Chapter 122

Chapter 122



When they saw Shi Cheng again, it had already been over a month.

Everyone, including Xue Hao and the others, was shocked to see their companion bouncing back so energetically.

They were both surprised and curious – amazed that he actually came back, and wondering why that mysterious extraordinary had taken an interest in him.

“I’ve thought about it many times, but I can’t figure out what’s so special about you. How did you end up with the plot of being instantly accepted as a disciple by a mysterious master?” Xue Hao bluntly criticized. “Is it because of your severe chuunibyou?”

Shi Cheng chuckled. “Well, I wasn’t actually taken as a disciple. But I did learn quite a bit from Teacher Joey.” Even though he had only been fortunate enough to follow him for about a month.

“As for what he saw in me...”

“To be honest, I don’t know either.”

He joked self-deprecatingly, “Maybe it’s because I’m particularly efficient at washing vegetables, chopping them, and cleaning up the scene to destroy evidence?”



Xue Hao and the others: “???!!!”

Seeing his companions’ horrified expressions, Shi Cheng frantically waved his hands. “Don’t take it seriously, I’m just joking!”

He definitely didn’t want to be taken to the Special Case Investigation Team’s interrogation room for questioning just because of a silly joke.

Although he was internally reluctant, Shi Cheng eventually ended up having tea with the Investigation Team, albeit after being very politely invited. After all, how could the Investigation Team, which was constantly monitoring the situation, not be aware of Shi Cheng’s return?

They had too many questions that urgently needed his answers.

Shi Cheng didn’t hide anything. He had anticipated being questioned by the Investigation Team and had asked Joey beforehand what he should and shouldn’t say. Joey’s response had been that it didn’t matter.

Therefore, Shi Cheng didn’t care either.

Compared to joking around with his companions, his attitude became much more serious when facing the Investigation Team’s questions.

“Actually, the true situation was...”

Shi Cheng’s mind drifted slightly as his memory returned to that day.

That must have been the biggest turning point in his destiny—

When he woke up from that illusory beautiful dream and realized he was temporarily safe, the first feelings that surged in Shi Cheng’s heart weren’t tension or fear, nor relief or joy, but rather a deep sense of unwillingness and loss.

The arrival of Joey, the mysterious extraordinary, had seemingly plunged everyone into an illusory dream. But the more omnipotent he had been in the dream, the more powerless he felt upon waking to reality!

When surrounded by the kidnappers, all he could do was place his hopes on the Ji siblings, An Xiaoxi, and the yet-to-arrive Investigation Team’s rescue. The only thing he could do was try not to become a hostage and burden them.

This fact was a huge shock to Shi Cheng.

In a sense, he had believed in the extraordinary aspects of this world since childhood and had always yearned to uncover the truth of the real world. To others, he might have appeared to be an adult still trapped in chuunibyou fantasies. But unlike most people who merely daydreamed, he had taken action – teaching himself numerous Taoist classics and ancient texts, mastering knowledge that he didn’t really need to know... He should have been proud of accomplishing all this.

Indeed, Shi Cheng had always harbored an overly chuunibyou notion that “I am different.” He seemed to have possessed self-confidence and self-esteem far beyond ordinary people since childhood, though it was hidden behind his eccentric behavior.

But now, reality proved that not only was he not the protagonist who saved everyone in crucial moments, he was instead the burden who held others back. This undoubtedly dealt a massive blow to his self-esteem and confidence, making him deeply unwilling to accept it.

Especially since times had changed...

Extraordinary opportunities had appeared before everyone. The Ji siblings, Ji Heng and Ji Nian, were prime examples of those lucky enough to receive miraculous encounters. Even An Xiaoxi, an ordinary person, had performed a “transformation” right in front of him. Yet he alone was left outside the door, still forced to remain an ordinary mortal. How could he possibly accept this!

Continuing like this, Shi Cheng had already foreseen his hopeless future...

The moment he woke from the dream, an overwhelming sense of disparity enveloped him, nearly driving him to despair.

Until he saw Joey’s departing figure.

— This was undoubtedly an extraordinarily powerful being beyond imagination. While others only saw the terrifying way he made the criminals kill each other without batting an eye, Shi Cheng saw his power and mystery.

In a flash of inspiration, before Shi Cheng could even process his own thoughts, an intense obsession of not being content with living an ordinary life drove his actions—

In other words, even if Joey agreed to his impulsive request and gave him a chance to access another type of extraordinary power, he still wouldn’t give up trying martial arts. Anyone who knew this would think he was being ridiculous, right?

Especially such a dangerous extraordinary – if Joey felt that Shi Cheng looked down on his path or suspected him of having ulterior motives from the start, being rejected would be the best outcome. Worse, he might be done for right then and there?

Shi Cheng had completely given up hope.

He lowered his head.

But Joey’s response was unexpected.

“Ah, I understand completely.” Under the flowing black hair, that pale face that seemed to have walked out of an oil painting suddenly bloomed with an indescribable smile. “...Having absolutely no talent, yet insisting on forcibly taking an unsuitable path, wanting to surpass those so-called talented ones as a mediocre person deemed to have no aptitude, to be acknowledged, looked up to, followed by those who come after... Such thoughts are completely understandable.”

—Because that was exactly what he himself had done!

****

[...The moment he understood Shi Cheng’s thoughts, Joey, who had initially viewed this impulsive wannabe disciple as just another ordinary person seeking extraordinary power and had no interest, suddenly felt a hint of anticipation.]

[This person’s obsession with martial arts had moved him slightly.]

[Some people, when rejected by an unsuitable door, would simply melt that door and create a new one. Some would stubbornly insist on pushing through that door no matter what, proving all judgments of unsuitability wrong. And some would not only persist stubbornly but even forcibly twist that door into their own shape.]

[Pei Hefeng was the first type, Shi Cheng was the second. And Joey was undoubtedly the last type.]

[Despite having no talent whatsoever and being deemed incapable of becoming an artist, he had never thought of giving up. Even if it meant using “unorthodox methods” and taking a completely non-mainstream path of “depression,” even destroying the dreams of many traditional artists’ hearts, the end result was that he had succeeded.]



[Using his alternative depressive art, he had claimed the divine title that all artists dreamed of, and even forcibly carved out a new, twisted branch on the existing path, making those people acknowledge and even learn his depressive art, no matter how much they disliked it or were unwilling to accept it.]

[...And Shi Cheng’s stubborn persistence with martial arts, while appearing thick-headed to others, happened to match Joey’s taste perfectly. Perhaps this was a case of one obsessive person recognizing another?]

[He decided to keep this interesting person by his side temporarily, to see just how far they could go. If they could meet his expectations, offering some guidance wouldn’t be out of the question.]

In a place hidden from Shi Cheng’s view, the black Puppet Master’s diary pages fluttered, as someone wrote a new script stroke by stroke.

“Well, I suppose this fits Joey’s character setting.”

Bai Yi indicated that he always stayed true to his alternate identity’s character setting.

“...Perfect, since Joey’s personality would never allow him to actively engage with officials or reveal information, we can use this volunteer who came knocking as a bridge to spread some appropriate information.”

“...Letting them investigate on their own would be far too slow.”

****

Meanwhile, under Shi Cheng’s surprised and delighted gaze, the long-haired young man turned around again, his voice floating gently.

“As it happens, I’m not yet very familiar with the current world. Having someone run errands for me might speed up the collection recovery process.”

“Come along. Let me see what you’re capable of, for now.”

......

“...And that’s how I was fortunate enough to be temporarily taken in by Teacher Joey. Although he doesn’t acknowledge being my teacher.”

Finally, Shi Cheng shrugged and concluded with this single sentence.

The Investigation Team’s bright lights shone on his face, which showed slight reluctance.

“As for what happened in the month after that...”



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