Chapter Text
【 Welcome! System installation complete: Jade Body halo no BB no u UP system target Original Character Shen Qingqiu SS: 2473 】
【 Happiness points are shared between all Users. Beginner Stage Mission (1) assigned. Revelation of system OR dissatisfaction of Original Character Shen Qingqiu will result in Punishment Protocol being enacted. 】
【 All Users starting A-points: 50 】
“What?” The Zui Xian peak lord blinked sluggishly at the bright light in front of him. It was so bright, that even through slitted eyes and thick eyelashes it was too much. “I'm not drunk enough to read all that.”
The text disappeared, followed by a new line being written up. Suddenly, a female voice chirped at him,
【 Beginner Stage Mission (1) assigned. Destination: xxxxxx. Mission: Give Shen Qingqiu a hug. Reward: +20 A-points. 】
What the voice said did not sound right at all.
“Mm,” Wang Qingyu determined, trying to make the floating characters make sense. “Definitely not drunk enough.”
‧₊˚❀‧₊˚.
Liu Qingge thought of the ‘system message’, promptly opening the glowing screen and pointing his sword at it.
“What is the meaning of this….!!”
Shen Qingqiu, with eyes like cold stars, glanced at him with disdain. His eyes flitted in the direction Liu Qingge’s sword pointed, scanning the line of sight, but seemed to find nothing of note.
“This Qingqiu advises his shidi that Qian Cao peak is two peaks over.”
When Liu Qingge only stared, waiting for an actual answer to his question —the glowing message was right there!! Surely even the few disciples present see Shen Qingqiu’s lie!— Shen Qingqiu slowly raised a hand holding a closed fan.
“That direction,” he advised, before turning back to the disciples and continuing to talk to them instead.
Liu Qingge frowned as the message written on the floating box disappeared, and the woman’s voice spoke once again.
【 -10 O-points! 】
【 This system advises user Liu Qingge not to trouble the Xiu Ya Sword during a lesson!!!! 】
Lesson? Liu Qingge scoffed. They're just painting.
【 Peak Lord Shen Qingqiu puts much effort into teaching the four arts!! <(￣︶￣)> Please be mindful or Punishment Protocol will be enacted!!! 】
Liu Qingge huffed and opened his mouth to demand a better answer to this farce from Shen Qingqiu, when the glowing screen suddenly changed colour. A bright red and an ear-piercing sound rang in his ears.
【 Punishment Protocol may enact qi deviation effects and harmful genre tropes. Revelation of the system OR dissatisfaction of character Shen Qingqiu will deduct A-points!!! 】
I've never had a qi deviation, Liu Qingge thought. A-points? They were mentioned before…
Liu Qingge took off towards Bai Zhan on his sword, unsure what to make of all this. The blaring sound was worse than raiding a nest of Shriek Bats, and only settled once he had distanced from Qing Jing peak.
The glowing box returned to its original state: a saturated sky-blue.
【 User Liu Qingge is advised to complete Beginner Stage Mission (1) 】
Liu Qingge looked at the floating writing in disdain. He narrowly missed flying into a pine tree as he breached the border of his own peak as the mentioned mission displayed itself.
【 Beginner Stage Mission (1) assigned. Destination: Open world. Mission: Gift Shen Qingqiu a fan. Reward: +20 A-points. 】
‧₊˚❀‧₊˚.
【 Beginner Stage Mission (1) assigned. Destination: xxxxxx. Mission: Sword appraisal of Xiu Ya. Reward: +20 A-points. 】
Wei Qingwei frowned. Whatever kind of demonic creature might have cursed him, he was sure he could ignore it, or have it treated.
The only alarming fact was that even when he approached Hong Jing, there was no response. If this was not a demonic presence, he was unsure what could be.
Nevertheless, an ancient spiritual sword as old as Hong Jing would not be wrong.
Others could not see the messages either, and when he tried to tell which direction the voice was coming from, the ‘system’ had promptly stopped speaking aloud.
He stood at the opening maw of the sword wall entrance, focusing on the ambient sounds of his peak. Metal clashing from the sword smithing pavillion and the smell of roaring flames always lit in the ore-refining and leatherworking areas.
The goal it had set was a simple one on a task that Wei Qingwei would have conducted regardless. While Peak Lord Shen was often reluctant to attend other requests (such as poor Qingfang’s health scans) he had never complained about reports or instructions from Wei Qingwei’s peak, nor failed to reach meetings when matters of his sword were required. Shen Qingqiu was one of the better martial siblings to deal with because he would seek appraisals between the mandated check-ins.
Thank goodness for small graces.
It had been a few months since Peak Lord Shen had last visited, and it was doable to request a simple meeting.
If Wei Qingwei was to listen to the non-demonic presence of mysterious origin.
‧₊˚❀‧₊˚.
Qi Qingqi sought and earned her position as a peak lord in part because she did not want her life to be determined by a man, no matter which aspect it could be in. That was only a partial motivation, but it was the only one that flashed through her mind as the indignance of the mockery in front of her settled in.
What was all this about Shen Qingqiu?
A man who rose to power through dubious means, who acted above everyone he interacted with despite a weak cultivation base, who visited brothels frequently enough to have been caught doing so—!
It was a miracle that man had made it to peak lord at all!
She turned away.
‘Punishment Protocol’? What empty threats could be worth lowering myself to work for a man’s approval?
I'm the peak lord of Xian Shi peak.
That a few martial brothers were above her in status could be ignored because each peak ran independently. That was how Cang Qiong sect ran.
Until now?!
Qi Qingqi batted a hand at the bright screen, startling when her arm went right through without even disturbing the image.
【 User Qi Qingqi is requested not to attempt destroying the Interface 】
She blinked before trying to rip the words apart again.
It did not work.
She pulled out her sword, slashing through the blue screen.
It had no effect—rather, the resulting sword glare blew apart the planks making up that wall of the battle training hall.
With no students present and indignation sweeping through her, she decided to file a damage repair form to An Ding. That would allow her a moment to think. She would then head to Qiong Ding peak and demand an immediate inquiry with the sect leader.
‧₊˚❀‧₊˚.
Yi Qingxia had been sitting in a tree at the edge of Li Hua peak when the messages arrived.
They were not too confusing to garner information off of, and his eyes lit up upon seeing Shen Qingqiu’s name.
A pleasant surprise.
Yi Qingxia read through all of the messages again once the voice quieted from reading them aloud, and then hopped down from his perch.
Qing Jing peak was two peaks over—not too far to traverse on foot, and he was certainly in the mood to do so.
A visit couldn't go amiss, and things had been slow lately.
The transition to becoming a new peak lord hadn't meant much. The peak was prepared well enough and was organised on principle, considering how messy information-gathering could get…
Demonic activity wasn't doing anything particularly out of the ordinary and Yi Qingxia had a shiny new objective to achieve with his… favourite… shixiong.
‧₊˚❀‧₊˚.
【 Welcome! 】
Ro Qingcheng looked up at the bright message voice, only a blink to convey her surprise. What was this? A voice? In her head?
【 System installation complete: Jade Body halo no BB no u UP system target Original Character Shen Qingqiu SS: 2473 】
Ah, she thought, Shen-shixiong…
【 Happiness points are shared between all Users. 】
That was often the case.
Here, multiple users meant others would have similar aims.
【 Beginner Stage Mission (1) assigned. Revelation of system OR dissatisfaction of Shen Qingqiu will result in Punishment Protocol being enacted. 】
Oh dear.
【 All Users starting A-points: 50 】
Having grown up on a farm, completing chores for rewards was no foreign system to her. Collect the eggs, and you'll have some eggs to eat. Milk the cow and you'll have milk to drink. In this case, it seemed the given reward would be… the Qing Jing peak lord getting along with everyone better. What else was she to assume happiness meant, if it was up to her to assist?
Completing tasks that she would have had to do anyway, for a reward that harmed no one—that would in fact benefit the mountain sect—seemed very reasonable to her. The logic was sound.
She smiled, and asked how A-points could be increased.
【 Complete missions to achieve A-points! 】
Simple enough.
“And the other peak lords have similar missions?” She asked.
【 Objective must be achieved! 】
Who had the power, ability, and motive to enforce such a thing for Shen Qingqiu was not important. As long as the ‘missions’ did not interrupt her schedule, she did not mind. Her peak was for agriculture: Without a doubt, the other peaks would handle matters of resolving any issues.