The Substitute Female Supporting Character Sees the Bullet Screen

Chapter 28

Nie Yinzhi frowned, "Cuihua?"

Though it was clearly a questioning tone, somehow the Hong Hu Sword's spirit emitted a spiritual light, with golden light dancing along its blade. After a moment, the two small seal characters for "Cuihua" appeared on the blade near its guard.

Nie Yinzhi held the sword, nearly having a breakdown, "I haven't decided yet! Do you really like this name?!"

Would she have to shout "Cuihua" every time she needed to summon her sword in the future?

Gu Jiang collapsed laughing on the soft couch.

Nie Yinzhi had no time to deal with him yet. She hugged Cuihua and struggled in vain, trying to reason with it, "How about we change it? What about White Fire? You were formed from flames, after all!" She clapped her hands, "I've got it! 'Li' means fire, so how about White Li? Or White Sparkle? Or White Frost?"

The spirit sword flickered repeatedly, but unfortunately, once the sword inscription was made, it couldn't be changed.

Nie Yinzhi finally had to accept her fate, but still tried to negotiate, "Fine, then your formal name is 'Cuihua,' but you must also answer to all the nicknames I suggested."

Cuihua flickered brightly, and Honghu spread its wings and nodded, clearly delighted to have so many names.

[Cuihua, and formally named Cuihua hahaha, I'm dying of laughter! Demon Lord, look what trouble you've caused! Even Red Leaf sounds ten thousand times better than Cuihua. Nie Yinzhi, you've been so wronged - if you don't give the Demon Lord a good beating today, you're breaking character!]

[White Fire? White Sparkle? This is hilarious. These two are terrible at naming. They're ruining perfectly good weapons! What a useless couple.]

[White Li and White Frost are somewhat decent, those would make better formal names.]

[Oh my god, from now on when Nie Yinzhi summons her sword, she'll have to shout Cuihua! How mortifying! Demon Ancestor, truly living up to your name with such a cruel heart!]

[Cuihua haha, and the silly sword is actually happy about it!]

[Gu Jiang, you just wanted matching couple names, didn't you! I think Red Leaf should have the nickname 'Suancai' - Cuihua and Suancai, perfect match!]

Nie Yinzhi glared at the laughing man, forcing her eyes to turn red with tears.

When Gu Jiang turned and saw her expression, his laughter stopped abruptly. He immediately sat up and cupped her face with some uncertainty, "Do you dislike the name that much?" He frowned, beginning to consider if there was any way to erase the sword inscription.

Nie Yinzhi's eyes were filled with tears as she sniffled pitifully, taking the viewers' suggestion, "Then you have to give your Red Leaf a nickname too - call it Suancai, and you must always call it that."

If I'm going down, you're going down with me!

Gu Jiang: "..."

"I knew you wouldn't want to." A tear that Nie Yinzhi had been holding back rolled down her cheek and landed on Gu Jiang's fingertip. He withdrew his hand as if burned, "Fine, I agree."

After speaking, Gu Jiang raised his hand, his fingertip still wet with Nie Yinzhi's tear, and his thin lips parted to say, "Red Leaf."

A ripple of red light appeared in the void, and Gu Jiang pulled out a dark red blade.

Red Leaf and Cuihua met like rivals, and both weapons bristled with energy, their red and white lights instantly intertwining.

Honghu spread its wings, flames burning brightly on them, and perched on the sword's tip, chirping at the Red Leaf blade. Red Leaf responded by bursting out with a blade of black-red light, radiating hostility.

Honghu immediately shrank its neck, half-hiding in the sword's tip, but still called out defiantly.

Gu Jiang flicked his finger against the blade, creating a resonant "woo" as finger met steel. Red Leaf trembled continuously, its blade aura receding like the tide. The blade hung in mid-air, still quivering, somewhat dazed.

Honghu seized this opportunity, emerging from the sword's tip with wings spread wide, sweeping out brilliant sword light that slapped Red Leaf blade twice.

Nie Yinzhi was startled and hurriedly hugged her spirit sword, admonishing it: "We don't take advantage of a blade in distress."

Gu Jiang said: "From today on, your nickname is Suancai, and you must respond when called Suancai."

Red Leaf was shocked, its blade-song expressing strong reluctance. The inscription "Red Leaf" on its blade near the back began to glow like molten lava, as if emphasizing to its bastard master that it already had a name!

Gu Jiang's slender fingers reached toward the blade again, and the inscription suddenly dimmed - Suancai had surrendered.

Gu Jiang withdrew his hand with satisfaction and turned to look at Nie Yinzhi.

Nie Yinzhi wiped her tears with the back of her hand, inwardly blooming with joy, "That's more like it."

At this moment, Feng Hanying, who had been left behind on the Blade Mountain, was completely bewildered.

A day ago, he had been abandoned on Blade Mountain as a rabbit with nothing to do, so he turned his attention to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave while his rabbit form nestled in a grass thicket to sleep.

Although the deal with Nie Yinzhi hadn't been finalized, breaking through the seal was inevitable, and he needed to deal with those who were outwardly submissive but secretly harboring ulterior motives.

The demon cultivators had been locked in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave for ten years, building halls and cities under the Demon Sealing Mark in a circular pattern, surrounding a central dark tower. The stone tower was so black it seemed to absorb all light, its spire reaching up to touch the Demon Sealing Mark above, with the Demon Lord's hall at its peak.

Feng Hanying rarely left the tower, and he typically turned a blind eye to the demon factions' conflicts within the Ten Thousand Demons Cave.

Ten years ago, in that great battle between good and evil, Feng Hanying had been surrounded by righteous cultivators and betrayed by his trusted subordinates. He had endured nineteen demon-slaying thunderbolts, suffering severe injuries. After the demons were forced into the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, Feng Hanying descended into this dark tower and rarely emerged from his seclusion.

If not for the "Blood Moon Shadow" that spread from the tower's peak like a dark shroud over all demons' hearts, everyone would have suspected the Demon Lord had perished.

Three months ago, the "Blood Moon Shadow" suddenly pierced into the Demon Sealing Mark from the tower's peak, activating all the sealing inscriptions which covered the entire Ten Thousand Demons Cave like a net. The demons had witnessed with their own eyes as the "Blood Moon Shadow" seeped through the Demon Sealing Mark and escaped.

The demons were extremely excited, rushing forward to crash against the Demon Sealing Mark, only to be thrown back by the intense light of the talismans.

However, what the demons never expected was that the "Blood Moon Shadow" would return shortly after its departure.

Since then, the "Blood Moon Shadow" at the tower's peak had grown noticeably thinner, and now showed signs of dissipating.

Among demon cultivators, there was always scheming and plotting. Even trapped in this forsaken place, they maintained their power divisions and conflicts. Demon cultivators with the same source of demonic energy naturally gathered together, dividing the Ten Thousand Demons Cave into four major cities besides the dark tower, each with its own demon leader.

But there was no peace between them either. The law of the jungle had always been an eternal truth in the cultivation world, even more so among demon cultivators.

Demon cultivators of the same source united against other cities while consuming each other within their own cities, like raising venomous insects in a jar.

Besides the "Blood Moon Shadow," only Feng Hanying had inherited it.

Seeing Feng Hanying's decline, some began to stir with ambition. The Molten Gold City Lord No Zhao sent people to infiltrate the dark tower, testing Feng Hanying's response. A strand of golden demonic energy rose level by level, almost reaching the previously untrodden peak of the dark tower.

In the spacious hall at the tower's top, there was only a solitary hard platform. The platform was also made of dark stone, seemingly integrated with the entire tower.

A man in dark robes and a jade crown sat cross-legged on the platform, his flowing robes almost touching the ground. The room was entirely dark, with only his face showing an eerily pale complexion. His long eyebrows swept up into his temples, his eyes slightly closed with upturned corners, and a crimson cinnabar mole marked his brow.

In this extreme contrast of black and white, that cinnabar mole appeared almost supernatural in its redness.

Feng Hanying quietly opened his eyes. His pupils seemed carved from the same dark stone beneath him, deep as an abyss and devoid of spiritual light.

Before the "Molten Gold" demonic energy could probe through the hall's door crack, Feng Hanying vanished from his seat. The next moment, the hall doors burst open with a boom, and a pale hand emerged from his sleeve, grasping the golden strand of demonic energy.

Feng Hanying raised his hand, his lips curling into a bloodthirsty smile as he coldly said, "Come and die."

After speaking, he released his grip, and the golden demonic energy tumbled down the stone steps in retreat. Feng Hanying walked toward the hall's outer terrace. After suffering so much at the hands of Gu Jiang and Nie Yinzhi, having someone deliver themselves to vent his frustration on was perfect.

He watched as a demon cultivator stumbled out of the dark tower, fleeing pathetically toward the Molten Gold City, but they were too slow. Feng Hanying's patience was limited, and he couldn't wait any longer.

The "Blood Moon Shadow" poured down from the tower's peak like spreading ink, passing the demon cultivator in an instant. The cultivator couldn't even scream before silently dissolving into the black-red demonic energy.

Moments later, Blood Moon Shadow, under the watchful eyes of all demons, collided with the city barrier array of Molten Gold City. The blood-colored demonic energy spread across the barrier screen, and in an instant, the barrier collapsed. Feng Hanying slaughtered the demon cultivators who dared to challenge him as easily as chopping vegetables.

As he swept across the sky above Molten Gold City, blood dripped from the demonic energy like a rain of blood.

Without hesitation, he entered the mansion of Molten Gold City, dragging out the city lord who had grown bold enough to challenge his authority. In the sky above Molten Gold City, in front of all demon cultivators from the four cities, he shattered the lord's meridians and internal organs, severed his limbs, and ripped out his entrails.

He tortured him for a full quarter hour before finally extinguishing his soul.

The screams of the Molten Gold City Lord echoed throughout the demon cave. As the demon lord fell, the "Molten Gold" demonic energy burst from his body, forming thick golden mist, triggering a frenzied scramble among the city's demon cultivators.

The Demon Sealing Mark in the sky simultaneously blazed brightly, continuously eroding the demonic energy.

Feng Hanying shook the blood from his hands and looked down at the crowd of demons. Just as the demon cultivators anxiously wondered if he would begin a massacre, Feng Hanying's figure paused briefly, and the ominous "Blood Moon Shadow" suddenly retracted back into the mysterious tower.

In the Forest of Sword Mountains, the Flame Rabbit was startled by the sound of Red Leaf's blade song and hurriedly jumped out from the grass. Red Leaf shot out from the mountain of swords, piercing through void space, and disappeared into the sky.

Feng Hanying: "???" Weren't they supposed to come pick them up after finishing their business!

[Feng-sama, you finally showed your true colors! The role of the domineering, unrestrained demon lord belongs to none other than you!]

[Boss Feng is so cool! *swooning*]

[The villain's work in this show still relies on Boss Feng, how gratifying]

[One moment he's massacring demons in the Ten Thousand Demons Cave with overwhelming dominance, the next moment he's a crying bunny. Who would've thought our little Ying has two faces]

[Poor abandoned bunny Feng! Don't cry, bunny.]

Nie Yinzhi awoke from her meditation and, seeing the bullet comments, remembered Feng Hanying who had been left in the Sword Mountains. She nudged Gu Jiang, "Is Feng Hanying using your demonic energy? When he consumes it, does it make you uncomfortable?"

Gu Jiang opened his eyes lazily, "No. Heaven would be delighted if the Demon Ancestor dispersed all his demonic energy, dividing and transforming it. The more demonic energy scattered, the less heavenly pressure the Demon Ancestor bears."

Nie Yinzhi understood and continued his thought: "So the Demon Ancestor would also grow weaker until finally disappearing completely?"

"Mm."

Nie Yinzhi rested her chin on her hand, watching him thoughtfully. After a moment, she asked, "Then where does all the dissolved demonic energy go?"

"Would you like to try?" Gu Jiang sat up slightly, leaning against the soft pillows, as a ball of demonic energy appeared in his palm.

Nie Yinzhi reached out to play with it, and the demonic energy swayed in his palm following her touch, feeling cool to the touch. "How should I try? Should I drop some blood into it?"

Gu Jiang shook his head, "No need for blood. Aren't you learning demon-sealing inscriptions? Those will work."

"Ah, you knew?" Nie Yinzhi was startled for a moment. She had been studying in secret, and the demon lord was always sleeping – how did he find out?

She explained, "I'm not targeting you specifically. It's just that since we're going to the Ten Thousand Demons Cave, I wanted to be better prepared, and the scrolls you gave me happened to contain..."

"I know," Gu Jiang smiled, gently flicking her forehead to stop her words. "You can practice on me."

Nie Yinzhi hesitated, "Won't it hurt you?"

Gu Jiang laughed for a while, "You're quite confident in yourself."

Nie Yinzhi pinched him in embarrassed anger, "I was born specifically to eliminate demons."

"Don't say such foolish things. You are you – you are Nie Yinzhi," Gu Jiang said.

Nie Yinzhi's eyes widened slightly as she stared at him unblinkingly. Gu Jiang steadily returned her gaze, but after being stared at for so long, confusion appeared in his eyes. "What is it?"

After a moment of silence, Nie Yinzhi asked curiously, "Gu Jiang, having lived for so long, have you ever liked or loved anyone?"

Gu Jiang didn't understand how the topic had suddenly turned to this, but he answered honestly nonetheless: "No."

"Then, would you like to try?" Nie Yinzhi mimicked his earlier tone, "You can practice on me."

Gu Jiang's expression grew serious as he stared at her for a long while before asking solemnly, "Won't it hurt you?"

Nie Yinzhi burst out laughing, "You're quite confident in yourself. You think I would say that? I won't." She moved closer to Gu Jiang, took his hand and pressed it against her cheek, tilting her head to nuzzle his palm gently. "I'm easily hurt, so you'll have to hold me carefully in your palm."