. “How is my Yantan Divine Sect afraid of a few young boys? I ordered them to be released and you will follow my order, I don’t approve of them being killed!”

The Elder continued to persuade, “But, Young Master…”

Su Yang glared and snapped, “Are you the Young Master or am I the Young Master? You won’t listen to my orders? Then from what I see, you no longer fit to carry the Elder’s title!”

The Chrysanthemum Hall’s Elder sighed helplessly and to had no alternative but to proceed with the order.

He gave a low call. Ju Nian, who had been crawling on the ground, stood up tremblingly and walked out of the hall behind the elder.

As he exited out, he bravely looked back, but he saw that Su Yang had already gotten up from the chair, yawned, and returned to his bedroom. 

Jiu Nian bit his lips and clenched the cloak draped on him tightly with his fingers from the inside. There seemed to be a raging ocean in his drooping eyes. 

When Su Yang returned to his bedroom. Lian Jiu came forward and checked if he had any other orders. He waved the servant back, turned off the light, and lay on the bed in a daze.

Although his thought processes were not meticulous, he was not stupid. He knew that letting the boys return was not a good thing for the Evil Sect. However...according to the script’s plot, in less than two years, Gu Feidi would lead the righteous sects to launch an attack on the Phantom City and annihilate the Evil Sect. Even if he cared for the kids he had captured, they would not escape the pre-destined destruction in the future. 

It’s better to let them go now, so they can preserve their lives. 

He knew this was just a world from a fictional story, but he had stayed here for two years and finally had a little attachment to it.

This world was real to Gu Feidi, to Fan Xi, to Xu Yunzhan…to all the shixiong and shijie in the House of Jade, even to every nameless side characters in the script.

In any event, it would be good to be able to save their lives. 

Thinking of this, he turned over and buried himself into the quilt where only a tuft of hair could be seen. He sighed and closed his eyes.

That night, he had a hideous mess of a dream. 

First, he dreamed about things outside of the script, things from his reality. As if he was finally returned to his real world. As he walked by the seaside what he didn’t expect was he met Gu Feidi and others, and Gu Feidi challenged him to a swim.

But when they were swimming, they met a whirlpool. Gu Feidi was almost caught in it. Su Yang immediately went to save him and dragged both of them out. But no matter what, he couldn’t summon any strength. He tried and tried until the whirlpool swept him and Gu Feidi under the water...

Then there were some fragments that he didn’t know the origin of.

Someone was holding him in their arms. They touched his forehead and wrist repeatedly and whispered unclear words in his ear. Later, he was on the person’s back as the other began to climb a snowy mountain silently. 

It was freezing on the mountain. The powerful wind was so cold that it felt like it was freezing his soul and chilling his bones. But the person’s back was very warm, and a steady stream of heat emitted from them, which made him feel very comfortable. 

So he lay on the person’s back like a good boy and let them carry him. To where he did not know...

Out of the window came a graceful and clear chorus of birds. 

As Su Yang slowly opened his eyes, something shocked him and he suddenly frowned. He got up, flipped open his quilt, and looked at his wet inner lower garment.

Su Yang: “…”

He didn’t dream of anything unsuitable for children last night! Wasn’t his body being too self-assertive? This had to be from his energetic age when the vigorous energy could easily overflow...

No, this was not his fault!

Su Yang angrily defended himself:

If there was anyone to blame, blame that ancient, uneducated, self-opinionated Elder of Chrysanthemum Hall!

* * *

Although how the Evil Sect executed their work conflicted with Su Yang’s three views, at least they were very efficient. 

Three days later, the group of young boys who were kept in the Tiger Lily Hall were sent back to the Central Plain one after another.

He then summoned the Chrysanthemum Hall’s Elder again and instructed him to shut all the Chrysanthemum Hall’s halls and rooms on Iris Island. This time, the Elder didn’t try to resist, and silently set the instruction in motion. He quickly evacuated all the institutions set up by his hall on the island. 

Eventually, Su Yang could resume his peaceful day, similar to his time in the House of Jade. His habit of sword exercise in the early morning, followed by his duties as Young Master, going through the Sect’s documents for the rest of the morning, and martial art training in the afternoon. In the evening, he would go to Plum Blossom Hall to find someone to practice with. 

This kind of martial art maniac's daily life lasted for two months. Finally, intelligence from the Lotus Hall sent a new piece of information to him, which interrupted his peaceful life. 

This was the news Su Yang had been waiting for. 

—Recently, a rumour sprung up everywhere in the Jianghu. It was said that a hundred years ago, the sacred sword master, Bai Jinghong, accepted one disciple. Now his disciple’s disciple was on their deathbed, and they revealed the wasteland where the Sword Sage’s resting place was located. It was rumoured that within the tomb were all of Bai Jinghong’s exquisite martial arts skills that were developed by him throughout his lifetime—they were buried with him. Including the particular sword technique that he never passed down. 

The news caused a tremendous sensation in the whole martial art community as soon as it came out.

From the Central Plains to barren trading roads, all were suddenly jam-packed with caravans, peddlers, travelling performers and so on. They were all from sects or ones without, all with the dream of finding the Sword Sage’s inheritance. 

“Young Master, this is important news!” The Plum Blossom Hall’s Elder said with a complex expression, “We might not know where in the wasteland, but if the Wulin of the Central Plains continue to venture deeper and deeper here, it would be inevitable that one or two groups would find out the location of our Sanctuary. We have no other option but to guard against it!”

Su Yang nodded. “I came to the same conclusion as well. Instead of letting them come into contact with the Phantom City, why don’t we send a team to look for the tomb? First, if we manage to find the tomb before they do, it would be beneficial for the Sect. Second, we can keep track of everyone’s movement in real time. If they come too close to the city, we can lead them astray.”

The Elder cupped his hand and praised, “The Young Master is brilliant!”

Su Yang gave a satisfied smile. “Then I trust the Elder would select a team of elites from your hall. I will lead the team myself to find the tomb!”

The Plum Blossom Hall’s Elder was shocked at hearing this. “How could the Young Master put himself in danger? You just need to stay in the Sect and plan strategies. You don’t have to attend everything personally…”

Su Yang waved his hand. “It is settled. Go select a team, we will depart tomorrow!”

The Plum Blossom Hall’s Elder: “…”

Su Yang gave the Elder a slight smile, an unquestionable resoluteness in his cheerful eyes.

Who was he kidding? He had been waiting for this day for two months! Was it not enough to be bored to death with the Sect’s affairs? He came here for the plot, not to further develop the Evil Sect’s influence.

So of course…where the protagonist Gu Feidi goes, he would follow him!

Gu Feidi was the son of the Wulin Alliance Leader, plus a recent graduate from the House of Jade, and a sword user on top of it. Whether he was willing or forced tightly by the righteous sect, he would definitely come to the wasteland. 

Even if the first part of the plot collapsed from this moment on, it will definitely be dragged back on track!