The male supporting character was actually myself.

He frequented opera houses and various noble residences as if it were commonplace, and soon he became acquainted with several eloquent young men and also befriended one or two sociable noble ladies.

Horse riding, hunting, sitting in a subtly fragrant reception room watching ladies play the piano, enjoying exquisitely prepared meals served on gold and silver platters, lying on a luxurious bed as soft as a cloud, forgetting all your worries...

Every step, every meal, and every drink is extravagant, making one so immersed in it that they are unwilling to wake up.

"Do you like this kind of life?" On the sixth day, Jiang Chen felt that the time was right, so he called Edmund, who was dressed in a custom-made gorgeous suit and had a charming demeanor, into his room.

After just a few days of baptism, Edmund changed his previous cowardice and indecisiveness, and immediately replied respectfully: "My lord, I have lived for twenty years and have never known that there is such a way of life in the world."

In the past few days, I have tried everything I have never seen or experienced before.

The adults asked me if I liked this kind of life, and I said yes, adults, I like it very much!

If I could continue to have such a happy and wonderful life, I would give anything to maintain it!

Jiang Chen was satisfied with his answer.

At the very least, this kid's temperament and personality have changed somewhat; he's much more outspoken and willing to admit things than before.

“Very good.” He nodded and smiled. “People all like to pursue a better life, and you and I are the same in that respect. You like it and are willing to admit it. I’m very satisfied with your honesty.”

But do you know how to maintain such a luxurious lifestyle for a long time?

No need to worry about money; jewels and gold coins galore in your pockets. You can spend your days lingering at balls, operas, tea parties, and even private dinners hosted by aristocratic ladies. Do you want to know the secret to this shortcut?

Edmund's breathing became rapid.

He knew very well that everything he was enjoying was a gift from Mr. Philip.

If the master takes it away, he will become a penniless boy again, and even with his clumsy brewing skills, he can only be a beating and scolding apprentice in this big city!

"Please, sir, enlighten me!" Edmund knelt on one knee, utterly devout.

Jiang Chen bent down slightly and said in a seductive voice in his ear, "I can let you enjoy such a carefree and luxurious life, but you have to pass the test first."

"A test?" Edmund looked up blankly at the other man's handsome, fair face, then said firmly after a moment, "Please give your orders, my lord!"

"Do you still remember the pain of that night when we were wiped out?"

War has broken out, and the two countries have begun fighting on their border. The place where you grew up has now become a battlefield, where the invaders are massacring innocent civilians!

Edmund, didn't you want to be like me?

Strong, agile, and with unwavering conviction, they were able to manipulate those killers at will.

Become a powerful figure, and you'll never have to worry about being treated like a lamb to the slaughter again.

If you really want to become that kind of person, join the army.

War will temper your will and strengthen your resolve. Once you successfully pass the test, I will bestow upon you boundless riches and honor!

Jiang Chen's keen senses detected that Edmund's breathing was rapid and fine sweat was seeping from the back of his neck.

He felt fear, hesitation, tension, and excitement.

This young man was tormented by inner turmoil, weighing the pros and cons and unable to make a decision.

“My lord, I…” Edmund raised his head and looked into the other’s deep blue eyes, as deep and serene as the sea, and said in a trembling voice, “To be honest, I want to become someone like you.”

But I am also very afraid of death.

Having faced death on the brink of passing away, the fear of death has lingered in my mind ever since.

War kills people...

“The fear of death is a human instinct.” Jiang Chen smiled faintly, his voice still full of seduction. “Since you can frankly tell me your fears, then I can tell you that you will not die.”

I will protect your safety on the battlefield.

All you need to do is give your all to be a soldier, train hard, fight bravely, and drive those invaders out of the country! Let blood, fire, battle, and pain temper you; only by becoming stronger can you withstand the corrosive effects of a life of luxury on your soul.

Otherwise, sooner or later you will become an empty shell, eaten away by a life of decadent luxury and debauchery.

The image of his opponent effortlessly slaying the invaders under the firelight flashed through his mind. Edmund swallowed hard to moisten his throat, lowered his head, and said solemnly, "I will heed your teachings, my lord! Believe me, I will become the most valiant knight, and bring you the most glorious honor on the battlefield!"

Jiang Chen revealed a slightly sinister smile, and his tone softened, "Very good, Edmund. As long as you can return in glory from the battlefield, I will give you even more extravagant and inexhaustible wealth and honor than you have now."

Chapter Eight: From Coward to Knight

Countless times Edmund was knocked to the ground by the instructors, his body covered in bruises that throbbed with pain. He would silently recite the words his master had given him: "No pain, no gain."

There is no such thing as getting a bountiful harvest without putting in any effort in this world.

If you ask yourself honestly, Mr. Philip doesn't need the glory that an ordinary soldier brings, so why did he take him into high society to experience its splendor, and then throw him into the military camp for training?

When Edmund couldn't sleep, he would ponder what the other party's intentions were.

“Maybe it’s just for fun.” He struggled to his feet, gripped the long staff in his hand, and continued his training. His gaze swept over the large tree in the dark corner, and Edmund wiped the blood from his mouth, a sense of relief washing over him.

Mr. Philip sat leisurely in the tree, watching as a faint smile would appear on the instructor's face whenever he managed to hit him with a counterattack.

That expression reminded him of his childhood, when he had a pet named Ruby.

Ruby was a little black stray dog ​​who somehow fell into a muddy puddle outside the village. When Edmund found her while passing by, she was almost buried in the stinking mud. It was the first pet that young Edmund got. He was overjoyed to take Ruby home, gave her a bath, dried her off carefully, and even found some milk to feed her.

He would save some of his already limited food for Ruby and train her to fetch balls, pick up twigs, stand up and sit down, etc. Whenever Ruby mastered a skill, a happy smile would appear on his face.

Just like Lord Philip's expression.

Perhaps for him, the pleasure of "picking up" a coward and transforming him into a brave and loyal knight was a kind of nurturing.

Otherwise, what reason would there be for such a high and mighty person to stoop down to the dust and see, discover, and wholeheartedly nurture him?

"Host, I'm back!" The little white cat jumped happily onto Jiang Chen's shoulder, wagging its tail and rubbing against his neck and face.

"I did as you instructed and put all the wealth and treasures scattered all over the world into my spatial storage. The original owner was really rich! I'm so angry just thinking about how so many precious jewels and gold coins were taken away by that ungrateful bastard!"

The fluffy dumpling rubbed against the wall, boasting, "Anyway, no matter how the script is changed in the future, the huge fortune is already in our pockets, and we will never give it back!"

The scriptwriting team should have been more capable of letting the protagonist earn his own money; killing someone and then using their money is utterly shameless.

Jiang Chen picked up the increasingly round and chubby little white kitten and slowly stroked its fur, his eyes never leaving the protagonist in training. He even raised his chin with interest, saying, "It's probably because vampires don't have a concept of time, so there's no detailed description of time in the script."

In the original storyline, the protagonist was saved, but it was never written whether the process took several months or a year or two. He was then fed up with the protagonist's incessant chatter and made to experience the fear of near death. The protagonist then fell seriously ill and begged to live before being turned into a vampire.

Given enough time, I think we can transform him into a determined warrior.

"Uh..." The little white cat was taken aback. "Host, you're not planning to send him to start a revolution, are you?"

Jiang Chen's deep blue eyes suddenly lit up, and he sat up excitedly. "Xiao Bai, you've come up with a great idea!"

Just imagine how long it would be if you were a vampire, just enjoying a life of luxury would be incredibly boring.

Why not consider using the vampires' unique identity to intervene in the world order, raising a few blood servants and puppets in the open, while we secretly assist in letting the light of socialism shine throughout the world!

Velvet dumpling: o(?Д?)っ!

Covering mouth.jpg!

Oh no, what stupid thing did I say that I shouldn't have said!

"Host, I was just joking." The little white cat was afraid that its host would cause a big mess and attract the intervention of the censorship system, so it hurriedly grabbed his arm with its paws and shook it, saying, "Let's just make sure we can survive and not be harmed by the protagonist, and then push forward the plot, okay?"

The script didn't specify the world setting, and we don't know if starting a revolution will disrupt other people's lives. When it comes to missions, we should prioritize safety, right?

Jiang Chen stretched and leaned lazily against the tree trunk, saying, "We'll see. A vampire's near-immortality would be incredibly boring without developing some hobbies!"

"So that's why you want to train the protagonist to be a warrior?" The little white cat stroked its ears, watching the protagonist undergoing special training by the campfire not far away, his reactions getting faster and faster, and muttered, "I have a feeling you're training a vampire hunter ahead of time."

Edmund felt as if he had truly been reborn.

Standing still for long periods under the scorching sun greatly tested my endurance.

Although the special training arranged by Lord Philip always left me covered in bruises, it rapidly improved my fighting agility.

On his first battlefield experience, he was terrified by the sight of flashing blades and blood, as well as the gruesome corpses. He nearly got killed by the enemy, but thankfully his master appeared in time to save his life.

After experiencing several battles, the blood no longer made him nauseous or terrified. Instead, it became a source of anger, constantly inspiring him to bravely advance and drive the invaders out of his homeland!

Time flies, and Edmund, who was originally timid and cowardly, was transformed into an outstanding soldier at an extremely fast pace under the catalysis of war.

He was brave and resourceful, and his courageous fighting on the battlefield was truly admirable.

Two months later, in a fierce battle, Edmund refused Lord Philip's protection and charged alone, creating favorable conditions for the victory of the entire battle. As a result, he was seriously wounded and could no longer fight on the battlefield, but he won an honorary medal personally awarded by the king.

“My lord, I have failed your expectations.” Edmund, his body wrapped in bandages, knelt on one knee, sword in his right hand, and said remorsefully, “Please forgive me for refusing your protection when there was danger on the battlefield.”

I am a soldier, how can I remain stagnant under the protection of adults?

My injury prevented me from achieving greater glory at the Battle of Saint-Ivoire, a regret I bear but none. I beg your punishment, sir!

Jiang Chen sat on a deep green velvet sofa surrounded by flowers. His simple white shirt and royal blue coat, adorned with gemstones and full of embroidery, made his already fair face appear as cold and white as porcelain.

“How can I punish a responsible and brave warrior?” He smiled slightly, revealing his hidden tiger teeth, and bent down to help Edmund up. He said with concern, “You should rest and recover from your injuries now. Once you’re healed, I’ll take you to Kyoto, where you’ll wear your medal of honor on your chest. The gates of princes’ and dukes’ mansions will be open to you.”

Edmund bowed respectfully and replied, "My lord, I did accept your test at first because I wanted wealth and a luxurious life."

But having experienced the battles of war, my heart has changed.

My heroic struggle was for my fallen comrades, for the greater good of the nation, and to drive out the invaders.

I fight for glory, not for luxury!

Please accept my sincerest and most loyal gratitude, sir. You saved my life and changed everything. From this moment on, Edmund will fight for Mr. Philip, and I will be your most loyal knight!

Chapter Nine: Do You Want to Live or Die?

"Wow!" The little white cat froze, completely stunned, as it licked its paws. Then it hurriedly pulled out a small notebook and started writing something in a serious manner. "I have to write this down. Host's new operation—how to cultivate the protagonist into a loyal fan of the best male supporting character!"

Jiang Chen: ...

Originally, I just wanted to train the protagonist a little, but I didn't expect his ideological awareness to change so smoothly.

He stood up, bent down, and helped Edmund up again. He said earnestly, "Edmund, you are wrong. You don't need to fight for me or become my knight. You are my friend."

We are equal.

From the first moment I saw you, I knew you were a promising talent, just hidden away in the crowd, undiscovered. Look, after all the trials and tribulations, you've transformed from a rough stone into a gem; now, Edmund is more radiant and captivating than ever before.

Rest assured and recover from your injury. From now on, you don't need to worry that a life of luxury will corrupt your soul and drag you into a hell of depravity.

Follow me, and you'll see a better side of this world!

Edmund had always believed that he was a pet that Mr. Philip had casually bred.