Chapter Text
Jiang Cheng knew he wasn't perfect. He knew he had a shitty personality.
He was mean, and sometimes bad at communicating. He was short-tempered, had a rather explosive temper and could often be abrasive. He knew that.
But he'd thought he'd paid for his unkind nature when his girlfriend had cheated on him with that 57-year-old school bus driver two summers earlier.
He'd thought he'd paid for it when his sister had died in that awful car accident that had taken her, her husband and their parents.
He'd thought he'd paid for it when Jin Háo had kept him up nights on end with his crying, and made him almost want to tear his hair out, so close was he to breaking down.
He didn't think, however, that having a simply bad personality made him deserving of having a heart attack at 36 and landing in what seemed like another fucking world.
Slumped on the floor, Jiang Cheng raised his head and looked into the long bronze mirror facing him. A man with the same features as him, crazy eyes, tangled hair and crumpled, misplaced robes was staring back at him. His reflection screamed despondency, and that was exactly what Jiang Cheng was feeling right now.
He'd been sure that the room he'd woken up in earlier, elegant but clearly from the old Chinese era, had been part of a simple dream. But the dream hadn't left for nearly an hour, and the sensations around him were a little too realistic and palpable; the fabrics on his skin, the smells in the air, the breeze through the window. He desperately hoped that at least one clue would show him that all this was just a figment of his imagination, to no avail. Everything seemed too real.
Well, except perhaps for the blue fluorescent screen floating above him.
》{You've been lamenting on the floor for the last 53 minutes,} a mechanical female voice echoed through the room. {Please indicate whether you agree to begin your adventure in the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation universe as the antagonist [Jiang Wanyin] of the novel__[YES] or [NO].}
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the bronze mirror in front of him, hoping with all his heart that when he opened them again, he'd be somewhere else. For if his situation was real, he was still caught in the first stage of grief, namely denial:
“This is not real. This is not fucking real. I'm dreaming-I'm dreaming-I'm dream-”
》 {You've been lamenting on the floor for the last 54 minutes. Please indicate whether you agree to begin your adventure in the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation universe as the antagonist [Jiang Wanyin] of the novel__[YES] or [NO].}
“Shut the hell up!” Jiang Cheng shouted as he grabbed the empty cup on the floor beside him, which he'd knocked off a table earlier in his panic, before throwing it at the damn screen with all his might. The cup went right through it.
》 {Does “Shut the hell up!” mean [NO]?}
Jiang Cheng let out a cry of frustration and clutched his hair, ready to rip out his too-long, too-perfect locks.
What the fuck was going on?
What was this ‘Great Demon’ crap? Where was he? Why was he here?
Jiang Cheng wanted to cry in frustration and confusion. But that blue screen wouldn't even let him mope in peace, dammit! He was sure he was entitled to an hour of panic with his predicament. Who’d remain stoic in the face of this?
He took a deep breath, however, trying to calm himself. Because at the same time, it was true that freaking out and raging hadn't been super effective so far.
“If I say No,” Jiang Cheng said, trying to stay calm. “And let's suppose...let's suppose this isn't a dream, would I be back in my world?”
He still didn't believe -or didn't want to believe, at least- that he was in some kind of Isekai or RPG that the Japaneses and Koreans loved to write about in their stories and that his nephew was a fan of.
But if. Really, if-
》 {Unfortunately no. If you refuse to participate in the 'Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation’ world, you will be transported to the next world with a soul similar to yours that has just perished. The list is constantly being updated, but right now, your soul's next destination would be as the brother of the female protagonist of “The Brother-Killer Hunt.”}
“...of course,” Jiang Cheng said before anger permeated him. “Why the fuck am I even here!?”
》 {Because the Universe saw fit to give another life to Jiang Cheng, 36, son of Jiang ZǐChén and Yu Mǐn, of Beijing, without resetting his memory. You remember your death, don't you?}
At this question, Jiang Cheng remembered the intense pain in his chest and left arm, his shortness of breath and the immense fear that had overtaken him as his body no longer responded to him, before everything went black.
He was 36, with a nephew still at school and a company to grow.
And he'd had a heart attack.
Jiang Cheng looked down, disturbed. “So I'm...really dead?”
》 {Yes.}
The 'Yes' was said neutrally, but none of this neutrality was reflected in Jiang Cheng's agitated emotions at this reply.
“And the Universe decided to give me a new life without erasing my memory, after killing me? Why kill me to begin with, then?”
》 {According to the notes of your previous life, you worked 14hrs a day, 7 days a week, operated on 3 hours of sleep a day, did no exercise and barely fed yourself. Your death is entirely your own fault.}
... Alright, fair enough.
Jiang Cheng ran an exhausted hand over his face as he thought about this.
So. He was really dead.
The realization gradually sank into him, crushing, suffocating, and his shoulders slumped under the weight of this reality.
He knew he hadn't lived the healthiest life, but he'd told himself that eventually, he'd start exercising again, he'd start eating properly again, he'd start sleeping and spending time with his girlfriend again. He'd been telling himself that for 6 years. Maybe that was why Tián Li had started fucking the local school bus driver, after seeing her fiancé wasting away so much.
But strangely enough, it wasn't Tián Li he was most concerned about, as he was gradually coming to terms with his situation reluctantly.
What he cared about most at the moment, and had apparently left behind because of his foolish carelessness, was an arrogant young boy who irritatingly had the same personality as him.
Jiang Cheng's heart clenched at the thought, and he swallowed. “What...what happened to my nephew? Jin Háo? Is he okay?”
He and Jin Háo couldn't go two days in a row without bickering about something ridiculous. But the two of them had been all they had for each other. It had always been Jiang Cheng and Jin Háo against the rest of the world.
And now Jin Háo was alone.
》 {Time moves differently depending on the constellation, and eight months have already passed on Earth 113 between your death and now. Jin Háo has been taken in by your best friend Nie Jùndé. Unfortunately, I can't say that he has fully recovered from your death, but he has made three close friends at his new school who seem to be helping him through his grief. He started smiling again two weeks ago. He should get better eventually.}
Jiang Cheng closed his eyes for a moment, guilt and sadness squeezing his chest. Of course Jin Háo would take almost 8 months before smiling again. Jiang Cheng had abandoned him by not taking care of himself. It was all his fault if his nephew was now without any family.
Grief still clinging to him, Jiang Cheng let out a faint sigh as he slowly opened his eyes once more. At least Jin Háo was going to have Nie Jùndé and he apparently had friends now. It was a small relief. Albeit a very small one.
Nie Jùndé and Jiang Cheng had bonded at university over the fact that they'd both lost their families. Nie Jùndé's mother had died of an aneurysm when he was young, and his brother and father had perished in one of the violent earthquakes that sometimes shook China.
Nie Jùndé was a lazy boy, and not very ambitious, despite the fact that, like Jiang Cheng, his family had bequeathed him a renowned business company. But Jiang Cheng wasn't worried about his nephew. Jin Háo had long been a very resourceful young man, and he was used to looking after older adults who didn't take very good care of themselves.
Although Jin Háo might end up being a little overprotective of Nie Jùndé, given the way Jiang Cheng had turned out.
With a heavy heart, Jiang Cheng looked up at the blue screen floating above him and did his best to forget about his nephew, for fear of wanting to cry for an entirely different reason, now. “So what's my purpose here? Simply to play the villain of this...book? World? Are the people here even real?”
》 {The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation is a fictional novel on Earth 113, but any fictional story in one world, is real in another. And even if the people here are only technically part of a novel, they're still real inside this dimension. So your goal is simply to make this world your own as one of the main antagonists.}
“What happened to the soul I'm replacing?”
》 {The Original Jiang Wanyin of this world perished of a sudden Qi deviation after having, like you, overworked past his limits for 17 years in a row, and the stress of the last few months got the better of him. The Universe also gave him a chance to improve his life. He was reincarnated in the next constellation as a younger version of himself, in a world just like this one, without having his memory reset either.}
That was...interesting to know. And a weird coincidence. Apparently, he and Jiang Wanyin had more than just their looks in common.
(Even if Jiang Wanyin had flawless skin and hair straight out of a TV commercial. What on earth did they use for products in ancient China?)
“And now I'm supposed to act just like him?” Jiang Cheng said, forgetting his queries about this world's skincare routine. “I'm going to get found out so easily!”
》{Jiang Wanyin is another version of you, simply in another universe; the similarity rate between your personality and that of the Original Jiang Wanyin stands at 91%.} the mechanical voice replied. {However, the Original Jiang Wanyin possessed abilities required in this world that you don't, so acting exactly like him will indeed be a challenge in other respects. But before going any further, you must confirm whether you agree to begin your adventure in the world of the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation as the antagonist [Jiang Wanyin] of the novel__[YES] or [NO].}
Jiang Cheng slowly looked down at his hands.
Did he really have a choice?
He was dead and apparently had another chance in this world.
His old life, his job, his friends and...his nephew were now out of his reach. Eight months had passed. Even Jin Háo, no matter how hard it was for him, was moving on. For all of them, Jiang Cheng now represented nothing but memories and ashes.
All he had was this world without his loved ones in it now.
Jiang Cheng felt nauseous thinking about it. But really, he didn't have many options in his situation.
So he nodded slowly.
“Alright, yes,” he said, feeling dejected.
Suddenly, his surroundings seemed to shift. Everything had felt so real until now, but once he uttered the word “Yes”, the air around him felt heavier, and his senses sharpened at the same time, as if to align themselves with the particles of the world around him. A veil seemed to rise in the room, and the noises outside were even clearer than before, the smells more enticing, the light more vibrant.
》 {Congratulations! You've just agreed to begin the Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation adventure as the antagonist Jiang Cheng, courtesy name Jiang Wanyin. I am the System, here to assist you during part of this journey. Your starting points are: 1350.}
Jiang Cheng blinked, still a little bewildered and overwhelmed by his senses, which had just sharpened.
So he had the same given name as the antagonist in the book, huh? It seemed he'd really landed in a different version of himself, but at a different time.
Jiang Cheng sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Gods, he was really going to do this, apparently.
“What am I supposed to do with those points?” he asked flatly.
》 {Your points will enable you to acquire skills, knowledge or items of your choice to help you on your journey. You'll have the chance to earn points by, for example, completing missions, or to lose points by, for example, not respecting the norms of this world.}
“And what happens if I lose all my points?”
》 {Death is the consequence of having your account below 0.}
Why had he even asked the question?
Jiang Cheng shook his head, and for the first time since he'd landed in this world, he looked carefully at the room he was in.
He didn't know in which ancient dynasty he was, but even so, he could tell he was in a rich room. It was clean, large and the bed was huge, with meticulously decorated covers. The furniture looked handmade and detailed, the fabric of the robes he wore was soft and silky, and he could see hints of gold and silver here and there. Even the huge oval bronze mirror facing him was probably not something everyone could afford back in the day.
So he was a rich bad guy? Surely, that would simplify his life, right?
Unless it was this kind of novel that ensured that the poor, virtuously flawless Protagonist defeated the rich, immoral bad guy.
Hell, that'd just be his luck.
And it would really help if he knew more about this stupid novel, for a start.
“Can I at least have a summary of this story?” Jiang Cheng grumbled.
》{But of course,} the system replied. {The cost of a detailed summary is 1500 points. A physical copy of the novel is 2500 points. Would you like to proceed with one of the two options presented?}
Jiang Cheng stared at the system's blue screen, dumbfounded.
“But don't I only have 1350 points on hand?” he asked, puzzled.
》 {Yes.}
“So if I take one of the two options, am I not going to die!?”
》 {Yes.}
“Are you fucking with me or what!?”
》 {If you mean figuratively, I'm not making fun of you, no. If you mean literally, I don't have the right equipment to copulate with you, either.}
Jiang Cheng glared at the System, honestly wanting to throw something else at her.
And why did a novel cost so much? He wasn't going to have to experience being virtually broke, was he?
“It's probably robbery to ask for 2500 points for a stupid book!” Jiang Cheng hissed, even though he hadn't the faintest idea of the pricing scales of a system assisting someone in their reincarnation.
》{The pricing rates are pretty standard in all universes, so no, it wouldn't be considered robbery,} the System refuted. {However, if you want to manage your points effectively, even if the option is offered, I would advise caution before purchasing the novel. Each reincarnated soul that integrates a new world causes distortions in the original story, and this is also the case with your scenario. The novel will therefore no longer be 100% representative of your situation.}
“What kind of distortions?"
》{All the elements different from the original piece that will be shared with you will cost 60 points each. Would you like to proceed?}
Jiang Cheng gave the fluorescent blue screen another look in reply.
He didn't even know the original work in question anyway. He suspected it might be some kind of fantasy or historical adventure, but that was about it. If the System started telling him that one character had died instead of another, or that so-and-so had become emperor instead of that one, it wouldn't do him much good, since he wouldn't recognize any names.
He supposed he would have to discover the events of this world by himself.
“Is there anything you can tell me for free?” Jiang Cheng asked, crossing his arms, grumpily.
》{Yes, I can share the starting information with you. We are currently in the timeline just after the events of the novel ‘Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation’. The two main villains [Wen Ruohan and Jin Guangyao] have already been defeated and all the major problems have been solved. Fortunately for you, the antagonist Jiang Wanyin was not destined to die at the end of the novel. The Protagonist [Wei Wuxian] went on honeymoon with his current husband and simply cut ties with you.}
“...I'm in a homo romance?”
》 {Yes.}
Jiang Cheng pinched the bridge of his nose, irritation flaring inside him.
What the hell was he doing here?
And the information the System had just provided wasn't helping him much!
“Do you have anything more specific!” Jiang Cheng hissed, completely on edge.
》 {Each additional piece of general information shared with you will cost 50 points. Would you like to proceed?}
“I hate you.”
》{I harbor neutral feelings toward you. Hopefully, our relationship will improve over time.}
Maybe Jiang Cheng was crazy, but he was sure the System was taunting him.
He let out an irritated sigh and finally decided to stand up.
His bones didn't crack despite having been in the same position for almost an hour, and his long, too-silky hair fell in front of his face, loose locks finding their way into his mouth. Annoyed, Jiang Cheng spat them out and brusquely swept the hair out of his face.
Alright, now what?
Surviving, right? In the end, it all boiled down to surviving in this damn world. The best way to do that was to gather information, and since the System was a greedy bitch, he was going to have to do it himself.
It was like....resolving a major problem in one of his factories. Sometimes the problem was so big that Jiang Cheng himself had to go and visit them to find out what was going on. He'd ask around. Demand reports from his employees. And analyze the situation.
Okay. He could do that.
He hoped, anyway.
Suddenly, there was a knock on his bedroom door, making Jiang Cheng jump. He turned around, looking at the door.
“Zongzhu, are you okay?” a muffled male voice sounded from behind the door. “Sèsè told me you were awake, and on the way here I heard shouting... is everything all right?”
'Zongzhu'?
He was a sect leader? The System had indeed repeated the title “Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation”, so he was a leader in a fantastic world of cultivation?
Jiang Cheng wasn't sure whether this was good news or not. Weren't there monsters in these kinds of stories?
“Zongzhu?” the voice asked, clearly worried. “Can I enter?”
“Ah, yes, I'm fine!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed.
The man behind the door definitely took the “yes” in his reply as permission to enter, for the door cracked open a moment later.
A young man dressed in a purple robe, with an imposing, muscular build, entered the room. He had long hair gathered in a low ponytail, freckles around his nose and a gentle, comely look on his face.
His features creased with concern, however, when he saw Jiang Cheng's appearance.
“Oh, Zongzhu, please don't push yourself too hard,” the man said as he approached Jiang Cheng. “You should rest for the next few days. At least, for today.”
“Who the hell is that?” Jiang Cheng asked the System, frowning.
The big guy in question blinked, confused by what Jiang Cheng had just said. “Are you...are you talking about me?”
》{Remember that although this world is a novel on Earth 113, the characters are real within this dimension. It is not recommended to treat them as soulless NPCs. If you talk to me out loud, of course the others will hear you,} the System said.
Jiang Cheng turned nervous eyes towards the System and said lowly through his teeth. “And what do I do if I need you in front of people? Can't they see you?”
Despite whispering, the young man in front of him could clearly still hear him, for he looked around the room -his eyes not seeming to notice the glowing screen- before his gaze rested on Jiang Cheng. His concern increased, as if he thought Jiang Cheng was losing his mind. He took a step towards him.
“I... Zongzhu, who are you talking to?” the young man asked. Then, sounding as if he were speaking softly to himself, he added; “A fever dream, maybe...?”
Oh how Jiang Cheng would have wanted this to be a fever dream indeed.
》{Only you can see the mobile dashboard and hear my voice. If you want to contact me discreetly, just direct your thoughts to me [the System] and I'll be able to pick up on them,} the System said.
Jiang Cheng glanced uncertainly at the floating blue screen. Then he concentrated on directing his thoughts to the System specifically.
{Like...like this?} he tried tentatively.
》 {Exactly.}
{Why on earth didn't you tell me this before?}
》 {The question hadn't been asked.}
{What kind of answer is that!? And you didn't even answer the question I actually asked! Who's the kid!?}
》{The information about the man in front of you will cost 35 points. Would you like to proceed?}
Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth.
At least 35 points wasn't much, compared to the abominable 2500 points for the physical copy of the novel. With several '35 points', he could perhaps collect a lot of information, if he invested well his money. Or points. Whatever.
And something was telling him that the man in front of him was important, if he allowed himself into the sect leader's room so easily.
{Yes, proceed,} he said.
A 'ding' echoed through the room at his reply.
》 {Transaction accepted.
New account balance: 1315 points.
The man standing in front of you is named Jiang Qiáng, formerly Guō Qiáng, courtesy name Jiang Bówén. He is 27 years old and, according to the novel, you've known each other for the last 12 years. He is your Second in Command and you rely heavily on him for the day-to-day running of the sect.
Combat skills: A+
Communication skills: B+
Social skills: B
Leadership skills: A
Intelligence: A-
Other talent <Qi Manipulation>: A+}
Jiang Cheng hadn't expected the details about the skills of the other man -Jiang Bówén- in exchange for his 35 points, but this kind of information would probably come in handy in the future.
“Zongzhu?” Jiang Bówén repeated.
Jiang Cheng blinked and turned his attention back to Jiang Bówén. The young man was still looking at him with concern and took another step towards him, holding out his hand as if to check whether Jiang Cheng was physically all right.
“Ah, sorry,” he said, shaking his head, to signal to the other that he was fine. “I just woke up and was a bit disoriented and half asleep. But I'm fine now. What, uh, what time is it?”
Jiang Bówén looked a little relieved to see that Jiang Cheng seemed to be coming to his senses, and lowered his arm. He then nodded once.
“It's almost Wǔ Shí,” he said, and Jiang Cheng had to take a second before understanding that the man was speaking in ancient units of time.
Right, Wǔ Shí, was what? Between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., wasn't it? No matter the world, he couldn't afford to waste the day cooped up in his room.
He had to get information. It was time to get out of here.
“Wǔ Shí, already?” Jiang Cheng said. “I, uh, have to hurry surely, so I won't be late to...you know...?”
“....the meeting with the elders?” Jiang Bówén completed thankfully, as Jiang Cheng had hoped. “The meeting isn't right away, and Zongzhu, again, don't force yourself. Everyone knows you're not feeling well, and no one is expecting you to attend. I was planning to go in your place.”
Jiang Cheng would have been vehemently against the idea of skipping his duties, regardless of his condition, under normal circumstances. But he wasn't under normal circumstances.
So he said; “Oh, well, I guess I'm indeed not quite up to attending meetings.”
Jiang Bówén widened his eyes, visibly astonished that Jiang Cheng would accept so readily, but quickly changed his expression to a smile.
“Right?” he said, nodding. “You need to rest. Go back to bed, and I'll send a servant to bring you some food.”
“Actually, I'd still like some fresh air,” Jiang Cheng said. “I'll come back and rest later.”
Jiang Bówén's smile sagged a little. He shifted on his feet, suddenly looking uncomfortable, and opened his mouth twice, as if to say something, before relenting.
He reminded Jiang Cheng of some of his employees intimidated by him, who wanted to tell him bad news and were afraid of his reaction.
Jiang Cheng didn't have much patience for that.
“What is it? Speak,” he said.
Jiang Bówén hesitated one last time, before lightly scratching the side of his neck with his right hand, avoiding his gaze. “Zongzhu, every time you want to take a day off or a sick day and you put your nose outside, you always end up working all day anyway when you catch a glimpse of the sect's activities.”
Damn, that Original Jiang Wanyin really was a carbon copy of him. Jiang Cheng couldn't remember ever having a day off without opening his laptop. Too often he found himself spending his days off in his office anyway. His secretary hated it when he did that.
“Believe me, there's not a chance I'll be conducting any meetings today or working on anything serious,” Jiang Cheng replied. “I simply want to go for a walk. Let me just change...”
Jiang Cheng looked down at his robes. He was decidedly dressed for sleep, especially compared to what the man next to him was wearing.
“I'll leave you to it, in that case,” Jiang Bówén said, offering him a bow. “I'll wait for you in the corridor.”
“No, wait! Help me change!” Jiang Cheng exclaimed.
From the shocked look Jiang Bówén gave him at his request, Jiang Cheng knew immediately that it wasn't in the Original Jiang Wanyin's habits to ask his Second in Command to help him change.
But what if he put on a funeral outfit instead of regular clothes or some shit like that? And he knew there was a good chance he'd get tangled up (and pissed off) with all those ribbons, sashes and layers of robes to put on. It was better to have assistance.
“Uh, see...I'm not feeling so good, so...” Jiang Cheng tried to make up for his slip.
It didn't work.
Jiang Bówén looked even more stunned by these words.
》 {!WARNING! Admitting his vulnerability so easily is considered a bit OOC for Jiang Wanyin. You have not yet unlocked the Out Of Character feature. A too obvious OOC action will result in a penalty in the future.}
Damn it.
Fortunately, Jiang Bówén seemed to take pity on him - perhaps thinking that things must be really bad if his leader lowered himself to asking for help getting dressed - and nodded.
“Yes of course, Zongzhu!” Jiang Bówén blurted. “Unless you'd rather I call in some servants?”
“No, just you, it's fine,” Jiang Cheng said. “Just get me something out.”
Jiang Bówén looked rather touched and offered him a small smile. “Alright. Let's get you changed."
Jiang Bówén walked over to one of the wardrobes on the right. He opened it and quietly began to navigate through the various garments in front of him. A moment later, he pulled out two pairs of robes and asked Jiang Cheng which ones he wanted to wear.
Jiang Cheng chose at random, not really caring. And when he undid his sash and took off his robes to put on the outfit his Second in Command presented to him, he opened his eyes wide, looking down at his naked torso.
“Holy shit, I'm ripped!” he said.
Jiang Cheng now had firm, defined pecs, abs and muscles, something he decidedly didn't have before landing in this world. He'd had a fairly athletic body at university when he was still on the swim team, but all his muscles had gradually disappeared over the years as he'd stopped training.
He frowned, however, when he noticed the large scars on his chest and raised a hand to touch them. It wasn't painful, but still slightly tender under his fingers. He wondered how he'd gotten that.
“‘Ripped’? You mean the good condition of your body?” Jiang Bówén asked, sounding a little confused by his chosen vocabulary. “Yes, Zongzhu still has an excellent body. You've only been ill since yesterday, so it shouldn't affect it yet.”
Jiang Cheng really had to learn to control some of his reactions or he was going to come across as a weirdo.
“And a few days resting won't change that either,” Jiang Bówén continued softly, handing Jiang Cheng a pair of pants to put on. “As I told you before, don't worry. Lú JiāYi, the Spiders and I can take care of everything.”
Jiang Cheng didn't know who Lú JiāYi was and whether the word ‘Spiders’ was a code name or something. But he simply nodded, while the young man continued to help him put on his clothes.
“The Spiders still have your sword, by the way,” Jiang Bówén said as he coaxed Jiang Cheng to sit on a chair, seeming to want to attend to his hair. “I'll see to it that it's returned to you as soon as they've finished examining it.”
What Jiang Bówén had just said raised several questions (and worries) in Jiang Cheng. However, as soon as Jiang Bówén behind him gently combed his hair, Jiang Cheng's shoulders relaxed and he allowed himself not to think about anything for just a few minutes.
.
He'd had his suspicions that he was in a world of cultivation.
But still, seeing people flying on swords was shocking.
Outside, in front of his residences, eyes riveted on the sky in awe, Jiang Cheng was staring at a group of youngsters racing through the air. Their feet were steady, their smiles were joyful, and none of their movements indicated that they feared a 15-meter fall.
He was truly in a fantasy world.
His brain was having a bit of trouble connecting the surrealism of this.
Jiang Bówén was talking to a woman dressed in black, who had made a low bow to Jiang Cheng before walking away with Jiang Bówén to chat. They still looked seriously immersed in their discussion. So after the kids racing across the sky disappeared over the horizon, Jiang Cheng took the opportunity to observe his surroundings.
Some members of the sect, walking between ancient structures, were dressed like the woman who was currently talking to Jiang Bówén; mostly black robes, with a few lotus or snake patterns in purple. The vast majority of members wore predominantly purple robes, like Jiang Bówén, otherwise.
Incidentally, some members' faces lit up with delight when they saw Jiang Cheng, and they were quick to bow to him. Jiang Cheng barely had time to think about how he was supposed to respond before they were off.
“Did you have somewhere in particular you wanted to go, Zongzhu?” Jiang Bówén said suddenly from behind him.
Jiang Cheng turned to face him. The woman in black he'd been talking to was still standing a little further away, and she gave him one last farewell bow before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
“Ah, not really,” Jiang Cheng replied, doing his best not to let his astonishment at the woman's disappearance show (Was she a ninja or something?) ”I really just wanted to get some air.”
“The kids in one of the junior classes were asking about you, just before I came into your room,” Jiang Bówén said. “I think they'd love to see you. What do you say?”
Jiang Cheng agreed, and was relieved that, despite remaining attentively at his side, Jiang Bówén took the initiative to lead the way.
And that was fortunate, because the sect was big. He and Jiang Bówén took several paths, passing many training grounds and a large number of different structures. There were a lot of people, a lot of noise, and a lot of hustle and bustle going on around him. Jiang Cheng couldn't help remembering the atmosphere at his headquarters and factories when he saw this.
It was only several minutes later, near a central pond, that he and Jiang Bówén arrived at a training ground containing some twenty teenagers, around the ages of 15 and 16, who seemed to have finished their class.
The kids opened their eyes wide and approached Jiang Cheng before offering him a polite bow. Jiang Cheng still didn't know how to respond, so he just nodded and said nothing. It seemed to be acceptable.
“Zongzhu, are you feeling better?” a young girl said, a smile on her face. “You gave us quite a scare yesterday morning!”
“I told you he'd be up and about in an instant!” another boy said, close to Jiang Bówén in a triumphant tone.
Seeing the smiles and looks of joy on the faces of the teenagers around him for a soul that was no more made Jiang Cheng a little uneasy.
As the antagonist, shouldn't the Original Jiang Wanyin have been hated by every soul? Unless the kids in front of him were acting out of fear? It often happened, in stories, that the villains were surrounded by subordinates showering them with fake compliments and smiles, after all.
“Kids, he's just out of bed, let him breathe,” a feminine voice said suddenly from behind Jiang Cheng.
He turned his head to see another black-clad woman approaching them.
The children near Jiang Cheng, and even Jiang Bówén, offered a respectful bow to the newcomer, so she must be important. She was small and probably a little older than Jiang Cheng.
She was also carrying a long sword in a scabbard meticulously decorated with lotus, purple and silver.
As soon as she was in front of Jiang Cheng, she made a low bow and presented the sword to him with both hands.
“Zongzhu, your sword,” she said, still bent over, the sword in offering. “It has been checked and contains no trace of resentful energy or curse.”
So this was his sword. Jiang Cheng was going to have to figure out how to use it quickly.
He nodded toward the woman and took hold of the sword's handle. “Thanks for the-”
Jiang Cheng didn't finish his sentence, for as soon as the woman let go of the sword, he felt as if he were lifting the weight of an entire truck. The tip of the sword nose-dived to the ground, sending Jiang Cheng's whole body reeling forward.
“Holy fuck!” he swore, trying with all his might to lift the weapon again.
It was no use. It was as heavy as 10 tons, and his arms were trembling under the weight, just to keep one end of the sword above the ground.
Everyone was looking at him in shock now.
{Why the fuck is it so heavy!?} Jiang Cheng mentally exclaimed to the System.
》{A normal sword wouldn't withstand the pressure of a cultivator's powers. Cultivators therefore use special spiritual swords that can be wielded easily with adequate circulation of your Qi,} she replied.
{Okay, and how do I circulate my damn Qi?}
》 {The theoretical instructions for Qi manipulation are 200 points. Would you like to proce-}
{Fuck you!}
“Zongzhu?” the bewildered voice of one of the teenagers said.
Jiang Cheng looked up and tried to play it off. “I...er...it took me by surprise, but if I just-”
He tried with all his strength to make the sword move, mentally cursing the System. But the weapon didn't move, and Jiang Cheng's fingers were definitely letting go, having no force left to maintain the weight.
Then, when he tried one last time to use his legs to help lift the weapon, the sword finally slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground with a deafening thump.
There was a long awkward silence.
Here was his first attempt to impersonate the great Jiang Wanyin.
So Jiang Cheng resorted to the default solution he used when he was in an embarrassing moment:
Turn the situation against the people in front of him.
“Well, what exactly did you expect?” Jiang Cheng said in a harsh tone. “I had a Qi deviation yesterday; of course I can't lift my sword yet! I'd have expected you to at least think of that!”
The children widened their eyes, accepting Jiang Cheng's hazardous logic, and the woman in black immediately made a bow, even lower than before.
“My apologies Zongzhu,” she said calmly and respectfully. “That was thoughtless of me. I'll carry your sword.”
“No, I'll do it!” Jiang Bówén interjected, already bending down to pick up the sword from the ground. “Of course you can't lift your sword yet. Sorry, Zongzhu, I should have thought of that.”
Jiang Cheng nodded severely, while inside he was thanking the gods that his tactics had worked.
He wouldn't be able to use this excuse indefinitely, though.
“Zongzhu, shouldn't you rest, then?” the girl from earlier said, sounding worried now. “You need to regain your strength.”
“I'm just taking a walk,” Jiang Cheng replied, with a scoff. “As long as nobody asks me to lift swords again, I should be fine.”
The woman in black who had given him the sword finally straightened up and looked at him:
“In that case, you should take this opportunity to go see Yi Fànqia, Zongzhu.”
.
Yi Fànqia was the sect's head healer.
And she looked just like his secretary.
Jiang Cheng had had trouble concentrating on the words she was saying for a good part of his examination because he was so disturbed by this.
She had the same voice, the same mannerisms and the same gray hair. And despite the fact that she looked a little younger, because of that ageless and flawless face that many cultivators seemed to have around here, her features were similar.
It was really strange.
“Your Qi is surprisingly stable, Zongzhu, to be honest,” Yi Fànqia said. “I'd wait a few days before using it regularly, but I don't see anything that would represent a danger or obstruct its use.”
They were in the healing building, Jiang Cheng sitting on an examination bed. The woman dressed in black had left after making sure her sect leader arrived safely, and Jiang Bówén had stayed close by during the examination.
Jiang Bówén frowned at what the healer had just said. “Is using his energy to lift a sword considered 'too much'?”
“With how Zongzhu's doing today, it shouldn't, but having a Qi deviation can be hard on the mind and body,” Yi Fànqia replied. “To be honest, even if you're not yet able to lift your spiritual weapon, I'm amazed that you're doing so well after barely a day. Some people take weeks or even months to recover. But your Golden Core is already better, and your brain and other organs don't seem to have been affected. Your aura is even a tad brighter than before. A miracle, really.”
Jiang Cheng cleared his throat uncomfortably. Now that he was thinking about it, the woman had probed him; it was lucky she hadn't discovered anything more suspicious.
“Thank you, Yi Daifu,” he said before standing up.
The older woman gave him a smile. “You're also surprisingly polite and calm today! I hope it stays that way. You'll have to avoid stress in the future, if you don't want this to happen again!”
Avoid stress. When he had no power in a new, unknown cultivation world where he was supposed to be a sect leader.
Right.
“When Jin Zongzhu hears about your Qi deviation, he'll probably be angry to know that you're already up, Zongzhu,” Jiang Bówén said as the two men exited the healing building and stopped near a central path.
Jiang Cheng winced a little as he heard the same surname as his in-laws from his original world. Anything to remind him of what he'd just left behind, apparently.
And this person with that same family name wished he'd kicked the bucket with his Qi deviation? Wasn't that ironic?
“Well, I'm not going to die anytime soon, so the son of a bitch can shove his anger up his ass,” Jiang Cheng scoffed, hoping, however, that he wouldn't be murdered by one of his enemies in this world who had a grudge against him.
However, against all odds, Jiang Bówén startled at Jiang Cheng's words and looked at him with big, round, scandalized eyes.
“I...What do you- Sir!?” Jiang Bówén stammered, stunned. “You should know that Jin Zongzhu cares a great deal about you? You're his family? ....and I never thought you'd use...this kind of insult...”
Ah, shit.
Great! Jiang Cheng had probably just called an aunty close to him a “bitch”, now.
How was he supposed to get out of this?
“It's just an expression, Jiang Bówén, relax,” Jiang Cheng stated with all the conviction he could muster, even though he knew it wasn't excusing him as much as he would have liked.
There was a tense silence.
Other disciples passed by and greeted them in passing, but Jiang Cheng barely paid them any attention. Jiang Bówén was still standing still, staring at him strangely.
“I see,” the young man finally said, his expression stiffed. “Zongzhu, I really think you should go get some rest.”
This last sentence showed perfectly that Jiang Cheng's faux pas hadn't gone unnoticed, but at least Jiang Bówén wasn't going to dwell on it.
“I'd like to drop by my study first, pick up a few things,” Jiang Cheng said.
This was why he'd gone out in the first place, to get information, not for a show of weakness in front of teenagers and a visit to the infirmary. He needed to know what was going on in this world, or he was going to end up insulting other aunts unintentionally again.
“I thought you only wanted to get some fresh air, Zongzhu,” Jiang Bówén said, sounding a little disappointed.
“Well, I must reassure my...” Cousin? Half-brother? Friend? Was Sect Leader Jin family-family or friend-family-ish? Better not to make any more blunders. “I must reassure our dear Jin Zongzhu that I'm all right, mustn't I? I'd rather write to him myself, so I need to stop by my study.”
There was a second brief disapproving silence from Jiang Bówén, but he didn't argue and simply bowed to him.
“Very well,” Jiang Bówén said. “The meeting with the elders starts soon, so unfortunately I won't be able to accompany you. I'll ask for a disciple to stay with you, or I can send Sèsè-”
“No, that won't be necessary,” Jiang Cheng said. He wanted to do intensive research in Jiang Wanyin's study, so he didn't need another disciple wondering what the hell he was doing. “I'll be back in my bed in no time.”
Jiang Bówén didn't seem to believe him.
“Alright, have a good afternoon, Zongzhu,” Jiang Bówén said.
Jiang Bówén stayed in his position, not moving, and after a few seconds, Jiang Cheng realized he was waiting for his sect leader to leave before retreating himself.
Jiang Cheng hesitated for a fraction of a second, as he didn't know exactly where his study was, and headed off to the right at random, hoping it was the right direction.
But because the universe hated him, Jiang Bówén said; “Your study is on the other side, near your residences, Zongzhu? Were you going somewhere else?”
Jiang Cheng pressed his lips together, forcing himself not to turn back, and continued walking in the same direction with confidence. “Of course, I know! Jiang Bówén, are you my babysitter? Even if I'm ill, I think I'm free to move around and visit the kitchens if I want to, right?”
》{!WARNING! The cultivator Jiang Bówén is suspicious of you. (For your information, the main kitchens are also in the opposite direction). I'd advise you to be careful, as discovering your true identity will result in a penalty of 750 points per person,} the System suddenly said.
Damn it!
Two people discovered his secret and he was dead? He really needed to go to his damn study, brainstorm and make a fucking plan.
“Anyway, see you later,” he exclaimed, darting toward the nearest path.
Jiang Cheng didn't look back as he walked away, eager to be in a room where he could make less of a fool of himself.
But he could feel the Second in Command's gaze following him until he turned the corner of a building ahead.