WWC | Chapter 5

Kid, your life should be worth a little money!

If they were not in the cramped, narrow carriage, Su Tingyan would have performed a handstand and climbed Kongtong Mountain on the spot.

What kind of top-tier pervert was Lu Xuan? His favorability was already in the negatives, but his body’s reaction was terrifyingly honest!

Just because he looked at his mouth and said a couple of dirty lines?

And that made him hard?!

And he had actually, so easily, added 1000 points to his charm value. That was a full 1000 points, twice as much as what he had painstakingly earned through schemes and power struggles in the court!

How fucking absurd was this game’s point-awarding mechanism?!

Su Tingyan suddenly wanted to take back what he had said before: getting rich and building a career was more reliable than chasing men.

His expression became impossible to describe, and the way he looked at Lu Xuan was like he was looking at a gold-glittering but demonic bundle of free points.

Lu Xuan clearly caught that bizarre look. The darkness in his eyes deepened. He showed no embarrassment at the body’s uncontrollable reaction. Instead, he looked like he had discovered something extremely interesting, his tongue lightly pressing against the roof of his mouth as he let out a very soft tsk.

“But in my view, Lord Su.”

“You are not only sharp with your tongue, your ability to stir up trouble is even more unmatched.” His voice was a little hoarser than before as he spoke slowly.

His words carried a double meaning. They seemed to refer to court affairs, yet also hinted at the sultry tension rising inside the carriage at this very moment.

“It’s just that I wonder if Lord Su can truly hold on to this unexpected power. The Audit and Purification Office sounds imposing, but auditing accounts and checking warehouses, all that tangled web, is the most dangerous of all.”

“Lord Su is young and already high in rank, do not act on impulse and get yourself dragged into it.”

Su Tingyan snapped back to his senses immediately. Threatening me?

This 1000 points of charm were nice, but it was clearly like stealing meat from a tiger’s mouth, exciting as hell.

He instantly reined in his teasing tone and met Lu Xuan’s venomous eyes. “Thank you for your concern, Lord Lu.”

“However, though Su is unworthy, I still know that one eats the emperor’s salary and serves the emperor’s business. Since His Majesty has entrusted me with this heavy responsibility, even if the road ahead is a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, I can only force myself to move forward.”

“As for whether I can hold it steady…”

He leaned slightly closer to the other man, and the already not-spacious carriage immediately felt even tighter.

That last syllable sounded like ice beads rolling over a jade platter, impossible to ignore: “My strength is still much greater than Lord Lu’s, who looks so sickly.”

Two men, equally handsome yet utterly different in temperament, stared at each other. One was dangerous like a clingy vengeful ghost, the other calm like a Daoist disciple holding a talisman in hand.

After a moment of silence, Su Tingyan suddenly heard a very soft murmur by his ear: “Qianshan Ji really does smell good…”

Su Tingyan: “…………”

I’m talking to you about life and death, and you’re over here sniffing whether I smell nice??

Su Tingyan decisively opened the system. “I want to use a skill and slap him.”

The system kindly reminded him: [If Lu Xuan’s favorability drops below -200, he will die outright. It’s currently -100. Slapping him will drop it by another 50. Is the player sure?]

Su Tingyan: “…I was joking. I want to use a skill and give him a bottle of Qianshan Ji.”

[10 charm points consumed to exchange for one bottle of Qianshan Ji orchid fragrance essence, placed in the player’s sleeve pocket.]

The bottle of fragrance on him had already been nearly used up this morning, so he could only spend a little money and get a new one.

Su Tingyan felt a little more at ease. Ignoring Lu Xuan’s ambiguous murmur about the scent, he flipped his wrist and gripped the fragrance bottle that had appeared in his palm.

“Since Lord Lu likes it.” He set the small bottle carelessly on the desk between them, his tone somewhat perfunctory. “Then this bottle of Qianshan Ji will be gifted to you, my lord.”

He paused, then added pointedly, “That way Lord Lu won’t keep thinking about all these things and none of these things.”

The words sounded generous, but in truth they were a veiled jab, mocking Lu Xuan for having improper thoughts.

A glint flashed through Lu Xuan’s eyes. He actually reached out, his long fingers lightly enclosing the little bottle and rubbing it back and forth, as if he were teasing Su Tingyan’s hand.

“Lord Su truly knows my heart. I’ll gladly accept such a generous gift.”

His hand was still stroking the smooth bottle surface, but his eyes were glued to Su Tingyan’s face. “I just wonder if this fragrance will still smell as good on me as it does on Lord Su?”

…………

Su Tingyan only felt that the way Lu Xuan looked at him carried the oppressive force of stripping someone’s chastity from a thousand miles away.

What an utterly satisfying round of sexual harassment.

The system: [Target Lu Xuan received the player’s gift, Qianshan Ji. He is extremely delighted, favorability +50! Current favorability: -50. Charm value +500!]

Su Tingyan: “?”

Charm value went up another five hundred???

This guy’s pleasure point was way too weird. Just giving him a bottle of perfume could raise it this much, so if it were…

Stop!

Su Tingyan quickly snuffed out that dangerous thought in his head. Forget it, forget it. Getting fucked once only adds 1 point. He might as well just edge around the line.

Although the point-farming efficiency was astonishing, Su Tingyan had no more to do with him than skinning a tiger for its hide. This man had the heart of a hawk and the face of a crane, pleasant to look at, but with a vicious nature hidden under that skin. He absolutely could not be underestimated.

Su Tingyan stood up, his movement so large that the carriage swayed slightly: “The fragrance has been delivered. I’m sure Lord Lu needs some quiet time to appreciate it, so I won’t disturb you.”

With that, before Lu Xuan could respond, Su Tingyan yanked open the carriage curtain and jumped straight down. He moved so fast that the steward and coachman waiting outside had no time to react.

Lu Xuan did not stop him. He simply watched the curtain sway lightly, listening to the faint footsteps outside gradually fade away.

He looked down at the bottle of Qianshan Ji in his palm, remembering how the other man’s fingertips had held the bottle body moments ago. They had been as translucent as jade, the nail beds faintly pink, even more delicate than the fragrance bottle itself.

A string of bewitching fantasies sprouted in his heart as if possessed. He brought the small bottle close to his nose and took a deep breath, then closed his eyes. His throat bobbed several times before he let out a sigh.

“Su Zhao…” he murmured the name in a low voice, his brows and eyes holding back emotion, yet unable to conceal the thousand ripples in his tone.

The system: [Successfully handled Lu Xuan’s questioning, showed no fear, and completed the first clash. Achievement unlocked: [The Viper’s Gaze]]

The system: [Special status acquired: “Raging Fire” (effect: highly likely to continuously trigger Lu Xuan’s physiological impulses, effect inversely proportional to the other party’s rationality). Reminder: target’s danger level has greatly increased. The hostile relationship with the Lu faction is now clear. The player must be even more cautious from now on!]

Su Tingyan felt utterly helpless. It was only the first day, and there were generals, emperors, and corrupt officials everywhere. Surrounded by wolves, he still had to keep his purity intact. This game really was a bit difficult.

–

After bathing, Su Tingyan flopped onto the couch and fell into a daze.

He studied the décor of the bedroom around him, the chaste blanket, the chaste bed, the chaste desk and chairs, and the chaste window. It felt like he was living in a spirit hall.

The all-encompassing darkness made it obvious that Su Daxueshi himself was probably also an ascetic career-obsessed workaholic.

No wonder the developers had strongly insisted on letting him transmigrate into this game. Just based on his impotence, he really fit Su Zhao himself very well.

He mentally replayed the plot he had experienced today and remembered that in the original novel, Lu Xuan had been brought down by Su Zhao. If he wanted to deal with this man, the best way was to study Su Zhao.

Thinking of this, Su Tingyan suddenly wasn’t sleepy anymore. He got up and headed straight for the study.

The original Su Zhao had a very large study. All kinds of ancient books and miscellaneous writings rose up like mountains, filling the entire high wall.

Looking up, the colors of the books varied in light and dark, like bricks and tiles weathered by time, forming a copper wall of knowledge.

Even a rough glance made it clear that not a single book was new. Most had worn edges, loose bindings, and slightly curled covers, completely unlike the decorative hardcovers commonly displayed by the wealthy. It was obvious Su Zhao read these often.

There was plenty going on inside each book as well. Inserted between the pages were all kinds of slips of paper, covered with dense notes, questions, and flashes of inspiration.

The ink colors varied, like marks left by repeated readings across different periods.

Su Tingyan pulled out a random book. It was very thick. If it were in modern times, with a book like this, he would definitely…

He would definitely use it to cover instant noodles without hesitation.

But unexpectedly, Su Zhao could read it so carefully and even annotate and explain it over and over.

The name of Su Zhao’s study was extremely unique, unlike the usual names people chose, like Aspiring Far, Self-Reflection, or Seeking Truth. Instead, it was called “Worthless.”

Worthless?

To give such a name to a room full of poetry and books, the so-called great way is simple, learning increases daily, the way decreases daily, it was hard to imagine just how many books Su Zhao had read.

Perhaps he had already understood that the more one reads, the more one does things, and once you strip away the essence, the core of everything is terrifyingly simple.

The world says there are golden houses in books, yet he went the exact opposite way.

He had read all the scrolls under heaven, and still said they were not worth money.

He really was quite an interesting person.

The original Su Zhao had come from a common family, yet he managed to rise from humble beginnings to the very top in one leap. What he had experienced, naturally, was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

When reading the original novel, Su Tingyan had already developed great interest in this honorable Grand Chancellor. Now that interest had shifted directly from admiration to reverence.

He even muttered, “If I’m supposed to play such a person well, I wonder if I’ll completely botch it?”

The system’s voice quietly sounded: [Actually, as long as you’re a cool, faintly speaking, faintly smelling, faintly sounding, faintly refined and noble beauty, that’s enough.]

Su Tingyan: “Then I might as well have a faint soul too, so I can simply be called a faint bastard.”

The system: “…………”

The system: [Heh. The player is very humorous.]

Su Tingyan ignored its sarcastic tone and suddenly remembered something. “By the way, don’t I have some highly skilled dark guard protecting me?”

The system: [Yes, you can summon him at any time.]

At that, Su Tingyan became interested. He looked around. There was nowhere to hide a person here, right?

He wondered where they usually tucked themselves away when there was nothing to do.

In a tunnel?

Su Tingyan knocked above and patted below, but this place didn’t look like it had any hidden passage.

On the beams?

He searched the room thoroughly and still found nothing.

Su Tingyan couldn’t help asking, “How do I summon them?”

The system: [Just shout, “I’m not cut out for this!” and someone will appear.]

Su Tingyan: “…………” I really am not cut out for this now.

“I, I’m not cut out for this?”

The system: [That’s right, not I’m not. The tone has to be exact or they won’t come!]

Su Tingyan: “…I’m not cut out for this.”

The moment the words fell.

A black shadow dropped soundlessly from the beam overhead like a ghost, landing on one knee, head bowed, movements clean and sharp, without a single extra sound.

The whole process was so fast it was almost impossible to see how he had appeared.

Startled by the sudden figure, Su Tingyan took a small step back. Looking closely, the other man wore a neat set of nightclothes, his build strong and capable, his face covered by a metal mask that only revealed the line of his tightly pressed lips.

His aura was suppressed so well that if Su Tingyan had not seen him with his own eyes, he would almost not have sensed his existence at all.

“…Where were you hiding?” Su Tingyan stared blankly, subconsciously looking up at the high beam overhead.

Was this kid cheating? I’m eating him up!

The dark guard kept his head down, as if that absurd summoning phrase had been completely normal: “Replying to you, my lord, this is this subordinate’s duty. There is no need for you to worry.”

Su Tingyan stroked his chin and appraised him. “How is your professional ability?”

“If I hate someone…”

“If my lord hates someone, then you can take a wife. Once you become two people, you won’t hate him anymore.” The dark guard answered at once. His reply was bizarre, yet strangely airtight.

Su Tingyan: “…………”

I said hate one person, not hate myself as one person!

Ber…

“Shouldn’t it be that if I say who I hate, you go kill them?”

Dark guard: “This subordinate is a dark guard, not an assassin.”

Su Tingyan: “…………” So reasonable.

He stared at the other man’s half mask, feeling as if a cat’s paw was scratching at his heart. “Take off the mask and let me have a look?”

The dark guard’s body stiffened slightly, but he did not move.

“What, can’t I look?” Su Tingyan raised an eyebrow.

The system suddenly cut in: [I know what you’re thinking. Don’t look. He’s not good-looking, and he’s not your target.]

Su Tingyan’s little scheme was completely seen through. “Cough.”

“That’s good. Then I can sleep peacefully tonight.”

He had seen those especially obscene palace-keeper games before, where not to mention shadow guards or dark guards, even the stray dogs by the roadside were directly taken in.

How could he not worry?

Su Tingyan asked the system, “What’s his name?”

The system: [Qingmian.]

Su Tingyan couldn’t help asking, “Do I also have a servant named Qingbao?”

The system didn’t understand. [How do you know? But he’s not a steward, he’s a pageboy.]

Su Tingyan thought to himself: Qinghai, Qingmian, Qingbao, right?

Who hasn’t heard of SpongeBob…

Developer, your bad taste is way too much!

Su Tingyan made a few small demands of Qingmian: “Qingmian, right? From now on, before speaking to me, you must always add honorifics. For example, call me respected lord, dear lord, invincible lord, any of those is fine.”

“Second, you are not allowed to interrupt me in the middle of speaking. Every morning and evening, you have to greet me. Each sentence must be kept within 20 characters. No nonsense, no backtalk, and absolutely no putting a question mark on me.”

Qingmian understood what he meant, but not entirely: “My lord, what is putting a question mark on you?”

Su Tingyan smiled faintly. “For example, right now. It means you are not allowed to question me, only execute and obey me.”

Qingmian immediately changed his words: “This subordinate understands, dear lord!”

Su Tingyan had only been teasing Qingmian casually, but now he really couldn’t hold it in. He sighed to the system, “Tell me, who on earth invented dark guards? Utter obedience, you can play with them however you want. Isn’t that way too satisfying?”

Who would even dare imagine this in modern times?

The system: [Why are you so interested in someone who isn’t your target?]

Su Tingyan: “You don’t understand.”

Having a dead soldier could be said to be every man’s dream.

Su Tingyan asked Qingmian again, “Mian-ah, are you willing to die for me, my lord?”

Qingmian was speechless: “My lord, this subordinate only earns one tael of silver a month. It’s really not worth it.”

One tael of silver was roughly one to two thousand yuan in modern terms.

Su Tingyan was speechless from the bottom of his heart: “…………”

Such a cheap dark guard really did make it hard to trust him with your life!

“Raise it, my lord will raise it! Starting this month, I’ll raise it to 30 taels a month for you!”

30 taels, that was about the same as the treatment of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!

At that, Qingmian’s eyes immediately lit up. “Invincible lord, this subordinate is willing to die for you!”

Su Tingyan: “…”

Kid, your life should be worth a little money…

Author’s Note:

———————-

Lu Xuan: You smell so nice.

Su Tingyan: I am a fragrance bastard.