"Old Blade... I, I'm afraid I can't beat them..."
Li Goudan clutched his cleaver, speaking with some apprehension.
Earlier, when Old Blade mentioned his father and Juanzi, he had gotten worked up and followed along. But when it truly came to fighting, he couldn't help but falter. In the end, he trailed behind the three of them for a while, until he watched them walk into a casino.
Li Goudan's hesitation wasn't without reason.
After all, there were three of them, all young, burly, and strong men. Compared to any one of them, Li Goudan's small, dark, and thin frame was like comparing bean sprouts to a cucumber.
Moreover, Li Goudan noticed the bulging waists of the three, almost certainly hiding daggers. They might even know some martial arts. Though he was a "peerless martial arts genius," he had only practiced for an hour or so and lacked confidence...
However, once he voiced his hesitation, Li Goudan feared disappointing Old Blade and felt ashamed himself. After all, he had watched the "Young and Dangerous series" last night, wanting to emulate the "Hung Hing spirit of dares and fights." Today, while listening to the storyteller recount the "Legend of the Martial World Supreme," he had boasted extravagantly, only to be scared now. This wouldn't do.
Li Goudan's eyes darted, and he mustered a rare flicker of quick wit, adding, "Also, there are many people in this casino, and many thugs. I'm afraid it won't be easy to make a move. Old Blade, perhaps I can go look for other shops suitable for extorting some protection money..."
'Useless as mud on a low wall, all those gangster movies were watched in vain!'
He Zhen inwardly sighed again. "It's easier to change the mountains and rivers than one's nature," the saying was true. It seemed a single night of ideological education couldn't completely change a coward's nature. He needed to work harder.
"Spend 1 Talent Point on 'Beguile the Heart'!"
He Zhen glanced at the 3 Talent Points he held and made his decision.
Every Talent Point was precious, and he could foresee that as the breakthrough of reputation slowed, Talent Points would become even rarer. But anything, no matter how precious, only had value when used. Now was the time to prove the worth of his Talent Points.
As the Talent Point was spent, the icon for "Beguile the Heart" glowed. When the light faded, new skill descriptions appeared.
【Beguile the Heart (Level 2)】: Allows you to sense and guide the holder's emotions, increasing persuasion effects; when causing the holder's "mood to fluctuate" during "Mind Communication," you can slightly alter the holder's personality.
'Indeed, I haven't wasted a Talent Point!'
He Zhen's face showed some joy. Although his experience with spending points on "Unlifelong Wisdom" had shown that each investment yielded immense returns, the reward from "Beguile the Heart" this time was exactly to his liking, a true "lifesaver."
The newly appeared descriptor: "when causing the holder's 'mood to fluctuate' during 'Mind Communication,' you can slightly alter the holder's personality."
Although he didn't know the effect of "slightly," this single item meant that if He Zhen worked hard, he could truly reshape the timid Li Goudan!
'The key is to consider what means to use to cause Li Goudan's "mood to fluctuate"... And how to make this coward take on a job bravely first?'
Li Goudan pondered briefly and then came up with an idea.
...
"Old Blade... Master?"
After Li Goudan explained his reasons for not wanting to "rob the robbers," he waited for a while. He didn't hear any response from Old Blade and called out uncertainly twice. Suddenly, he heard a strange, melancholic melody he had never heard before, and a soft female voice in his ear.
It was like a maiden was singing softly beside him...
"What else is there to reject,
I can also be mature,
If you want to let go,
I'll find an excuse for you,
I won't force you to stay,
I won't feign guilt,
You..."
Along with the beautiful, sorrowful singing, scenes of memories he had long forgotten surfaced in Li Goudan's mind...
When he had just learned to walk, his mother, who was still alive then, held one hand while his father held the other, toddling along, his chubby little face full of wonder at the world...
When he was a bit older and could walk, he ran outside to play and met his first "friend," a little girl his age named "Juanzi"...
Like slides of memory, scenes flashed before Li Goudan's eyes. The singing in his ears seemed even more wistful and sad.
Although the melody and lyrics were completely unfamiliar to Li Goudan, and even quite different from the style of songs from the Great Chong Dynasty he had heard, the vivid lyrics and sorrowful melody, combined with the warm scenes of his childhood growth in his mind, were truly...
"...You must understand, if you don't love enough,
...It's better not to love."
The singing didn't last long, only about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.
When the sorrowful melody and singing slowly stopped, the incessantly flashing memory scenes in Li Goudan's mind finally disappeared.
Li Goudan subconsciously wiped his eyes with the back of his hand. He saw his hand was wet, and his eyes felt sore and swollen.
He realized, without even noticing, that he was already in tears.
...
"Ding! The holder's mood has fluctuated, successfully triggering [Personality Remolding]. Please specify the direction of the holder's personality change!"
A strange fluctuation echoed in He Zhen's mind.
Music really is a good way to open the heart. Who would have thought it would succeed on the first try?
He Zhen was startled at first, then overcome with joy.
Using the melancholic love song "Just Not Loving Enough" and editing together scenes from Li Goudan's personal memories to create a dynamic MV that had a high chance of touching Li Goudan's heart was He Zhen's experimental plan to get Li Goudan to "rob the robbers," thus facilitating his subsequent plans.
Now, it seemed the plan was quite successful. After all, the more fragile and young the heart, the more easily it is swayed by music and memories, especially with the boost from "Beguile the Heart (Level 2)."
It was truly heaven-sent!
"Make him... more ambitious, bolder, and more arrogant!"
He Zhen quickly gave his feedback in his mind.
More ambitious, bolder, and more arrogant—this was what He Zhen wanted to see in Li Goudan. Only such a person would be easier to manipulate, someone who wouldn't even need his encouragement but would actively pursue the "Treasure of the Martial Arts Supreme." When ambition reaches a certain level, even "Unify the World" wouldn't be an unimaginable goal.
A wisp of dark smoke, visible only to He Zhen, floated from the cleaver and stealthily entered Li Goudan's body, disappearing.
He Zhen glanced at the tearful Li Goudan, calmed himself, cleared his throat, and in Old Blade's voice, said calmly:
"I've already told you, if you can't do it, I won't force you. I don't think your father and Juanzi would blame you, because they..."
"Old Blade, I, I've failed my father and Juanzi. I won't back down anymore. I'll go in and get money from those three men right now!"
Li Goudan wiped away his tears, gritted his teeth, as if killing those three strong men would bring his father and Juanzi back to life.
He Zhen, the Soul of the Kitchen Knife, smiled with satisfaction and said:
"Very good. But you're right, this is a casino, and there are people guarding it. You can't just rush in and demand money."
...
Thanks to Supreme Little Turtle for the monthly pass!