A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga
Chapter 133

Chapter 133

Soon, chaos erupted in the restaurant. One person suddenly vomited blood, convulsed, and collapsed.

Initially, everyone stayed calm, thinking it was a sudden illness. But then several others fell with the same symptoms, writhing like zombies.

The crowd screamed, retreating and rushing for the doors, only to find them sealed, as the mastermind had anticipated.

Someone angrily demanded answers. The uncle stepped forward, claiming the vomiting was contagious, and they needed to control everyone to prevent spreading it.

His words didn’t convince them, but soon they too began vomiting blood. Seeing this, Su Bei was grateful he’d left in time. Staying would’ve meant a chaotic escape, too troublesome.

The chapter ended here. Su Bei thought, as a reader, he’d be furious at the cliffhanger. At least end with the protagonists escaping! Did all manga authors train at the same cliffhanger school?

Luckily, he could read two chapters together, finishing the Feng Family arc. With that, he didn’t check the forum, planning to read the next chapter first.

The vomiting was the first reaction to the red wine’s poison. All who drank it fell unconscious and were taken away by the uncle’s men. Jiang Tianming’s group, during the chaos of moving the “patients,” slipped out using a safe route they’d found earlier.

Though less important than the VIP guests in the uncle’s eyes, they weren’t negligible. He soon noticed their absence, suspecting Feng Lan had tipped them off, and sent men to capture them.

What followed was a thrilling fight scene, everyone using their skills to flee or hide.

The plot soon reached Qi Huang, where Su Bei reappeared, saving her. But the focus wasn’t on him—it was on Wu Jin.

Indeed, the author, having hidden Wu Jin’s secret long enough, finally revealed his uniqueness again since the solo exam battle.

His face wasn’t shown, but a panel depicted him stepping out under Su Bei’s arrangement, followed by an enemy walking toward him, entranced.

The enemy’s pupils, filled with huge pink hearts, made it clear he was utterly charmed.

“Wu Jin? It’s his ability, right?”

“What kind of ability is this?”

“S Class is full of crouching tigers and hidden dragons—everyone has secrets.”

“I knew Wu Jin wasn’t ordinary. He’s the principal’s kid!”

“Heart shapes? A charm skill?”

They speculated without answers, as the plot moved on. After saving Qi Huang, the three acted together.

Their primary goal was to find the vomiting, imprisoned guests. If the villains held them, even defeating the enemy would force them to hesitate for the hostages’ sake.

Inside the castle, Su Bei used Mental Energy to search. This was the first time the manga showed Advanced Mental Energy—a translucent purple beam following the stairs to the tenth floor, spreading like a net to cover the entire level.

Finding nothing, it moved to the eleventh floor, finally locating the guests.

To readers, this scene was just novel. But to Su Bei, it was significant.

His Advanced Mental Energy was manga-granted, so he didn’t fully understand its form. He relied on instinct and book knowledge, but compared to those who trained it naturally, he was lacking.

The manga’s depiction gave him insight into how Mental Energy worked—not a single line or hand, yet not entirely formless.

With this example, he’d better understand how to wield it next time.

After finding the guests, they planned to free them, only to be stunned. The guests weren’t coerced—they were enjoying themselves, willingly staying.

They quickly deduced the red wine’s addictiveness. These people were the uncle’s captives; saving them was futile, so they left.

Qi Huang then argued with Su Bei for not warning people about the red wine, but after Wu Jin’s explanation, she apologized readily.

In the manga, they were harmonious, but the comments weren’t.

“Why’s she blaming Su Bei?”

“Is this moral kidnapping?”

“She’s not wrong—Su Bei’s selfish.”

“Wu Jin said Su Bei didn’t warn because it wouldn’t help. Qi Huang lacked perspective, fine, but readers blaming him are blind?”

“Su Bei and Qi Huang probably aren’t as petty as their fans.”

As expected, no manga escaped fan wars. Su Bei shook his head—he and Qi Huang wouldn’t hold grudges over this.

Next was Jiang Tianming’s plot. As he said, they escaped to safety thanks to Qi Huang’s sacrifice, only to run into Feng Ling’s group.

Forced into a second chase, they, tired of running, used glances and gestures to plan. Feigning weakness, they lulled the enemy, then counterattacked, capturing Feng Ling.

Free from her parents’ control, Feng Ling immediately explained she was good, probing earlier to confirm their identities.

She’d let herself be caught to escape control and help her cousin reclaim the family.

When Jiang Tianming asked why she’d betray her parents for Feng Lan, Feng Ling said, “I’m worried they’re riding a tiger and can't get off”

Her motives and reasons were clear, not staged. The manga had foreshadowed her intentional capture, noticeable on recall. Neither the protagonists nor readers could judge her alignment.

“She seems sincere…”

“Don’t trust her, Jiang! It’s an excuse!”

“Old Thief loves twists. I bet Feng Ling’s good.”

“No one caught ‘riding a tiger’? Who’s the tiger?”

“Her earlier act doesn’t seem good.”

Stuck, Jiang Tianming decided to stop judging Feng Ling’s alignment, choosing to find Feng Lan and let him decide.

Next was Si Zhaohua’s plot. While Su Bei searched for guests and Jiang Tianming captured Feng Ling, Si Zhaohua’s group escorted the Feng Family elders and Si’s Father—those who hadn’t drunk the red wine—to safety.

They were the first to meet Feng Lan and receive earpieces for direct contact. To stay safe as the commander, Feng Lan couldn’t join any group.

This wasn’t selfish or cowardly—his safety ensured both sides’ protection and allowed him to coordinate. He was the uncle’s primary target; any group he joined would be endangered.

Though their task seemed safest—no direct enemy clashes, just escorting pre-arranged elders—it wasn’t simple. Just as Feng Lan foresaw danger and arranged the elders, the uncle knew controlling the elders was key to seizing the Feng Family, second only to capturing Feng Lan.

A digression via Si Zhaohua’s thoughts explained the Feng Family’s structure. Unlike typical families where the head was supreme, the Feng Family’s Elder Council held significant power.

If the head’s decisions sparked controversy, the elders arbitrated. They also appointed the head.

Elder requirements included a prophecy-type ability, major contributions to the family, and being over sixty.

The family head had an age limit—under fifty, as younger minds were sharper, and older heads risked stagnation.

Some elders were former heads, who, after stepping down at 50, had to leave for ten years, proving their competence to join the Elder Council.

Back to the plot, the escort team soon faced an enemy squad’s ambush. Si Zhaohua’s group had to defeat them quickly to avoid reinforcements while protecting the elders—a tough task.

Luckily, Li Shu, Wu Mingbai, and Ling You were in his team, covering defense and attack. With Feng Lan’s coordination, they avoided further enemy encounters after the first wave.

Si Zhaohua’s plot ended, and the focus returned to Jiang Tianming. Soon after deciding to take Feng Ling to Feng Lan, Su Bei joined them.

They briefly updated each other on what happened, then Su Bei interrogated Feng Ling.

Seeming to know something, he didn’t question her alignment, only asking targeted questions. He presented the red wine, revealing it caused the guests’ vomiting and was addictive.

When Feng Ling named the “Black Flash” organization, the comments exploded.

“Whoa! It’s ‘Black Flash’!”

“No wonder she said ‘riding a tiger.’”

“They’re everywhere?”

“She named ‘Black Flash.’ She’s trustworthy, right?”

“Su Bei’s attitude? I believe she’s good!”

Readers saw Su Bei’s stance, and Feng Ling, on-site, saw it clearly. Pleased, she invited him to be a guest elder—a lesser but notable position.

Su Bei then suggested someone go down the mountain to report and request reinforcements, bringing a red wine sample for antidote research.

Earlier, they didn’t leave because a missing person would alert the enemy. Now, with everyone scattered and hiding, one absence wouldn’t be noticed.

After some back-and-forth, Su Bei became the one to go. Amid comments calling him a “slacker,” Feng Ling readily gave him the means to descend.

This made her seem more trustworthy, and doubts about her faded. But Su Bei knew this was temporary—when she led the uncle to them, readers would think they’d been tricked, only to be fooled again later.

The author was crafty, no wonder they were called “Old Thief.”

The author gave Su Bei a long perspective, from descending the mountain, evading guards, to calling Meng Huai to school and handing over the red wine.

This took little space—under two pages. The bulk was the red wine’s destruction.

Clearly, the author feared readers forgetting the school’s mole, using this to reinforce it. A knock came, Su Bei opened the door, and learned the red wine was destroyed. A flashback detailed how.

They asked if he had a backup, though Meng Huai and Ye Lin doubted he would, coming only with faint hope.

When Su Bei produced a second sample, they weren’t the only ones shocked—the comments went wild.

“Su Bei, yyds!”

“Always reliable in key moments!”

“A backup? You’re too meticulous!”

“Pulling out the backup was so cool.”

“How was the first sample destroyed?”

“Feels like more than a government issue.”

“Is there really a mole in the academy?”

His plot ended, and the focus returned to the Feng Family. Jiang Tianming’s group hid with Feng Ling’s help, avoiding encounters.

In a secluded corner, Feng Lan appeared, as if expecting them, waiting in ambush.

He briefly updated them on Si Zhaohua’s group and confirmed he’d been watching from behind.

To his cousin Feng Ling, he was gentle, clearly not blaming her. Feng Ling wanted to speak for herself and her parents.

Before she could, hurried footsteps approached, sounding like a large group.

Their faces changed, but they couldn’t hide—the spot was a dead-end with no cover.

Soon, the uncle and a horde of defectors appeared. He smiled at Feng Ling, extending a hand: “Come back, daughter. You did well. Without your tracker, we wouldn’t have found them so easily.”

The manga didn’t show Feng Ling’s expression, per Wu Jin, only depicting her as calm, walking back to the uncle under shocked gazes.

The comments exploded.

“What! She’s bad?”

“Feng Ling fooled us all.”

“No way. From Su Bei and Feng Lan’s attitudes, she’s good, right?”

“Old Thief, you playing us?”

“Another mole!”

“Feng Lan won’t get caught, will he? That’d be bad.”

Luckily, Feng Lan was prepared, slipping earpieces to everyone before vanishing. The uncle, stunned by his disappearance, didn’t immediately order a capture.

This hesitation let Jiang Tianming’s group seize the chance, each using their skills to break through in groups.

Feng Lan’s voice came through the earpieces, concisely directing their escape routes. Wu Jin, using his [No Presence], slipped away easily.

Feng Lan told him to wait for Su Bei to assist him. Wu Jin said he didn’t know where Su Bei would return, but Feng Lan said, “Follow your instincts,” so Wu Jin went to the library.

Since the manga hadn’t shown where they’d been during their absence, only that Wu Jin and Su Bei were together, seeing Wu Jin return to the library confirmed they’d been there.

“Why the library?”

“Was that their spot?”

“I bet Su Bei chose the library. He’s after something.”

“Su Bei’s got too many secrets. Old Thief, reveal one?”

“If he meets Su Bei there, I’ll ship Su Bei and Wu Jin a bit.”

After briefly covering Wu Jin, the plot returned to Jiang Tianming. Scattered, they were coordinated by Feng Lan.

For efficiency, Feng Lan put them in one voice channel, so all heard his commands without switching.

From his orders, he wanted Jiang Tianming’s group to dismantle the uncle’s defenses around the Feng Family, shrinking his space from outside in.

After laying out the plan, everyone agreed to follow.

Except Jiang Tianming.

The famously smart and calm protagonist, upon hearing Feng Lan’s plan, spotted a flaw: “You’re sending us to clear points across the Feng Family, but I bet those points don’t include your hiding spot, right?”

Indeed. Feng Lan replied via the walkie-talkie: “I can monitor my hiding spot myself. No need to waste manpower.”

But Jiang Tianming shook his head: “We don’t know the Feng Family’s layout, but your uncle does. If he sees us clear every defensive point except your location, won’t he deduce where you are?”

This made Feng Lan realize his plan’s flaw—he hadn’t considered it. He quickly revised, pulling one person from each team to clear his hiding spot.

The comments praised Jiang Tianming.

Seeing this, Su Bei had to admit having Jiang Tianming as the manga’s protagonist was reassuring.

If the protagonist were like Mo Xiaotian, typical of many manga, they’d only be fixing his mistakes, not the other way around.

After much effort, they confined the uncle’s group near the library—deliberately left last by Feng Lan, knowing Su Bei would bring reinforcements from there.

Since escaping the “Feng Ling betrayal,” the tide had turned. The uncle fought and retreated, abandoning many, left with only a few guards and the guests.

Knowing the end was near, he made a final stand, rallying all guests to confront Jiang Tianming’s group.

With hostages, he wasn’t entirely without a chance.

Feng Lan secretly directed Jiang Tianming’s group to set traps. Though the traps’ positions seemed ineffective, S Class followed his orders diligently.

The rest was Su Bei’s lived experience, so he skimmed it. But at Feng Ling’s second alignment twist, he paused to read the comments with interest.

As expected, the comments were full of clowns raging.

“Old Thief, is it fun to toy with me?”

“Bad—good—bad—good, I’m lost.”

“She’s good! I knew Su Bei’s judgment wouldn’t fail!”

“After all that, I’m the clown?”

“I guessed wrong…”

“Good, pretty sister is good. I said Feng Ling’s name couldn’t be a bad one.”

“Those who always believed Feng Ling was good beat 99%!”