A Guide for Background Characters to Survive in a Manga

Chapter 24

Secrets, once shared, quickly cease to be secrets. Mo Xiaotian had now infiltrated the protagonist group. Despite the heated fan wars between Wu Mingbai and Mo Xiaotian on the forum, their actual relationship wasn’t nearly as bad as it seemed.

In a way, they were more like frenemies.

If their relationship was truly bad, Jiang Tianming and Lan Subing wouldn’t allow Mo Xiaotian to hang out with them.

If Jiang Tianming told Wu Mingbai and the others about today, it wouldn’t take long for Mu Tieren and Mo Xiaotian to find out too.

A poorly kept secret could lead to disaster. Letting someone from a villainous organization know that he hadn’t fully mastered his Ability—or rather, that a powerful Ability was still in its growth phase—could bring endless trouble.

Manga Consciousness wasn’t foolish either. After hearing Su Bei, it immediately understood his concerns. Thinking of that organization, it strongly agreed with Su Bei’s caution: “You’re right. Better to be careful.”

But what Manga Consciousness didn’t know was that its response inadvertently gave Su Bei significant information.

Since it agreed with Su Bei, it confirmed that the Black Lightning organization indeed targeted kids whose Abilities weren’t fully developed. And this recruitment was compulsory—those targeted were forced to join. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so worried.

So, was Mo Xiaotian truly a willing member?

From his last performance, he seemed fiercely loyal to the organization. But Mo Xiaotian was inherently a highly just person. Would he be so devoted to a villainous group?

Su Bei could only think of one possibility—he’d been brainwashed.

If his guess was correct, this was clearly advanced information. Once the truth came out, it would deepen readers’ understanding of his Ability.

Thinking of his Ability, Su Bei tossed the Destiny Gear he’d just made into the air. At the same time, he felt another chunk of mental energy consumed.

At this rate, as he’d suspected, he could only predict three people’s destinies at once. And the Destiny Gear for Prophecy wasn’t something he could summon anytime—regardless of remaining mental energy, he could only summon one per day. Of course, if he only absorbed destiny aura without activating it, there was no limit.

The next second, the intricate gear vanished, and two lipsticks suddenly appeared in the air. The lipsticks clashed like weapons, putting on a full-blown martial show with crackling sounds. After about thirty seconds, they both vanished into the air.

Su Bei: “?”

He was dumbfounded.

What the heck was that?

After a long silence, Su Bei collected his scattered thoughts and began analyzing what he’d seen.

When absorbing the destiny aura with the gear, he’d chosen the first segment in the direction the pointer was pointing.

Based on his reasoning, the pointer’s direction indicated the next event. The closer to the inner layers, the nearer the timeline.

So, this prophesied event shouldn’t be far off. If nothing unexpected happened, it would likely be tomorrow, as the handover of the culprit and the victory banquet were the biggest events he could foresee.

Two lipsticks fighting—what did that mean? Would girls fight soon?

No, no, Su Bei quickly shook his head. First, he’d only predicted for Jiang Tianming, so this should concern Jiang Tianming.

Second, the only girl close to Jiang Tianming was Lan Subing. Lan Subing fighting someone? That felt absurd!

Maybe his thinking was off. Lipsticks didn’t necessarily mean girls. Right, lipsticks most directly symbolized mouths. Two mouths fighting meant an argument.

“Tomorrow, Jiang Tianming will argue with someone?”

It made sense. Su Bei was mostly convinced. During the culprit handover tomorrow, Jiang Tianming and the others were likely to argue with Sun’s Father and Sun’s Mother.

Or perhaps, at the victory banquet, they might argue over something.

“After all, bickering is the main tune of youth,” Su Bei mused.

Manga Consciousness couldn’t help but retort: “As if you’re so old.”

Su Bei smiled without replying. He wasn’t old, but having died once already, who could blame him? If he hadn’t become cannon fodder, hadn’t been chosen by Manga Consciousness, hadn’t joined the plot, he’d surely still be a cheerful, optimistic fifteen-year-old boy.

Thinking of this, he sighed but quickly perked up. In other manga, protagonists started saving the world at six. At fifteen, he was already an overaged savior.

Recharging his mood, Su Bei took out his phone and opened the post he’d made on his profile. After some time, it had garnered many replies.

“Let’s Discuss Su Bei’s Intelligence Sources”

[…]

[No.1: OP is an analysis genius, this makes so much sense!]

[No.2: I also think Su Bei might be monitoring the school.]

[No.3: Isn’t this a bit too conspiracy-theorist?]

[No.4: OP is awesome, I’ll say it first!]

[No.5: Just clicked in and saw a wall of text. I’ll read it first. Hope you guys have a conclusion by the time I’m done.]

[No.6: OP, we’re on the same wavelength! I’ve been suspicious of Su Bei’s intelligence sources too. Your analysis is the most reasonable to me. Too many coincidences stop being coincidences.]

[…]

[No.27: So what exactly is Su Bei’s intelligence source? OP only analyzed that Su Bei has other sources but didn’t say what they are?]

[…]

Seeing No.27’s question, Su Bei replied immediately.

[Prophet No.44 (OP) replying to No.27:

There’s too little info in the manga, but I think it might be related to Su Bei’s Ability. His Ability is tied to destiny. If he can see destiny, seeing other things seems plausible too ()]

Soon, the post gained more replies.

[No.45 replying to No.44: Hahahaha, I believe it.]

[No.46 replying to No.44: I thought OP was serious, but you’re a goofball?]

[No.47: Hahahahahahaha]

[No.48: Gotta say, OP kinda makes sense?]

[No.49: OP’s analysis does hold water. I also think it’s some use of his Ability.]

[No.50: If you guys are right, isn’t Su Bei’s Ability too OP? Prophecy, surveillance, and someone even said it might have attack capabilities. A triple threat? And he only just awakened!]

[No.51 replying to No.50: Not necessarily. Maybe he awakened earlier. Not everyone awakens at 15.]

[No.52: Beautiful and strong… the old thief won’t slap a tragic backstory on him, right?]

[No.53: You’ve mastered the old thief’s tricks, but I love beautiful, strong, tragic characters.]

[No.54: Me too! Beautiful and strong without tragedy is meaningless!]

[…]

[No.55: Could Su Bei’s intelligence source be some organization behind him?]

[No.56 replying to No.55: What organization could monitor the school’s every move? Is Su Bei’s backer the school itself?]

Seeing No.56’s comment, Su Bei raised an eyebrow. Whoa! He hadn’t even thought of that angle. Nice, he could roll with it.

[Prophet No.57 (OP) replying to No.56: That’s actually one possibility. Sometimes, the least likely answer is the truth.]

A wave of “hahaha” followed, clearly showing no one took his reply seriously. But Su Bei didn’t mind. He just wanted to plant a seed.

One impression wouldn’t change readers’ minds, but a second, a third?

As long as he showed enough hints in the manga, people would start analyzing in that direction.

Browsing other posts, Su Bei clicked into one clearly sparking an argument, grinning like he was watching a show.

“Is Mo Xiaotian Royalty? The Old Thief’s Desire to Give Him More Screen Time Is Spilling Off the Screen.”

[Little Little Lang No.0: Rbt, I really can’t figure out why this character exists in the manga? Just to play dumb and act clueless? He can’t do anything, every plan has to be explained to him, and he deliberately provokes Wu Mingbai. I’m pissed off for Wu Mingbai!

And yet the old thief gave him an Ability that could get him into Class A. Isn’t that biased enough? The last panel of the second chapter was even more obvious, directly handing him the spotlight.

That spotlight should’ve been Wu Mingbai’s, right? If it wasn’t for giving Mo Xiaotian the highlight, they’d probably have just let Wu Mingbai trip the culprit!]

[No.1: I don’t know about the rest, but OP is definitely a Wu Mingbai fan.]

[No.2: Big bro’s got a point.]

[No.3: Big bro’s got a point.]

[No.4: Big bro’s got a point.]

[No.5: Big bro’s got a point.]

[Little Little Lang No.6 (OP) replying to No.1:

I’m indeed a Wu Mingbai fan, but that’s irrelevant to my rant, okay? Mo Xiaotian is just royalty, don’t derail the thread!]

[No.7: It’s not that bad. They have different character designs, and their bickering is pretty fun, isn’t it?]

[No.8: I also think Mo Xiaotian’s royalty with too much plot. You say he and Wu Mingbai have different designs, but on the surface, they’re both the lively, cheerful type. The old thief is clearly letting him leech off Wu Mingbai’s popularity!]

[…]

[No.21: Wu Mingbai fans, stop having a meltdown. Our Mo Xiaotian is pure and cute, unlike some two-faced guy. If we’re talking about leeching, I’d say you’re the ones leeching. How dare a black-hearted jerk leech off our little angel?]

[No.22 replying to No.21:

Little angel, you ******, you think you’re worthy *****]

[No.23: The Wu granny upstairs is having a meltdown.]

[No.24 replying to No.23:

Meltdown, you *****]

[No.25: Obviously Mo Xiaotian is leeching off Wu Mingbai’s popularity. Why would the more popular one leech off the less popular?]

[No.26: Mo Xiaotian’s personality is already a protagonist template. His fanbase will surpass Wu Mingbai’s sooner or later!]

[…]

[No.67: They’re fighting so fiercely, why haven’t the mods deleted the thread?]

[No.68: Selling melon seeds, cigarettes, mineral water, orange cats, ragdolls, and Siamese cats!]

[No.69 replying to No.68: One ragdoll, please.]

[No.70: Quietly promoting our Monster CP here, Mo Xiaotian × Wu Mingbai. The super topic is already set up, invest now, no losses!]

[No.71: OP, you’re so brave…]

[No.72 replying to No.70: You , go die ***!]