The male supporting character was actually myself.

Even now, traces of someone lying down can still be seen in the mottled bloodstains, which matches Ling Qiye's memories—he woke up in a pool of blood, at which time Song Yubai had already been murdered!

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and his constables were still investigating the issue of the drinks at Qingyue Tower when Jiang Chen frowned slightly and quietly left.

Without the ability to extract fingerprints or conduct forensic examination, finding clues at the scene to solve the case becomes extremely difficult. Since the perpetrator intends to frame a level eight expert with protagonist-like advantages, they obviously wouldn't make a basic mistake that would allow the mystery to be easily solved.

Instead of wasting time, we should go check on the situation of the wild Chosen Ones. As long as we can help Ling Qiye seize more fortune, everything will naturally fall into place!

"Host, I've used the Book of Prophecy to create the storyline of the wild pseudo-master." The fluffy dumpling squatted on the dilapidated courtyard wall and opened the book for him to see when he came over.

This is a familiar story about a strong person being reborn.

The pseudo-protagonist, named Lu Fan, had achieved some success in cultivation since childhood and enjoyed a period of great prestige based on his strength. However, while studying at the prestigious White Crane Academy, Lu Fan happened to encounter Ling Qiye, the protagonist who was then enjoying unparalleled success and dazzling male lead aura.

The two young people had no prior conflict, but Lu Fan's admiration and pursuit of his junior sister, who fell in love with Ling Qiye at first sight and desperately fawned over him, aroused Lu Fan's jealousy.

He wanted to use underhanded tactics to kill Ling Qiye during the academy competition, but his plan backfired. He was publicly humiliated and his conspiracy was exposed by the academy teachers. Lu Fan was disgraced, punished, had his martial arts skills destroyed, and was expelled from the academy.

From then on, Lu Fan fell from being a favored son of heaven to a useless person ridiculed by everyone. He was also kicked out of his family and could only make a meager living by writing letters for people.

Devastated and depressed, Lu Fan did not get the chance to turn things around. Instead, he died of illness this morning. At the moment he breathed his last, a powerful divine sense was drawn into his still warm body by a mysterious force.

The one who took over Lu Fan's body was a powerful demon.

Many years ago, during the great war between humans and demons, the demons were driven out of this place, and the gate between the two realms was sealed. Only a very few weak and harmless demons were allowed to enter the human realm.

Because the demon race's territory expansion failed, internal conflicts became more severe and the struggle more brutal. As a result, this demon king, who had already cultivated to the peak of the ninth level, was ambushed and severely injured while trying to seize spiritual medicine in a ruin in order to advance to the level of demon god. His forced advancement failed, and he was struck by heavenly lightning and his soul was scattered.

By sheer coincidence, a remnant soul of the Demon King was reborn using Lu Fan's corpse.

In order to eliminate Lu Fan's lingering resentment and officially take over the body, the Demon King easily killed Ling Qiye in prison using his extensive knowledge.

Lu Fan's resentment disappeared, and the Demon King thrived in the human world. He refined pills to repair his useless body and quickly accumulated a lot of wealth and popularity by selling spiritual medicines.

When the time was right, he twisted the truth and pinned the blame for being expelled from the academy on Ling Qiye, who had died with a murder charge. With the cunning of a ten-thousand-year-old demon king, he successfully cleared his name... In the end, the demon king grew into the strongest being in the human world, manipulating countries at will and breaking the seal between the two worlds with his own strength, becoming the new emperor of the demon race and dominating the world!

"Another template for a protagonist in a wish-fulfillment novel." Jiang Chen couldn't help but frown and complain after reading it: "Why do strong people always have to be reborn with a useless body? Since they're going to steal anyway, wouldn't it be better to just find a normal person?"

The fluffy ball rubbed against him and chuckled, "Meow has learned it all—the bigger the status gap, the stronger the contrast, the more satisfying it is for a loser to rise up! It's the same old trick of showing off and making passersby marvel and be slapped in the face, all to make it easier to attract hatred."

Host, our mission is not only to protect the true chosen one, Ling Qiye, but also to find a way to suppress the fake protagonist. So... how should we deal with this guy next?

We need to think of something quickly, or he'll use evil magic to kill Ling Qiye!

"Disrupting his plans, isn't that what we're good at?" Jiang Chen put away the Book of Prophecy and whispered a few words to the little white cat's fluffy ears. The cat's eyes lit up and it meowed and nodded.

Lu Fan left the crowd of onlookers, his face grim, and returned to his rented, dilapidated courtyard. Looking around at the bare walls, he couldn't help but sneer, "To think that I, a dignified demon king, would have a second chance at rebirth, only to find myself in such a broken and useless human body! The smell of humans is too stench!"

Sensing the remnant soul's unwillingness, Demon King Lu Fan's face showed a hint of disdain and mockery: "You're such a useless piece of trash, and you won't even let me say anything? How dare you?"

Humans are such a nuisance. What can you do to me now that you're just a wisp of a soul?

You want me to avenge you and resolve your resentment before you completely disappear and give me full control of your body? Ha, judging from the memories I've received, that Ling Qiye is nothing special.

You were too foolish. You weren't ruthless enough to kill your enemy and were even expelled from your sect. What a disgrace!

"Fine, since you can't get rid of your resentment, I'll show you what I'm capable of."

Lu Fan, unlike his usual dejected, shabby, and down-on-his-luck self, walked out of the courtyard with an expression of utter disdain.

By sheer coincidence, they bumped into several women who were returning from watching the commotion on the street.

"The death at Qingyue Tower has caused quite a stir, and the case is still unsolved. Will today's on-site investigation bring any breakthroughs?"

"That's hard to say, after all, it's Lord Ling involved! Usually, as long as he takes action, there's no major case he can't solve, and we can at least watch the excitement and see what's going on. Now that he's imprisoned, it's probably going to be difficult for him to solve the case!"

"Lord Ling is handsome, highly skilled in martial arts, and has a bright future. How could he kill someone? I don't believe it."

"I don't believe it either. He's an eighth-level expert. Wouldn't it be easy for him to kill someone quietly? Why make a scene that everyone sees..."

…………

They chattered and discussed as they walked. When Lu Fan heard about Ling Qiye, the resentful spirit of the lingering soul became excited, affecting the demon king who had not yet fully taken control of his body. In a moment of impulsiveness, he blurted out, "So many people saw Ling Qiye kill people in a fit of rage, what else is there to investigate?"

Hmph! The School Affairs Division, which is usually efficient in handling cases, has dragged this out until now because they are definitely trying to protect the criminals!

Ling Qiye, well, he's just a lucky pretty boy who only knows how to live off women and have them protect him. Just wait and see, he'll soon get his comeuppance and die a horrible death in jail!

After uttering those harsh words, Lu Fan instantly felt incredibly relieved.

Instead, the women looked him up and down with disdain and mocked, "Oh, so it's the one spouting nonsense, it's Lord Ling's defeated opponent."

"A good-for-nothing who harms others will ultimately harm himself, and he even has the nerve to say that others are getting their comeuppance."

"How ridiculous! In order to avoid suspicion, this case was specially handed over to the Dali Temple for investigation, and yet some people are still making up stories that the School Affairs Department is protecting them."

"It's easy to spread rumors, but debunking them is exhausting. A good-for-nothing like him can only resort to slandering others in secret. Since he'll never be able to cultivate again or work in any government office, he might as well indulge in some verbal sparring..."

…………

The laughter and mockery of several women made Lu Fan's face darken.

Who do you think you are to point fingers at me?

Ha! Today, I, the Demon King, am reborn and will make you tremble and bow down!

"Don't be so quick to deny it." Lu Fan raised his head slightly, a ruthless and confident glint in his eyes, and sneered, "If you don't believe me, let's make a bet. Within three days, Ling Qiye will surely suffer retribution and die violently in prison; within seven days, I will definitely pass the exam and become the assistant magistrate of the prefectural government, and move into the government office."

If both things happen, I don't want any prize.

"You gossipy, venomous women who look down on others through cracks in the door, stand in the street with wooden signs around your necks that read 'Looking down on people like dogs, we beg forgiveness from Young Master Lu Fan,' and each slap yourself forty times, and I will spare your entire family's lives and not pursue this matter any further."

Under the pseudo-protagonist's halo, several women were forcibly demoted in intelligence and reduced to mere tools for showing off and slapping faces.

One by one, they scoffed and accepted the bet, contributing another wave of sarcastic remarks to incite hatred.

"I never thought the aura of a wild creature could be so powerful." The little white cat clicked its tongue and shook its head helplessly. "This is such a brutal brainwashing attack. Who the hell would pay attention to this kind of unfair and inexplicable pretentious bet?"

It hopped along to catch up with him, watching Lu Fan head towards the trading street frequented by cultivators. Clearly, he was planning to buy spiritual herbs to refine pills to repair his useless body. Perhaps by "chance" he might even buy some junk and turn around to find it to be a supreme artifact or an awesome treasure.

This is such a tired, overused trope. It's really disappointing that even a wild, fake cat owner doesn't offer any innovation!

Chapter Six: A Casual Purchase Turns into a Divine Weapon!

As Lu Fan walked, he carefully sensed the resentment of the lingering soul that was unwilling to relinquish full control of the body.

Expelled from the academy, kicked out of the family, ridiculed, looked down upon and despised?

Ha! I am a terrifying demon king who once looked down upon the world. I will soon slap the faces of those who mocked and despised me!

Is he obsessed with his junior sister and wants to make her his own?

She's just a little girl who's slightly better than the average person. With my exclusive secret recipe, I'll make her grovel at my feet like a dog!

He hated Ling Qiye so much that he wanted to make him suffer eternal damnation.

No problem, as long as I, the King, cast a small Soul-Chasing Talisman, he will bleed from all seven orifices and die a miserable death in prison!

Do you want to be ennobled and enjoy wealth and honor?

Hahaha, as expected of a poor boy who has never seen the world. Now that I have control of your body, I naturally have higher goals.

And wait, I will use the human body as cover to thrive in this bustling city, and in the future, I will make everyone in the world kneel at my feet; I will break the seal between the two realms and release the demon race, becoming the new emperor of the demon race, ruling over both races and dominating the world!

The surge of heroic spirit in his heart calmed the resentment of that lingering soul somewhat.

Lu Fan finally stepped into one of the most bustling areas of Kyoto—Langya.

This is the place that all cultivators in the Great Sui Dynasty yearn for the most. As long as you have enough money, you can find any elixirs, weapons, or magical treasures that you want to improve your cultivation here.

"Hey, isn't this Lu Fan?" He had just entered the Langya Hotel when a man with a strange air about him greeted him. "He's here!" he exclaimed. "He's here to greet you!"

The other one, clearly a lackey, laughed arrogantly and chimed in, "This good-for-nothing isn't even as good as an ordinary person. I'm afraid that Lu Fan, the former pride of heaven, wouldn't even be wanted to empty chamber pots now, hahahaha!"

"Serves him right! He harms others and ends up harming himself. He's become a typical example that's always mentioned when freshmen enter the college."

"What a disgrace! To have been classmates with such trash. Tsk tsk, anyone with a shred of shame would have found a quiet place to commit suicide long ago. How could someone as shameless as him dare to stroll around Langya Park like this?"

…………

The fluffy ball of fluff squatted on the treetop, sighed, and covered its face with its paws. "Such an old trick of taunting, it's unbearable to watch!"

Why do you always have to add this drama of being suppressed by passersby? You're just a wild, fake chosen one, can't you just keep a low profile and develop stealthily? You've taken over someone else's body and you're not even behaving yourself, as if you're afraid no one will know, huh?

"So you're a classmate from the White Crane Academy." Lu Fan's tone was indifferent, but there was a hint of disdain in his eyes.

He wasn't angry. He was, after all, a dignified demon king. Why would he stoop to the level of these ignorant fools?

Moreover, Lu Fan had already planned his path to becoming a marquis and general, and he needed to clear his name of the foolish act of framing Ling Qiye and trying to kill him at the academy.

Then we'll need these former classmates to lend a hand...

"Classmate?" The young man in school uniform curled his lip and slowly waved his fan, sneering, "We are the pride of heaven, how could we be classmates with trash like you? Don't try to curry favor with us!"

Lu Fan said calmly, "I don't blame you for being blinded and unable to see the truth. Sooner or later, you will know that I have been wronged. After all, we were classmates, so I would like to advise you all—don't judge a book by its cover."

Although I, Lu Fan, have been slandered, I will never fall into the trap of evil people and degenerate. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. Within seven days, I will definitely become the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Justice!

Although you are all students of Baihe Academy, you will still need some strength to break through the numerous tests and enter the government office.

If any classmate graduates in three months but doesn't get the job they want, perhaps out of consideration for our past friendship, I could put in a good word for them.

After saying that, he held his head high and walked straight ahead without even glancing at those arrogant classmates who were like ducks.

"Lu Fan seems..." After being overwhelmed by the aura surrounding him, a student whispered, "He seems different from before! Do you think there might be something else going on about what happened to him when he harmed Ling Qiye?"

The others remained silent. The false protagonist's halo shone brightly, while the true chosen one, Ling Qiye, was clearly no match for him. In addition, most of them were just supporting characters on the protagonist's path to growth, so they had mixed feelings about Ling Qiye, who was currently imprisoned.

"Who knows? That kid was really arrogant back then. Maybe he really did have some shady dealings."

"The main problem is that the academy handled the situation too quickly after the incident, directly crippling Lu Fan's martial arts and expelling him from the academy. But his past behavior doesn't seem like that kind of person."

"On the contrary, Ling Qiye committed murder in a fit of rage in public. Compared to him, isn't his character even worse?"

"Shh! The academy's decision, even if there are inside stories, is beyond our comprehension. It's best to avoid getting involved..."

…………

Several students whispered among themselves as they walked further and further away.

Using his powerful senses, Lu Fan overheard everything and couldn't help but smile smugly. Students are indeed easy to fool! Once he's successfully cleared his name, he might even be able to find one or two reliable lackeys among these people.

Having taken over the body of a villain, one must find a way to whitewash past misdeeds in order to lay the foundation for the future!

"Boss, how much is this Jade Spirit Flower?" He asked as he walked, and when he spotted the spiritual medicine he needed in a shop on the street, he went up to ask.

Without even looking up, the other party replied, "One hundred taels of silver, no bargaining."