Chapter 2

108 Maidens of Destiny

Shu Jing gulped down his saliva and wiped off the leftover snot from his nose, his heart nearly stopped by the girl’s bold declaration.

Wait wait wait, Majestic Star “Panther Head” Lin Chong? Did he mishear her?

“Beg your pardon?” Shu Jing asked when woke up from his stupor.

“From now on I am your woman.”

Lin Chong’s face grew redder as she infused all her embarrassment and hatred into her voice and repeat herself. If not because of the Star Duel Covenant preventing her from harming him, she would have already split this man who was feigning innocence in half.

Shu Jing quickly clarified.

“No, what you said before that. Lin Chong?”

“That’s right, tis’ I, Majestic Star “Panther Head” Lin Chong.” Lin Chong lowered her voice and retrieved the serpent spear.

Shu Jing massaged his throat as he stare at the strange girl in front of him.

“Really? Some of my otaku comrades also love that series.”

“What nonsense is master spouting?”

Lin Chong frowned, is her master crazy or is he an idiot? Hearing her famous title and yet he remained indifferent.

“This time was truly an accident, but well, even if I have to take responsibility for seeing you naked, it was worth it.” Shu Jing smiled lewdly. Looking closely at the girl in front of him, her brows were fine as leaf, eyes as brilliant as stars, her figure heroic, if she was placed in the ancient time she would definitely look the part of an army general.

“Master, please be more serious!” Lin Chong coldly spoke.

Seeing that she was not in the mood for jokes, his smile slowly disappears. Shu Jing asks:

“Where is this area? Are we in Inner Mongolia?”

“Clear Wilderness Highland in Thousand Mount Kingdom.” Lin Chong replied with a rigid expression as always.

Clear Wilderness Highland? Thousand Mount Kingdom? These two places never existed throughout history as far as he can remember. Shu Jing, sensing a bad feeling, spat out almost incomprehensibly: “Year?”

“Star Sight year 975!”

What the hell?

“What world is this?” Shu Jing painfully clutched his head.

“Liangshan Continent!” At this point, Lin Chong could no longer endure it and laughed coldly: “Master is asking questions that even toddlers can answer, do you think that I am a fool?”

Shu Jing look up at the sky, it was clearly daytime, and yet he could see over a hundred stars shining, even further in the distance there was even a massive pillar cutting straight through the cloud from the sea standing nonchalantly, which was an impossibility in the world that he knew.

World travelling?

Before, Shu Jing did hear his friends joked about it but he would never imagine that one day he himself would be in this situation.

“Lin Chong wishes to know what to call master?” Lin Chong asked.

“You can call me Shu Jing, no need for master this or that. Even though it sounds quite gratifying, but the implications aren’t very appropriate, I am merely a soldier. Ha ha ha!”

“Even though Lin Chong also does not enjoy calling you master, since we have signed a Star Duel Covenant, I will also abandon my prejudices.” Lin Chong spoke against her will.

“What is the Star Duel Covenant?” Shu Jing eyes were wide opened: “Is it something to do with Star Wars?”

Lin Chong’s face sank: “Please don’t tell me, Master also aren’t aware of Star Masters and Star Maidens?”

Shu Jing spread his hands and shrugged — exactly as Lin Chong guessed.

Lin Chong almost made her gums bleed grinding her teeth. She was the famous Majestic Star Lin Chong, in the end why did she end up contracting with an idiot who doesn’t even know anything? What kind of farce is this!

Feeling that this man still doesn’t fully comprehend the gravity of the current situation, Lin Chong attempts to explain:

“Star Duels are the most important event in the entire Liangshan continent. Every 108 years, 108 brightest stars will rise up along with their representative 108 maidens, each of them possessing earth shattering strength and abilities.

All Star Maiden are able to sign a Star Duel Covenant with a star cultivator. The contractor will then become their master for the rest of their lives. The cultivators who have signed the contracts are called Star Masters in the Liangshan continent.

“When the Star Masters and their contracted Star Maiden emerged as the final victor, they will be able to meet the Liangshan Maiden.”

“Why are Star Duel Covenants made?” Shu Jing asked.

“Of course for battles.”

“What do you fight for?”

“For your wish, of course.”

Legend has it that once there are only one final star left in the sky, the mother and creator of these stars – Liangshan Maiden, will descend and grant the winner their wish.

“That’s Liangshan Maiden.” Lin Chong points toward the massive pillar in the distance that seems like it was holding up the very sky itself.

“But why must I follow the rules of some third rate novel plot and risk my life?” Shu Jing frowned and blurted out.

Lin Chong was stunned. She has never questioned the reasoning behind this ancient ritual. But Lin Chong wasn’t going to admit to the idiotic man in front of her that she actually had no idea, but instead she glared at him: “Everybody has something they truly desire, does master not have something he wishes for?”

Shu Jing slowly realised something: “Yeah, it seems like I am just like everyone else.”

Looking at the distant Liangshan Maiden pillar, he pondered if his wish to return to his original world could be fulfilled.

***

Meanwhile at Clear Wilderness Castle.

Sobbing wails could be heard echoing across the entire castle, even the inhabitants far outside the mansion could not help but frown from the tragic sound.

“I must kill that bitch! I will make her my slave and ruin her!”

Lying on his bed, a castrated young man viciously howled. He’s is the white-robed youth who previously suffered at Lin Chong’s hands, Clear Wilderness Castle Young Master.

Currently, his mother was comforting him with a face full of tears:” Ming-er, don’t worry, mother will definitely make this right.”

Standing next to her, a man disagreed: “You reap what you sow! I already told him, even though the “Freezing Cloud Ice Crystal” was taken away, we must not pursue. Did he think it would be easy to make these heaven descended slayers submit to your will?”

The woman turned around and angrily rebuked: “Husband, what are you saying? Ming-er was beaten to this point by that vicious woman, as the lord of the castle, you still want to defend that she-demon?”

“Father, please help me seek justice ah!” The young man loudly wailed with tears streaming down his face.

“I heard that when you sign a Star Duel Covenant with a Star Knight, it’s possible for the body to be reborn. For the sake of your lineage, you must bring that accursed fiend back here”. The woman sobs.

“Nonsense.” The man heartlessly scolded:”That person is Majestic Star Lin Chong, how could Clear Wilderness Castle possibly have the means to oppose her?”

“Why must my son suffer such a terrible fate ahh.” Hearing this, the woman broke down and cried even louder.

“My Lord, there is a self-proclaimed Star Master named Xun Huo wanting an audience!” A servant reported from outside the room.

The woman immediately stopped crying and looked at him: “My Lord…”

How could the Castle Lord not understand what his wife meant? He laughed deeply: “The Star Master couldn’t have come at a better time!”

***

At the castle hall.

A young man around 23 years of age was currently sitting down drinking tea. His face was as white as pearl, stately and handsome, wearing a green robe.

Serving him was a young girl wearing a long dress with a slender body, at a glance one can tell that she is no ordinary maid.

Clear Wilderness Castle Lord was much more wary of the young lady in comparison to the young man besides her.

Her silk dress was bright red and her hair was a shade of crimson. Her eyes were a deep shade of bloody vermillion, each piercing glance from them invoking great fear.

“Xun Young Master has grace us with your visit, I wonder what the matter is?” Clear Wilderness Castle Lord respectfully asked.

Xun Huo casually glance over, sip tea and replied: “I heard your castle possess a rare treasure called “Freezing Cloud Ice Crystal”, it just so happened that I have a need for it. Set the price, I will pay it.”

Clear Wilderness Castle Lord gave a pained smile. “I’m afraid the Young Master will be disappointed.”

“You don’t want to sell?” The servant girl slams the table, her voice overbearing with a hint of threat. The single slam causes cracks to appear all over the solid wooden desk.

Xun Huo lift his hands, motioning the girl to back down.

The castle lord bitterly explained: “I will not hide it from Young Master, not long ago a thief have come and stolen away the crystal, my son brought a squad of guards with him to pursue and get it back, but who knew that it would turn out to be a Star Knight, the entire squad was instantly wiped out, my son was luckily sent back home castrated with an inch of life left.”

Xun Hou glanced at the girl and lightly nod. She immediately used her divine soul to sweep the entire inner palace. She then smiled indecently. “It’s just as he said.”

“Do you know which Star Maiden it was?” Xun Hou sips the tea while maintaining his aloof atmosphere.

“A small mistake already led to the death of dozens of our warriors, how could we have the time to identify the culprit?” The castle lord sighed.

Seeing Xun Hou in deep thought, the castle lord suddenly made a request: “If Young Master would take revenge for my son, Clear Wilderness Castle will be indebted.” Finished speaking, he signaled the servant with a look.

From outside a soldier brought in a chest, at a glance one could see about one hundred gold along with some precious jewelry.

“I was just about to set off to retrieve the ice crystal, now I will also lend you a hand by bringing her back here to be contracted.” A smile appears on Xun Hou’s face as he spoke.

“My incompetent son cannot handle the matters of Star Masters, everything will be handed over to Young Master to manage.” The castle lord replied in panic. He isn’t an idiot, in these “Star Duels” Star Knights will be fighting each other on behalf of their masters, which Star Master would be stupid enough to hand over a Star Knight to others to contract and create more enemies? Not including the fact that the person in question is Panther Head Lin Chong, how could he make her submit?

“I will order the cavalry to follow and support Young Master.”

“No need, all I require is a horse, bringing more people will just get in my way.” Xun Hou pursed his lips and swung his arms, causing the chest of gold instantly disappeared.

“I will immediately send the orders. Quickly, prepare the fastest horse for Xun Young Master!” The castle lord loudly exclaimed.