I'll Break Your Legs

"No!"

Gu Yuan's internal alarm bells went off.

He suddenly remembered that he had just broken through to the peak of the third tier of the Blood Tempering Realm, and on top of that, he had the attribute bonuses he'd gained from his cousin over the past ten days.

If it came down to a fight, making the top three would be a piece of cake.

Could it be...

Gu Yuan's thoughts shifted, and a transparent panel appeared before his eyes.

[Host: Gu Yuan]

[Owned Traits: Saint Hand Pulse Clearing, Person Near Death]

Seeing those glaring black words, he lost the last shred of hope he'd had.

Cold sweat trickled down from his temples.

Seriously? This was the first time he'd heard of someone getting a cheat and then having to become a dead man.

Gu Yuan tapped his skull with one hand.

From what he could tell, the trait [Person Near Death] only seemed to appear above the heads of students ranked in the top three in overall strength.

Then... what if he deliberately lost the competition and stayed out of the top three?

The moment the thought crossed his mind, the four words [Person Near Death] on the panel faded away like smoke, vanishing without a trace.

At the sight, the tension in Gu Yuan's nerves abruptly eased, and he secretly let out a long breath.

Thank goodness. This thing was dynamic.

"Xiao Yuan, what's wrong? What are you thinking about? You've been quiet for ages."

Seeing him unresponsive for so long, Shen Tingxue stared at him in confusion.

"Huh? Nothing, Cousin."

Gu Yuan quickly gathered his thoughts, relaxed his expression, and spoke.

"As for the competition, I shouldn't have any trouble making the top ten."

"Try your best to make the top three," Shen Tingxue encouraged him.

"I heard every high school in the province is holding this competition. The top three from each school will be sent together to the provincial capital to receive personal instruction from a Core Formation Realm martial artist."

There was a hint of envy in her voice. "Guidance from a Core Formation Realm martial artist! It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You have to seize it!"

No thanks.

Gu Yuan grumbled to himself. It sounded more like a Core Formation Realm martial artist's murder.

"I'll try. I'll do my best, Cousin," he said perfunctorily.

After placating his cousin, Gu Yuan began rapidly turning things over in his mind.

Why did the [Person Near Death] trait appear specifically above the heads of the top three students at Haicheng No. 1 High School? What about students from other high schools? Would they die too after going to the provincial capital?

After thinking for a moment, Gu Yuan shook his head.

This was too big a deal, and too bizarre. There was no way he could handle it in his current position.

Even if he told someone, they'd only think he was a lunatic under too much pressure.

Looks like he'd have to play the part this time.

He'd settle for making the top ten and getting some school rewards. The top three could take that death train—whoever wanted to board it could go ahead.

Once he'd settled his thoughts, the red light ahead turned green.

The car started moving again.

Gu Yuan's gaze happened to drift back to Shen Tingxue, and he noticed that the trait above her head had changed again.

He'd originally thought that after he got [Saint Hand Pulse Clearing], the traits above his cousin's head wouldn't change anymore.

But that wasn't the case.

At that moment, a brand-new line of blue text floated above Shen Tingxue's head.

[Trait: Battle Maniac]

[Acquisition Condition: Assist the trait holder in killing ten first-tier vicious beasts]

[Current Progress: 0/10]

Gu Yuan raised an eyebrow.

So this system had chain quests, too?

Killing first-tier vicious beasts...

That was a far cry from giving someone a back rub in the treatment room.

First-tier vicious beasts weren't something a Blood Tempering Realm martial artist could handle alone.

If he went up against one head-on with his current strength at the third tier of the Blood Tempering Realm, there was a very good chance he'd be torn to pieces.

But how could he pass up a trait served up on a silver platter?

"Cousin," Gu Yuan said suddenly.

"Do you have any missions coming up to hunt vicious beasts outside the city?"

Shen Tingxue glanced at him, looking a little surprised.

"I do. Next Wednesday, we're going to clear out a group of Iron-Armored Lizards in an abandoned mining area outside the city. Why?"

"Take me with you."

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Shen Tingxue rejected him without a second thought. "What's a Blood Tempering Realm martial artist like you going to do there? Deliver takeout to the vicious beasts?"

"I want to broaden my horizons." Gu Yuan lied without batting an eye. "Our teacher said that before the college entrance exams, it's best to see blood firsthand. It helps build killing intent and improves your performance in real combat."

"Bullshit. Which teacher said that? Tell me, and I'll go smash up his office."

"Really, Cousin. I won't run around. I'll stay far behind you and watch. I promise I won't cause trouble." Gu Yuan switched to shameless pleading.

"You're an expert at the Body Refining Realm. Protecting a rookie like me would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"

Shen Tingxue gave a cold laugh.

"Don't try to butter me up. It won't work."

Gu Yuan had no intention of giving up this opportunity.

[Battle Maniac]—just hearing the name told him it had to be a combat-related trait. It might greatly increase his fighting ability.

"Cousin, I promise I'll follow your orders. If you tell me to go east, I won't go west. If you tell me to beat a dog, I won't chase a chicken."

"No."

"Then I'll go tell Uncle," Gu Yuan said, playing his trump card. "I'll tell him you stole and drank that bottle of Fire Marrow Brew he was saving."

"Gu Yuan, you little bastard!" Shen Tingxue slapped the steering wheel so hard that the off-road vehicle jolted. "You were the one who talked me into drinking it!"

"Uncle doesn't know I was involved." Gu Yuan flashed an infuriating grin.

Shen Tingxue shut her mouth and took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to throw her wretched cousin out of the car window.

After a long moment, she gritted her teeth and forced out a few words.

"Fine. If you want to get yourself killed, I won't stop you."

"But let me make this clear: once we get there, you stay by my side every second. If you dare wander off, I'll break your legs first, then throw you to the lizards."

"Deal!" Gu Yuan agreed immediately.

He leaned back against the car window, satisfied, and watched the city lights flash past outside.

[Battle Maniac].

Just the name sounded brutally violent.

What he lacked most right now were real ways to attack.

After making Shen Tingxue treat him to a lavish meal, Gu Yuan patted his round belly and returned home, completely satisfied.

"You're back, son?"

As soon as Gu Yuan walked in, he saw his father, Gu Yuanzheng, sprawled on the sofa watching TV, while his mother, Shangguan Yi, was busy making dinner in the kitchen.

He deftly picked up a pack of cigarettes from the coffee table, pulled one out, and handed it to Gu Yuanzheng. Then he lit it for him.

A white trait hovered above his father's head—[Old Smoker].

Gu Yuanzheng froze for a moment, then took the cigarette, looking puzzled.

He had no idea what had gotten into his son. For the past few days, the first thing Gu Yuan did every time he came home was light a cigarette for him. It was so filial that it seemed out of character.

As Gu Yuanzheng happily finished his last drag and stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray, Gu Yuan's panel finally reacted.

A line of green text appeared.

[Acquired Trait: Cloud Swallowing Mist Spitting (Green)]

[Trait Effect: The meridians in your lungs will no longer be corroded by smoke. While smoking, your qi and blood recovery speed increases slightly. You can actively exhale dense smoke to obscure vision for a short time.]

It was better than nothing.

Gu Yuan thought it over. He didn't smoke himself; he was only testing what this trait actually did.

"Gu Yuanzheng! Are you asking for it? You're smoking in the living room again!" Shangguan Yi's angry voice came from the kitchen.

"I'm innocent, honey!" Gu Yuanzheng jolted upright and hurriedly pointed at Gu Yuan beside him. "It was our son! He insisted on lighting it for me!"

But when he turned his head, there was no one beside him.

Gu Yuan had already darted into the kitchen, where he was enthusiastically helping Shangguan Yi wash the vegetables.

"Huh? Dad, what are you talking about?" Gu Yuan stuck his head out, looking utterly bewildered.

"You... you little brat!"

Before Gu Yuanzheng could finish, a slipper flew with pinpoint accuracy from the kitchen and smacked him in the face.

"Don't blame your son for everything! You reek of smoke. Go open the windows and air the place out!"

Gu Yuanzheng could only accept his fate and shuffle over to open the windows.

After a flurry of activity, dinner was finally ready.

As Gu Yuan helped carry the last dish to the table, another notification sounded in his mind.

The progress bar beneath another trait had filled up.

[Acquired Trait: Home Flavor (Green)]

[Trait Effect: Every meal you eat at home will leave a coordinate called "home" deep in your memory. From then on, no matter where you are, if you quietly recall the taste of that meal, you will be able to clearly sense which direction home lies in.]