IWYTBW - Chapter 3

 

Chapter 3

My fate is determined by me, not by the heavens! How Refreshing~

Yi Zhen calmed the killing intent in his heart. “I’m not thirsty.”

“Hurry now, Little Zhen,” Rong Hongxue urged softly, "Now that I've returned, the servants in the room will surely begin to move about. You wouldn't want them to see you looking like this, would you?"

Yi Zhen sneered, and simply collapsed on the ground in a contorted posture. “Look, look all you want. What’s there to see? Do I dare to run naked in public or defecate in the streets? What’s the harm in taking a look? Am I not beautiful? It’s their honor to be able to look at me, and their fortune that I allow them to.”

You still want to play humiliation games with me? Well, that’s fine. As long as I have no limits, no one can humiliate me.

Rong Hongxue stared at him for a long while in the tea-colored glasses. He no longer had the careless expression he had before. “Who are you?” he asked with a smile.

“Neither a marquis nor a duke,” Yi Zhen replied with a blushed face, still smiling, “Yi Zhen.” The two of them looked at each other across the room, neither of them speaking. Suddenly, the round door in front of Yi Zhen slid downward, revealing an opening.

“Come,” he heard Rong Hongxue say, “Come over here to where I am. Let me see how much Little Zhen has changed.”

Alright, let’s do this, Yi Zhen thought to himself as he clambered over, simulating in his mind various ways to kill Rong Hongxue.

[Player, you can’t kill him,] Tai’a suddenly said. [Don’t waste your time.]

"Why not?" Yi Zhen paused in his movements, "Just because I'm also the protagonist?"

Tai’a said, [Yes, because you are also the protagonist. In the absence of a successor, the protagonists must not kill each other. Otherwise, the world line will collapse, thus destroying the entire world of the book.]

Yi Zhen didn’t speak.

Tai’a continued, [If this was a story with a complex plot, a vast world, and many characters, then you might have a chance. But in this world, there are only the two of you as main characters. Imagine a table with only two legs. You certainly can’t pull one of them out.]

“There are tables with only one leg,” Yi Zhen said softly.

Rong Hongxue’s undisguised malice and coldness, as well as the character he had displayed in the original novel, had completely disgusted Yi Zhen. Perhaps his childhood was chaotic and his life was difficult, perhaps all of this was Rong’s father’s fault, but his character had undoubtedly been distorted at an early age... From parricide and fratricide to the abuse of his elder brother’s widow, the poison of revenge consumed his soul. Yi Zhen could not think of any other way to change this person’s life.

What redemption, what healing? That was just something people said when they weren’t in the situation themselves. Now that he was in the thick of it, Yi Zhen clearly saw the way Rong Hongxue looked at him. To him, both Rong’s father and Rong Huaiyu had died too early and too easily. Yi Zhen was the last of the Rong family’s legacy, and his greatest use was to allow Rong Hongxue to vent his lingering desire for revenge.

[These are words you will only be able to say when you have grown to the point where you can stand on your own two feet. Until then, you cannot defeat him.]

The cold, smooth floor was as seamless as an eggshell, and it eased the heat of Yi Zhen’s body, allowing his mind to clear. Tai’a’s reminder gave him direction.

Grow stronger. How strong? That was something to think about later. In any case, he could no longer afford to be manipulated by this little beast.

“Tai’a,” Yi Zhen asked, “I’ve always wanted to know, what exactly is the choice of initial attributes for this main line task?”

Tai’a replied, [That represents the player’s three main development directions in the future: strength, agility, and spirit.]

“Continue, I’m listening.” He was tired from crawling and needed to catch his breath.

[Please look at your character card.]

Yi Zhen looked up with difficulty and saw his character attributes.

[Name: Yi Zhen

Gender: Male

Age: 23

Occupation: None

Special status: Protagonist

Strength: 11 (Rank: D)

Spirit: 22 (Rank: C-)

Agility: 10 (Rank: E)

Comprehensive evaluation:

A standard weakling, suitable for all ages. The words “I’m easy to bully” are written on his face and stamped on the soles of his feet. How should I put it? The world is a scary place for you, my friend!]

Yi Zhen nearly choked on his own saliva.

[Strength represents your physical fitness; agility represents your skills and martial arts; spirit represents your spiritual power.] Tai’a explained slowly, [These three main development directions will determine your path in the future. To put it simply, do you want to be a warrior, an assassin, or a mage?]

“...Can you really make analogies like these?” Yi Zhen asked again, “What about that little beast? What level is he?”

[I don’t think that you need to concern yourself with that for the time being,] Tai’a replied. [The original novel doesn’t have any records of Rong Hongxue’s abilities in these three areas, but as a protagonist, there is one piece of information that I can share with you: As a rider, his physical fitness may be slightly lacking, but his spirit is extraordinary. He is at least S-ranked.]

...It was more than just a chasm. It was the difference between the Mariana Trench and the peak of Mount Everest. If Yi Zhen was the worst of the worst, then Rong Hongxue lived up to his reputation as the proud and arrogant male protagonist. He could easily crush Yi Zhen with one finger.

Yi Zhen fell silent. After a while, he asked, “What is a rider?”

[Someone who operates a large, single-person combat platform, or more commonly known as a mecha,] Tai'a replied. [In contrast, a mechanic is someone who manufactures weapons, armor, and assembles single-person combat platforms.]

[You’re almost there,] Tai’a reminded him.

Yi Zhen panted. The path was not actually very long. If he had walked, he could have reached it in two or three minutes. Unfortunately, he was weak and could only crawl and roll on the ground. Yi Zhen couldn’t understand if it was really that much fun to watch someone wriggle around, or if Rong Hongxue’s mind was so twisted that he found it soothing to watch someone struggle.

If it was the latter, then the décor and aesthetics of his room must be quite amusing.

The door in front of them opened. A large, bright room appeared, and Rong Hongxue leaned back in his chair, looking down at him from above. He extended a slender, well-muscled hand with distinct knuckles and beckoned to him.

“Come, Little Zhen.”

[Main line task: Initial completion

Task reward: Choice of initial attributes, 10 second invincibility buff Please choose one of the following to enhance: strength, technique, or spirit. Initial enhancement points: 5]

“Strength.” Yi Zhen looked at Rong Hongxue, who was several meters away, and gasped out two words.

[Would you like to allow me to make a suggestion? You are a natural-born spirit. Are you sure you want to strengthen your strength?]

“Strength... I want strength.” Yi Zhen repeated firmly, “Also, prepare that 10-second invincibility buff for me... No, no, not now. Wait a bit. I’ll tell you when to start.”

A strange transformation began.

It was as if something solid and unyielding in the void was being slowly injected into his muscles and bones, cleansing his entire body.

To be honest, this body’s physical fitness was really poor. His limbs were thin and he had tender, white skin. He didn’t have much stamina either. After crawling just a few steps, Yi Zhen’s palms and knees were already red and swollen. It wasn’t until he had these 5 upgrade points that Yi Zhen felt a clear difference. His waist and legs, which were previously as weak as willow branches, had become more steady.

What is it like to have a solid base and to be unyielding? Yi Zhen had a slight understanding at this moment.

Rong Hongxue watched him fixedly, watching Yi Zhen grit his teeth and struggle to support his trembling knees as he limped towards him.

His little sister-in-law was indeed different from before, both in his words and in his current demeanor. The game, which had previously become boring, seemed to be filled with anticipation once more.

“Who are you?” Rong Hongxue asked again, his tone playful, “Are you still my Little Zhen?”

[Main line task: Acquaintance triggered

Task content: Who am I?

Rong Hongxue has asked me one of the three ultimate questions of philosophical idealism: Who am I? So, how should I answer to make a memorable first impression?

Task reward: Enhancement points x3, “Gray Rabbit” antidote x1]

Yi Zhen didn’t answer.

Four meters.

He lifted his weak legs and watched the distance decrease, step by step.

Three meters.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Rong Hongxue frowned slightly, looking at him with a bit of worry. "Look, I offered you some water just now, aren’t you going to drink it?"

...Two meters, almost there.

Yi Zhen spoke hoarsely: “First...*”

The tips of Rong Hongxue’s raised fingers could already touch his chin, “Your first time?**”

One meter.

Alright, it’s now or never!

[--10-second Invincibility Buff. Player, please be ready to receive it.]

"...... Nice to meet you for the first time, I am your mother!*"

Twelve words, like twelve small knives, shot straight towards Rong Hongxue’s face.

At this moment, Yi Zhen seemed to be in a strange space. The flow of time slowed down, and everything in his eyes moved at a snail’s pace. The air seemed to solidify around him , the light dimmed as each particle of dust held itself still, and even Rong Hongxue's wide eyes were like rusty windows, creaking open and shut with difficulty.

What weakness, what aphrodisiac? Yi Zhen raised his left fist and struck Rong Hongxue’s heart with the force of wind and thunder, the sound of cracking bones crisp and pleasant. His right hand then smoothly opened, grabbed the man’s neck, and slammed him to the ground, creating a loud thud.

This series of movements was smooth and flowing, and the one being beaten had no power to fight back. Not only did he have no power to fight back, but he didn’t even have a chance to speak!

—— Peerless Buff, the Eternal God.

A transparent ripple spread through the air. At the moment when the earth-shattering beating was inflicted upon Rong Hongxue, a subtle shift, imperceptible yet undeniable, occurred, altering the course of the world.

Rong Hongxue's expression had completely frozen on his face.

He wanted to fight back, but how could it be that easy! Yi Zhen's punches and kicks were like the weight of Mount Tai... No, even if it were Mount Tai, with his abilities, he could still struggle. This was more like an irresistible iron rule. Under such force, he was fragile and vulnerable, only able to endure the beating in a daze.

"...Holy shit," he said in a daze.

There truly are things in this world that defy logic.

Just as characters from works with a strict worldview and tight logical lines, who rely on legitimate power comparisons, can never defeat characters from comedic works, imagine this: You are a CEO who is about to negotiate with a business rival the next day. After extensive research and investigation, you have a thorough understanding of your opponent's likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. You are confident and in control, with fate's throat firmly in your grasp. You arrange the negotiation room with decorations your opponent favors, the air filled with the fragrance of gardenias, a specialty from your opponent's hometown. Dozens of industry elites are waiting to swarm in and draft a contract favorable to your side. You are dressed in a suit, flawless from head to toe, sitting at the other end of the negotiation table, feeling as if the entire Earth revolves around you.

Then your opponent arrives, carrying his mother's coffin on his back, heavy and somber. Upon seeing you, without a word, he lets out a loud wail: "My poor mother, why have you left me?"

With such a dramatic display, what can you do?

A thousand words are stuck in your throat, your mind in chaos, and you can only mutter in a daze, "...Holy shit."

At this moment, Rong Hongxue was that person with a mind in chaos. He felt as if his worldview... perhaps even his outlook on life, had been shattered by something.

Am I dreaming, or...?

He wondered strangely,  spitting out blood.
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* He says 初 / chu, which could be part of many words/phrases like: at first / (at the) beginning / first / for the first time / first (meeting, attempt etc) / first love / young and inexperienced ... orrrr

** 处男chǔ nán : virgin (male)

I really wanted to give that line some funnies- alternatives were:

a: “...First time meeting, I’m your mom!”

b: "...Nice to meet you for the first time, I am your mother!"

This chap is dedicated to CoolPlane! I found the novel through them, and they also posted the first review, I truly hope I can live up to expectations and do this story justice!