Chapter 85: Are You Sure Your Surname Isn't Zhu and Your Name Isn't Odd
Mount Hua, Cliff of Reflection.
Zheng Jian sat cross-legged atop a boulder at the edge of the precipice, silently regulating his breath.
It was already May; only a little over a month remained before the appointed duel.
“Sigh, I really feel like a jilted, abandoned woman right now…” Zheng Jian lamented, gazing at the thriving grass and trees by the cliff, his eyes brimming with resentment.
“I’ve been abandoned by the system… That wretched system… What would be the right word here?” Zheng Jian was at a bit of a loss.
Ever since he drew the Innate Skill Manual, the system had grown cold toward him, just like lovers in a spat after a heated romance. Since then, the system hadn’t given him anything worthwhile.
Now, Zheng Jian had amassed several thousand Resentment Points in the system’s backend, but there was nothing to exchange them for. This feeling of having a fortune but nowhere to spend it…
It was truly unbearable.
“I refuse to believe this!” Zheng Jian couldn’t help but open the system’s exchange shop. “If the system won’t cooperate, I’ll force something useful out today! I’ll refresh until I do!”
Refresh. Refresh. Refresh…
Several times in a row, only items Zheng Jian found beneath his notice appeared. At his current level, ordinary martial arts skills were pointless; he urgently needed something that could directly enhance his combat abilities.
On the seventh refresh, perhaps the system relented. At last, an item appeared in the exchange shop that satisfied him somewhat.
“Tearstain Sword, a divine blade forged by Master Xiao, the legendary swordsman. Price: 5,000 Resentment Points.”
Zheng Jian was at first delighted, then vexed.
He hadn’t expected it—perhaps he’d spent too much already. The system, though not granting him the supreme internal skill he most coveted, had presented him with a legendary sword.
The Tearstain Sword, from Gu Long’s “Heroes Shed No Tears,” was forged by the renowned Master Xiao—a peerless treasure. A mark resembling a tear streak runs along the back of the blade. Legend says that when it was first cast, it was so ominous that even gods and ghosts shied away; whenever drawn, it must taste blood, and the person closest to Master Xiao would be sacrificed at its birth. Appalled, Master Xiao wept, and his tears fell upon the sword, becoming the very tearstain that gave the sword its name.
The joy was in the draw of such a divine weapon—if he could obtain it, his strength would surely soar. After all, wielding a common steel sword versus a legendary blade was a world of difference.
The sword Zheng Jian usually used was merely a well-crafted tempered steel sword, nothing worthy of being called a famous blade. But the Tearstain Sword could truly be called a weapon of the gods. Its beauty was also exceptional—Zheng Jian even thought to himself that, yes, this sword’s looks matched his own—a perfect pair!
But the vexation was simple: it was expensive!
Five thousand Resentment Points, and after seven refreshes costing him 3,500, he now had just over 2,300 left—not even half of what he needed. What was he to do…
His mood crashed.
Zheng Jian immediately felt the system was targeting him.
When he had money, nothing he wanted was available; now that he was broke, something he truly coveted appeared. Was this not targeting him?
“No choice now, I’ll have to work hard to gather more points…” Zheng Jian muttered. For a sword as beautiful as himself, he’d go all out.
…
“Hahahaha! Brother Zheng, so this is where you are. You’ve made it quite a hunt for me…” Laughter rang out, accompanied by the sound of someone slicing through the air.
Soon, two figures landed atop the cliff before Zheng Jian.
Zheng Jian glanced up. Well, wasn’t that Xiang Wentian… and beside him, a veiled woman with a shapely figure—quite a sight.
“Deputy Xiang, what wind blows the great luminary of the Sun and Moon Cult to Mount Hua today? And as for the lady beside you…” Zheng Jian grinned. “Wait, let me guess.”
Xiang Wentian had been about to introduce Ren Yingying, but hearing this, he paused. He’d come to seek Zheng Jian’s alliance, worried that their meeting might come to blows. But thus far, things seemed off to a decent start?
Zheng Jian cocked his head, thinking for a moment, then probed, “May I ask, miss, is your surname Zhu and your given name ‘No Way’?”
Ren Yingying was momentarily stunned, silently repeating the name to herself, then flew into a rage!
“Resentment Points from Ren Yingying +999.”
“I am Ren Yingying, not Zhu Noway!” she blurted out, her cheeks flushed beneath the veil. As the Saintess of the Sun and Moon Cult, when had anyone ever provoked her so?
“Oh…” Zheng Jian replied meaningfully, “So you’re not a pig… are you sure?”
Xiang Wentian’s expression became odd. He’d missed the implication at first, but now realized that this guy had set a verbal trap for Ren Yingying right off the bat…
Ren Yingying quickly caught on and stammered, “I am a pig—no, I’m not a pig! Wait, that’s not right either…”
“Resentment Points from Ren Yingying +999.”
Zheng Jian was secretly delighted—just moments ago, he’d been wondering where to get more Resentment Points, and now a prime target had appeared right before him. It was like someone offering a pillow when you’re dozing off—a most welcome customer.
“Miss, pay him no mind. This fellow’s tongue is truly venomous. The Cult Leader and I have both suffered at his hands,” Xiang Wentian said with a wry smile, stopping Ren Yingying’s flustered fretting.
Ren Yingying was genuinely infuriated and regretted ever deciding to tag along. She hadn’t even introduced herself and was already being driven to distraction by this man’s antics.
“Brother Zheng, this is not some… Noway. She is our Cult’s Saintess, the daughter of our leader, Ren Yingying. Miss Ren, this is the ‘Heaven-Restoring Swordsman,’ Zheng Jian,” Xiang Wentian explained, trying to smooth things over. He feared that if this continued, Ren Yingying would cough up blood from sheer annoyance.
Zheng Jian grinned mischievously. “So it’s Miss Ren. With that veil, no wonder I almost took you for Miss Noway…”
“Resentment Points from Ren Yingying +800.”
Ren Yingying’s temples throbbed with anger—she was about to explode. With such a fine figure, was this man blind?
She simply walked to the side, ignoring Zheng Jian. She realized his ability to provoke was greater even than his martial arts.
Having gathered enough points from Ren Yingying, Zheng Jian now felt much more at ease. He lazily drawled, “Deputy Xiang, let’s not beat around the bush. The two of you sneaking up Mount Hua to find me—what exactly brings you here?”
Xiang Wentian felt a pang of frustration. Sneaking? Could he not just speak plainly?
“Resentment Points from Xiang Wentian +200.”
“Brother Zheng, you must have received the challenge from Blackwood Cliff already?” Xiang Wentian decided to get straight to the point, fearing that if the conversation went on, he’d die of vexation before accomplishing anything.
“Yes, I’ve received it. By now, I’m afraid the entire martial world knows,” Zheng Jian replied, glancing at Xiang Wentian, already having guessed most of his intentions.
…