Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 407 The System’s Trickery

Chen Nuo flipped through the menu while checking the dining records of this group of patrons, confirming the popular taste.

Among them, the most ordered dish for delivery was hot pot, and the utensils were always for multiple people, as there was always a gathering around the hot pot while eating.

Next were snacks like fried chicken, which were more casual eatings. After all, these immortals weren’t really eating out of hunger, mostly to satisfy a craving, so they preferred something convenient or that could create a dining atmosphere.

Since that was the case, Chen Nuo had thought of another dish similar to hot pot and suitable for gatherings: grilled meat.

However, to get the patrons in the right mood, the grill had to be self-service, and stone pot grilling was the perfect choice.

But where to find such stone pots?

Just as he was pondering this, there was a "ding" and the system volunteered, "Host, are you looking for a stone pot?"

Whenever it came to these situations, the system was always particularly eager. Chen Nuo replied, "Do you have some?"

"Of course, there are." The system answered, "Maifan stone pots, with a diameter of twenty centimeters costing two hundred thousand merit points, and those with a diameter of fifty centimeters costing four hundred and fifty thousand merit points. Which size does the host need? No matter how many you need, we can deliver them to you."

The price was astonishingly high. Chen Nuo asked, "That expensive?!"

"Host, times have changed, and naturally, the price of this item has also risen along with your increasing merit points," the system answered tersely.

Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow, "That’s price gouging. Things weren’t this expensive when I first set up shop."

"Please understand, Host," the system said with an icy voice, "we all need to make a living."

"You’re exploiting me," Chen Nuo blurted out, getting to the heart of the system’s intentions.

"Alternatively, the host may choose to produce it with raw materials." Fortunately, the system still had some conscience.

"The location of the raw materials has been sent to you. Whether you choose to mine the materials for making the stone pot or purchase it with merit points is entirely up to you, Host."

He had to mine to make a stone pot, but he didn’t even have the permits for it.

"Host, this isn’t the modern world. Mining doesn’t require a permit here," the system answered solemnly, "but it still requires the agreement of the local authorities.

If Chen Nuo had not sensed anything wrong before, now he definitely did.

Chen Nuo frowned, "Why do I feel like you’re guiding me to go mining?"

After a moment of silence, the system said, "Host is overthinking it. We don’t mean that."

"Is that so?" Chen Nuo smiled, "Making a stone pot grill is really too troublesome. I might as well think of other dishes that could substitute."

"You may also purchase it directly," the system suggested, "Even though it costs merit points, it would save the host the trouble."

"Either way, you don’t lose, right?" Chen Nuo sneered, "A pot for two hundred thousand, do you think I’m a fool?"

"This is just a suggestion. Whether the host accepts it or not, it’s entirely up to you," the system said.

"I’m not here for chitchat, just tell me directly, what do you want me to mine for?" Chen Nuo asked bluntly.

"It’s an instruction from above," the system started but then changed the subject, "Otherwise, Host might as well prepare other dishes. Indeed, getting a stone pot isn’t easy."

"Above? Who’s that?" Chen Nuo was a bit confused, but knowing the system’s character, it would never outright say, so he needed another way to press for answers, "What does ’above’ mean?"

"We have already found alternative dishes for stone pot grilled meat for you. There are five options available, and ordinary rocks like quartz rock can substitute for maifan stone. Would the host like to use quartz rock instead of maifan stone?"

The system did not listen to Chen Nuo’s words and directly changed the topic, not giving Chen Nuo a chance to speak.

"So, you’re deliberately picking a fight with me?" Chen Nuo sneered coldly.

"Quartz rock is common, but finding a large piece of quartz rock and polishing it into the shape of a stone pot, or crushing the quartz rock into granules and then pressing..."

The system ignored Chen Nuo’s words and began to explain how to substitute quartz rock for Maifan stone.

Chen Nuo was not to be trifled with. Since the system wouldn’t talk, naturally, he had ways to make it speak.

"It seems better to have Sun Wukong come back. Since Buddhism has sent him on the Journey to the West, then I will do just the opposite."

The system paused its introduction. "Host, by doing this, won’t all your previous efforts go to waste?"

"Of course not. With the level of cultivation that Sun Wukong and I have, even if Buddha Ancestor and Jade Emperor join forces, they can’t break through my store. I’ll let Wukong, on his journey to the West, kill anyone he can. Life’s not worth much anyway, might as well just kill them off."

Right after Chen Nuo finished speaking, his vision suddenly turned red, and alarm sounds also filled his head.

"Warning, warning, the host’s thoughts are dangerous. Red defense mode activated."

"Host, your ideas are truly unworkable. Please reconsider," the system urged.

The voice of the system spoke amidst the warning sounds, causing a headache for Chen Nuo.

But such setbacks could not defeat Chen Nuo. Having decided to contend with the system, he naturally would not back down because of a minor issue.

"It’s not just the monsters along the way that need to be killed, but also Tang Monk, who’s become human. Oh right, and Tian Peng and Monk Sha, who hasn’t shown up yet."

The warning sounds grew louder and more urgent, but Chen Nuo kept speaking.

"I’m satisfied to have lived up until now. I don’t know who is in charge up there, but it doesn’t matter anymore. If I disappear, you’ll disappear too, right? Your life is tied to mine."

"Host, how do you know that?" The mechanical voice gradually became less so, and the sound of electricity faded away; the system’s voice began to sound more human.

"I guessed it," Chen Nuo said with scornful laughter.

"I originally thought you were just a system, but the longer the time passed, the more I felt something was off. You’re not just helping me; you even have your own missions."

"I think, upon completing those missions, you too would receive corresponding rewards. But these are all my speculations. What really confirmed my suspicion wasn’t the accumulation of little things over time."

"What was it?" the system asked.

"It was what you just told me," Chen Nuo answered, smiling.

The system’s voice carried a hint of anger, "You tricked me?"

"All’s fair in war."

Chen Nuo had only suspected, not been certain. After all, he had read many novels in his past life. If the host does not cooperate with the system, there are only two outcomes; either the host dies and the system is out of a job, or the host and the system die together.

As for whether being out of a job meant to be really unemployed or to die along with the host, Chen Nuo was not too sure, unless—just as he had said earlier—letting the system itself reveal the truth.

The system was silent for a long time. Chen Nuo did not rush it, as the alarm had given him a headache. Taking advantage of the system organizing its thoughts, Chen Nuo sat back in the recliner and closed his eyes to rest.

After a long wait, the system replied, "There will be keyword censorship on my end; I cannot speak directly about it, or my end would be quite grim."