"What's a protagonist template?" Qian Niao asked curiously.
"Uh... a protagonist is someone who cultivates incredibly fast, constantly encounters opportunities, and always turns misfortune into blessing, emerging from danger unscathed.
Consider your own experiences; aren't you very much like a protagonist?"
"I suppose so, but I still don't quite grasp the meaning of a protagonist."
"Like me, I'm the protagonist. Opportunities abound, I challenge opponents far above my level, I can defeat any enemy, and I advance with unstoppable momentum. Understand now?"
Wan Lei tried to explain the meaning of a protagonist to Qian Niao.
Upon hearing this, Qian Niao suddenly understood, then shook his head.
"Then I'm definitely not a protagonist. You've killed so many humans and demons, but I haven't killed a single one.
You have many companions, while I haven't made many friends yet. The demons all dislike me.
You have a wife who loves you, and a confidante waiting for you to stray. I'm still alone."
Hearing this, Qi Man Yao, pouting, kicked Qian Niao.
Wan Lei laughed heartily.
"Not at all, not at all. Only the weak need to flock together; the strong are always alone, like wolf packs and tigers.
Besides, women only slow down your sword-drawing speed. Proud as you are, you surely disdain romantic entanglements. You are an aloof warrior, and the only one you can trust is yourself, relying on your own strength and effort to ultimately stand at the pinnacle of the universe."
"Stop flattering me, or I'll actually believe you," Qian Niao grinned.
Qi Man Yao muttered softly,
"Women only slow down your sword-drawing speed, right? I've noted that. I'll tell Fang Xiaoyu when I see her, and you're finished..."
Wan Lei was dumbfounded. This little girl, he still couldn't figure out her temper.
"Then how did you end up in this underground world?"
"I came with you. After I joined the Hou Shi Army, I didn't fight much, and I was content with peace. Not fighting is always good.
Yesterday, we received a new mission: to ambush a stronghold and capture someone alive."
"Capture me?"
Wan Lei was surprised that Qian Niao's mission was this.
"Yes, they said the Demon Lord of Jealousy issued the order. I was quite anxious at the time and wanted to inform you, but they already looked down on me. With a major battle about to begin, they certainly wouldn't allow me to leave alone.
However, after inquiring around, I did manage to uncover some inside information.
The Demon Lord hasn't personally arranged all these wars. Months ago, he simply said one thing to the front-line commanders and then didn't concern himself with your affairs anymore."
"One sentence? What sentence?"
"Search mountains and comb seas to capture Wan Lei!"
Wan Lei was startled. Although Han Fengxue had only said that one sentence, it showed the great determination of the other party to capture him.
Han Fengxue had said this months ago, which was also right after they met. At that time, Han Fengxue had already sensed his threat and wanted to eliminate him quickly.
Being targeted by a Demon Lord, and repeatedly having elite legions and Demon Emperors sent to capture him alive.
For a moment, Wan Lei didn't know whether to feel lucky or fearful.
If he hadn't been so lucky, and dared to fight, he would probably have become a demon prisoner by now.
"Alright, thank you, Qian Niao. It's also fortunate you didn't go out to warn me, otherwise not only would I not have been found, but you would have been captured by the demons."
"Yes, I'm not stupid. I can help you, but it's not worth losing my life for you. I still want to return home alive.
Because I wasn't treated well in the Hou Shi Army either, I was sent to the very front to face certain death during the capture operation.
Fortunately, I was lucky, and your firepower was truly immense. My comrades were dying all around me, terrifying me.
But after fighting for so long, you still didn't recognize me."
"Hahahaha, it's also lucky you didn't recognize me, otherwise if I had blurted out 'Qian Niao, why are you here?', the demons would have captured you on the spot."
As Wan Lei said this, he pondered and continued,
"That's not right. I should have shouted then. That way, you wouldn't be able to continue in the demon ranks, and you would have had to fight alongside me. Then, we could have returned to the positive plane base together.
Hahahaha, but it's fine now. When we get out, you'll come back with me. The demons can't tolerate you anymore, hahahaha."
"What? Are you going to capture me as a prisoner to claim credit? And what do you mean the demons can't tolerate me? I'll leave in a moment, and no one will know I know you. I can still go back to the negative plane."
"That won't do, you can't leave."
"What? Are you going to make a move on me?"
"No, no, no, how could I possibly make a move on you? But think about it, if you go to meet up with other demons, and I go to find others, when we fight, would I fight you or not?
With you among the enemy ranks, I'd be hesitant to fight, which is bothersome.
Moreover, this place is clearly a demon relic. I need someone like you, who understands demons, to be my guide, help me decipher these ruins, and find the root of this world-destroying memetic entity."
Seeing Qian Niao remain silent, Wan Lei knew he was struggling internally. He patted Qian Niao's thigh and said,
"Qian Niao, my brother, we've finally met. Don't leave, come back with me. You don't kill people every day in the demon ranks; what kind of soldier are you? Even if you don't expose your relationship with me, how long can the demons tolerate you?
If you don't die by the hands of the positive plane army, you'll die by the hands of the demons."
Hearing this, Qian Niao remained silent for a long while before saying,
"I will not betray my race, and I cannot go back to the positive plane with you. The positive plane cannot accommodate me. The deep-seated enmity between humans and demons, the chasm it has formed, cannot be bridged.
However, I can help you within this relic. After we leave the relic, I will return to the demon ranks."
"Alas, fine. But for your safety, I will have to kill all the demons who have seen you and me together. Otherwise, even if one escapes, you will be doomed."
Qian Niao did not speak, implicitly agreeing. He also knew Wan Lei meant well for him.
Wan Lei scoffed. Anyone else would have cursed Qian Niao for being hypocritical, professing not to betray his race while allowing his friend to kill demons, which was the height of hypocrisy.
But Wan Lei didn't think that way. He knew how much pain and struggle Qian Niao was experiencing, torn between his friend and his race.
He had his own scales and principles. Unfortunately, most demons couldn't understand his thoughts, and they went against the moral laws of the demons.
Wan Lei did not blame Qian Niao, letting him be himself.
There was no need to care about others' opinions.
After a long while, the petrified parts of Qian Niao's body all recovered. He stood up and stretched.