Under One Person: I, Jiaqian Jushi, work from nine to five.

...

"Zhou Fengliu wins against Zhang Lingyu!"

With the pronouncement of the judge from the Celestial Master's Mansion, this feud finally came to an end.

...

P.S.: I'm begging for everything. Goodnight, godfathers.

Chapter 93 Zhang Chulan: Brother Liu, you don't happen to have a cheat system, do you? (First Update)

"Congratulations! Tomorrow's final is really going to be an internal battle between your allies."

Outside the contestant exit, Zhou Fengliu had just met up with Zhang Chulan and the others when he heard the Feng siblings' joyful greetings to them.

"There's no other way, it's all for Zhang Chulan to win first place."

Xu Si shrugged, indicating that if it weren't for helping Zhang Chulan inherit the position of Celestial Master, they wouldn't have needed to send General Zhou Fengliu and General Feng Baobao.

"Hey, Brother Chu Lan... Tomorrow you'll become the next Celestial Master's successor. Let me interview you in advance. How do you feel right now?" Feng Xing Tong asked with a grin as he approached Zhang Chu Lan.

"what?"

Hearing his words, Zhang Chulan was slightly taken aback, then scratched his head:

"There's still the final tomorrow... As for how I feel right now, it's nothing... The identity of the Celestial Master's successor may not be that important to me. What I want more is... just the truth."

Hearing Zhang Chulan say this, everyone present turned to look at him. After a two-second silence, Xu Si spoke first, giving Zhang Chulan a thumbs up:

"You're getting the benefits and still acting innocent, Zhang Bilian, you're something else."

...

Since both finalists tomorrow are from the All-Knowing Sect, many of the extraordinary individuals left Longhu Mountain in the afternoon to return home, leaving the back mountain much less crowded and lacking the liveliness of the previous days.

The setting sun casts a bloody glow, dusk falls.

Just as Zhou Fengliu was about to go back to rest, he saw a young man in the uniform of Na Du Tong lying on a large rock in the distance. When he went closer, he found that it was Zhang Chulan.

At this moment, Zhang Chulan seemed to be deep in thought, his expression complex. He was puffing out smoke while holding a cigarette, as if trying to use the cigarette to resolve his worries.

"Oh, Bilian, you smoke?" Zhou Fengliu was a little surprised to see Zhang Chulan smoking. He seemed to have never seen Zhang Chulan smoke before.

"Huh? Brother Liu, it's just for fun." Zhang Chulan said when he saw Zhou Fengliu coming over, indicating that it was a bad habit.

"It's not time yet, why are you already...emo?" Zhou Fengliu asked, stroking his chin. He noticed that Zhang Chulan's mood seemed a bit off.

"Um... not exactly emo, it's just... I'm thinking about some things," Zhang Chulan said.

"Alright, then you think about it. I'm going back to rest." Zhou Fengliu didn't intend to ask any further questions and turned to leave.

"Brother Liu..."

Zhang Chulan suddenly called out to Zhou Fengliu.

"?"

"how?"

"Um... Brother Liu." Zhang Chulan paused, stubbed out his cigarette, then stood up and continued speaking to Zhou Fengliu:

I should apologize to you...

"I'm sorry?" Zhou Fengliu turned around upon hearing the voice. He pondered for a moment the things Zhang Chulan had done that were wrong to him, and then said:

Which matter are you referring to?

"Did you spread rumors that I had an affair with Zhang Lingyu, or is there something else I don't know?"

"Uh..." Zhang Chulan scratched his head slightly embarrassedly: "That's really not me making things up... Brother Liu, you know me, I keep my mouth shut!"

"What I want to apologize for is... the fact that you helped me so much during the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, and I kept taking advantage of you."

"Oh?" Zhou Fengliu's interest was piqued by the sound: "Using me?"

"Um..."

"Regarding this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony... I've always felt a bit guilty towards you, Brother Liu. I know you're incredibly powerful and mysterious, so I've always wanted to let you steal the spotlight..."

Zhang Chulan began to explain his mindset as a cunning old fox:

"From the moment we gathered everyone to let them know your name, and later when we asked for your help... to go see Old Master Wang and Old Master Lü, and things like that..."

"I admit I'm a bit selfish. I want Brother Liu's brilliance at this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony to overshadow my identity as the successor of the Qi Source School, and to draw everyone's attention to you..."

"It seems... the name 'God of Fighting' is clearly more famous than my shameless self..."

Listening to Zhang Chulan's self-explanation, Zhou Fengliu didn't say much. He already knew that Zhang Chulan was very cunning and capable of using countless people to achieve his goals.

Otherwise, how could he be the leader of the Thirty-Six Traitors of the New Era?

"Brother Liu, please don't blame me. I had no other choice but to do this," Zhang Chulan said.

"If you're going to apologize to me for this, there's really no need," Zhou Fengliu shook his head and then said:

"The world is bustling with activity, all driven by self-interest. Although sincerity is said to be a sure-fire way to win, in this world, everyone is just doing things for their own benefit."

“I came to the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony to get paid and do things. If I want to get more money, I have to climb to a higher ranking. What you did was just going with the flow. It’s not like you’re taking advantage of me.”

Hearing Zhou Fengliu's words, Zhang Chulan felt a little better.

"Brother Liu is far superior to me... Compared to me, Brother Liu, you are more deserving of the position of successor of the Celestial Master. How about... Brother Liu, you get first place tomorrow, and after you learn the truth from the old Celestial Master, you tell me? Anyway, all I want is the truth."

"..."

Hearing Zhang Chulan say this, Zhou Fengliu raised an eyebrow:

"You really are a scoundrel. I took all the risks, but you got what you wanted. Well done... you scoundrel, you're quite the player."

Zhou Fengliu remarked that Zhang Chulan had taken all his cleverness.

"No way..." Zhang Chulan scratched his head, and seeing Zhou Fengliu's reluctance, he flattered him again:

"I just think Brother Liu is more suitable than me. He is so young yet his strength is extraordinary. Anyone who comes here will be a big challenge. In just a few months, he has become so famous and powerful... He is the number one young person in the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony."

"This plot would definitely put me in the protagonist's shoes in a novel..."

"Thank goodness this is reality. If this were a novel or anime, I'd definitely suspect that Ryu-ge is some kind of protagonist with some kind of cheat-like ability..."

"..."

When Zhang Chulan mentioned the words "protagonist" and "golden finger," Zhou Fengliu remained calm and composed, demonstrating his exceptional mental fortitude.

...

This Chu Lan... has a very deep mind.

"There's no such thing as a protagonist; it's just that hard work can make up for lack of talent. Compared to Sister Bao'er, I'm just an ordinary person." Zhou Fengliu calmly looked at the distant afterglow and continued, feigning profundity:

"I've always believed in the saying, 'Children without umbrellas on rainy days can only run as fast as they can...' Striving for success is the only way out for us."

Zhou Fengliu is also the type who can lie without batting an eye, and he started to put on an acting showdown with Zhang Chulan, the protagonist of the original work.

"Brother Liu..."

Before Zhang Chulan could finish speaking, Zhou Fengliu added:

"Besides... do you see any protagonist working a nine-to-five job every day? If it weren't for that pittance of money, would I be here working like a slave?"

Chapter 94 I can't be close to Zhang Chulan at all! (Second Update)

If that last sentence was inspirational, then it was like "Here comes the inspirational quote," which was shoved right into Zhang Chulan's mouth.

Zhou Fengliu's subsequent line, "to be a cow or a horse," reflects the sentiments of the working class, instantly bringing fantasy back to reality.

Zhang Chulan listened to this and exclaimed that what he said made perfect sense.

"Ugh, I'm not going to talk about it anymore, it's too heartbreaking. I'm going back to rest. Tomorrow I'll just admit defeat and let you take the top spot."

Zhou Fengliu sighed, as if lamenting the hardships of working people, and disappeared from Zhang Chulan's sight in the afterglow of the setting sun.

"Brother Liu..."

Watching Zhou Fengliu's departing figure, Zhang Chulan couldn't help but sigh, "He's a good person."

After talking with Zhou Fengliu, he felt a bit better, and he no longer felt guilty about letting his teammates down.

...

"Life is all about acting skills," Zhou Fengliu thought to himself silently after parting ways with Zhang Chulan.

He didn't have a deep relationship with Zhang Chulan; they only had a superficial acquaintance, always maintaining a proper distance.

Zhang Chulan may seem ordinary on the surface, but you would never guess what kind of heart lies beneath that ordinariness.

This is what is meant by "knowing a person's face but not their heart."

Of course.

He's not a good person either.

Zhang Chulan is a scoundrel, and Zhou Fengliu isn't exactly upright either. Compared to Zhang Chulan, the two are pretty much the same.

...