While I was hesitating, I saw the pharmacy apprentices waking up, bleary-eyed, to start their chores. I struck my thigh in lament: Jun Xuanheng, oh Jun Xuanheng. Even ordinary mortals are so diligent and hardworking; you, the noble Creation God, only think of sleeping. How can you live with yourself?
I was already worse off than an average person, and I had a fragile, pitiful little guard at home waiting to be fed. I absolutely could not continue being such a salted fish. Finding a way to activate my "cheats" as soon as possible was the real priority.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the proprietress, I asked her to look after Ye Tan for me—that boy really was a handful. I would head to the inn to retrieve that "Code Manual"; I should be back in time for lunch.
Halfway there, a thought occurred to me. The owner of the Night Walkers had mentioned that once a shadow guard acknowledges a master, they are employed for life. Yet last night, Ye Tan said he’d had other masters before. I wondered what had gone wrong in between? Or was one of them lying?
Unfortunately, I had far too little information, and no matter how much I pondered, I couldn't find a lead. From a distance, I spotted the inn’s sign, but the entrance was surrounded by a crowd of servants. They were dressed in uniform, looking like the domestic staff of some prestigious clan.
The crowd formed a ring around the door, blocking my path, so I had no choice but to push through them one by one. There were no other diners in the hall; only a swordsman in sturdy traveling clothes sat in the center. He tapped the hilt of his sword impatiently, his expression far from friendly. The manager stood beside him, offering tea and bowing repeatedly with a forced smile.
I finally pushed past the last of the crowd and stepped into the shop, heading straight for the stairs. I hadn't taken more than two steps before I felt every gaze in the room lock onto me. My back felt like it was being pricked by needles, and I heard the swordsman huff, "What audacity."
The manager snapped out of his daze and pointed at me. "He’s back! This is the gentleman."
"He is not Yue Changsheng." The swordsman’s tone was cold as he rose to his full height. "Ridiculous. To think someone would dare to swindle the Zhongli Manor."
"How can that be?! When he stayed here the day before yesterday, his attendant wrote the receipt personally... Who would dare to impersonate a guest of the Eldest Young Master of Zhongli Manor..." The manager stammered in panic, desperate to defend himself.
I processed the words for a moment. Perhaps they were talking about me?
I glanced back.
That single look of mine must have been quite something. Not only did the swordsman lose himself for a moment, but a clamor erupted from the crowd outside.
I knew they were just intimidated by the ring of special effects surrounding me.
They must have thought I was so beautiful I was practically glowing.
In reality, I was actually freaking glowing.
"...Interesting. Though he isn't Yue Changsheng, I doubt he will disappoint the Eldest Young Master."
He turned away, no longer looking at me, and gave a brief command: "Take him."
The armed guards surrounding me shouted in unison and, with practiced coordination, hoisted me up. As I was carried above their heads, I found a moment to ask, "Where are we going? I promised I’d be back for lunch. Will I make it back in time? ...Oh, wait, I came to get something... My book..."
"Don't worry, you won't be lacking for anything," the swordsman replied without looking back as he vaulted onto his horse.
The servants crowding the entrance moved aside to clear a path. Seeing that I was being cooperative and not struggling, they finally set me back on the ground. Not quite understanding the situation, I had no choice but to follow. After a few steps, I actually saw Ye Tan rushing toward us.
He had changed into light-colored clothes, and his wounds seemed to have reopened; I could see spots of blood seeping through. Seeing him, I was so angry I saw stars. How many times had I told him to stay put and recover? Was it that hard? Was it?!
Ye Tan’s forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he was trembling slightly. I wanted to go over to support him, but I was blocked. Only then did I start to feel a flicker of genuine annoyance.
When the swordsman looked down at him from his horse, a hint of joy actually crossed his face. "Oh... so it's you."
"...Ze Que." Ye Tan closed his eyes, his expression pained.
These two knew each other? Wouldn't that make things much easier to talk through? And this swordsman actually looked quite happy...
"I have waited a long time for this day." Ze Que leaped down from his horse, gripping his sword hilt firmly. "Come, let me witness it—the strongest trump card of the Second Young Master of Zhongli Manor, the fame of the ten-year Night Rakshasa—" He paused, then suddenly asked, "Where is your sword?"
Ye Tan said, "It broke."
"Broke? You actually have the nerve to say it broke?" That sliver of pleasure in Ze Que’s eyes instantly transformed into a murderous aura filled with rage. He hissed, "If your sword is broken, why aren't you dead yet?"
...Son of a—! Talk about hitting a sore spot!
I! Spent so much! Hard work! Deception and persuasion! Just to comfort him!! And you lot! Just! Have to cause trouble!! So angry!
"I... cannot die yet," Ye Tan’s voice was very soft. "I still have to protect my master."
I looked back at him, meeting his steady gaze. My heart leaped: Had my days of counseling and guidance finally paid off?
Ze Que approached him step by step, sneering. "Master? What a joke. The Second Young Master has already expelled you. You are nothing but a stray dog. Who would take in a piece of trash like you..."
"Pah, you're the trash. My shadow guard is doing just fine." Even I, the Creation God, couldn't bring myself to scold him, yet you, a mere fledgling, dare to be so arrogant.
A gust of wind rose, and my vision went black as I was suddenly moved. Ze Que’s hand was too fast. I crashed onto the ground and rolled a few times before the pain hit—it was many times more intense than that previous small cut. I could only desperately hold back my tears, groaning... It really... hurts... waah.
Ye Tan protectively moved in front of me, but since he had no sword and had lost his martial arts, there wasn't much he could do to resist.
"I see... your new master is this waste of space?" Ze Que was amused. "He certainly suits the current you."
Ye Tan ignored him, carefully helping me up and wiping the sticky blood from the corner of my mouth.
Once Ze Que finished laughing, his voice turned sinister again. "Night Rakshasa, you are as pathetic as you are hateful... The Eldest Young Master treated you with the utmost respect, yet you relied on your own prowess and never deigned to look him in the eye. And now, you can't even withstand a single strike from me... What a figure the Second Young Master is, yet the one who replaced him as your master is this decorative piece of trash..."
"Cough, cough... My skills are inferior, I admit defeat. There is glory even in death." After mocking him, I tilted my neck defiantly. In truth, I knew exactly what was happening—I was about to be chopped like a vegetable. This round was a total failure. It was all my fault for forgetting to write the "how to use cheats" program into the manual. Hmph, just wait until I reload my save; I’m going to set my shadow guard’s stats a hundred times higher than yours and hang you from a ceiling fan to beat you. I’ll even set it to high speed—the kind that spins lightning-fast.
I rolled my eyes and cursed him inwardly, but when I looked back into Ye Tan’s eyes, my heart suddenly tightened.
"...I am sorry, Master. I... if I were still at my peak, I would never have let you suffer such humiliation." He sighed softly, saying wistfully, "If only... I had met you from the very beginning..."
...Sigh, yeah. For him, this was an eternal parting.
Even if I reload the save next time, will the one I meet still be this same, battered shadow guard?
Suddenly, I felt a bit unwilling to let go.
I felt a warm liquid drip onto my face; I couldn't tell if it was blood or tears. The last thing I saw was the shadow guard leaning down toward me, his eyes slowly closing. Then, everything went black.
—My breathing and heartbeat stopped.
