He felt something sticky on his face, it was blood. He wiped it off and started taking in deep breaths. His mind turned back to his webnovel. He remembered one piece of dialogue in particular by the MC: “...talent, skill, experience, all of those matter in a fight but the one thing that trumps it all is the will to win. Morals, rules, rites of honor, nothing matters except for a will to win.”

He clasped his dagger and started observing. He had to take out this guy. He moved with an inhuman speed and kicked his legs. His legs buckled and he almost fell down but he pushed himself up from the ground. His fist was clenched. The monkey was hesitant to come in closer because of his fire.

He ran straight forward and a bloodthirsty grin formed on the monkey’s lips. He threw the dirt in his clenched fist into its singular eye. The creature roared and swiped in front of it. He’d side-stepped it. He shoved his dagger into the right side of its abdomen right below the chest. That was where the liver was for humans.

The monkey used its elbow to strike and it sent him flying. He relaxed, he’d gotten in his strike it was a matter of time before it bled out. That was a mistake.

That third monkey had been waiting for him, hiding and waiting for an opportunity like this. He scrambled to get up but all of them screeched at the same time. He was disoriented and something was planted into his chest. The monkey twisted and he screamed in pain. It was absolutely unbearable.

He grabbed its stabbing arm and grabbed its chest hair. He pushed it down and shoved his fingernails into its eye. It was soft and gooey. He gouged it out and the monkey went into a frenzy. Its arm stabbing in, out over and over. He crawled out and wheezed. Tears started streaming down his eyes. Why did I think I could survive here?

He collapsed on the ground face first. Dark red pools of blood flowing out making a disjointed circle. He lost consciousness.

…

..

.

Something floated out there, in the depths of his consciousness. A many eyed creature of enormous size. He reached out to it and it was gone.

He woke up with a start. He had to get up and run. He scrambled out of the bed and someone planted their hands on his shoulder. It had a calming effect on him right away, the panic disappeared and he calmed down. “Sit down. Let’s have a chat.”

“I’m East Flower, the elder in charge of healing.”

“Are you related to the Flower sisters?”

“Yes,” She scratched her cheek, she didn’t want to go into much detail about it. “Well they were the ones who brought you. I understand that you encountered a group of One-Eyed Monkeys.”

“Yes, I think they were sitting in ambush. There was a larger leader-like monkey and three smaller, maybe four monkeys in total.”

She nodded, “We found four bodies. A leader and three smaller monkeys. It was commendable what you did. I healed your injuries but you should rest until the exam.”

The exam! “How long was I out for?”

“Four days. You have three more days left until the exam. I’ll let the Tiger and Dragon know you’re awake, they’ve been worried about you.”

He touched his robes and realized they were snow-white, not the familiar outer disciple outfit. The webnovel! Fuck! I should’ve found a better hiding place. He looked at the elder’s face and tried to make out anything. Did they read it? Are they just keeping me here until they confirm that it's real? His heart started pounding in his chest like a jackhammer. “Do you know where my items are?”

“They’re right over there.” She pointed at a bench. It had his robes neatly folded and on top of it was his webnovel, his dagger and the pouch. Did they copy it and leave this here for me?

He grabbed the webnovel and shoved it into his robe. I need a better hiding place.

“Why are you hiding it?” He screamed and backed away. It was the elder, she was right over his shoulder.

“N-no reason. Did you r-read it while I was asleep?” He might as well ask the question directly.

“What am I supposed to read in a blank notebook?” Can she really not read it or is she just lying? I have to confirm it later.

“Do you have a secret art you use to hide the writing or something?”

“Where would I even find something like that? I’m not from a cultivating household.”

The elder just shrugged and left. He breathed out a sigh of relief and looked out of the window. She was smart, most cultivators were and on top of that, her healing art was quite strong.

He opened up his robe and his chest and abdomen had fresh pink scars. Nobody kicks a dead dog. Oh, I have boobs now. That’s strange. He grabbed them, they were his boobs.

He didn’t feel proud about them (the scars, not the boobs); instead, he was terrified. He’d been inches away from death. If only I could get rid of that Soul Lantern. I don’t want to do this.

There was a way to do so, but there were no specifics about it upto chapter 100.

He heard the door sliding open and it was the Flower sisters. He still had his boobs out. He covered them up and cleared his throat. “We can come back later…” Dragon Flower was turning around. The best thing to do in situations like this is act like nothing happened.

“No, no. It's fine. Let’s just forget that ever happened.” Both of them nodded and entered the room, eager to forget.

“So… how are you feeling?” This was going to be one awkward conversation.