Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 484 - 247: A Killing Frenzy! Nicholas Xiu!_1

Chapter 484: Chapter 247: A Killing Frenzy! Nicholas Xiu!_1

The Minotaur was engrossed, the scenes from the book replaying in his mind. His blood boiled; he felt as though he had become the young man in the story. The work before him seemed to possess a unique charm that ensnared him completely, making him believe in the world within its pages with all his heart.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Suddenly, the bookstore owner slapped him hard on the shoulder.

"What’s the matter?" the Minotaur frowned, a puff of white breath escaping his nostrils. He hated being interrupted while reading.

"We agreed on a quick look. How long have you been reading?" The owner was getting irritated. It was a small business, after all.

"How long has it been?" the Minotaur’s voice rumbled. I’ve clearly only read a few pages... eh?

He froze, realizing he had already flipped through more than half of the booklet. When he glanced up, he noticed the sky. It had only been afternoon when he arrived, but now it was completely dark, with stars twinkling over the streets.

It’s been that long? Could so much time have passed without me noticing?

"How much for the book? I’ll buy it!" The Minotaur came to his senses and declared without hesitation.

"One Crystal Shard!" the owner replied, then asked curiously, "Is the book really that good?"

The Minotaur was a regular customer, and such a loss of composure was uncommon for him.

"Good? You don’t know about the books in your own store?" the Minotaur retorted, his large, bell-like eyes filled with excitement.

"There are so many books in my store. How could I have time to read every single one?" the owner muttered. He hadn’t been very interested in a book by a new author, but seeing the Minotaur rave about it, he made a mental note to read it himself when he had the time.

After buying the book, the Minotaur didn’t leave. He simply found a corner, sat down, and began to read again. He devoured the story, savoring every word. Unbeknownst to him, a brand was being seared deep into his spirit. He didn’t even notice the once-murky light in his eyes gradually clearing, the numbness from a lifetime of oppression slowly dissipating, replaced by a fiery passion.

"Damn it... the Nalan Clan deserves to be annihilated!"

Growing more engrossed, he trembled with rage at the plot and suddenly let out a curse. He eagerly flipped to the next page.

The end! There’s no more!

"Owner, where’s the next volume? Bring it quickly!" he shouted, hurriedly getting up.

"There isn’t one!" the owner’s voice drifted from afar.

"What?"

"There’s no next volume. That nameless author only wrote one!" the owner repeated.

The Minotaur asked several more times, but the answer was always the same. Finally, he gave up hope.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t be worried about the book right now. Just take a look at the time!" the owner suddenly said, nodding toward the shop’s entrance.

"Damn it!" The Minotaur shot up from his seat, his expression panicked. He was a retainer to a young lord of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan. Failing to return on time was dereliction of duty, and he would face severe punishment.

"Why didn’t you remind me earlier?" he yelled in a panic, scrambling toward the door.

"...Hey! You stop right there!" The owner watched his hastily retreating figure, fuming with nowhere to vent.

Hadn’t reminded him? I told him more than a dozen times! The Minotaur was so absorbed in the book he didn’t pay any attention. Now he’s blaming me? What kind of demon is he?

He grumbled a few curses, then his gaze fell on a book at his side.

Is it really that good?

***

"Ah... I admit my mistake, Master... Please, spare me this time... AH!"

「Within a spacious and ancient courtyard of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan.」

The Minotaur was being punished. Four large members of the Demon Race mercilessly beat him with steel whips that crackled with runes. Despite his sturdy build and strong defenses, he was no match for the whips. His skin soon split open, his flesh was a bloody mess, and his life force weakened.

"Enough. Stop for a moment!"

From above, a young man in a purple robe, sporting a long elephant trunk, leaned indifferently in a large chair.

The punishment below came to an abrupt halt.

"Considering the many years you’ve served me, I will spare your life today. But if there is a next time, there will be no mercy!" the purple-robed young man said coolly.

"Thank you... Master, for your mercy!" the Minotaur’s voice was faint. He lay on the ground, unable to move.

"Hmph." The young man in purple grunted through his nose, his voice full of arrogance. Suddenly, his gaze sharpened as he spotted something underneath the Minotaur. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

With a wave of his hand, he summoned the item into his grasp. It was a storybook.

"Wasting your days on such vulgar things, no wonder you’ve neglected your duties! I’m confiscating this. Burn it later. From now on, you will work diligently for me, do you hear?" he glanced at the book and reprimanded.

"Yes..." The Minotaur’s heart bled. That book cost one Crystal Shard, which was half a month’s salary. And now, it was gone just like that.

The onlookers dispersed, their footsteps fading into the distance. The Minotaur lay there for a long time before he could muster the strength to struggle to his feet.

He looked toward the palace where the purple-robed young man lived, and for the first time in his life, an indomitable flame ignited in his eyes. He muttered, "Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west; never underestimate the young and poor!"

But he quickly snapped back to reality and clapped a hand over his mouth. Damn it, what was I thinking? Lucky no one heard me. Otherwise, I’d be dead!

***

The young man in the purple robe was Xiang Shan, the ninth young lord of the Earth Magic Elephant Clan.

He returned to his palace to find someone already waiting for him.

"Father?" Xiang Shan said, surprised, and quickly bowed.

"Where have you been?" Xiang Lou’s voice was somber, carrying an innate authority.

"A retainer made a mistake. I was punishing him," Xiang Shan said with his head lowered, a hint of fear in his voice.

"Does a retainer’s mistake require your personal punishment?" Xiang Lou turned and stared at his son, his disappointment palpable. "You let such trifles distract you. No wonder your scores in the recent assessments have been getting worse and worse!"