Chapter 95 Extra: The Adventures of Shooting Up a Plane 6 (with Epilogue)
After the guards of the underground ice fortress were dismissed, there was not a single demon left. Mo Bei Jun must have thought that he had obediently "gone" and would not have expected that he would come back. Therefore, when Shang Qinghua returned to the corridor in front of the sleeping quarters, he was not discovered. He stopped there, swam up the huge pillar that took three people to encircle to the roof beam, and found a place where he would definitely not be seen and sat down.
However, while this position does prevent others from seeing you, you also can't see others!
Mo Beijun's cold voice rang out, as if he was still forcibly suppressing his anger.
He said, "What are you doing here?"
A strange young man's voice laughed, "My nephew has ascended the throne, I've come to ask for a cup of celebratory wine, is that not allowed?"
Mobei Jun did not answer, but snorted and after a long while said, "What kind of wedding wine is good to drink?"
Another voice said, "After these seven days, you will be the true Lord of the Northern Desert. Isn't that something to congratulate you on?"
Shang Qinghua knew who this was and which part of the original story had been disrupted and delayed until now.
This is terrible! Mobei Jun is in grave danger.
The uninvited guest who arrived was none other than Mobei-kun's uncle, Rinko-kun!
According to his established plan, upon the death of each monarch of the Mobei clan, 70% of their power would be passed on to the next successor. This moment was extremely crucial. In his original storyline, Lin Guangjun seized this critical juncture, launching a sneak attack on the last day when the Mobei monarch was in the crucial stage of digesting the power. Because the Mobei monarch was the originally legitimate first in line to the throne, Lin Guangjun was not qualified to inherit the power; forcibly taking it would be futile, as illegitimate was illegitimate, and the ancestors would not recognize it. However, if the Mobei monarch died after officially ascending the throne, he would be the sole inheritor of the Mobei bloodline, and at that time, the transfer of 70% of the power would be extremely smooth.
According to the original story, there should have been a "Brother Bing" (Ice Bro) pretending to be weak while secretly protecting the Mobei Clan, and then extorting money from them after the Mobei King ascended the throne. However, in this world, Brother Bing is shamelessly busy causing trouble for his master; how could he possibly have time to deal with this? The Mobei King brought back someone utterly useless—himself!
Shang Qinghua frantically scratched his head: "Your Majesty, you, you, you, why did you bring me back?! I'm useless, I can't lift a finger, how could I possibly protect you? For something this life-or-death, you should find a trusted confidant, the most powerful ally! Even if you can't tear Brother Bing off his master like a piece of chewing gum, at least borrow tens of thousands of Black Armored Generals from him! And if all else fails, don't come to me! Besides serving tea, doing laundry, and folding blankets, what other skills do I have that aren't amateurish?!"
Without the indestructible aura and immortality bestowed upon the male protagonist by himself, the fatal moment will arrive in seven days, and Mo Bei Jun...
Rinko-kun said, "On such an important day, why didn't you bring anyone?"
"..." Mo Beijun replied coldly, "I didn't bring it."
Rinko-kun chuckled, "You did bring it, didn't you? I saw it. When I came over, I happened to bump into someone walking out. Was that... the one who supposedly followed you, the Peak Master of Anding Peak? What did he do to you? You got beaten up like that. I heard rumors and thought your temper had improved."
For a long time, no one answered.
Rinko-kun chuckled again, "Uncle was just asking, why are you looking at me so unfriendly?"
Mobei Jun said bluntly, "I want you to leave."
"Your words are so hurtful. It's a pity that my clan has no rule that no one is allowed to watch the succession ceremony, is it? Besides, I am your father's younger brother. If it weren't for you, I would be the one standing here today waiting to inherit the throne."
Mobei-jun seemed to know he couldn't get rid of him, so he said no more. Linguang-jun, however, was smug and didn't know how to restrain himself: "Sigh, you've grown up and are going to be a lord now, things are really different. You were much cuter when you were little."
Hearing the familiar lines, Shang Qinghua wiped away a bead of sweat, feeling a slight shame that he had actually written such a shameless character. This uncle actually had the nerve to bring up his childhood.
Mo Bei Jun lost his mother at a young age, and his closest and dearest childhood friend was his uncle, who was not far from him in age. However, due to some messy affairs and emotional disputes among the brothers of the previous generation, Lin Guang Jun really couldn't like this nephew. One day, when the other demons weren't paying attention, he coaxed this obedient little nephew out of the gate and threw him into the human world, causing a group of cultivator thugs to chase after this clueless, panicked little demon who would trip and fall every few steps for several days.
At that time, Mo Bei Jun was probably only the age of a four-year-old human child. If his father hadn't suddenly remembered more than ten days later that his son hadn't been following his younger brother around and casually inquired about it, Mo Bei Jun might have been scared to death in the Illusion Flower Palace's water dungeon. To a demon of that age, a group of people circling around him and drinking at his mouth were nothing more than a bunch of savage monsters. Just imagine how a four-year-old human child would react if captured and imprisoned in a demon's lair.
The previous ruler of Mobei was as carefree as a basin, the kind of basin from the Sichuan Basin. Anyway, his son was eventually rescued and survived without serious injury, so he didn't pay much attention to him. He said a few words to his younger brother and then told them to continue to "get along well" in the future.
After being brought back disheveled, Mobei Jun never spoke to his once favorite uncle again. As he grew older, this worsened until he finally refused to speak to anyone and deeply resented all betrayal.
Shang Qinghua replayed the melodramatic and aloof young master's growth story he had fabricated in his mind, reflecting on his actions. Primarily, he questioned whether the demon race's cold and indifferent nature was too inhumane. Secondly, he reflected on why he hadn't added a clause stipulating that "no unauthorized persons, not even immediate family members, are allowed to attend the succession ceremony." As a result, during the period of mourning for the succession, the Northern Desert Lord was neither allowed to leave nor could he rightfully drive away the Ringuang Lord.
For seven days, Shang Qinghua reflected on his actions while remaining terrified, until the very last day arrived.
After seven days of ritual, as the moment arrived for Mobei Jun to formally inherit the power, he wisely delayed taking action. However, sooner or later, he would have to make a move.
Rinko-kun asked, "What? Why are you hesitating?"
Because you're standing here!!!
Rinko-kun said, "Could it be... you're afraid I'll ambush you? How could that be? I'm your uncle. Mobei, you'd better hurry, or you'll miss your chance. There's no chance to make amends, do I need to remind you?"
If he doesn't start immediately, his cultivation will naturally dissipate, equivalent to a huge inheritance being lost to the wind; if he starts immediately, Lin Guangjun, who is definitely not well-intentioned, is watching him like a hawk. Mo Beijun's current situation can be described as a dilemma.
Everything proceeded as in the original story, except that the invincible Ice Brother was missing, and the nonsensical Hua Di was added.
In the end, Mobei Jun let out a cold laugh.
Shang Qinghua gritted his teeth, risking being beheaded by the demon, and poked his head out. Almost the instant a ball of blue light flew out of the bedchamber and enveloped Mo Beijun, Lin Guangjun suddenly made his move!
Mo Bei Jun was prepared and freed one hand to receive the extremely insidious palm strike. However, being distracted, a wisp of demonic energy slipped into his palm. This wisp of demonic energy, not belonging to him, surged wildly within Mo Bei Jun's body. He dared not be careless and had to devote some of his attention to dealing with it. Lin Guang Jun realized he had succeeded in one fell swoop and was overjoyed, but before he could make any further moves, suddenly someone descended from the sky and jumped out!
Rinko-kun said coolly, "I was wondering why there were still guards here who hadn't been sent away. Didn't you leave seven days ago? What? You've come back to protect your master? I didn't realize you had such loyalty."
Shang Qinghua was fine when she couldn't see him, but her legs went even weaker when she did. Although Lin Guangjun was quite handsome, it was a kind of effeminate and sinister beauty. His peach blossom eyes were like poison needles, gleaming with a cold light. When he smiled, he slightly revealed his teeth, which were gleaming white, making them perfect for biting raw meat!
Shang Qinghua stood before Mo Beijun with a stiff upper lip: "First, who said I came back to protect my master? Second, who told you he is my master?"
Rinko-kun: "Then what's the meaning of you blocking my way now?"
Shang Qinghua said firmly, "To kick someone when they're down!"
As he spouted nonsense, his hands trembled, and he pointed shakily at his own face: "Look at what he did to me. Your nephew has such a good temper!"
Mobei Jun coughed up blood behind him. He was definitely enraged by him.
Shang Qinghua sobbed, "Over the years, the ribs I've broken could fill another burial mound, and the blood I've coughed up could drown me. Loyalty? Who the hell could be loyal to this kind of person... this kind of demon? If Shang Qinghua could still swallow his anger and not retaliate after being treated like this, he would be unworthy of being the Peak Master of Anding Peak!"
As Shang Qinghua spoke, she didn't dare look back at Mo Beijun's expression. Her back was so cold it was almost covered in frost!
Lin Guangjun laughed and said, "Mo Bei, did you hear that? I really pity you. You're destined to be betrayed forever. How can you lead the Mo Bei clan like this? If you really succeed to the throne, with your constitution, wouldn't our clan be in danger of being overthrown at any time? You should listen to your uncle and leave all the important matters to me. You should go."
With his long-cherished wish about to come true, Rinko-kun, with a broad mind, generously asked him, "How do you plan to kick me when I'm down?"
With a chuckle, Shang Qinghua cast a fire spell and flicked it behind him.
Lin Guangjun felt a wave of heat wash over him, and red light danced wildly before his eyes. The Northern Ice Clan loathed fire, especially since this fire seemed to be no ordinary fire, but rather the result of a few Xuan Yang Fire Seeds that Shang Qinghua had shamelessly begged Shen Qingqiu to make for him. Lin Guangjun's loathing was mixed with a bit of fear, and he immediately retreated, covering his face, feeling slightly surprised.
He thought to himself, "I never would have guessed that the supposedly cowardly Peak Master of Anding Peak is such a ruthless character. I've heard that Mobei treated him quite well, but who would have thought that after years of lurking and biding his time, he would strike so viciously, intending to burn Mobei alive with his immortal flames. Even death wouldn't be this easy; this fire could probably turn him into ashes! If he had used that technique on me just now, I'd probably be in a sorry state too. I wonder if he still has a few of these powerful flames left. Regardless, this person must not be allowed to live."
But when he finished his calculations and stood up to take a look, he immediately flew into a rage.
Mo Bei Jun was not engulfed by the raging flames, but was instead enveloped in a cluster of fire. Shang Qinghua's spark had not struck him, but instead drew a large circle around him, about ten feet in diameter, with the surging and dancing Xuan Yang True Fire enveloping the two of them.
Realizing he had been tricked, Rinko's face immediately darkened.
Mo Bei Jun had been struck by a malevolent demonic energy from Ling Guang Jun, which was wreaking havoc throughout his body. He knelt on one knee, his face alternating between pale and ashen, unable to even glance at anyone else. Shang Qinghua frantically circled around him, unable to offer any help. Ling Guang Jun walked at a distance around the Xuan Yang Fire Circle, sneering as he went.
He said, "I misspoke earlier. You're not just loyal, you're absolutely devoted. You've come back to die for my worthless nephew! I just don't know how long your circle can last?"
These words struck a nerve with Shang Qinghua.
He threw out all the seeds of hope that Shen Qingqiu had given him at once, leaving nothing for the future. He squatted down next to Mo Beijun and prayed with a frenzy, "Oh my god, Your Majesty, did you hear that? He wants to kill me! Your uncle wants to kill me! Please digest this quickly, I really don't know how long this circle can last!"
Suddenly, a loud cracking sound rang out, and ice dust and frost fell from above.
Shang Qinghua, who was crouching unsteadily, swayed twice along with the leaping flames.
Rinko-kun withdrew one hand from a pillar and said, "You think I can't do anything to you if you don't come out?"
He wanted to collapse the ice fortress and either crush or bury Mobei Jun alive!
As deep cracks appeared on the ice pillar, and Lin Guangjun was about to strike with his second palm, Shang Qinghua hurriedly said, "Come out, come out, I'm coming out!"
Like a bitter, resentful frog jumping into a pot of boiling oil, he slowly hopped out of the circle.
Once you're out, there's no going back in. Rinko-kun moved like a ghost and grabbed him: "What's the use of you coming out? Put the fire out!"
Actually, he was also a little panicked. He wondered how long it would take for Mo Beijun to suppress that demonic energy. If he could finish his meditation and digest seventy percent of the body before the Xuan Yang Fire faded, wouldn't today's events have turned into a farce?
Shang Qinghua said, "I only know how to start a fire, not how to put it out."
Rinko-kun: "Then let him come out!"
Shang Qinghua: "Well... Your Majesty, look at him now, he can't move even if he wanted to get out."
Rinko sneered and placed his hand on Shang Qinghua's chest.
He said kindly, "Then tell me, if your heart is freezing, wouldn't he impulsively come out?"
Shang Qinghua: "If this kind of thing can be resolved by 'acting on impulse,' I suggest that Your Majesty try 'acting on impulse' yourself and see if you can break in..."
He couldn't say anything more.
Lin Guangjun hummed an ice spell softly, turning it into a cheerful yet malicious little tune, and said, "Mo Bei, Uncle is really surprised that you actually have a lackey who still refuses to betray you even in this situation. It would be such a pity to lose such a good dog, wouldn't it?"
Near the heart cavity, it was a world of ice and snow.
Shang Qinghua's lips turned purple as he raised his hand and said, "Your Majesty."
Rinko-kun: "Speak."
Shang Qinghua: "If you do this... freeze my heart, I... I can't make a sound. It won't sound pitiful enough, and it won't achieve your goal of making him act 'impulsively'. I suggest... you should just hit me. I promise I'll scream as loudly and pitifully as I can."
Rinko-kun: "Oh. But I have a heavy hand. What if I lose control and kill you?"
Shang Qinghua: "No, no, it's nothing, I can handle it. I'm used to it, I'm always getting pricked by your nephew's..."
Before he finished speaking, Shang Qinghua experienced firsthand just how "heavy" Rinko-kun's hand really was.
He didn't use any demonic energy, relying entirely on physical attacks. Shang Qinghua could clearly hear the sound of each of his ribs breaking, and the hissing sound of his chest leaking air after vomiting too much blood.
When his teeth started to loosen slightly, Shang Qinghua thought to himself, compared to his uncle and the other demons, Mo Bei Jun was so damn gentle and kind, he was practically a little angel.
The longer he delayed, the more impatient and enraged Rinko-kun became. He stepped firmly on Rinko's back, grabbed one of his arms, and sneered, "Didn't you promise to scream your heart out and scream your heart out? Why are you so tight-lipped? You haven't let out a single sound yet!"
This action brought Shang Qinghua some extremely bad associations. He hurriedly spat out the mouthful of hot blood he was holding and shouted very sincerely.
Rinko-kun said, "Hmm, not bad. Unfortunately, it's not miserable enough. I'll help you."
A terrifying, tearing pain shot through his shoulder, as if his muscles and bones were being ripped apart. Shang Qinghua opened his mouth, but overwhelmed by fear, he couldn't utter a sound.
But the pain didn't get out of control. Suddenly, the hand that had been pulled back fell limply to his sides.
A corner of his dark blue robe billowed in front of him, its hem covered in snow.
Mo Bei Jun unexpectedly leaped out of the fire circle and struck Lin Guang Jun in the chest with a palm!
Caught off guard, Ling Guangjun was struck squarely in the chest, half of his chest collapsing, and his demonic energy seemed to have been pierced through, gushing outwards. A chill ran through him: the power of this kid's attack was incomparable to his previous ones; he had finally managed to hold him back, completely absorbing the power passed down through generations of the Mobei Clan!
Moreover, it wasn't even afraid of the Xuan Yang True Fire, and it broke through directly!
Although he was filled with resentment and unwillingness, he was probably no match for Mo Bei Jun at the moment, so he could only hastily seal his wounds with ice, transform into a black wind, and rush out of the ice fortress.
Shang Qinghua lay face down on the ground, motionless for a long time, and no one came to help him up. He felt desolate: Is he still angry? He was beaten up like this because of him, and they won't even help him up. This is just too much!
But then a deep thud was heard.
Shang Qinghua struggled and grimaced as he rolled over.
Mobei Jun has fallen again. Two figures, in different postures, collapsed beside a blazing ring of fire, silently, silently, falling to the ground.
He suddenly realized that Mo Bei Jun probably hadn't completely absorbed 70% of the demonic energy, nor had he suppressed Ling Guang Jun's demonic aura. Just now, he had acted impulsively, putting up a desperate gamble, which had only temporarily scared away Ling Guang Jun. Now, Mo Bei Jun had exhausted his last bit of strength and had been scorched by the deadly Xuan Yang True Fire, so he... had collapsed again.
Although Mobei Jun was lying stiffly on the ground, unable to even bend his fingers, he was still glaring at him with all his might.
Unable to remain lying down comfortably any longer under his glare, Shang Qinghua had no choice but to speak up: "Well, Your Majesty, stop struggling. Lie down and digest this slowly. The accumulated power of successive lords is not something you can swallow whole in one gulp."
The gaze remained unabated, and Shang Qinghua felt as if he were being pricked by needles, his heart pounding with fear. He finally managed to catch his breath and sit up, his upper body trembling as if he had Parkinson's disease.
Now, Mobei Jun was finally able to listen to him properly. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Uh, Your Majesty. Actually, I didn't intend to leave at this time. I didn't know it was such a crucial moment in your ascension to the throne, really. Why didn't you tell me about something so important sooner?"
Mobei Jun was telling him with his expression, "Kneel down and cry and say I was wrong, and I'll forgive you."
Shang Qinghua's lips twitched, and he continued, "To be honest, you shouldn't have brought me along. I'm practically useless; I'm only good for getting beaten up by you occasionally. Look at me just now, I was beaten up like this, and I only bought you a little time. Your uncle was seriously injured by you, so he probably won't dare to come again. You've almost finished digesting, right? Well then, I'll... be going now."
Mo Beijun's expression had softened somewhat, but upon hearing the last sentence, his eyes immediately flashed with cold light: "Still trying to leave?! You dare!"
Having been yelled at again, Shang Qinghua was still in pain all over his body when he suddenly felt a surge of anger and immediately slammed his fist on the ground, shouting, "Why wouldn't you dare!"
This slap, of course, didn't frighten Mo Beijun; it only made his shoulder and arm ache, and he saw stars. Since Mo Beijun was now unable to move, Shang Qinghua, emboldened by his anger, pointed at him and said, "Let me tell you the truth! I've put up with you for a long time, you pampered young master, you ill-tempered second-generation demon!"
This move was utterly audacious. Mo Bei Jun was completely incredulous. Meanwhile, Shang Qinghua's years of pent-up resentment erupted like a raging torrent:
"You see how easy-going and easy-going I am, with such poor cultivation, you think you're having a good time manipulating me? You think your old man is really that... that... huh?!"
"What are you looking at? You have a problem with that?! I'm your dad! Call me dad! I'm only letting you have your way because I'm lenient with you! Try it with someone else! Brother Bing would beat you to death, and the original Shen Qingqiu would scheme against you to death!"
"Nobody likes getting beaten up every day, and nobody's actually happy about being beaten up every day! It's not like it's a dog! If you kick a dog a couple of times every day, it'll eventually learn not to bother you anymore!"
Mobei Jun asked, "Do you want to die?"
Under these circumstances, the intimidating power of those words diminished considerably. Shang Qinghua said, "I don't want to. Not only do I dare to leave, I dare to do other things too, believe it or not? Today, I, the peak master, will beat you back for all the times you beat me before!"
Shang Qinghua said, "What do you mean 'you dare'? It's 'you dare' again? Let me tell you, I really dare now. Come on!"
After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and, in front of Mo Beijun's livid face, eagerly prepared to punch him. Mo Beijun's eyes flashed with cold light, but Shang Qinghua was not afraid and threw a punch straight at his face.
Mobei Jun instinctively turned his face away, only to feel a sudden tightness on his skin.
It felt very unfamiliar. It was a little itchy and a little painful, but it was definitely not the heavy blow I had expected.
Shang Qinghua pinched one of his cheeks with two fingers and pulled it outwards forcefully, saying, "How does it feel? Does it hurt?!"
As he pulled, he thought, "This is totally different from what I wanted to do! Beat him up! Beat him while he can't move! Even if I just give him a dirty look, I'm still at a disadvantage!"
But there's nothing I can do... I just can't bring myself to punch that face!
Mobei Jun, his words slurred from being pulled, insisted, "You're finished!"
Shang Qinghua chuckled and said, "You've got guts. You can still threaten me in this situation. I admire you."
He joined in with his other hand, pinching Mo Beijun's other cheek, pulling it in opposite directions and squeezing it into a ball. Mo Beijun's usual noble and aloof image was utterly destroyed by his vile hands. Shang Qinghua kept repeating, "Doesn't it hurt? Does it hurt?"
Mo Bei Jun was proud and unyielding, but alas, tears are something that pride cannot stop; in the end, he was pulled to the point that tears welled up in his eyes.
"...It hurts? That's good!" Shang Qinghua released his grip and said, "When you hit me normally, it hurts at least ten times more than this! What's wrong with letting me pull on it? You're being delicate!"
Mobei Jun was so angry by his disdainful "spoiled!" that his face turned pale, and his cheeks were covered with a bunch of blue and red finger marks, which was really shocking.
To be fair, Shang Qinghua was indeed a coward. He felt a momentary thrill from his crime of passion, but afterwards he was terrified of being sent to the crematorium, especially after Mo Beijun's face returned to normal—his expression was just… just… It made him shudder. He quickly dusted off his clothes, preparing to leave. After taking a few quick steps, Mo Beijun shouted from behind, "If you want to stand still, then stand up straight!"
Reflexively, Shang Qinghua obeyed again.
He dared not turn back and said, "Your Majesty, I am truly leaving."
Mobei Jun: "Shut up! Come back!"
Shang Qinghua said to himself, "Even if you're angry, don't come looking for me. Once I go back, you'll never find me again, so don't waste your time. That's all, Your Majesty, goodbye."
Mobei Jun practically roared, "If you dare leave, don't let me see you again!"
Shang Qinghua turned a deaf ear.
At this moment, his jubilant and beaming expression was exactly the same as when he first wrote down the character's appearance.
I felt genuine emotions towards the characters I created. Looking back, it's quite embarrassing.
However, with parting imminent, the embarrassment only lasted for a short while.
Shang Qinghua just didn't understand, what happened to the "imminent farewell"?
Why is he still doing nothing in the world of Arrogant Immortal Demon Path even though it's been a month since the system released the return-to-city attachment?
Every time he opened the system, he would stare blankly at the red and green "Yes" and "We'll talk about it later" buttons for a while before selecting the right button to close the interface.
Next time, and then the next time, how many next times there are!
Shang Qinghua blamed this on procrastination. That dreaded procrastination!
He dared not return to Cangqiong Mountain for the time being, unsure if Mobei Jun would be so angry that he would ambush him on Anding Peak. Half of his savings were kept in a cave on Anding Peak, and the other half at Mobei Jun's residence in the Northern Frontier. Thus, for the past month, Shang Qinghua appeared to be living a carefree life, but in reality, he had been living frugally, enduring hardship and sleeping outdoors. If it weren't for his remaining spiritual power, he would be no different from an ordinary vagrant.
After wandering for nearly a month, he unexpectedly bumped into a master and apprentice who were traveling the world carefree.
When Shang Qinghua recognized who was who, he couldn't help but rub his eyes. It took him half a minute to confirm that the young man in plain clothes carrying a fishing rod and a fish basket, still exuding an air of nobility, was Luo Binghe; it took him another half a minute to confirm that the one carrying a food box to deliver his meal, still persistently showing off his ethereal aura, was Shen Qingqiu, the Immortal Master Shen.
You guys are having a blast here, indulging in your romantic retreats in the mountains, while leaving Mobei-jun stranded in the Demon Realm, forcing me to stand up for him. What a pain!
Despite his inner grumbling, Shang Qinghua was still quite happy to see the two people. Especially since he hadn't had a proper meal in so many days.
Stop complaining about why a cultivator like him cares about whether he's eaten enough; there's been enough complaining in the book review section. He's not from the Ascetic Peak, he doesn't do that kind of fasting stuff!
Having his idyllic rural life disturbed for no reason, Luo Binghe naturally wouldn't give him a friendly look. Although he wouldn't show it on his face out of respect for Shen Qingqiu, when Shen Qingqiu asked him to "come inside and sit down" after a few pleasantries, Binghe's face still darkened.
They built a small bamboo house amidst the beautiful scenery of clear water and green mountains. The longer Shang Qinghua sat there, the more he felt that the two of them were living a very comfortable life. Sitting in a rattan chair, he said, "The house is nice."
Shen Qingqiu waved his fan and said, "Don't you think about who built it? How could it be wrong?"
Shang Qinghua said with a shameless grin, "You guys are living much more comfortably than I am. I wonder if I could bask in your good fortune and enjoy a little bit of your leisure?"
Shen Qingqiu: "Unfortunately, you've come at the wrong time. We were just about to have dinner."
Shang Qinghua: "Not at all. It's better to arrive at the right time than early. I think I've arrived just in time. Let me see how the food is." After saying that, he got up and walked to the door that looked like a kitchen, and lifted the curtain.
Luo Binghe, dressed in a light black shirt with his sleeves rolled up high, was silently kneading dough with a grim expression.
His expression was serious and focused, with two white patches on his face and a little flour on his eyelashes, as if what he was kneading in his hands was not dough, but a scroll of grand plans to unify the world!
Shang Qinghua was heartbroken and nearly devastated.
He created the domineering protagonist, Brother Bing, who captivated countless philandering men.
He's kneading dough!
Let's make ramen!
Surface surface surface (infinite loop)...
It was truly indescribably terrifying!
Shang Qinghua silently retreated. He sat down at the table, reached out to grab a cup to drink some tea and calm his nerves, but Shen Qingqiu pulled it back: "Mine."
Shang Qinghua, still shaken, asked, "Do you have a second cup here? What's wrong with letting me use it?"
Shen Qingqiu pointed to the kitchen: "You know there's no second cup, so it's his too."
"..."
"You dare to use it? If you dare, I'll give it to you."
Shang Qinghua's hand changed from pulling to pushing: "You should use it yourself, I'm not worthy of it."
Bing Ge continued cooking. The two chatted idly for a while. After listening to the broadcast of the sudden incident at the Mobei Ice Fortress, Shen Qingqiu expressed doubt: "Really? That's all?"
Shang Qinghua said, "What good would it do me to lie to you about something like this? What do you mean by 'just like this'? This concerns my dignity, of course I can't stay here any longer."
“That’s true,” Shen Qingqiu thought for a moment and said, “but you don’t seem like that kind of person.”
"What kind of person?"
Shen Qingqiu said gently, "Someone who cares so much about dignity."
With his unwavering will, thick skin, and tenacious vitality, Xiang Tian doesn't seem like someone who would just run away after being beaten up by Mo Bei Jun. After all, he's survived so many years; why would he suddenly become fragile, sensitive, or lose his luster?
Shang Qinghua said awkwardly, "Brother Gua, I just often sell my integrity to ask for votes and rich people, and incidentally became the peak master of Anding Peak. But you discriminate against me because of this. That's not right of you."
Shen Qingqiu said, "Aren't the two reasons you gave enough to justify the discrimination against you?"
Shang Qinghua: "Hey, be nicer to me, be gentler, okay? Brother Gua, when do you think I should go back to the real world?"
Shen Qingqiu: "You really want to go back to the real world? Too much masturbation will really damage your eyesight. Wake up, you're just waiting for someone to apologize to you so they can tie you up and take you back to get a light beating every day."
Before they finished chatting, it was time to eat. Luo Binghe brought over two bowls of noodles.
White noodles in red broth, garnished with bright green chopped scallions, and neatly arranged slices of tender meat—it looks absolutely delicious.
But Shang Qinghua wouldn't lay a finger on him. Even without Bing Ge's explicit words, a seemingly casual glance was enough for Shang Qinghua to know that he had no chance.
Shen Qingqiu sighed, "That's why I said you came at an inopportune time."
After all, not everyone is entitled to eat food cooked by Brother Bing himself. Shang Qinghua had nothing to say, shrinking into the corner of the table, watching longingly as the two opposite him shared their chopsticks.
Finally, Shen Qingqiu couldn't bear to watch any longer. Suppressing a laugh, she picked up a piece of meat and put it in Luo Binghe's bowl, taking pity on him: "That's enough, stop teasing him. Your uncle has been pitiful enough these days, don't bully him anymore."
Luo Binghe put the piece of meat into his mouth without looking up and said, "There's more in the pot."
Shang Qinghua happily grabbed a shovel and went off.
He slurped down his noodles, tears welling in his eyes. For the first time, he deeply felt that the most reliable thing in the world was indeed the bond with his fellow countryman, the legendary cucumber.
Having enjoyed a delicious bowl of ramen, Shang Qinghua was overjoyed and never considered staying overnight.
Just kidding, he doesn't want to eavesdrop on Brother Bing's gossip. Whether he can get a good night's sleep is one thing, but whether Brother Bing will cut off his ears the next day is another.
Look at the idyllic life Shen Qingqiu lives, and then look at the life he leads. Comparison is odious! It's outrageous! He's clearly the author, the god of creation in this world, Kamisama! Can't everyone be a little nicer to him?! Show some respect to the author! Protect the author!
As Shang Qinghua savored the taste of the only bowl of noodles his son had ever made for him, he picked his teeth with a blade of grass as he walked along the mountain path.
As I was walking, I suddenly slipped.
The path was right next to a valley. Shang Qinghua hadn't brought her sword, and if she fell, she wouldn't be able to fly away. She cursed herself, "How could I slip on a perfectly normal walk? I'm not some manga heroine who has the ability to fall flat on her face!"
Sitting on the ground, I looked around and saw no unusual banana peels or small tree roots, only a small puddle of water.
But the puddle was frozen solid. The low-lying weeds around it were also faintly covered with a thin layer of frost.
Shang Qinghua scrambled to the nearest stone wall, leaning against it for a sense of security.
He thought that his procrastination and reckless delay in returning until Lord Mobei finally came knocking on his door was the worst-case scenario. But when someone emerged from behind the jagged rocks and vines, he realized that things could be even worse.
Rinko-kun said, "Oh my, look who this is."
Shang Qinghua chuckled dryly, "Yes! Who exactly is it?"
Lin Guangjun patted his head and said, "Mo Bei has been looking for you so hard he's practically turned the entire northern border upside down. You're quite good at hiding, aren't you?"
"Your Majesty is too kind. I was not trying to hide..."
"Right? I'm wondering too. What's there to hide from? You did such a great service in the Ice Fortress last time. The Northern Desert is too busy rewarding you. Why would you be so foolish as to come to this remote and desolate place?"
"Not at all!" Shang Qinghua waved his hands repeatedly, "It's none of my business. Last time, it was all thanks to Lord Mobei's own abilities..."
This refusal was originally intended to prevent Lingguangjun from holding a grudge against him for the defeat at Ice Fortress last time. However, upon hearing this, Lingguangjun's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a fierce tone, "You mean, even without you, this despicable, insidious, shameless, and vile lackey of Cangqiong Mountain, intervening halfway and ruining my plans, that brat alone could defeat me?!"
"To answer is wrong, to not answer is wrong," Shang Qinghua cried out in despair, "How could this be! Lord Mobei defeated Your Majesty with nothing but a sneak attack!"
Rinko-kun: "Are you mocking me?"
Shang Qinghua: "..."
Upon reflection, it dawned on him: Rinko-kun was clearly the one who initiated the sneak attack. His attempt to flatter had backfired; no matter what he said, it was wrong. In all his decades of fawning and currying favor, Shang Qinghua had never encountered such a difficult character before!
He shut up with a long face.
Lin Guangjun sneered, "That kid from Mobei will never have imagined that the person he couldn't find no matter how hard he tried, I would just stumble upon him so easily. In that case, I'll have to make good use of you..."
Shang Qinghua hurriedly said, "Your Majesty! If you want to capture me to threaten Lord Mobei, that's completely useless! Let me tell you the truth about why I ran away. Actually, last time, when he couldn't move, I couldn't help but beat him up... You know his deadpan temper! Given that opportunity, it's hard not to beat him up, isn't it? After beating him up, I had no choice but to run away because I was afraid of his revenge. He's been looking for me everywhere, mostly just wanting to beat me up in return. In his eyes, I have no value whatsoever; at most, I'm just a punching bag and a follower that he can use easily."
Rinko paused, then said impatiently, "Why are you telling me all this? Do I look like a demon who would do such low-class things?"
"It's hard to say. Your sneak attack on Mobei Jun isn't exactly top-notch either..." Shang Qinghua said sincerely, "It doesn't seem like it."
Rinko-kun: "So I look like a demon with such patience?"
Shang Qinghua: "I don't know about that. So, Your Majesty, how exactly do you intend to 'use' me?"
"How do you intend to use it?" Rinko-kun chuckled. "To kill you to vent my anger—is that a really hard-to-think-of use?"
"..." Shang Qinghua was stunned for a moment, then said, "No way, this is such a waste! Your Majesty, you could just capture me to threaten the Northern Desert Lord or something, it's such a pity to just kill me!"
Rinko-kun: "'I have no value whatsoever in his eyes, at best I'm just a punching bag and a follower he can use easily.' Who said that?"
Shang Qinghua: "There's an old saying that humility is a virtue..."
Before he could finish uttering the word "virtue," he suddenly tossed his hand and shouted, "Behold the Profound Yang True Fire!"
Several billowing red flames swept in from the sky, startling Lin Guangjun, who quickly dodged to the side. However, the flames extinguished immediately upon hitting the ground, clearly not the Xuan Yang True Fire that was unaffected by wind or water; Shang Qinghua had simply tricked him!
Enraged by a mix of old and new grudges, Lin Guangjun casually brushed away a drop of dew that was about to fall from a drooping leaf and aimed at Shang Qinghua's lower body. Shang Qinghua felt a chill on his calf as an ice bullet formed from demonic energy pierced through it. Unable to run away, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
Rinko-kun lunged forward, stomping on the kneecap of the other man's leg, and said, "You're like a cockroach, you're too good at running! I'll cripple both of your legs first, then let's see how you run?"
Speak of the king! The king has arrived!
The dark blue figure arrived like a ghost. With a crack, the two wisps of black energy collided. Rinko-kun, clutching his broken kneecap, was furious: "You brat, did you have to come so right on time?! Couldn't you have waited a little longer?! Couldn't you have waited until I stomped down before you arrived?!"
Mobei Jun kicked his other knee, shattering it, and said coldly, "No!"
Rinko-kun was surprisingly tough; even with both knees shattered into dust, he didn't scream. Instead, he cursed even more hysterically: "You're really your deadbeat father's son! Of all people to look like, you had to be like him. Like father, like son, he steals from you too! He died early, why didn't you die early! Damn it..."
Mobei Jun said, "If you keep cursing, I'll send you in to keep him company."
Shang Qinghua was dumbfounded. Although he knew that Rinko-kun harbored deep resentment towards his brother, he hadn't expected it to reach the point where he'd rather lose all his composure than hold back his insults...
Amidst Lingguang-jun's furious curses, Mobei-jun casually tossed him into the valley. A fall like that might kill a human, but a demon would certainly survive. Shang Qinghua didn't remind him to eliminate any potential threats. After all, he was his uncle, and Mobei-jun's father must have instructed him to yield to Lingguang-jun no matter what he did. In fact, Shang Qinghua didn't want to remind him of anything at all; if he could make him forget his existence, that would be even better…
Mobei Jun withdrew his gaze from the bottom of the valley and shouted, "Halt!"
Shang Qinghua, dragging a leg with a hole in it, was sneaking away when he was stopped in his tracks by a shout.
Even if someone is caught groping, they wouldn't be as guilty as he is. Hearing the sound of Mo Bei Jun's footsteps cracking through the frost as he approached, he quickly covered his face.
Mobei-jun seemed unusually irritable today, completely unlike his usual aloof self: "What are you doing?!"
Shang Qinghua said awkwardly, "Didn't you say 'Don't let me see you again'? Well, I've seen you now, so I'll just cover my face first."
Mobei Jun raised his hand, and Shang Qinghua instinctively covered his head.
"..."
Mobei Jun spread his hands apart and stretched them out, saying with barely suppressed anger, "If I ever see you do that again... you won't be able to keep your hands!"
There was a hint of gritted teeth and hatred in that sentence. Shang Qinghua instinctively wanted to cover his head again, but for the sake of his hands, which had made great contributions to typing, he held back.
Feeling suffocated, he started trembling, prompting Mobei Jun to ask, "Am I that scary?"
Shang Qinghua: "Uh, actually it's not that! It's just that I always feel like Your Majesty is going to give me a couple of blows. Before, a few kicks and punches were fine, but now that you've officially ascended the throne, your cultivation is completely different. You can now unleash devastating attacks that shake the rocks and pierce the clouds. I'm afraid I can't withstand a couple of blows from you..."
Mobei Jun said, "Shut up! Follow me, let's go!"
Shang Qinghua was desperate, clinging to the stone wall like a gecko: "I'm not leaving! No, I'm leaving! I want to go back to my hometown."
Mobei Jun said, "If I send it back to you, will you stay?"
Shang Qinghua: "Rather than staying here and getting beaten up three times a day by you, I'd rather... what?!"
call back?
Should we send it back to him?
Would the Northern Desert King be willing to fight back for him?
In order to keep him from leaving, would Mobei Jun be willing to fight back for him?
Overwhelmed with shock, Shang Qinghua's mind was endlessly looping the above-mentioned ladder-like array of characters.
Mo Bei Jun stood stiffly with his chin raised, exuding an arrogant aura of "hit me all you want, I won't fight back," but his eyes were secretly observing him.
Seeing that he still hadn't made a move, Mo Bei Jun suddenly seemed happy. Although when he was happy, it only looked like he raised his eyebrows a little higher.
Mobei Jun said, "Not going to make a move? Time's up. Then I won't let you fight. Let's go."
Wait, I didn't say I wouldn't take action, did I? Is there a time limit?
Mo Bei Jun, a barely concealed hint of pleasure in his eyes, grabbed Shang Qinghua and ran. Shang Qinghua immediately burst into a wail, "Oh my god, it hurts! It hurts! Your Majesty, look at me! Look at me! Look at me!"
Mobei Jun indeed looked at him and saw his bloody leg.
After a moment of silence, he tried to lift Shang Qinghua up.
Shang Qinghua cried out in agony, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me! If you carry me like this all the way, my leg will really be ruined!"
Mobei Jun asked, "Then what should we do?"
With tears in his eyes, Shang Qinghua tentatively asked, "How about... we find me a doctor first?"
Mobei Jun clicked his tongue and turned to leave.
A cold wind blew by, and Shang Qinghua, who was abandoned on the spot, stood there dumbfounded.
Is it because... they find him troublesome?
A short while later, Lord Mobei returned, dragging a cart he had stolen from somewhere. Only then did the wooden chicken turn into a live chicken.
The dignified second-in-command of the Demon Clan, the noble and aloof leader of the Northern Ice Clan, condescends to drag a dilapidated cart that is completely out of character for him. That's a powerful sight!
Shang Qinghua burst out laughing again.
Seeing that the veins on Mobei Jun's forehead were throbbing again, he quickly cried out in pain. After two cries, Mobei Jun picked him up and put him in the carriage.
Although he was riding in a rickety, dilapidated cart—a cart snatched from an old horse in some farmer's yard, and one that would normally only be used to haul fodder, firewood, and swill buckets—Shang Qinghua rode with an air of triumph and majesty. An uninformed person might have thought he was a top scholar who had studied diligently for ten years, finally passing the imperial examinations, and was being welcomed to his wedding with great fanfare.
It's truly a cycle of fate. The first time I met Mo Bei Jun, he also used a cart to take the unconscious Mo Bei Jun to a hotel room!
As the poem goes: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. The cartwheel turns, next year it'll be my turn. Haha!
Shang Qinghua, with an ethereal and otherworldly air, announced: "I want to eat noodles."
Bing Ge's bowl of noodles was really delicious, but there wasn't enough. I didn't leave him many strands; he wasn't satisfied.
Mobei Jun: "Hmm."
Shang Qinghua emphasized: "Ramen."
Mobei Jun: "Okay."
Shang Qinghua pressed his advantage: "You do it."
The cart suddenly stopped, and Mobei Jun stood frozen in place.
A faint, unknown chill wafted over. Shang Qinghua immediately chickened out, winking and saying, "I'll do it, I'll do it, of course I'll do it. Just saying, hehehe."
Sigh. Ideals are lofty, but reality is harsh.
After a while, the cart wheels slowly started turning again. Mo Bei Jun, standing in front, didn't turn around and said, "I'll do it."
...
What did he say? He said he'd make? Make what? Ramen?
Shang Qinghua has made his decision!
He wants to return to his old ways.
The pen name "Flying to the Sky" is about to make a fierce comeback!
"What should I write about?" Shang Qinghua slapped his thigh. He'd heard that Liu Sumianhua's "Spring Mountain Lament," which was 81% off, was selling like hotcakes. "Hmm, I'll follow the trend and write about that!" Although he himself was incredibly upright, if there were readers, there was a market, and if there was a market, he'd dare write it. Xiang Tian Dafeizi was best at following trends; whatever was popular, he'd write about it, and he was never wrong!
The first step is to come up with a catchy title that will appeal to the masses. Titles like "The Secret History of Qingjing Peak," "My Disciple Can't Be That Cute," and "My Master Is So Charming" are still undecided; I'll work on them first. It doesn't matter if my writing isn't as good as Liu Sumianhua's; Xiang Tian Dafeiji has never sold writing skills. Besides, I don't like the clique of writers like Liu Sumianhua and the Third Holy Mother. They only write about Shen Qingqiu and Luo Binghe; their vision is too narrow. Actually, in my opinion, they could be much bolder and more unrestrained. For example, since it's called "Spring Mountain Is Very," why limit it to one couple? Liu Qingge is such a beauty; wouldn't it be a waste not to write about him? Yue Qingyuan is also a handsome and successful man, and very domestic. Mu Shidi and Wei Shixiong are both gods in the eyes of the world; writing a mixed harem would surely attract readers.
In short, as long as he is explicit enough, vulgar enough, and shameless enough, he will sooner or later become a dominant force in the local literary scene. He can still be very successful even without selling homemade soaps!
With his legs crossed and a plane pointing skyward, the cart creaked and swayed along the bumpy mountain road. As the sun set, Mobei Jun dragged it along, not knowing where he was headed.
Although it's full of nitpicking, chaotic, and utterly nonsensical writing, written in a childish style, and some serious readers might even be tempted to throw the book down and yell, "What utter garbage!", the author can always find a thousand "just"s to smooth things over. For example: "It's just reading a story, like life, it's just for fun, why take it so seriously?"; "It's just a casual piece of writing, everyone please be more forgiving!"; "It's just..."
only.
...But he really, really liked the story he wrote.
A Talkative Postscript:
Finally! Finished! Writing!
It just so happens that I started saving up my manuscript around July of last year while grueling my summer calculus course. I was blown away by two transmigration cultivation novels I read back then; they were so good that I rolled around in bed with my phone in my arms, and finally I couldn't resist starting to write myself.
Fearing the story would become too unpopular and I'd lose motivation to continue, I hoarded 80,000 words in one go, then procrastinated and dragged it out until September before nervously uploading the first chapter. Looking back at my previous author notes, I realized that Chapter 19 only had 100 favorites. But back then, I didn't understand data and actually thought, "Wow, I'm so promising! 100 strangers are reading my nonsense!" (Sorry, I was so naive)... Reaching this word count today is truly surreal. You know, I've never written such a long novel before, especially a pure romance novel! Σ( ° △ °|||)︴
In short, I owe this achievement to everyone's enthusiastic support, and especially to the editors who gave me this opportunity. *Tiger-like bow*
Looking at the thriving long comment section and fan art, I feel like I've harvested a whole pond of rapeseed flowers. Thank you to all the readers who contributed fanfiction and fan art! You've all helped the author drop the integrity she secretly cherished!
And to all the wealthy gentlemen, thank you for your patronage! I'm flattered!
The title of this book is so incredibly cheesy that friends and family have been constantly criticizing it, saying it's utterly awful: "It reeks of childish, brainless nonsense. I feel so inferior telling people I'm reading this book; I'm even ashamed to recommend it." This makes me embarrassed to admit that I spent half a month brainstorming before finally coming up with the perfect title. It may not be sophisticated, but its strength lies in its simplicity, directness, and clarity, right?
(Okay, it's a bit embarrassing to say, I'll go back and see if I can revise it.)
The original setting was that Teacher Shen's surname wasn't Shen, but Gu. However, after checking the transmigration novel rankings, I found that seven out of ten protagonists had the surname Gu, so I quickly changed the name. But actually, there aren't many people with the surname Shen ╮(￣▽￣")╭ Also, Teacher Shen was originally supposed to be a Nascent Soul cultivator, but after checking Baidu Encyclopedia, I vaguely realized that someone as weak as him shouldn't be a Nascent Soul cultivator, so I changed it to Golden Core. Lacking knowledge, I just made things up. Therefore, this story is full of various personal settings from beginning to end, and the cultivation process is a mess—no, it basically doesn't involve any cultivation process at all.
Having never written a comedic novel before, my lighthearted and cheerful style easily slipped into a noisy and chaotic mess if I wasn't careful, so mistakes were sometimes unavoidable. The whole process was rushed, like a carnival. The first half had an outline, which was my favorite part, but looking back, the typos and bugs were unbearable to look at. The later parts were more unrestrained, and when I finally filled in the details, I was completely overwhelmed, experiencing writer's block so badly I was practically tearing my hair out. Plus, with exams piling up towards the end, daily updates were a real challenge for my terrible writing speed, and many parts were, well, a disaster. So, after half a year, I did a major revision, and finally, things are a bit better…
While the basic structure can't be changed, I've made some adjustments to the setting, added and modified some details, and altered some plot points, especially in the latter half. So, if you occasionally revisit this story on 123romance.com, you might find some interesting parts XD I don't even want to mention those websites that still have my embarrassing past like 30 x 100 = 30,000 characters...
So, I have something else to say, ahem. It's finished, which means this author has a proven track record of keeping their work going. Dear readers, you might consider adding this author's page to your favorites, right? Thank you!!!
And who said I'm not writing new stories? Of course I am! My terrible typing speed is still struggling!
However, the number of pre-orders for the new novel is surprisingly high. The authors always manage to give me huge surprises, far exceeding my expectations.
In short, thank you all for reading! This is my first post and it has many shortcomings, but I feel the same way as the author, I really like this story, I like the characters, and I like all of you who helped me finish writing it!
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