[CONGRATULATIONS
YOU HAVE REACH A MAJOR PLOT POINT!
MISSION: SURVIVE.
Survival of each character is a priority. The loss of life for the administrator as well as the other character, the main characters is consider an immediate and instant failure ]
Sharp claws attack Wu Haoyu in a deadly speed, "Ah Shoot!" His sword was drawn in a millisecond. The animal was in a shape of a tiger, but humongous and nightmarishly ugly and blood-thirst, some part of its skin rotted and smell. It's fast, he had a hard time tracking it. Its sharp claw is eager to tear his flesh apart. He made a tactical strike to the back and it thrust through its heart. He breaths heavily. He got so occupied with just one beast, the implication of it makes him curse in his chest. That is they might not have the strength to fight off each one of it.
Major plot points just give him more things to stress on. The condescending tone or more accurately, total tone deaf. What is there to congratulate that he reach the a milestone closer to his death and potential failure.
"Stay with me! Don't give in just yet!" Zhang Cheng call snap him awake.
"I don't know, captain! We might not survive this!" Jiang Yuze smile anxiously, his brows lowered from fear and doubt.
"If I die today...." Meng Yao hide behind Jiang Yuze, both of them were wounded.
"Nope, we probably gonne die here together buddy."
"Hahaha, it's kinda comforting!-- Ahh dog that was close! Thanks, Wu Haoyu!"
"No! No one is dying today! Don't you realize what your life worth is!?"
Zhang Cheng that became the target is injured. He holds the goblet in his hands and the villain knows it. The villain appears is one he could recognize, the one appear only add up the blood spilled on the ground. He does not need to take action himself because he knew it would end the fighting in a matter of second, he only needs his pet to do the deed. One of the demons general, a spirit beast cultivator with each under his command are ruthless bloodthirsty creatures and with immense power. Villain like them never lack power.
Wu Haoyu wants to help Zhang Cheng, he is practically being bullied by the villain (name idk what lets be honest the author can't name shit for the life of it). But it will create confusion and out of character action. He must focus on a priority, that is his mission; not to die. Zhang Cheng for sure is the last to die, he can handle himself.
Even an optimist can see the situation does not favor them at all. The villain monologue something about "yall gonna die" or something, Wu Haoyu confuses and fuses in modern shorten slang, just proves how much this situation is out of his depth. His heart races and coldness spreads to his hands and entire body.
Wu Haoyu open the Cheat Shop. He still has a plan B to resort to—using the 50% discount from Neo.
"Ahhh!" A loud scream interrupted him, it was a familiar voice. Suddenly all of the animals stop attacking and retreating to the man, the villain.
Meng Yao got held captive, lock his arm around her neck barely leaving a room for her to breath, she look pale and out of oxygen. "Give me what I want and I'll let her go." The villain held his sword dangerously close to her neck.
"Hey!" Jiang Yuze shouted. He was gravely injured and lost the strenght on his knees to stand up.
"Jiang Yuze, are you ok?" Wu Haoyu quickly come to him. With closer inspection, it was obvious by glance by the colour and smell the wound on his shoulder is also poisoned. He bite his lip. Like it wasn't bad enough. Jiang Yuze was gasping heavily, he do the work of warping his injuries, but one hand work never look pretty. The fact he does it quick speaks loudly how skilled he is.
"Let's not use low trick and let's fight. Do you not have confidence in your skill to use your minion to fight us instead?! You demonic cultivator is always the same dirty trickster with no talent to show!" Zhang Cheng exclaimed. Provaking the villain to force them to fight is a tactic that usually work. But this villain has no shame to admit himself.
"Yes! I do like using dirty tricks to beat everyone in my path! That's how I got my place in the demonic general after all!" He laughs, Meng Yao face is turning blue. "Your friend is dying. Why don't you hurry?"
SHIT.
[Open Cheat Shop]
[Increase in strength: -50
Increase in Intelligence: -50
Increase in stamina: -50
Qi potion: -40
Health potion: -30
Instant Skill:
Sword Copy: -100
Mask: -100
Sneaking: -100
Special:
Instant Ascension: -1000
Teleportation: -1000
Replication: -1000]
[The currencies are by Villain Points. Warning, the system cannot issue a refund. Think wisely before making a decision]
"Something that could help up please!" Wu Haoyu whispered and plead. His finger scrolling swiftly across the screen.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" Wu Haoyu look at him.
"I can't let her die If I can prevent it. I'm going to give it to him." The goblet out of sight and none of them knew where he put it, but it is now on Zhang Cheng hand.
"What are you thinking! Absolutely no! Many lives will lost if you do that!--" A glint of light flashes to his eyes and a spark of inspiration come to his head. His tone shift dramatically. "Yes! Do that!" He sound encouraging.
"What? I thought you have an idea." Zhang Cheng sigh, his voice garve and sollem.
"Yes." He then whisper his plan to Zhang Cheng ear. Zhang Cheng was shock and frown, strongly diasgre with his plan.
"That's nonsense!" Zhang Cheng hissed.
"You have to trust me--"
"--No! I don't trust you as a matter of fact!"
Wu Haoyu has a feeling of deja vu, it's flusterating.
[ Don't want to bother you planning things up, but I think the Female Lead has about 10 secend before oxygen deprivation..]
Zhang Cheng can see it himself they don't have much time. He walks forward, but Wu Haoyu stops him. "Just once, please, trust me..." He beg. No matter how undignafied the act of begging to other is, he can't let the thing his father sacrificed his life for, fall into the hands of people who's going to release carnage and doom to the world using it.
[ Li Jie!] Clostine made her disaproval of it very clear. That's OOC, no doubt about it.
[OOC!]
[Point deducted: -100]
"Wu Haoyu..." Zhang Cheng took a moment and look at Wu Haoyu lowered back, for the first time ever the proud guy he known disappear, in front of him is a helpless and desperate man. He sighs. He turn away and face to the villain. "You won. Stop choking the girl. If she dies you will have nothing to bargain with us." The villain comply.
Zhang Cheng contemplating to himself, he is betting on a dangerous gamble. Wu Haoyu plan makes no absolute sense like a drunken man mumbling with no coherent goal and speaks like a dream. By any regard, Zhang Cheng own plan also depends too much on luck and had no real spine to the theory apart from his own speculation that if his beast likes pork meat-- which sound almost as bad as Wu Haoyu's plan... His pleading sounds too desperate and pitiful it thug on his heart. Wu Haoyu not by any means someone he loves, in quiet he hold respect to the guy. Crawling himself to victory mind less of his injuries and held no grudge against his opponent that takes advantage of it. It was noble victory.
He gives the Key to him. And on cue, the bargaining begins. The villain releases the girl as Wu Haoyu slowly brings the Key on his embrace. As Meng Yao within reach, he take her wrist and twist his body to throw her to Zhang Cheng.
"Now!" He yelled.
Zhang Cheng unsheathed his sword (search the name of his sword later), the tale of the demon lord's sword that can cut through the heaven is not an exaggerated. Zhang Cheng take a deep breath and thrust the sword into the ground. The blunt force and concentrated power created a gap on the ground, cracking and opening to a size the drying tree fell into. Though scene inside and bellow was not just soil and dirt, but it was scene of another realm. Reeks death and soul colored in shades of dark crimson.
The realm of the below. The Underworld
Wu Haoyu throw the Key into the crack leading to the underworld.
And the villain's smile. They soon retreated their presence and disappear, having no reason to stay. A cackle echo from the forest, it was mocking and malice, laughing at a bunch of stupid youth.
It was silent, no one could open their mouth after the shock of Wu Haoyu impulsive act.
"Wu Haoyu! Why did you do that?!" Jiang Yuze screamed.
Rather replying to his question and give any expected reacted. His respond lack sanity. "Hahahaha!" Wu Haoyu laughs hysterically. The other was astonished and dumbfounded, a disappointed and angered look flashes across their face.
Meng Yao was fast, the sound of her loud slap echos. "YOU ARE SUCH AN ASSHOLE!" The first of wrath and anger out of the depths of her soul was let out from her wrist and throw across Wu Haoyu's face. "I tried my best to be patient with you but I can't understand you! Why?! After all the hard-work we put getting the Key– you throw it in to the realm of their home?!"
"Funny." Wu Haoyu reply with a condescending word and a half-raise smile.
It enraged her even more. This is her fault. She didn't do the best of her ability to not put herself in this position. The sharp curve of his mouth mock of her weakness and shameful existence, it was her fault to begin with- "SHUT UP!"
Jiang Yuze despite the pain from his injuries, come to his feet and hold the distraught girl from breaking down from the emotional weight. "It's ok, Ah Meng... It's just one. They have not got the other yet!" He tries too hard being optimistic, it's clear he doesn't believe his own word. Meng Yao wasn't listening. Her glare was bloodshot at Wu Haoyu.
[ Villain Point: +1000]
[ High unstable and distortion of emotion from the Main Characters- Special requirements met! ]
"I'll kill you!" She push him to the back.
The goblet drop from his sleeve.
"What..." She was stunned, her whole body lost its ability to move. Realization slowly creep up to her head.
Zhang Cheng pick the goblet from the ground, "It's the Key." His lips parted in shock at the last sentence.
"So.. Did we imagine something drop in there or..." Jiang Yuze was just as confused as the rest.
"Yeah I happen to be good at replicate the shape of things." Wu Haoyu blandly lied. It's unsaid if any of them believe him. But it didn't matter.
Meng Yao turn to Wu Haoyu, now ridden with guilt expression. "Oh, Wu Haoyu... I-I didn't– I don't know you were.."
Wu Haoyu scoffed with a mocking smile on his lips, "Save it. It was truly funny looking at your ugly shocked and angry face, it was pathetic really." He touch the redness on his cheeks it was burning, Meng Yao saw it and feel guilty, it was not his intention though. But she knows it herself because she slap him with all the forces she could muster of course it hurts.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hit you!" She screamed.
[ Villain Point: +100]
The villain point chatter to the emotion of anger, that's how he usually got it. But it was the first time he received a villain point from other emotion than anger, sadness. Or he thought it was the first time. He think back again and remember yesterday, he said to Zhang Cheng he didn't trust him. He weren't actually angry was he, it was sadness. Don't know why it took him this long to realize it.
"No, you do meant it. There's no denying it. But who to say you're wrong? I do enjoy toying with everyone's emotions!" Being sarcastic about it doesn't seem to make anyone feel good about it.
1000 plus 100 points is a lot. He couldn't feel any more happier. "There's no need to feel sorry about a small gentle touch from your beautiful hand. It's my honor to receive it." He gently pulled her hand and land a kiss. She swiftly pulled her hand away. It surprised him a little, he had a slight panic that maybe he crossed the line. He never one to crossed the boundaries of peoples, especially girls.
She hesitated to open her mouth and her bottom lips quiver slightly. She smiles, "Thanks..." Emotion of dread that she had long held after she made a mistake, fleas as she smile at him.
"Wu Haoyu," It was Zhang Cheng, his lips curve in a smile. It was jarring and ill at ease by how it was never an expression the boy ever gave to him. "Thank you also, for not making me regret my decision."
It was a jab and pointing at how ridiculous his word was. 'Give me the goblet and open the portal to the underworld!' A sane person would never say that. And Zhang Cheng is crazier to enable his ludicrous plan, like going through a thin brigde with his eyes blinded and walking follow Wu Haoyu voice.
"Did I scared you? Being scared doesn't suit you. So lets head out! I'm tired of camping outside like I'm in a school field trip. I wan't to see my bed." Wu Haoyu whine.
They did as that and arrive at Wu Haoyu residense, he never did invite them inside but it sorta implied. The three learned fast to read between the lines and that Wu Haoyu fond to leave things shown and not said. The door left unclose and the servant behind him and left to prepares the guest, ready to have them seated and wait to enjoy their meal.
Wu Haoyu sleeps in his bedroom and Bao Lin helps him comb his hair. Bao Lin saw the redness on his beloved master's left cheek and ask about it.
Wu Haoyu only chuckle, it rang hallow. If he aren't mistaken, there's a slight guilt under his mask epression. "I made a girl cry today. It was a sight to see..." He honestly didn't quiet remember if she did cry, but by how broken and distraught she was, it didn't matter.
There's only one girl that came with them, it was a beautiful miss with a kind almond shape eyes and humble village hanfu, appear like a normal town girl. She doesn't speak to Bao Lin as a malicious person, thought a bit too unmask and positive for her own good. "Have you apolagize? That's what you do if you did something wrong. Only that way one can let go and be at piece."
Wu Haoyu shakes his head, "I can't. That might be the only luxury I can't aclaimed with any wealth and power in the world."
Again. Bao Lin can't understand what his master means. It was beyond his comprihension. Sometimes, Wu Haoyu act as if there's a string that tie around his neck, hands and feets. As his closet companion and personal servant, Bao Lin desperately wanted to understand it and know him even better. But he's not stupid to try. Knowing Wu Haoyu would never will do. "I see," His hand stop maneuvering his master's hair. It was neatly tied to his back and down to his waist. "Is there anything you want me to help?"
"Not really, you can sleep now."
"So sure? I'm happy to accompany--" His word were cut.
Wu Haoyu was embarrassed by the thought, his hand up to stop the other from continuing his sentence. "Stop asking that, please."
"Anything for you, Young Master." Bao Lin smile.
Ok the book.
He has unfinished business.
Bao Lin left. Clostine appear in her bird form and hang on Wu Haoyu's shoulder, unaware of the inner tormoil going on inside his head. Over the years, Wu Haoyu found comfort the fact he has the book and unconsciously was reliant on that, as stupid as that sound. The book on hand, it was grasp close in his palm and with white side of the paper facing his face. He doesn't have to open it to know he's not wrong, he had read it more times than he can count.
"Clostine," Wu Haoyu mouth the system name, almost in a hopeful tone.
[ Yes? What do you need?]
"Why did Neo lied to us?"
The question preplexed her. [ What makes you think of that stupid question? It only hurt your fragile human head]
Her phrasing makes Wu Haoyu took a minute to slightly cackled. "Not really. I have two lifetime of memories in this so called 'fragile' head." He said with sarcasm. "Give me a little credit wouldn't you."
[ Your last life was cut short, it barely count]
"..." It was brutal coming casually from Clostine, reason that she never sugarcoat and tell the unconcealed truth straightforward. "Wow, not cool."
[That came out wrong and meanspirited. It wasn't a calculated and deliberate sentence meant to target your emotional weakness] Somehow her voice sound quieter.
It surprised him a little by the system attempt at apolagizing. "...You're right tho. It was at a time of my life that I have control over my life and be independent. Prior before that, I study my life away. Get tunnel vision and had my eyes on for the scholarship validation ignoring and neglecting everything else like my friends and hobbies... Shit, it was my fault wasn't it?"
[ You were diligent, Li Jie]
"Nah, too late to reminisce on that." He realize it himself. "So. What do you think the problem is with the book?"
[ Unreliable narrative] It was a quick respond, swift to change the topic.
Wu Haoyu raised an eyebrow, "Really?"
Clostine notice that she might need to explained it more. [ Sometimes a book is crafted at a perspective of a person that you cannot fully trusted, they lied to the reader or incluced very biased perspective. To read this kind of book is to have high critical thinking]
"I should have take on literature."
[Too late to reminisce that. Your words] Li Jie find her words funny and chuckled. Clostine became... adapt to his amusement and the childlike joy in his laugh. She prefer it than his annoying sadness that keep haunting him.
[Though safe to say, there are a lot that left unsaid, that you, should keep your eyes open]
"Alright. I'll do my best."