Save the Protagonist? Why Is This an Ensemble Cast Story?

The world needs saving, and the protagonist needs purifying. Xu Qiuxin: Wait, why are there more and more protagonists? * Xu Qiuxin’s childhood friend is the protagonist of this world. He has a low-power-mode System, and every day when he closes his eyes, all he can see in his mind is the brilliant golden light above Lin Shuyun’s head, with the words “Protagonist” written in simplified Chinese. Whether it’s farming, the imperial examinations, or fantasy cultivation, he hasn’t even had time to figure out Lin Shuyun’s talent when, sure enough, the unexpected happens. Immortal-sect disciple: “You have an immortal affinity. Come back to the sect with me.” Xu Qiuxin: But I’m a useless cultivator with all five spiritual roots. * The disciples of the Xuantian Sword Sect only know that their senior brother brought back a mortal. He has no talent for cultivation, yet somehow still became an outer sect disciple. Disciple A: “You don’t know? He’s Senior Brother’s, you know…” Disciple B: “Which one?” Disciple A: “That one.” Disciple C cuts in: “His lover, obviously. It’s strange, wasn’t the sect leader planning to pair Junior Brother Sheng with Senior Brother as Daoist partners?” Disciple B, who often brings medicine to Junior Brother Sheng, scratches his head in confusion. “But doesn’t Junior Brother Sheng like Xu Qiuxin?” Disciples A and C: “!” In a secluded corner, Lin Shuyun is preparing to practice his sword forms. He wordlessly puts away his wooden sword and decides to find somewhere else. Lin Shuyun closes his eyes and steadies his breathing. Disciple C: “I feel like quite a few of the new disciples are pretty… interested in him too.” Disciple B thinks it over, then nods in agreement. “But apart from being no good at cultivation, Xu Qiuxin really does stand out.” Disciple C: “I think with a face like his, he ought to have a bad temper. That Lin Shuyun says he hates people like him most of all. Does he realize that whenever he says it, he can barely take his eyes off him?” Everyone nods silently in agreement. The calm and collected expression Lin Shuyun has been maintaining cracks completely. Disciple A: “Compared to Lin Shuyun, don’t you think Meng Qing from the inner sect is always picking on him too…?” The sound of a sword hilt breaking startles the three of them. Seeing that it’s Lin Shuyun, the very person they were just talking about, they feel guilty, give him an awkward smile, call him Junior Brother, and hurriedly leave. * Ever since Xu Qiuxin arrived at the Xuantian Sword Sect, he’s learned his lesson the hard way, over and over again. He’s heard the rumors about himself in the sect, and it’s true that he didn’t stay at the Xuantian Sword Sect for any proper reason. But it’s not as complicated as everyone thinks. Xu Qiuxin is the medicinal ingredient needed to save Sheng Lingyu, the sect leader’s son. The senior brother’s only role was to bring him back. Xu Qiuxin’s blood is used in medicine to treat Sheng Lingyu, and in exchange, the sect leader lets him stay at the Xuantian Sword Sect. He’d been doing just fine as an invisible presence here. He never expected “the protagonist,” Lin Shuyun, to join the sect so soon. Back then, the Xu household had suddenly fallen into turmoil, and Xu Qiuxin had walked away, leaving Lin Shuyun all alone. Xu Qiuxin has always known Lin Shuyun resents him. There’s no way to explain it. He can’t exactly tell him, “There’s a new protagonist now, so the old one…” As he thinks, he opens the mission panel. 【Protagonist Rescue Progress: 1/4】 Theme: The pain and happiness we can run away from are one and the same; all we lack is a little courage.