C15 Facing

After everything had settled down, Zhou Ming finally let out a long, relieved sigh. Yet, he knew all too well that the system wouldn't let him off the hook that easily. The mere thought of it gave him a headache. Upon waking up, his first order of business was to open the system's Merchant Shop to purchase a skill.

With only 500 dream values to his name, splurging on a high-level skill was out of the question. Zhou Ming had to compromise, opting for both an intermediate attack skill and an intermediate defense skill. After completing his purchases, he looked at his remaining 300 dream values with a heavy heart, silently cursing the system for its extortionate ways.

Host's name: Zhou Ming

Body level: Early period of Source Tempering

Health status: Normal

Psychokinesis: Unknown

Skills: Exploding Fist, Multi-Dimensional Palm Strike, Immovable as a Mountain

Dream value: 300

Current world energy: Primal Essence

Current world difficulty: Level A

Upon opening the attribute panel, Zhou Ming noticed that the category for his physical condition had been updated to body level. Without hesitation, he summoned Red.

"What's up?" Red yawned, appearing as if she had just woken up.

Ignoring her look of impatience, Zhou Ming inquired, "Red, why has my physical condition been changed to body level?"

Red produced a chair out of thin air and lounged on it, swinging her legs. "Oh, come on, you're such a bother! Do you really need to ask me about something so trivial? You've started your cultivation journey, so naturally, your physical condition has evolved into your body level, dummy!"

"Red, you've changed. Remember, I'm your master. Have you forgotten that in just a few days and now you're trying to usurp me?"

Zhou Ming felt a surge of frustration. It seemed the system's visible record had been toying with him in various guises: first as a muscle-bound brute, then as a maid, and now as a haughty princess. The antics were indeed varied and colorful!

"What's with the attitude? What if I am the host? Do you really think I couldn't pin you down and give you a thrashing within minutes?"

Red shot up from her seat, flipping two middle fingers in Zhou Ming's mind.

That did it. Red's defiant demeanor had Zhou Ming fuming.

"Brother Ming, are you in pain? You're clenching your jaw so tightly."

Outside, Lin Xiaowu noticed Zhou Ming's face was pallid, and she worried he might have accidentally aggravated his injury.

"Don't worry, let's go shopping first."

Zhou Ming climbed out of bed and shakily made his way out.

Lin Xiaowu set aside the can of beef and hurried to support Zhou Ming, thinking his trembling must be due to physical weakness.

But only Zhou Ming knew that his shaking was caused by sheer frustration.

Zhou Ming and Lin Xiaowu reached the largest shopping mall in Brohebis, a name that Zhou Ming thought was quite cleverly chosen by the mall's owner.

"Xiaowu, since you haven't changed clothes, go buy some. The PIN is 549964."

Zhou Ming gestured across his chest and handed Lin Xiaowu a silver expense card, a generous gift from his sister, Zhou Youyou.

The expense card functioned much like a credit card. Zhou Ming, a seasoned homebody, typically used mobile and fingerprint payments. He had checked and knew the card from his sister contained a substantial amount of money.

Lin Xiaowu's cheeks flushed at Zhou Ming's gesture. "Brother Zhou Ming, how can I spend your money? Especially on... on that kind of thing."

Zhou Ming didn't grasp why Lin Xiaowu was blushing. He dismissed her concern with a wave, "It's okay. Go ahead and buy it. If it bothers you, you can pay me back when you're able to."

"Okay, if it's what Brother Zhou Ming wants, I'll... I'll go buy it."

Lin Xiaowu accepted the expense card and entered the boutique ahead.

"No, wait, why are you going into that store?"

Zhou Ming caught Lin Xiaowu's arm. The store's sign read, "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold, peak experiences require love and finesse," and the name was "Ah Hua Sex Clothing Specialty Store."

"Eh? Isn't that what you wanted me to buy, Brother Zhou Ming?"

Lin Xiaowu pouted, wondering if Zhou Ming expected her to choose on her own. The thought of purchasing such items by herself was indeed quite embarrassing.

It turned out to be a huge misunderstanding, and Zhou Ming was caught between laughter and tears. "I meant I wanted to buy some fresh clothes to change into. What were you thinking?"

While speaking, he tugged at his T-shirt, anxious to avoid any misinterpretation from Lin Xiaowu.

"I thought... I thought..."

Lin Xiaowu's face flushed to the roots of her neck. She spotted a rather ordinary boutique and bolted away, her face in her hands.

After strolling for over ten minutes, Zhou Ming remembered that he wasn't living alone anymore and couldn't keep relying on canned food. So, they turned back, ready to pick up some groceries.

While walking, Lin Xiaowu wasn't paying attention and collided with someone, tumbling to the ground.

"Are you okay, beautiful? Let me help you up."

A fair-skinned young man with a hawkish nose offered a hand to Lin Xiaowu with a smile on his face.

"No, I'm fine. I can get up on my own."

Lin Xiaowu was about to stand up when she noticed the young man's hand inching closer.

A side mission had been triggered: Slap Ming Xuanyang in the face. Mission Difficulty: Medium. Mission Reward: 20 Dream Value.

The system issued a gentle reminder that the side mission was mandatory; failure would result in the system carrying out a termination order without conditions.

Zhou Ming was too exasperated to comment. He swatted Ming Xuanyang's hand away and pulled Lin Xiaowu to his side.

"Your girlfriend? How about you hand her over to me? Name your price."

Ming Xuanyang, clad in a floral shirt and baggy casual pants, flicked his collar and sized up Zhou Ming with a sidelong glance.

"Moron!"

Zhou Ming could easily discern the scorn in Ming Xuanyang's eyes. Ming Xuanyang's attire was all high-end and costly, but Zhou Ming felt no envy. To him, Ming Xuanyang was just flaunting his wealth with a few pieces of fabric—how upscale could they really be?

"Say that again?!"

Ming Xuanyang didn't grasp the meaning of "moron," but he could tell Zhou Ming was insulting him.

Zhou Ming chuckled, "I've never encountered such a pathetic request. Looking for a verbal thrashing, are you? Well, I'm happy to oblige! You're a complete moron!"

He had seen it clearly: Lin Xiaowu hadn't bumped into Ming Xuanyang; it was Ming Xuanyang who had deliberately knocked her down. Afterwards, Ming Xuanyang feigned helping Lin Xiaowu up, and during this act, he even tried to take advantage of her. His shamelessness knew no bounds.

"You're asking for it!"

Ming Xuanyang's fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He was itching to smash the face of the fool in front of him, but he dared not act out here. If he did, he would undoubtedly face a severe reprimand from his father. So, he restrained himself.

"Looking for a fight? I'm right here."

Zhou Ming's words were accompanied by a surge of Primal Essence to his right hand, and with a swift motion, he delivered a slap. He had sensed an oppressive force from Ming Xuanyang and didn't hold back.

"You dare strike?!"

Ming Xuanyang tried to seize Zhou Ming's wrist, but they were too close, and the slap had taken him by surprise. He was caught off guard.

"Smack!"

The sound of a crisp, resounding slap echoed. Ming Xuanyang hadn't anticipated Zhou Ming's formidable strength, and he was spun around, tumbling onto the icy floor.

The bystanders were shocked. This was the notorious Young Master Ming, known for bullying others, yet today, he was floored by a slender young man? Many silently commended Zhou Ming with a thumbs up.

Lin Xiaowu tugged at Zhou Ming's sleeve and asked in a hushed tone, "Brother Zhou Ming, why did you hit him all of a sudden?"

Do you think I wanted to hit him? If I hadn't, I'd be the one lying there. Of course, Zhou Ming kept these thoughts to himself. Casting a glance at Ming Xuanyang sprawled on the ground, he quickly led Lin Xiaowu away.