Chapter 2: It’s All A Setup By Capital
Deity.
Not some kind of craftsman deity or “you are my god” kind of thing.
Real deities, the ones that exist in myths.
Leaving aside those deities and immortals from ancient myths who have been proven here to just be powerful martial artists.
Even if there really are deities, what can he do?
Benbaerba is at least a demon.
But while there are no deities, demonic creatures do exist.
From ancient demonic creatures like the drought demon that scorched a thousand miles of land, to modern zombies that infect with a single bite—all are demonic creatures.
But in Shenzhou, major demons feel to him like Denger crashing into the Pentagon—everyone knows about it, everyone has heard of it, but no one has experienced it firsthand.
Lesser demons are like petty thieves; some people definitely encounter them, but most haven’t seen them because they are dealt with immediately upon appearance.
Shenzhou protects people too well!
With nearly two billion people across all of Shenzhou, the average probability of encountering demonic creatures is pitifully low.
Li Ye once suspected if demonic creatures were deities and earnestly studied ancient texts and modern papers.
But the more information he reviewed, the colder his heart grew.
Still that same point: he might not even be able to beat Benbaerba.
The demonic creatures revered as deities in the information are not something ordinary people can touch.
And lesser demons.
He actually encountered one last year.
During last year’s winter break, Ningjiang City rarely snowed, and it was freezing; he encountered a snow spirit.
He poured boiling water on it and killed it.
Demonic creatures are demonic creatures, not deities.
In modern analysis of demonic creatures, some lesser demons can even be dealt with by ordinary people.
And not long after, relevant personnel came to inquire, told him to make sure to call the police next time he encountered something, and gave him a thousand yuan reward.
Good news: he was born in a relatively safe and humane country.
Bad news: his system isn’t.
Li Ye could feel that the presence of the “God-Slaying System” was growing weaker and weaker; somehow, it was already telling him that with his eighteenth birthday and adulthood, the system would disappear.
Average talent, useless system, worrying family background—life has stalled.
If he gives up, who won’t?
It’s not like not practicing martial arts means he can’t live; in Shenzhou, the personal safety of ordinary people is still reliable.
As long as he doesn’t court death, he can completely live out his life like an ordinary person.
Walking out of the school gate, Li Ye took out his key to start the electric scooter and headed straight home.
Li Ye’s home is in an old residential community called Green Water Fragrant Shore; though old, the location is decent—only two streets from the river to the south, and from the tenth floor, the great river is visible in full view.
The environment of the old residential community naturally isn’t great, but overall it’s clean; however, as Li Ye passed the neighboring building, he smelled a strange odor.
The trash bin downstairs was emitting a strange stench.
Li Ye frowned but didn’t pay much attention; the smell had lasted three days, probably just not cleared in time, and it might be gone tomorrow.
He rode the electric scooter to the parking area under his building, took the elevator, and returned home.
Li Ye’s home is in Building 10, Unit 1002, total area one hundred square meters, three bedrooms and one living room; housing prices are not much different from his previous life’s world, just without that evil shared area nonsense.
After jabbing the key into the door lock, he saw his dad sitting on the sofa, TV on, holding a mobile phone.
His mom was busy in the kitchen.
“You’re back pretty early today,” Li Ye said.
His dad Li Haihua is the maintenance supervisor at Ningjiang City’s largest chain supermarket, earning about ten thousand yuan a month, usually coming home late, but early today.
His mom Liu Qingxia also works at the chain supermarket, handling cashier and warehousing, usually getting off work on time.
“Not much work today.”
Li Haihua said, “Go wash your hands; dinner’s soon.”
Li Ye didn’t say much, put down his schoolbag, and went to wash his hands.
He felt no awkwardness toward his parents because they were no different from his previous life.
Except for the different world, in terms of family, it was like reliving a lifetime for Li Ye.
After washing his hands, just as Li Ye was about to help in the kitchen, he heard the TV sound.
[Next, a news report: Martial artist Fu Yan from Jianghuai Province successfully killed the demonic creature rampant in the Tongguan Mountain Mining Area in Jinze City, Jianghuai Province, at 1 a.m. today. The demonic creature threat has been completely eliminated.]
Li Ye glanced over and saw the news anchor on TV sitting upright, speaking clearly; as she spoke, the screen switched to an overhead view of the messy mine area, surrounding rocks like they had been chopped by knives, huge gashes everywhere.
Then it changed to a photo of a resolute middle-aged man standing at the mine area entrance.
Just two seconds, and the screen switched back to the anchor.
[Cleanup is proceeding synchronously; residents in the area please beware of residual pollution—drink mineral water or honey lemon water for the next three days.]
[Next report continues.]
Li Haihua exclaimed in admiration, “Xiaoye, did you see? So exaggerated, the mountain is completely split.”
He then asked, “What kind of demonic creature is this? Jinze is the neighboring city; should we stock up on mineral water too?”
“No need, Dad.”
Li Ye said with a smile, “If it’s just reminding about mineral water, it means nearby groundwater is polluted, so prepare some. But with honey lemon water mentioned too, it’s not groundwater; honey lemon water counters heavy metals.”
“Probably guarding against some mine dust air pollution; given it’s a mine area, high chance it’s an Ore Skeleton Ghost Ape or Grave Dust Ore Demon.”
“This type of demonic creature basically has a fixed range, and once dead, no real pollution left; drinking that stuff is just in case.”
Ore Skeleton Ghost Ape is a mountain demonic creature; its shed fur is mine dust, and once attached, it carries its aura, involuntarily drawing toward the body, mysteriously disappearing.
In Dongying, it’s called “god hidden.”
Grave Dust Ore Demon is more like a parasite, releasing mineral powder; inhalation causes heavy metal poisoning, then it breeds more inside the body.
But either way, their activity range is limited, impossible to spread widely.
However.
Li Ye took out his mobile phone, searched for news about Jinze City, and quickly found what he needed.
One month ago, there was a mining accident at Tongguan Mountain Mining Area.
Both types of demonic creatures are linked to mining accidents: the former from corpses combining with ore, breeding in the mountain body.
The latter from resentment produced by the mining accident turning into a demon.
“What are you looking at?” Li Haihua asked.
Li Ye shared the news he saw, and Li Haihua slapped his thigh, “No wonder! This Fu Yan isn’t official; why’s slaying a demonic creature on the news? Black-hearted capital mining illegally—it’s all those capitalists’ scheme!”
Li Ye: “…”
“Time to eat; forget the capital talk.”
Mom Liu Qingxia finished cooking, set the table, and rolled her eyes at Li Haihua.
Steamed perch, tomato-braised beef brisket, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, salted shrimp, carrot stir-fried wood ear mushrooms, asparagus stir-fried lily bulbs.
During martial arts training, Li Ye ate well every day, especially in this critical phase before rising to senior year.
“And this—drink it hot. I had the day shift today, came back early to stew it for you.”
Liu Qingxia placed a bowl of soup in front of Li Ye.
The soup was dark gold with red tint, topped with an amber-like oil sheen, and inside stewed translucent tendons.
The table had home-cooked dishes, but overall not cheap, and this soup even more so.
Dragon blood simmered ginseng stewed deer tendon, boosts qi and blood, strengthens tendons and bones.
Deer tendon and ginseng, red dates, angelica, goji berries, old ginger—not too expensive in today’s developed society, a few dozen yuan cost; what’s expensive is the “blood lingzhi” making the soup dark gold red.
A great qi and blood boosting ingredient; one gram per bowl is enough, two hundred yuan per gram.
Essential “little meal” for martial arts students’ three meals.
Li Ye said, “Mom, no need to prepare this anymore; I told the teacher today I’m switching to liberal arts track.”
This made both parents stiffen.
Li Haihua put down his chopsticks, tone somewhat unwilling: “How about practicing one more year?”
Liu Qingxia chimed in, “Yeah, your physical test scores were good, right?”
The son switching to liberal arts track had been discussed before; though they strongly opposed, Li Ye had his own mind since childhood, impossible to stop.
Li Ye picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it in his mouth, “I checked the data: nationwide, only 10% of high school preparatory students enter martial arts. At our school, it’s worse—100:1 these two years.”
“Excellent or qualified standards vary by school, can’t take as true. Your son isn’t the material; better consolidate liberal arts scores in the last year, get into a good university.”
Li Ye smiled, “Practicing martial arts isn’t necessarily great; many pour huge effort in, end up with just one qi blood leap, not much effect.”
“Look at our homeroom teacher—almost forty, only one qi blood leap; looks a bit younger, but otherwise same, just a high school teacher.”
He said casually, “My general knowledge scores are great; get into a good university, graduate maybe become a security consultant at a big company, salary way higher than teacher.”
“Nonsense, how aren’t you the material!”
Liu Qingxia called out, “You’re definitely material for both liberal and martial tracks! Quitting just like that, I won’t agree; and quitting Jinglei Martial Arts Hall without discussing with us—definitely not!”
Li Haihua also called out, “Xiaoye, you’re confused; how can liberal arts compare to martial arts track! Now, martial arts track is like officials in ancient times! You know civil service exams prioritize martial arts students first!”
“Martial arts training—we decide. Drink the soup first; boosting qi and blood is always good, a healthy body beats everything!”
Li Ye didn’t respond, just sipped the soup, then buried his head in eating, devouring everything; dishes visibly decreased.
“I’m going to do practice papers.”
Li Ye finished the last bit of soup dregs, set bowl and chopsticks neatly, wiped his mouth, and returned to his room.
Li Haihua and Liu Qingxia exchanged a glance; the former picked up a piece of fish meat, ate it, and sighed heavily.
Some time ago when their son stopped going to Jinglei Martial Arts Hall, they knew it would come to this.
From young, he had firm ideas, and smart too; whatever he did was rarely wrong.
They knew it wasn’t wrong; Li Ye didn’t say some things, but as parents, they knew clearly: the family really had no money, even owed twenty thousand outside for martial arts training.
But.
Not about expecting him to become dragon or bring glory; child’s future important, but they knew better—if he really disliked it, he wouldn’t have trained so diligently at the martial arts school, even often coming home injured.
They were young once, knew martial arts reality; those like Fu Yan are rare, no intersection with their world.
Real intersection is people like Li Ye’s homeroom teacher.
One qi blood leap just means easier to find work; otherwise no different from ordinary people—live life, go to work.
But before qi blood leap, martial arts training is very hard.
In their youth, forget martial arts school—they were too lazy for guiding method; true ordinary people.
The son definitely likes practicing martial arts!
After a while, Li Haihua seemed to steel his resolve, “Let’s hire another master!”
Liu Qingxia paused while picking food, “Good!”
Li Haihua gritted his teeth, “Tomorrow I’ll borrow more from someone; no matter what, no regrets! Xiaoye’s ideas are firm, but summer vacation he must train!”
