Sin Becomes a God

Chapter 2: The Evil God System

A disheveled and battered Lu Renjia limped back to his rented room—a space converted from a storage room on the second basement level of an apartment building located on the Third Ring Road of Shendu. It had no windows or bathroom, yet cost the equivalent of five cans of Red Bull a month. Worst of all, the soundproofing was so appalling that Lu Renjia could hear even a fart from the next room. Taking off the shirt that had been pristine white when he left that morning, Lu Renjia couldn’t help but sigh. “What a fucking stroke of bad luck… The kind are taken advantage of, and the gentle are ridden roughshod over… Sigh, looks like I’ll have to check out the job fair on the Sixth Ring Road tomorrow…” He’d made do with half a sweet potato for both breakfast and lunch, and to save money, Lu Renjia could only rely on the most primitive method to get through the night’s hunger: sleep. Just as Lu Renjia was lying on his mat, ready to fall asleep, moaning sounds drifted over from next door again. The sounds of a man and woman making love were a constant annoyance to Lu Renjia, who could only rely on his “little sister” to take care of his physical needs. Glancing at the slightly swaying partition on the left wall, Lu Renjia muttered under his breath, “You scoundrels… having sex in broad daylight… I despise you!” With that, he pulled the towel blanket over his head, trying to block out the unbearable moans. Five minutes later, the pair of love-struck lovers let out a simultaneous wail that sounded like the howls of ghosts and wolves, and only then did things quiet down. Just as Lu Renjia thought he could finally drift off to sleep, he heard the deep voice of the young man from Northeast China in the next room: “Got any movies? Let’s watch something—I’m just sitting here with nothing to do during halftime anyway…” “Just some Hong Kong and Taiwanese stuff… I don’t have any imported blockbusters here if that’s what you’re looking for…” the woman complained. A series of faint rustling sounds followed, and before long, the opening theme from a classic movie began to play. Half-asleep, Lu Renjia heard the familiar lines, and a childhood smile unconsciously spread across his face. “Stephen Chow… Wei Xiaobao? Ah… If you’ve never met Chen Jinnan in your life, it’s all for naught to call yourself a hero…” As one classic, hilarious line after another played, Lu Renjia drifted off into a daze and fell asleep. What he didn’t notice was that the pitch-black digital watch in his hand flashed a blinding white light. “Beep… Evil God System activated…” “Beep… Scanning eligible candidate’s identity…” “Beep… Qualified individual’s identity: ‘Benevolent Soul of a Hundred Lifetimes.’ ” “Beep… Qualified individual’s race: ‘Mortal.’ ” “Beep… Qualified Individual’s Physical Condition: H- (Weak)” “Beep… Searching for a microcosm within the eligible candidate’s divine consciousness…” “Beep… Small Thousand-World identified: *The Deer and the Cauldron*. Elementary-level world, two-star danger level.” “Beep… Qualified candidate’s soul transfer beginning… Target selected: Feng Xifan…” “Countdown… 10… 9… 8… 7… 1” “Hmm… Damn, I forgot to turn off the light… What a waste of electricity…” Lu Renjia slowly woke up, rubbing his sleepy eyes. When he saw the antique-style furniture and decorations around him, Lu Renjia’s eyes widened in disbelief. “This dream is a bit over the top, isn’t it?” As soon as he spoke, Lu Renjia was startled by his own deep, resonant voice. Feeling an itch on his neck, he instinctively scratched it—only to wince in pain at the sharp sting. “Ouch…” Staring at the one-inch-long white beard in his hand, Lu Renjia let out a series of startled cries. “No way… Going gray overnight is one thing, but how did I grow such a white beard overnight?” Just then, an emotionless voice echoed in Lu Renjia’s mind. “The Evil God System has activated… The eligible candidate, Lu Renjia, has had his soul transported to the world of *The Deer and the Cauldron*. Identity: ‘Feng Xifan.’ Mission: Eliminate Ao Bai within three months. Mission Reward: Acquire 50% of ‘Feng Xifan’s’ power. Mission Failure: Annihilation.” “Soul fusion of the Qualified One beginning…” “The Qualified One has assumed the attributes of host Feng Xifan: Internal Energy (mid-tier martial artist), Reflexes 40 (40 times that of an average person), Strength 50 (50 times that of an average person), Speed 45 (45 times that of an average person), and Comprehension 3 (3 times that of an average person). Overall Rating: F+-level martial artist.” A window resembling a chat bubble popped up in Lu Renjia’s mind, though the penguin icon had been replaced by a white skull. At the bottom of the window were several options: “Guild,” “Lifestyle Services,” “Trading Platform,” and “Space Wallet,” while the level displayed beneath the white skull clearly showed the Arabic numeral “0.” However, all the options were currently grayed out and unselectable. “Smack…” A loud slap and the stinging sensation on his cheek confirmed to Lu Renjia that he wasn’t being pinned down by a ghost and was not dreaming. “Damn… What’s going on? This can’t be real, can it?” Lu Renjia muttered to himself. Looking at the antique Ming and Qing dynasty furniture in the room, and after a series of self-inflicted acts—slapping himself and biting his tongue—Lu Renjia finally confirmed that this body, which looked old but was covered in muscle, was indeed his own. Once Lu Renjia had come to terms with this cruel reality, a flood of unfamiliar information filled his mind; the entire process felt as if he were watching a period drama with sound. To be honest, Feng Xifan had been somewhat handsome in his youth, while Chen Jinnan looked malnourished. Amid these unfamiliar scenes, Lu Renjia saw Feng Xifan and Chen Jinnan practicing martial arts together. Having read Jin Da Da’s novel adaptation of *The Deer and the Cauldron*, Lu Renjia—a die-hard fan of wuxia—had once conducted some research. In the novel, Chen Jinnan and Feng Xifan were historical figures who had indeed existed; both were right-hand men to Zheng Jing of the Zheng Ming Dynasty in Taiwan. However, in Stephen Chow’s film adaptation of *The Deer and the Cauldron*, the two had become martial arts brothers. When he saw the pitch-black digital watch still on his left wrist, Lu Renjia swallowed hard. “Damn it! It’s gotta be that old beggar! Damn it… Why didn’t he teach me the Dreaming Arhat Fist? Instead, he gave me this ‘Evil God System’—failing a mission puts my life at risk…” Just as Lu Renjia was complaining, the cold voice of the “Evil God System” rang out. “The three-month countdown begins…” Watching the bright red numbers flash incessantly—like a kitchen knife suspended above his head, ready to fall at any moment—sent Lu Renjia’s fragile little heart racing with fear. Faced with the threat of death, Lu Renjia suddenly found the courage to take on the challenge. Gritting his teeth, he thought to himself, “Damn it! If I die, I die—I’ll just treat this as a three-month probationary period… If I take out Ao Bai, I’ll become a full-fledged employee; if I can’t kill him, I’m doomed to sleep on the streets anyway! I’ll give it my all…” After sorting through the jumbled memories in his mind, Lu Renjia was delighted to discover that the original owner of this body, Feng Xifan, was a master of martial arts renowned throughout the underworld. According to his own account when he defected to Prince Pingxi Wu Sangui, there were only a handful of people in the underworld who could defeat him with a single palm strike. Over the past four years, thanks to his extraordinary martial arts skills, he had earned the admiration of Prince Pingxi, Wu Sangui, who had even appointed him as the tutor to the prince’s heir, Wu Yingxiong, in an effort to win over Feng Xifan, this martial arts master. Following Feng Xifan’s daily habits as recorded in his memories, Lu Renjia clumsily slipped on a black long robe. Looking at the elderly man in the bronze mirror—who exuded an air of authority without even raising his voice—Lu Renjia smiled wryly. “Time really is a ruthless blade; overnight, it’s turned this old man from a youthful spring into someone nearing seventy… Ah, I’ve got to figure out a way to leave the Prince of Pingnan’s mansion and head for the capital…” Just then, a familiar voice came from outside the door. “Master Feng… the Prince and the Crown Prince are waiting for you in the study to discuss matters!” Based on Feng Xifan’s memories, Lu Renjia knew that the person who had come to deliver the message was the steward of the Prince of Pingxi’s Mansion. Although he possessed Feng Xifan’s memories, Lu Renjia was still worried that he might give himself away in some of the finer details of daily life, so he deepened his voice and replied, “Mm… I understand!” As soon as he opened the door, six youths dressed like the Fuwa mascots stood at the entrance like wooden posts, their vacant stares resembling those of marionettes. Lu Renjia’s mouth twitched. “Damn… aren’t these the Six Harmonies Boys? If we added one more, wouldn’t we be the Gourd Brothers?” Following the images in his memory, Lu Renjia—now inhabiting this unfamiliar body—made his way toward the study of Prince Pingxi, Wu Sangui. Along the way, although Lu Renjia maintained a calm and solemn demeanor to avoid giving himself away, everything around him left him in awe. Pavilions, towers, and rockeries stood all around, with ancient pines and evergreen cypresses dotting the landscape. The maidservants who brushed past him bowed repeatedly upon seeing the highly respected Feng Xifan. A few bolder ones even batted their eyelashes at Feng Xifan, who was nearing seventy. This deference stood in stark contrast to the scorn he faced everywhere in reality—it was like night and day. Suddenly, an inexplicable thought popped into Lu Renjia’s mind: “Damn… so it’s true that women only love bad boys… Does that mean only the most wicked and depraved can enjoy such wealth and luxury?” As he passed through the resplendent main hall and entered the study of Prince Pingxi, Wu Sangui, Lu Renjia felt as if his eyes weren’t enough to take it all in. “Corruption… blatant corruption… all of this is the people’s hard-earned wealth…” The golden dragon throne was majestic and imposing; the beams and pillars were intricately carved and adorned with pearls and jade; and a strikingly imposing white tiger pelt hung on the screen. A man who looked exactly like the actor who played Qin Pei in the film adaptation of *The Deer and the Cauldron* sat at the desk. Dressed in a purple robe adorned with python patterns and wearing a necklace of agate and jade beads, Wu Sangui—though his hair was already streaked with gray—still exuded an air of authority that instinctively commanded submission at first glance. The Crown Prince, Wu Yingxiong, stood nearby. It must be said that as TVB’s leading young actor, Tang Zhenye’s handsome features were indeed flawless, and the refined, aristocratic charm he exuded effortlessly made the short, unattractive, and penniless Lu Renjia in the real world feel ashamed of himself. Just as Lu Renjia was trying to think of an excuse to leave Yunnan, he heard the deep, resonant voice of Prince Pingxi, Wu Sangui: “Master Feng… Our spy planted inside the palace reported last night that Ao Bai seems to be preparing to make a move against Sonni…” Wu Yingxiong, standing respectfully to one side, spoke up before Feng Xifan could say a word: “Father… Wouldn’t it be better to let them tear each other apart? Isn’t this turmoil within the court a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us?” Having once garrisoned Shanhai Pass, he knew the Manchu Eight Banners’ elite troops inside and out. Although he had now fortified Yunnan like an iron barrel, if war were to break out—not to mention Zheng Jing, who was lying in wait across the strait in Taiwan—the martial arts sects like the Heaven and Earth Society and the Divine Dragon Sect would also pose a significant obstacle. After all, Lu Renjia was a graduate of a third-rate vocational technical college. As a soul from another world, he began to show off his eloquence. Pretending to be deep in thought, Lu Renjia—whose soul had taken possession of Feng Xifan’s body—spoke slowly: “Your Highness is mistaken… Ao Bai is known as the greatest warrior of the Qing Dynasty. Not only is he a master of both military strategy and statecraft, but when it comes to martial arts, there are perhaps only one or two people in the entire martial arts world who could defeat him. Even I, were I to face Ao Bai, would have only a fifty-fifty chance…If Ao Bai were to eliminate Sonni, the last of the regent ministers, he would inevitably wield absolute power over the court and the realm… He might even be able to force Kangxi to abdicate… Once Ao Bai dons the imperial robe, it may not necessarily be a good thing for us…” “Hmm… Master Feng and I are on the same page… Hmph! We absolutely cannot let Ao Bai succeed. After all, dealing with Kangxi—a mere upstart—is far easier than dealing with Ao Bai…” Prince Pingxi Wu Sangui declared in a deep, stern voice. Hearing Wu Sangui’s words, Lu Renjia’s eyes lit up, and a plan immediately came to mind. Lifting the hem of his robe, he bowed. “Your Highness has bestowed upon this humble servant a favor as deep as a mountain…Feng Xifan is willing to serve Your Highness faithfully! Although in open combat, I consider myself and that Ao Bai to be evenly matched, if it comes to a surprise attack or an ambush, I am seventy percent certain I can kill him!” Wu Sangui had merely mentioned it in passing, but to his surprise, the usually haughty Feng Xifan had actually volunteered of his own accord. Moved to tears, Wu Sangui grasped Feng Xifan’s arm and called out to Wu Yingxiong, who stood nearby pretending not to notice: “Look… look… when it comes down to it, it’s the old comrades you can really count on!” “Mr. Feng… the day my Wu clan takes control of the Central Plains will be the day you are enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed chancellor!” “Your Highness…” “Sir…” “Your Highness…” “Sir…” This affectionate back-and-forth between two old buddies gave Wu Yingxiong goosebumps all over. As night fell, Lu Renjia returned to his room. Afraid he might have missed something, he began to sort through the memories of Feng Xifan, the original owner of this body, all over again. This gave Lu Renjia a general understanding of the martial arts world depicted in the film adaptation of *The Deer and the Cauldron*. In this world, although martial artists’ strength is categorized as first-rate or second-rate, a more detailed classification is based on the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. A martial artist who, relying on their own inner energy, has opened the Twelve Regular Meridians is called a second-tier martial artist. If, after opening the Twelve Regular Meridians, a martial artist uses profound inner energy to open any one of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, they are considered a first-tier martial artist. Feng Xifan, the owner of the body that Lu Renjia’s soul had taken over, was a mid-level first-tier martial artist who had opened four of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. Looking at Feng Xifan’s physical stats displayed in the “Evil God System” dialog box, Lu Renjia was filled with emotion: “Strength fifty times that of an ordinary person… speed forty-five times that of an ordinary person… this is practically superhuman…If I manage to kill Ao Bai on this trip, I’ll possess fifty percent of Feng Xifan’s strength… Hmm… Once I return to the real world, I’ll be able to walk all over everyone…”