Chapter 221: 221 Yu Jian and System_1 threatening each other
After the award ceremony ended and they returned home, the members of Mount Flower experienced what it was like to be the center of attention for the very first time.
Countless fans flocked to the airport from all directions, screaming loudly and shouting the names of Wen Jiang and the other team members.
Although the cheers for the other members were somewhat quieter compared to those for Wen Jiang, their happiness could not be concealed.
"Jiang Shen, Jiang Shen!!"
"Wen Jiang, I love you, I love you so much, AHHH!"
"Jiang Shen, are you looking for a wife? I’ll bring my entire fortune and marry you!"
"Mount Flower, awesome!!"
"Jiang Shen is invincible!!!!!"
To Wen Jiang, the noise felt intrusive and shrill.
The moment she stepped off the plane and experienced celebrity treatment for the first time, she surprisingly found herself somewhat unable to keep her composure.
From birth, she had lived almost like a lone wolf.
As a Cultivator, she was destined to have fleeting familial ties, and her social interactions were even more indifferent.
Later, as her realm advanced, she retreated to the deep mountains and old forests. Even though she wasn’t disconnected from society, she was not part of it either.
Hua Zhuo was not wrong when she said that Wen Jiang seemed outgoing but was, in reality, terrifyingly cold-hearted.
She lacked fundamental emotional connections with others.
Those she disliked, she would curse directly, without mercy.
Ever since she created an account, countless people had messaged her every day, but she never replied.
When fans set up fan clubs and inquired about her planning some events, she didn’t bother.
As professional gamers of Mount Flower, they were expected to attend publicity events like celebrities, but she neither attended nor participated, so among fans, she wasn’t exactly endearing.
She didn’t engage in fan service.
This kind of welcome was something they organized themselves.
She was powerful enough that fans just kept coming, and nobody thought it was inappropriate.
Just like now, she found their noise overwhelming.
It was indeed too noisy. Their screaming could have toppled the roof beams.
Some even tried to reach past the human wall of bodyguards to touch her.
All these factors made her feel uncomfortable.
However, looking at their excited smiles, watching them jump around with signs bearing her name, all hoping for just a glance from her, she felt annoyed, yet also a lump in her throat.
She walked quickly, slightly lowering her chin, preventing her impatience from showing.
Compared to her teammates behind her, beaming like social butterflies, Wen Jiang’s smile was a bit forced. Those who understood her knew she was probably just annoyed by the noise.
Besides training, she normally didn’t spend much time with others, so people thought Wen Jiang was socially anxious.
She was naturally averse to crowds.
Zero Egg was also clamoring, "These are all your fans, a long-term asset! Smile more brightly!"
Wen Jiang: "..."
"Jiang Shen, Jiang Shen!"
"Jiang Shen!"
Someone beside her called her name. Their voice was very soft, as if afraid Wen Jiang wouldn’t hear, yet it carried a hint of cautious hope.
She still glanced sideways.
A girl of average height, smiling like a cherubic doll, met her gaze. The girl’s eyes instantly lit up, and she waved a notebook. "Jiang Shen, could you sign this for me? I really like you; I’ve followed all your matches!"
Wen Jiang glanced at her, still took the notebook, and flamboyantly signed her name.
"AH!"
The surrounding screams were loud enough to blow the roof off.
Zero Egg, whose Points were continuously streaming in, grinned from ear to ear. "If you were willing to sell smiles, we’d have been rich long ago!"
Wen Jiang: "..."
Sooner or later, she would take care of Zero Egg.
As Wen Jiang walked on, she still signed a few autographs. The lucky recipients were overjoyed, while her teammates following behind were somewhat surprised.
Although Wen Jiang wasn’t smiling as warmly as usual, her willingness to be patient was still somewhat incredible.
This kind of airport reception was naturally broadcast on television.
Under the big screen, a woman in red looked up, a strange laugh echoing from an unknown place. "You see? She’s achieved what you never could. Look at those people, how much they love her."
Yu Jian squinted, her gaze cold as she watched Wen Jiang’s broadcast expression on the screen.
She seemed to have a bit of unwillingness.
That was once something she coveted.
Didn’t she enjoy being adored by the masses, basked in their reverence?
She could have done it too.
It was the damn Yunxia Empire that ruined everything—Hua Zhuo, Song Ji.
Every single one of them, she loathed them to the bone.
In the past, Yu Jian hadn’t taken Wen Jiang seriously, thinking the other only had control over a low-end, ordinary System that wouldn’t be an obstacle to her.
She held in her hands the Heaven’s Mandate System, which could even change world lines.
Yet as Wen Jiang became increasingly dazzling, Yu Jian realized that the warning she gave in Card City perhaps hadn’t been enough.
The System also occasionally goaded her.
"Guess how many Points she’s earning now? So many people like her, so many people are amazed by her achievements—all things you never managed. I guess she has already broken ten thousand Points by now. How long did it take you to break ten thousand?"
It took her several years.
She had been like a hopeless case, and it was the System that had dragged her up, bit by bit.
But Yu Jian never looked for reasons within herself.
Yu Jian pursed her lips, suppressing the rage deep within her. "You’re saying, the stronger she becomes, the more it benefits me?"
"That’s right," the Heaven’s Mandate System spoke in a measured tone. "I’ve told you, let her grow. I’ll be able to use the hidden rules to devour her System, and you, naturally, will be able to acquire her abilities. Did you really think her cards are all from our database?"
"Spare me. Have you seen Yunxia’s recent movements? Mythological civilization—that’s not something Yunxia should have. It’s all been brought by her."
Yu Jian’s fingertips trembled as dark and unpleasant thoughts coursed through her mind. That was the kind of person she was: someone who would go to great lengths to eliminate things she didn’t like.
For the first time, the voice of the Heaven’s Mandate System carried a chill. "Your last action already drew her attention. Better not do anything stupid. I’ve told you, this is your last chance."
Yu Jian felt a bit unwilling. "Without me, you couldn’t escape either."
"..."
This was the only time Yu Jian had been smart—no, it should be said that all her cunning was applied in self-beneficial directions.
She guessed that even the Heaven’s Mandate System couldn’t leave her.
That was the basis of her audacity.
The Heaven’s Mandate System chuckled coldly. "Are you threatening a System? I won’t leave, but I can also ensure you remain a failure forever. Which would you prefer?"
Yu Jian’s heart faltered.
The Heaven’s Mandate System was threatening her.
Even if it couldn’t leave, it could take back everything it had given Yu Jian. At that point, even with a System, she would be nothing but a failure.
Yu Jian softened. "Alright, alright, I was just kidding. I’ll listen to you; I won’t go after her for now. Oh, that daughter of mine seems to be alive. Should we make use of her?"
The Heaven’s Mandate System sneered, "As you wish."