The Substitute Female Supporting Character Sees the Bullet Screen

Nie Yinzhi, her spiritual energy depleted, was helped onto his mount by Feng Hanying.

The Demon Lord’s mount, a creature of wind and iron armor, had the body of a tiger, wings of an eagle, and a sharp horn on its head. After forming a bond with Feng Hanying, a tuft of fiery red fur had grown on its forehead.

Nie Yinzhi reached out to pat the wind beast’s head. The massive creature’s eyes widened, letting out a low growl of defiance from its throat, yet its four legs lay flat on the ground in a submissive posture.

Just like its master.

“Go back on your own. I’m going to tear this damned place apart and thank the Wuliang Sect for their hospitality over the past decade,” Feng Hanying said, slinging his long blade over his shoulder. Without waiting for Nie Yinzhi’s reply, he charged toward the righteous cultivators with his demon generals in tow.

Nie Yinzhi smacked the wind beast’s head and tugged at the reins, steering the restless creature, which wanted to follow its master, in the opposite direction—toward the eastern region.

The wind beast, urged on by her, almost transformed into a gust of wind, tearing through the night as it raced forward. As Feng Hanying’s mount, it naturally excelled in speed, far surpassing the cloud boat Nie Yinzhi and Gu Jiang had once traveled on. Crossing nearly the entire cultivation world from the distant northwest to the east took less than a day and night.

As they entered the territory of the Ancient Law Sect, the wind beast plunged into a mass of white clouds. Soon, the gale stirred by its wings scattered the clouds, and they burst out of the mist.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Nie Yinzhi squinted against the golden light ahead. Before her, the setting sun’s rays intertwined with the crimson hues of dusk, draping the sky like a ribbon as night approached.

Under this twilight glow, the mountains rustled, and amidst the lush greenery, flowers bloomed in scattered clusters, spreading their beauty far and wide. In the blink of an eye, the entire landscape seemed transformed.

The wind beast’s wings swept up a whirlwind of colorful petals, carrying their fragrance to Nie Yinzhi’s side, showering her in a cascade of blossoms.

The wind beast sneezed repeatedly, irritated by the floral scent, and flicked its tail in agitation.

Nie Yinzhi patted its head to soothe it, then plucked a gardenia flower, only to sneeze herself from the overwhelming fragrance.

The sunset, the wind, and the blooming wildflowers—all were his doing. Yet, despite such an elaborate display, he himself was nowhere to be seen. Nie Yinzhi muttered in dissatisfaction, “How foolish.”

Cloaked in the evening glow, she stepped onto the flower-strewn courtyard of her home. The wind beast, exhausted, collapsed under a crabapple tree and began snoring like thunder.

Nie Yinzhi lifted her skirt and hurried through the corridor toward her own courtyard. Ah Huan and Cheng Bi, hearing the commotion, rushed out to greet her, exclaiming, “Miss, you’re back!”

Nie Yinzhi didn’t stop, listening as Ah Huan rattled off updates about the household in rapid succession.

Early that morning, Gu Jiang had arrived with a well-known matchmaker from Yuanzhou City and a procession of betrothal gifts, proposing to marry into the Nie family. Her parents had been stunned, and the gifts were still displayed in the main hall.

With Feng Hanying, the former Demon Lord, as a precedent, her father had given Gu Jiang a hard time, drinking with him all day and interrogating him about his ancestry. Upon learning that Gu Jiang was over two thousand years old, Ah Huan recounted with amusement, “The master’s face scrunched up in disbelief. He took a swig of wine, sighed, and complained that even the Nie family genealogy wasn’t as ancient as Gu Jiang.”

Nie Yinzhi chuckled. “My father’s gotten bolder, hasn’t he?” To dare question a great demon.

Ah Huan nodded in agreement. “It seems our master has a knack for picking on the less intimidating.”

“Then I’ll have to comfort him properly.”

Ah ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‍Huan hesitated. “It’s late. Wouldn’t it be improper to visit Gu Jiang in the guest courtyard now?”

“I know,” Nie Yinzhi replied with a light laugh, waving for them to prepare hot water. Without hesitation, she stepped into her boudoir.

There, lying on her intricately carved bed as if it were the most natural thing in the world, was the demon.

Nie Yinzhi: “…” She unconsciously softened her footsteps, sitting by the bedside and studying him for a moment before reaching out to poke his cheek. Only when her fingertips met the warmth of his skin and the contours of his features did the tension in her heart finally ease.

Gu Jiang stirred awake, his eyes half-open, glazed with lingering drunkenness. His cheeks were flushed, and his breath carried a faint trace of alcohol. His long hair, still damp, fanned out across the pillow, and the scent of roses clung to him.

Nie Yinzhi ran her fingers through his damp locks, gently drying them with her spiritual energy. “You smell so sweet. Did you bathe with my flower petals?”

“To mask the alcohol. I didn’t want to offend you,” Gu Jiang murmured, his hand caressing the nape of her neck before sliding down to pull her closer. He captured her lips, his tongue brushing against hers with a gentle insistence.

Nie Yinzhi found herself pressed against him, her protests muffled by his kiss. Gu Jiang’s mouth held no trace of alcohol, only the faint aroma of tea and incense. Clearly, he had taken great care to cleanse himself.

The demon had washed himself clean and waited for her in bed. Nie Yinzhi decided to forgive him for not personally fetching her.

“My father clearly assigned you to the guest courtyard. How dare you barge into a lady’s chamber? Aren’t you afraid he’ll break your legs?” Nie Yinzhi managed to gasp between kisses.

Gu Jiang, still tipsy, trailed kisses along her jawline, lingering on the delicate curve of her neck. “For the sake of my legs, I beg you to keep this a secret, Miss.”

Nie Yinzhi, still dusty from her journey and in need of a bath, pushed him away, covering his mouth with her hand. “That depends on your behavior.”

Ah Huan’s voice called from outside, and she entered, skirting around the screen. “Miss, your bath is ready.”

Hiding from ordinary senses was child’s play for Gu Jiang. To Ah Huan, it appeared as though Nie Yinzhi was leaning over the bed in an odd posture, with no sign of another person present. “Miss, what are you doing? Are you feeling unwell?”

“It’s nothing,” Nie Yinzhi replied, plucking a fresh gardenia from her hair and tucking it behind Gu Jiang’s ear. She pinched his cheek before rising and heading to the bathing chamber.

The bath was filled with steaming water and scattered petals. Cheng Bi gently combed through Nie Yinzhi’s long hair while Ah Huan chattered about the upcoming wedding preparations. If Gu Jiang married into the family, they could stay at the Nie residence forever, and she and Cheng Bi could serve Nie Yinzhi for a lifetime. She also mentioned that the mistress and master would consult the almanac tomorrow to select an auspicious date for the wedding.

Nie Yinzhi’s hands drifted underwater, tracing the curse mark on her wrist. She summoned a golden sprout, its cool leaves brushing against her fingertips even in the warm water.

She didn’t need to activate their shared senses to know what Gu Jiang was up to.

The petals on the water’s surface rippled slightly, parting as a shadow slipped beneath the surface. The water churned violently, and the water level rose inexplicably, nearly overflowing the bath.

A gardenia floated to the surface, stark against the crimson petals.

A cool touch brushed against her, and Nie Yinzhi stiffened, inhaling sharply. Before her maids could notice, she dismissed them.

The petals swayed with the water’s movement, and Nie Yinzhi’s fingers tangled in the icy strands of hair beneath the surface. She bit her lip, her skin flushing from more than just the heat of the bath.

Her mind felt like it was filled with fireworks, bursting one after another. She hissed in a mix of embarrassment and frustration, “Gu Jiang, you… you won’t get to kiss me after this!”

Some time later, the water splashed loudly, scattering petals across the floor. Gu Jiang emerged, his wet hair clinging to his face, a few petals stuck to his handsome features. He looked at her innocently. “Did it not feel good?”

Nie Yinzhi’s gaze flickered to his lips before she covered her face. “Now I have to dry your hair again.”

Gu Jiang chuckled, wrapping his arms around her like a water spirit. “Thank you, Ah Yin.”

It was well past noon the next day when Nie Yinzhi awoke. Ah Huan and Cheng Bi had grown accustomed to not disturbing her without being summoned.

How she had gotten out of the bath, she couldn’t recall. The room was dim, the curtains blocking out the daylight, and the bed curtains further shrouded the interior in near darkness. Nie Yinzhi lay atop Gu Jiang, the bed in disarray.

Gu Jiang had not only disobeyed her by kissing her but had also, like his insidious demonic energy, taken liberties far beyond what she had anticipated.

The room was dim and quiet. Nie Yinzhi could clearly feel his strong heartbeat. Through the shared emotions of the curse mark, she sensed his relaxed state. No longer burdened by the oppressive weight of heavenly authority, he no longer needed to freeze his heart to sleep peacefully.

Nie Yinzhi noticed the bite mark on his chest and blushed slightly, planting a careful kiss on it.

Immediately, her chin was gripped, and Gu Jiang lifted her face, looking utterly exhausted. "You can climb on top yourself," he said weakly.

Nie Yinzhi blinked, locking eyes with him for a moment before pinching his cheek in annoyance. "I wasn't even thinking about that! I'm tired too, you know." You devil, you weren't like this last night!

Gu Jiang wrapped her in a thin blanket, turned over, and hugged her, ready to drift back to sleep.

Nie Yinzhi, however, was wide awake. Restless, she wriggled around, pulling her hand out from under the blanket to playfully touch his face. "I finally understand," she muttered. "It has nothing to do with heavenly authority. You're just a sleepyhead by nature."

Gu Jiang murmured in agreement.

After a moment of silence, Nie Yinzhi asked, "Has the plot completely collapsed? Can it no longer influence this world?"

"Mhm," Gu Jiang replied, his eyes still closed, as if sleep-talking. "The illusion array you set up in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave disrupted it for a moment, giving me the chance to completely destroy it. This world, born from a book, has inherent conflicts between its objective rules and the rules imposed by the plot."

"The plot parasitized the heavenly order, siphoning vast amounts of spiritual energy from the world to create the story it desired—the fall of the four sects, the collapse of secret realms, the withering of blessed lands, and the exhaustion of spiritual energy. Against this backdrop, a savior for the revival of spiritual energy was born."

"Besides the original script, there's also a derivative work connected to this world," Gu Jiang added, grabbing her restless hand. "When the plot collapsed, I saw an overwhelming flood of subtitles, but they disappeared quickly."

"Subtitles?" Nie Yinzhi's eyes widened. "You saw subtitles at the end?"