Chapter 1

[Host, stop daydreaming. Do you remember your character?]

I nodded.

I was now the overpowered hero’s spoiled fiancé.

And the young master of the Ying clan.

The Yings specialized in cultivating poisons, so every part of my body was deadly poisonous.

That also meant I didn’t have long left. In three years at most, the poison would flare up and kill me.

Meow Sprite said that as long as I spurred the hero on without actually hurting him, goading him toward success, I’d get another life.

I smiled. Acting was one thing I was very good at.

Meow Sprite nodded in satisfaction.

[Then hurry up and fetch Xie Wei, Host. It’s time to set out for the secret realm.]

The secret realm in the Abyss of Ten Thousand Souls opened once every fifty years. Every major clan sent its younger members there to seek opportunities.

But places were limited. Even a powerful clan like the Yings only had ten.

Our hero, Xie Wei, had only secured a place because of the Ying clan.

Following the directions, I came to a neglected courtyard.

This was where the hero was staying for the time being.

The Yings thought little of Xie Wei, and barely bothered with him.

Meow Sprite bobbed in front of me.

[Can you manage, Host? Do you need me to feed you some lines?]

I waved it off, strode into the courtyard, and kicked open the battered door.

“Hey! How dare you keep me waiting? If you don’t want to go to the secret realm, give your place to someone else.”

Inside, Xie Wei was still holding a steamed bun.

Something flickered in his eyes. He tucked the bun into his cloth bag.

He hurriedly gathered his things and stood.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

He hadn’t, actually. No one had even told him it was time to leave.

But he was clearly used to being treated this way.

I snorted and turned to go.

“Keep up. Don’t waste the time I could be spending finding treasures.”

Xie Wei followed me out without a word.

Once everyone had assembled, none of the young Yings gave him so much as a proper glance.

When we boarded the flying boat, they even managed to claim every seat without a word of discussion.

Xie Wei could only stand quietly at the edge.

I lounged with my legs crossed, enjoying myself.

Before long, I shooed away the person beside me and called to Xie Wei.

“Xie Wei! Who said you could loaf around over there? Get over here and peel lychees for me.”

He paused, but obediently sat beside me.

These were top-quality lychees rich in spiritual energy. Eating them helped with cultivation.

Xie Wei watched me toss the lychees he’d peeled by hand, one by one, into the air as though they were toys.

Quite a few rolled away and fell to the floor.

His gaze swept over the fallen lychees, and his eyes darkened a little.

I immediately sensed that it was time to start being difficult.

“Xie Wei, who gave you permission to sit?”

He froze for a moment and looked at me.

Seeing that I wasn’t joking, he silently rose, then knelt on one knee at my feet.

I’d specifically had someone spread a plush mat on the floor. His knee shouldn’t hurt too much.

Meow Sprite buzzed.

[Host, the hero holds grudges, you know.]

I was counting on it. Otherwise, what kind of performance was this?

I picked up a lychee and held it out to him.

“A reward.”

The other young clan members started jeering.

Xie Wei’s hand quietly curled into a fist. His expression was difficult to read.

Pretending not to notice, I deliberately put on a cold face.

“You dare refuse?”

He quickly reached for it, but I moved my hand just out of his grasp.

I held the lychee to his lips and waved it.

“Bite, little Xie pup.”