Chapter 15.2 The Reader and Protagonist Definitely Have to Be in True Love

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Chapter 15.2 – Protagonist: Do not leave my line of sight.

Du Ze knew this demon because in “Mixed Blood” he is a mysterious supporting character. The demon was a businessman that the protagonist had several transactions with. Both sides were satisfied each time. He was called … Dan?

The way that the protagonist met Dan was very much in keeping with classic dog blood (cliche) stories. Wandering the streets of the city, the protagonist saw a lot of seemingly humble objects that are in fact magical artifacts. Du Ze’s eyes were drawn to the stall’s many boxes. Dan’s stall always contains boxes. The trader doesn’t reveal what is inside. To find out what a box contains, a person has to buy it first. The protagonist’s moral character goes against heaven’s will therefore what he got when he opened a box was an artifact.

Mo Dao Fen Yu (Burning Desire Demonic Sword).

Regarding this artifact, there was a controversy about it among the readers and it was as big as the one surrounding the Meowstar. Its demonic flame-type attack was very harmful to angels, and the wounds it made were difficult to heal. But, as the name implies, it also amplified the user’s desires, eventually leading to the weapon’s wielder being controlled by the sword until he became a bloodthirsty madman. Although the protagonist was not controlled by the sword, he did become more brutal. When Ye Zhi Qiu explained how it worked, the readers had already become numb and accustomed to the author’s ways. Author, there was a healing presence beside the protagonist that you turned into a bad-luck charm … shi*, you turn everything to shi*!

Initially, he had cursed the author, too. But now that he saw Dan, Du Ze thought he could sexually harass that girl whose Aunt Flo had arrived. All he had to do was to take the demonic sword then sell it to the City Lord. Then they would have money and conquering the world would be a real possibility.

With the protagonist in my hand, I have the world.

Dan is a very strange businessman. He does not care about money, he only accepts things that interest him. Du Ze began to analyze what Dan could be interested in. Dan would probably be interested in items that have the self-restore function. Glasses, headphones, etc. cannot be sold, then the only thing left …

Du Ze looked at the doujinshi, a colleague he is loath to part with, then went back to the stalls. He bought half a day’s worth of food and water as well as a short coat. He found a remote place where he could change clothes, and then the cute little reader walked to the square with his sweater vest in hand.

I’m going to miss you, little punk.

Dan was sitting on a low chair, idly flipping through a book. A person cast a shadow over him, Dan looked up and saw a man in a tattered black robe.

The demon instantly put a professional smile on his face. “Does your excellency want to try your luck? Buy a box ~”

The black-robed person kept silent, his eyes looking over all of the boxes. Finally, he pointed to a small copper-colored box. Dan picked up the box and smiled at the black-robed person. “Does your excellency want this? You are a new customer, therefore I must warn you that this shop does not accept money -”

The black-robed person didn’t wait for Dan to finish. Handing over an unusual piece of clothing, he said: “I will trade this for it.”

Dan examined the clothes closely. Tactfully he said: “I don’t lack for clothes.”

“You cannot destroy it.”

“What?” Dan’s interest was piqued. He asked: “You don’t mind if I experiment with it?”

The black-robed person didn’t speak, which Dan took as tacit consent.

Dan let go of the strange-looking clothes. Before it hit the ground, it started to burn until it had turned into a handful of ashes. He stared at the ashes. He had not expected this to happen. When he was about to speak, he heard a raw and cold voice say: “When the moons are at their zenith, you will see it again.”

“You mean it will be restored? At midnight?”

The black robed moved as the person nodded.

Dan’s interest was greatly aroused but he was too cunning to let it show. Somewhat embarrassed he said: “It’s a long time until midnight. Of course, I don’t doubt you but we simply cannot prove the item’s effectiveness yet and I only run a small business …”

The black-robed person was silent but his very tranquility was ominous, making Dan feel as though he shouldn’t try to trick this person. He cough: “I will stay here until midnight. If it is as your excellency has said, I will offer you the item you want with both hands.”

The black-robed person still did not speak but Dan could see his hesitation. Dan is an experienced trader so he immediately suggested: “If your excellency trusts me, you can go to do other things, I will always be here. You can verify it with the people around here -”

“Tomorrow, outside the city.” Again the black-robed person interrupted Dan. “Bring the item.”

Then the black-robed person simply turned and walked away without another word. Dan stared at his back. What a strange customer! He stretched out a hand, an invisible force gathered up the dust on the ground, and then the dust fell gently into the hands of the demon in green.

Let him see a miracle.

Du Ze had not thought that he would obtain the “High-level Demon,” “Strange Customer,” and other achievements and titles in Halphas City. He hurried back since his headphones’ batteries were almost out of charge. As for the deal with Dan, according to “Mixed Blood,” although Dan is mysterious, he is quite reliable and helped the protagonist solve many problems.

When Du Ze was just about to return to the hiding place, he suddenly felt creepy, as though some unknown thing that he couldn’t escape was staring at him..

– This was the first time he saw the blood contract beast.

A human form made of blood-red runes was falling in front of him, weightless. Its featureless face was made of runes but Du Ze could feel that it was saying: I found you.

Du Ze’s eyes were confused, he didn’t see how it happened, but suddenly, the blood-red human form vanished and Xiu was standing not far away from him. Xiu’s face was white and he was staring at Du Ze.

“Where did you go …?”

Although the headphones let him down once again, Du Ze was still able to understand the general idea. Du Ze would not have thought that Xiu would look for him after he woke up, even using the blood contract to find him. Does this not mean that he finally has a place in the protagonist’s heart?

Because his headphones are not working, Du Ze can only wave his hands that were carrying the food, indicating that he just went to buy supplies.

Xiu seemed upset, froze, then asked “…?”

Du Ze guessed that Xiu was asking where the food came from but without the assistance of his hearing aid, he cannot open his mouth. He knows that he should explain himself because the gnome is sensitive and curious. To put it another way, gnomes are always suspicious. But Du Ze just can’t seem to open his mouth, his voice was stuck in his throat.

– Ah Ze,¹ he is an idiot, always giggling and saying things that make other people laugh themselves to death.

While waiting for Du Ze’s explanation, Xiu found he could not stay on his feet. He had woken up, discovered that Du Ze was gone, and forced himself to get up and look for his possession.

… Intolerable.

The white shirt became red because Xiu’s wound was bleeding again. Du Ze was frightened, ran to the gnome, and held him, afraid that he would fall. When he grabbed Xiu, the gnome looked up at Du Ze, his amber eyes abnormally bright.

“Don’t! …”

Du Ze tried to listen but all he heard was the beginning – “Don’t.” The gnome’s appearance was too pitiful and his eyes were wet. He was like a sick child whining to an adult, wanting to be spoiled, so that sentence should be “Don’t leave me?”

OMG! Too adorable!

Therefore, some naturally cute man nodded firmly. Then, for fear that the other person did not see it clearly the first time, he nodded again.

Later on, the silly, cute reader will remember this time and want to beat his chest and stamp his feet. Xiu started to control his movements from this time, and it got out of hand. What kind of idiot actually saw the aggressive stance as spoiled, and added two meow points with his head?!

Du Ze, with his family’s “soft, cute” protagonist, went back to their hiding place.

When they had been gone a long time, the air shimmered and a figure appeared. Dan, patting his head with the book in his hand, looked in the direction where the two had left and smiled mysteriously.

“Oh, what did I see? A blood contract, a human, and … a gnome?”

******

******

1 crystal coin = 1000 gold coins
1 gold coins = 10 silver coins = 1000 copper coins (Yuan)

Warrior Ranks: Swordsman -> Grand Swordsman -> Sword Master -> Grand Sword Master -> Sword Saint -> War God (three grades per class)

Mage Ranks: Magic Apprentice → Magician → Magic Specialist → Master Magician → Mage God (each class is divided into three grades)

Human classes: Common people -> Warrior -> Squire -> Knight -> Baron -> Viscount -> Count -> Marquis -> Duke

Magic/combat level: level 1-9, forbidden curse/ forbidden technique

Spirit beast grade: 1-9, God Beast

– “Mixed Blood” collection

The author has something to say:

Protagonist: Do not leave my line of sight.
Reader: I … I just want to go to the toilet.
Author (outside three squat² toilets): How long do I have to wait?³

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1. Ah Ze is Du Ze. 阿 (ah) is prefix that shows affection or intimacy.
2. The author specified squat toilets. Those are the kind that you have to squat over instead of sitting down.
3. A reference to the saying “How long is a minute? It depends on whether you are squatting inside the toilet, or waiting outside the toilet.”