Watching the main character from a certain country in the far east, Niu Chang felt helpless from the other side of the screen.
"How can you call yourself a man if you let any woman trample on your head?"
Having witnessed the main character being endlessly stepped on and beaten up for foolish reasons by a mentally unstable short-tempered individual with anger management issues, Niu Chang reached his limit. It wasn't that he couldn't stop watching, but rather that no matter which show he watched, he found no difference at all.
"Does the creator of this show possess any common sense? I understand it falls under the comedy genre, but when it lacks any jokes or funny elements and instead focuses solely on showcasing pure violence, it becomes unbearable."
Sighing, Niu Chang refrained from delving into the topic of main characters being reincarnated in different worlds.
. . .
Watching the fuming Qin Qing, Niu Chang displayed a rare kind smile that he had kept hidden during his three years in the village. He only dared to reveal such an expression due to his confidence in his system.
In this world, kindness was only meant to be exploited by strong and cunning individuals.
Even though Niu Chang could easily silence this short-tempered girl with just one hand, he realized that encountering this minor conflict was invaluable in his seemingly long and tumultuous journey filled with blood and tears.
Compared to the challenges he had faced, confronting this infuriated girl felt like a gentle breeze under a tree on a hot day.
As the little boy spoke to her with an innocent and smiling face, Qin Qing's last ounce of reason snapped. She was so enraged that all she could do was glare at him with deadly intent and breathe heavily like an enraged bull. But just as she was about to gather her thoughts and respond, Niu Chang once again cut her off.
[Ding.]
[Detected that the host has established karma with Qin Qing.]
[Option 1: Karmic retribution.]
[Option 2: Resolve the karma by yourself.]
Niu Chang glanced briefly at his system, but he decided to ignore it for the time being. It was a rare opportunity for him to test the system, as handling the angry Qin Qing seemed like an easy task.
'What will happen if I don't choose any options? Is there a time limit?' he pondered.
"No need to be angry," Niu Chang's voice remained calm, carrying a refreshing feeling like a gentle breeze.
He also projected a kind and compassionate image, treating all living beings with endless love.
Niu Chang observed the contorted expression on Qin Qing's face, from fiery red with anger to erupting frustration, and finally the classic signs of physical aggression.
Qin Qing raised her hand, intending to harm Niu Chang.
Sitting in his chair without moving his body, Niu Chang fixed his gaze upon Qin Qing's eyes.
She grabbed both of Niu Chang's shoulders, starting with a firm grip and then slowly loosening her hold.
The unwavering gaze on Niu Chang's face stirred emotions in Qin Qing's mind, a mix of burning anger and confusion.
Niu Chang blinked slowly and then asked, "Have you calmed down?"
For a moment, the grip on his shoulders tightened, but it quickly weakened.
With a perplexed expression, Qin Qing was at a loss as to what she wanted to do. Her thoughts were clouded, and she felt an urge deep within her heart to strike the boy in front of her.
Sensing the brewing emotions in Qin Qing's eyes once again, Niu Chang felt a sense of strangeness. He could clearly perceive that this short-tempered girl had just calmed down, but for no apparent reason, she became angry again.
'Is she one of those unreasonable types? Are their minds filled with water instead of functioning brain cells?' Niu Chang wondered.
Anticipating that the situation might escalate into violence, Niu Chang made the decision to stand up, asserting his pride as a man, and a proud one at that.
With his small hand, he firmly grasped Qin Qing's hands.
This small action served as the final catalyst for Qin Qing's confused mind.
However, as she attempted to move her hands, she found herself unable to do so. A strong force kept her hands immobilized.
Gnashing her teeth, she angrily roared, "What are you doing?! Let go of me!"
Thanks to the enhancement from the first level of the Impossible Idea, Niu Chang's petite frame was more than capable of overpowering any ordinary person, let alone the short-tempered Qin Qing.
"Let! Go! Of! My! Hands!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Niu Chang closely observed this mentally unstable girl. She resembled a beast taking on human form, or perhaps more accurately, a volcano assuming human shape.
The surging emotions were like a scorching wind blowing against Niu Chang's face.
The thought of releasing Qin Qing's hands flashed through Niu Chang's mind. Not only that, but also the desire to stand up and slap some sense back into Qin Qing's head.
However, he chose to resist the urge for violence, recognizing that he still needed to live in this place. Finding another place to live was merely a matter of time, but lazy as he was, Niu Chang opted to stay where he was.
His mind stirred, and he felt a sense of seeking refuge under the shelter of a towering verdant tree.
Verdant Tree Under the Bright Sky.
Although Niu Chang had initially developed this cultivation technique for the sake of acquiring a proficient movement technique, he soon discovered that it offered much more than he had anticipated.
The solitary towering verdant tree stood amidst the open field, providing shelter and a refreshing breeze beneath the bright and scorching sky for weary travelers.
The dim white Transformation Energy qi slowly circulated within Niu Chang's body, guided by the sensations in his heart rather than a proper qi circulation method.
As his qi transformed into a vibrant green hue, a gentle breeze emanated from Niu Chang's being. This was primarily due to his limited proficiency in qi control overall, and even more so when it came to advanced techniques like the Verdant Tree Under the Bright Sky.
Deliberately directing this refreshing gust of green air towards the hands he held, Niu Chang conducted an experiment of sorts.
Instead of attempting to calm down the enraged girl, he chose to treat her as a subject of study, using her as an opportunity to delve deeper into the realm of qi and the Verdant Tree Under the Bright Sky.
Thanks to the direct contact between their skin, it became easier to transfer the verdant green qi to Qin Qing.
Watching Qin Qing's facial expression closely, Niu Chang continuously infused his verdant green qi, carrying the sensation of a refreshing breeze.
Qin Qing tried her best to struggle and free herself, but suddenly she became calmer, as if a bucket of ice had been dropped on her head.
She felt a sense of mellowness and refreshment, although the quantity and quality of this feeling were so small that she could only be distracted by it.
Feeling the emptiness of qi inside his body, Niu Chang shook his head. His level of qi cultivation was too low.
But then, he suddenly noticed the tense hands he was holding becoming relaxed. Raising his head to look at Qin Qing, he was surprised.
"What... what did you do?" Qin Qing asked bluntly, with a slight tremble in her voice.
Niu Chang cast a peripheral glance at the fading system. Since he and Qin Qing no longer had any karmic entanglement, the system naturally followed suit.
Qin Qing had regained her human intelligence, but she was hesitant and slightly afraid of the small boy in front of her.
Niu Chang released her hands and let them go, watching as Qin Qing slowly walked away from him.
'Damn. Now you're playing the victim with me?' Niu Chang felt amused in his heart. This turn of events was even beyond his expectations.
He had thought Qin Qing would try to justify her anger, but seeing the weak and small girl retreating from him, Niu Chang was confident that this short girl truly had a severe mental disorder.
"Are you calmer now?" Niu Chang asked softly, a small kind smile hanging on his face. However, he received no response from Qin Qing. She was still wary of him and uncertain about what had just happened.
Feeling too tired to play along with this drama, Niu Chang shifted his focus and enjoyed his unfinished meal.
On the other side, Qin Qing was questioning her own mind. "What just happened?"
She tried her best to recall how things had escalated to this point, starting from the moment she opened the door.
She remembered her past self gradually accumulating an erupting power of anger inside her head and heart. Then, upon seeing that the food Niu Chang had cooked was cleaner than the food she had prepared, she snapped and could no longer remember what happened afterward.
Only a small episode lingered in her mind—it was when she grabbed Niu Chang's shoulder—but then her memory became blurred once again.
"Then, did I get angry because he made food that was better than mine?" Qin Qing asked herself. The more she thought about this question, the more ashamed she felt.
'Did I lose control simply because he cooked better rice than I did? Not because he cooked without my permission?'
Her face turned red once again, but for a different reason. She tried to hide her ashamed face.
Unable to remain where she was, Qin Qing ran away from Niu Chang.
Watching the weak and short figure running away from him, Niu Chang's mind filled with countless question marks.
'What a strange girl,' Niu Chang shook his head and continued chewing his food. 'If she's willing to be treated, then I'll help her with that anger management problem. A few slaps to her head should fix the irregular gears inside her mind.'
Leaving the house, Niu Chang stretched his body.
The reason Niu Chang returned to his starting village was to revisit the missed opportunities he had rejected due to their ridiculous requirements.
The sick parents, the old beggar, the unconscious beauty, the harsh winter, the failed crops, the mysterious disappearances, and finally, the missing sister.
The last one had already been resolved, and the reward was a large sack of money and other items. There was also the teenage girl whose name Niu Chang had forgotten to ask.
With his goal in mind, Niu Chang set out to find villagers who were familiar to him.
As he walked around the village, inquiring about the esteemed guests and events from previous years, he didn't attract much attention.
Niu Chang easily gathered all the necessary information and continued walking towards his favorite spot in the village.
It was on the edge of the village, an old tree with medium height and sturdy branches. Niu Chang effortlessly climbed the tree and settled on a branch.
From up there, he had a broader view, but that wasn't his main focus. What he enjoyed the most was the simplicity of the village—the impoverished and dilapidated houses, the frail and unattractive villagers. The fleeting feeling of insignificance and worthlessness was what Niu Chang relished.
Only when he was at the bottom could he truly appreciate what he had. Looking at those in the same circumstances as him who had given up and lacked the courage to embrace hope, complex emotions brewed in Niu Chang's heart. However, he couldn't sort them out and could only focus on two prominent emotions.
'How can you live in such a village? You're so stupid and useless. How can you raise your child in this place? Where is your dignity as a human being?'
'Are you like cattle? Born in a small shed, unaware of what lies beyond? Following the teachings of older cattle to become another one?'
'Hahaha..'