Chapter 45: Chat Group-ing
While the major powers scrambled to gather resources, what was our protagonist Wu Tong doing?
Sunset Forest.
Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well.
On a banyan tree beside the medicine garden, about three meters above the ground.
Wu Tong sat on a branch, leaning against the trunk. His right leg rested on the branch, while his left dangled in the air, swaying idly. His eyes were half-closed, as if dozing off.
Though he looked like he was sleeping, in reality, his consciousness had entered the chat group—chatting away idly.
Unshaken Bilian: Everyone, give me an idea. In this kind of situation, what should I do now?
Zhang Chulan had just resurrected his grandfather Zhang Huaiyi and was helping him walk back. But halfway there—
They ran into Feng Baobao, who had come looking for Zhang Xilin's grave.
Though disheveled and unkempt in appearance, the unparalleled beauty and graceful figure of Feng Baobao were still impossible to conceal.
But Zhang Chulan didn't have the slightest thought in that direction. On the contrary, he was extremely nervous.
Because he knew exactly what it meant to run into Feng Baobao here.
As the thought of what was about to happen entered his mind, cold sweat began to form densely across Zhang Chulan's forehead, merging into a single bead that trickled slowly down his temple.
"Why is Sister Baobao appearing here now? Could it be that the plot begins today?"
[Passerby]: You're done for. Just wait for death.
[Seeker of the Dao]: You're done for. Just wait for death.
[Dragon King Spits Water]: Haha, Zhang Chulan, let's see how you get out of this one. With Sister Baobao's personality, you're probably going to end up buried alive.
Unshaken Bilian: Come on, isn't anyone going to help? Aren't we groupmates? Cherished comrades? Big bros, big sisters, please…
[Seeker of the Dao]: The problem is we don't have any good ideas either. We can't cross worlds right now, and your grandfather just got resurrected. After detoxification, his qi hasn't recovered, so he can't fight.
[Seeker of the Dao]: Looking at it this way, you really don't have any other options. After all, you can't beat Sister Baobao.
Unshaken Bilian: So I really have to just follow the original plot?
Zhang Chulan felt a bit helpless. If things went this way, his whole plan would be completely derailed.
[Photo Princess]: I don't quite understand. Why does meeting Feng Baobao make Zhang Chulan panic?
[Photo Princess]: Aren't they friends?
Star Dome World, aboard the Astral Express.
March 7th stared at the chat in confusion.
[Celestial King of Heavenbase]: Little March, have you forgotten? At the beginning of the story, Feng Baobao was planning to bury Zhang Chulan alive.
Looking at March 7th's kind and innocent expression reminded He Xi of her younger self—back when she too had been this pure.
If not for… Thinking of that certain heavenly scumbag she saw again in the story, and his despicable deeds, a trace of murderous intent flickered in He Xi's beautiful eyes.
He Xi shook her head. There would be plenty of opportunities to settle that debt later.
For now, it was time to enjoy the show. With schadenfreude, He Xi turned her attention back to the chat group.
[Photo Princess]: Oh, I see! Right, Zhang Chulan, maybe check the group marketplace?
Unshaken Bilian: No need. I've already spent almost all my points on the antidote, resurrection coin, concealment barrier, and disguise mask.
[Moe King]: Concealment barrier and disguise mask? Then why not shake her off and…
Before Rimuru could finish, Zhang Chulan already guessed what he was going to say.
Unshaken Bilian: It won't work. I already used the concealment barrier to hide the light when reviving the dead with the resurrection coin. As for Sister Baobao—she tracks enemies through qi-sense. A change in appearance is completely useless. Besides, I gave the mask to Grandpa.
Unshaken Bilian: And with my speed, I can't outrun Sister Baobao. Once I run out of qi, she'll catch up anyway.
[Photo Princess]: Then why not try talking to Baobao?
[Seeker of the Dao]: Let me explain. Everyone knows Sister Baobao's personality. Put nicely, she has a childlike heart. Less nicely—she's incredibly stubborn.
[Seeker of the Dao]: You can't seriously expect that someone currently dead set on burying Zhang Chulan would suddenly listen to him pleading for mercy, right?
[Seeker of the Dao]: And in the original story, even after Zhang Chulan begged, Sister Baobao still tried to bury him. If it weren't for Liu Yanyan's interference, Zhang Chulan would've ended up in the ground.
…
Outcast
Halfway up the back mountain.
Feng Baobao looked at Zhang Chulan, who was helping an elderly man with a kind expression walk along.
The more she looked, the more this boy seemed to match her target.
Without a change in expression, Feng Baobao opened her mouth.
"You… are Zhang Chulan, right?"
While staring at Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao quietly pulled an iron shovel from behind her back, eyes locked on him like a predator. She was clearly just waiting for Zhang Chulan to admit it—then she'd make her move.
"I'm not. I'm not Zhang Chulan. You've got the wrong person," Zhang Chulan denied immediately. Big sister, you've already pulled out a shovel—how could I dare admit it?
Anyone with a working brain wouldn't admit it at this moment.
"No, you're definitely Zhang Chulan."
Upon hearing his denial, Feng Baobao paused, looked him over carefully, and came to her conclusion.
She didn't say another word. Holding the shovel, she charged straight at him.
Zhang Chulan had no choice but to counter.
Zhang Chulan went in to attack.
Zhang Chulan got knocked flat.
Zhang Chulan got tied up.
On the side, Zhang Huaiyi watched the two youngsters scuffle with a smile.
His gaze toward Feng Baobao was filled with nostalgia, heartache, guilt… all kinds of emotions intertwined, making it look especially complex.
…
"Wait, what are you planning to do?"
Bound and helpless, Zhang Chulan watched as Feng Baobao quickly dug a pit in a few swift motions. He grimaced and asked with clenched teeth.
This girl's intense.
She's not really planning to bury me, right?
Just as Zhang Chulan was getting worried, Feng Baobao suddenly pulled out her Okamoto 0.01 and tossed it at him.
What the hell?! You're not planning to bury me—you're planning to kill me?!
Before Zhang Chulan could even shout—
"Roar!"
A howl rang out from behind him. But in the next instant, with a flash of light, a cleaver was embedded in the head of a corpse that had just crawled out of the grave.
As if fatally wounded, the corpse collapsed instantly.
But that was just the beginning. One after another, stumbling corpses began rushing in from behind.
Without hesitation, Feng Baobao grabbed her cleaver and charged.
Feng Baobao began fighting the zombies.
Liu Yanyan, huh? Came at just the right time.
Watching the undead multiply and Feng Baobao overwhelmed, Zhang Chulan mentally gave Liu Yanyan a thumbs-up.
"Grandpa, quick, untie me! We need to run!"
Zhang Chulan quickly whispered to Zhang Huaiyi.
Being just as much an old fox, Zhang Huaiyi didn't hesitate. He immediately moved to untie Zhang Chulan.
"Let's go," Zhang Huaiyi said warmly as Zhang Chulan began stretching his limbs.
"Alright! Once we get to Longhu Mountain and sell that knowledge, we can finally treat Master Tian!"
Zhang Chulan wasted no time. Golden light wrapped around his body as he dashed down the mountain with Zhang Huaiyi.
As they ran, he continued the conversation from earlier.
Zhang Chulan didn't hide the truth about the chat group from his grandfather. And that group didn't have any secrecy rules like most others—probably because it was government-sanctioned.
Considering that even World Will was among the group's creators, Zhang Chulan couldn't help feeling emotional.
"Mm. Chulan, I'll help talk to your senior brother. I believe that as long as we can heal Senior Brother Jinzhong, he won't mind sharing the Tianshifu's techniques."
"Besides, the Tianshifu doesn't only have its own techniques. If we buy the others too, there's a good chance we'll find something that can heal Senior Brother Jinzhong."
Recalling what Zhang Chulan said about Tian Jinzhong's fate in the story, a fire surged in Zhang Huaiyi's chest, his anger impossible to suppress.
He felt immense gratitude and guilt toward Tian Jinzhong, who had gone to such lengths for him.
He had failed to protect Tian Jinzhong once before. If he couldn't protect him now either, what use was his cultivation? He might as well return it to the heavens.
But now that Chulan had a miraculous opportunity like the dimensional chat group, he wouldn't need his grandfather's protection much longer. Which meant…
Some debts should be settled.
Quanxing… Acting Sect Master, Gong Qing.
At the thought of Gong Qing, a red light flashed in Zhang Huaiyi's eyes—flames of fury seemingly igniting within them.
(End of Chapter)
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