Writing a Diary in Douluo, and All the Heroines Fell for Me

The love she wanted had always been mutual affection, with both people running toward each other.

If Xiong Shaoqing really were a cold, heartless man who was the same inside and out, then no matter how grateful she was, she would never shamelessly throw herself at him. Unrequited love was what she scorned most.

But things were different now.

This man's heart was clearly full of her, yet he forcibly suppressed his feelings to protect her and deliberately pushed her away. How could she not fall for such restrained, profound love?

Go on pretending, big brother. Let's see how long you can keep it up.

Xiao Wu watched Xiong Shaoqing with smiling eyes, savoring her food.

The barbecue meal was warm and cheerful. Xiong Shaoqing looked indifferent, but the Emotion Points notifications in his head had never stopped, and inwardly, he was bubbling with delight.

Yet just then, an utterly chilling presence suddenly spread from a dark alley lashed by wind and snow at the street corner.

"Xiao Wu, I finally found you."

A voice suppressing anger and confusion, with a hint of something twisted, rang out nearby.

Every hair on Xiong Shaoqing's body abruptly stood on end.

He turned and saw a boy in a Nuoding Academy uniform standing at the dim street corner, his face livid as he stared fixedly in their direction.

The boy's eyes glowed an eerie purple in the night, like a venomous snake that had locked onto its prey.

Tang San.

Xiong Shaoqing's heart jolted. Fuck, is this hypocrite part dog?

In weather this bad, he actually followed the scent all the way to Suotuo City?

The instant she saw Tang San, the half-eaten skewer in Xiao Wu's hand dropped straight onto the table.

The smile on her face vanished without a trace, replaced by undisguised disgust, wariness, and even a hint of the fear of being watched by a venomous snake.

"What are you doing here?" Xiao Wu sprang to her feet, blocking the table where Xiong Shaoqing sat.

Tang San clenched his fists so tightly that his nails nearly pierced his palms.

He had searched through wind and snow for days and nights, enduring every hardship, only to find his chosen "little sister" and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring smiling as she ate barbecue with some strange man at a roadside stall.

That intense sense of betrayal and the humiliation of being cuckolded sent Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill internal power rampaging through his meridians.

"Xiao Wu, come back with me." Tang San took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed his vicious impulses, and put on the anguished face of a "good older brother" as he stepped forward twice. "It's too dangerous out here. Did this man trick you with sweet words?"

"Your third brother will take you away right now. Anyone who dares stop me has already chosen the path to death."

Tang San's gaze passed over Xiao Wu and stabbed toward Xiong Shaoqing on the bench like a poisoned blade, his murderous intent laid bare.

Xiong Shaoqing remained seated, his face expressionless, but the fists hidden inside his sleeves clenched tightly.

His Soul Power was only rank eight.

Tang San, meanwhile, was probably already approaching rank thirty, and he even had countless sinister Tang Sect Hidden Weapons concealed on him. If they actually fought, it would practically be an attack from a higher dimension.

No, I absolutely can't fight him head-on here. But I absolutely can't lose in presence.

In a flash, Xiong Shaoqing's thoughts raced, and the diary in his Sea of Consciousness began updating furiously:

[Damn it, that hypocrite Tang San actually found us this quickly.]

[My Soul Power is only rank eight right now, nowhere near enough to oppose this vile bastard with his countless hidden, sinister methods. If I still had my Divine Power, I could crush him into a mist of blood with a single finger, but now...]

[Watching those purple-glowing eyes stare fixedly at Xiao Wu sends a chill through me. That's the greed of a hunter looking at a supreme Soul Ring.]

[So be it. Even if I have to sacrifice this broken body, even if I have to burn through the last reserves of my divine soul, I will never let him take Xiao Wu back into that bottomless abyss. If he wants to touch her, he'll have to step over my corpse.]

The instant he finished writing the diary entry, Xiong Shaoqing slammed the table and stood up. He drew the rusty Iron Sword beside him half an inch, his gaze as fierce as a lone wolf's, ready to step forward and shield Xiao Wu behind him.

Yet at the very instant he rose-

Boom!

Soul Power carrying the primal wildness of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast erupted from Xiao Wu.

Those resolute inner words in her Sea of Consciousness utterly set fire to all of Xiao Wu's reason.

For her sake, big brother was willing to throw away his life, even knowing he was no match.

How could she let big brother, who had lost his Divine Power and had only rank-eight Soul Power, take a blade for her?

"I won't let you touch big brother!"

Xiao Wu let out a piercing cry and kicked off the ground with both legs, instantly blasting the snow apart.

Holding nothing back, she instantly activated her first Soul Skill, Waist Bow. Her entire body became a streak of pink lightning as she hurled a savage flying kick straight at Tang San's face.

Tang San was utterly stunned.

Even his Purple Demon Eye failed to anticipate it in time.

Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that Xiao Wu, who had once clung to him and called him third brother at every turn, would now strike to kill without hesitation for a strange man she had never known.

"Xiao Wu, have you gone mad?"

Tang San cried out in alarm and hastily executed Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, sliding several meters diagonally backward in a sorry state and narrowly avoiding the lethal blow.

Chapter 15: A money crisis

Boom! Xiao Wu's kick slammed straight into the bluestone paving beside the road. The slab cracked instantly, sending fragments of stone and snow flying in every direction.

"I'm not mad. You're the mad one, you hypocritical demon!" After landing, Xiao Wu did not pause at all. Her long legs lashed like whips, every move lethal as she poured her fury onto Tang San like a woman possessed.

Tang San was beaten back step by step.

In terms of Soul Power, he was indeed stronger than Xiao Wu.

But in the ruthlessness of close combat and the resolve to face death without flinching, Xiao Wu, desperate to protect her husband, was like a crazed lioness at that moment.

Worse still, Tang San did not dare fight back at all.

Xiao Wu was the most perfect Soul Ring he had reserved for himself. If he injured her now or even drove her to desperation, this duck already at his lips would fly away for good, and his grand ambitions would be ruined in an instant.

Bang, bang, bang!

Tang San used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to deflect Xiao Wu's attacks, so stifled with frustration that he nearly spat blood.

Seeing Xiong Shaoqing behind Xiao Wu, hiding behind a woman with perfect peace of mind without even activating his Martial Soul, the venom in Tang San's eyes nearly overflowed.

"You bastard living off a woman! What kind of man are you, only hiding behind Xiao Wu?" Tang San roared while dodging.

Xiong Shaoqing stood where he was, watching coldly as Xiao Wu chased Tang San around and beat him. Inwardly, he felt no ripples at all, and even wanted to laugh a little.

What's wrong with living off a woman? This meal isn't just delicious-it even raises my cultivation. What the hell would a lonely dog like you know?

After a dozen or so exchanges.

A sweeping kick from Xiao Wu forced Tang San to the edge of the dark alley.

He knew it would be impossible to take Xiao Wu away today.

If he kept this up and attracted Suotuo City's City Defense Army, it would do him no good.

"Fine, fine. Xiao Wu, this bastard really has completely clouded your mind." Tang San clutched his arm, which had been struck numb, his face hideous as an evil ghost's. His gaze passed over Xiao Wu and fixed on Xiong Shaoqing. "I, Tang San, will remember this debt. I'll find out exactly who you are."

With that, Tang San shot the pair a venomous look and pushed Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to its limit. Like a dog driven from its home, he swiftly disappeared into the depths of the snow-lashed alley.

Watching Tang San flee, Xiao Wu finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her baleful presence swiftly receded.

She turned and jogged over to Xiong Shaoqing, nervously tugging at his robe. "Big brother, you're not hurt, are you? That Tang San is terribly underhanded. I was so afraid he'd hurt you with Hidden Weapons just now."

Looking at Xiao Wu's concern-filled eyes, Xiong Shaoqing took a deep breath, just about to put on a display of "a God King's forbearance."

Suddenly.

The system's cold, mechanical voice exploded in his mind at an unprecedentedly frantic rate.

[Ding! Detected extremely intense fighting spirit and love erupting from Xiao Wu to protect the host. Her information-gap-fueled overestimation has completely broken past its limits. Feedback: Soul Power advancement progress +60%.]

[Ding! Detected extreme disgust and murderous intent toward the son of destiny, Tang San, from Xiao Wu. Feedback: Spiritual Power purification +20%.]

[Ding! Detected extreme humiliation, astonishment, and resentment from the son of destiny, Tang San. Successfully intercepted his destiny. Feedback: a large quantity of Origin Soul Power.]

[Ding! Congratulations, host. Your Soul Power has broken through two rank barriers in succession.]

[Current Soul Power: rank nine.]

[Current Soul Power: rank ten (bottleneck reached; a Soul Ring must be hunted to continue advancing).]

Boom.

An unprecedentedly terrifying torrent of heat exploded through Xiong Shaoqing's limbs and bones.

He felt every bone in his body crackle, and his internal organs felt supremely comfortable, as though his marrow and bones had been cleansed.

From rank eight, he had shot straight up to full rank-ten Soul Power.

With just one evening of back-and-forth, plus an assist from Tang San, that boy bearing gifts, he had actually crossed the greatest threshold of the beginner stage.

Xiong Shaoqing clenched his fists and lowered his head, using his broad, old cloak to hide his violently trembling body and the wild joy he could barely suppress.

Tang San really is a good man.

With this little trip, he's practically handed me guaranteed admission to Star Dou Great Forest.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Xiao Wu, who was still nervously checking him for injuries, suppressing the depth in his gaze.

"Xiao Wu." Xiong Shaoqing turned his hand to clasp the girl's soft, boneless little hand, his voice low. "Pack your things. We leave the city at first light tomorrow."

"Where are we going?" Xiao Wu froze.

"Star Dou Great Forest." Xiong Shaoqing looked toward the wind and snow in the night sky, his lips curving with absolute determination. "To reclaim the power that should have been mine."

Deep into the quiet night, wind and snow howled outside the window, but the hotel room was as warm as spring.

After settling Xiao Wu down to sleep next door, Xiong Shaoqing sat alone at the table. Listening to the wind and snow outside, he casually hefted the shriveled coin pouch on the table.

The Copper Soul Coins collided with a few crisp, pitiful clinks.

The smile at the corner of Xiong Shaoqing's mouth stiffened slightly, and he could not help sighing inwardly.

Even a hero can be brought low by a single penny.

The initial startup funds the system had given him were pitifully meager to begin with. After meals at restaurants and stays at fine inns, they were nearly gone.

He rubbed his brow, feeling a headache coming on.

As a dignified transmigrator, was he really going to face the embarrassment of being thrown out after eating without paying?

His Soul Power was now at a full rank ten. According to the rules of the Douluo Continent, if he registered at a Spirit Hall Branch, he could receive a monthly Soul Master subsidy of one Gold Soul Coin.

But no sooner had the thought emerged than Xiong Shaoqing snuffed it out.

Are you kidding? I'm a dignified Reborn God King who destroys heaven and earth in his diary, and I'd go queue at Spirit Hall for welfare over a few scraps of silver?

If Bibi Dong and the others pieced together clues from the diary, what would happen to my image? I'd die of social humiliation on the spot.

Then rely on women?

Xiong Shaoqing quickly ran through the heroines who held copies of the diary in his mind.

Xiao Wu went without saying. She had just run away from Nuoding Academy, and her pockets were cleaner than her face.

Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue did have money, enough to rival a nation.

But one was the lofty Pope of Spirit Hall, while the other was the deeply calculating Heaven Dou Crown Prince. His relationship with them was nowhere near that stage yet. They were still watching the spectacle from the sidelines and sizing him up, so how could they possibly transfer him money for no reason?

As for Zhu Zhuqing, as a noble daughter of the Star Luo Empire, she certainly had no shortage of money. But that little wildcat was still traveling through the snowstorm; they had not even met face-to-face.

Living off women is nice, but holding out my hand and asking for money is too demeaning. For this sort of thing, I still have to rely on myself.

Xiong Shaoqing rubbed his chin as memories of his previous life raced through his mind.

Soon, his eyes lit up, and his tightly knitted brows relaxed completely.

I've got it. Although the Douluo Continent is overflowing with martial prowess, it's desperately lacking in entertainment for the mind.

With my foundation from reading countless books, webnovels, and good shows in my previous life, I could casually plagiarize... ahem, draw inspiration from a few classics, whether I became a storyteller at an upscale teahouse or a mysterious fiction writer behind the scenes.

Put together a Douluo-style reworking of Battle Through the Heavens or Dream of the Red Chamber, and it'd absolutely be an attack from a higher dimension. It'd become a hit money-printing machine in no time.