Chapter 40

Hidden weapons rained down like a torrential downpour, blanketing the area and turning several stubborn, troublesome foes into veritable "porcupines."

Watching life after vibrant life fade away, Jiang Sishui couldn't help but swallow hard, his heart unable to find peace.

The martial world is not just about swift revenge and satisfaction; it is accompanied by countless perils and cruelties.

The saying that human lives are as worthless as weeds is no idle exaggeration.

Without the System in his possession, he would likely have found it extremely difficult to take even a single step in this world.

Even knowing the locations where divine arts are hidden does not guarantee one will live to retrieve them; one might suffer a tragic accident halfway there and die on the spot.

Time slipped away slowly amidst the thousand and one thoughts swirling in Jiang Sishui's mind, and before he knew it, the sun began to sink toward the west.

By the time the battling crowds had determined victory and defeat and dispersed, twilight was already approaching.

The escort convoy was able to press on, increasing its pace somewhat in hopes of finding a suitable place to lodge for the night.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao was fairly familiar with this area and knew that if they maintained a swift enough speed, they could still reach the next inn before nightfall.

However, contrary to his expectations, the road ahead proved difficult to traverse.

Not only were sharp, jagged rocks scattered everywhere, but thorny brambles also lay across the roadside from time to time, while signs of combat were visible all around.

Judging by the scene, it appeared an ambush had taken place here.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao sighed; it seemed they would have to camp in the wild tonight.

Just as he was thinking this, after traveling for another small half-hour, an old, dilapidated manor suddenly appeared ahead.

Its walls were cracked and entwined with vines; the interior was pitch black, devoid of any lamplight, cold and desolate, without a trace of human presence.

Clearly, this place had been abandoned for a long time.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao addressed the group: "We will stay here tonight."

No one objected; they all agreed readily.

Zhao Zhao Tianhao ordered the escort guards to spread out and inspect the entire manor; once they confirmed it was safe, they moved in.

Afterwards, they brought out their supplies, lit a fire to cook, and ate and drank their fill.

After the meal, except for those assigned to rotate night watch, the rest went to rest.

Jiang Sishui found a relatively clean room, spread out his bedding and blankets, lay down, and began writing today's diary entry.

[Today I encountered two individuals, both around twenty-five years of age, yet both already Grandmasters, currently competing in lightness skill and footwork.]

[One a handsome young master, the other an ugly monk.]

[Originally, I did not recognize them, but upon seeing that ugly monk, I knew instantly without even thinking who he was.]

[A young monk, so ugly, yet dull-witted and simple-minded, appearing honest and kind-hearted, unpretentious and pure, unlike many of those gluttonous, hypocritical bald donkeys...]

[Among all the martial arts works I know, there is only one such person: Xu Zhu.]

[Xu Zhu is one of the three main protagonists of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils," and also the character with the most absurd cheat-like advantages in the book, even more so than Duan Yu; hailed as the author's "biological son," he enjoys immense favor.]

[However, isn't this kid supposed to rise to prominence only after accidentally solving the "Zhenlong Chess Formation" and receiving the transmission of power from Wu Wu Ya Zi?]

[Since the "Zhenlong Chess Assembly" has not yet begun, how has he already become a Grandmaster?]

"That little monk is actually one of the main protagonists of 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils'?"

Inside the inn, Sister Sister Abi covered her mouth and gasped softly, her face filled with astonishment.

Based on the previous content of Jiang Sishui's diary, she, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan, and Sister Sister Azhu were all characters from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

She never expected that the ugly monk they had seen during the day came from the same book as them, and was moreover a protagonist!

How could she not be shocked?

"That little monk doesn't look very bright; how could he possibly solve the 'Zhenlong Chess Formation'?" Sister Sister Abi asked, deeply curious.

Although the diary stated he solved it accidentally, she could not fathom how such an "accident" could occur.

Since leaving home, Wang Wang Wang Yuyan had been staying with the two women; hearing this, she said, "Since he is a protagonist and hailed as the 'author's biological son,' he naturally possesses his own fortuitous encounters."

Upon hearing this, Sister Sister Abi nodded.

Suddenly sensing the quiet, she realized Sister Sister Azhu was sitting alone in a daze: "Sister Sister Sister Azhu, what is wrong?"

Sister Sister Azhu glanced at her and said, "Haven't you noticed?"

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan and Sister Sister Abi exchanged glances and shook their heads: "Noticed what?"

Sister Sister Azhu pointed at the diary copy: "The relationship between this Xu Zhu and Ye Ye Erniang!"

The relationship between Xu Zhu and Ye Ye Erniang?

The two women recalled carefully and were suddenly startled: "Xu Zhu is Ye Ye Erniang's son!"

Sister Sister Azhu nodded her beautiful head slightly: "The diary's author once said that since he could not deal with Ye Ye Erniang for now, he would first go and snatch the fortuitous encounter belonging to her son."

"Clearly, the fortuitous encounter he referred to is the transmission of power from Wu Wu Ya Zi."

"And he just stated that Xu Zhu, this protagonist of 'Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils,' rose to prominence by solving the 'Zhenlong Chess Formation'; therefore, isn't the fortuitous encounter he stole originally meant for Xu Zhu?"

"So..."

Speaking to this point, Sister Sister Azhu stopped.

Wang Wang Wang Yuyan and Sister Sister Abi looked at each other in surprise, never expecting that a woman who committed all manner of evils could give birth to a son of such benevolent character.

The ways of the world are truly bizarre.

At the same time, it was not just Sister Sister Azhu; many intelligent and perceptive women, connecting the context, arrived at the same realization.

[Could it be because the current Shaolin Sect is incomparable to the one in the original work, filled with countless talented individuals, thus they discovered Xu Zhu's martial arts aptitude and heavily cultivated him?]

[That makes sense; although Xu Zhu is somewhat dull and simple, and was even scolded as a 'stupid monk' multiple times by Tianshan Tonglao Wu Xingyun, that depends on who he is compared to.]

[Compared to the other two protagonists, Helmsman Qiao Feng and Duan Yu, he naturally falls short, but compared to ordinary people, he far surpasses them.]

[Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to have just learned lightness skill and immediately applied it, yet still manage to evade Li Li Qiushui's pursuit for a time.]

[One must remember that Li Li Qiushui's cultivation was no inferior to Xu Zhu's at that time.]

[And the 'Six Yang Palms of Tianshan' and the 'Plum-Branch Breaking Hand of Tianshan' were both profound martial arts, yet he mastered them all within just over two months.]

[This shows that Xu Zhu's martial talent was not weak; it was merely that the Shaolin Sect lacked discernment, failed to recognize talent, and wasted his potential from childhood.]

[In this world, he was fortunate enough to meet a connoisseur of talent and cultivate into a Grandmaster, which is only to be expected.]

Xinzhou, Tianshan, Spirit Vulture Palace.

The four sword-maids Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum gathered together, looking at each other in dismay.

"Old Ancestor taught that ugly monk the 'Six Yang Palms of Tianshan' and the 'Plum-Branch Breaking Hand of Tianshan'? How is that possible?"

"Li Li Qiushui? That is Old Ancestor's sworn enemy!"

"What exactly happened in between?"

"Alas, if only Old Ancestor also had a diary duplicate."

Bamboo Sword suddenly sighed, and the four maids fell silent.

After learning that Wu Xingyun did not possess a diary duplicate, they had checked her score—

[Character: Wu Xingyun (Heavenly Mountain Grandmother)]

[Appearance: 8]

[Favorability: 6]

As for the four of them, their scores were identical, all being—

[Character: Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, Chrysanthemum]

[Appearance: 9]

[Favorability: 8]

Seeing this result, all four maids felt regretful.

In their view, Old Ancestor was far more beautiful than they were; at least regarding her face alone, all four maids admitted they could not compare.

It was a pity that Old Ancestor's body was that of a child.

The head of a young woman atop the body of an eight or nine-year-old girl... even though Wu Xingyun was naturally beautiful with excellent foundations, it inevitably created some disharmony.

Furthermore, Wu Xingyun was nearly a hundred years old, and her voice had long lost the clear tenderness of her youth, thus lowering her appearance score.

Otherwise, her appearance score would undoubtedly be perfect.

In that case, she would have been able to obtain a diary duplicate.

Plum Sword suddenly said, "Perhaps we will receive rewards in the future and cure Old Ancestor."

Orchid Sword's eyes lit up, and she agreed, "Exactly! Once Old Ancestor's body is restored, she will surely obtain a diary duplicate."

"It is a pity we do not know when he will finally mention us," Bamboo Sword said, pouring cold water on their hopes.

Chrysanthemum Sword proposed, "Old Ancestor will enter secluded cultivation soon; why don't Third Sister and I go down the mountain to find him?"