GAL Wusheng

[Huiyuan Sword Art believes you will seek new cultivation methods soon. More powerful, more excellent, more dazzling ones.]

[Who would truly fancy a mundane Sect foundational Sword Art like itself? Its ultimate fate is to be forgotten in a corner, a stepping stone to more profound swordsmanship.]

Holy crap, it's a truly bitter woman! And the kind overflowing with resentment!

Seeing the suffocating, almost tangible aura of melancholy washing over him, Gu Chengming felt a subtle sense of déjà vu. A flash of inspiration struck him, and a precise label was applied.

Ah, a widow. Got it.

Regarding this type of romance target, although relatively niche in the GALGAME market, it possesses a fiercely loyal, dedicated audience.

As a connoisseur who has sampled countless works, Gu Chengming had naturally explored many.

He could even recall several classic titles immediately, such as Weak Widow's Entry or Temptation of the Young Widow Manager.

As is widely known, these types of characters, whether bitter or widowed, their complaints, sarcasm, and efforts to keep others at arm's length all stem from the same thing: extreme insecurity.

What they lack most is companionship that can break through their defenses and persistent affirmation.

Therefore, compared to tsundere, naturally airheaded, or energetic girls, these characters are actually the easiest to conquer once you find the right approach.

With this realization, the lingering confusion in his heart vanished.

It's just practicing sword arts, right? Let's go!

On the status panel, [Huiyuan Sword Art]'s self-pity continued.

[It has seen too many disciples like you. Full of resolve upon entering, only to shelve it within three months and chase after seemingly more impressive sword techniques...]

Gu Chengming ignored the incessant nagging.

He stood up, walked to the weapon rack in a corner of the courtyard, and picked up the most ordinary Green Steel Longsword. The hilt felt cool to the touch, carrying the weighty texture unique to metal.

He took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance for Huiyuan Sword Art.

No more talking, just do it!

He began to practice each move and stance according to the memories he had inherited.

His movements were stiff, and his body felt weak and unstable due to the "Essence Blood Depletion" condition; even a simple lunge made his legs tremble slightly. The sword blade cut through the air, not with a sharp whistling sound, but with a slight, sluggish hiss.

[You have completed one full practice of Huiyuan Sword Art. Proficiency +1.]

A system notification popped up on the panel. At the same time, the gray, bitter woman-like text reappeared.

[Huiyuan Sword Art noticed your movements. It sighed in its heart, thinking this was just another round of three-minute passion.]

Gu Chengming had no time to pay attention to it. He adjusted his breathing and started again. Thrust, slash, lift, block, point... He repeated the moves from his memory over and over.

Sweat soon soaked through his inner shirt, clinging uncomfortably to his skin. His arms began to ache from the repeated swings.

[You have completed one full practice of Huiyuan Sword Art. Proficiency +1.]

[As your movements become more resolute, though still clumsy, Huiyuan Sword Art's sarcastic inner monologue gradually subsides.]

[It silently watches you practice the sword art.]

Gu Chengming was completely immersed in his own rhythm. He forgot about time, forgot about his body's fatigue; only the flow of sword moves remained in his mind.

From stiff to slightly fluid, from stumbling to barely coherent. He could feel that with every swing of the sword, his body's control was improving imperceptibly.

[You have completed one full practice of Huiyuan Sword Art. Proficiency +1.]

Unknowingly, the setting sun sank behind the distant mountains. The sky shifted from golden yellow to crimson, finally deepening into a dusky blue.

The light in the courtyard quickly dimmed, with only a few stars, having appeared early, twinkling in the firmament.

"Hoo..."

Gu Chengming finally stopped, propped the sword on the ground, and gasped for air.

His entire body felt as if he had just been pulled out of water. Sweat dripped from his hair and jaw, splashing onto the bluestone slabs below, creating small water blooms.

The soreness in his muscles and the fatigue in his bones surged like a tide, making it difficult for him to stand steady.

The gray text on the panel updated again.

[Huiyuan Sword Art silently watched your practice all afternoon. It doesn't know how much of your enthusiasm is genuine.]

[It then thought, with your frail physique, you can probably only practice its most basic cultivation method now. Perhaps you didn't genuinely choose it, but simply had no other choice.]

It's attacking me personally now?

Gu Chengming looked at the line of text, his face a mask of exasperation.

But immediately, a new notification that popped up on the panel made him instantly cast aside that slight annoyance.

[Huiyuan Sword Art Affection +5]

[Current Affection: 15/Stranger]

Well, so it's a case of "mouth says no, heart says yes."

Looking at the steadily increasing five points of affection, Gu Chengming nodded with satisfaction.

Since it was willing to increase its affection, let it insult him. It was stating facts anyway; this body was indeed a complete trash.

Just then, an unexpected notification suddenly appeared on the panel.

[Clear Heart Art finished watching the entire process from the side, finding it quite interesting.]

[You suddenly feel your mind become clear as if a spring flows through it, your spirit at an unprecedented level of tranquility, and the Clear Heart Art automatically circulates for one full cycle.]

Huh? There's an unexpected bonus like this?

Gu Chengming was slightly taken aback. As the cool sensation spread through his mind, he felt his spirit invigorated.

His body, which had been aching and splitting from exhaustion, seemed to have its sharp pain soothed considerably, becoming bearable.

Even more miraculously, the stances and movements of the Huiyuan Sword Art he had practiced all afternoon now replayed in his mind like a movie, frame by frame, with crystal clarity. Many details about applying force and the transitions between movements that he hadn't noticed before suddenly became clear.

Does the Clear Heart Art normally have this effect?

He didn't have time to ponder why this was happening.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound of knocking broke the silence of the small courtyard.

Chapter 3: What's the Difference Between a Limited-Time Strategy and a Yuzu Fan?

"Knock, knock-knock."

Two steady knocks came from the courtyard gate, interrupting Gu Chengming's mental review.

He withdrew himself from the enlightened clarity and, dragging his sore body, shuffled over step by step and opened the gate.

A man stood outside.

He wore the same disciple uniform as Gu Chengming from the Huiyuan Gate. His face wasn't handsome, but his features were distinct, and his expression was slightly mature, with a calmness in his brows that belied his age.

The visitor's name was Jiang Lu.

Seeing the gate open, he was about to speak but swallowed his words the moment he got a clear look at Gu Chengming.

The Gu Chengming before him had his fringe wet with sweat, clinging messily to his full forehead. His breathing hadn't fully evened out, and he was covered in sweat, his clothes soaked, looking somewhat dishevelled.

Jiang Lu's eyes flickered.

He still remembered when he had just joined the Wenjian Sect, feeling lost and anxious about everything. It was this very Senior Brother Gu who had helped him with his enrollment procedures and shown him around the Sect.

He subtly sized up the man in front of him.

Although this senior brother's cultivation talent was truly abysmal, he had to admit that in terms of appearance alone, he could indeed be described as having "extraordinary immortal grace."

It was just a pity that his ambitions didn't lie on the path of cultivation, and he had wasted his prime years on other things.

Jiang Lu suppressed his scattered thoughts and resumed his usual calm expression. He cupped his hands towards Gu Chengming and began to greet him:

"Fellow Daoist Gu, sorry for the intrusion. You are..."

His gaze swept over Gu Chengming's soaked clothes, with a hint of inquiry.

"It's nothing..." Gu Chengming smiled, his breathing much steadier now. "Just practicing my sword."

Hearing the words "practicing sword," Jiang Lu's expression became somewhat subtle, and he hesitated for a moment.

He was here on behalf of his master to deliver a message. He had expected to see a dejected and dispirited Gu Chengming, but this was not what he had anticipated. This made the speech he had prepared seem somewhat out of place.

But he couldn't disobey his master's orders. After a moment of thought, he decided to convey the message.

"Fellow Daoist Gu."

Jiang Lu's tone became more serious:

"I've come on behalf of my master to inform you of something, Senior Brother."

He slowly explained that recently, the Wenjian Sect had been in turmoil. There were many internal struggles among the subordinate "Gates," and their Huiyuan Gate was inevitably caught in the crossfire.

"Master asked me to remind you."

Jiang Lu lowered his voice:

"Please improve your cultivation as soon as possible. Otherwise, if you perform poorly in the Sect Assessment a month from now, you might risk being expelled from the Sect."

Having said this, Jiang Lu thought of another possibility that was privately circulated among the disciples.

It was said that the reason the Huiyuan Gate had been thrust into the spotlight was inextricably linked to the absurd act this Senior Brother Gu had committed some time ago.

He had directly approached the genius junior sister of the Daoning Gate, known as the "Dao Seed," and publicly confessed his love, wishing to become her Dao Companion.

Setting aside the fact that the junior sister's temperament was as cold as ice and she never showed any favour, the gap between the two was like heaven and earth.

This Senior Brother Gu had naturally returned defeated and embarrassed.

After this incident, not only did he become a laughingstock, but the entire Huiyuan Gate was unable to hold its head up in front of disciples from other Sects, becoming the subject of ridicule for a long time.

The idea of a toad wanting to eat swan meat was almost a universal consensus.

Let alone the elite disciples from other Sects who admired the "Dao Seed" junior sister, even many within the Huiyuan Gate itself probably felt he had disgraced their Sect and wished he would quickly leave the Wenjian Sect.

Of course, Jiang Lu did not voice these dirty speculations and discussions behind his back.

He was merely fulfilling his duty of conveying the message.

If Gu Chengming could know Jiang Lu's thoughts at this moment, he would probably just feel speechless.

After all, the reason the "Gu Chengming" back then did such a thing was simply because, in the game, that "Dao Seed" junior sister's character art was too beautiful; it completely hit his XP system.

Who would have thought that with just a few clicks of a mouse, he would actually transmigrate?

After listening to Jiang Lu's words, Gu Chengming fell silent.

In fact, he had learned from the memories of this body that the Wenjian Sect was already considered much more humane compared to other immortal cultivation sects.

Disciples like him, who faced the risk of "being expelled from the sect" due to their cultivation stagnating, were rare even in a few years.

Gu Chengming had been in the sect for so long, yet his cultivation remained at First Realm Level Three, which was rare throughout the entire Wenjian Sect.

The Sect provided cultivation resources, so naturally, they wouldn't let you take resources and do nothing.

Moreover, even if one were truly expelled from the sect, the process wasn't about eliminating them entirely.

The Sect would cripple your cultivation technique, use a secret art called "Clear Spirit Platform" to make you forget about cultivation, and then give you a large sum of money so you could return to the mortal world and live out your days as a wealthy man.

But!

Cripple his cultivation technique? Clear his Spirit Platform?

When the target of his conquest was his cultivation technique, and the conquest had officially begun, wasn't this a surefire express train to a Bad End in a GALGAME?

If his cultivation technique was gone, and the target of his conquest disappeared, then what was the point of playing anymore!

With this thought, a strong sense of urgency gripped Gu Chengming's heart.

He raised his head, his gaze becoming unprecedentedly solemn. He bowed deeply to Jiang Lu and said in a deep voice:

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. I have noted it."

Upon hearing "Senior Brother," a hint of awkwardness appeared on Jiang Lu's face. He quickly waved his hand and corrected him:

"You are too kind, Senior Brother. It's not Senior Brother, it's Junior Brother."

Gu Chengming looked at the other's "slightly aged" face, which appeared at least thirty years old, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

Seriously, your appearance is too rushed, isn't it?

Of course, he couldn't voice such a complaint. He readily changed his address: