Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Note: Our male lead Luo Binghe shows up in this chapter! Still a lot of footnotes but less than in Chapter 1. Preliminary edit completed.

Shen Yuan had never been able to understand why this extreme scum villain, Shen Qingqiu, had this kind of do-or-die attitude. For what?

The original Shen Qingqiu’s family was well-off and he could at least be considered a small wealthy second generation offspring. He had two older brothers who would inherit the family business in the future and a younger sister that he loved. Their feelings were very good.

He already knew that even if he didn’t amount to much in life, he wouldn’t lack a mouthful of rice [1]. But perhaps it was because his growing environment was so easy and lacking in competition that as long as the competitors numbered more than ten, getting ranked within the first ten was considered a good result to him.

Thus, he had never shared a common language with those who wanted to dominate the world.

This original Shen Qingqiu had some skill and qualifications. He also pretended to have more than he had. No shortage of reputation, no need to worry about money as a member of the world’s number one sect; why did he have to keep picking a fight with the grassroots protagonist, his brain working all day to calculate how to insult the protagonist and incite others to join in?

Even if Luo Binghe was a heaven-sent genius and incredibly powerful, to compare himself to…… there was no need to be jealous to this degree, right?

Still, you couldn’t blame this scum villain for being so crummy. In the novel, this kind of crummy scum villain was like carp in the river, proliferating everywhere. He was only one of many.

What was there to do? This novel’s biggest BOSS was the protagonist himself. How could a firefly’s light shine like the sun and the moon?

He won respect in the cultivation world because of his ‘Xiu Ya Sword,’ so his natural talent couldn’t be considered too bad.

For now, Shen Qingqiu looked left and right, pleased even though his complexion was like the color of porridge in the bronze mirror.

This person’s appearance was neat with two black eyebrows and thin lips, born to look like a scholar. Plus his trim and long legs, he could be considered a good-looking man. Though his actual age didn’t bear thinking of [2], this was a cultivation novel; Shen Qingqiu cultivated his inner strength and so he had perfectly maintained the looks of a youth. When he was reading books to fill his mind, the quality of his looks multiplied [3].

Though there was no way to compare to Luo Binghe.

Once he thought of Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu’s brain felt extreme pain.

He wanted to take a look right now at the Luo Binghe who’s currently shut up in the woodshed, but before he could take a step, another alarm sounded in his mind.

【Warning! OOC warning! ‘Shen Qingqiu’ would not take the initiative to see Luo Binghe. 】

Shen Qingqiu angrily said: ‘Fine. Then I’ll send someone to bring him over, this much should be okay.’

He thought for a moment, then called out: “Ming Fan!”

From outside the door a boy of around sixteen years of age darted in, tall and thin, and said: “This disciple is here. What is Shifu’s command?”

Shen Qingqiu couldn’t help taking another look at him. He could be counted as decent-looking, just had a bit of a wretched appearance [4]. In his heart he lamented: Turns out he’s a piece of cannon fodder [5].

This was the original Shen Qingqiu’s top disciple, Luo Binghe’s senior martial brother Ming Fan.

This was the legendary lowest level of cannon fodder!

Needless to say about shutting Luo Binghe out of the dorms overnight or deliberately giving him the wrong entry passwords, these kinds of things he all had a hand in. Whenever Shen Qingqiu felt a deep grudge and wanted to torture Luo Binghe, the most trustworthy and eager assistant was Ming Fan.

Knowing this person’s final ending, Shen Qingqiu looked at this child and felt quite a bit of empathy with him since they were in the same boat: “Go bring Binghe here.”

Ming Fan’s heart thought: Why is Shifu calling him Luo Binghe, he always calls him ‘that small beast,’ ‘bastard,’ ‘mixed blood,’ ‘sprout,’ [6] and uses these names quite often. How come he’s suddenly calling him so intimately?

But naturally he didn’t dare to question his shifu’s commands, so he promptly jogged to the woodshed and kicked the door, yelling: “Come out! Shizun [7] is calling you!”

Shen Qingqiu paced in the room, fully examining the system in his mind.

The system diligently answered him.

【Points are the grading method used. The higher your points are, the better the work is. 】

Then, how would I raise points?

【1. Change the weak plot and fix the errors of the scum villain and other supporting characters; 2. Avoid mines; 3. Ensure the protagonist’s coolness; 4. Unravel secret scenarios. 】

Shen Qingqiu analyzed everything deeply, one by one.

That is to say: He not only had to whip the ass of the rotten piece of work that was the original Shen Qingqiu into shape, but also make sure the other characters didn’t make a mess either;

He didn’t even know if he could keep his own precious little life, but he still must ensure that the coolness points for the protagonist and his girls weren’t lacking;

Not only were the plot holes made by the author unfilled, he must personally shovel and top off those holes himself.

Hehe.

As Airplane Towards The Sky said, this novel “Proud Immortal Demon Way” had a very clear goal. Every word that was written was for one purpose, and that was coolness.

Perhaps it was after the male protagonist was blackened that he started playing innocent, pretending to be the pig to eat the tiger [8], guarding against machinations of bitches, and becoming cool enough to overturn the heavens. That’s why the work became popular, increasingly long to the point the book was longer than its binding.

So Shen Qingqiu thought, but his task to clean up the plot made the pressure on him very great. Mines were buried all over, he couldn’t be certain that he would be able to avoid every single one!

Shen Qingqiu: ‘What kind of plot is considered not bad?’

【There is no standard, it depends upon the subjective feelings of the reader. 】

‘This poor piece of writing still has a reader.’ Shen Qingqiu snorted, completely forgetting that he himself was someone who’d spent V currency on the novel and finished reading while pinching the bridge of his nose, that he was that kind of ‘faithful’ reader……

Pausing, Shen Qingqiu then asked: ‘Then how many points need to be collected for the beginning stage to start?’

System: 【It will be dictated by the specific circumstances. When the requirements have been met, you will automatically be notified. 】

Going through the problem and its analysis was truly applying balm.[9]

Shen Qingqiu sneered. Hearing the door, he stepped back and saw a boy walk through.

Despite being uneasy, he still managed to stand straight and say: “Shizun.”

Shen Qingqiu formed three-quarters of a smile before he stiffened.

Going to die! Towards this person who will meet and harm an eighty-something years old woman holding a girl-child, as the person who so greatly damaged the male protagonist’s face like this, he was totally going to die!

But, though he’d gone through such abuse, that damaged face of the protagonist proved that he was still worthy of being called the protagonist!

Luo Binghe’s pair of eyes were bright like morning stars. A good, fresh and tender little handsome embryo;

That firm and humble look, showing his noble and unyielding character;

That straight and tall stature, that would rather break than bend!

Suddenly met with this sight, Shen Qingqiu’s heart broke up the words he was going to say, scrambled all his rhetoric and caused countless words to fall over each other in his mind, so much that he almost blurted them all out!

Thankfully, Shen Qingqiu was at the precipice but his mind cried out at the sheer drop. This protagonist was too excellent, he almost could not hold it in!

He watched Luo Binghe slowly limp through the door, struggling to kneel. The corner of Sheng Qingqiu’s mouth twitched. Inside, he thought that this old lady can’t afford to accept your bow [10]. If you bow to me today, some day in the future my kneecaps are going to be finished off by you! So he immediately stopped him and said: “No need.”

He withdrew his hand and brought out a small bottle: “This is medicine.” He ended his words with a sarcastic tone: “Don’t let others see and think that my Qing Jing Peak abuses disciples.”

Shen Qingqiu entered his role very quickly. He had great guts to attempt the action of giving the medicine to him, but made sure he chose to use a nasty attitude in line with the original Shen Qingqiu’s hypocritical character.

As expected, the system didn’t let out an OOC notification. Shen Qingqiu let out a breath in relief.

Luo Binghe thought that Shizun had called him over to follow up with more ‘teaching.’ He didn’t think it was to give him medicine. Surprised for a moment, he then held up his hands in a gesture of respect, sincerely grateful: “Thank you for the medicine, Shizun.”

Luo Binghe’s voice was filled with childishness, his smile full of sincerity, just like the warm sun breaking over the horizon.

Shen Qingqiu stared for a moment, then turned his face away.

This male protagonist before being blackened was truly the model of a good boy, brilliant like the sun. He was the kind of person who if you gave him one point he’d guarantee to return you ten points. It wouldn’t be wrong to say he was a small sheep.

Luo Binghe happily said: “This disciple will redouble his efforts in the future, won’t let Shizun be disappointed.”

Eh, but, if you redouble your efforts then your original Shizun will be the one truly disappointed……

If Shen Qingqiu hadn’t read “Proud Immortal Demon Way” and seen this scene, his heart would ache for Luo Binghe and he’d shed sympathetic tears.

However, he had read the novel from beginning to end and was privy to all of Luo Binghe’s mental activities after his blackening. On the surface his face was that of a modest gentleman but deep inside he was thinking about how to pull off his skin and bones to expose reality.

【Luo Binghe smiled a little and said: ‘What shame this disciple suffered in the past, he will return to you now eight times greater. For hurting my hand, I will grind your four limbs into dust. 】

↑ <<Proud Immortal Demon Way>> Selected paragraph, the 2nd.

Afterwards, he really cut Shen Qingqiu into a human stick.[11]

Say he wanted to do something to you, he’d do it. Couldn’t plead for life, couldn’t plead for death. This kind of character was like the domineering and cool king he became in later years. The essence of it could be summed up in a few words: “Hehe, you stupid sucker.”

That’s why even though Luo Binghe’s current situation was sympathetic, Shen Qingqiu could only think more about his own future fate.

To sum it up, no matter how sad Luo Binghe was right now, he was also the one in the future whose foot was stepping on his head and laughing ferociously.

Shen Qingqiu sat in the sandalwood chair, choosing to speak in a careless tone: “Binghe, how is your progress in cultivation?”

Hearing “Binghe” coming out of his mouth gave even him goosebumps. Luo Binghe’s back also noticeably shook, but he still showed a shy smile: “This disciple is stupid, and…… missed the point.”

Shen Qingqiu hated him; heaven knew he wants to take a loudspeaker and roar next to Luo Binghe’s ear: You false-hearted person, it’s already pretty good if you don’t go crazy [12]. Being able to do the basics is already not bad! Are you messing with me, kid! Let this teacher point you in the right direction!

That demonic alert sounded again. Shen Qingqiu inwardly shouted to the system: ‘I’m just thinking, can’t I do even that?! Of course I know this is a violation!’

He casually said: “Today I punished you because I was anxious. Time flies. Come to think of it, you’ve been apprenticed under me for quite some time. How old are you this year?”

Luo Binghe obediently said: “This disciple is fourteen.”

Oh. Fourteen.

Shen Qingqiu’s ‘help.’

That is to say, all this time that Shen Qingqiu had been mentoring Luo Binghe, he had already experienced the punished to kneel at the gate incident, Qing Jing disciples brawl incident, being ‘contrary’ to Shizun incident, breaking the device and sentenced to hard work incident…… and so on, on this kind of glorious track.

—End Chapter 2—

[1] Mouthful of rice: Meaning he won’t starve.

[2] Actual age: All immortals will look the same age as when they reached immortality, barring taking pills or some other factor. Shen Qingqiu cultivated into an Immortal fairly early so he looks like a young man. His actual age… is probably quite a bit older than what he looks like.

[3] Quality of his looks multiplies: Basically, Shen Qingqiu is one of those people who looks extra cool doing scholarly things compared to whatever he normally does.

[4] Wretched appearance (尖嘴猴腮): Literally saying he’s got a mouth that sticks out and a chin like an ape’s, but the meaning is the one I used.

[5] Cannon fodder: If you’re familiar with the kind of ‘protagonist dominates the world’ genre in wuxia/xuanhuan/xianxia novels then you know what this means. You’ll also know what this means if you read novels based on otome games. ‘Cannon fodder’ characters are collateral damage and often used as stepping stones for the protagonist to level up or proceed along their way.

[6] Small beast, bastard, mixed blood, sprout (「那小畜生」、「孽障」、「混小子」、「豎子」): All insulting names. The direct translations are a bit awkward to translate to English so I’m using what MTL’s given. It’s close enough. In Chinese calling someone by name, especially their ‘first name’ (which would be Binghe in our ML’s case) is something only those close to you would do. In the case of a normal master-disciple relationship, it wouldn’t be unusual to use a first name so casually.

[7] Shizun (師尊): Used the same way as shifu and also means ‘master’ or ‘teacher.’ I think it’s more formal though, more like ‘respected master.’ Luo Binghe will use this a lot so remember this!

[8] Pretending to be the pig to eat the tiger: Pretend to be weak to win over a stronger person.

[9] Balm: Original words are wan jin you (萬金油) which refer to a traditional Chinese balm called Tiger Balm. It’s used for a variety of ailments.

[10] This old lady…: Shen Qingqiu is making fun of himself. In those old palace historical dramas full of schemes, old ladies with high status are terrifying and generally have scores of people bowing down/kowtowing to them.

[11] Human stick: Just a reminder that this is a form of torture. The person’s four limbs are removed, leaving only the head and torso.

[12] Go crazy: The actual Chinese words used (pinyin: zhou huo ru mo) tends to apply to people ‘going crazy’ by cultivating incorrectly. You might be more familiar with the term ‘qi deviation.’ It’s probably also referring to the unusual Demon cultivation path that Luo Binghe is going follow in the future.