Status Window
The moment Jiang Shen called out for the Status Window in his mind, the world around him froze.
Leaves hung motionless in the air, their descent suspended. Birds caught mid-flight stood still, their wings stretched wide like paintings in the sky. Fish in the lake remained frozen mid-leap, water droplets suspended as if time itself had forgotten to move forward.
His surroundings lost all color, drained of their usual vibrancy, leaving behind a grayscale world. The only thing untouched by this eerie stillness was a translucent white screen that materialized before him.
Jiang's crimson eyes flickered as he took it in.
So the animation is still similar to the game, he mused, though his face remained impassive.
The Status Window looked sleek—semi-transparent, edged with faint silver lines, and bearing a subtle glow. The text was crisp, hovering neatly within structured boxes, giving it an interface-like aesthetic he was all too familiar with.
Jiang exhaled slowly, a flicker of nostalgia washing over him before he shook it off. He wasn't here to admire the graphics.
His gaze landed on the [ QUESTS ] column.
Unlike the rest of the window, it pulsed faintly, its glow stronger than the others, drawing his attention immediately.
Jiang raised a finger to tap it—only for his hand to pass straight through it. His eyes twitched.
"Huh? What the f—"
Before he could finish, he stopped himself and frowned.
Right. This isn't a touchscreen.
Instead, he focused on the word Quests in his mind.
The Status Window shifted. The main screen blurred momentarily before a new translucent window overlapped it.
[ QUESTS ]
• Event Quests
• Beginner's Quest
• Main Quest (Locked)
• Hidden Quest (Locked)
Jiang's gaze flicked over the list.
He frowned at the last entry. Locked?
Before he could dwell on it, his eyes were drawn to another column.
One of the quests—[Event Quests]—had the same faint glow as the [ QUESTS ] tab earlier.
He selected it.
Another screen unfolded.
[Event Quests]
✓ Humiliate Chen Feng
(?) Trample Over Chen Feng
(?) Dominate Sect's Competition
° ## unavailable ##
° ## unavailable ##
Jiang glanced at the list, then exhaled sharply.
Humiliate, trample, dominate—not a single sane word.
Well, he had expected as much, but seeing it confirmed made him feel worse.
In God's Game villain-type characters were also available to play for players and he had played a few of them before. But the problem was that they always had weird fetish-based quests. Some derailed the main plot entirely, while others bombarded players with endless side quests that barely progressed the story.
And the biggest problem? They all came with some sort of restrictions.
Then, it clicked.
Competition.
Villain-type Jiang Shen.
Protagonist-type Cheng Feng.
A bad feeling settled in his gut.
Jiang's eyes darkened.
He had played enough games to recognize a scripted rivalry event after seeing this setup. And this? It wasn't just bad—it screamed death flag.
Jiang pressed his lips into a thin line, his thoughts shifting instantly.
Character Profile, Chen Feng.
The screen flickered, shifting into a new window.
[ CHARACTER PROFILE ]
Name: Chen Feng
Rank: Second-Rate Martial Artist (Proficient)
Skills: Chen Family Sword Arts, Azure Dragon Breathing Technique, Ascending Dragon Arts, Secret Arts of Qian Clan…
Affiliation: Disciple of Divine Dragon Sect, Youngest Heir Candidate of Chen Family…
Relationships: Qian Yue (in love with), Qian Rui (Fiancée), Chen Zhi (Father), Chen Xiu (Mother), (more entries hidden…)
Notable Feats:
• First Place in Divine Dragon Sect's Four Trials & Three Questions
• First Place in Junior Disciple's Martial Rankings
• (More entries hidden…)
Background: Born into the Chen Family…
Jiang stared at the screen.
His stomach sank.
No. Please don't be what I'm thinking.
But deep down, he already knew.
Cheng Feng's the young rising star of the Sect. Cheng Feng's the top-ranked disciple.
And worst of all—
He was in love with someone but is engaged to another woman, both having the same name. This definitely feels like a cliche love-triangle of one of those action novels.
The protagonist-type character.
Jiang inhaled deeply.
Shaking off his growing irritation, he called, Profile.
The screen blurred once more, shifting to a new window.
[ PROFILE ]
Name: Jiang Shen (Player & Character)
Rank: Second-Rate Martial Artist (Pseudo)
Skills:
• Hidden Arts of Jiang Main Family
• Basic Sword Arts of Jiang Clan
• (Locked Skills)
Physique: Quasi-Cultivator's Body
Qi Reserves: High (Unstable Foundation)
Title(s):
• Villain (?)
• Player (?)
Reputation: Disliked / Feared
Affiliations: Jiang Clan (Heir Candidate), Divine Dragon Sect (Senior Disciple), (more entries hidden…)
Restrictions: Pseudo Title Effects Activated
Jiang's gaze skimmed over the information.
His expression darkened.
Pseudo Martial Artist.
He already understood the meaning behind that label, after all he was the fourth-rank best player.
His Qi reserves were high, thanks to Old Jiang stuffing himself with luxurious pills and Qi-filled food. But his foundation was a mess, which meant he had the strength of a Second-Rate Martial Artist but the skillset of a Third-Rate Peak at best.
In short—he was all bark and no bite.
Jiang ran a hand down his face.
So I'm a fraud. A glorified poser.
F-king Amazing.
As if things weren't bad enough, this Pseudo title wasn't just a label—it came with restrictions.
Meaning he was nerfed in a world where martial artists determined their own fate.
Jiang took a deep breath.
…Okay. This is fine. I've been in worse spots before.
After a moment of internal suffering, he shut the screen.
The grayscale world flickered—colors returning as time resumed its natural flow.
Leaves fell. Birds chirped. Fish splashed back into the water.
Jiang exhaled.
"F-cking System."
Then a Window popped out.
[NOTICE: Please complete all Beginner's Quests before nightfall, or restrictions will be applied]
Jiang scoffed. Yeah, yeah, I know. I've played long enough to be called a Grandmaster.
Before he could dismiss it, another screen materialized beside it.
[Beginner's Quests]
✓ Confront Yandere
✓ Visit Hall Master Rumei
(?) Ridicule Sword Hall's Master
Jiang's eyes narrowed. Ridicule the Sword Hall's Master, hmm…
After a brief pause, he exhaled. "Well, now it's do or die."
With that, he started walking.
If this system wants me to be the villain, then I'll be—
His foot caught on itself.
He tripped.
He fell.
F–king hell!
A window popped up.
[Rewards will be granted upon completion of all Beginner's Quests]