Chapter 51#

Stand-in#

The youth was a suspicious person. He thought to himself that there was definitely a problem with his identity. The tone Xue Ciling used when mentioning the name “Yin Yuheng” made him feel strange.

But he couldn’t figure out the situation for the time being, nor did he know the name of this body. Since Xue Ciling said his name was Yin Yuheng, then he would be called Yin Yuheng for now. Besides, he was called by this name in his past life, so he was used to it.

Yin Yuheng tried hard to recall and experimentally called out in his heart: “Little White?”

No one answered.

Yin Yuheng frowned slightly, suddenly feeling a sense of incongruity. But he couldn’t say where the sense of incongruity came from.

He always felt like he had forgotten some things.

He moved his fingers and felt them very stiff. Xue Ciling stepped forward, took his hand, and helped him move his wrist.

“You’ve slept for too long.”

Yin Yuheng silently looked into the other person’s eyes. For some reason, he felt these eyes were extremely beautiful. Xue Ciling did give him an eerie sense of familiarity, but something was off.

“Who are you to me?” Yin Yuheng tilted his head and frowned slightly.

Xue Ciling was silent for a moment, gripped his hand tightly, and laughed: “I am your Daoist companion, and you are my City Lord’s wife. You were injured and unconscious for a long time… Fortunately, you’ve finally woken up.”

Xue Ciling’s tone was serious and sincere.

Yin Yuheng: “…”

Yin Yuheng blinked slowly, revealing a self-blaming gaze: “So that’s how it is, but I don’t seem to remember anything.”

“It’s okay, you can recall slowly. I will stay with you.”

The two looked at each other, one gentle and inclusive, the other dependent and trusting, appearing like a true pair of immortal companions.

*

As the injured, comatose, and amnesiac City Lord’s companion, Yin Yuheng tried to get out of bed and walk around. Perhaps due to sleeping for too long, he had some difficulty controlling this body. Even walking became an arduous task.

He fell to the ground for the fourth time, and the maid beside him hurriedly came over to help him.

Yin Yuheng looked up and smiled gently: “Thank you.”

The maid’s face turned a bit red, and she advised: “Young Master, there’s no hurry. Take a rest.”

“It’s fine.” Yin Yuheng propped himself against the table and moved slowly. “I want to get better quickly so the City Lord won’t worry.”

His tone was very sincere. The maid was somewhat moved and silently accompanied him as he practiced.

As Yin Yuheng walked with difficulty, he thought that this place was full of strangeness and was not a place to stay for long; he had to make plans early. He lowered his head and took a secret look at the finger he had “accidentally” cut when he fell just now.

The wound didn’t bleed.

Yin Yuheng inconspicuously covered his hand with his sleeve.

Yin Yuheng didn’t believe for a second that he was Xue Ciling’s “Daoist companion.”

He still remembered the general plot of this book he had transmigrated into and recalled Xue Ciling’s identity.

In this NP sadomasochistic novel, the protagonist would encounter four scum gongs, one of whom was Xue Ciling. This Demon City Lord was obsessed with beauties and liked to make various kinds of puppets. He was struck by the protagonist’s beauty upon meeting him and even tried to imprison him for his own enjoyment.

Was he the protagonist imprisoned by Xue Ciling? Yin Yuheng briefly suspected it, but quickly denied it.

Thinking of his finger that wouldn’t bleed, he guessed his identity—Xue Ciling’s puppet.

The book also mentioned this part, saying that Xue Ciling had once tried to use puppets to imitate the protagonist, and even used demonic techniques to put souls into the bodies of the puppets. But no matter what, he couldn’t imitate the protagonist’s charm. In the end, in a fit of rage, Xue Ciling burned all the puppets.

Yin Yuheng thought silently that he was likely the protagonist’s stand-in puppet, an unfortunate soul about to be burned to death… The situation was extremely dangerous, and Little White, the book spirit who had coaxed him into coming here, was inexplicably missing without a trace.

A hellish start.

Yin Yuheng was tired from walking and sat in a chair to catch his breath. He felt a bit dizzy and blurred, likely because the fusion between the soul and the puppet body was not very good.

The door was pushed open, and Xue Ciling walked in. He looked at the pale, white-clothed youth leaning powerlessly in the chair, his face showing distress: “Don’t overwork yourself.”

Yin Yuheng opened his eyes, slightly turned his head, and looked at him with a smile. With his movement, strands of hair slid from his shoulder, like a piece of sleek silk.

Xue Ciling’s pupils dilated slightly, and in this instant, his heartbeat quickened by a few points. He recalled that glance by the bank of the Ghost River, and in a daze, it overlapped with the youth before him.

Xue Ciling’s skill in making puppets was very good, but no matter how clever the hand, it couldn’t carve out the appearance of the Li Dynasty’s Crown Prince. Even with all his effort, Xue Ciling could only make the puppet eighty percent similar. However, the youth’s single glance and smile just now managed to turn that eighty percent resemblance into a full ten percent of beauty.

Stunning beyond expectations.

Xue Ciling’s throat felt dry. He walked forward uncontrollably, picked up the other’s hair, and rubbed it in his palm.

“Yuheng…” Xue Ciling murmured in a low voice, “Smile more.”

Only when you smile do you look like that person.

Yin Yuheng’s smile remained unchanged: “Alright.”

Xue Ciling took Yin Yuheng’s hand with satisfaction.

As long as you always resemble that person, I will keep you by my side.

*

After Xue Ciling left, Yin Yuheng sat before the bronze mirror, looking at himself in the mirror.

He didn’t smile. When he had no expression, the face in the mirror was beautiful but lacked a bit of human touch. This husk was, after all, just a puppet and didn’t have the charm and bearing of the real “Yin Yuheng.”

Yin Yuheng thought to himself that he was just a stand-in puppet for the Crown Prince, liable to be pushed into the fire by Xue Ciling and burned to death at any time for not being similar enough to that person.

Yin Yuheng had also read some stand-in novels; he didn’t expect to one day experience it personally, and a high-risk version at that.

Today, Yin Yuheng tried to walk out, but was stopped by Xue Ciling. Yin Yuheng understood that Xue Ciling probably wouldn’t let him leave the City Lord’s Manor, nor would he give him a chance to contact the outside world.

Yin Yuheng lowered his eyes, calculating in his heart.

Early the next morning, the maid woke Yin Yuheng and presented a sword.

“It’s time for you to practice your sword.” The maid had worry on her face. “The City Lord said your swordsmanship used to be very good.”

Yin Yuheng was stunned, and he understood in his heart that this was part of the imitation.

He smiled: “Alright.”

The maid looked at him, hesitating to speak, but thinking of Xue Ciling, she still didn’t dare say anything.

Yin Yuheng was originally worried that he wouldn’t know how to use a sword, but surprisingly, upon picking up the sword, he had a feeling of innate skill. However, practicing the sword was not an easy task for the current Yin Yuheng; because of his body, his movements when striking with the sword were inevitably stiff.

Xue Ciling watched intently from the side.

“Yuheng, you look especially good when you hold a sword.” Xue Ciling’s eyes were bright.

Yin Yuheng failed to take a step in time, his footing became unstable, and he fell to the ground.

Xue Ciling’s face suddenly darkened.

Yin Yuheng seemed unaware, smiling helplessly: “The injury hasn’t healed, and I’ve forgotten my old swordsmanship. It might take some time to recover.”

Xue Ciling’s expression softened a bit: “Yes, you were injured… you have to practice slowly.”

Xue Ciling said softly: “Yuheng, you are a genius and very talented in the way of the sword. You will definitely be able to practice it well.”

How could the Li Dynasty’s Crown Prince not know how to use a sword? Yin Yuheng understood Xue Ciling’s meaning: if he didn’t practice well or didn’t imitate him closely enough, then there was no need for him to exist.

Yin Yuheng stood steady and continued to strike with the sword. He practiced for a full two hours, falling many times. His wrists and palms were covered in scratches, and his knees and calves were likely bruised and purple as well.

Since Xue Ciling didn’t say stop, Yin Yuheng couldn’t stop.

After Yin Yuheng fell once again, Xue Ciling finally stepped forward to help him up and rubbed his wrist with distress.

“Does it hurt?”

Yin Yuheng shook his head; a puppet’s sense of pain was not obvious.

Xue Ciling smiled: “The sun is very good today. Why don’t we go for a walk in the garden?”

Yin Yuheng didn’t refuse, propping himself on Xue Ciling’s hand as he slowly moved his steps. He walked slowly, and Xue Ciling was not in a hurry either. When Yin Yuheng’s footsteps were unstable during sword practice earlier, Xue Ciling’s face had darkened upon seeing it; now that Yin Yuheng walked with difficulty, Xue Ciling actually somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being depended upon.

The flowers in the garden were indeed blooming beautifully. Sunlight spilled on his body, but Yin Yuheng couldn’t feel the warmth. A puppet couldn’t sense heat or cold, wouldn’t sweat, and wouldn’t shed tears. But Yin Yuheng still smiled and said: “The weather is really warm today.”

Since he was to imitate, he had to pay attention to details in all aspects.

Xue Ciling was indeed somewhat happy: “You can come for walks often in the future.”

When Xue Ciling smiled, his eyes were very bright; looking at his appearance, it was hard to imagine that this was a person with unpredictable thoughts.

Yin Yuheng turned his head, reached out his hand, and gently touched Xue Ciling’s features, commenting: “Your eyes are really beautiful.”

Xue Ciling stopped in his tracks, his breathing slightly hitched. Yin Yuheng’s gaze was both gentle and focused, his fingertips were slightly cool, and when their skin touched, it gave one a tingling sensation.

“You like my eyes?” Xue Ciling said hoarsely, “Then look at them more.”

Yin Yuheng smiled without a word and moved his gaze away.

“What kind of person was I before?” Yin Yuheng suddenly asked, “How did we meet? I want to remember more.”

Xue Ciling revealed a look of recollection: “You were an excellent person, and many people admired you. We fell in love at first sight.”

“So that’s how it is,” Yin Yuheng seemed to believe it, “Then how did I get injured?”

“I was injured, and you went to the Ghost River to pick the Underworld Flower for me and accidentally had an accident.”

Ghost River, Underworld Flower?

Memory fragments flashed through Yin Yuheng’s mind, but quickly disappeared again.

“It seems I really like you,” Yin Yuheng said softly, “Was it you who has been taking care of me while I was unconscious? It’s so good to have met you.”

Hearing his words, Xue Ciling gazed at his face and said: “As long as you are Yin Yuheng, I will always be good to you.”

Xue Ciling looked at Yin Yuheng and began to smile. He thought, I will slowly fill in your memory, guide your preferences, and train you into the appearance of that person… like polishing a piece of uncut jade, as long as I am patient, I can obtain the desired result in my heart.

You will be my most satisfying work.

*

The Demon Realm, the Li Dynasty, and the Demon Clan were far apart, and it also took some time for information to be transmitted. It was several days later when the news of the Li Dynasty’s Crown Prince being injured and in seclusion and the change of ownership of the Demon Clan’s throne arrived.

Yin Yuheng happened to hear the servants’ discussion and began to think about which part of the plot this was in the novel.

Since Lu Yan had already become the Demon Emperor, then it had already reached the part where the protagonist loses his memory and is tortured by Lu Yan?

Lu Yan…

Thinking of this name, Yin Yuheng felt a bit strange in his mood, instinctively feeling that he had forgotten a very important thing, yet he couldn’t put his finger on it. He lay in bed until late at night, but still couldn’t figure it out.

Yin Yuheng sighed, got out of bed, and went out. The City Lord’s Manor was very quiet in the dead of night. Xue Ciling was likely still handling city affairs, as he was nowhere to be seen. Occasionally encountering servants, everyone just smilingly asked, “Is Young Master Yin here to admire the moon?” and didn’t stop him. When Yin Yuheng heard it, he would smile and nod.

Some people have a natural charm that makes them likable. In these few days, all the people in the City Lord’s Manor who had seen Yin Yuheng liked him without exception. There was even a maid who secretly pulled him aside and specifically warned: “Don’t go to the courtyard on the west side; the City Lord doesn’t like people going there.”

Yin Yuheng was a bit curious: “What kind of person is the City Lord exactly? I want to know more about him.”

The maid lowered her voice and said: “The City Lord seems easy to talk to, but in fact he has deep thoughts. You must not provoke him, especially on the fifteenth of every month.”

Yin Yuheng was a bit confused: “The fifteenth of every month?”

The maid looked around, and seeing no one, whispered to Yin Yuheng: “The City Lord seems to have been poisoned before, and it flares up every fifteenth of the month.”

Yin Yuheng’s eyes flickered, he nodded to indicate he had noted it, and then said: “Why didn’t I see the City Lord today?”

The maid said: “Is that so? It might be because of the Li Dynasty’s Crown Prince…”

Halfway through her sentence, the maid’s face changed, appearing a bit apprehensive.

Yin Yuheng asked as if unaware: “The Li Dynasty’s Crown Prince? I seem to have heard of this person by chance today.”

Looking at his oblivious expression and thinking of this youth’s identity, the maid couldn’t help but feel a trace of distress. The moonlight was peaceful and the night wind was gentle, and the maid couldn’t help but say a few more words.

“You… don’t ask too much,” the maid said softly, “And don’t mention it in front of the City Lord. Hearing the news of that Crown Prince’s injury, the City Lord doesn’t feel good in his heart. It’s not wrong to be cautious in word and deed these few days.”

Yin Yuheng seemed somewhat puzzled, but still followed her advice and complied.

Early the next morning, Yin Yuheng got up as usual to practice his sword. When Xue Ciling came, his face was indeed very poor. With a cold face, he sat under a tree watching Yin Yuheng strike with the sword.

Yin Yuheng felt that he was looking through him, thinking of another person.

Since Xue Ciling didn’t let him stop, Yin Yuheng practiced for a full day. In the evening, when he could finally put down the sword, Yin Yuheng’s wrist went soft, and the sword fell directly to the ground. His vision went black, he had a splitting headache, and he couldn’t speak.

Xue Ciling supported him, stared silently at his face for a while, and suddenly said: “Smile.”

Yin Yuheng was stunned.

“Smile.” Xue Ciling said it again, his tone low, seemingly already on the edge of anger. His features were stained with irritable rage, and his right hand unconsciously gripped Yin Yuheng’s neck.

“If you don’t learn how to smile, then…”

In the sensation of suffocation, Yin Yuheng barely managed to curl a smile.

Xue Ciling’s voice suddenly paused, and his whole person slowly relaxed: “Yes, that’s it.”

He gradually calmed down and let go.

“I’m sorry, I was agitated just now,” Xue Ciling said with lowered head, “I should be more patient.”

Yin Yuheng shook his head, smiling as he reached out his hand and gently covered Xue Ciling’s eyes.

He thought with some regret that these eyes were not as good-looking as before.