To be honest, Gu Chengming didn't even have half a "storybook" in his hands right now.
However, storybooks weren't really a difficult thing for Gu Chengming.
After all, in his previous life's world, the cultural industry was quite developed. Various novels, comics, games, and movies bloomed, full of wild imagination.
Compared to the relatively singular and formulaic storybooks of this world, the stories in his mind were practically a dimensionality reduction attack.
He was always a person who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment.
Since the other party had extended a helping hand when he was down and out, even if it was just a casual gesture, he had to acknowledge this favor and naturally had to repay it somehow.
Moreover...
Gu Chengming stroked his chin, and an interesting thought suddenly popped into his mind.
Since the other party liked reading storybooks so much, perhaps they would also like galgames?
Thinking about it carefully, weren't these so-called traditional storybooks just low-spec galgames without options, no interaction, and only a single linear story path?
If he could create an "interactive storybook" with branching options and multiple endings, he might even gain another fellow enthusiast.
Thinking of this, Gu Chengming immediately became interested.
Conceiving a story that fit this world's preferences and incorporated galgame elements was not difficult for him.
With this thought in mind, Gu Chengming immediately returned to his room, spread out paper and pen, and began to brainstorm.
He decided to first write a relatively safe story that could demonstrate "interactivity."
The protagonist of the story was set as a lowly servant disciple who unexpectedly obtained a mysterious ancient ring, within which resided the remnant soul of a powerful being who had lost its physical body.
As the plot unfolded, the protagonist would face various choices. For example, when encountering sect bullying, would they choose to endure and retreat, or use the remnant soul's power to fight back? When exploring a secret realm, would they choose to rescue an injured fellow junior sister, or monopolize the treasure?
Each choice would lead to different branching plots and even affect the final ending.
Gu Chengming wrote swiftly, vivid characters and thrilling plots flowing from his pen.
However, just as he wrote about the protagonist facing the first major choice—
“Whether to accept the remnant soul's deal, exchanging ten years of life for a burst of power,” the Qingxin Art, which had been dormant in his body, suddenly stirred.
【The Qingxin Art silently watched you conceive the storybook.】
【It had originally just glanced out of boredom, but was unexpectedly drawn to the story you were writing.】
【It was quite interested in the tsundere remnant soul's setting, feeling a certain kinship with it.】
【You suddenly felt your mind become clear, as if a sweet, cool spring flowed through your heart. Your previously chaotic thoughts instantly became orderly, and your mind was unprecedentedly tranquil.】
【The Qingxin Art automatically completed a cycle.】
【Qingxin Art Affection +2】
“Huh?”
Gu Chengming stopped writing, feeling the changes within his body with some surprise.
There are benefits like this?
He truly hadn't expected that this casual book, written to repay a favor, could also coincidentally "capture" the always aloof Qingxin Art.
As the Qingxin Art operated on its own, Gu Chengming felt his thoughts become incredibly clear.
Places where he had been stuck now felt like his Ren and Du meridians had been opened, and inspiration gushed forth like a spring.
That feeling was like someone had given him an "Inspiration Buff" nearby; writing felt divinely aided, his pen moved with supernatural speed, and he simply couldn't stop.
For the next few days, Gu Chengming lived an exceptionally fulfilling life.
During the day, he went to the training ground as usual to practice the Huiyuan Sword Manual, and at night, he lit a lamp and stayed up late writing storybooks.
Although his schedule was packed, he felt no fatigue at all; instead, he was full of vigor.
This was all thanks to the Qingxin Art.
Whenever Gu Chengming wrote an exciting part or conceived a clever twist, the Qingxin Art would excitedly operate on its own, like a little fan eager for updates.
Those cool currents flowing through his body not only instantly eliminated his fatigue but also kept him in the clearest and most acute state at all times.
He completely avoided the feeling of mental exhaustion and dizziness caused by staying up late to write.
It was precisely because of this that the first part of the storybook had a very high degree of completion.
In just a few days, Gu Chengming completed the first draft of the first volume.
The content of this volume covered the protagonist obtaining a cheat, making their first appearance, and encountering their first life-or-death crisis.
Of course, to embody the essence of a galgame, he set up three different option branches at critical junctures.
Although limited by the paper medium, he could only write these three branches on different booklets, creating what was called a "single-route gal," but this was already an extremely novel format in this world.
After writing the last word, Gu Chengming let out a long breath and put down his pen.
Just then, a prompt popped up in his mind again:
【The Qingxin Art finished reading the entire content of the first volume.】
【It found your story extremely interesting, especially the design that allowed readers to choose their own destiny; it was simply a brilliant concept.】
【It was still not satisfied and couldn't wait to know what fate the protagonist would face after making that choice.】
【The Qingxin Art urged you to quickly write the rest of the story and not leave it on a cliffhanger.】
【Qingxin Art Affection +5】
Gu Chengming glanced at the panel.
With the completion of the first part of the storybook, the Qingxin Art's affection had unknowingly risen to 20 points.
Although it still needed to increase by 10 points to reach the "Friendly" status.
However, before starting the creation of the second part, he first had to send the finished first part to the true "client" — Elder Yu Wenqiu — for her appreciation.
After all, this was his original intention for writing this storybook.
As for the Qingxin Art...
It had no objection to this.
Anyway, it was the first to read the draft, enjoying the privilege of an early release.
Now, it just wanted to quickly see the second part and didn't care at all about Gu Chengming showing the book to others.
Gu Chengming organized the finished manuscript into a booklet, bound it with thin string, and nodded with satisfaction.
............................................
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