"Release me, and I can give you unparalleled power. I am a Quasi-God, just one step away from becoming an Ascender. If it weren't for the unique environment of the 'Promotion Ceremony,' no one could stop me, not even all the Secret Keepers in the city."
"Heh, can that keep me alive until next year?"
What about power? Can it be eaten? Don't always think about fighting and killing; this is a civilized and harmonious society.
"....I can give you the wealth I've accumulated over a thousand years and make your life as luxurious as that of an emperor."
"Haha, can that keep me alive until next year?"
It's attractive to enjoy life and then die, but that's about it. I'm just an ordinary otaku - how many coins does it take to play games and watch cartoons? Can having a bunch of maids dress up like sisters and play games with me make it better?...Well, it seems like it's indeed worth a try. Can I owe you and pay half a year later?"
"....I can teach you a love spell that will enchant women and give you the lover of your dreams. No, I can directly enhance your charisma, making it impossible for mortal women to resist your charm!"
"Tsk, tsk, can that keep me alive past next year?"
Ha, girls in the three-dimensional world? Not interested... It's definitely not because I don't want to drag others down.
".....Lu Ping'an, stop with the half-year talk! I'll honestly tell you that the 'Life Countdown' is the price you pay for your Abnormal Ability, a curse you cast on yourself. No one can save you, not even the great Mother of Life. Choose a different condition – money, women, power, anything – just let me go. Otherwise, in half a year, when you die, I'll break free. You, as a mortal, must have people you care about – family, friends..."
"Tsk, tsk, can that keep you alive until next year?"
Thank you for the reminder! I almost forgot.
"What do you mean 'you'? Do you plan to take me with you when you die?! We have no grudges or grievances..."
As she spoke, Chris' voice grew smaller and smaller. In her confusion, it might have been true that they had no grudges or grievances, but with her threats, wouldn't the enmity only grow?
"Stop making noise! You're disturbing my gaming!"
At this moment, Lu Ping'an was lying in his small room with the door locked. His computer was downloading like crazy, and his TV was also playing games.
He was extremely busy – on one side, the game console and half a year's worth of new games; on another, classic anime and accumulated new episodes; and on yet another side, delicious food he had longed to eat but didn't dare to.
The floor was already covered with empty cans from the "King of Impurity" soda. With a fried chicken leg in one hand and ice cream in the other, his chin covered with grease, he would occasionally utter "delicious."
How would a person who may die in half a year treat life?
He would face the cruel fate with a smile, seize every second to create a brilliant life, or...
"I give up, resign myself, can't keep up! If everything's going to be over in half a year anyway, why not live a more relaxed life in the time that's left."
Perhaps some heroes might still shine brilliantly despite facing death tomorrow, but clearly, Lu Ping'an is just an ordinary person.
Personality and enlightenment are shaped by experiences and memories. In his previous life, Lu Ping'an was just a mortal – a salted fish that tried to jump but couldn't escape the pond.
"This Abnormal Ability is awesome. Even though it can't save my life, it temporarily relieves me from the pain and lets me enjoy life."
"Haha, I'm not giving up, I'm sitting here and racking up experience points! How could I call it giving up? I'm just hanging around and accumulating experience."
So, Salted Fish Lu happily settled down to enjoy the remaining time.
"So refreshing, ice-cold cola is so refreshing, wuwuwu, haven't touched it in half a year... By the way, Chris, there is something I need your help with."
Suddenly, Lu Ping'an stopped and hesitated for a moment before asking.
"Mortal, what is your desire? Power, wealth, I can give it all..."
Chris was immediately overjoyed. This was her first time being "summoned" by her "master" - did she still have a chance?
".... Speaking of which, it's kind of embarrassing. I do have a need."
"Hehe, did you change your mind after all? I've seen human greed and desires countless times. This is human nature and the foundation of civilized progress. Tell me, aside from the 'half-year' issue, I can fulfill your every wish!"
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping'an breathed a sigh of relief. Having a "pocket grandfather" willing to negotiate was indeed nice. He wondered if the other protagonist transmigrators encountered the same predicament as himself.
"Great, my desire is quite simple, though perhaps a bit embarrassing."
"Haha, I have seen all kinds of ugly human desires. You have seen my ceremonies and my Secret Realms, right? Behind the glorious human skin, lies the demons, ghosts, and monsters that are my greatest pleasure. Come on, let me see just how ugly and dirty your desires are deep within your heart! Human beings, they are a treasure chest filled with desires and greed. Let me see what kind of ugly and dirty desires you conceal beneath your mortal exterior..."
Lu Ping'an took a deep breath, realizing this should not be let loose to harm others. He made sure to remember to take her with him when leaving, but now, indeed, he needed her help to satisfy his growing need...
"...Um, I want to read some doujinshi. Can you leave for a moment?"
"What? Doujinshi? What's that?"
Chris looked utterly baffled - was this some kind of new mystery or fable?
"It's a treasure of mankind, the tenth art of the new era, a crystallization of love and beauty created by artists at the risk of imprisonment... Alright, I can't make up more. I'll just show you."
With that, Lu Ping'an opened the computer screen, clicked on the downloading folder, and opened one subfolder after another...
"......Human! %...&%*, you're messing with me,...."
A flood of angry emotions and chaotic characters filled his mind, and Lu Ping'an used his "master" authority to block it. Then he really opened a .jpg file, and after some time, the connection was quiet as if it were a calm sea - the other party had already hung up.
"Tsk, finally quieted down, going on about mortals and such, their desire for life, and still in the throes of 'adolescent syndrome.' The most annoying thing is this forced binding. There's no moment of peace all day long..."
From a certain point of view, Chris-chan's life has already ended. As her Ascension Ceremony failed, she lost everything to a headwind.
However, since Lu Ping'an inherited her "world," the Secret Realm, which was supposed to collapse due to losing its source, was stabilized by preserving her soul as a spirit stabilizer. She became a spiritual possession for Lu Ping'an... his personal grandfather.
It's just that the advice from this "portable grandfather" is clearly not well-intentioned.
"... Go to hold a sacrifice ceremony, gather thousands of sacrificial items, and make the Mother Goddess happy enough to grant me more life... As if I'm an idiot. And she claims she's lived for hundreds of years, always just sleeping?"
Now, Lu Ping'an and Chris's relationship is very delicate, in a certain sense, it can be described as "living and dying together."
If Lu Ping'an reveals the existence of Chris to the outside world, he is sure to die, and she will follow suit – that kind of "living."
And if Lu Ping'an is sure he cannot live, he will definitely take Chris-chan with him in that sort of "dying."
However, from another perspective, she has completely bound herself to Lu Ping'an, separated from the outside world, and cannot leave the "courtyard." She has become the only existence that Lu Ping'an can expose all the truth and ask for opinions.
"Blood Sacrifice, Magic Potion, Taboo Items, Xia Qin's information is accurate; Chris really is a cult leader."
But now, Chris's advice is either to have Lu Ping'an killed or make him an enemy of humanity, so none of it can be trusted.
The more she tempts him, the more wary he becomes.
"Indeed, I need to simmer this 'eagle' for a while... I'll have to do it myself for now. Her advice cannot be trusted at this point."
Lu Ping'an is a newcomer who's just stepped into the Extraordinary World, and he lacks the "common sense" of a traveler from another world; he needs a guide.
Advance step by step according to the arrangement of Sister Xia? It's too slow, he doesn't have that time.
Having such a Quasi-God-level "grandfather" to guide him and help him cheat would make Lu Ping'an feel that his chances of survival are somewhat higher.
But now, both master and servant are in a "break-in period" – it's the kind where they both try to wear each other down to nothing...
During this period, Lu Ping'an doesn't want to expose too many of his needs. He wants to torment her and "boil her" so that it will be more convenient for them to get along long-term.
How can a Quasi-God look up to a mortal? She needs some time to adapt to this reversal of the master-servant relationship.
Humiliation, manipulation, teasing – this is the "feast" that Lu Ping'an has prepared for her, which will help her quickly understand her current position and who is in charge. It will also help her vent her inner frustrations and discomforts. Eventually, she'll regain her senses after her rage, perhaps even more explosively.
"She's not stupid; she should know better after a few more torments... It depends on when she really calms down; that's when we can start communicating."
Lu Ping'an puts away his game console and takes out his books from the side, getting ready for today's homework.
He's pretending, but not entirely. There are things that he really wants to play with and eat, and some are just for Chris-chan, who's actively contacting him.
Having nothing to ask for and not caring puts Lu Ping'an in a stronger bargaining position during negotiations.
Take this, for instance: she's even starting to offer him terms. She's getting impatient!
"Although the time is pressing, you can't rush to boil the eagle. I'll tease her for a month or two before making a move. It's kind of fun to watch her get angry but unable to bite me."
Xia Qin and the relevant departments have demanding requirements for Lu Ping'an – to "grow and progress in an orderly and proactive manner under the supervision of official organizations."
However, Lu Ping'an is not in the habit of entrusting his future to fate and others.
"... Among the six top 'Night Watchman Training Schools' in the city, only one is public. With my current level, it's basically impossible for me to be admitted."
If he can't get into an "officially-appointed institution" and gain more autonomy, it's not just a matter of waiting another half year.
Now, Lu Ping'an's actions are limited; he has to report even when he goes grocery shopping. With limited time and an urgent need to go out and have fun... find a way to survive, to Lu Ping'an, it's a matter of life and death.
Once again, opening the professional materials and textbooks Xia Qin provided, Lu Ping'an knew he wouldn't be able to do it through normal channels.
"The Essence of Three-Year College Entrance Examination, Five-Year Mock Exam, and Ten-Year Secret Keeper Professional Exam Questions."
It's not clickbait. When he opened the booklet, it was filled with text and illustrations, and it really was an entrance exam question.
A bag full of exam papers, piled up to the thickness of six dictionaries, and it's just a high school freshman's monthly mock exam.
"Runner? Watcher? Beast Tamer? Don't just focus on the hot professions; the perfect fit for you is the best! How to choose the best starting point for yourself from among fifty-three common paths, based on your awakened Abnormal Ability!"
Ha, fifty-three paths? That's at least a thousand Abnormal Abilities and Professional Skills to memorize, which is not something that can be done in a short time. It requires understanding and experience in various actual combat situations, and it's best to have professional instructors to explain it.
"Secret Realm Survival Rules (Newbie Edition): If you can manage to survive until the awakening of your Abnormal Ability, you win."
That's no use to me! Sir, I've already awakened! What? You want me to enter your exam questions too, and you're especially difficult, requiring answer application questions and scenario writing? %#&...%!
These books that should be classified as fantasy have book numbers and covers, and they're clearly from a regular publisher. They are even textbooks for the Special College Entrance Examination.
As a time-traveler, Lu Ping'an is completely incapable of following the basic theories, and even some of his "common sense" doesn't pass muster. And other candidates have at least been preparing for half a year, and there's only...
"Fifteen days left. If I just flip through the books, it won't be enough... I'll have to find some new chives, preferably mature chives that can move on their own."