"Students! The College Entrance Examination is coming up soon, and with it comes the chance to change your lives! You have to ask yourselves: is this not the only chance you'll ever get?"
"Sleep a little less each day and practice a few more sets of the Basic Body Strengthening Technique. Play a little less and go through the Breathing and Exhalation Method a few more times! You've worked hard for over a thousand days—wasn't it all for today? The sky at six in the morning is pitch-black, but you, future martial artists, shine brighter than ever!"
On the rostrum at Qingcheng High School's sports field, the principal delivered his speech with fervor, his face red and neck bulging with emotion. As soon as he finished, the students below burst into inspiring applause.
Watching it all from the crowd, Zhu Ping'an wore a thoroughly bewildered expression.
After standing there dazed for a long while, he finally accepted that he had transmigrated—and into a high-martial-arts novel, no less. Here, mutant beasts ran rampant and demons were everywhere. Only martial artists could protect the Human Race and keep it safe.
Once someone became a martial artist, they not only gained a prestigious status and enjoyed all kinds of privileges, but could also enter a Martial Arts University and achieve a genuine leap between social classes.
He was the Second Male Lead. According to the plot, he would soon become a martial artist, take the female lead as his Idealized Love, and become her knight, guarding her every step of the way. He would give her money and resources and serve as her free bodyguard. Even after she got married, he would remain steadfast. In the end, he would give his life to protect her, dying in a mutant beast's belly.
The female lead would be deeply moved by this. She would turn her guilt toward him into love for the male lead, then go on to give the male lead triplets.
Knowing what was coming, Zhu Ping'an couldn't stop the corner of his mouth from twitching.
What idiot wrote this idiotic novel? His character was the biggest simp imaginable. Even Feiyangyang would have to bow down and knock his head twice in respect.
"Ping'an Ge." A sweet, delicate voice rang out. Zhu Ping'an turned to see a tall, slender girl standing gracefully with her head bowed, looking troubled.
She was full in all the right places and slim in all the right places. Her rose-petal face was tender, with exquisite features, and though she was still young, she was already a bud on the verge of blooming.
Zhu Ping'an had to admit that the female lead, Yan Shubing, really was a peerless beauty. No wonder she'd bewitched him so completely.
"Ping'an Ge, there are only two weeks left until the College Entrance Examination. I'm really scared we won't get into the same university..."
Yan Shubing's big, limpid eyes grew misty, as if tears would spill over at any moment.
"Bingbing, don't worry! I've got a Qi and—tsk!"
Zhu Ping'an hurriedly clamped his mouth shut before he could finish. He sucked in a sharp breath and broke out in a cold sweat.
There were only two weeks left until the College Entrance Examination. His Qi and Blood Value was 80, while Yan Shubing's was 69.
His family had spent a great deal of money to get him a Qi and Blood Pill. Their whole reason for doing so was to raise his Qi and Blood Value to 100, making him a First-Rank Warrior. First-Rank Warriors could easily get into the most prestigious universities, with limitless prospects ahead of them.
But according to the novel's plot, he would give the pill to Yan Shubing, fail to break through to First-Rank, and end up at an ordinary top-tier university.
Now that Zhu Ping'an had a transmigrator's soul, he naturally had no intention of handing the Qi and Blood Pill over to Yan Shubing. But under the plot's influence, he had still nearly blurted out that he had one.
The power of the plot was truly terrifying!
"Ping'an Ge, what were you saying you had?" Yan Shubing asked, gazing at him with wide, pleading eyes.
"Nothing. I said I'm feeling very hot right now!"
Zhu Ping'an gazed at Yan Shubing with deep affection and spoke gently.
"Bingbing, don't worry. As long as you work hard, we'll definitely get into the same Martial Arts University!"
As a transmigrator, Zhu Ping'an knew full well that the male and female leads were both people blessed with tremendous luck. Unless he had no other choice, he really didn't want to make enemies of them.
"Ah... all right... I'll work hard." Yan Shubing pouted, her rosy lips turning down with disappointment. "If only I had a Qi and Blood Pill. If I had one, I'd definitely be able to catch up with you, Ping'an Ge."
Hearing that, Zhu Ping'an's heart tightened. He secretly covered the Qi and Blood Pill tucked against his chest and wondered if this woman knew something.
"Hey, Bingbing, don't say that. It's all my fault! I'm the one who couldn't get a Qi and Blood Pill! I'm sorry!"
Zhu Ping'an punched the tree beside him. With his Qi and Blood Value of 80, the blow sent leaves flying everywhere. He looked utterly consumed by guilt.
"Ping'an Ge, don't hurt yourself. I'll definitely work hard at cultivating!"
Unable to get a Qi and Blood Pill from Zhu Ping'an, Yan Shubing left, looking disappointed.
Watching her walk away, Zhu Ping'an let out a huge sigh of relief. He'd finally managed to get rid of her.
He'd spent plenty of time being taken advantage of by this woman. When she needed money, he gave her money; when she needed cultivation resources, he gave her resources; when she got into a conflict with someone, he stood up for her. He'd even paid Yan Shubing's tuition and living expenses.
And in the end, she only saw him as a brother? Hah! What a bitch!
To avoid trouble down the line, Zhu Ping'an waited until no one was around, then took out the Qi and Blood Pill and swallowed it whole.
As soon as the pill entered his body, it turned into a mighty surge of power that flowed through every limb and bone. He could feel his Qi and Blood Value climbing at an astonishing speed.
After a long while, Zhu Ping'an exhaled a mouthful of foul air and slowly opened his eyes.
He could tell he was just one last step away from breaking 100 and becoming a true martial artist!
"If only I had another Qi and Blood Pill..." Zhu Ping'an sighed. But getting another one was easier said than done. His family was fairly wealthy by Green City standards, yet buying one Qi and Blood Pill had still taken a serious toll. If they bought another, it would probably leave them bankrupt.
Just then, a long sword dropped from the sky and stabbed into the ground right in front of Zhu Ping'an.
He instinctively reached out and pulled it free. The sword radiated a sharp Sword Qi; clearly, it was a Peerless Treasure Sword worth a fortune!
"Kunwu! My Kunwu Sword!"
An old man with white hair suddenly rushed up to Zhu Ping'an, his face alight with excitement.
"Young man, could you return the sword to me?"
Zhu Ping'an handed him the sword. The old man had appeared and disappeared without a trace. He was at least a Third Rank Martial Artist—not someone Zhu Ping'an could afford to offend.
"Hahahaha! Kunwu, oh, Kunwu! So what if you refused to recognize me as your master? I caught up with you in the end!"
The old man burst into laughter as he took the sword, clearly in excellent spirits. He lowered his gaze to Zhu Ping'an.
"You returned what you found. You're a good lad! I'm not a stingy old man. Take this Qi and Blood Pill as my thanks!"
With that, the old man really did take out a Qi and Blood Pill and press it into Zhu Ping'an's hand. Then he flew off on his sword, leaving Zhu Ping'an standing there, dumbfounded.
"I think I understand..." Looking at the Qi and Blood Pill that had appeared out of nowhere, Zhu Ping'an fell into thought. "According to the plot, I'm supposed to give Yan Shubing a Qi and Blood Pill next. For that plot point to happen, I have to have a pill in my possession first. If I don't have one, the plot forcibly corrects itself and makes sure I do?"
At that thought, Zhu Ping'an's heart began to race.
"This plot... I think I can exploit a bug!"
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