Chapter 30: Do You Notice My Attention to Detail?

Chapter 30: Do You See How Attentive I Am?

“Oh my, from today onward, I can finally call myself a master in the Smiling Proud World…” Zheng Jian returned to his room, brimming with delight. The sensation brought by the perfection of the Purple Cloud Technique was truly unparalleled. Though his internal energy hadn’t grown much in quantity after the cleansing of his body, its quality had undergone a real transformation.

Violet mist-like true energy coursed through his limbs, bones, and meridians, a boundless and ceaseless vitality. His hearing and sight had improved remarkably—so much so that he could now hear the faint rustle of insects nibbling on the leaves outside his window.

Such are the benefits of refined power.

A realization dawned on Zheng Jian: if he were to unleash his strength now, he might even be a match for Elder Yue himself!

“My energy is pure enough, a qualitative leap has been made, but there’s still not enough of it… Looks like I’ll have to keep gathering strength as before, harvesting more fruits of inner power, and eat my way to becoming a true master!”

With these thoughts, Zheng Jian drifted off to sleep, his heart full of contentment.

…

The next day, Zheng Jian had barely stepped outside when he ran into Ruan Qiuqiu.

“Good morning, Brother Zheng!” Ruan Qiuqiu had been on Mount Hua for several days now and was slowly adapting to the place. Today, she wore a simple, elegant dress, looking fresh and charming.

But Zheng Jian was not one for normal pleasantries. “Morning? Can’t you see the sun’s already high in the sky?”

Ruan Qiuqiu was left speechless. What did I ever do to you?

Resentment from Ruan Qiuqiu: +100.

Despite her growing bitterness, she forced a smile and asked, “So, what are you up to? Off to practice?”

Seeing the points accruing, Zheng Jian beamed. “I’m preparing to breathe.”

Ruan Qiuqiu was speechless once more. “Could you try to be serious for once? I didn’t sleep well last night. I had a nightmare, woke up and cried until midnight…”

Zheng Jian blinked in surprise. “You cried? Until midnight? That precise? Were you keeping time while you cried? Why were you checking the time while sobbing?”

He couldn’t help but give himself a silent nod of approval for his attention to detail.

…

Ruan Qiuqiu felt her world spin. She had known he was difficult, but not this venomous!

Her eyes reddened. “You!”

She left just as quietly as she had come, the only difference being that, this morning, she departed with a belly full of frustration courtesy of Zheng Jian.

Resentment from Ruan Qiuqiu: +999.

Zheng Jian was both startled and delighted. So much at once!

He was thoroughly intoxicated by the thrill of accumulating resentment points. Why bother coaxing girls? They were the best source—just a few words, and the points poured in!

…

Yue Lingshan had just stepped outside when she spotted Ruan Qiuqiu by the edge of the woods, quietly wiping away tears.

Over the past couple of days, Yue Lingshan had come to feel sympathy for Ruan Qiuqiu. Since even she couldn’t win over their wooden-hearted senior brother, any previous hostility had faded, replaced by a sense of shared misfortune.

“Big sister Ruan, are you alright?” Yue Lingshan walked over, gently patted her on the back, and handed her a handkerchief.

When Ruan Qiuqiu turned around and saw Yue Lingshan’s concerned gaze, her heart brimmed with even more grievances, and she burst into tears anew.

Yue Lingshan grew flustered. She was usually the one being comforted by others—she’d never had to console anyone herself. At a loss, she stammered, “Big sister, don’t cry. What’s wrong? Tell me…”

But the more Ruan Qiuqiu thought about it, the sadder she became. After all, she was just an ordinary girl, unfamiliar with martial arts and a stranger to Mount Hua. She already felt like an outsider, and Zheng Jian was the only one she knew well. Because of this, she’d waited at his door first thing in the morning after not seeing him for days—only to be met with his usual sharp tongue. All her pent-up grievances erupted at once, and she simply couldn’t stop crying.

Yue Lingshan grew anxious. Suddenly, she understood how her senior brothers must have felt whenever she cried. “So this is what it’s like for them…”

Unable to comfort her but unwilling to leave her alone, Yue Lingshan simply stayed by her side.

After a while, Ruan Qiuqiu’s sobs subsided. She lifted her tear-stained face to Yue Lingshan. “Thank you, Lingshan. I’m sorry for troubling you.”

Yue Lingshan shook her head. “No need to be formal, sister. Since you’ve come to Mount Hua, this is your home now. So long as you’re not sad anymore… But why were you crying so bitterly?”

Choking back tears, Ruan Qiuqiu recounted what had just happened. Yue Lingshan nearly burst out laughing but restrained herself, not wanting to upset her further.

…

At the end, Ruan Qiuqiu asked, “Lingshan, why is Brother Zheng like this…”

Yue Lingshan could hold back no longer and spoke with a barely suppressed smile, “Sister, you’ve just not known Senior Brother long enough. In time, you’ll see just how sharp-tongued he can be! Everyone on Mount Hua, even my own father, has been driven mad by him. He never speaks nicely to anyone! Except my mother—there’s no one on this mountain not afraid of his tongue…”

Ruan Qiuqiu’s eyes widened. “Really? It’s that bad?”

“Really, why would I lie? Senior Brother loves to tease people. He once tricked me about raising fish. He told me the secret: pay attention to one-three-five-seven. Feed them once a day, change the water every three days, clean the tank every five… And guess what the seven stands for?” said Yue Lingshan with a grin.

“What?” Ruan Qiuqiu’s curiosity got the better of her, and she forgot to cry.

“Every seven days, change the fish!” Yue Lingshan couldn’t help but laugh after recounting it.

Ruan Qiuqiu giggled through her tears. “He really is a scoundrel!”

“Exactly! I was so mad I cried on the spot… See? His mouth never has anything nice to say!” Yue Lingshan recalled, wishing she could give Zheng Jian a good scolding.

“So that’s what Brother Zheng is like…” Hearing all this, Ruan Qiuqiu’s grievances seemed to melt away. “If even someone as sweet and lovely as you can be teased by him, he really is a blockhead—and a big meanie!”

Yue Lingshan crinkled her little nose in agreement. “Exactly! Even someone as pretty as you gets teased. He really is a blockhead—and a big meanie!”

In the shadows, Zheng Jian, who had been secretly watching the entire time, saw Ruan Qiuqiu smile again and finally relaxed. The system had been notifying him nonstop: Resentment from Ruan Qiuqiu +10, +10, +10…

Now, though, it was a one-off: Resentment from Ruan Qiuqiu +100, Resentment from Yue Lingshan +100.

Seeing the smile return to Ruan Qiuqiu’s face, the last traces of guilt in Zheng Jian’s heart vanished. He touched his nose, murmuring, “Blockhead, big meanie…” Smiling to himself, he turned and slipped quietly away.

…

Second update delivered. Another round of votes, please.

(End of chapter)