Chapter Thirty-six: Rainforest at Dawn (3)

“All right, the shelter is done. Now that our living conditions have improved so much… let’s make something to repel mosquitoes as well,” Zhang Ning said. Amid the awe-struck admiration for his refined approach to life, he dragged over several enormous ant nests. “These pure white giant ants are infamous for their bites, which itch terribly and can only be soothed by someone else’s saliva, not your own. Few people know, however, that burning their nests releases a smell that drives away mosquitoes.”

With that task complete, Zhang Ning finally felt ready to sleep. He bid the viewers goodnight, and as a wave of “goodnight” messages flooded in, he didn’t actually turn off the stream—perhaps not quite understanding the platform’s functions.

Because of this, everyone soon realized there truly was no shortage of idle people in the world. Some viewers simply chatted while watching Zhang Ning sleep. Others, devoted fans to the point of obsession, stared at the screen, worriedly watching over him, hardly daring to blink. Their conversations left Su Ye—the chief director, ahem, chief planner—utterly amazed. But, for the sake of a diverse audience, Su Ye made no effort to stop them.

Of course, Su Ye wasn’t the only one tormented by these fanatics. Many of Zhang Ning’s newly recruited disciples, already won over by his charisma, rushed to every contact point of the Great Free Heaven Demon Sect with complaints: a certain prince had gone off on his own and was now adventuring in the rainforest, in grave danger! Usually quiet and deserted, these stations were thrown into chaos as if raided by bandits. When the responsible officials finally understood the prince’s situation, they breathed a sigh of relief, though they couldn’t help but laugh and cry at the absurdity.

Yet, these weren’t even Zhang Ning’s earliest and most ardent fans.

On the day of the Contest Before the Hall—

Aboard the Broad-Bellied Boat—

After Zhang Ning had drenched everyone with water, the crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only Lin Feng, who hung his head in silent contemplation, pondering how to become the perfect toady. After all, he had no prior experience. Just then, he heard a hoarse voice call out, “Lin Feng!”

Lin Feng looked up to see Liang Si, his blue robe soaked, chestnut hair disheveled and clinging to his face and shoulders, his androgynous, handsome features flushed with excitement, his body still trembling slightly. Liang Si had no idea that Zhang Ning, ever since his third senior brother Zhuge Yi gifted him a cobalt-blue storage pouch, had become slightly allergic to that color, which explained why he’d stared at Liang Si a bit longer just now.

Liang Si felt as if the Fifth Prince were a sudden ray of light, illuminating his long-neglected life, making him yearn to immediately pledge his life in service. Unable to restrain himself, Liang Si declared, “Lin Feng, you’ve already lost.”

Lin Feng had no idea what Liang Si was talking about. Was this man out of his mind?

“In loyalty to the Fifth Prince, you’ve already lost!” Liang Si insisted.

This remark stabbed right into Lin Feng’s bootlicker’s heart. He retorted, flustered, “You’re dreaming! Alive, I am the Fifth Prince’s man; dead… I’ll be his loyal ghost! How could I lose to you?!”

“To me, whatever the Fifth Prince says is right!” Liang Si countered passionately.

“I would throw all morals aside for the Fifth Prince!” Lin Feng shot back.

“I would become a better man for the Fifth Prince!” said Liang Si.

“I’d eat shit for the Fifth Prince!” Lin Feng declared.

Liang Si was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t expected the previously eloquent Lin Feng to be so… unprincipled. Staring at Lin Feng’s earnest face, Liang Si fell silent for a long moment before murmuring, “I’d warm the Fifth Prince’s bed for him.”

Lin Feng was struck as if by lightning, utterly unable to outdo that boast, and could only watch as his rival floated away victorious.

“Wait! I really can’t bring myself to warm the Fifth Prince’s bed?” Lin Feng muttered, thoroughly deflated, clutching his face in despair. “Am I even failing at being a bootlicker?”

The next day—

Lin Feng stood before the mirror, repeating, “I adore the Fifth Prince so much, I’d even warm his bed! I adore the Fifth Prince so much, I’d even warm his bed! I adore the Fifth Prince so much, I’d even—”

A plump youth, Chen Baishu, who had come to visit, overheard Lin Feng and looked at him as if witnessing a deity descend. “Feng-ge, what are you doing?”

“I’m brainwashing myself… no, actually, this is truly how I feel! I’m just repeating my true thoughts aloud in the mirror,” Lin Feng replied.

Chen Baishu was astonished that the Lin Feng he so admired could go so far just to climb higher! This prompted Chen to reflect deeply on his own life: Father has been both mother and father to me; it hasn’t been easy for him. I must be filial in the future. I can’t let Father shoulder everything alone! I have to grow up—I can’t let Feng-ge leave me behind! So he, too, began repeating the mantra before his mirror.

The Great Free Heaven Demon Sect had provided excellent accommodations—each disciple had a private bathroom and the necessary defensive arrays. However, perhaps to maintain a sense of competition, there was no soundproofing array installed… As a result, this peculiar chant spread like wildfire, suffocating all who were out of the loop.

Morning, noon, and night, these people stood before their mirrors, repeating: “I adore the Fifth Prince so much, I’d even warm his bed!”

Even the serene Lady Crimson Silk of the Nine Heavens and the elegant Young Master Luo Suiyuan were not exempt.

Meanwhile, the exchange students from the Dark Nether Palace were left with only one question: Have the disciples of the Great Free Heaven Demon Sect always been this deranged, or is this year’s batch especially insane? Who is the root cause of all this madness?!

Dawn, in the rainforest—

Because Zhang Ning still hadn’t turned off the stream, more and more people tuned in, sending his popularity soaring. With the platform’s tireless promotion, Zhang Ning’s name soon reached the same legendary status as when Han Zun single-handedly challenged every Ranking Master. Across every major power, his reputation became a thunderclap.

Many viewers now started their day greeting Zhang Ning as he woke; some had waited an entire day and night just to confess their feelings to him, to which he politely declined every time.

Then, in his usual rough-and-ready manner, Zhang Ning straightened his hair and face and resumed his journey, following the river downstream. When the scenery suddenly opened up before him, Zhang Ning truly felt a sense of enlightenment, delight blooming on his face. “Excellent! We can follow the river and drift downstream—perhaps all the way to the Great Qian Empire, or maybe into the territory of the Great Free Heaven Demon Sect!” he exclaimed.

The chat burst into another heated debate about directions, even more intense than the previous uproar over Zhang Ning not brushing his teeth upon waking. Zhang Ning glanced at the chat, then scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he pointed to a tree not far away. “See that tree? That’s a Dawn Fever-Relief Tree! Its bark forms layers, like stacked sugar cubes. The sap from this tree can reduce a fever. If you didn’t heed my advice yesterday and ate something bad that made you feverish, you can drink this sap to bring your temperature down.”

He’d intended to explain how electrolytes could ease stomach cramps, but decided that was too much trouble.

With a flick of his dagger, Zhang Ning made a deep cut in the tree, then leaned over to lick the white sap. “Tastes like cream? Huh, it’s actually quite good.”

The chat, however, had already veered off-topic.

“This scene is kind of disturbing…”

“His knowledge puts us all to shame.”

“Kind of looks like…”

“Gross!”

“Your Highness…”

“Can it really reduce a fever?”

“It seems so…”

“This is too much!”

“You’re not alone.”

Then Zhang Ning took out a small porcelain vial, scratching his head a bit sheepishly. “I’m bringing some back for my master—as a specialty, I suppose? I’ve never really given him anything before. Honestly, no matter what I give him, it’s probably like trash in his eyes, so it’s the thought that counts. As for my other brothers… it would be a bit stingy, I wouldn’t have the nerve to give them this.”

“Give it to me, Your Highness! I’m not picky!”

“I want some!”

“In your dreams!”

“I want it tooooo!”

“This is getting even weirder…”

“This sect is a mess.”

“Wait, do demon cultivators actually care about their fellow disciples?”

“No matter what you give, Ning, it’s precious.”

“Shouldn’t you be giving it to your viewers?!”