Chapter 15: Fading Into the Ordinary
"Looks like I arrived too early."
After asking around, Ye Cheng realized that Shrek Academy's enrollment period hadn't officially started yet.
He figured that Ning Rongrong who had run away from home was probably still sightseeing along the way, taking her time getting here.
"I wonder where Tang San and the others are now."
Curious, Ye Cheng accessed his long unused system, and a translucent screen appeared before his eyes visible only to him.
[Role Playing System]
Create a persona. The more people believe in it and feel shock, admiration, or fear toward it, the more real it becomes!
Current Persona: Twin Martial Souls Ye Cheng (100%)
Previously Played Persona: Twin Martial Souls Ye Cheng
[External Plugin: Live Stream Spoiler System 50% Unlocked]
(Current absorption rate insufficient, only low level permissions available can freely ask questions, create and alter video content, set rewards and punishments for Q&A. However, user cannot claim rewards. Full control requires 100% unlock.)
Looking at the unchanged statistics on his system panel, Ye Cheng focused his thoughts and selected "Live Stream Spoiler System."
A new menu appeared Edit, View, Simulate…
These were the functions he had gained after reaching 50% control over the system.
Without hesitation, Ye Cheng clicked "View", and a search bar popped up.
He typed in: "Ning Rongrong."
Immediately, over 600 search results appeared.
"This means there are more than 600 people named Ning Rongrong in this world?"
Narrowing his search, Ye Cheng added more details "Ning Rongrong, eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
Now
Only one result remained.
Clicking it, a video screen appeared
Like a TV player, it displayed a live feed of Ning Rongrong's current location.
The video showed a lively, bustling street.
A young girl, dressed in elegant robes, strolled through the marketplace, casually browsing various trinkets.
Her expression was relaxed as if she had all the time in the world.
At the edge of the screen, a location name was displayed
Ye Cheng's brows furrowed slightly.
"She's still that far away?"
After some quick calculations, he realized
At this rate, she wouldn't arrive for another month.
"Which means… Shrek Academy's enrollment is probably a month from now."
"Since I have time, I might as well check on the others."
Now intrigued, Ye Cheng closed the video and typed in another name
"Tang San of the Tang Sect."
Since his search criteria were detailed, only one result appeared.
Clicking it, the video feed showed a blacksmith shop.
A young man with ordinary features, drenched in sweat, was hammering away at a piece of metal.
Around him, several half finished hidden weapons were scattered about.
"So that's Tang San. Still forging weapons… Looks like he hasn't set out yet, or maybe he's making final preparations."
Ye Cheng closed the video and moved on.
This time, he typed
"Shrek's Ma Hongjun."
The screen loaded
And
Ye Cheng's expression twitched.
The scene was… not suitable for children.
The video displayed a dimly lit room.
Two women, one man.
The man was young probably in his early teens fat, sweaty, and looked rather repulsive.
The two women?
Both were at least in their thirties.
One of them could even pass for forty.
"…Wow."
Ye Cheng's lips twitched.
"Heavy taste. More like desperate."
Shaking his head, he quickly closed the video.
Next, he entered
"Zhu Zhuqing."
Sixty results appeared.
Adding "Xingluo Zhu Clan" to the search
Only one result remained.
He clicked
And the moment the video loaded
Ye Cheng's pupils shrank.
The video displayed a secluded pool of water.
A young girl stood at its edge, slowly untying her robes…
Of course
That wasn't what caught Ye Cheng's attention.
What did
Was the bloodstains on her torn clothing.
Her robes were ripped in multiple places, her figure battered and bruised.
Fresh blood seeped from her wounds, staining the water's surface as she silently washed herself.
"This was… a battle."
Ye Cheng narrowed his eyes.
Judging by her injuries, her wounds were clearly inflicted by spirit masters.
"Was she ambushed by assassins sent by her sister?"
He frowned, recalling the original story.
The novel never detailed the dangers Zhu Zhuqing faced on her journey from Xingluo Empire to Heaven Dou Empire.
But
It hinted that she had been hunted repeatedly by assassins sent by her elder sister.
Somehow
She had survived, purely by luck.
Now
Ye Cheng watched the girl silently treating her wounds, her cold expression tinged with pain.
She looked like a wounded kitten.
Alone, licking her wounds both pitiful and endearing.
Anyone who saw this scene would undoubtedly feel sympathy for her.
And Ye Cheng
Was no exception.
But
For him
These female characters from the original story were more than just ordinary women.
To him, they were special almost like the waifus of a fantasy world.
As for other women?
Those who weren't part of the original story?
To him
They were nothing but forgettable extras.
"Zhu Zhuqing, huh…"
Ye Cheng watched the girl bite her lip as she endured the pain, treating her wounds alone in the wilderness.
His voice softened
"Such a good girl… It's a shame her original fate was wasted on Dai Mubai."
At the start of Douluo Dalu, Zhu Zhuqing had left an incredibly strong impression on Ye Cheng.
She was
Strong. Determined. Independent.
Fearless in the face of destiny.
She had traveled thousands of miles alone just to find her fiancé and fight against their arranged fate.
She shined brighter than anyone else.
But
As the story progressed…
Due to her lack of talent and opportunities, she slowly faded away.
In the end…
She became nothing more than a side character, a background figure supporting Dai Mubai.
She was wasted.
Her only real contribution to the team?
Providing Dai Mubai with a Martial Soul Fusion Ability.
That was it.
At the time, when Ye Cheng read this part of the novel
He had felt like Zhu Zhuqing's character had "died."
But now
He looked at the wounded, lonely girl in the video.
And
He made a decision.
"Dai Mubai? Get lost."
"This kitten is mine."
(Chapter End)
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