In a Fantasy World as Cannon Fodder, I Got Entangled with the Heroine - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: A Game for Two, Day and Night Unending!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

Dongfang Ke seemed to sense Jiang Qian’s gaze and looked back with a hint of confusion. “Young Master Jiang, is something wrong?”

Jiang Qian smiled casually. “Oh, nothing. You just look oddly familiar—that’s all.”

Dongfang Ke—the one who would inherit the title of Pill Emperor in the future.

Someone like that was destined to be a crucial figure—and, naturally, part of the protagonist's harem.

But why is he here at Heavenly Fragrance Academy? According to the storyline, shouldn’t he be studying at the Pill Pavilion by now?

Wait… He looks only fifteen or sixteen—still a far cry from the man he’ll become a decade later. In the original novel, he doesn’t enter the Pill Pavilion until ten years from now.

And that’s where he meets Jiang Zixuan, where their story begins.

So, at this point, he hasn’t even encountered Jiang Zixuan yet.

Doesn’t that mean I have a golden chance to befriend the future Pill Emperor before the plot even starts?

… …

Having sorted his thoughts, Jiang Qian’s eyes brightened as he spoke up, “Ah, now I remember! Isn’t your father a disciple of our Azure Mountain Sect? Dongfang Xuan, right?”

If he recalled right, Dongfang Ke’s father truly was Dongfang Xuan—a man of Azure Mountain Sect. In the novel, that was the same connection Jiang Zixuan used to draw close to Dongfang Ke.

“Young Master Jiang, you know my father?” Dongfang Ke asked, his voice trembling with excitement.

Jiang Qian offered a gentle smile. “Of course I know your father. Senior Brother Dongfang was a man I deeply admired back in the day. I still remember that time he stood alone, defending a city against a rampaging beast tide. He protected every single soul in the city, all by himself.”

“But he paid a heavy price for that,” Jiang Qian continued, shaking his head in genuine regret. “His injuries left him crippled, unable to cultivate ever again. What a tragedy.”

Dongfang Ke was clearly moved—someone remembered, and not just anyone, but a Chief Disciple of Azure Mountain Sect! He clenched his fists, recalling all that his father had suffered.

The only reason he’d studied alchemy at all was to one day heal his father.

Without hesitating, Dongfang Ke stepped forward, voice thick with emotion. “I never expected you’d remember my father, Young Master Jiang…”

Jiang Qian smiled, reaching out and squeezing Dongfang Ke’s shoulder. He pressed a freshly refined Recovery Pill and a bulging pouch of over a hundred thousand Zixuan Coins into the youth’s palm. “Dongfang Ke, consider this a gesture of respect from the Azure Mountain Sect—for your father. If I get the chance, I’ll visit Senior Brother Dongfang in person.”

“I—I can’t accept this…” Dongfang Ke instinctively tried to hand the treasures back.

But Jiang Qian insisted, pushing the items into his arms. “Don’t refuse my goodwill, or you’ll hurt my feelings!”

“This… Alright, then…” Dongfang Ke finally relented, carefully storing away the pill and money.

A moment later, Jiang Qian boarded the Spirit boat, turning back to call out, “Dongfang Ke! I have great expectations for you. One day, you’ll outshine everyone on the path of alchemy!”

It was more than encouragement—he was speaking the truth of the future.

Dongfang Ke watched him leave, eyes bright with determination. “Thank you! I won’t let you down!”

With that single meeting, Dongfang Ke’s regard for Jiang Qian soared.

Settling into his seat aboard the Spirit boat, Jiang Qian couldn’t help humming a cheerful tune, wholly pleased with himself.

Seated next to him, Hu Murui noticed his good mood and couldn’t resist asking, “Brother Jiang, what’s got you so happy?”

Jiang Qian laughed, a sly glint in his eyes. “Why wouldn’t I be happy?”

After all, he had just befriended the future Pill Emperor. Just imagine—one day, eighth- and ninth-grade pills would practically rain from the sky for him!

Now that the Pill Emperor had revealed himself, Jiang Qian wondered: where was the future Pill Demon hiding?

If his memory served, that Pill Demon answered to the humble-sounding name of Hu Guangtu. Don’t let that rustic name fool you—his alchemy was the equal of Dongfang Ke’s in the future.

Oddly enough, Hu Guangtu seemed to harbor a ruthless grudge against Duan Yuqing, always dreaming of killing the man!

Yet not even the original novel ever revealed why Hu Guangtu hated Duan Yuqing so much, even after countless chapters.

Hu Murui nodded in thought, then turned her gaze to the drifting white clouds outside. “Brother Jiang, are we heading to Azure Mountain Sect now?”

“Not yet,” Jiang Qian replied, “We’ll stop at the Beast Taming Sect first. I ought to send you home before anything else.”

Hu Murui pouted, those cherry lips tilted down in playful protest. “Brother Jiang, are you in such a hurry to get rid of me?”

Jiang Qian chuckled. “Let’s just say, if I don’t bring you back, your father might just have my head.”

“So, if my father agreed to let me travel with you, you’d stop trying to get rid of me?”

“Of course!” he replied.

“You’re not lying?”

Jiang Qian put on his most serious face. “A gentleman’s word is his bond—once spoken, even four wild horses can’t drag it back.”

Tch. Like I don’t know your father. There’s no way he’d let you follow me around so easily.

Suddenly—

Hu Murui took out a Calling Jade and held it up before Jiang Qian.

The next moment, a shimmering image appeared—it was Hu Mo, her father, wearing a formidable scowl as he glared straight at Jiang Qian.

“Brat! I’m entrusting my precious daughter to you—don’t let me down!” Hu Mo’s voice boomed like thunder. “And if even a hair on her head gets hurt, you’d best get your affairs in order!”

With that, the projection faded.

Jiang Qian stiffened, staring from the jade to Hu Murui. “Wait… This is for real?”

“Of course!” Hu Murui beamed, quickly stowing the jade away. “Brother Jiang, you can’t go back on your word now!”

Well, no matter how closely he’d calculated, Jiang Qian had never expected that stubborn and famously henpecked, old fox would actually give his consent.

He could only guess Madam Hu had pressed her full weight behind this, leaving Hu Mo no room to refuse.

Rubbing his temples, Jiang Qian let out a long sigh. “Fine, Miss Hu. I’ll take you to Azure Mountain Sect—but you have to promise me one thing. No causing trouble while we’re there—understood?”

“Mm! Mm! Mm!” Hu Murui nodded so hard her ponytail bounced.

What kind of karmic debt am I paying off here…?

—A few days later—

Jiang Qian and Hu Murui arrived at Azure Mountain Sect.

The first to greet them was Bai Piaoxue. She rushed over, about to say something cheerful—until she spotted Hu Murui trailing behind.

Her steps immediately slowed, her eyes going cold as she fixed Hu Murui with a frosty glare. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be back at the Beast Taming Sect?”

Hu Murui just shot Bai Piaoxue a challenging look. “Oh, it’s you, Bai Piaoxue. I went to Heavenly Fragrance Academy with Brother Jiang!”

Brother Jiang? Went to Heavenly Fragrance Academy together?

Bai Piaoxue’s temper flared instantly. She marched right up to Hu Murui, face barely an inch away. “Didn’t you used to have your eyes on Duan Yuqing? Why are you glued to my Jiang Qian now?”

“My Jiang Qian? Brother Jiang is mine, not yours!” Hu Murui parried, refusing to give an inch.

She then added, twisting the knife, “And you know what? These past few days, I’ve been playing a two-person game with Brother Jiang. It was super exciting—day and night, no breaks at all!” As she spoke, Hu Murui clung tightly to Jiang Qian’s arm.

Inwardly, Jiang Qian wanted to scream: What the hell! Why would she say something so misleading?!

It was just chess, dammit!

He could only look helplessly at Bai Piaoxue. “Senior Sister Bai, I—”

“A two-person game, huh?” Bai Piaoxue’s smile was all frost, her eyes burning with jealousy. “Jiang Qian, you’d better give me a good explanation for this!”