No, that can't be.
The master of the mountains who trained Shao Xiu is named Master Cui. His best pal, who helped him through thick and thin, is named Ren Lei. His own Shizun at Yu An Peak is right in front of my eyes.
Then who the fuck Master Yu-Zhen? I'm certain I haven't seen this name before.
There must be a reason, a goal that I have to achieve in order to attain my happy ending as Yu-Zhen.. right? That's what always happens in transmigration stories.
Unless... unless I'm here for ABSOLUTELY NO FUCKING REASON AT ALL!
IF YU-ZHEN DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A ROLE IN THIS GODDAMN STORY, THEN WHY THE FUCK AM I HERE?! WHAT SINS DID I COMMIT TO GET TRANSPORTED HERE, AND EVEN AS A LITERAL EXTRA!
I HAD PEOPLE LICKING MY FEET EVERYWHERE I WENT, BEGGING ME TO JUST GIVE THEM A GLANCE! HECK, I WAS THE MAIN CHARACTER IN EVERYONE'S LIFE!! I EVEN ACTED AS THE PROTAGONIST OF THIS STORY, SHAO XIU, AND WHAT, NOW I'M JUST SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEONE WHOSE EXISTENCE LITERALLY DOESN'T EVEN MATTER?
THEY CAN'T DO THAT TO ME! I SIMPLY WON'T ALLOW IT! I WON'T! I WON'T! I WON'T!
.
Ma Wei was unaware of the blood boiling inside Yu-Zhen, so he glanced worriedly as Yu-Zhen glared intently at Elder Liao Yan, looking as if he were a tiger locked in a cage, frowning with silent fury.
Yu-Zhen stomped forward, allowing the sleeves of his robe to flutter for dramatic effect, until he realized he didn't know where to go. He decided to retreat to his room for further brainstorming.
He wasn't going to die a twerp, living in the shadows. He was exceptional and prestigious as Pan Xiu, so he certainly was going to be the same as Yu-Zhen. He wasn't going to be forgotten. He simply couldn't be forgotten. All throughout his career, this particular fear had captured his heart and embedded itself deep into it. He couldn't escape it then, and certainly not now that he was at rock bottom on the ladder of significance.
Yu-Zhen returned to his bleak living space, leaving Ma Wei following him around in bewilderment. He dismissed the loyal servant and sat down on the one, plain chair, resting his hand on his chin.
What do I do now?
This particular question poked his brain, as he tried to figure out his options.
First of all, he knew the story. He knew all that was going to happen, all the consequences of everyone's actions. He knew who was going to die, as well as who lived through the massacre that Shao Xiu would bring with him.
Wait a minute, Shao Xiu.
The root of Yu An Peak's downfall was because of ignorance. Shao Xiu was abused and tortured by his peers, yet no one batted an eye at the scene occurring in front of them. In the original story, Ren Lei and Shao Xiu reported to other disciples and masters about the mistreatment they suffered, but no one really did anything because of the status his Shizun, Liao Yan held.
But I'm not no one...I'm frikin Master Yu, also an Elder of Yu An Peak!
Master Yu-Zhen chuckled quietly in the silence brimming his room. And then he started cackling loudly like a madman. Ma Wei would surely have been scared shitless if he witnessed this scene.
He figured it out. Sure, it was a dumb plan based on ifs and maybes, but if it managed to work...
Yu-Zhen continued chuckling to himself as he imagined a day when Shao Xiu, as the new lord of Yu An Peak, ahead of everyone would commemorate his compassionate and empathetic Elder in front of the whole world, who believed in him when no one would, lightened a flame of hope in his world of darkness, and shaped him into the capable and notorious leader he had become.
At last, he would be back on top, remembered by all as a noble personality, and favored by literally the most powerful person in this world.
A feeling of sweetness filled Yu-Zhen's heart. The feeling of victory and pride, that is.
But of course, the arrival of that fateful day would require Yu-Zhen to go the extra mile and start protecting the Shao Xiu from today itself. The sooner the better, he thought to himself. He doesn't have to do too much protecting, just enough to make Shao Xiu look up to him and recall him yet still go through his character arc.
It's more or less the perfect plan.
.
With now a goal set in mind, Yu-Zhen stormed out of his room, full of determination. He didn't know where exactly to go, but surely, he would figure that out. Shao Xiu was getting bullied all the time, in the feasting hall, the practice grounds, and outside the lecture halls. It wouldn't be too difficult to find him getting bullied and then appear in front of him as his fairy godmother, or well in his case, fairy godfather, and protect him.
Right?
.
GOD DAMN IT! JUST WHERE IS THIS CHILD?!