0044 - The Dao of YOLO!
"Yes, let's do this!" Lu Sheng exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement any longer.
Suddenly, he yelled out, "Wait!"
"How many pores have been opened?" he asked curiously, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
[039/108 pores opened.]
The Automated System informed him, its voice calm and impartial.
"Can we open all the 108 pores first and then Breakthrough?" Lu Sheng asked, his voice hopeful.
[You're very greedy, do you know that?]
The Automated System observed.
[I didn't know about this. It seems your laziness has kept your other vices in check.]
"How am I greedy here? I'm efficient," Lu Sheng argued. "Achieve more with less effort and time, or else it's not worth it."
[You don't care whether you can keep it or not, enjoy it or not, digest it or not, whether it will harm you, poison you, or rot in your possession]
The Automated System pointed out.
[You just want it, and you don't want anyone else to have it, right?]
"Umm...yeah?" Lu Sheng replied, sounding a bit unsure.
[That's classic greed.]
The Automated System declared.
"Okay, look, I am not stealing from anyone else, this is my pores, can you open it all or not?" Lu Sheng asked, his voice growing impatient.
[I will suggest doing it after we Breakthrough.]
The Automated System advised cautiously.
"Why? You cannot do it?" Lu Sheng questioned, his brow furrowing.
[I sure can give it a try but we don't have information or warning on what would happen if we open all the pores first. I am sure no one has tried this because it's impossible in the first place.]
"Well, that's what MC is for, choosing the path which no one dares to take." Lu Sheng said, his eyes gleaming with determination.
[You are the MC? Sloth, greed and now delusional pride? You are ascending, Host, but in the wrong direction.]
The Automated System mocked.
"Stop wasting time and do it. Automated 108 Pores opening." Lu Sheng commanded, his eyes gleaming with determination.
[Automation Initiated.]
The Automated System gave up.
His breathing got intense automatically as he felt several itchy points in his skin, and after several moments, a relief, as if that part had started breathing, giving him the sensation of pore opening.
[045/108 Pores opened]
The Automated System reported.
"Whoa, a sudden jump in number?" Lu Sheng exclaimed, surprised.
[Because now we are actively trying to open the pores instead of its natural course of action.]
"Don't make it sound bad," Lu Sheng said, slightly irritated.
[057/108 Pores opened.]
"Nice! It seems like it would not even need a minute, you are really a cheat power," Lu Sheng praised, his excitement growing.
[You praise and curse me without wasting any time at all.]
"I am efficient, no time to waste," Lu Sheng boasted.
[Unless it's sleep or eating time.]
"Shut up!" Lu Sheng retorted, slightly flustered.
[072/108 Pores opened.]
Lu Sheng couldn't wait any longer. He wasn't sure what would happen if he opened all his pores, but he was eager to find out. Even if it ended in embarrassment like his red skin blunder, he was determined to outshine all the protagonists he'd ever read about.
He can now see himself as an MC, his dream is near but one thing he did want it, He did not want to be just another MC. He wants to be different, he wants to do what other MC's do not do or consider it at all. He felt like in a race against every MC he had read about. He imagined standing among them, boasting about his achievements, including opening all his pores before starting cultivation.
He could imagine the faces of all the MC, maybe some will call him idiot, some daring but he was sure, he would be the first who opened all his pores from the start. He wasn't entirely sure how having more pores would make a difference, but the rush of dopamine from seeing the numbers go up was addictive. Like an addict chasing a fix, he chased it with passion.
[Did you hurt your head or something? You are jealous of all the fictional heroes you read about and now you want to tease them by showing that you opened all your pores even before starting your cultivation path? What kind of idiot Host you are?]
"I don't care, but this is something unique I want to do, I don't want to follow the same script every MC follows, I will make my own script," Lu Sheng declared.
[A script of idiotic decisions, huh? Ever stopped to think why every hero follows the same journey? That's what being a hero is all about. Stray from that path, and you're no hero anymore.]
The Automated System started scolding.
"Do not lecture me on what a hero is or not. I was in hell because of it, because I wasted my life reading about it. I may be lazy, greedy, idiot or anything else but I am no Hero at all," Lu Sheng retorted.
[What are you even talking about? Whoever said anything about you being Hero, you are a slave of Hell wardens, if you do not complete their job, you will be burned in hell, when did you start to nurture this delusion, this idiotic thought of you being a Hero?]
"Because I have you, a System," Lu Sheng replied. "Almost every hero, every MC has some kind of cheat power, a system which makes him the hero."
[Okay, I am flattered but NO! And even if you haven't had me, you could have had a large army, money, women and all the others things to help you, even that too also would not have made you a hero, in the grand scheme of life and death, these mortal possessions and desires are smoke, did you not give it a thought why Hell wardens were so nonchalant on giving you all these fancy things, powers and abilities?]
The Automated System argued.
"I know, I am aware of it but I am sure I will make some mistakes and they will throw me away in the fire, so what's the point of doing all of this anyway? Now or later I will be in fire so let's relax and enjoy the time we can instead of burning ourselves in stress," Lu Sheng said, resigned.
[That is a very depressing thought. Maybe you are right and it seems like you are 99 percent right but while you have will, you do not want to struggle? You accepted the outcome given by others? How could you accept that?]
The Automated System pressed.
"Please, do not lecture me on this, I have watched enough youtube videos, in the end, it all means more work, more stress," Lu Sheng dismissed.
[So the reason you are doing this is to revolt but not because you are an idiot.]
The Automated System surmised.
"I don't know, you are the wiser one, figure it out but yes, I do feel like this achievement will be mine, something different which I have done for the very first time." Lu Sheng said.
The Automated System had no other words left to counter against the idiotic thoughts as the number of pores opening kept on rising, getting closer to 108.