Zhōng Yǐnyuè couldn’t make sense of it.

He couldn’t understand it at all.

Shěn Chàngxuě pulled Bái Rěndōng back, and the two of them stood in front of him, side by side, without saying a word.

An awkward atmosphere filled the air.

But Shěn Chàngxuě clearly didn’t feel that way; he still had a smile on his face, while Bái Rěndōng looked as if he were sitting on pins and needles, his expression tense and somewhat twisted.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè truly couldn’t understand Shěn Chàngxuě anymore.

He thought he knew Shěn Chàngxuě pretty well.

Although he was just a character in a book, Zhōng Yǐnyuè loved him to the point of obsession; he was a true fan. He had bookmarked every scene where Shěn Chàngxuě appeared and would read them whenever he had free time.

Not only did he read, but he also savored every word, going back and forth through the lines.

So he remembered every word Shěn Chàngxuě had said and every event he had experienced.

In the original text, Shěn Chàngxuě was a gentle person with little temper. He was always smiling and accommodating others.

When Bái Rěndōng first entered Qián Yào Palace, he was quite uncomfortable, and it was Shěn Chàngxuě who stayed by his side. He not only took the initiative to care for Bái Rěndōng’s daily life and taught him sword techniques and scriptures, but he also looked after his emotions. He would always timely speak words of comfort or change the topic, making some appropriate yet clumsy jokes.

A senior brother who acted like Bái Rěndōng’s living mother.

Shěn Chàngxuě was a gentle person with little temper.

Gentle, cautious, fond of taking care of others, protective, sensitive, and easily frightened.

Shěn Chàngxuě should be like this.

However, the Shěn Chàngxuě standing in front of him now had a smile on his face that seemed to hide something deep, which felt very wrong.

And what was he keeping Bái Rěndōng here for?

He already knew that this protagonist was a backstabber and understood how his future would unfold, so he should have had less contact with him… Why was he still actively keeping him around?

What was he trying to do?

Zhōng Yǐnyuè didn’t know; he couldn’t understand Shěn Chàngxuě anymore.

In his thoughts, Shěn Chàngxuě finally spoke up, “Bái Shidi, how long have you been under the elders’ guidance?”

His sudden question made Bái Rěndōng jump, and he stammered, “Uh, uh, Senior Brother, it’s been… over ten months.”

“Almost a year?”

“Yes, yes.”

Shěn Chàngxuě chuckled, “You don’t need to be nervous; I’m just asking casually.”

He shouldn’t have said that; as soon as he did, Bái Rěndōng trembled even more.

At this moment, he was still a useless person, and being addressed by the senior brother of Qián Yào Palace made him feel like he was about to die from fright.

“Alright, stop scaring him.” Zhōng Yǐnyuè intervened, “Why would you want to see him? My disciple is the most ordinary one under my guidance. With someone like you, he’s scared to death just seeing you; how could he not be nervous?”

“Ah, I truly offended him. It’s just that on my way back to the mountain today, I remembered that among the disciples brought back by Elder Língzé, only Bái Shidi is someone I haven’t met yet.”

Shěn Chàngxuě smiled and turned to say, “To be honest, I have something I want to ask Bái Shidi, which is why I asked him to stay.”

“Ah?” Bái Rěndōng pointed at himself in confusion, “Me?”

His bewildered expression was so similar to the memes that were popular online before Zhōng Yǐnyuè traveled here that he almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

He quickly raised his sleeve to cover his mouth.

“Indeed, it’s you, Shidi.” Shěn Chàngxuě said, “Today, while I was discussing scriptures in Língzé Palace with my fellow disciples, to clarify right from wrong, Elder Língzé mentioned a story from the past in the immortal cultivation world. Since you lived in the mortal world not long ago, I thought you might have a perspective on this matter from the common people’s viewpoint, so I wanted to hear your thoughts.”

Although Shěn Chàngxuě was from Qián Yào Palace, Tiān Jué Sect upheld the principle that disciples should listen to various schools of thought to broaden their perspectives, so the disciples’ studies would take them across different mountain palaces.

Today they would study in Língzé Palace, and tomorrow they would practice swordsmanship in Qián Yào Palace.

This was something that in modern times would generally be called a public course.

Because there were many disciples attending these classes, they came from all different sects.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè immediately realized that Shěn Chàngxuě was lying.

Elder Língzé didn’t like to talk about other matters during scripture classes. She was quite dismissive of such gossip and kept her distance from it.

He knew this, but Bái Rěndōng didn’t.

This kid was still being treated as useless at this time; he couldn’t even fly with a sword, so naturally, he couldn’t attend any public classes. He had never even been to Língzé Mountain.

Bái Rěndōng quickly said, “Senior Brother, please go ahead. If I can answer even a little, I will certainly speak without holding back!”

Shěn Chàngxuě smiled and said, “According to Elder Língzé, there was once a pair of senior and junior brothers in the immortal cultivation world.”

“The junior brother came from a poor background and had wandered in the mortal world for several years, even fighting with dogs for food. When he first entered the mountain gate, the senior brother felt pity for him and took care of him in every way.”

“And the senior brother was also the best swordsman in their sect. The junior brother admired him greatly, but whenever he mentioned the senior brother to others, they all looked down on him.”

“They all said that the senior brother would never become an immortal, would never cultivate the Dao, and would eventually go mad. The junior brother was very angry and sought out their master to seek justice for the senior brother.”

“The master, upon hearing this, laughed heartily and said that what his fellow disciples said was not wrong; it was indeed true.”

“The master brought the junior brother into the palace and taught him well. It turned out that the senior brother had a unique constitution, making it easier for him to go mad during cultivation compared to others, and he could easily drag others down with him.”

“The master earnestly advised the junior brother, and under the master’s words, the junior brother immediately felt a fire in his heart, believing that the senior brother would never become an immortal, would never cultivate the Dao, and would eventually go mad. All the kindness he had shown before was merely out of guilt, wanting to take advantage of him.”

“The senior brother continued to treat the junior brother well, but the junior brother began to despise him. The senior brother noticed the change in the junior brother’s attitude but said nothing, thinking that the innocent would clear themselves and believing that the junior brother was a sensible person who would understand if he showed his true heart.”

“But the junior brother’s attitude never improved towards the senior brother.”

“Then one day, the junior brother was severely injured by a demonic cultivator and was on the brink of death.”

“To save him, the senior brother entered a secret realm alone, risking his life to obtain a spirit herb. But on the way back, the senior brother was also accidentally severely injured by the demonic cultivator, losing the spirit herb and destroying his golden core.”

“When he returned to the mountain gate and saw that the spirit herb hadn’t been brought back, their master, in order to save the more talented junior brother, skinned the senior brother and dug out his bones to create a blood array to save the junior brother.”

“Bái Shidi,” Shěn Chàngxuě said, “If you were this junior brother, what would you be thinking at this moment?”

“I…”

This story was too long and complicated; Bái Rěndōng was stunned for a while before saying, “If I were this junior brother, I would definitely be filled with regret!”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè was taken aback.

Shěn Chàngxuě slightly nodded, revealing an ambiguous smile.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè didn’t see that smile; he was dumbfounded, looking at Bái Rěndōng.

“After this incident, he must have realized that others were deceiving him, right?”

“Even if the senior brother had a unique constitution, how could that mean he wanted to harm him? This junior brother is being unreasonable! I think he must be someone who doesn’t know what’s good for him! Since the senior brother treated him well, why would he easily believe what others said? If he heard something from others, why didn’t he go ask the senior brother himself?”

“Just based on others’ one-sided words to misunderstand the senior brother to such an extent, this junior brother deserves no help!”

Bái Rěndōng’s attitude was indignant, and Zhōng Yǐnyuè listened in shock.

Shěn Chàngxuě smiled, nodding, “Although Bái Shidi’s words are a bit extreme, the reasoning is indeed correct. Since Shidi can discern right from wrong so clearly, and your views are not much different from those of your fellow disciples, I can rest assured.”

Upon hearing this, Bái Rěndōng realized he had lost his composure and immediately lowered his head, not daring to speak.

“Being a bit extreme is also good; it shows youthful vigor.” Zhōng Yǐnyuè said, “I haven’t taught him the insights of the Dao yet; he doesn’t understand the principle of calming the mind, making you laugh at him.”

“The elder is too kind; it’s nothing. Such passion also shows that Bái Shidi is a person who values emotions and righteousness.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè nodded, not responding further, only saying, “You came to see him; there shouldn’t be anything else, right?”

“Nothing else; I just wanted to meet Shidi and hear his insights, causing trouble for the elder.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè waved his hand and said to Bái Rěndōng, “Since there’s nothing else, you can go back. It’s getting late, and you haven’t had dinner yet, right?”

Bái Rěndōng quickly bowed, “Yes.”

“Then hurry back.”

Bái Rěndōng was already tired of being caught between these two terrifying people, so he quickly clasped his hands and bowed, turning around and swiftly leaving.

Once he was far away, Zhōng Yǐnyuè looked up at Shěn Chàngxuě, “What do you mean by this?”

Shěn Chàngxuě still had a smile on his face.

“Disciple has no other intentions.” He said, “Elder, you also saw that he is not inherently bad.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè frowned.

He knew Shěn Chàngxuě was calculating something.

“Out of nowhere, you suddenly ask him these things just to test his reaction and see if he would say the same as I did?” Zhōng Yǐnyuè sighed, “What are you trying to achieve? He hasn’t even entered Qián Yào yet…”

“It’s precisely because he hasn’t entered the master’s sect yet.” Shěn Chàngxuě said.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè’s words came to a halt.

He looked at Shěn Chàngxuě.

The smile on Shěn Chàngxuě’s face faded significantly, and his expression became serious.

“Elder, Chàngxuě has been thinking for a long time after leaving Yùluán Palace today.”

He said, “I have heard about Bái Shidi’s situation. After hearing the elder’s words today, I have a guess.”

“Bái Shidi was brought back from the foot of the mountain by Elder Língzé. He has no parents and has wandered for a long time. After returning to the mountain gate, Elder Língzé couldn’t take him in, so he followed you.”

“I believe that in the original story, the original Yùluán Elder didn’t care for him. The senior and junior brothers in Yùluán Palace also didn’t learn anything from the elder, so they naturally couldn’t take care of him.”

“Elder, for a child, the first guide can influence his entire life.”

At this point, Zhōng Yǐnyuè already understood what he meant.

But he couldn’t believe it, so he asked, “Are you saying that…”

Shěn Chàngxuě took half a step back and knelt down before Zhōng Yǐnyuè.

He cupped his hands and said to Zhōng Yǐnyuè, “If this continues, things will surely develop into the scenario described in the elder’s story.”

“Elder, although I haven’t spent much time with you, I can feel that you are an upright person with a kind heart.”

“If the elder could be a guide for Bái Shidi in front of the master, perhaps he wouldn’t become the backstabber described in the story.”

“The junior brothers and sisters in Yùluán Palace are the same. The original Yùluán Elder let them fend for themselves and never taught them anything. I know the elder is inclined to me, but if we want to change the events in this story, if we want to survive, we probably need to start from the very bottom.”

“I ask the elder to teach and nurture them, guiding the junior brothers and sisters onto the right path.”

Shěn Chàngxuě bowed down and knocked his head to the ground.

Zhōng Yǐnyuè was left speechless, frozen in place.

In the front hall, a lamp was lit.

The candlelight flickered, and the night outside the palace was dark.

After a while, Zhōng Yǐnyuè went to help him up.

Shěn Chàngxuě stood up, and after several requests, Zhōng Yǐnyuè could only sigh and agree.

The two of them walked out of the front hall and stood under the eaves in the snowy night, and Zhōng Yǐnyuè still couldn’t help but sigh.

“Why go through all this trouble?” Zhōng Yǐnyuè said, “A junior brother who says you deserve this is nothing but a backstabber. When you were still alive, he said such nonsense; how could he treat you like that? Why do you still want to help him?”

Shěn Chàngxuě smiled, “Elder, you’re mistaken. If I don’t ask you for help, when he eventually comes under the master’s guidance, it will lead to the same outcome. If that’s the case, it’s better to trouble the elder to struggle for me; who knows, he might grow into a different person and no longer pose a threat to me.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè thought for a moment, and it did make some sense.

But he still felt uncomfortable inside.

Thinking about what Shěn Chàngxuě said after his death in the book, Zhōng Yǐnyuè felt uneasy.

He was actually going to teach this little brat; what was the difference between that and raising the son of his father’s murderer to become a CEO?

No difference!

Zhōng Yǐnyuè’s thoughts were written all over his face, and Shěn Chàngxuě chuckled, “Elder is truly easy to read.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè: “Huh?”

“What you’re thinking is written all over your face.” Shěn Chàngxuě said, “That won’t do.”

Upon hearing this, Zhōng Yǐnyuè was startled and quickly wiped his face, stammering, “What are you talking about?”

“If the elder says there’s nothing, then there’s nothing.” Shěn Chàngxuě said, “Then I’ll trouble the elder with everything.”

Zhōng Yǐnyuè nodded, waved his hand, and said, “Then you go; get some rest early. I’ll take care of these things for you.”

Shěn Chàngxuě agreed and turned to leave.

Shěn Chàngxuě walked into the corridor. Zhōng Yǐnyuè watched his back for a moment, yawned, and stepped into the snowy night, preparing to return to his Yùluán Palace to sleep.

After he left, Shěn Chàngxuě’s footsteps gradually slowed down.

Shěn Chàngxuě came to a stop, turning to look at the snow outside the corridor.

In the swirling snow, the smile on his face deepened.

【Such passion also shows that Bái Shidi is a person who values emotions and righteousness.】

The words he had just spoken floated past his ears, and Shěn Chàngxuě covered his mouth, nearly letting something slip out.

Valuing emotions and righteousness.

What a huge joke.

He almost laughed out loud.

Shěn Chàngxuě looked up at the snow falling from the sky, and something in his eyes grew heavier and deeper, ultimately sinking into the darkness.

If this world were merely a story…

Bái Rěndōng, if this world were merely a story.

Then if the protagonist were to die, what would happen to the world?

Would it collapse, or…

Would the protagonist change?