The male supporting character was actually myself.

"Your predicament is almost over." She stared at you for a while before explaining, "You've found the key to solving the problem. Just do what you think is right, and you'll definitely succeed!"

Jiang Chen: ...

As expected, witches are no match for Eastern sorcerers like Taoist priests; they are always vague and riddle-makers.

"You should go back and rest. You still have a long journey ahead tomorrow." The girl seemed a little sleepy after finishing the divination. She lazily put away the crystal ball and the bone and said, "I still have to rush to the port of the East Sea to catch a ship. We may never see each other again after today."

If Your Excellency doesn't mind, please take this as a talisman; it will bring you good fortune in everything you do.

Jiang Chen returned to his camp with the bone amulet given to him by the girl. He sat in front of the fire, watching the flames dance, and the short ink painting fragment kept replaying in his mind.

What exactly is the bug trying to tell me?

split into two?

Sentimental or indifferent?

An incomplete soul?

Could it be that he used ink painting to allude to his own experiences?

He carefully recalled the process in the scene: a person split into two, one walking in the world and the other doing something in a semi-transparent sphere of light.

What does dark gray, somber tone refer to?

Is it a crisis?

The white and black failed to blend together; instead, after a small portion merged, they were forcibly separated again. One looked like it was dead or asleep somewhere, while the other was molded into an even smaller shape…

He recalled the very first scene in his memory.

The orphanage gates opened, and in the cool morning mist, the old director looked him over curiously. "Child, what's your name? What are you doing here so early in the morning? Where are your family?"

"My name is Jiang Chen, I'm eight years old, and I have no family. I... I'm here to protect the world..."

What exactly is the giant black hand?

Judging from the scene in the ink painting, he indeed has no family members because he was directly sculpted into the form of a child?

Where will the other half be?

The scene I had seen in the Qiankun Mirror suddenly appeared in my mind: a layer of light water rippled out, and I could vaguely see an elderly figure sitting in front of a huge bronze gate, looking like a statue in the wind and snow.

As if sensing something, the figure moved and spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "Jiang Chen, you've finally come. I've been guarding this door for you for so long, hurry in! Any later, and it might be all over!"

Could it be that the other half of his soul is sleeping behind the enormous bronze door?

If that's the case, what about the virtual world?

Judging from my memories, the virtual world is just a process of personality modification for some people. Why am I different after I entered it?

A variety of doubts lingered in his mind, making it truly unfathomable to him.

"My lord, are you alright?" Edmund asked cautiously as he approached Edmund, noticing Edmund's uncertain expression and silence upon his return. "What happened at the camp over there?"

Jiang Chen collected his thoughts, smiled, and shook his head, saying, "It's nothing. The nomadic saintess just did a divination for me."

"Oh? Was it a divination performed on your ongoing vampire reforms? What was the result?"

The result was: 'The predicament is about to end,' which means that my reforms will be successful, but help is needed.

He looked at Edmund's handsome profile, gave a meaningful smile, and asked in return, "Edmund, now that you no longer need to hunt or worry about blood sources, what are your thoughts and goals for achieving them?"

Edmund paused slightly, "Me? Thoughts and goals?"

"Why did you suddenly decide to have a heart-to-heart talk with the protagonist, Master?" The little white cat scratched its ear, somewhat puzzled. It still really wanted to know what was inside the crystal ball, but its host remained silent and had a solemn expression, so it didn't dare to ask any further questions.

After a moment of contemplation, Edmund raised his head and solemnly said, "I have thought about it carefully. Before I met you, sir, I had no goals in life and lived a muddled, cowardly life."

After meeting you, I was captivated by your personal charm.

If I had to say what my goal is, I think it would be—to become a person like an adult!

"Huh?!" The little white cat perked up its ears and blinked its big eyes. "This target seems a bit... weird..."

Jiang Chen immediately understood.

That's the root of the problem!

Edmund, the protagonist, aims to become like the Count, but the Count is a legendary vampire whose experience, status, glory, and wealth are unmatched. How could the protagonist possibly be relegated to the shadow of a supporting character?

Therefore, the Count must die, and die a disgraced death at the hands of Edmund, leaving everything for the protagonist to enjoy.

Once the root of the problem is found, things will be much easier. Jiang Chen sighed and shook his head, saying, "You're wrong, Edmund. You shouldn't have become someone like me."

Everyone has their own unique strengths; you should live as yourself, not as a copy of me.

Think about it: you have a gentle and considerate girlfriend like Helena, and a near-immortal lifespan. If you don't find a true purpose in life that you love, won't you just drift through life aimlessly like other vampire patriarchs, sleeping for many years when you get bored and then waking up to find new fun?

That kind of life is truly boring.

"Real fun?" Edmund was taken aback.

To be honest, he didn't have any specific lofty goals or ideals.

For the first twenty years of my life, I lived in a daze. If it weren't for that disaster, I might have had a few children, struggled to make ends meet, and lived a mediocre life for several decades.

However, after meeting the Earl, he was transformed and honed into a more resilient and courageous person. After becoming a vampire, he even developed the ability to read and write without any formal instruction. But the time was too short, and he had not yet developed any lofty thoughts, nor did he know what he should do in his long vampire life.

"My lord, please enlighten me!" After pondering for a long time without success, Edmund earnestly asked, "What do I need to do to find my purpose in life?"

"That depends on what you like to do. Do you want to use your time and energy to benefit the world? Or do you want to delve into a particular field and study it seriously?"

Under his guidance, his eyes quickly lit up. "Sir, I think the vampire reforms you've led are excellent. If you want to sustain them long-term, perhaps I can help in some way!"

For example... bloodletting therapy!

Could we research medicine in a way that prevents blood donation from harming the health of those who donate blood, and instead allows them to benefit from it and alleviate their suffering?

"Hmm, the field of scientific research is indeed very appealing. If you're interested, perhaps I can start by teaching you how to make and use a microscope!"

"A microscope? What's that?"

"A sophisticated instrument that allows you to see things invisible to the naked eye. Of course, given the current capabilities, it's highly likely that it can only be used to create a very simple instrument for observing simple cells..."

…………

Edmund was quickly captivated by the new things the Count described. Helena had considered becoming a pharmacist and was also very interested in medicine.

The two hit it off immediately and became students of the Earl, earnestly starting with cell biology to rediscover the world and all things.

After two days of leisurely travel, Jiang Chen did not enter Wind Chime City but instead went to Maple Leaf City, the most bustling city in the harbor.

Hearing that the Black Death was spreading there, the vampire naturally didn't need to worry about being attacked by the virus. He wanted to try the traditional Chinese medicine antidote from his memory, but it didn't work.

"Host, I don't quite understand. Why are you taking the protagonist with you on your medical practice?" The little white cat couldn't figure it out. Watching Edmund busily treating patients in the darkness, it asked curiously, "Did you see some kind of turning point in the crystal ball?"

Jiang Chen said confidently, "I suddenly realized that it's better to guide than to block..."

"It's better to lose than to gamble?" The fluffy little dumpling was full of questions. "If you're going to gamble, why lose? Isn't the point of gambling to win?"

He couldn't help but flick the little white cat on the forehead. "Silly boy, can't you even understand what I'm saying? Do you understand that it's better to guide than to block?"

When the scriptwriting team sets up the plot, they largely aim at the protagonist's underlying thoughts.

In other words, it's about making the protagonist's wishes come true, even though the protagonist may not even know he has such thoughts.

The most crucial issue now is: Edmund wants to become someone like me, which is why I've become a stumbling block for him and have been killed off in various ways throughout the story.

Now that I know the root cause, why don't I just help the protagonist rebuild a great life goal and ideal?

With the vampire's near-immortality and long lifespan, he could lead a new world of scientific research, perhaps even creating some new miracles for this mission world, thus benefiting the world and living a more meaningful life.

It's much better than all those melodramatic and tragic love stories every day.

"Oh, I see~" The little white cat stroked its ears, then looked a bit doubtful. "Will this work? Scientific research is so boring, nothing beats the ease and comfort of dating."

Jiang Chen smiled and shook his head, "You don't understand, do you? If you give up easily, you'll find it boring, but if you really get into it, you'll find that many hobbies are more fun than women."

Isn't that the same principle when you play video games?

As long as Edmund can be guided onto the right path, and he has a clear goal to pursue, even if the script team tries to bring back the melodramatic elements, Edmund himself will refuse!

The little white cat looked down at the script that was being updated, then at Edmund, who was seriously directing the vampire helpers who had been temporarily dispatched to apply medicine to the patient, and fell into deep thought.

This script update took a long time, probably because the script team had to scrap the outline and rewrite the plot to suit the protagonist's wishes.

Seven days later, the Black Death was brought under control in several port cities and prevented from spreading on a large scale. The government awarded Edmund and his party the Order of the Red Chamber for their fearless efforts and granted them the title of Knight Doctor.

Encouraged, Edmund became even more obsessed with medicine. Whenever he had time, he would follow the Earl around attentively, determined to become a vampire doctor who could use his superb medical skills and awakened abilities to heal patients.

[Mission: Within five years, use all your power to help the protagonist, Edmund, become a highly respected vampire doctor. Reward: One-time use B-grade item]

"Sure enough, they've fooled another protagonist!" After hearing the mission announcement and glancing at the updated storyline, the little white cat couldn't help but shout to the heavens, "Heavens above! Please don't let the main system find out, or I'll be destroyed a thousand times over!"

....................................

postscript.

The new storyline has a completely different outline.

Six months later, Edmund and Helena got married. They agreed that when she was ready, she would become a vampire and live as a vampire with her beloved husband for life, fighting together for their ideals.

Helena studied hard and eventually became an excellent apothecary, while Edmund, with the help of the count's wealth, extensive knowledge, and various vampire awakening skills, quickly became an excellent doctor.

He studied cell theory; promoted the use of purified alcohol for disinfection by doctors; traveled around giving lectures to spread the treatment of the Black Death; and even ventured into the study of blood type theory under the guidance of the Earl...

With Jiang Chen's secret encouragement, the reforms of the vampire clan proceeded smoothly.

Those vampires who heeded the advice were spared; those who refused and those who secretly caused trouble were killed without mercy. In just one year, the thirteen vampire clans reduced their members to around a thousand.

Thanks to the cooperative relationships established with high-ranking officials of various countries in the treatment of the Black Death, and the contributions of raising blood servants, blood banks were quickly established.

In the beginning, blood donations came from paid blood donations, and many poor people exchanged their blood for considerable monetary rewards.

To prevent the emergence of a gray market for profits, Jiang Chen also promoted the implementation of an identity and household registration management system, restricting the time and frequency of blood sales. Meanwhile, the disinfection process for blood collection proceeded smoothly under Edmund's strict supervision, and no disease transmission occurred as a result of blood collection.

Years later, after blood type classification research was completed, blood banks were reformed and upgraded again to store blood according to blood type.

Vampires disdain biting humans and enduring their filthy stench. They perform their duties daily to earn rewards, and when hungry, they go to blood banks to buy fresh blood. They can choose from pure A, B, O, or AB blood types, or a mixture of two or more types...

The vampire population dwindled rapidly and then quickly transformed. By the time the hunters realized what was happening, the vampires had become behind-the-scenes collaborators with certain high-ranking figures and no longer posed a threat to human lives.

The Hunter Alliance was without a clear objective and was facing massive layoffs due to its enormous expenses.

Fortunately, Jiang Chen took a stack of documents to meet with the Hunter Alliance and high-ranking officials of the authorities, providing them with the specific locations of many lurking werewolf tribes.

While helping to fight the werewolf clan, he discovered that they were researching how to improve the werewolves' physical structure so that they could become invincible warriors and rule the world.