Shen Yuan had never been able to figure out what exactly a character like Shen Qingqiu—who embodied both scumminess and a death wish—was trying to achieve.
In his past life, Shen Qingqiu came from a wealthy family, a proper little second-generation rich kid. He had two older brothers above him, so the family business wasn't his concern, and a younger sister below him who was the apple of the family's eye. His family relations were harmonious.
He knew clearly that even if he spent this life idly eating and waiting to die, he wouldn't go hungry. Perhaps because he had lived comfortably since childhood with no competitive pressure, he always felt that as long as there were more than ten competitors, making it into the top ten counted as a good result.
Therefore, he had never seen eye to eye with those who were bent on conquering the world.
The Shen Qingqiu in the original work had the cultivation base, the seniority, and no lack of hypocritical refinement. He had status and fame, backed by the number one sect in the cultivation world, and no worries about money. Why did he have to make life difficult for a grassroots protagonist? Why was his mind always pondering how to beat and scold the protagonist, or directing others to do so?
Even if Luo Binghe was gifted with extraordinary talent and comprehension, a child of destiny... was that any reason to be this jealous?
However, one couldn't entirely blame his lack of taste. In books like this, antagonists like him were as numerous as carp in a river; he just happened to belong to the particularly tasteless category.
What could be done? The biggest BOSS in this book was the protagonist himself. How could the light of a firefly dare to compete with the sun and moon?
He was respectfully known in the cultivation world as "Liufeng Sword," so his appearance and temperament naturally wouldn't be poor.
For instance, right now, Shen Qingqiu looked left and right. Even facing a bronze mirror blurred like watery porridge, he was still fairly satisfied.
This person had regular features, dark brows and eyes, a straight nose bridge, and thin lips, giving off a scholarly air. Added to that was a tall, slender build—he barely counted as a handsome man. Though his real age was unknown, this was a cultivation novel after all. Shen Qingqiu had a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation, so his appearance was perfectly maintained in his youth. He was countless times better looking than the image Shen Yuan had imagined while reading.
Though, of course, he couldn't compare to Luo Binghe.
At the thought of Luo Binghe, Shen Qingqiu's head immediately began to throb.
He wanted to go see Luo Binghe, who was locked in the woodshed, but the moment he took a step, that piercing alarm blasted in his mind.
[Warning! Character collapse warning! 'Shen Qingqiu' would never actively visit Luo Binghe.]
Shen Qingqiu resentfully pulled his foot back. "Fine. Then I'll send someone to summon him, is that acceptable?"
He pondered for a moment and called out, "Ming Fan!"
Immediately, a youth of about sixteen walked in from outside. He was tall and thin, responding, "This disciple is here. What are Master's instructions?"
Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but take a few extra glances. Seeing that his features were decent enough, just a bit sharp and weasel-like, he clicked his tongue in his heart: Sure enough, a face that screams 'stepping stone destiny' at first glance.
This was Shen Qingqiu's head disciple in the original work, Luo Binghe's senior brother, Ming Fan.
This was the legendary lowest-tier stepping stone!
Needless to say, things like locking Luo Binghe out in the middle of the night or deliberately giving him the wrong entrance manual couldn't have happened without his participation and planning. Whenever Shen Qingqiu got a whim to torment Luo Binghe, his most capable assistant and most enthusiastic responder was certainly him.
In light of this child's ending in the original work, Shen Qingqiu's gaze as he looked at him couldn't help but carry a hint of sympathy for a fellow sufferer. "Go bring Binghe over."
Ming Fan felt a mutter in his heart: In the past, when Master called Luo Binghe, he always used terms like "that little beast," "wretched creature," "brat," or "bastard"; he rarely ever called him by his proper name. Why was he suddenly calling him so intimately today?
But he didn't dare question his Master's orders. He immediately trotted to the woodshed and kicked the door twice. "Come out! Master summons you!"
Shen Qingqiu paced in the room, his brain fervently researching the system.
The system dutifully answered his doubts.
[Style is the style of acting cool. The higher the style, the more high-end, classy, and upscale it represents.]
So, how does one improve their style?
[1. Change idiotic plot points, raise the IQ of antagonists and supporting characters; 2. Avoid landmines; 3. Guarantee the protagonist's satisfaction; 4. Complete unrevealed plotlines.]
Shen Qingqiu analyzed each point.
In other words, not only did he have to clean up the mess left by the original Shen Qingqiu, who had offended people all over, but he also had to save other characters from creating new messes;
He didn't even know if he could save his own old life, yet he had to ensure the protagonist's cheats, spotlight, and girls were all intact;
Those plot holes the author didn't fill had to be filled by him, carrying a shovel and grunting away as he smoothed them over.
Heh.
The great author Ling Xiao Fei Ke once said that the book Proud Immortal Demon Way had a very clear goal: every single word written served one purpose—satisfaction.
Especially the parts where the blackened protagonist played innocent, pretended to be a pig to eat the tiger, and counter-abused the scum—it was satisfying as hell. That was why it was wildly popular, written longer and longer, longer than a foot-binding cloth.
Shen Qingqiu stated that just roughly remembering the plot was enough to give him immense pressure. Landmines were everywhere; how could he guarantee avoiding them all!
Shen Qingqiu: "What kind of plot counts as not idiotic?"
[There is no specific standard; it depends on the reader's subjective feelings.]
"This trashy novel actually has readers," Shen Qingqiu hummed, completely forgetting that he was the "loyal" reader who had spent money on a VIP subscription and pinched his nose to finish it...
Pausing, Shen Qingqiu asked, "Then exactly how many points must be accumulated before the primary stage mission is released?"
System: [It depends on the specific situation. When requirements are met, a system notification will be automatically released.]
Specific analysis for specific problems—truly a cure-all.
Shen Qingqiu sneered. Hearing the door noise, he turned around and saw a youth walk in.
Although his figure swayed a bit, he still tried his best to stand straight and called out, "Master."
The three-part smile that had just condensed on Shen Qingqiu's lips instantly froze.
Oh no! To beat this male lead's face—which would captivate everyone from eighty-year-old ladies to infant girls in the future, a face of peerless elegance—into this state, he was definitely dead meat!
But, even with a face full of torture and scars, the protagonist was still worthy of being the protagonist!
Luo Binghe's eyes were still as bright as morning stars, such a fresh and tender handsome young sapling;
That resolute yet humble expression displayed his noble and unyielding character;
That straight waist and figure represented his pride that would rather break than bend!
In an instant, large paragraphs of parallel sentences surged from the bottom of Shen Qingqiu's heart, mixed with various rhetorical devices, scrambling to generate countless words of praise, nearly spilling out of his mouth!
Fortunately, Shen Qingqiu pulled back from the precipice, thinking that was close, that was close. The protagonist's setting is too strong; I almost lost control!
Seeing Luo Binghe limp in, struggling to kneel, Shen Qingqiu's mouth twitched. He thought, This old man can't accept your bow. You bow to me today, and who knows, maybe later you'll gouge out my kneecaps! He immediately stopped him. "No need."
He waved his hand and tossed out a small bottle. "This is medicine." After a pause, he added in a mocking tone, "Don't let others see and think I abuse disciples on Qing Jing Peak."
Shen Qingqiu got into character quickly. He boldly made the move to give medicine but chose a rather nasty attitude, which still aligned with Shen Qingqiu's true nature as a hypocrite who did bad things but was afraid of being discovered.
Sure enough, the system didn't issue a character collapse warning. Shen Qingqiu let out a sigh of relief.
Luo Binghe originally thought his Master summoned him to continue "disciplining" him. He never expected to be given medicine. He was stunned for a moment, then respectfully took the small bottle with both hands, sincerely thanking him, "Thank you, Master, for bestowing the medicine."
Luo Binghe's face still held a trace of childishness. His smile was sincere and warm, like the rising morning sun.
Shen Qingqiu stared for a moment, then turned his face away.
This male lead's pre-blackening personality was