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Sweeping Through Demons with the System Chapter 002: System Activation
🕑 Added 2023-09-25 18:07:10 +0000 UTC
"Sir, we have arrived," said Lu Shaolin, his voice subdued.
At that moment, the four found themselves standing in a small clearing within the forest.
Bloodstains yet lingered on the weeds blanketing the clearing.
Zhou Yong surveyed the area and commanded, "Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, guard him here while I scout the vicinity."
In unison, the two men yelled, "Yes, Boss!" their fists clenched in salute.
Drawing his broadsword, Zhou Yong followed the trail of blood as he ventured deeper into the forest.
Remaining where they were, Lu Shaolin and the other two waited. Zhang Long and Zhao Hu also held their broadswords at the ready.
Around half an hour later, a series of loud noises reverberated from deep within the forest, followed by a hush.
Lu Shaolin looked at the two men next to him. Observing their silence, he refrained from asking questions.
Soon after, faint footsteps could be heard emanating from the forest. Immediately drawing their broadswords, Zhang Long and Zhao Hu slightly bent their knees, focusing cautiously in the direction of the approaching sound.
Lu Shaolin's gaze fell upon their broadswords.
The blades faintly glowed red, embellished with patterns resembling flames. At the blade's edge, a glint of golden light flickered.
As the footsteps neared, Zhou Yong broke through the thicket.
In his right hand, he held a monster with a green face and fangs, and in his left, a black iron spear.
A deep hole punctured the monster's right eye, penetrating its brain.
"Boss," called out Zhang Long and Zhao Hu.
"Mm," Zhou Yong acknowledged with a nod. He threw the monster onto the grass and handed the iron spear to Lu Shaolin, saying, "This should belong to your father, but I couldn't find his body."
"Thank you, Sir, for avenging my father!" Lu Shaolin said, his expression a complicated mix.
Even though he had taken possession of the young man and gained some of his memories, he was not the young man himself and thus struggled to feel grief.
"It's simply my duty; no need for thanks," Zhou Yong shook his head.
Then, addressing Zhang Long and Zhao Hu, he said, "Our mission here is complete. Take the zombie, burn it outside the forest, and report back to the government office."
"Yes, Boss!" The duo responded simultaneously, proceeding towards the zombie.
Driven by curiosity, Lu Shaolin also advanced, intending to assist.
In his previous life as a detective, he had garnered a certain level of courage.
The instant his hand made contact with the cold, rigid zombie, a faint voice resounded in his mind: "System activated, Origin Points acquired: 2."
Just as Lu Shaolin began to feel perplexed, Zhang Long's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Kid, you're too frail and lack the strength; we don't need your assistance."
"Ah, understood, Brother Zhang," Lu Shaolin nodded, retreating a step.
Had he become so weak that he was now hearing things?
"Move out!" Zhou Yong's command interrupted his musings.
With no other option, Lu Shaolin shook his head and fell into step with the others.
The group of four men, accompanied by the zombie, made their way toward the forest's edge.
Lu Shaolin quickened his pace to walk alongside Zhou Yong, inquiring, "Sir, is there a way to treat this internal injury?"
Surprised, Zhou Yong glanced at Lu Shaolin. Most young men would be overwhelmed in such circumstances, yet here he was, considering his own well-being.
"Your injury isn't typical internal damage. There are only two ways to mend it. One involves a sacred healing herb, which is prohibitively expensive. The other, even more challenging, is attaining the Viscera Refinement realm in martial cultivation, which will naturally heal you," said Zhou Yong, his gaze shifting forward, seemingly reluctant to share this information.
The reason he had given Lu Shaolin the pill was a discomfort with witnessing such a young man in distress, particularly at his age.
However, both methods seemed beyond the young man's reach, especially the latter. Attaining the Viscera Refinement realm in a mere three months was virtually unheard of.
Even their Demon Suppression Division's commander had taken a year to reach that level, and he was widely considered a prodigy of the highest caliber!
The young man's father was already gone, and three months would at least allow him to settle both his own and his father's affairs.
Upon hearing Zhou Yong's explanation, Lu Shaolin pursed his lips and offered a bow, saying, "Thank you for the information, Sir."
He then fell back, allowing himself to lag behind the trio.
A sacred healing herb costing a fortune for just one dose!
Achieving the Viscera Refinement realm in a mere three months!
Lu Shaolin committed these two possible solutions firmly to his memory.
Upon exiting the forest, Zhou Yong and his men selected a patch of yellow soil to lay the zombie on. They doused it in kerosene and stood in silent vigil as it was reduced to ashes.
...
Back in the village, inside the home of Village Chief Old Li.
"The Sir from the Demon Suppression Division really said that? That the young one from the Lu family could survive another three months?" A stout woman with squinted eyes inquired in the main hall.
"Yes, my lady," Old Li confirmed with a nod.
This woman was his second wife, whom he had married after the passing of his first.
At the time of their marriage, the village had been envious, praising her for being plump and gentle—a surely excellent homemaker.
He had felt quite pleased with himself then, not anticipating that she would turn out to be a shrew he couldn't even manage!
"We can't wait for three months. I've already finalized my nephew's marriage arrangements from my maternal family yesterday. Once we have a suitable house, the girl will be married right away," she said, her eyes narrowing even further.
"I'd assumed that the Lu family was fated to perish. I didn't anticipate they could cling to life for an additional three months. Don't fret; I'll have my nephew take care of this," she added.
...
As the final bone was reduced to ashes, the four men began their trek back to the village.
Upon arriving at the village entrance, they found three black-maned horses tied to an ancient tree, munching on the few sparse blades of grass below them.
Earlier, they had not left through the village's main exit but had used a smaller path instead.
"Young man, this is where we part. Take care of yourself!" Zhou Yong said as he untied the horses, mounted one, and rode away.
"Kid, take care!" Zhang Long and Zhao Hu chorused, mounting their respective horses as well.
With a resounding "Go," the trio galloped off into the distance.
Leaning on his black iron spear, Lu Shaolin watched the trio until they vanished from view.
Clutching the spear firmly, he turned and made his way toward his home.
Upon entering, he propped the black iron spear against the wall and stepped into the courtyard. Gazing up at the sky, he mused over possible avenues for survival.
Without money or martial arts skills, was he really condemned to his fate?
Hold on, he did possess some rudimentary knowledge of martial arts. His memories included a few spear techniques passed down from the previous occupant's father, known as the Three Extremities Spear. Despite the grandiose name, it was a basic style developed for farmers.
The techniques concentrated solely on forms and the mechanics of force application, lacking any cultivation methods or mental techniques that could advance one's martial realm.
From casual conversations with his father, the old 'Lu Shaolin' had also gleaned some understanding of the martial arts progression stages: Skin Refinement, Muscle Refinement, and Viscera Refinement. The stages beyond these remained unclear to him.
In addition, he knew that the most formidable individual in the county had only attained the Viscera Refinement stage.
Suddenly, Lu Shaolin remembered the peculiar incident that happened when he touched the zombie.
"System?" As soon as the word left his mouth, a transparent screen materialized before Lu Shaolin's eyes, revealing several lines of text:
[Name: Lu Shaolin
Origin Point: 2
Martial Realm: None
Martial Skills: Three Extremities Spear (Proficient), Eight Extremes Fist (Small Success)]
He actually had a system! Lu Shaolin's fist tightened in a surge of excitement!
In his past life, he'd been devoted to the cause of justice; surely the heavens wouldn't leave him without a means to survive!
The Three Extremities Spear was likely a technique he learned in this life, whereas the Eight Extremes Fist was something he'd acquired in his previous one.
In that earlier existence as an undercover detective, toughness was a necessity, prompting him to diligently master the Eight Extremes Fist.
Examining the system panel carefully, he noticed plus signs next to each of the listed martial skills. These implied that he could use Origin Points to advance in his martial realms.
He'd gained those initial Origin Points upon touching the zombie's corpse. This hinted that the probable method for future point accumulation would involve defeating demons and monsters, and subsequently making contact with their remains!
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