May 14th
So much happened yesterday, I didn't even finish my diary entry.
Wang Tenglong’s favor towards me reached three stars. He helped me modify my magic array. Now, my “Nine Dragons Five Elements Array” is integrated for offense and defense. Even cultivators at the peak of the Golden Core realm can't detect the cave's existence. My sense of security is through the roof.
Yesterday, Yun Zhenting came.
This was my first time "meeting" Yun Zhenting in person.
I have to admit, the Yun family patriarch is very handsome. Thick eyebrows, large eyes, a square, masculine face – a standard middle-aged heartthrob! In the real world, he'd definitely be a "cougar bait"!
However, Yun Zhenting is a bit... unhinged!
I don't know what he was thinking, but his favor towards me suddenly skyrocketed for no reason. He insisted on giving me seventy percent of the profits from the "Spirit Stone Mine."
Sigh!
Could it be… he's smitten with my "stunning beauty"?
Being handsome can sometimes be a curse!
Hahahaha…
This afternoon, Wang Tenglong came again for a drink.
Today's Wang Tenglong was clearly different from the past few days. The way he looked at me carried a sense of… worship!
Yes, worship!
After drinking a lot, Wang Tenglong confided in me, saying he truly admired me!
He said I'm just a "Qi Refining stage cultivator," yet I'm being addressed as "Master" by a "Foundation Establishment" cultivator. And he was crying and begging to give me seventy percent of the "Spirit Stone Mine" profits. This is incredible! Even a storyteller wouldn't dare make up such a tale; they'd get beaten!
Wang Tenglong worshipfully asked how I managed it.
How the hell would I know how I managed it?
Uh, maybe it's really because I'm so handsome!
Hahahaha…
May 15th
Early this morning, the monkey arrived.
This guy brought another lotus leaf packet.
Me.
(¬_¬)
Monkey, are you never going to stop? Believe it or not, I'll beat the shit out of you.
The monkey opened the lotus leaf packet. Just as I was about to attack, I took a closer look and, holy crap!
Ginseng!
What did I see? Ginseng!
It's really ginseng!
This damned monkey, after cutting off countless "little things" and harming countless male animals, has finally done something decent.
I'm very happy!
The monkey is also very happy!
Because I lent it my "Formless Cudgel" to play with for a day.
Damn monkey, it likes playing with sticks so much, could it really be a distant relative of Sun Wukong?
Sun Wukong has a bad temper. If he found out I was bullying this monkey like this, would he come and beat me up?
So scary!
At noon, Wang Tenglong came again.
Wang Tenglong: "No, no, fellow Daoist, I've drunk too much of your spirit wine. I'm too embarrassed to drink more… Okay, I've said my piece. Fellow Daoist, quickly bring out the spirit wine, let's start drinking!"
Me.
(╥﹏╥)
Fellow Daoist, does your mother know you're so fond of rituals?
After drinking, as usual, I bragged with Wang Tenglong.
I asked Wang Tenglong how he endured the pain of cultivation.
Wang Tenglong looked at me blankly. He said cultivation wasn't painful at all; it was the most satisfying thing. Besides drinking, nothing in this world felt as good as cultivating!
What the heck!
Does this guy have some kind of "delusion" too?
Cultivation isn't painful?
I'm practically dying of pain!
Or is Wang Tenglong perhaps a legendary "masochist," who enjoys more pain?
Alas, I truly envy the "masochistic physique"!
May 16th
Early this morning, the monkey didn't come.
Damn monkey, it clearly doesn't want to return the "Formless Cudgel."
I have a good quality: I don't hold grudges, but I do keep a diary!
Damn monkey, just you wait!
At noon, Wang Tenglong came for a drink.
Wang Tenglong: "No, no, fellow Daoist, I've drunk too much of your spirit wine. I'm too embarrassed to drink more… Come on, let's drink!"
Ah, this damn ritual!
Today, Wang Tenglong seemed a bit dejected. He said he might not be able to stay long. The sect leader of "Nine Dragons Peak" had sent a message via flying sword, asking him to return to "Nine Dragons Peak" as soon as possible.
I asked Wang Tenglong, "Aren't you looking for the 'Curse Book' anymore?"
Wang Tenglong shook his head and sighed, saying he'd searched for many days but couldn't find it!
Me.
(¬_¬)
Brother, are you kidding me?
Where have you been searching for the "Curse Book"? You've been coming to drink with me every day these past few days!
Alas, forget it. Not looking is good. The "Curse Book" is with me. If Wang Tenglong somehow found a clue, I'd be in trouble!
Finally, as Wang Tenglong was leaving, he subtly reminded me that according to the customs of the cultivation world, good friends should exchange gifts upon parting. He felt it wasn't necessary to send a formal gift, and a few hundred bottles of "Monkey Spirit Wine" would suffice.
Damn it!
May 17th
Early this morning, the monkey came!
This guy is here to return the "Formless Cudgel"... Fat chance!
The damn monkey has gotten smarter. It didn't bring the "Formless Cudgel" at all. Instead, it brought a large lotus leaf packet.
Opening the lotus leaf packet, I saw dozens of wild ginsengs inside.
The monkey counted on its claws for a long time, implying that one wild ginseng was equivalent to one day of borrowing the "Formless Cudgel"…
I laughed.
Mountain Pressing Peak!
Black Tiger Steals the Heart!
Whirlwind Knee Break!
Monkey Steals the Peach!
Immortal Points the Way!
…
A flurry of beginner combos!
Damn monkey, are you dreaming? What do I need so many wild ginsengs for? To stew them into soup like carrots?
I drew a "Lingzhi mushroom diagram" on the ground with a branch and told the monkey to find the Lingzhi. If it found the Lingzhi, I'd lend it the "Formless Cudgel." If not, I'd beat it to death with the "Formless Cudgel."
In the morning, Yun Zhenting arrived.
This "delusional cultivator" was still the same, incredibly respectful to me. He wanted to kowtow the moment he saw me, calling me "Master" repeatedly, making me quite embarrassed.
I told him not to kowtow, and his favor towards me increased by +1000.
Gaining favor is too easy.
I don't even know what to say.
Yun Zhenting told me the "Spirit Stone Mine" extraction was very successful. They obtained a total of ten low-grade spirit stones, so today he brought me seven low-grade spirit stones.
What can I say?
Just happily accept them!
Perhaps it was because I smiled at Yun Zhenting, his favor towards me increased by another +1000.
Me: …
At noon, Wang Tenglong arrived.
Wang Tenglong: "No, no, fellow Daoist, I've drunk too much of your spirit wine. I'm too embarrassed to drink more."
Then, he proactively picked up a bottle of "Monkey Spirit Wine" and started drinking.
Today, Wang Tenglong was very sad. He said he had to leave today and would miss me dearly.
As he spoke, he glanced at my "Monkey Spirit Wine" inventory.
I think he doesn't miss me, but rather the "Monkey Spirit Wine."
Alas!
Honestly, I'll miss him too.
Having a Great Cultivator of the Golden Core realm nearby provides an immense sense of security.
Once Wang Tenglong leaves, I'll have to face this dangerous cultivation world alone again.
Melancholy!
Today, I drank a lot with Wang Tenglong. Towards the end, we slung our arms around each other and sang the classic song "My Good Brother."
My good brother,
Tell me your troubles.
We'll walk the long road ahead together,
Crossing rivers together…
…
We sang terribly!
I sing badly, and Wang Tenglong, after my tutelage, sings even worse.
I personally witnessed two small birds nearby falling from the sky and dying from the noise pollution.
Poor little birds!
I don't know if it was the alcohol or something else, but in a moment of excitement, I taught Wang Tenglong the "Spirit Awakening Incantation" for "Monkey Spirit Wine."
With the "Spirit Awakening Incantation," Wang Tenglong can now make his own "Monkey Spirit Wine" and drink as much as he wants. It's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish!
Suddenly, a string of system prompts sounded in my mind.