Chapter 5: Time to Start Cashing In

Chapter 5: Time to Start Reaping Benefits

Zheng Jian gazed at his system panel, a ripple of excitement stirring within him.

"What a shame I only have 10 Resentment Points. To buy anything from the shop, I’m still a long, long way off..." As Zheng Jian pondered, his mind was already churning with schemes to reap some easy gains.

Just then, another chime echoed in his mind.

“Negative emotions from Lao Denuo +10, +10, +10.”

Well now, in an instant, Zheng Jian’s balance had increased by 30 Resentment Points. Clearly, that remark he’d made earlier today had really gotten under Lao Denuo’s skin.

Zheng Jian felt a surge of delight.

“Should I take a look at the lottery wheel?”

The thought, once born, spread like wildfire, leaving Zheng Jian wrestling with indecision.

“I’ll just take a look. I won’t spin it yet. It couldn’t hurt just to look, right?” He convinced himself and tapped open the lottery wheel. The wheel was divided into numerous indistinct segments, the details blurred and unreadable. There was only a pointer, a button, and a small line of text beside it: "First time free."

Zheng Jian’s spirits soared—free! There was no way he could lose by trying.

He pressed the button, and the wheel began to spin, faster and faster.

“Stop!” Zheng Jian shouted in his mind.

The wheel gradually slowed, slower and slower, until finally the pointer came to rest. Zheng Jian squinted to see—and immediately burst out in anger.

“Thank you for participating!”

What the hell! Even this dog of a lottery has a “Thank you for participating”!

The free try was gone now, and the next spin cost 10 Resentment Points.

Unwilling to believe his luck was so bad, Zheng Jian, remembering he still had 40 points, pressed the start button again.

As the wheel spun, Zheng Jian silently prayed to all the gods and immortals in the heavens, then shouted abruptly, “Stop!”

The wheel halted. This time, the pointer did not land on “Thank you for participating,” but on “Comprehension +1.”

Instantly, Zheng Jian was overjoyed. To actually draw an increase in comprehension—wasn’t this the luck of the gods?

Riding this wave of fortune, Zheng Jian decided to try again, but reality promptly gave him a slap—the next result was “Thank you for participating” once more. When he tried yet again, he discovered his Resentment Points were depleted.

It turned out, the first spin cost 10 points, the second 20, and the third an astounding 40. Zheng Jian’s balance had dwindled to just 10 points.

Left with no choice, Zheng Jian exited the lottery wheel and glanced at the Resentment Income panel. It displayed his earnings in detail, much like the itemized statements from his previous life.

…

Withdrawing his mind from the system, Zheng Jian felt his thoughts grow clearer. He recalled the sword techniques Elder Yue had taught that day and realized his understanding had deepened—an uncanny sensation.

He knew this was due to the “Comprehension +1” he’d drawn. For a martial artist, comprehension was crucial. The highly gifted, so-called geniuses, learned instantly and grasped the essence of techniques at a glance—like Linghu Chong in the original story, who effortlessly mastered the Nine Swords of Dugu. Those less gifted, like Hero Guo, had to grind through with sheer perseverance, advancing inch by inch—a tireless genius, as they say.

Of course, Zheng Jian wanted to be the former. Tireless genius sounded admirable, but the sweat and toil behind it were far beyond ordinary effort. Whether it was Emperor Kai or Little Li, that kind of day-in, day-out labor was not something Zheng Jian could imitate.

Otherwise, he’d have already been running around Mount Hua with sandbags strapped to his legs...

"Ah, the road to reaping benefits is long and arduous..."

With a sigh, Zheng Jian resolved that starting tomorrow, he would become a warm and enthusiastic presence—facing the sea, embracing spring, letting everyone on Mount Hua feel his gentle breeze. He’d gather more and more Resentment Points, striving to one day purchase the Inner Power Fruit. That was something he truly looked forward to. Although his system was a bit mischievous, its wares should be trustworthy. After all, with overpowered effects like “Comprehension +1,” the Inner Power Fruit, priced at five hundred points, was bound to be extraordinary.

…

The next morning, Zheng Jian rose bright and early, breaking free from the clutches of the Duvet Monster.

After completing morning lessons, he was about to head to Reflection Cliff to complete his daily task when someone suddenly appeared in front of him. Looking closely, he saw it was Lao Denuo.

“Junior Brother Lao, what brings you here?” Zheng Jian smiled cheerfully.

A flicker of anger flashed across Lao Denuo’s face, but he quickly forced a smile. “I heard Senior Brother has begun practicing swordplay. I’ve come to ask for your guidance. I hope you won’t be too stingy with your teachings.”

Zheng Jian immediately understood—this was vengeance for yesterday! He’d known Lao Denuo was a spy, but only last night did he realize how deeply the man held grudges. Otherwise, how could he have still been generating Resentment Points hours later?

Lao Denuo had joined Mount Hua with skills already in hand. At this stage, in terms of deadly combat ability, none of the Mount Hua disciples could match him.

But this wasn’t a life-or-death duel, and there was no way Lao Denuo would dare use the Songshan Sword Technique here.

Zheng Jian’s eyes flickered. With a sly grin, he said, “No, I’m quite stingy.”

With that, he turned and left without another word.

Lao Denuo’s face flushed from pale to red and back again. Zheng Jian didn’t see it, but the steady stream of Resentment Points flooding his mind told him all he needed—the man was on the verge of a breakdown.

“+10, +10, +10, +10…”

Ignoring the exploding mindset of Lao Denuo, Zheng Jian made his way to little Ling Shan Yue. He’d noticed earlier that the little girl seemed out of sorts.

“What’s wrong, Little Sister?” Zheng Jian asked with concern.

Ling Shan Yue looked up at him, lips trembling, and said dejectedly, “Senior Brother, I fell out of bed last night, and now it hurts.”

“…Hahahahaha.” Zheng Jian couldn’t help himself—was this little sister trying to be a comedian?

“You’re laughing at me… I’m really hurting…” she protested.

“So… is the floor alright?” Zheng Jian blurted out, wondering if the little girl’s internal energy training might have left a dent in the ground.

Ling Shan Yue stared blankly for a moment, then burst into tears.

“Resentment from Ling Shan Yue +10, +10, +10…”

At this point, any ordinary transmigrator would be rushing to comfort the little girl, but Zheng Jian was not ordinary. In a gentle tone he said, “Little Sister, you must take good care of yourself… If anything happens to you, Master and Mistress won’t be able to have a second child.”

Ling Shan Yue was stunned, even forgetting to cry.

“+10, +10, +10…”

Zheng Jian was overjoyed. Only last night he’d been penniless, and now he was on the road to fortune.

“Daddy, Senior Brother is bullying me…” Ling Shan Yue suddenly called out.

Zheng Jian jolted with alarm. If Elder Yue were to catch him red-handed, he’d be dead on the spot! He instantly leaped two zhang away, glanced back—no sign of Elder Yue—and saw Ling Shan Yue breaking into delighted, vengeful laughter.

…

The little rascal was picking up bad habits so quickly...

Zheng Jian felt a pang of melancholy.

…

(End of Chapter)