My SSS-Rank Skill and System is too OP in Modern Cultivation world-Chapter 116: Humiliation and Redemption

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Ryan's face, already reddened from prior embarrassment, flushed an even brighter red. "I—I did not do it willingly eat… that!" he protested, indignation and revulsion heavy in his voice. The memory of swallowing a pill in the knowledge of its unpleasant beginnings was one he would have preferred to forget.

Nima shook her head in disbelief and added, "You were always the reckless one, Ryan. Who knew that in your quest for revenge, you'd end up feasting on poop…" Her words came with a laugh that bordered on cruelty, and a few joined in, echoing her sentiment.

Auri, perched next to Chip—a skinny fellow known for sarcasm—contributed, "I've seen bad taste in the ruins, but this takes the cake. Next thing you know, we'll be cleansing magical puke." Chip's remark elicited even more raucous guffaws from Kent and Nima.

Mia and Ethan exchanged a look that spoke volumes: both were giggling at the absurdity and horrified at the fact. "I can't help it," Mia laughed. "It's just so absurd! That these wonderful pills—the ones we believed were miracles of the gods of alchemy—originate from a butt hole… It's nature's cruel joke on us all."

The laughter became louder, and the atmosphere in the room shifted from shock to one of unbridled glee at the absurdity. Each time that the phrase "butt hole" was spoken, it brought forth even more snorts and guffaws. Kent, still attempting to squeeze the moment for all the enjoyment it was possible, continued to tease Ryan and Harper, though he was attempting to bring his laughter under control.

But beneath the laughter, Ryan and Nima were tense with each other as a result of their earlier confrontation. As the cost of his ill-fated excess, Ryan gave Nima a dirty look. "I didn't need that humiliation," he growled. "You should have kept your guessing to yourself rather than opening your mouth about what does what."

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

Nima crossed her arms and said, "Come on, Ryan. You can't pretend like you didn't see the signs. The expression on your face just before you swallowed that pill—that's your karma for your ego. You make your own destiny, whether you like it or not."

Ryan's return was halted by a further gust of laughter, but his eyes registered a sense of self-loathing and betrayal. Pride wrestled with disgust at this point, and they all realized that the friendship they enjoyed was marred by this peculiar confession.

After what felt like an eternity of derision, the commotion began to subside. The crowd, still laughing and shaking their heads in disbelief, gradually settled into a subdued murmur. This would be recounted many times—a nauseating and humorous anecdote in their collective past.

Later in the evening, when night had come and the crew had moved to a camp to change their routine, the mood changed from uproarious laughter to carefree, sinful fellowship. All together, in solitude within a clearing surrounded by a celestial canvas of twinkling stars, they reclined spread out by a roaring campfire, its warm golden glow soothing the hurt of the day's escapades.

In the little tent that served as quarters, there was a rickety card table for a game—a respite from the recent bedlam best savoured. Ryan, still recovering physically and psychically, tried to focus on the game. But every time there wasa shuffling of cards and every time there was a good-natured teasing comment about his new "lunch choice," he could not help but remember the shameful truth.

As the evening passed, original tensions and humilities gave way to resigned acceptance. The party, having thundered through a storm of disgust and laughter, took refuge in easy raillery and established routine. Cards were shuffled, liquor was poured, and jokes—wounding and vapid—floated around in the air.

A sharp shut-off from Nima and Auri, their voices taut with hunger and anticipation. "Kent!" Nima jumped up from the chair in a whirl of brushing off her jacket. "I heard there's a lake somewhere in the area that's full of enormous, plump fish. I'm starving—are you going to catch some for me?"

Auri joined in, bubbling with energy, "Yes, Kent, you must bring us some fish. I can taste them already!" His promise of a new adventure, and chance of new fish, distracted everyone for a moment from the previous foolishness.

Kent smiled broadly on his face. "Fish, I ask you?" he pondered, rubbing his chin. "Fishing would be just the thing to eradicate today's kitchen calamity." And with that, he stood up from the card game, gathering his belongings with pretended seriousness. "I'll be away in two shimmies of a lamb's tail, and you can all sup on the best fish this side of the lake!" he proclaimed, voice heavy with good cheer and purpose.

As Kent disappeared into the night, the rest went back to playing, the humming of the card table serving as a reminder of the confession and the ensuing laughter. Ryan, his hurt pride still smarting, glared at his cards in a scowl. With every card that was played or chip that was busted, he could almost hear the reverberations of the laughter—bitter, hard, and unavoidable.

Mia also couldn't help glancing in Ryan's direction every now and then, a sympathetic expression even after the rough banter moments before. "Sometimes it is best not to ask where miracles are from," she whispered softly, a droplet of truth amidst jubilation. Ethan just nodded, the smile on his face bitter-sweet as he reflected on how the day unfolded.

Outside the tent, the night went on with crickets' songs and the rustle of leaves in the chill wind. The light of the campfire danced on the friends' faces, unifying them in a single glow. But beneath this, all was the memory of Harper's embarrassing revelation.

In the silver light of the moon and the gentle lapping of the lake, Kent finally caught up with Harper leaning forward on a broken log at the water's edge. Harper's eyes were fixed on the dirty water, his face a photograph of shame and regret. Kent crept up quietly, speaking gently and lightly.

"Harper?" Kent whispered, sitting down next to him. "You alright, buddy?"

Harper gasped for breath before staring Kent straight in the eye. "Kent, today was a catastrophe. I'm humiliated beyond words—not only what occurred earlier, but due to what I am. My strange superpower isn't a curse; it's a blessing. These pills aren't rubbish—the genuine article. It just. exits out of my butt, and people don't know how to cope with that. It's not my fault that I was gifted this power. Without my family, everyone keeps everyone at arm's length from me."

Kent's eyes softened as he placed his hand on Harper's shoulder. "Listen, Harper, you possess a gift no one would want. Yeah, it is strange, but that doesn't make it any less amazing. The accident today is not you—it's the whim of nature.

Harper smiled weakly, crisply. "I just hope others could see through the fact that it is accomplished. I make food into life-changing pills. That's the big thing—not how it is accomplished."

"Right!" Kent grinned. "Who else can say to have alchemy in their own biology? Your family rescued you from the start. And if they accept you, why not the world? You're a genius, even if you're a little off the grid."

Crunching footsteps heralded the arrival of Nima and Auri at this time. Their moon- and lake-glitter-covered faces wore teasing mirth as well as real concern.

"Kent, Big Brother!" Nima blurted out with a giant smile. "We found some fishing gear and we're ready to go. We figured that a night at the lake would be a breeze for us."

Kent grinned. "Harper, let's make the rest of this night a bit brighter. We're not mere misfits—We're a band of fledgling Watchers with an eye for the absurd. Tonight, we're going to catch fish and have a fresh start."

Harper breathed deeply, friendship melting some of the humiliation of the day. "Okay," he yielded with a cautious smile. "If I can make food into magic, I can certainly make a bad night into a fish story."

Kent, Harper, Nima, and Auri strolled side by side on the lakeshore. They dropped their make-shift fishing lines into the darkness under the stars, the wind-driven chill dispersing remnants of previous shame and replacing them with laughter and camaraderie.

As they cast their lines into the black water, Kent couldn't resist teasing, "Watch it, Harper—if that fish jumps the line, we'll have to begin calling it 'The Leaping Cauldron'!" Harper chuckled the sound mingling with the gentle lapping of the waves.

Nima reined in her line and quipped, "I bet even the fish know you're one in a million. They're just waiting to be caught by the guy with the world's most unique superpower."

"Ha Ha Ha!" Harper laughed.

Auri added, "And if any fish try to swim away, we'll just tell them your pills make them super strong!"