Help! I'm the Plot Device: Just Here to Save the Heroes

Peach Blossom Moon: Chaos Edition

Yuanzhou's breath rasped. His heart hammered like a trapped beast.

He staggered to his feet, dragging himself out through the shattered doors. The night air didn't cleanse him; the smell clung, the blood slicked his hands. He scrubbed at them furiously, as if he could rub the crimson away.

A voice cut through the stillness.
"Your Highness! We have found the Shadow Clan seal."

The seal was carved from black jade, cold even to the touch. Its face bore the curling form of a panther, tail coiled into a crescent that eclipsed the sun, ringed with ancient runes no ordinary eye could read.

Yuanzhou froze.

An imperial soldier stood at the gates, helmet shadowing his face. The man bowed stiffly, then straightened.

Yuanzhou's gaze flickered to him. Blank. Mechanical. He turned wordlessly and walked past, movements heavy, as though every step was chained.

Jerry's thoughts reeled. What the hell is happening here? Yuanzhou gifted Li Jie a token, spoke of brotherhood, even asked him to keep Yichen safe-then this? He wipes the entire clan? And now acts like he didn't? Jerry's breath caught. Zhao Yuanzhou are you suffering from DID?. (Dissociative Identity Disorder)

Another pull seized him.

Jerry screamed, "No-noooo! Not Again!!"

And when vision cleared, he was small once more. Yichen's body.

He clung to a stone pillar, breath hitching, hiding in shadow. Through Yichen's eyes, he saw Yuanzhou marching back toward the palace gates. His stride was relentless, the gait of a predator returning from the hunt.

Jerry gagged, bile burning his throat. I can't. I can't. My stomach's in my throat- System where are YOU?"

Yuanzhou reached the threshold. Stopped.

Slowly, he turned his head-his gaze cutting through the shadows, straight toward where Yichen hid. His eyes, fever-bright, locked on him

His voice, low and deliberate, carried across the silence:
"First day of the Peach blossom moon, in the Bing Yin year."

A pause. His expression unreadable.
"Stay alive until then."

The words echoed like a curse.

Jerry's mind spun out. What... does that mean? Why give me a date? What happens then?

And just as he thought he would drown in it-another violent pull.

Jerry's eyes snapped open. The fire was gone. The corpses were gone. He was in real arms now-Yan An on one side, Yuanzhou on the other. Their faces hovered above him, panic flickering in their eyes.

Jerry gave them a broken smile. I'm back... finally..

Then-darkness.

🧶🐱🧶

Yichen's Chamber

"Host... host, wake up."

The system's voice crackled faintly, tugging him back. Jerry stirred, lashes trembling, before his eyes finally opened. His chamber ceiling swam into view. His gaze drifted sideways-Xu Ming sat by his bedside, posture rigid, worry etched into his face.

"Are you okay?" Xu Ming asked softly.

"...Xu Ming?" Jerry rasped, trying to push himself upright.

"Don't." Xu Ming pressed him down gently. "I'll call the physician." And without waiting for argument, he hurried out.