《Dropped into a Xianxia World》 Chapter 1 Keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! ----- Chapter 1: Now I know what you might be thinking, how did all of this happen? To be honest¡­ I have no fucking clue. No seriously, not a single idea comes to mind when I try to figure out just what exactly happened. My name is, or better, was Fiodor. Strange name I know but my parents apparently couldn¡¯t just name me the normal way and let it be ¡®Theodor¡¯. I was just like your everyday socially awkward and reclusive guy living his days hidden behind a closed door which only ever opened for going to work. Basically I was a ¡®neet¡¯ or ¡®loner¡¯ that spent his time playing games and reading manga, novels and my absolute favorite, Xianxia stories. If you don¡¯t know what ¡®Xianxia¡¯ means then I would suggest looking it up, it¡¯s a pretty awesome genre in Chinese literature which are basically fantasy stories about a guy (only ever read about guys at least) who gains amazing and mind-boggling power. All of this is set in an alternate world with an ancient Chinese setting together with beasts and the ever present ¡®Magical beast mountain range¡¯ (seriously how many times have all of you read about the same goddamn mountain range with mythical beasts that hold all kinds of treasures?!). There are very shallow books and stories out there, most of which translated by people that do it as a hobby and some have terrifyingly bad English (engrish makes my head hurt¡­) skills. It is a fun read though and I follow dozens of stories while refreshing most sites multiple times a day, if at all I could probably say it¡¯s like crack, once you start taking you won¡¯t ever stop. Having read dozens of translated works, most of which still aren¡¯t even close to being finished (crazy Chinese authors and their 1k+ chapter stories) I slowly but surely knew my way around ¡®Mount Tai¡¯ and throwing ¡®diamonds before pigs¡¯. I was an avid reader, swallowing as much knowledge as I could in the shortest time possible and gaining ¡®enlightenment¡¯ in many different parts of literature as well as ¡®cultivation¡¯. And yes, I am well aware this is getting annoying that I keep quoting things out of Xianxia novels but there is a point to this so shut your moaning. Anyways, where was I? Oh right, I basically got used to all these new and strange terms and started to recognize them while trying my best to ignore the horrible grammar and mistakes as there was understandably only a limited number of translators that actually knew English pretty damn well. Not that I can boast about my skills too much considering it¡¯s not my mother tongue either but that is beside the point here. Having grown up with anime, manga and Xianxia terms during my juvenile and early adult period I wasn¡¯t a full on ¡®weeaboo¡¯ and neither was I a neck beard with double chins down to my knees. I don¡¯t consider myself as an ¡®Otaku¡¯ but others probably do, I for one see myself as your Average-Joe who works part time and doesn¡¯t cook much. Living alone, having no girlfriend or outside contact with other people except my own family, I quite enjoyed my life believe it or not. Some men want to conquer the world or have a harem of girls, even just lead a steady life with a wife and two kids, I just wanted to be left alone and enjoy my days with the beauty and bountiful stories of literature. Naturally most of them were about fantasy subjects but I was not one to reject a good horror or thriller story, some psychological works are more than a bit intriguing and I do also count myself as a terrible romantic so there is more on my bookshelves than what first might meet the eye. Living my life in such a quiet and basically hermit like style I was more than content with it all. I had no future plans to speak of and never was a big spender so I slowly but surely saved up the little bit that I call ¡®reassurance¡¯. It was a simple life as the days passed without a hitch, one blurring into the other without any distinction between them. Wasting my life before the pages of a book or the monitor of a running PC, some might feel sorry or even disgusted knowing of my lifestyle, but do I judge you going out and partying? Do I judge you for waking up in someone else¡¯s bed and having to deal with all the trouble and possible pregnancy? No, I don¡¯t. We all live and enjoy our lives in different ways and I had those times too, doesn¡¯t mean I enjoy them anymore though and neither do I want to end up in a bad situation so I keep to myself and you keep to yourself, how does that sound? Good, can¡¯t have your disease ridden hands all over my keyboard now can I? I am only joking naturally but please keep your distance as the way you are looking at me right now is just weird. Moving on to more important things. You might ask yourself just where the hell I am going with all of this. Well I was getting to that so stop your yapping and don¡¯t you dare just discard this as one of many trash stories, I CAN SEE YOU LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT TAB MISTER! My life was pretty normal until the fire nati- I mean until everything changed. Yes, we are finally getting to the real story and I can see you rolling your eyes too you know? That is pretty rude. It has been 3 days since then as I gazed outside the window next to my bed. Basically I was transferred into a Xianxia world after I died from a minor heart attack from getting up too suddenly. It was a 2-day long gaming session and I had food and drink next to me while I held back my need to go to the toilet, so when I stood up to finally relieve myself my heart couldn¡¯t take it, apparently. I know, pretty sad way to die and I am currently contemplating my life choices as we speak. When I woke up I found myself to be incredibly weak and feeble, even more so than in my previous life and I thought maybe I was in the hospital for the first few seconds. That was until I noticed the walls and badly made paper window as well as crude, hard bed I was lying on. It only took me a day to realize what kind of world this was after speaking to a few maids with eastern features and heritage. They seemed to be shocked that I lost my memory (yes that was the easiest excuse to gather up information on my situation after noticing that this wasn¡¯t my old body) but because I was some kind of ¡®young Master¡¯ they didn¡¯t need any convincing to explain things to me. The world I woke up in was called Twindrake and I was currently on Dragon continent in Dragon City and heir of the Flamedragon clan (boy they are just as unoriginal here as in those stories aren¡¯t they?). Trying not to mock the terrible and pretty sad naming sense, the first thing that naturally surprised me was that the maids spoke English, but apparently had the names of Hua Ping and Hua Hong, two sisters that had always taken care of me. This meant that they had Pinyin eastern names but spoke English, a very strange combination and once again made me feel like I was lost in some kind of bad Xianxia novel. From the little research I had done about the language and especially basic words, their names alone¡­ made me somewhat sad and I felt bad for them. My own given name, Li Jun wasn¡¯t quite like that thankfully. Imagine my surprise when I found out that I actually gained a new name instead of keeping my old one, as was generally popular with Xianxia novels (seriously, were all those authors too lazy to think up a new name or what was that always about?). I was, or at least woke up in the body of the young Master of the clan who had an unfortunate accident (I smell internal intrigue by the way Hua Hong was looking away while she said that) and had been in a coma for 2 months already. While the pretty looking Hua Hong was explaining all of this to me, Hua Ping, her sister finally came back together with a ruddy looking man and a somewhat beautiful woman, both dressed in traditional Chinese clothing of a few eras back. Do I also need to mention that they had the same eastern feel to them as well as face? I think that this world being an ancient Chinese setting has been made quite clear now (at least I hope so). ¡°Li Jun!¡± The woman screamed as she charged into the room and gave me a rushing hug that nearly dislocated my back. ¡°I was so worried!¡± She said while sobbing as she pressed her well-developed chest against me and if you think that I am the kind of scumbag that would enjoy this treatment then you are goddamn right but sadly the joy I felt about this development was overshadowed by the back-breaking strength she used to hug me. Seriously, is she goddamn She-Hulk?! ¡°Li Min, that¡¯s enough.¡± The ruddy looking man said and I couldn¡¯t help but take in a few loud breaths of air after that monster of a woman let go. Noticing the relieved expression on my face I could see a pout on Li Min¡¯s face which sent a shiver down my spine. Hua Hong also quickly explained my loss of memory to the two and they reacted with a look of shock, which was quite understandable. ¡°Do you really not recognize me son?¡± The man asked and I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head. First of all, I wasn¡¯t his son so how should I know who he was, but it probably wasn¡¯t wise to blatantly tell them that I was like a parasite occupying this body, so all I could give them was a sorry smile. ¡°And me? What about me, do you recognize your beautiful sister?¡± Once again looking into her slightly pretty face before my eyes fell a little lower to her exaggerated breasts that seemed to swallow a man whole, I once again shook my head. ¡°No I think I would remember those quite clearly if I still had my memories.¡± Everyone in the room went silent after this rather casual remark I had made about my sister''s breasts and I was surprised to see her face heat up considerably as she hid it in her hands. ¡°It seems the heavens are truly fair, you might have lost your memory but gained a new temper, your father approves.¡± The ruddy looking man said with a laugh as he patted my shoulder with a strength that made my body slump down. Jesus Christ, is he trying to injure me or something?! Looking at the completely beet red face of Li Min and the blushing faces of both Hua Hong and Hua Ping I couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Seems the joke I had used to lighten up the mood was taken as me trying to compliment or even make an advance on my new sister. Who would have thought that the cultural difference would be this big? After this rather awkward episode, my new father who was named Li Kong told me to rest for a few days and left to take care of a few clan matters (whatever that meant) while Li Min also followed him with hurried steps before throwing one last look my way. Naturally I noticed the new way she looked at me as well as her blushed cheeks when she turned and left. Don¡¯t tell me I just made the first step on the Harem route? For fucks sake, whoever wrote this can you please not make me have sex with my own sister?! Naturally even though I said that inside my head I was still clearheaded enough to know that this wasn¡¯t just some badly written story but instead my new life and to be honest I was still quite shocked. In a way, my mind wasn¡¯t able to accept this sudden change of scenery and especially culture. I think I used the mental jokes as a way to cope with this goddamn situation I landed in. Hua Hong and Hua Ping were my maids so they took care of my every need and it only took me a few hours to stand up and make it to the thing that they called toilet. It really only was a ditch in the ground that you squatted over while the most disgusting smell as if straight from hell crawled into your nose during the business. I was happy to see that this world at least had the concept of toilet paper and although it was a pile of folded leaves it was still better than leaving your crack unattended. Washing your hands afterwards was apparently not the norm so I asked for a bowl of water and a towel from Hua Hong so I could still keep an ounce of hygiene after exiting that disgusting room of doom. The Mansion I was in was as far as I could tell incredibly big and I had only seen a part of it as this new body of mine was still weak beyond measure. Lying on a bed for two months should have made it a lot worse and for me it seemed like a miracle that I was able to walk at all. This mystery as to why my muscles hadn¡¯t atrophied to the point of being completely useless despite the time spent not moving naturally soon enough was explained when I asked Hua Ping about it. Cultivation, a word I thought to have only heard and read about in novels was quite real in this world and if one proceeded far enough down its path, one would gain power beyond measure (leveling mountains with the swipe of a hand, flying up to the nine heavens blah blah blah we get it). This new body of mine was in the first of many stages, Foundation Gathering. It had 9 layers (what a surprise) and I was currently in the 5th layer of Foundation Gathering. As far as Hua Ping knew there were many stages but only Foundation Gathering, Qi Condensation and Body Enlightenment were known to her. Why no one made a list of all the stages and turned it into common knowledge was beyond me so I felt like an MC who still ¡®had no idea of Heaven and earth¡¯. Seriously though, was it that hard to just make a list? In a way, the more I learned, the more puzzled I was. Things like ¡®giving face¡¯ and being offended by every single little thing seemed to be a real cultural thing here. I always wondered why the people in those stories I read were hailed as incredible geniuses but could literally not think further than their dicks were long (low blow I know but was I really the only one who was puzzled by that?), her explanation helped a bit in that regard. Seriously, who in their right mind would piss of a gigantic power only to stand their point or to keep ¡®face¡¯? What did face mean if you got killed for it? Naturally in those stories the MCs could never die no matter how ridiculous the situation got and always had a stroke of luck or fortune on their side but I wasn¡¯t dumb enough to believe I was in the same situation. This was a different world with different rules but still just as real as the last one (clearly depicted by the need to actually go and take a shit) and I wouldn¡¯t allow myself to die the same dumb way I had before. Cultivation strength in this world meant everything, no matter if you were right or wrong, as long as you had powerful fists or had a strong cultivation technique, you were king. Dying was seen as unfortunate here but it was quite common for blood to be spilled on the streets. Naturally the powerful clans in each city tried to keep order but if the guards were not as strong as the one wreaking havoc, why would they just blindly rush in to help? No one wanted to die after all, even if by my own standards the general IQ of this world didn¡¯t seem to be anywhere close to 3 digits. The word ¡®simple¡¯ entered my mind many times as I conversed with Hua Ping and Hua Hong. They were both pretty girls and around 16 years old but they needed clear instructions. Anything too complicated and they messed it up and kowtowed to me many times when I told them that it was wrong. First I thought it was only those two that were like that but after speaking with Li Kong and a few other members of my clan who were supposed to be grand and mighty cultivators I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head. In my world they would have been regarded as somewhat ¡®special¡¯ people no matter if they had stronger bodies and mysterious techniques. Upon further inquiry I learned that higher stages of cultivation could make one smarter and more refined (why not just say smarter? What the hell did cultivation have to do with proper manners?). So at least the really powerful people in this world wouldn¡¯t just be sticks in the mud which did make me wonder, wasn¡¯t I an incredible genius not seen even in a thousand years? I mean back home I would have probably been around average but here this ¡®average¡¯ instantly turned into ¡®genius¡¯. ¡­. ¡°I have made a great blunder!" Hua Ping said for the 5th time in only two days while slamming her forehead against the already well met carpet. Closing my eyes, I couldn¡¯t help but sigh as I rubbed the bridge of my nose. I had told her many times to stop doing that but whenever she made a mistake I could see absolute terror creep into her eyes and in fear I would punish her she always prostrated and humiliated herself instead. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Just what kind of Young Master was the previous owner of this body?! Walking towards her I put my hand beneath her chin and lifted it up so our eyes met. ¡°I already told you many times to stop that or you will ruin your pretty face. We all make mistakes so please for the love of god, stop doing that. Shit happens and no one is perfect so I don¡¯t expect you to be either.¡± Hua Ping¡¯s dark eyes grew big as her mind tried to fully absorb the hidden meaning in my words. ¡°Young Master, your words are deep and unfathomable even though you use crude words to describe it, Hua Ping has understood your intentions and will keep them in mind from this day forth!¡± Looking into the brightly shining eyes that were directed towards me and the slightly blushing cheeks on her pretty face I couldn¡¯t help but once again sigh. Naturally it was clear that she was my maid, therefore my property and it wasn¡¯t unusual in this world that they served their masters in different ways too but it didn¡¯t really make me happy seeing her look at me this way or hear the mumbled ¡°master called me pretty¡± over and over again. Should it really be this easy to make a girl spread her legs for you? In this world it was apparently the norm that if you were from a strong enough background, you would have multiple wives or concubines. A notion that was both interesting but also disgusting to me. Equality between men and women was a foreign term and only strong women with high cultivation were respected. Girls like Hua Ping and Hua Hong with next to no talent in cultivation and slightly pretty faces lived a terrible fate and could only hope for a rich master that would accept them and wouldn¡¯t treat them too horribly. The idea of being with someone you loved was viewed as childish and dumb here. After all what did it matter if you loved your husband but had to visit the strongest man in town each night to satisfy his needs? Wasn¡¯t it better to just cut all ties with that husband right away instead of making it difficult for both of you? In a way I both respected and despised this way of thinking that hinged so strongly on simply surviving. Sure you would live but was such a life really worth it? To a few simple minded individuals of this world it might be but I never had the intention to use my power as the Young Master to make these two maids grovel in the dirt while lifting up their asses for me. I was their boss and they did their job of serving me like a customer in a restaurant, it was that simple for me. Believe it or not but even though I was a loner I still value my humanity and just because I am in a position of power I am not going to be a beast and abuse it like so many have in the past. I like to think that all men are equal but those that purposely lower themselves are not men in my eyes but animals that are better put down quickly. This naturally doesn¡¯t mean I am one of those psychopath MCs of some Xianxia stories that go around slaughtering people left and right, good god no. It just means I have no interest with associating myself with those kinds of people as they are not worthy in my eyes (alright that sounded very hypocritical and arrogant even in my ears but I don¡¯t care). Pulling Hua Ping up from the ground, I once again described to her the object of my interest. I really didn¡¯t think it was that difficult, but maybe my request really was not what she had expected. All I needed was a blacksmith or anyone that could handle and use metal, someone that could draw very well and a few workers. Telling her once again to gather said individuals one by one so I could evaluate and speak with them, I sent her off. Coming to this world that was so far behind my own in technology, intellect and culture (at least in my eyes), I naturally had my own ideas. I tried the rather strange way of cultivating in this world but it didn¡¯t really seem possible for me or at least right now I lacked the qualifications for it. Clearing my mind was easier said than done when there was so much swimming around in my head and I also had no idea how to feel out the energy in my body or direct it, so I quickly gave up on trying to figure out cultivation for now. Sure I would have loved it if my superior intellect would have made cultivation as easy as sleeping but that sadly wasn¡¯t the case. I did manage with time to feel this so called ¡®Qi¡¯ that had definitely not existed previously in my other body but training this way seemed incredibly slow and time consuming and I rather would like to use it in a different and more meaningful way. The ideas I had? Well wait and see. Noticing the rather sinister smile on my face I quickly made sure no one was around in the courtyard I was currently sitting in. It would not be good if rather strange rumors about my person started floating around in the clan just because of the way I just smiled. The courtyard I was currently sitting in was one of many open places in the Mansion, kind of like a little garden with a pond that I frequently visit. A gentle breeze blew through the air and rustled through the strange black robe as well as otherwise foreign clothing I was now wearing. There were no mirrors anywhere, it could very well be that they hadn¡¯t been invented yet and judging by the crude way they made windows all around even in a highly prestigious clan like this, it didn¡¯t really surprise me. The pond had been the first reflective surface that showed me my new self and I didn¡¯t really know if I should be happy or sad that the 16-year-old face that looked back was a lot more handsome than my old one. Just like everyone else, I had eastern features and dark, nearly black eyes. Straight manly jaw, perfectly round and thin eyebrows as well as protruding cheekbones that made for a devilishly handsome appearance far above the norm here as well as back in my world. Even now I can¡¯t help but feel slightly proud of this new face that was like a heavenly gift and it would explain why so many female attendants and clan members looked my way with heated as well as hungry expressions from the older generations. Remembering the scarlet faced Li Min from 2 days ago made a small chuckle escape from my mouth and even though she was my new sister I couldn¡¯t help but look forward to our next conversation. Even though I had no hidden intentions and didn¡¯t really feel attracted to her at all, she would make things more interesting and I would have a pretty good time teasing her, and yes I am a little sadistic if you are wondering. ¡°What are you laughing about Li Jun you cripple!?¡± A voice filled with disdain shouted from behind me. Deeply sighing I turned around to see Li Fen, another clan member that apparently held a deep hatred for some strange and unknown reason for the previous owner of this body. He was seen as the rising hope of the clan as he was already at the 7th layer of the Foundation Gathering stage and that at the age of 16 too. Compared to my own progress it could naturally only be seen as laughable but I didn¡¯t really mind it too much. Just based on actual IQ and life experience I was so far ahead of this dork that I couldn¡¯t even ¡®put him in my eyes¡¯, another interesting Chinese expression that I have grown to like. ¡°Well look who it is, the marvelous and strong Li Fen. Unrivaled beneath the heavens and a future star of our generation, how may this humble servant help the titan that has graced me with his presence?¡± I asked with so much sarcasm in my voice that it was nearly dripping. Li Fen, either too stupid to notice or too in love with himself took all of it as a compliment and flattery as the frown on his face quickly turned into a brilliant smile. I swear that I saw his feet even leave the ground for a second there as his head started to swell enormously and the air of arrogance that he was wrapped in got even thicker. ¡°It seems you finally have eyes and can see what the marvelous me really is like. Maybe I have been too harsh in the past to you but from now on call me big boss and we can forget about our past grievances.¡± Showing me a smile full of benevolence, it really seemed like this idiot took me serious but I felt no scruple in playing with a dimwit like that as I put on the slimiest expression of worship I could muster. ¡°Big Boss Li Fen you are the rising star of the Li clan and I am but a stepping stone for people like you who are destined for greatness. Unparalleled beneath the heavens! All hail Boss Li Fen!¡± Seeing the utter joy on his stupid face as he bathed in my compliments as if they were a shower of gold he soon enough walked away with his head held high and I had my peace and quiet once again. Hua Hong who had been standing not far away during the entire scene slowly stepped closer and had a complicated expression on her face. ¡°Go on and say what you want to say Hua Hong, I told you before to be open with me and just speak your mind whenever you feel like it.¡± I said after throwing a casual glance her way. The expression on her face got even more complicated and she opened and closed her mouth several times without a sound escaping her throat. After a while she seemed to have made her decision and lowered her head. ¡°What I was about to say would have been far from right and only offended the Young Master.¡± ¡°Speak openly and tell me what you were about to say or I will sell you off to the whorehouse.¡± I said with a stern look. Naturally I didn¡¯t mean a word of what I just said but I discovered that this was the only way that she would openly speak with me as her fear of such a fate was well deserved. ¡°I- Young Master I can¡¯t-¡° Noticing the menacing glare I was giving her she flinched and an ugly expression was on her face as she once again lowered her head. ¡°Being the Young Master of the clan and behaving like this was an embarrassment to your lineage. Your actions today have lost face not only for yourself but Clan Master Li Kong too.¡± The fear in her gaze and expression seemed to have reached a climax after noticing what she had just blurted out and with sheepish, fearful eyes she looked my way. Without even a hint of anger, the stern expression on my face disappeared and I instead showed a gentle smile to her. ¡°See, was it really that hard to speak openly? What you said might be true but let me ask you this question, who else has heard what I said?¡± Gesturing around the completely empty courtyard with not even a single soul present except the two of us, I continued. ¡°You are forgetting that he is not only stronger but also the rising star of the clan so no matter what, I would have to be courteous to him in some way or another as the clan does allow internal fighting between the young generation and I still haven¡¯t even recovered yet. As mentioned he is stronger than me and I am not dumb enough to forget that so pretending to lick the boot of a moron like him will help me keep him away until I recover as well as make him happy. And to the matter of me being an embarrassment, as I said, no one saw the entire thing except you so who is going to believe him when his word that I groveled before him in the dirt is against mine, that he is a liar and trying to embarrass the Young Master of the clan? As long as you don¡¯t take his side in the matter and say that I just had a normal talk with him, he has no proof and will only hurt his own reputation as well as standing in the clan, making it so that he won¡¯t even be able to come close to me in the future again. Even if he wants to take revenge for tricking him like this, the higher ups in the clan won¡¯t allow it, as they will see it as him trying to pressure the Young Master of the clan or as an attempt to really cripple me. If he speaks a word of what happened today, he will dig his own grave and destroy his future accomplishments inside the clan.¡± Hua Hong looked at me with a completely stunned expression as she tried to process this stream of information and explanations. It took her a while but finally her eyes once again held the same glow of worship that seemed to be even stronger now. ¡°Young Master has beaten Li Fen without him even knowing it, not with the power of your fists that could only injure him but with the power of words that have crippled his future forever. Young Master is a genius and the real rising star of the clan!¡± She shouted the last sentence many times while kowtowing before me like I was some kind of god. Once again sighing I kneeled down and pulled the pretty girl off the ground with a little more strength than intended, she thus tripped and landed in my arms which was a little awkward. ¡°Sorry about that.¡± I said as I tried to step away but a pair of ¡®jade like¡¯ arms was currently bound around my upper body while her face pressed against my chest. ¡°I am yours Young Master, you can do whatever you want with me.¡± Hua Hong said as she looked up towards me, her face completely scarlet red. Seriously is every single girl here going to be this easy? I don¡¯t want to slander her or her determination but this kind of approach just makes it seems like she has done this sort of thing many a times. ¡°You know you should normally only say those words to someone you love right?¡± I replied while prying her hands off my back. With a somewhat saddened face she stepped away before once again looking into my eyes. ¡°Does Young Master not want Hua Hong?¡± She asked while letting her hands travel between the already distinct mountains on her front as well as crevice between her legs, creating an incredibly erotic picture in the desolate courtyard. ¡°Me feeling sexually attracted towards you if you do something like that and me loving you for who you are and wanting you not for your body but for your personality are two different things Hua Hong. Sorry to say this but I am not a beast. I am a man who would love to enjoy your body and every nook and cranny of it, who would kiss you millions of times down there but only if I knew you were the right one and felt the same about me. Not because you want me for my body or want to be safe and live a nice life but instead out of love for me. Because I am the most important person in your life and you want to spend every waking moment by my side. Call me a romantic but I have no intention of ever using you or your sister like that.¡± Turning towards the pond and staring into it while contemplating different matters, I wasn¡¯t able to see the shocked as well as stunned expression on Hua Hong¡¯s face. Not even bothering to turn around I left the still dazed girl standing while Hua Hong was now the one to be deeply lost in her own thoughts. Finally, after what seemed like hours she turned towards where I had exited the courtyard and her rosy lips parted in a soft whisper. ¡°Young Master is going to shake the continent and world not with the power of his fists but with his wit and wisdom. He is not like the Young Master of the past. After forgetting everything he seems to have the mind of an ancient sage that has gained enlightenment and that only at the age of 16. Just what kind of man is he going to be in the future?¡± Her eyes misty and as if in trance she slowly but surely followed the now mysterious Young Master of the Flamedragon clan. Hua Hong¡¯s heart couldn¡¯t help but beat a bit faster when she thought back to what he had said to her not long ago, of how he would love to enjoy her body and once again she started to wonder how he could be this vulgar and unfathomably deep at the same time. ----- Chapter 2 (NSFW!) Keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! ---- Chapter 2: It didn¡¯t take long until Li Fen did exactly what I had anticipated as I faked my innocents with an act worthy of an Oscar before the entire clan, claiming that he was trying to undermine my reputation just because he currently had a lead in cultivation over me as I was still recovering from my injuries and wasn¡¯t able to cultivate for 2 months. The stunned and disbelieving expression of shock on Li Fen¡¯s face was enough to make my day as the elders of the clan started to hurl insult after insult towards the poor guy, that he was ¡®losing face for the entire clan while trying to gain glory¡¯. I tried my best not to laugh and keep a sincere expression but I think Li Kong, my father saw through me when I let out a cough that sounded strangely similar to a giggle. Hua Hong played her part excellently as she swore upon the clan¡¯s honor that Li Fen and I only had a normal conversation and rubbed a bit more salt into the wound by claiming he was even threatening to cripple me in the future before leaving which shocked all the surrounding clan members and once again made Li Fen pale in fright and anger. I was more than a little surprised that she even dared to accuse him as she was probably well aware that she was putting herself directly in the line of fire that way. It would be my responsibility to make sure that nothing happened to her in the future, considering she did help my cause and claim a lot with lying like this even if it put her own life at risk. The clan soon enough judged Li Fen as guilty by all accounts as no other witnesses were present during the entire thing and he was punished to cultivating behind closed doors for 3 months, which pretty much meant he was confined to his room for 3 months and couldn¡¯t step outside except for taking a shit. Hua Hong sent a winning smile my way when no one was looking and I gave her a wink which strangely enough made her entire face flush red. Hua Ping who was standing next to me saw the entire exchange and had a surprised as well as confused expression on her face but didn¡¯t say anything as both girls followed me back to my room in the back of the Mansion. When I opened the wooden door to my room I found Li Min standing at the window looking outside, which somewhat surprised me. She turned towards me with a flustered face before her gaze fell on the two girls behind me. ¡°I-Is it alright if we talk alone?¡± She asked with a shy expression. I simply nodded and gestured to both Hua Hong and Hua Ping to leave us alone and they quickly complied with one last bow towards Li Min and me. Examining the fidgeting Li Min dressed in a deep blue robe with a flower pattern on it I couldn¡¯t help but raise an eyebrow. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Startled by my question she looked towards the ceiling for a second before lowering her eyes my way again. ¡°I am unsure what you mean dear brother, is there something wrong with the ceiling?¡± Sighing deeply, I didn¡¯t even try to explain to her what I meant with that and instead asked the longer version of my question as I gestured for her to sit down at the little table in my room. ¡°What did you want to talk about Li Min?¡± Still somewhat confused she followed my invitation to take a seat before answering. ¡°Little brother, your sister Li Min needs your help. I know it might sound strange but it is something only you as the Young Master of the clan can do and we always had a good relationship between us. I have been your big sister since we grew up together and you might not remember it but I always took good care of you and if it was the previous you I am sure you would have gladly helped me in-¡° ¡°Get to the point.¡± I interrupted her, somewhat annoyed with the endless way she had started to explain her situation. Glancing my way with a worried expression she took a deep breath and finally said what she had come here for. ¡°Wang Lei, the heir of the Phoenix clan in Dragon City has asked your father Li Kong for my hand in marriage but I don¡¯t want to marry him. He has always been after me since we were younger and now that he is also 16 he has finally reached the appropriate age. Honestly speaking I don¡¯t like him at all and he has always bullied you too in the past which was the main reason for my hatred for him.¡± Her eyes seemed to blaze with a different kind of fire as she remembered the past events and I couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat amused by the cute face she made that was probably supposed to be an angry expression. It was nice to see that she had taken care of the previous owner of this body in the past but her words could also very well be a bunch of lies, I did take into account that she was the one who flung herself into my arms after waking up even when she had no idea that I had ¡®lost¡¯ my memories so what she said was probably true. Was it mean that I didn¡¯t think she was scheming and using me simply because I doubted she had the capacity to do something like that? ¡°Alright, so you want me to speak to my dad and convince him to say no?¡± ¡°Well¡­ All of this happened a month ago and your father, Clan Master Li Kong already gave his approval as the Phoenix clan is the second strongest clan in Dragon City. The marriage is already set in stone and will be in 5 days¡­¡± Looking somewhat depressed as she said that I couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for the little thing with gigantic breasts. ¡°So what can I do for you then Sister Li Min?¡± A small smile appeared on her lips when I called her sister despite her current situation and for the first time during the entire conversation did she look into my eyes. I noticed that here in this world and culture, looking into someone¡¯s eyes was considered quite rude and only done towards close family members or to get a point across. ¡°I hoped that you would be the one to take my first time with a man so that Clan Master Li Kong would be too embarrassed to give a soiled good like me to the Phoenix clan as it would have been seen as losing face for both sides. Naturally I know what I am asking of you is quite a lot but I hope that my body is enough to satisfy your needs brother Li Jun.¡± My eyes grew round like golf balls, not because of her request which was ridiculous enough but by something else. ¡°You still didn¡¯t have your first time?¡± Shocked by this question of all things she looked at me again and a tinge of red dyed her cheeks. ¡°As a lady I can¡¯t just give my body away to any fiend that crosses the street now can I? Did you really think your sister was like one of those girls from the whorehouse, Li Jun?" Seeing the pouting expression on her face I couldn¡¯t help but laugh in an unrestrained manner. ¡°Sorry if I made it sound that way but I never thought someone as pretty as you would have no experience with men. Pardon me for being rude but it came as quite the shock that no one has tasted you yet.¡± Giving her a teasing wink I couldn¡¯t help but laugh again after noticing her flustered and beet red face. She was just too easy to embarrass and it was pretty fun teasing her from time to time. Calming down enough to actually form an audible sentence I couldn¡¯t help but ask the obvious question. ¡°Sister Li Min, what I can¡¯t help but wonder from the way you are saying this is why you come to me for this request. If even I would not be able to convince father from stopping the marriage why do you then need me to break your hymen? If it is really just that you could just masturbate and do it yourself, you know? As far as I see it there is no need for us to have sex considering we don¡¯t have these kinds of feelings for another.¡± Trying her best to not be completely embarrassed by the entire conversation that was clearly too intimate for her liking she had a rather confused expression on her face. ¡°What is masturbating and a hymen?¡± She asked with a completely straight face and I couldn¡¯t help but nearly fall off my chair. Just what the hell?! Do parents in this world teach their kids anything at all?! And just like that I explained the basics of intercourse and things like the ¡®vagina¡¯ and a ¡®penis¡¯ to a 17-year-old girl that had until then apparently not even had a single clue of how children were born. Upon further inquiry after she had stopped hiding her completely red face I discovered that her parents always told her that she would have to bed a man to know the truth about it. I would say that is some sloppy work there sending your kid into the world like that. It was also at this time that I noticed that she and I were not really brother and sister but more like very, very, very distant cousins. Every member of the clan was related in some way or another and marriage wasn¡¯t uncommon between distant cousins which even in my previous world was allowed, although frowned upon. So me calling her sister was my way of saying that we were close by heart and not actually sister and brother. It was also at this time that I discovered that my ¡®mother¡¯ in this world passed away many years ago when the owner of this body had still been little, poor guy. I hadn¡¯t seen Li Kong my father too much since waking up and it had only been a few days but I did notice the absence of a certain female so this conversation had been a good way of getting to know my situation a bit better. Once again I continued my explanation on many things such as certain positions and gave her many tips with masturbating that she could try as I really had no intention of touching her body even though it was a bit tempting. Thanking me for the advice she excused herself as it was already deep at night and left the room, presumably to do exactly what I had just told her and I could only hope that it would help her in stopping this forced marriage as I felt quite sorry for her predicament. If even a ¡®soiled good¡¯ didn¡¯t stop my father I would find another way to solve this problem, that is what I told her when she left and I waved the dozen or so tear-filled thanks from her side away. If all of it proved pointless I would just take her as my first wife in name only. It was a lot better to be in a fake marriage than in a forced one and she would have enough chances to find her guy as long as I would grow up to be the Clan Master in the future, which I naturally had every intention to be. Hey, who would throw away this future and wander the world without even a penny on them to seek danger and battle? You can¡¯t get truly strong without capital. In my mind only brainless idiots would throw away such a position like this without at least sucking the entire clan dry of any and all resources. There were plenty of things in this world that could forcefully enhance your cultivation like medical pills, plants or even the meat of Magical beasts (and yes these existed in this world too, what a surprise). Internal cultivation of the self was normal and external cultivation like consuming pills or eating rare plants could only be done from time to time as the money needed to buy just one low level pill was similar to the entire fortune of a small Clan. Even low level pills could allow someone to increase their strength by an entire layer if absorbed right so nearly everyone in this world was completely crazy about them and the plants needed for them were abundant in the world, it was just that so many people had a need for them that they turned rare and priceless. Just like in the previous world, money was the greatest power in this one, at least in the early stages of cultivation as far as I know. Money allowed for unlimited resources and even someone with little talent and a lazy attitude in cultivating would be able to ¡®advance by leaps and bounds¡¯. Did I have the ambition to be the strongest one there ever was? Hell no, too much effort was needed for that and even though it was fun imagining being able to fly and all, I just wanted to be strong enough to protect myself and my possible future girlfriend in this world where the fist and powerful ruled. There was no need to be the strongest and I wasn¡¯t talented nor was I na?ve enough to believe that it was my calling or ¡®destiny¡¯ to stand at the peak. Only a man blinded by his own ambition truly believed himself to be invincible and infallible. Was it really so bad to think on a small scale and live life as a simple man? What use was power if it only brought your own ruin, the dangers acquainted with it all were not to my liking to begin with and I was not willing to risk my life for something as childish as ¡®wanting to be strong¡¯. Strength was fleeting and a concept used for many things. Was a woman who sold her body to physically stronger men so she could feed her children really weak? Was the man who bowed his head before others so his family could live in peace and safety truly without ¡®face¡¯? No, they hid their own anger and resentment behind a smile while doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of their loved ones. Everyone who blindly searched for strength while overlooking simple things like this being displayed all around them in my mind was only a moron who ¡®had eyes but couldn¡¯t recognize Mount Tai¡¯. Looking outside the crude paper window and towards the star-filled sky I couldn¡¯t help but wonder what my future really held as I turned around to a rather bizarre sight. The reason I had turned was because I noticed noise behind me in the room when I was lost in thought, only now after seeing the light of a lit candle on the table did I notice what this shuffling had been. Both Hua Hong and Hua Ping stood there wearing their birthday suits, they were butt naked is what I am saying. Looking at their individual mountains as well as bushy creeks I couldn¡¯t help but feel a slight reaction in my nether region and thoughts of desecrating and making both of these fine girls mine swirled around in my head before I finally got a hold of my lust again, focusing my eyes instead onto their blushed and embarrassed faces. We all stood in silence for quite some time before I stepped closer and sat down on a chair directly in front of them. They didn¡¯t even dare to look in my eyes as I once again examined their bodies, not with lust but rather curiosity this time. I had been a full grown and experienced man back in my world and wasn¡¯t as easily swayed as my new 16 your old face might suggest. Even though they were not many, I did have a few relationships and was no virgin to female flesh or temptation. They both had unblemished skin, plumb breasts, womanly thighs and a round buttocks. Truly, bodies that rivaled models and that only at the tender age of 16. It was quite a sight to see as they possessed the kind of bodies that I had never seen in the flesh before so I burned the image into my mind while at the same time examining their facial expressions. I wouldn¡¯t touch them but fantasizing about it later? Who said I wouldn¡¯t do that? ¡°Mind telling me why you are stripping down like this in the middle of the night Hua Hong and Hua Ping?¡± I finally asked after nearly 5 minutes of silence. ¡°I-Is it not to your liking Young Master?¡± Hua Hong bravely asked while hiding half of her face behind her black hair. ¡°Sure is, a few more years and the entire city would rip itself apart to get a hold of you two. Seems like the robes you wear do hide a lot.¡± I absentmindedly murmured while glancing towards their private areas without even a hint of reservation. ¡°You are well aware that we can¡¯t marry another man now, are you young Master?¡± Hua Ping said with a flushed face and she seemed to be a lot braver than her sister as she even met my eyes. ¡°And why is that? Did my gaze penetrate your insides and make you pregnant? I wasn¡¯t the one stripping down and I sure as hell wouldn¡¯t close my eyes after seeing something nice like this but in the end it is only seeing and not touching. If you are embarrassed or didn¡¯t want it why strip in the first place, no one is forcing you.¡± ¡°I did it for Hua Hong¡¯s sake.¡± Hua Ping said while glancing towards her red faced sister, a clear look of worry in her eyes. ¡°You mean because of Li Fen? Don¡¯t worry I knew ahead of time that what Hua Hong said today before the clan would bring her a lot of trouble so I was going to suggest that both of you sleep inside my room from today onwards. That doesn¡¯t mean you have to actually share my bed at night or bear my child. I sure as hell am not the kind of guy who would do something like that and I believe I only recently told the exact same thing to you, Hua Hong.¡± Unable to meet my eyes she lowered her head before answering. ¡°I know Young Master, but what if I still want to keep your bed warm at night?¡± Shyly looking up she met my eyes for a split second until she couldn¡¯t endure it any longer. ¡°Am I really that handsome that you are horny enough to strip down and practically spread your legs for me?¡± Stunned by this question both girls looked up only to see the mischievous smile and glint in my eyes before once again looking away with an even redder face. ¡°Tell me girls, did you have naughty thoughts about this young Master in recent days? Be honest here please.¡± Both sisters slowly but surely nodded while Hua Hong completely hid her face behind her hands and even let out a small embarrassed squeal. ¡°Now let me ask you, do you have actual feelings for me or is it so you can lead your lives safely and without trouble? Let me just tell you this first, as long as you don¡¯t betray or sell me out and serve me well I will never abandon nor let any harm come to you, that I swear upon my name.¡± The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Surprised by this rather serious promise they finally looked up without any shame and came to meet my stare. ¡°Do you really mean that young Master?¡± Hua Ping asked while the red hue on her face started to dissipate. ¡°You are not slaves, you are not my playthings and you also are not my personal enjoyment, you both are my servants. You live here, I will pay you a lot more in the future when I am Clan Master and you also never have any obligation towards me in a sexual or other way. This is a business relationship in my eyes and you can quit without any problems if it isn¡¯t to your liking. Just say the word and I will let my father know to reward you with a year''s worth of salary and no harassment before you leave. That is how I see things between us.¡± Both sisters exchanged a look of utter surprise and only Hua Hong who still vividly remembered my previous speech wasn¡¯t as stunned as her sister by my words. Hua Ping couldn¡¯t help but giggle as she picked up her dropped garments. She shot a before unseen dirty smile my way while purposely putting her clothes back on with a snail like pace. ¡°You know that just those words alone would make it worth it to share your bed each night, right Young Master?¡± Hua Ping said with the same dirty smile on her face as she put her hand invitingly between her legs without any shame, clearly the entire previous embarrassment had been a well-trained act. It didn¡¯t surprise me that they knew all too well what a man wanted in this world even though they were around the same age as me, their mindset and experience on a few things was worlds apart from the previously innocent Li Min. ¡°Think about it again Young Master, my sister and I are untouched.¡± Hua Ping continued with a heated gaze while motioning towards her sister who still stood there naked. ¡°I have already told you my view of how things are between us, seems I finally get to see the real you and not the little act you played before. I like it.¡± I responded with a smile. Shrugging while putting her robe on, Hua Ping continued the conversation between us. ¡°I just figured that I should stop pretending before the Young Master as it seems to me that you value honesty a lot more than fake servitude, naturally I am your maid and will do whatever you tell me to do without moaning but forgive me if I do overstep the line. I had a rather loose mouth before the training that the head maid made us go through so I learned to keep it shut and play the innocent girl pretty well.¡± Noticeably shivering when she mentioned the head maid, I couldn¡¯t help but wonder who this rather mysterious figure was that she could instill so much fear in the girl, that Hua Ping was frightened to the point of not even daring to mention her. Noticing that Hua Hong still stood there without moving, both my own and Hua Ping¡¯s gaze quickly landed on her. ¡°You can put your clothes back on dear sister, you heard what the young Master.¡± Hua Ping said with a concerned smile. I had a bad feeling when I looked into Hua Hong¡¯s face that was still flushed red, and this bad premonition quickly showed itself as true when the girl finally returned my look as she stared into my eyes with a strange light present in her own. ¡°Young Master knows why I am standing here like this.¡± Unable to believe her words I had to double check if she really meant what she said. ¡°Are you really sure it is that way?¡± Clutching her small hands between her full breasts she closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again and nodding her head. Hua Ping who was confused by the entire exchange looked back and forth between us before I explained with a tired sigh. ¡°She just pretty much admitted that she wants to spend the rest of her life with me and that she loves me.¡± Sitting down on my bed I needed a little time to digest this new revelation, the shock this time was a lot bigger than the sight of both of them being stark naked and I couldn¡¯t help but once again look Hua Hong¡¯s way as her eyes held the same unwavering gaze as before. Her sister was even more surprised than me and nearly fell to the floor from the impact that my words had as she looked towards Hua Hong in disbelief. Isn¡¯t this a little too soon for the Harem route?! I haven¡¯t even gotten an ounce of power or increased my cultivation to a genius level, hello author?! Naturally there was no use crying these words in my mind as this was very much reality and no magical rewriting or deleting of the last few paragraphs would change that. I don¡¯t know how or why it happened but I wasn¡¯t one to let a girl stand naked in a room for too long and quickly went to her side. Kneeling down, I had a rather spectacular view of her lower region, before once again standing up and putting the previously discarded robe around her shoulders. ¡°You both are going to sleep in my room from now on anyways and I have taken a note of your feelings. Thank you for telling me openly and I appreciate that more than you think. If you want we can share the same bed in name only but I won¡¯t take advantage of your body or try anything until I also develop feelings for you, this might very well never happen but I hope you can understand that.¡± The way she feverishly looked at me when I mentioned hugging her in bed made me feel a bit uncomfortable and I regretted saying it soon enough but I gave her my word so there was no way around it now. Alright, I admit it was my own lust driving me to it but after seeing her body already I somewhat wanted to touch her too. I swear I am not a beast! Is this considered pedophilia considering my true age is 25 and she is only 15-16? Good thing the law here is different or I would be majorly fucked. Hua Ping watched our exchange with a half amused, half surprised expression before shaking her head and exiting the room to get her belongings so she could officially move in. Both girls soon enough found their place in my spacious little flat and Hua Ping was the first one to go to sleep while wishing me and her sister a ¡°fun night¡±. Looking at Hua Hong who was lying on the sheets of my bed with a dirty smile on her normally shy face as she showed me every curve and crevice of her body with moving hands, I couldn¡¯t help but instinctively swallow. She took her time and seemed to enjoy that I watched her undress and discard the only recently put on clothes once again. Her panties fell from her feet to the bed and she invitingly spread her legs right before me as I somehow found myself standing in front of the bed without even remembering how I ended up there. Her arms were reaching out towards me, legs still spread apart and a low ¡°Come, Li Jun¡± escaped her lips before I finally, and regrettably, was overtaken by lust. Why the hell couldn¡¯t I just tell her to go to hell or let her sleep with her sister? It was clear that seeing both girls naked like this and going several days without even masturbating once while taking care of my body and recovering had brought my still young body to a point where I wasn¡¯t able to think straight anymore. My previous words forgotten I practically jumped into her embrace and she let out a surprised yelp that was somewhat stuck in her throat as I put my tongue into her mouth and ravaged it greedily. Oh to hell with it she was mine now. Being a gentleman? Taking it slow? Fuck that, it¡¯s her fault I am like this now so she has no right to complain as I started to play with her lower half and slipped a finger inside which let a gasp escape between those rosy lips of hers. I took my time as I explored her body, my mouth was tightly locked around her left breast and a loud moan left her mouth as my hand down there started to move unceasingly. The sheets were soon enough drenched in her fluids and I had felt her shake uncontrollably while her insides curled around my fingers once already so it was time for the main dish now. She looked at me in a complete daze as both confusion and happiness were visible on her face after her orgasm, couldn¡¯t have been her first right? Shrugging mentally if that was the case or not I continued. I had already found out before that she didn¡¯t have a hymen anymore and considering her sister claimed they were still untouched, only playing with herself came to mind, it could also have been broken before in the ¡®training¡¯ they went through which very well might have been the case. All of this didn¡¯t matter though as I pulled down my pants and without any warning rammed into her moist insides. God I missed this feeling, masturbating just isn¡¯t the same. Her moans instantly increased to a new height as pure bliss filled her face and she gripped the sheets tight while moving her own hips against my rhythm to put me deeper and deeper into her loving embrace. Turning my head to the side I saw Hua Ping sitting on her bed, biting her lip and watching us both go at it while her hands moved hastily between her own legs. Seems like at least one of them had previous experience in that regard but it didn¡¯t really matter at the moment as I picked up Hua Hong by holding her back and she quickly curled her legs around me while I moved her up and down my shaft with never ending fervor. Taking the position of her breasts into account I gobbled them up with my mouth and occasionally bit into her nipples which made her tighten up in certain areas while also rocking her body back and forth and letting a sweet moan of bliss escape her mouth. God damn, either she is an A+ actress or the horniest girl I have ever been with as I once again felt her insides curl up and her body jerked around for nearly half a minute while I continued to moved inside of her. We changed positions many times and it was after the first time that I came deep inside of her that she showed a slight sign of fear in her eyes when I didn¡¯t stop my movements in the slightest bit. This body of the young man I was in was tired, but my true self, that of an experienced adult sure as hell wasn¡¯t satisfied yet so I kissed and played around with her body until I had recovered to the point of being hard again. Feeling me ravaging her insides for the second time despite knowing that I had already released inside of her, utter shock revealed itself on Hua Hong¡¯s heated face as she looked into my eyes. ¡°What, did you think I was already finished with you, girl? I am not sure about other males here but I for one am not satisfied with just once. Guess they didn¡¯t teach you that in your training did they?¡± I said, slightly out of breath while unceasingly grinding my hips against hers. It might have been an illusion but I thought I saw an incredibly dirty and beaming smile on her face as we once again switched positions while our bodies were drenched in sweat. From behind, lying next to her, she being on top, me being on top. We tried it all and I came 4 times inside of her, uncaring for the consequences that this would have and she never complained once while even pressing against me tightly each time it happened so it ended up as deep as possible. I lost count how many times Hua Hong started to twitch or orgasm, it sure as hell was more than I have ever seen a girl cum in my entire life. Maybe it was the norm in this world? Unsure I dropped her unmoving body into the sheets and pulled out of her slippery inside for the first time in hours. She had stopped any sign of movement in the past ten minutes and only occasionally twitched or moaned in a small voice. I was sure that she was only barely conscious at this point, drained and dead tired how I was I couldn¡¯t really blame the 16-year-old girl, as this was supposed to be her first time too. Looking at her voluptuous body that had been soiled by me and was completely covered in various fluids I couldn¡¯t help but once again feel my part grow erect. A panting below me and sudden stimulation from my little guy turned my gaze towards a rather interesting scene as Hua Ping was currently swallowing me whole while being completely naked, uncaring for the juices on it or that most of them stemmed from her own sister. She cleaned it quickly before looking into my eyes with a crazy amount of lust in her gaze. ¡°Please, Young Master¡­¡± She said in a low whimper and I noticed that she didn¡¯t even have the strength to stand up anymore as a constant stream of juices flowed down her legs. Just how goddamn horny could these two sisters be?! Well I wasn¡¯t one to talk in that regard as I lifted her body in a casual way, noticing a blissful smile on her face, before dropping her on the tip of my shaft as I slid inside without even a hint of obstruction. Her moan was a lot deeper and more feral than her sister¡¯s, with the sudden entry and exploration of her deepest part, while having been close to it all this time she now came on the spot. Shaking my head while Hua Ping continued to grind her hips against me in her twitching throes, I carried the girl to her makeshift bed before spending until dawn to show both sisters a world of pleasure. ..... Slowly opening my eyes, I couldn¡¯t help but smile at the nice dream I had. My gaze naturally quickly fell on the body that was pressing against me beneath the blanket and it turned out to be a pretty girl in a nightgown with the name of Hua Hong. Now you might think she was naked and covered in my now dried manly liquid but did you really think that the dream I had, although lifelike, was real? I told you before that I wasn¡¯t a beast and could control my tendencies unlike someone like you who probably got excited from that little fantasy I was having in my sleep. One could even say you are a pervert for getting heated over something like that considering it would be immoral and I would also be abusing these girls for my own lust. Really, shame on you and your dirty mind! Returning to the present, I was currently trying my best to wriggle my arm out of Hua Hong¡¯s tight embrace as she had apparently taken it as a hostage in her dreams. Ignoring the full breasts that seemed to wrap around my left forearm, I was able to carefully escape this vice like grip. Hua Ping was looking at me from her makeshift bed that was sitting in the corner of the room, her eyes hazy and a part of her gown had slid past her shoulder to show a good bit of her cleavage. Noticing her appearance, she let out a surprised yelp before fixing her attire. Why exactly she seemed to be flustered after showing me all of her assets last night was a mystery to me but what would I know about the complex thing we call a girl¡¯s mind? With a few pops of my lower vertebrae I sat up and stretched, the movement and sound finally also woke up Hua Hong who looked at me with half closed eyes. ¡°Good morning Young Master.¡± She mumbled before leaning forward and putting her arms around me. I was naturally startled about this sudden hug and watched her face change color in record time after her mind had caught up with what she was currently doing. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry Young Master, I was half asleep and-¡° ¡°It''s fine, really, it''s fine.¡± Not minding the morning hug that I had suddenly gotten from her I waved the entire incident away and stood up. Hua Hong¡¯s face was slightly red and embarrassed as she stood up too and started to fix the bed. ¡­. ¡°Come in.¡± My uncle said with a tired voice and I quickly did as I was told. There he stood, Li Kong, Clan Head of the mighty Flamedragon Clan and my mother¡¯s brother. The first thing that I noticed were the dark rings under his eyes. They had been there before naturally, but ever since Li Jun woke up he had barely slept at all, throwing himself into his work. I knew the reason why he did and it hurt my heart to see him like this. ¡°What did he say?¡± Li Kong asked, directly getting to the point and reason behind this late night meeting. Feeling a bit embarrassed when I thought back to my earlier conversation, I quickly elaborated and told my uncle nearly every single word that Li Jun had spoken. The preexisting frown on Li Kong¡¯s face only deepened the more he heard, as well as a look of puzzlement in his eyes. ¡°And that was everything Li Jun told me.¡± I finished, giving a sheepish glance towards my uncle as he seemed to be deep in thought. Finally, after what seemed to be minutes he looked into my eyes again. ¡°What he told you was very advanced knowledge about the relationship between men and women, some of it even I have never heard of in all my years but I still don¡¯t get it.¡± Clenching his fist, Qi started to congregate around it before he smashed it into his desk which instantly turned into a pile of firewood under this sudden assault. ¡°How can he know things like that but forget some of the most basic concepts and even his own father!? Just what happened to my son¡­¡± Li Kong mumbled the last part with a trace of sorrow in his voice. All I could do was keep quiet as I watched the outburst of my dear and kind uncle. The answer to his- no, both our questions could not be found right now but I would make sure to find out what it was that really happened ever since Li Jun attempted suicide¡­ ----- Finally able to upload chapter 2 now that being able to properly edit your chapters is fixed on this site again. [th_084_.gif] Hope you had a fun time reading and the next one should come soonish (1-2 days) so stay tuned! Chapter 3 Keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! ---- Chapter 3: ¡°Today we have a lot to do.¡± I said with a glance towards both girls and they only looked at me with curious gazes while starting their work routine. Dressing me had been one of them but I insisted on doing that alone as I was somewhat uncomfortable with the entire process and rather did it myself. There was still a lot of cultural barriers and misunderstandings between me and this new world but I was slowly working my way around them. Why exactly there was a need to dress a grown man or woman was as mentioned still unclear to me, other than the person in question just being incredibly lazy, nothing else came to mind. Today marked one week since the parasite that I call my own existence appeared in this world and took a hold of this new body. Unlike my previous theories, there didn¡¯t seem to be a rejection of any kind between my mind and this new body, neither was this a crazy drug induced dream as too much time had already passed for it to be one and if I was in a coma and this really was just playing in my head then I could only try to live my life here now anyways, as there was no way for me to ¡®wake up¡¯. I still had my doubts if all of this was truly real or not but only time would tell me the answer to this question. One clear rule I established for myself was to not do anything too crazy like angering every single power in Dragon City or the entire world, considering I would possibly have to live down the consequences of an action like that. I am the simple Young Master of the Flamedragon clan and as far as I know, there is no one that I have offended (except for Li Fen and that possible intrigue that put the previous owner of this body into a coma, but that is beside the point). My first course of action today would be to increase my survivability. Although I had not made any enemies that robbed me of my sleep yet, the time might very well come as a crazy mad man running through the mansion going on a killing spree or just bad luck was enough to end my little life (shown by the rather comical way I left my old world, karma is a bitch and just kills you whenever she feels like it, even when you didn¡¯t do anything wrong). So to increase my own chances and help me fend off other people as well as making it out alive of a possible fight, I would first talk with an artist that Hua Hong had found in the city the previous day. She told him to come meet me today as the Young Master of the Flamedagon clan would like to speak with him in private and understandably, the man was more than a little nervous. Normally, saying just one wrong thing to someone like me would either get you killed or in the best case scenario crippled, both something I wished upon no one at the moment. Normal people feared high profile personalities and especially young ones like myself the most as they acted very emotionally and full of arrogance, a trait many Young Masters of a powerful clan shared. How could this simple artist that made his living by drawing architectural designs for houses as well as weapon blueprints possibly know that I was unlike those feared hot blooded young men? The moment I entered the room together with my two maids the person in question himself nearly prostrated before me while at the same time showering me with a stream of flattery. It was a little surprising as well as irritating to be greeted in such a way so I told him to stop spouting nonsense and to get up. Noticing the harsh tone, the man naturally paled considerably as he probably thought that he had offended me in some way but he thankfully had enough of a brain to keep quiet just like I told him. ¡°What is your name?¡± I asked, a little curious about this simple clothed middle aged man. Just based on his hands and face it was easy to see that he had been living a hard life, and unlike myself he even seemed to be a little malnourished as his cheeks were basically non-existent. ¡°This one is called Yu Shun, Young Master.¡± The man answered while cupping his hands and giving me a deep bow. I naturally cupped my hands as well and told him my own name before introducing the girls at my sides. ¡°You need not to worry Yu Shun, I only brought you here to discuss a few things with you, if that is ok.¡± Seemingly relieved by what I said but still on guard the man simply nodded, waiting for me to continue. ¡°As far as I was informed you are an artist for hire, is that true?¡± ¡°Yes indeed Young Master Li Jun, my talents in cultivation and many other things are very limited and only my ability to draw what is in my mind has been able to support me and my family.¡± Nodding to his words I naturally wasn¡¯t too surprised by this as I had Hua Hong investigate his background beforehand already, this was all a little farce I used to calm the man down a bit. ¡°It is very admirable that you have found a way to help your family this way even though the heavens seemingly neglected you in terms of cultivation, formidable!¡± I said with a light smile and this little bit of flattery seemed to give this man wings as he changed from his previous hunched over posture to instead sticking his chest out with pride while at the same time trying to look as though he was unfazed by my words. Seriously these people were just too easy. ¡°Many thanks Young Master, but I am not that amazing.¡± He said with a shy smile, seemingly testing the waters if it was alright to deny my words as he was aware of his situation better than anyone else and it was not a good one. ¡°I would beg to differ but enough of this, the reason I called you here was because I know that you are talented with the brush but even more so are you talented with drawing things that are explained to you which is why I brought you here. I have had a little project on my mind but still am unsure how to tackle it, nevertheless I have decided that I am in need of your skills in the near future and brought you here in hopes that you would lend me a helping hand in exchange for being paid, naturally.¡± The moment the man heard that I was going to pay him he had a difficult expression on his face as he again and again denied my attempt to compensate him for his help, probably in fear that he would offend me with accepting this generous offer. Finally, after nearly 5 tiring minutes I was able to convince the guy to stop being a stuck up little bitch and accept the deal, never in my life did I expect that I would have to convince someone to receive fair payment for a service. Just for taking time out of his day and to meet me I handed him 1 Silver from my own pocket money which in my mind didn¡¯t seem to be more than a little shining coin but after noticing the incredibly happy smile on the man¡¯s face I discovered after some further inquiry from Hua Ping that 1 Silver was equal to the monthly pay of a Soldier in the army. This was also the same time that I familiarized myself with this world¡¯s monetary system. 1 Copper would allow someone to buy a loaf of bread. 1 thousand Copper was equivalent to 1 Silver, most armors and weapons cost at least that much. 10 thousand Silver amounted to 1 Gold that I was given to each year as pocket money, 1 Gold was apparently enough for a family of 3 to live dozens of years without any worries. 100 thousand Gold were equal to 1 Qi Stone that could be directly absorbed into a cultivator¡¯s body to increase their strength and were incredibly valuable, even the entire Flamdragon clan only had a few of them in their treasury and even though they increased cultivation, no one was crazy enough or had a high enough position to freely use them. They were normally only awarded to gifted youths of the young generation that won some kind of event like the Clan Gathering that would happen every 3 years in Dragon City and conveniently was going to take place in 7 months¡¯ time (didn¡¯t I read this story line somewhere else before?). Every Major or minor clan could participate in this event and the youths that managed to place 1st, 2nd and 3rd would all be awarded with one Qi stone as well as other items. It was a luxurious and expensive event but was remedied by the fact that many commoners as well as foreigners could buy tickets to view it, so the clans that organized this event instead of making a loss would reap dazzling profits thanks to this competition and massive influx of outsiders. Many men and women of the young generation only had one or two shots at this special occasion and it was the dream of every single one of them to gain honor as well as face for their family and clan. Taking their first step in the cultivation world as the strongest of their generation was the dream of nearly every young male or female in Dragon city. I naturally had an interest in only one thing, the Qi stone. It was a mysterious item that caught my interest after hearing about it from Hua Ping, as it was apparently solidified Qi that only appeared rarely on the continent and some high level cultivators could even create them but would only reluctantly part with said item, most of the time even the before mentioned 100 thousand Gold coins would not be enough to sway them. Many ideas crossed my mind about this rather strange object that was entirely made out of the fleeting energy I sometimes felt in my new body, just what really was it? Naturally, increasing one¡¯s strength was quite easy with a priceless treasure like that but not everyone could just go and grab one, after all only the 3 strongest of the younger generation would be able to acquire a Qi Stone. Was it realistic that I would be placed so far up there? No, not at all but why not give it a try? I had 7 months, enough time to gather a few materials and watch my various ideas bear fruit. A lot could happen in more than half a year and even though raising one¡¯s cultivation level was supposed to be a slow and difficult process, I had a different path in mind. One thing I dearly missed was the internet, a gateway to near infinite knowledge and wisdom as well as an insane amount of porn. Even just one simple science book would have helped me a lot in my current situation considering that I knew in theory how a hydrogen bomb or nuclear reactor worked but that didn¡¯t mean I had the in-depth knowledge or even the tools to make something like that. That was the first problem I ran into, I had to first create the tools to make what I had in mind and even though I knew the theory, there would still be a lot of money as well as time being wasted, which was why I was dearly in need for an experienced and well versed blacksmith. Things like gunpowder, simple sulfur or different alloys that may or may not exist in this world were all things on my mind and only someone with the specific craft would be able to answer my questions. Cultivation was fine and all but what was a single powerful cultivator before the might of an A-bomb? Not much in my opinion. Naturally there were many blacksmiths in Dragon City but I had a very specific idea and didn¡¯t need the best or most well-known, no. Just like with Yu Shun the artist that I had spoken to before, my search criteria were different. I needed someone with inborn curiosity and the ability to think outside the box as well as the courage to experiment and go against the norm. So not only did I require the blacksmith to possess the skills in his specific craft but also to completely ignore what he had learned until now, I was pretty much looking for a genius. Someone on the level of Tesla or Newton that was in this world maybe even considered as crazy. Finding someone like that, even in a gigantic city like this was a difficult task and after many days of fruitlessly searching, both of my maids had no luck in that regard. With 100 million citizens and nearly 100 miles of ground to cover in Dragon City I couldn¡¯t really blame them too much. Maybe it was time for me to take the matter into my own hand and go out to not only look for the blacksmith but also to familiarize myself with this world and its items a bit more. You might think that it is a bit strange that I have until now not left the clan to explore a bit more but my reasoning is simple enough. Whenever an MC or anyone even slightly mentioned in a Xianxia novel leaves their safe home to do something simple like going shopping they always, and I mean always run into some kind of trouble. Now, let me remind you that this world seems like a badly written Xianxia novel and with every single person being offended very easily, chances were good I was going to find trouble or it was going to find me. Not only that, even though I am the Young Master of the Flamedragon clan, who says I won¡¯t run into another clan that has a deep hatred for us and is just as powerful? Knowing Xianxia novels and my own luck very well I have to admit that I was a little afraid to step outside my own door, just because of the unneeded hassle that it would bring. ¡®A strong cultivator needed to fight and experience life and death situations to grow¡¯, I say bullshit. That is only an excuse for hot headed idiots to fight and kill like they please. No one wants to die so who in their right mind would purposely challenge each and every person that insults you, thinking like that would normally cut your life very short but because those stories aren¡¯t real they naturally never end badly. This however is very real as sad as it is. ¡°Hua Hong, do you think it will be alright if I go to the treasury to take out a few items for my own protection? I plan to explore Dragon City a bit and want to make sure now that I am fully recovered nothing unexpected happens.¡± The girl next to my side seemed to be a bit surprised at first but very quickly answered my question. ¡°As the Young Master of the clan, taking out one or two items won¡¯t be a problem, as long as you are not trying to take out precious artifacts, I don¡¯t think anyone would mind.¡± Nodding to that I motioned for both Hua Hong and Hua Ping to follow me as I made a trip through the massive mansion. This was the first time that I left the backside of the building itself as well as its many courtyards and for the first time I was able to properly gauge the main building in all its splendor and glory. Innumerable statues of dragons, wall carvings and paintings decorated every single hallway while leading towards the center of the mansion. Just from this alone it was clear that the wealth of the clan was ¡®vast and unfathomable as the sky¡¯. One thing that did confuse me a bit was that I only saw this display of luxury and art in the main building. Compared to all of this, the area I lived in with both my maids looked like a broken down and neglected shack. As far as I know only I lived at the back of the mansion, as if the previous owner of this body had done some kind of unimaginable deed and was exiled out of the comfortable and pristine environment into the back of the mansion and out of sight. Did this have something to do with the intrigue that I smelled before? Possibly. Until now something like this didn¡¯t really concern nor did I mind it, the few clan members I had met still treated me with respect (Li Fen not included) so why concern myself with this at the moment when I still have this mansion as a place to sleep and eat at? I had a feeling that if I started asking questions I would only ¡®invite calamity¡¯ so why not ignore it for now and first increase my own strength as well as resources a bit before I investigate? The moment I entered the main building I also saw the guards that stood at nearly every corner or along the walls of long corridors. They wore a complete set of blood red armor, the design of it all clearly inspired with a dragon in mind. The entire thing looked like the scales of a serpent, overlapping at different parts and providing good protection to the most vital areas. A full helmet covered their entire head and only 2 vertical slits left room for their eyes to see. No matter how many we passed, not a single one ever turned his head to glance at us as we passed them and just silently stood in place, protecting their assigned post. For someone from a modern era, this sight was more than a little fascinating and I was tempted to try to get some kind of reaction out of these unmoving statues. In the end though I decided not to infuriate the guards of the clan unnecessarily and instead ignored them the same way they ignored us. As fun as it would be to get them to break their stoic silence, I currently had more important things on my mind. Hua Hong lead the way through the sheer endless number of corridors as I had ¡®lost¡¯ my memory, so this was a good time to just admire the surrounding area and get a free tour through the mansion. Naturally I tried my best to remember the way back but I probably would have to go through here a few more times to not get lost on my own, this was also the first time that I thought that having maids really did make life a lot easier. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Another thing I noticed was that Hua Hong stuck awfully close to me and even had a grasp on my left sleeve during the entire journey. This blatant action as well as me knowing how she apparently felt about me was enough for me to be in a rather awkward position. On one hand having a pretty girl like her close was pretty nice, and yes that was my lust talking there. On the other, I just didn''t feel that way about her, or at least not yet. Matters of the heart can change and I have to admit she is pretty cute. Thoughts and different desires continued to swirl in my head as we proceeded down the sheer endless hallways before stopping at a rather massive golden door with dragons of all kind etched into it. The entrance alone could be called a piece of art and I examined these unique looking pair of doors, what lay beyond was pretty clear as nearly 10 guards stood beside it and glared at us menacingly. Hua Ping stepped forward, immediately becoming the focus of these nearly a dozen men as she spoke. "The Young Master wishes to examine the treasury and take a common weapon for himself before going outside on important business, please open the way exalted guards of the clan." Bowing towards them once, the glares immediately became softer by a good bit and they seemed to examine my face for ''the span of a few breaths'' before stepping out of the way as two of them pushed the massive gold doors open. "Only the Young Master is allowed to enter." A stout looking man said, his entire frame nearly doubling that of the other guards. My guess was he was the boss around here and even I as the Young Master probably couldn''t afford to say anything back to him as I simply nodded. Both Hua Hong and Hua Ping watched my weak looking figure pass between the massive double doors before a creaking could be heard and the entrance immediately fell shut behind me. Great. Looking around I found myself in a sparsely lit hallway that led deeper into the unknown with no one else visible. Now how the hell are they going to know that I want to go back outside? Judging by the thickness of those golden pieces of art alone not a sound will travel outside even if I knock against them like a madman. Sighing once I resigned myself to my fate (really what other choice did I have?) before setting foot into the tunnel like hallway. Surprisingly enough, the grandeur and decorated walls from before were nowhere to be found, a bit odd considering that this was supposed to be the clan''s treasury. My feet led me in complete silence for a good 2 minutes or so before I reached an open doorway and what I found behind it left me dumbfounded. If you have seen or read about Donal* Du*ks uncle, you will know the mounds of gold I am talking about. The floor itself was covered by a thick layer of coins, most of them golden. Various weapons, artifacts and other things were presented on pedestals that had not been engulfed by this tsunami of wealth yet. I stood there for about half a minute acclimating myself to this slap of richness that I had just been struck with. Seriously, holy cow. Greed naturally started to invade my thoughts but I managed to suppress it with a little difficulty as I kept telling myself that all of this would be mine anyways in the future so no need to take a risk. Although impressive, money was not what I was currently looking for and I would probably guess right that the guards outside would be able to tell if I took anything with me from here that wasn''t a common weapon. I am not sure if I am able to accurately explain this but the feeling of stepping on a road of gold coins is an experience for itself. Knowing that you are treading on wealth that others would kill their entire family for while treating it as dirt felt surprisingly good. I can see how it shapes the character, in a bad way. The room, or better, giant hall I was in seemed to have different sections as the mound of gold coins beneath my feet quickly disappeared and a different view met my eyes. Weapon racks made up the entirety of the left wall and I could see a wide variety of ¡®cold¡¯ and sharp tools of war. Many of them were foreign even to me, someone who had a pretty vast knowledge when it came to ancient or outdated weaponry. Being an avid gamer with no social life can help in that regard. I saw odd alternatives to a morning star as well as cat o'' nine tails, bastard-swords of all sizes next to a few zweihanders (or simply called two-handers but that sounds a bit more boring). Many cultural weapons from earth as well as some that I only ever saw in fantasy games were brought to my eyes as I studied the long wall. It was clear that they were of the common tier that Hua Ping had mentioned before as they were in pristine condition but lacked the little extra, or aura if you will, that the weapons that were presented on the pedestals from before had. Naturally I would have loved to equip myself with a bastard-sword and walk around with it on my back like a certain character (if you don¡¯t know who I mean shame on you) but considering that my new body was weak and honestly speaking quite frail, just lifting it without breaking my back would have been a miracle. I had to take a few things into the equation so gigantic weapons were immediately abandoned from my list of possible choices. Therefore, my next choice were light weapons. Things like daggers, short-swords and staffs seemed to be a solid option and I decided to take a small sword, its length between a dagger''s and an actual sword''s, as my main weapon. Reach wise I was handicapped but as the weapon itself was light as a feather even in my untrained hands, I opted for usability. Next up I put a few interesting contraptions on my body, known as hidden weapons. Hidden weapons were quite an intriguing concept. For example, you could strap a small crossbow with only 3 shots on your wrist, hidden by a wide sleeve and shoot someone while shaking hands, pointing at them or even while the target wasn''t looking. Just as the name implied, most of these things looked either harmless or were hidden on the body, kind of like a certain spy with all kinds of gadgets. Their range was atrocious as their smaller size made accuracy as well as actual damage a problem but on close range these little things could work wonders and were almost always lethal. Surprise was a dangerous advantage as many battles and wars were won that way, it was also one of the reasons why terrorists were so feared as their explosive jacket was hidden by their clothes. Therefore, the element of surprise was a powerful tool, especially with hidden weapons, but once lost their actual use waslimited. Whoever thought that these hidden weapons were more than useful gadgets for self-defense or a quick kill was either mentally handicapped or really just ''had eyes but couldn''t recognize Mount Tai'' (and I think I just burned a certain novel pretty damn hard, oh well). The hidden weapons I took for myself were two small crossbows, one on each of my arms, two pouches with long and sharp needles strapped to my legs and a small dagger that I put in my breast pocket, perfect for when I was reaching for an item someone wants so that I could then immediately throw it. Naturally I had no idea how to properly throw the needles or dagger, even the crossbows made me apprehensive as the idea of one of the bolts accidentally shooting into my own hand was more than a little unsettling but having the option was better than not having it in my mind so I armed myself with what I deemed useful. The crossbows at least I could try out even here with next to no risk as I shot a few bolts from different ranges. It took 20 shots against a poor wooden beam and nearly five trips back and forth to collect the bolts as well as get the right technique together with the best range to use them down. It seemed that everything above 10 feet made the small bolts highly inaccurate and when I tried to shoot at a range of 20 feet the bolts lost a lot of power, making them too weak to even penetrate the wooden beam. 5-8 feet looked like the perfect sweet spot and I was glad that the mechanism to activate the crossbows was a rather odd motion of the arm and hand that made accidentally shooting them nigh impossible. Satisfied with my choices and equipped with a small sword as well as plenty of hidden weapons I turned to leave. Reaching the road of gold coins again I was already thinking about my next step before a strange oddity beneath my foot made me involuntarily stop. It had felt like I had stepped on a small rock but all I could see was the usual gold coins with faces and creatures engraved into them that were foreign to me. Putting my foot down on the same spot as before, I once again felt like I stepped on something other than gold coins. With wrinkled brows I bent down and started to dig through the mound before my hand touched a completely round and cool orb. Looking at this rather strange object in my hand that had interrupted my stride I couldn''t help but wonder if it was one of those ''heaven defying miracle treasures'' that would help every MC on their path to greatness. Considering that this world was a badly written Xianxia story and this object had been hidden and neglected in the treasury, the chances were pretty damn high. Already knowing the drill, I unsheathed my sword and cut my finger so a thin line of blood ran down my hand. All I can say is that those MC''s from other stories who constantly do this or bite their tongues for some blood are bat shit crazy as even this little cut hurt like hell. Have you ever tried to cut yourself on purpose? It hurts a lot more than doing it accidentally as your entire focus is on the pain that you will soon enough feel, making it even worse. Seriously who came up with this entire ''spill your own blood to awaken the treasure'' bullshit, ever heard of diseases and infections? Nonetheless, despite my inner dialogue, I sprinkled a few drops of blood on the strange black orb in my hand before putting the still bleeding finger into my mouth, saliva is a good way to stop infection if you have no other options and I didn''t really trust the clothes I was wearing when I remembered that washing your hands after coming from the toilet was a foreign concept here. Soon enough the black orb in my hand started to tremble (what a surprise, guess it is not just a useless little orb) and a cold feeling crept into my arm. This rather numbing experience made me drop the damn thing straight away as I had no idea what it really did and remembering that it could very well be dangerous or even lethal filled me with regret. I watched the small black orb tremble and turn on the gold coins like a spinning top before a voice suddenly filled the room out of nowhere as the orb came to a sudden stop. "Tell me your name young one." Unsure who or even what I was talking to I stayed silent for a while before responding with a complicated expression. "This one is called Li Jun, may I know which elder I am speaking to?" Judging by the masculine voice, I guessed that I was talking to a male but you never know, it could have been a very masculine female too. "You may, my name is Li Zhang and I am your great grandfather as well as ancestor of the Li Clan. My time is limited dear grandson as the power in this sacred object has stored my soul and knowledge but the strength in your cultivation and blood is too weak to fully awaken me. I can gift you a certain cultivation method with which our clan and especially you will soar into the heavens like a dragon among men. What say you dear grandson? Don''t forget to speak quickly as I can already feel myself fading!" The words of my supposed grandfather naturally didn''t really surprise me as they were similar to what I had expected. He was one of the ''dead cultivator giving MC legacy and knowledge'' plot points. Neither original nor unexpected and honestly speaking, a bit disappointing. The voice promised a lot, but for what price? Pardon me reader if you want me to accept this literal deal with the devil but let me remind you of a few things here first before you make your judgment on my actions. I had no evidence that this person or whatever it was really was my great grandfather, he could be lying to my face right now and I wouldn''t know as I had given him my name first so taking my last name (which was the Li in my name by the way) and just making something up to coax me into agreeing was the simplest thing in the world. Now the next issue I have with this is that I was pressed for time, the explanation he gave me made sense as cultivation and blood always went hand in hand in Xianxia stories so him being awake thanks to those small sprinkles of blood could very well be true but it was also very convenient for him as it gave me little to no time to think about this and any other man would have agreed right away, blinded by the promised glory and strength. And the third problem that I had was this. Say he really is my great grandfather and he has a cultivation method and gives it to me, what does he get from it? Let''s assess the situation. The soul, or being or whatever you want to call it is stuck in that orb, willingly or not that is probably a fact. Now what would you do when you are stuck in a small object for who knows how long? You would want to get out. And how do you do this as an incorporeal thing that probably can''t survive outside the orb? You take a body. Now what better specimen is there than one that you have nurtured and made ''fat'' yourself? It could very well be that this cultivation method would not only would make me stronger but also possible possession easier, so this ''Li Zhang'' would not only gain a young and strong body but also without much trouble. Do you see now why I think that this is a deal with the devil? Good, at least you are not as dumb as you look. Returning once again to the matters at hand I quickly and without even thinking about it for too long turned around and ran out of the room, leaving a stunned black orb behind. "W-wait grandson, where are you going?!" "Getting away from you! Do you think I am brain dead or something?! Who would believe anything you are saying you body snatcher! Have fun rotting in that little orb for a few more thousand years!" I screamed back into the room with a wicked smile on my lips. "Unfilial grandson! Come back and prostrate yourself before me right this instant!" The orb shouted but I noticed with another smile that the volume of its voice was already growing weaker. At least not having much time turned out to be true, so without giving the thing another look I stormed out of the treasury while leaving a wailing and angered ''ancestor'' behind. Now you might ask yourself, why was I so incredibly rude to a possible super expert in cultivation? Well normally I would never dare be that bold but which strong expert who had the strength to reprimand me would need my help or possible body? Not only that, I was probably the only person in a long time that knew how to activate the orb, judging by the fact that it was neglected and forgotten in the treasury, so whoever it was would not dare to harm me in fear of having to wait for another unknown amount of time before someone else discovered it. The person in the orb probably thought I would be too tempted or arrive at a point in life where I crave strength and come back to it. Considering that I have a lot of other options, this didn¡¯t even make it as my last choice and the unknown side effects put it off the list for me. In the end I quickly dashed out of the treasury and knocked, somewhat frantically, against the gigantic doors that were still closed. To my surprise they swung open nearly instantly, revealing both Hua Hong and Hua Ping waiting for me as well as the previous group of guards. The towering giant and seemingly captain of the bunch gave me a glance before nodding as he waved me through. Even though my rational mind told me that the orb wouldn¡¯t dare to hurt me, it still felt good to put a gigantic set of doors between it and me. Without exchanging too many words I hurried both girls away from the treasury, adamant on putting a good amount of distance towards the place. ---- Next one will come a bit later cause of work, not sure but probably on Thursday. Nevertheless I hope you liked this little chapter and stay tuned for the next one. Have a nice day! [th_113_.gif] Chapter 4 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! ---- Chapter 4: "Everything alright, Young Master?" Hua Hong asked with a worried look in her dark brown eyes as she had latched onto my sleeve again and noticed the increased pace I was walking in. I couldn''t be bothered to tell her to stop doing that as a tiny part of me enjoyed the feeling of her body being pressed against my arm, but what really filled my heart with warmth was the concern that I saw in her eyes and expression. Her sudden feelings still felt forced and fake to me but the way she was looking at me now was proof enough that she at least somewhat cared about my person. "I am fine, thank you Hua Hong." I said with an honest smile, not a smirk or grin, but a real smile. It was amusing to me how her eyes grew wide at the sight of me smiling at her that way and it got me curious as to how my new handsome face looked when I actually genuinely smiled, but that was something for later. While feeling her arm coil itself around my own without another word, I was lead through the mansion by both girls and we encountered more and more clan members on the way. Most of them greeted me with a smile as we passed them but I noticed that the further we walked, the vast majority of them started to look at me with eyes of contempt and some even hatred. This naturally puzzled me. I mean I could understand an intrigue in the clan or two powers fighting for dominance but why then look at me with hatred? I was the Young Master of the clan and not that talented to begin with so there was no real reason as to why they would hold any hatred for me in their hearts, or so it should have been at least but reality was apparently different. This mystery would have to be solved at a later date as sticking my nose into the past or digging at old wounds would only create trouble for myself and judging by the fact that there had been no assassination attempts or a public shaming from the other clan members, I was still in the green. No need to destroy that little bit of reprieve that I have at the moment, right? The surrounding hallways seemed to only grow in height and width the more we traveled towards the center of the Mansion (its actual size probably doubling even a moderately big castle¡¯s). I saw countless young boys and girls running around in their individual groups and for the first time realized that until now, children had been completely absent from my environment. Could it be that all of them lived at the center of the mansion? Keep the youngest close and safe, that kind of thinking? So why then was the back of the entire complex so abandoned? I mean leaving an entire part of where the clan lives completely open and unprotected couldn¡¯t be a good idea so the only other reason¡­ Stopping in my steps I felt the tug on my arm as Hua Hong unknowingly had walked forward while I was already standing still and she was thus held back rather suddenly. Completely ignoring the quizzing look she was giving me I once again scanned my surroundings and reminded myself of everything that I had seen in my short stay. Considering how gigantic this mansion is and how unused and decayed a big part of the back was, only one conclusion as to why that was came to mind. Only someone very stupid would throw out money to buy a place too big for him and his family, especially a clan with already very heavy expenses couldn¡¯t afford that. So why then was this mansion probably 3 times as big and had that many more rooms compared to its inhabitants? Decline. Simple as that. The entire clan was in decline, probably since a long time already and considering the rule of this world, which was the stronger one was the more right someone had to rule over others, the clearer the picture got. It didn¡¯t explain why some hated me but it did show the reason for the disdain and other negative feelings many showed me. I have to admit that I underestimated the cruel reality of this world and have been taking things too lightly. Me being the Young Master of the clan meant that the future and hope of a lot of people rested on my shoulders. And because my talent and cultivation was so far beneath that of those other geniuses, it in turn spelled an even more miserable future for the clan. Could this be the reason they tried to get rid of the previous owner? Was there a spark of hope in the form of a talented individual in the clan at this moment or was I overthinking things? And really, I think I should stop asking myself so many questions. I can guess that it is somewhat annoying for the read- I mean it doesn¡¯t help me to just ask myself constantly, instead I should just act. Yeah that is probably a lot better. Definitely. In the end, not much has changed over this realization, but I was now even firmer in my decision to start sooner, rather than later with finding a way to strengthen myself with all kinds of means, be it weapon or trickery, cultivation or strategy. Everything I could get my hands on right now would only be a positive for the current me. Once Hua Ping guided me away from the center of the mansion towards the front, the amount of people around us once again grew smaller and a few more guards seemed to be present. Other than it taking an entire 20 minutes of walking until we arrived at the gate and main entrance of the Flamedragon clan. Just from that and some rough calculations it was clear that this mansion really was monstrous. I mean have you ever heard of a single building being possibly multiple miles in size? That is just ridiculous! If I remember the amount of money just a single small house or even flat cost back in my world it makes the hairs on my body stand on end. Every single inch inside a city and especially in a big one can be equivalent to pure gold and you are telling me that the clan owns a couple of miles as well as guards and a fully furnished jumbo sized mansion on top of that? I know it is annoying, but comparing the rich from my past life to the Flamedragon clan is like ¡®the difference between heaven and earth¡¯. The figure alone is probably astronomical; it makes me wonder just how big Dragon City in turn really is. I mean I was told 100 miles but was that really it? Did they count the buildings of commoners with that or only the mansions of the rich? Only with this do I now finally feel a slight excitement inside of me as we approached the massive iron gate. Before, it had been because the girls came up empty but now it was curiosity that drove me forward. I already knew (well assumed) that this was just like the Xianxia novels I read so the world would naturally be somewhat similar, it was basically all about getting stronger and cultivating like a lunatic or recluse. That was one side of it. The other was about keeping face and possible sexism that could only offend any feminist to death. I mean seriously, I know it is the ancient times setting and all but it¡¯s either girls getting taking advantage of and nearly being raped or¡­ well them getting raped. Maybe a few schools and factions who only had girls in them (why exactly again? Because they are purer and more ¡®suitable¡¯ for a few special arts? Seems like a load of bull and more like a supreme Playboy amassing a harem to me to be honest) existed but it was always a small portion as women were mostly portrayed as the weak and feeble kind. Can a cultural difference really make such a¡­ well, difference? I mean, just thinking back at the fire as well as character some of the women back in my world had makes me want to run for the hills. Honestly, they can be a lot more terrifying than males if you ask me, but enough of that. Other than that, concerning the settings of the Xianxia stories, it was all about getting revenge, taking things way too seriously and temper tantrums of the MC. Kill or be killed, give face or don¡¯t, pretty much search for as much trouble as you can and get out of it in a violent way or die trying. That is what this world was (supposedly). Bit primitive don¡¯t you think? Yeah, I had the same thoughts. Anyways, back to matters at hand. We reached the nearly 20-foot-tall metal gate with engraved dragons and a few strange looking symbols that seemed to only serve a decorative purpose but were still rather impressive and sure as hell expensive. To both sides of the gate, guards wearing the same blood red scaly armor that seemed to be typical for the Flamedragon clan had lined up in neat rows, giving off a rather imposing and intimidating picture. I could feel more than a few gazes land on my person as well as the girls as we passed between the unmoving men that stood there like eternal guardians. Just from this it was clear to me that they had a pretty high degree of training. The gate itself was currently closed and even for me the Young Master of the clan, it would not be opened. Instead we would go through a normal metal door that was to the side of the gate which was also heavily protected but used more casually by the clansmen. The gigantic gate was supposedly only opened for big festivities or when people from other clans or even more important guests came to visit. That was at least what Hua Ping told me as we approached the door and I had no reason to doubt her words in that regard. Finally stepping outside of the clan and leaving the gate as well as wall that had been my home behind I was able to get a good first look at Dragon City. Just from the polished stone beneath my wooden sandals that shimmered like a mirror as well as the highly dressed up women and men that passed us in the street it was obvious that this was a rather wealthy and luxurious area, which was only natural considering the clan¡¯s mansion behind us. The surrounding buildings were all mansions in different sizes and forms but just from a quick glance it was clear that this was a residential area and one for the rich and influential on top of that. Temples, highly decorated Palaces and incredible Mansions that spanned for miles were all around us as we walked through the wide marble streets. Jade lamp posts that were lit during the night for ample lighting even at a late hour sprinkled the different roads between each home and countless carriages pulled by horses and other strange creatures passed the girls and me. ¡°Would the Young Master want to hire one of the carriages for a quicker journey?¡± Hua Hong asked me at my side while pointing to a congregation of different carriages that reminded me of the taxis of my previous world. Shacking my head with a smile I replied with a ¡°no need¡± before passing those expensive looking horses as well as carriages that would only draw unwanted attention. ¡°How much money do we currently have?¡± I asked out loud without looking at any of the girls in particular. Considering that they were my personal maids and therefore responsible for all my needs they naturally also took inventory of my financial situation. ¡°Young Master, your father has given us an entire 15 Gold coins for this month in celebration of your recovery so you currently have nearly 37 Gold coins to spend on whatever you want.¡± Nodding my head, we continued in silence. I half listened to the noise and chatter around us while deep in thought and soon enough had a pretty good idea of what to do first. Turning to the ever so charming Hua Hong that was still taking my arm as her own possession I asked the first real question of importance. ¡°Where do you normally buy your Makeup?¡± This simple inquiry soon enough turned out to be quite troublesome. ¡°This one has no idea what ¡®Makeup¡¯ is Young Master, is it some kind of special ingredient or weapon?¡± Nearly tripping and falling to the ground after this ridiculous question of hers I steadied myself and was about to open my mouth and ask her if she was joking but quickly shut it again after I noticed the look in her eyes. Now that I think about, neither Hua Hong nor Hua Ping were wearing any Makeup¡­ This could be a problem. Not only were they absolutely gorgeous without it (you wouldn¡¯t believe how happy that made me on a fundamental level to not see their face being caked to hell with cosmetics) but it seems that the idea of Makeup had either not made itself apparent in this world yet or it was simply known under another term. Hoping for the later I once again posed my question, this time a bit differently. ¡°The young princesses and rich girls normally dress themselves in fine clothes and use various things to make their faces look even more vibrant and prettier than they already are, do you maybe know where I could possibly buy those ¡®various things¡¯?¡± This was the last straw, if even this didn¡¯t make a click in her memory then I was a bit screwed. Seeing the sudden light in her eyes as well as face during my more detailed question I could only thank the gods that this everyday product I knew well and hated more than a little seemed to at least somewhat exist. ¡°Ah, please forgive this one¡¯s little comprehension for not being able to understand the question. Young Master wants to buy face powder and lip balm from one of the Alchemist shops?¡± ¡°Yes that is right, maybe a few other things too but that is what I meant. Do you think you could show me the nearest, what was it, ¡®Alchemist shop¡¯ in the vicinity so that I could ask the shop owner a few things?¡± Judging by the fact that Hua Hong only listed two basic products I could tell that the idea of Makeup in this world was very limited and I immediately had an idea how I not only would be able to fix the little problem I seemed to have run into but also how to make some quick money as well as advance the cosmetic industry. ¡°Hua Hong knows of an Alchemist shop not far from here as well as a market place where the Young Master can look at a lot of different things, it is not far.¡± The girl responded with a bright smile and hastened her steps slightly while pulling me to a different direction. It took only a few minutes for our surroundings to change once we walked this particular way as the marble road visibly deteriorated slightly and the residential area around us changed into a business driven one. The people around were still dressed in expensive clothing but the buildings were no longer as extravagant and instead focused more on the products that were on various displays. Weapons, exotic food, cultivation techniques, nearly everything could be found in this market area. I was shocked to see strange creatures that turned out to be low level ¡®Magical beasts¡¯ that could be bought as well as slaves of all ages which could also be purchased. The first I could understand but the idea of slavery made me feel sick to my stomach and I could only avoid my eyes in guilt. The despair and emptiness I saw in these people made me once again remember that this was not my previous world and that there were different rules in place. It was the kind that someone who had grown up in a safe and more civilized environment could only despise and look down at but in the end would not be able to change. Even though it was cruel I could only ignore this kind of dark business for now. I am not na?ve enough to think that everything would be good and fine if I just bought all the slaves present and gave them a good life. The horrors they went through would never disappear and just because some would be able to maybe get a bit of human dignity back, the core of the problem, that slavery was an accepted idea of business here was still there. Even if I tried my hardest to appeal to people, my current position was too weak to make any impact. It might be a bit heartless to say this but humans are in essence not kind creatures. If there is profit to be made by enslaving a few others of our kind, we would do it without batting an eye and those that protest would be taken care of as money made the world go round. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. To those that I passed today, the ones who suffered under this dog eat dog world I was now in I could only silently vow to make a difference once I had acquired enough power, but this day was not now. As sad and cruel as it was, I needed to keep a low profile and buying a ton of slaves or making a ruckus would probably get me killed. Even though it disgusted and saddened me, for the moment I could do very little to change the mindset of the people living in this world. One thing was sure though, should I ever need people to work for me, now that I was aware that there were so many suffering under the thing called slavery, I naturally knew who I would hire in the future. Hua Hong and Hua Ping on the other hand only showed a quick glance towards those half naked and despairing figures before letting their eyes wander to other things which somewhat appalled me but I could on the other hand understand it. They grew up with the idea of it all so they were naturally used to it and knew that if worse comes to worst they would end up in the same situation. A cruel but very motivating reality, call it a horror that would make you run for your money and never disobey your superior. In a way I could only admire those that had established these inhuman rules as fear had always been the best if not most useful way to keep the masses malleable and obedient. The girls and I made our way through the now packed groups of people as the market area was a lot more crowded than the previous wide streets of the rich residential area. It took me a good bit of evading and elbow bumping to finally stand before a small but expensive looking shop. A sign above the door showed a sickle as well as tea-leaf, after asking Hua Hong I found out that this was the acknowledged sign of an Alchemist as well as Alchemist shops in general that sold all kinds of strange ingredients and potions for cultivators as well as non-cultivators alike. One only needed the right amount of coin with an Alchemist and that was all that mattered. Inside, a hodgepodge of items filled the shelves and small tables that made up the middle of the entrance room. Just glancing around gave me the feeling that this was the right place as I saw countless herbs and potions together with strange minerals as well as random objects piled up next to each other with price tags on top of them. ¡°Welcome to my humble shop esteemed customers, what may this lowly one do for you?¡± Said a middle aged man with a goatee as he walked towards us from behind the counter. ¡°Well, let¡¯s say I have a business proposition that will increase your income by a good amount.¡± I said with a smirk, ignoring the surprised looks of both girls as they had expected something completely different, not this. Seeing a glimmer in the man¡¯s eyes as he looked me up and down in my rather bland looking and simple outfit, I could see a scowl make its way to his face. It was easy to guess what he was currently thinking, I looked rather shabby compared to the other people in this area and was a teenager so why believe my words or take me serious? Letting out a small sigh I held up my hand and stopped him from even saying anything as I knew it was only going to be trouble anyways to argue. ¡°Alright, forget that. It is obvious from your look that you do not believe my words so just ignore it. I would like to buy a good amount of face powder as well as lip balm, all kinds of colors or materials from which said colors can be extracted, animal fat and beeswax if you have that in stock. Next I would like to buy a good bit of smooth fur from a small animal, an ounce of horse hair and that should be all I think.¡± Rattling off this rather strange list I could see a hint of doubt on the man¡¯s face as he once again looked me up and down. ¡°Alright, just let me get said items and please wait here, I will be right back.¡± Nodding and already turning my head, I no longer paid attention to the man. If he didn¡¯t want to make an enormous profit, then I was not going to argue with or force him. Your loss, not mine. Looking at all the different items around I couldn¡¯t help but get a bit curious. Was there a chance of a treasure being hidden here that only someone like me who knew the rules of Xianxia stories would be able to find? Although I would like to say that I found some kind of incredible weapon or rare mineral, maybe even a strange object that isn¡¯t from this world, but that sadly wasn¡¯t the case. Everything that I touched and looked at seemed more than ordinary, some things like parts of Magical beasts were interesting but far from anything useful so I just moved on. I also couldn¡¯t just slit my hand and spray each item here with blood as that would have given rise to a whole bunch of questions from the shop keeper as well as the girls so all I could rely on was my sight and touch. In the end I only found two interesting items, the skull of a human that had been dipped in some kind of molten ore and shimmered with a dark sheen together with an uncut ore that even the shopkeeper had stated as an unknown. Both were rather cheap as their uses were more than a little limited and unknown so I decided to add them to my list of things that I would buy. Any kind of weapon displayed here was of no use and not needed in the first place, I had the ones hidden close to my body as well as the visible short sword but one could dream right? Damn, I really have to get a better grip on my greed, after seeing that treasury things have been getting a bit out of hand. Shaking my head to dissipate thoughts about bagging the entire store with the authority of the Flamedragon clan, I instead waited for the shop owner to hand me a bag. After scanning it once I found everything that I had asked for and added the ore encased skull as well as unidentified chunk of metal. ¡°Pay the man.¡± I said with a nod towards Hua Ping as she had been the one to answer the previous question about my monetary situation. Just like expected she pulled out one gold coin seemingly out of nowhere and handed it towards the now stunned shop owner. From his expression alone I could tell that it only now dawned on him that I was probably a rather rich young man, despite my plain clothing. ¡°This one asks for forgiveness for any rude comments from before, I was not aware that my shop has been graced with a visit from one of the clans.¡± The man said while clasping his hands before handing Hua Ping the change. Considering that the various mansions where not too far away from this little shop and my payment in pure gold coins that basically no one paid with I could understand the connection this shop owner had swiftly made. Still, color me surprised that I finally found a quick witted person. Now I know that was a bit mean but it sadly was true in case of the Flamedragon clan. As much as I like my new father, sister and maids, not one of them gives me the feeling of being able to converse about deeper matters or meanings, but neither does this shop owner to be honest so there goes that. Maybe one day I shall meet my fated one with whom I can talk about the meaning of life and how big the average Johnson of a male in this country should be. One day. Concentrating once again on the here and now after tuning out without a warning, I motioned for Hua Hong and Hua Ping to follow me and we exited the Alchemist shop. Next up on my list of things that we would need we visited a store that sold various clothing and I picked out different colored outfits and made sure they were baggy so they would hide the form of the body while still retaining a proper fit. I also purchased 3 bamboo hats for me and the girls before renting a room in a nearby tavern. I could feel the confused looks of both Hua Hong and Hua Ping as we entered the room, arms full with various items that made little rhyme or reason at first glance. The first thing I did was tell both girls to change their clothes into what I bought. I naturally left the room during that time as it was true that I had seen them naked before but this was the least bit of human decency I could give them, right? Next up I told the girls to leave the room so I could change and I swear to god I saw Hua Hong look a little sad at that. Seriously girl, you are not missing much. After that I put the items that we had bought from the Alchemist shop on the table and asked for a big bowl of hot water. Taking my short-sword as a tool, I shaved away as much hair as I could from the pelt that I had bought and threw the now patchy leather in the bowl. It didn¡¯t matter much if I missed a bit but considering that the hair on the pelt was of a different color compared to the horse hair, I naturally had to get rid of most of it. While I waited for the leather to heat up so it was at least a bit easier to cut I started working on extracting color from a few plants and mixed them together. Next I added some animal fat to get a soft and skin colored paste that I left inside a spare bowl for now. Both Hua Hong and Hua Ping watched me work with big eyes and it was clear that they had never seen something like this. I have to admit that I did mess up a few times as it was also my first time doing this, but thanks to random internet searches I had a general idea. Finished with the animal hide and paste for now, I went to work on the trickiest part of it all. ¡°Alright, both of you stay here for now.¡± I said to the girls as I had no intention of showing them what I did next. It would be very embarrassing alone but if people I knew watched me I would only feel like an idiot. You are wondering what I am talking about dear reader? Well pine trees of course, duh. Now I know this doesn¡¯t answer your question just yet but bear with me as I am currently busy in climbing one of these suckers while various people all around me are pointing and calling for me. As this was the richer part of town, various streets had trees growing in the middle or to the side of a house, giving everything a more natural feel. One of these mentioned trees was a pine tree, the only one of its kind I have seen and probably rare around these parts as I had not expected it either. Nevertheless, essential for the plan I had in mind. After slowly making my way up the thick stump with both of my arms straining for any little bit of grip that I could get, I finally saw my goal. Sticking to the outside of the bark, just inches away from my head was a tiny opening out of which pine resin had previously spilled out of. I still tried to ignore the crowd that had started to gather around the pine tree, intently watching my every move while calling out and asking what I was doing from time to time. After hacking away at the rather sturdy bark for a good minute or so with my short sword, I finally saw the first drops of the precious liquid that I was looking for running down the tree. Once again sheathing my sword I coiled my legs around the tree (I can only thank the gods that now that my body has recovered, it is a lot stronger than my previous one) while letting go of the bark with both hands. The only thing that held me in the air were my legs that were shakily clinging around the tree as well as my stomach muscles but I could feel the pull of gravity all too well and knew I had little time. Pulling out a small bag that I had bought just for this occasion, I was able to gather enough liquid resin as well as the solid form of it called rosin. My legs had cramped some time ago so the way down was more than a little uncomfortable but I managed. Questions from the various people around me were ignored and avoided as everyone wanted to know what I had been doing up there exactly. Only after 2 sharp turns while sprinting a bit was I able to leave everyone who had seen me work behind. My leg muscles and stomach were killing me but I ignored the pain for now and made my way back to the tavern the girls were in. I had only been away for half an hour but they still looked glad to see me again, which I could understand. Should anything happen to me while they were not with me it would in turn cast a very bad shadow on them. For the next part I ordered for Hua Ping to get the owner of the tavern and paid him an entire gold so that I could use his kitchen for a few hours, undisturbed naturally. I was aware that I probably paid the man way too much but it didn¡¯t really matter to me at the moment. Heating both rosin and resin in a pot I waited for the rosin to dissolve as that was essential, but smoky step. Using a piece of cloth as a makeshift filter I was able to extract nearly all impurities and was left with a yellowy liquid. Adding the beeswax that I had grated down before soon enough created a mix that was both sticky and hard when it cooled down. I essentially just created the first glue in the history of this world and yes I had asked both girls before if something like that existed but they could only deny it. This naturally begged the question how a lot of things were held together here but that was something for later. Having moved everything I had been working on from the room to the kitchen, I next up cut the hide into 3 oddly shaped pieces with a big hole in the middle of each of them and smeared the outer part with my glue mix. The horse hair was added soon enough and I was left with 3 rather hairy pieces of hide. Handing the fake beards I had just created to Hua Hong I explained to both of them that I had been working on disguises for all of us and told them to apply the paste and put on the fake beards. Their obvious question as to why this was needed in the first place I skillfully dodged by telling them that one could never be too safe. The real reason being that I knew the laws of Xianxia stories and wished to search for a blacksmith in peace. One thing I should mention is that both girls could also be the trigger in inviting trouble and not me, which was why I made 3 disguises. This was also the first time I was contemplating if having natural beauties as maids would bring more trouble than it was worth, but in the end it wasn¡¯t their fault so I couldn¡¯t really hold it against them. What I could do was reduce possible danger by using these disguises though. Anyways, enough contemplating for now. We returned to our room and I told the tavern owner that I was done. He actually asked me somewhat afraid if I wanted my gold coin back, as I had only used a little over 20 minutes to finish my work but I decided to decline, more to keep him quiet about this rather strange request than anything else. The final result after caking our faces in make-up as well as gluing the fake beards on and donning the outfit together with the bamboo hats made us look like 3 elder men that were new in town. Perfect. ¡°I don¡¯t like this.¡± Hua Ping soon enough said after being in full disguise and her high pitched voice was a weird contrast compared to how she looked right now. ¡°You don¡¯t have to like it but wear it for today and make sure to talk only when I tell you to, both of you actually. Your voices do not match your appearance anymore and that could prove as dangerous, should we attract the wrong attention.¡± I told her with a stern look and she thankfully did as she was told. Hua Hong on the other hand didn¡¯t voice any complaints whatsoever and instead stared at me with big shining eyes which were starting to creep me out a bit. Clearing my throat and trying out different voices, I soon enough settled for a raspier version of my own god given one which fit my current appearance pretty well. ¡°Alright, time to find ourselves a blacksmith.¡± Hot damn, I was starting to like raspy me. ---- Hope you liked the chapter, next one will be a bit after the weekend as I am away but stay tuned as I will try my best to deliver as soon as possible! :GG: Chapter 5 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! ---- Chapter 5: Touching the fake hair on my face, I couldn¡¯t help but once again feel deep admiration for the Young Master. Ever since he had woken up, his entire being and mannerism had changed. Where he had been befuddled and confused before, he now treaded confidently and steadfast. Every single strange action and decision he had made in this past week had stunned me and my sister and I have already lost count of how often we had exchanged glances between us over the course of this short week. His pure and honest complexion that he wore now was so different from the old, cold and uncaring one of before. I didn¡¯t want to even think it, but it really felt like he was no longer the old Young Master after all. The Clan Head had told us to keep an eye out for the Young Master and especially his actions but this¡­ was beyond anything me and my sister could have been able to anticipate. My ¡®advances¡¯ towards him in an attempt for him to open up and tell me about what had changed seemed to only fall on deaf ears. Honestly speaking, I hadn¡¯t been too happy at first that the Clan Head ordered me to seduce the Young Master but it was my duty so I did as I was told, but this¡­ this was not what I expected. Even now I could still feel the lingering warmth from his hand in my own and despite the training, my heart started to flutter whenever I looked into his eyes. I couldn¡¯t describe what it was but deep down in my heart I was sure he was no longer the Young Master but someone different, someone more. If this was a good thing or not, even I couldn¡¯t tell but a part of me wanted to once again feel this warmth in my hands. A part of me wanted to follow this new Young Master and see what change he would bring to the world. Looking towards Hua Ping my dear sister, I knew she felt more professional about all of this. It was a mission from the Clan Head and she would see it through, no matter what. I had been the same, just like her but it sure is strange how things could change in only a week¡¯s time. ¡­. Is it a good or bad thing when things go exactly like you want them to? I mean on one hand I was happy that we had managed to avoid 3 possible dangers already, one of which in the form of a rowdy mercenary group that was harassing girls left and right even when they were only slightly pretty. On the other hand, it felt like I was cheating, just a bit at least. It was pretty clear to me that I should have run into at least some trouble at this point but thanks to the disguises and my careful coordination we managed to ¡®avoid calamity¡¯ quite a few times by the end of the evening. Not only that but we had met countless blacksmiths and nearly all of them had pointed us in the same direction, a guy named Zhan Feng. Supposedly he was not right in the head, which suited my needs quite well. A shame really that we would have to postpone our meeting until tomorrow as it was already starting to get dark now and he lived on the other end of the city, so quite far away. I also showed the ore and encased skull that I had picked up in the Alchemist shop to some of the blacksmiths and merchants that we met throughout the day but no one had a clue what they were, except terrifyingly hard metal in both cases. This was also the first time that I witnessed an iron hammer disintegrate into dust after coming into contact with a skull, which instantly turned the object in question into my most dangerous weapon as well as prized possession. Seems like I did pick up something quite interesting indeed even though I still had no idea what both items were good for, but that was something for later I suppose. It had been a long day and my legs were hurting quite a bit at this point. One part was because of my climb up the tree and the other was the hours of walking we did. Both added together made for an unholy amount of muscle pain and I couldn¡¯t wait to hit the sack at this point. The disguises held up without any issues too so we would be able to use them again tomorrow. It took us a good while to once again reach the richer living areas of Dragon City. Mansions and Palaces surrounded us now and guided by the ever so helpful girls I soon enough found myself before a familiar golden gate again. The fake beards and clothes we previously put away in an inn, not the same one as last time but it didn¡¯t really matter. It was quite handy that the guards immediately recognized and opened the door for us as they obviously knew who I was. Me being the Young Master of the clan saved us the trouble of having to wait for a clansman to confirm our identity to the armored men protecting the gate. Quite a convenient thing really but my mind was somewhere else at the moment, as all I could think about was my bed. Before this wish for a nice relaxing sleep could be fulfilled though it seemed like I had other things to take care of, judging by the 10 or so clansmen that had surrounded us ever since we returned. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± Hua Ping asked, understandable concern audible in her voice. One man, wearing long garbs and posing an arrogant expression stepped forward and it was immediately clear that he was the leader of the group. ¡°There is no need to worry, I am only here to invite the Young Master for a private chat. That is all.¡± The smile he showed us was probably supposed to be a warm one but his eyes betrayed those actions. They were ruthless and calculating in nature, my guess was that much the same could be said about the man¡¯s character. Even though I was tired and hurting all over I had to play the part so I put an arm up before Hua Ping and took a step forward, masking the limping in my stride as best as I could. ¡°And who might you be senior brother?¡± My question was dipped with a poisonous smile that could melt rocks as I looked at the man. I had watched enough movies in my lifetime to copy the condescending stare nearly perfectly and it was important to not show weakness right now. We were still standing quite close to the golden gate and the guards around it, although unmoving surely had an ear perked in our direction. For the moment at least I was safe and considering I had no idea who I was speaking to or why he had an entire group following him, it seemed like the best idea to stay arrogant and ignorant of everything. This at least would be expected from a Young Master. Better mask my true character as best as I could than let a possible enemy know he was actually dealing with someone quite capable. ¡°This one¡¯s humble name is Li Khan. It seems the rumors concerning your memory loss are true, Young Master. I naturally had no idea and wish you a quick recovery as we are all worried about your health.¡± I found it a bit annoying that he practically gave me nothing to go off, only his name with that little explanation. Judging by the shark grin he had given me when he wished me a quick recovery, I knew that I was dealing with someone who was not happy with me or my existence. There was only so many people I could have pissed off in the time that I had arrived in this world and I decided to try the most obvious choice. ¡°I am guessing you want to discuss things about Li Fen?¡± Li Khan¡¯s name didn¡¯t ring any bells at all but it had been a hunch that turned out to be true soon enough. ¡°My son, yes indeed I would like to talk about him but as I said, in private.¡± The way he dismissingly waved his hands towards Hua Hong and Hua Ping showed that he was used to giving orders and not taking no for an answer. Just from that I could see that I was probably dealing with an elder of the Li clan or at least someone in the upper echelons which made sense considering that Li Fen had been arrogant enough to antagonize me. He had thought himself safe from anything because of his father¡¯s status. Well, don¡¯t mind me trampling over this kindhearted father then. ¡°Senior Li Khan I have to apologize but today is not a good day. It is already late and I am too tired for any more discussions. Not only that but my body is still weak so I will need even more rest. It was my mistake to forget the time on my stroll outside but you will have to forgive this blunder as the young generation is quite foolish. We will discuss about your son another time.¡± The last part I had said to cut off any avenues of approach he could possibly use to entice or coerce me into going off alone with him. It was clear that he wouldn¡¯t kill me inside the clan or do any serious damage but thinking back to various poisonous pills that could be used to blackmail someone, I felt no desire to be in arm¡¯s reach with this guy. One thing was for certain though from the stone face he was giving me now, Li Khan was not happy. ¡°The Young Master is naturally right. It is late and you must be tired after a long day so enjoy your rest and we will have our talk at a later time.¡± His words held none of the former fake joy or warmth from before. Instead they sounded forced and displeased to the extreme but there was little he could do, at least for now. I knew that if I tried this same excuse again he would no longer be as lenient with me, it still seemed like a good idea to have some backup like my father with me when talking to this guy. It was just a gut feeling but I tended to listen to it whenever I was walking on dangerous territory and Li Khan screamed danger. Call it me being a coward (which I was) but I didn¡¯t want to find myself alone and in a bad situation this early on. It was clear as day to me that the power of cultivation that I was wielding right now was barely enough to be counted as average. If I wanted more support from others and less trouble from multiple sources, I would have to get stronger. Well at least that would have been the case normally. Thankfully I had a quick mind and rather sneaky plans. I had the intention of wielding the strongest power known to man, a power that made everyone bend his or her knee. Naturally I am talking about the power of money. What else did you expect? I would bring some of my ideas on the market and gather resources as well as allies that way. Another thing I would have to look into soon would be the other clans in Dragon City. Just from the way Li Khan had treated me it was clear as day that I was no longer absolutely safe even inside the clan so although I had a disguise, I couldn¡¯t rule out the possibility of danger that was now creeping around me like shadows clinging to the edges of a flame. If I was able to build friendly relations with another clan or even multiple ones then I would be a lot safer, especially if those relations were with future clan heads or promising youths. Everyone always said that personal power was the most important thing in the cultivation world but at least in the low to mid-levels the power of a clan or family would get you a lot further and keep you safe. Connections could yield an astronomical profit and if I could sell my ideas to another clan and on top of that under the name of some minor figure I would then be able to elevate not only that person¡¯s status but in turn hide my involvement in it too. The more mysterious I was, the better. If I was able to nurture another future Clan Head, he or she would eternally be in my debt, making my survival a piece of cake. This naturally was one of many little plans that I mentioned before. Pretty sweet, right? Now I know what you might be thinking dear reader, why not make myself be known as some kind of inventor or genius in another field? I can give you the perfect answer. No matter where, if you are a prodigy in something or even slightly good, there will be people who are jealous or hate you for it. Some could even go as far as sacrificing their free time in an attempt to make your life that little bit more miserable. Don¡¯t believe me? Well I would like for you to look at what the internet has turned into over the years and tell me that I am wrong. Go ahead. Tell me that what I am saying is complete bullshit and that there is no way that something like that could happen, especially not in a Xianxia world where someone kills another person just because they didn¡¯t like what the person said. Am I being too paranoid yet or can you now somewhat understand why it is that I am taking each step so carefully? I could feel Li Khan¡¯s stare following my back as well as the looks of his goons and only after entering the back of the mansion, which was my own personal domain, did I feel at ease. Hua Hong who was once again holding my arm prisoner had naturally noticed how stiff and alert I had been this entire time and gave me a reassuring smile that I found quite cute. Looking into her dark brown eyes and admiring the beauty that was her face with its elegant curves, edges and nuances I couldn¡¯t help but get lost. It took me a while to notice that I had been staring at her for what probably was more than a minute by now. Judging by the way she was avoiding eye contact and the slightly red color of her cheeks it was clear that she had not expected this sudden turn of events. Well neither did I to be honest. My guess was that I was just too tired which made me lose track of what I was doing. The tight grip I normally had on my mind was starting to slip and I knew all too well that it could potentially end bad if I wasn¡¯t careful. I had neither the time nor energy to start a relationship with someone I didn¡¯t even love. Sure, the girl was cute as hell and prettier than all my past girlfriends combined but my desire to pull her into my arms stemmed from lust, not anything else. Taking a deep breath helped clear my foggy and tired mind as I steeled myself for what came next. We entered my room and found it just like how we had left it, but that had not been my reason for concern. It was the way Hua Hong looked at the bed we would both be sleeping in. The combination of longing and embarrassment on her face as well as her fidgety hands that were pulling on my sleeve made my heart heavy. ¡°I am going to take a bath and Hua Hong; this time please don¡¯t come in when I do.¡± I said to her while turning around rather hastily. Just remembering the previous episode of her entering the small room I used to bath and wash myself in while wearing barely anything at all made my little Johnson twitch in his restraints. This reaction alone told me that I had work to do as staying too horny in a young body like this could only spell disaster. Leaving the girls to their own devices I picked up a peach colored towel and left to take said bath. I decided not to waste too much time and only stayed for half an hour in the soothingly warm water before I returned. The hallways in the mansion were normally well lit and only at the back where I lived was there an absence of that at night. Thanks to my bath, the sun had now fully set and it was night. Making my way back to the room proved to be quite a hassle and each step on the squeaky floorboards sent a shiver down my spine. I knew that if Li Khan sent someone, even just a half disabled assassin after me at this exact moment, I would probably fall victim to the guy, just because it was so goddamn dark and I kept bumping into walls. Many minutes of stumbling in the dark later could I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. The door to my room was open and light fell through it into the hallway, making it easy for me to once again find my way. I hastily closed said door behind me and locked it as I entered the room before turning towards my bed. Rest was the only thing I wanted at the moment but the view of a naked thigh that was popping out between the blankets nearly made my jaw drop. I had dreamt about it sure, seen her body too but looking at the alluring way Hua Hong was currently lying in while wearing practically nothing made me gulp. Her unblemished and plump leg was exposed to the air, part of her gown had slipped down exposing a rippling valley that moved up and down with each slow intake of breath. She had her eyes closed and arms nestled to her side, making it seem like I had just walked in on her sleeping, which I did. Honestly speaking it was kind of obvious that both girls would be asleep after a day like that. They had taken a quick 5-minute bath and then jumped under the covers, compared to my half an hour scrub and relax bath. Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. All I could currently see of Hua Ping for example was a ball of blankets that moved from time to time. I had naturally fantasized and feared as well as kind of hoped for another seduction attempt from the girls but seeing them like this now, so innocently asleep and unaware of the thoughts I previously had about them made me feel a bit like an asshole. In the end they were normal 16-year-old girls and not sex addicts or crazy in love with me. They had wanted a bed and some rest just as badly as I did and even though Hua Hong looked mighty sexy right now I felt no tug in my groin or heart to try anything. All I could do was smile and laugh at my own conceited mind for labeling these two as something that they were not. As the last one still awake it was my responsibility to make sure we wouldn¡¯t burn to death during the night so I made sure that each light in the room was extinguished before making my way towards the bed. Plopping myself down beside Hua Hong as gently as I could so that I wouldn¡¯t wake her from whatever dream she was having I looked towards the wooden ceiling, deep in thought. After only moments the pain inside my body and fatigue started to overwhelm me and my eyes closed all on their own. I needed sleep, badly and it was time to stop fighting it. Despite my worries and assumptions, my fears and predictions, at least for now the girls and I were safe. ¡­.. It really is strange how fast some people can grow on you. Just looking at Hua Hong¡¯s pretty face, only inches away from mine after waking up once again reminded me of that. Despite my now very real worries about the wellbeing of the girls and my own safety, I never used to think like that. Sure I was worried about an ex-girlfriend but more along the lines of her cheating on me than anything else. Even my own family I never really worried about. I guess that is the curse of advanced civilization. I used to live in a world that leaned so heavily on social constructs and the invisible thing that we call the law that I forgot about the simple thing called surviving. Now, ripped out and dropped into another world with different rules, more primal ones at that, I was left with not much choice but to immediately think 7 steps ahead. A lot of bad came with this change but despite my moaning about many things, I can¡¯t help but think that I gained something quite valuable in return. The ability to care. Such a simple thing really that I and many others had lost. Back on earth, a world I always until now associated with home and good things, this ability to care was stripped from me. Be it the media that numbs you to the pain of the world on a day by day basis, be it others that constantly pressure or let you down. Everyone expects you to do something, anything really and you are forced to attend classes, work at jobs and do things that you couldn¡¯t care less about. No one ever really asks you what you want to do. Sure there are the few that know or are able to pursue their goals, but as I said, those are the few. Disappointment after disappointment, one more person letting you down, even you letting yourself down. You start growing numb. To yourself and others. It is a slow process sure but I for one felt it happen. I let it happen. It is after all easier to be numb than to care. When exactly was it that I started to care about Hua Hong and Hua Ping? Because for the life of me I cannot remember when it started. All I do know is that I am glad I can feel like this again. Maybe it was the combination of imminent danger as well as an unknown world but I was more than thankful that these 2 always stood by my side. Sure, it was their job and they were trained for it but for me it was more than that. My ¡®father¡¯ in this world left me pretty much on my own and explained very little, even my ¡®sister¡¯ visited me only twice but Hua Hong and Hua Ping were always there when I needed them. I am not arrogant to the point where I am unable to admit it, but it was in truth those 2 that helped me keep it together. And I am not talking about major emotional support or advice, I am talking about them simply staying by my side which is a lot more than you might think. At least for me it is. Lost deep in thought like this for many minutes I didn¡¯t even notice that Hua Hong had already woken up and was currently quietly looking at me. We exchanged a long stare, both lying next to each other without either of us saying anything. It was I who broke this quaint silence. ¡°I want to thank you for everything you have done for me. You and your sister helped me understand a lot when I was alone as well as confused. Seriously, thank you.¡± I could see that she was somewhat surprised but after a second she simply nodded and accepted this heartfelt thanks, albeit still confused as to why it was necessary in the first place I guess. ¡°You sure are soft hearted in the morning, Young Master.¡± A voice said from across the room and when I looked over I could see two eyes shining from beneath a pile of blankets. It seemed like Hua Ping had heard what I said which was good since it concerned her too. ¡°Sometimes showing your weaker side to people you trust can help strengthen your bond as well as understanding of each other by miles. Anyways, enough of that, let¡¯s get to work. We got a busy day ahead after all.¡± Giving Hua Ping a crooked grin I stood up and felt the blanket shift, slipping off my body and to the floor. The surprised shriek behind me right after that made me whirl around alarmed, but instead of any danger I only saw Hua Hong staring at my body with big eyes. I naturally followed her gaze and soon enough found out what it was that had surprised her like that. The usual shirt and loose pants I wore to go to sleep hung in tatters from my body. Not from any fight or struggle but from something even more mindboggling. My body had been weak and thin ever since I woke up with barely enough strength in it to walk. This naturally got better over time and thanks to the previous cultivation my body was actually a lot stronger now than my previous one had been. So what was it that was so incredible that Hua Hong kept staring at me like this and I was left completely speechless too? The answer was muscles. I had a lot more muscles now, and I mean A LOT. My biceps alone grew nearly 4 times bigger and had ripped through my sleeve like it was paper. Rock hard abs, the kind you always dream about and see on the cover of a magazine I now called my own. My entire frame had nearly doubled in size and when I stood up I could tell that I had grown more than a few inches too. ¡°What the hell?!¡± Was all I could say as I looked at my now transformed body. I know, very insightful indeed but you have to forgive me for genuinely being shocked. It was easy to accept that I was reincarnated into a different world and even the Xianxia theme I could dig and understand but my body changing like this without any warning? That was something I had not expected or even thought of once, so I think it is fair to say that I was way out of my comfort zone. Throwing her blankets away in a whirlwind, Hua Ping appeared nearly instantly beside me and started to touch and squeeze my muscular and ripped body with an open mouth. I could tell that I was not the only one who was thoroughly stunned as Hua Hong soon enough joined in on the touch and feel trip her sister was on. Only after some time did both girls realize what they were doing and especially, to whom. ¡°F-Forgive us, Young Master¡± Hua Ping stammered ¡°we just couldn¡¯t believe our eyes.¡± I waved it away like one would normally a fly and started to do pretty much exactly what they had before, touching my body all over in awe and confusion. This was my own body and even I couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°Could this be a blessing of the gods or some kind of curse?¡± Hua Hong asked aloud puzzled while keeping her eyes on me and following my every move. ¡°I don¡¯t know either but I don¡¯t feel bad and a lot stronger now so I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a curse. Whatever it is, there has to be some kind of explanation to it otherwise-¡° Cutting myself short my eyes started to focus on my legs which had grown incredibly powerful to the point where each muscle fiber could nearly be seen wriggling beneath my skin. An idea came to mind, and it was one coupled with hope as well as uncertainty. If this guess turned out to be right it would answer a question I have had for a long time now. Without a word I left the room with hurried steps as I rushed towards the pond and courtyard I had visited many times by now. Hua Hong and Hua Ping exchanged a wide eyed glance before running after me. It didn¡¯t take long until I arrived at my destination and immediately sat down on the ground. Despite what you might think I was leaning against a wooden post as sitting cross legged was not something my untrained and stiff body was able to do. My tendons were just too stiff despite the cultivation in this body. Nevertheless, I closed my eyes and felt for the energy they called Qi. Even now I had no idea what it was, many theories existed in my mind but none made a lot of sense. What I found when I actively looked for it was a small ball of flame, at least that is how I saw it in my mind. This flame flickered in a dark and seemingly endless space without any sound or wind nurturing it. Only when I noticed how much smaller it was compared to when I examined it before did I start to understand. Following my intuition as well as train of thought I tried to move this flame but failed. No matter how hard I tried, I just wasn¡¯t able to do what Hua Hong had told me about the clan¡¯s cultivation method, but that wasn¡¯t what I was trying to do at the moment. Once again reassured of my inability to cultivate like this I stood up, eyes still closed. This time I tried to remember the feeling from yesterday and if you still don¡¯t know what I am talking about, I mean my climb on the tree. Thanks to the crowd that kept distracting me during my attempt to collect the resin I barely even noticed the flame burn inside of me, helping me in hanging off the tree with only my legs. Despite my stronger body, I should have been unable to succeed in a feat like that. A lot of things had been on my mind at the time so I didn¡¯t give it a lot of thought but now, pressed for answers and with a changed body I was forced to find out the truth. Standing there with my eyes closed I stepped forward while taking in a deep breath. After my 3rd step I felt the flame inside of me quiver. It took a lot of active concentration, even with a simple thing like walking and I couldn¡¯t help but feel mesmerized that I had done this unconsciously before. I tried to guide the now moving flame through my body but what happened next left me stunned. The cultivation method that Hua Hong explained to me talked about nurturing the flame by letting it run through the body and burn impurities, both as fuel to help it grow as well as to cleanse the body. These set paths were mysterious and there were many innumerable ways to go, just like in those many other stories I have read. It was always dismissed as being too complicated so everyone always only followed these ¡®manuals¡¯ without ever changing anything. Who created them or when these cultivation methods came into being, no one knew and why no one experimented with them was never really touched upon. My guess had been that it was some kind of unspoken taboo and no one questioned it (more like unused potential by the authors). It didn¡¯t help that I had no idea how those many Qi paths ran throughout the body so understanding the cultivation method would be more than a little difficult. What I did understand though was human biology. I knew how air was inhaled and oxygen delivered with our bloodstream. How we exhaled carbon dioxide. The exact number of bones in the human body for example was forever burned into my mind thanks to a very strict biology teacher and I knew each organ like the back of my hand. I was equipped with incredible knowledge that had been accumulated over hundreds of years and absorbed by me through a thing called forced education and for the first time ever did I feel thankful towards this hated system. My mind was incredibly focused at this moment as I inhaled while moving and thanks to that I noticed something. Together with the air that entered my lungs, small particles of what I now knew was Qi entered my bloodstream. After going through my body once they started to drift towards the void inside of me and joined the small flame, I didn¡¯t need any more explanations or confirmation to understand. I breathed in deeply and concentrated on those particles while increasing my pace into a full on sprint. Naturally I had to open my eyes now to see where I was going but my mind was still focused on those bits of Qi. Those bits circulated through my bloodstream like always but before they had a chance to join the Qi flame they started to dissipate inside my leg muscles, absorbed thanks to the sprinting I was doing. Even the Qi flame flickering in my chest itself was starting to slowly shrink as my body demanded more and more oxygen to keep going and it was clear that oxygen and Qi were somehow tightly bound to each other. Only after nearly 15 minutes of pure sprinting around the pond, my Qi flame now shrunk down to a small glimmer of red, did I stop. My body was a bit sore and tired but more than anything else I felt the brimming power that was stored inside my muscles. A smile, small first but gradually growing bigger started to appear on my face. I had a general idea now how cultivation worked in this world and how my knowledge about many things would help me turn this system upside down. The silent looks I was getting from both girls as I stared at my own hands like a madman who had just found a murder weapon were ignored for now. Clenching my fingers to fists I finally looked up. ¡°I need a new set of clothing, big enough to hide what happened to me. After that I need to look at some martial art techniques of the clan that I can borrow to train in. We will go find that blacksmith another time. For now, I would like to focus on training my body.¡± I could see that they were both curious for answers which I couldn¡¯t give them, not yet at least. If my hunch was right then what I was doing right now, the whole fusing my body with pure Qi thing would be viewed as blasphemy. Everyone else started their journey of cultivation by slowly accumulating Qi until it got to a point where it would naturally bleed over into the body, strengthening it passively while the amount of Qi would keep getting bigger. Many different methods existed but that was probably the basic concept for nearly all of them. The level ¡®Body Enlightenment¡¯ itself was called like that because it would be here where the body would grow stronger, increasing strength, speed and apparently even the lifespan of a cultivator. What I was doing thanks to my knowledge of the human body was different. I skipped level 1 and 2 and went straight for 3, a shortcut of sorts. The downside to this would naturally be me having a lot less Qi to use compared to another cultivator of the same level but if I could make my body strong to the point of it being monstrous, why should I fear Qi attacks? A new plan was drafted inside my head and this one would go along with my many others. I have said this before but personal strength was far from enough. More was needed to stay safe in this world, of that I was sure. At least now I had a way to defend myself, something I had been worried about quite a bit. And if this turned out to be more than just a convenient way of making my body a bit stronger then I might really have a chance during the competition of the Clan Gathering in 7 months. But that was something for the future. Right now, it was time to start training. ---- Hope you enjoyed the Chapter, bit busy with real life at the moment but I will try my best to push these out just as fast as before. Leave any love or questions down below in the comments! I wish you all a wonderful day/night! :goodjob: Chapter 6 (NSFW!) As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! So I am back again after my little break, was a bit busy with real life. ---- Chapter 6: One thing I did notice was that concentrating was needed to properly absorb the Qi that existed in the air. Sure, it would travel through your body and end up with your internal pool of Qi naturally and on its own but over 90% of those small particles would dissipate in the void around the flame, without any rhyme or reason behind it. Only by concentrating could you increase your absorption rate and that included both body as well as internal Qi. This ¡®void¡¯ that I am talking about many of you should (hopefully) know. I am talking about the middle Dantian, the center of the body and connection between the lower Dantian near the gut and above your genitalia as well as the upper Dantian in your brain. There are countless theories in Xianxia stories about these 3 key locations. Some state that low cultivation is in the lower Dantian and slowly moves upwards as the Qi as well as body improves, inching ever so slowly towards immortality. This is also how this world views it as far as I could gather from Hua Hong¡¯s explanations but for some reason things were different with me. I barely even felt this lower or upper Dantian and the only thing I did have some control over was the middle Dantian, which as stated before only had a small flame inside of it. Currently it was only a glimmer thanks to the absorption of my body and I had a general idea that It would be bad should this flame ever go out. What exactly it represented, I wasn¡¯t sure but going by gut feeling alone it would be bad if it was sniffed out. Who knows, maybe this flame even represented my life force in itself which would mean I had chipped a huge portion away, just to strengthen my body. Quite an insane thing to do looking back at it, but considering I knew how to strengthen it again by absorbing outside Qi I wasn¡¯t too worried. After a quick talk with the girls I sent Hua Ping to get the basic martial art manual that each and every one from the young generation starts with while Hua Hong guided me through the mansion and to the East side of the complex. This was generally where training of all kinds as well as contests between clan members took place. We passed a few elevated stages where young and old sparred with each other, some of which ending with more than just a few bruises. Just watching these people do gymnastics and movements far beyond what I would call humanly possible sent a shiver down my spine. Can you imagine an 8-year-old and scrawny girl smashing bricks with her head alone? Because I just passed one like that and she scared the hell out of me when she gave a coquettish smile towards us as we passed her, pieces of hardened clay still stuck to her forehead and all. ¡°Makes one wonder how you and your sister were brought up in this crazy pl- OUCH! What was that for?!¡± I asked, rubbing my now hurting arm where Hua Hong had pinched me. It was quite a sight to see her normally shy face now tinged red from anger and her kind and big eyes squeezed to slits, accompanied by a wrinkled forehead. ¡°I thought I was the Young Master of the clan and you my servant? How can you just pinch me like that?!¡± My voice was dripping with fake confusion and sadness while a smirk still clung to my lips. ¡°I am starting to understand the new Young Master more and more. Normally I would never dare to do something like that but after spending 1 week in your exalted presence I am beginning to forget my boundaries, please forgive this lowly one.¡± The way she had said the whole thing while glaring at me together with the sarcasm in her voice cracked me up more than it should and a laughing fit took a hold of me soon enough. I couldn¡¯t help but wonder where the quiet and submissive girl went when I now looked at this sharp tongued servant of mine. Her frown quickly disappeared after seeing me laughing like that and I let her once again hook onto my now hurting arm. ¡°Say what you want but I like the way you are now a lot more than the previous distant fa?ade, so don¡¯t hold back when I am rude again, ok?¡± Hua Hong simply smiled at my words and nodded which was enough indication for me that she had more than understood. Shortly after this little episode we reached a quiet courtyard, devoid of any other person. It had wooden training posts used in trying out techniques, strength focused equipment with all too familiar dumbbells in different sizes that took up a big part of the courtyard as well as a bumpy running track that was probably used to test your speed and reflexes. All in all, not a bad place to test your limits when starting out. Which was exactly what I was currently doing. I was a complete and utter beginner in cultivation, training the body or mastering a martial art. This needed to change and fast too. I valued my own life too much and knew that this was a needed necessity in this world if you wanted to stay alive. Until now I had shoved it away and told myself I would do it at some later point and time but now that I actually had an idea of how to start cultivating, I naturally had to also train my body. Trust me, as someone who has avoided any kind of physical activity for years just thinking this in my head is hard enough for me. As I said before, I didn¡¯t have the mindset of becoming the best, all I wanted was some reassurance that I could stay alive when things went downhill, that was it. ¡°I brought the manual you requested, Young Master!¡± A voice echoed from the entrance of the courtyard and when I turned I found a slightly panting Hua Ping standing there, grasping a wooden scroll in her delicate hands. The idea of books or even paper still had not been invented which was good for me as it left another avenue open to making money, but on the other hand it also left me with a major problem. One of the reasons why I had Hua Hong explain the cultivation method of the Flamedragon clan by voice was because I found out that although I could understand everyone, whatever script they used to write things down was completely foreign to me. I had a general idea of Chinese characters and how they were supposed to look but whatever this world used, they looked nothing alike. More than anything they reminded me of Celtic runes but this insight didn¡¯t really help me much either. It was clear as day that my reincarnation didn¡¯t come with a built in translator for written words, which was a shame really. At some point and time, I would have to learn how to read, that much was clear, but that moment was not now. Both Hua Ping and Hua Hong knew of my dilemma, being an illiterate and all, they thankfully helped me as best as they could. I had them read out the wooden scroll while alternating between each other as the whole thing was a few hours long, while trying my best to understand everything. It was clear that the scroll itself really was a basic one, used in teaching children about Qi paths and the body itself but that was not what I was looking for. My way of cultivation would be entirely different so whenever one of the girls reached such a part in the scroll I told them to simply skip it. What I did learn from it was how to punch and kick efficiently. Now you might ask yourself dear reader what I am talking about but it is quite simple really. Normally any idiot would know how to punch and kick, right? I mean its basic stuff that any kid does at some point and time, be it on purpose or accidentally. But there is a difference of knowing how to punch and kick someone and doing the same thing without hurting yourself in the process. This is what is generally known as a proper punch or kick, something you train and perfect over hours to make sure that you do the most damage to your opponent while avoiding any injury from the impact itself. There are many different ways to reach your goal and so is there with punching or kicking someone. Nearly every martial art uses a different stance or has a special and unique way of using the body to execute said moves while focusing on different aspects like power, speed or flexibility. The same thing can be said about big clans. Each and every one has its own secrets as well as techniques, honed over the years by members of the clan as well as their ancestors. This particular manual touched upon a certain style used heavily by members of the Flamedragon clan called ¡®Blazing fists¡¯. Its main focus point were Power and Speed while in turn sacrificing any surprise factor or extra movements. The whole thing was made to be as simple and effective as possible. All that was important and needed of the cultivator were Power and Speed. Naturally it had its disadvantages, like nearly everything else. Because the whole thing was so simple, a person who for example knew the style would be able to anticipate your moves with ease, making you look like an idiot and using your moves against you by attacking the gaps between each attack you made. On the other hand, it was an easy style to learn and even I was able to fire out a proper right straight at the end of the day. I didn¡¯t need any advanced moves or martial arts, that was not what I was looking for. All I needed were some basics. That is how I pretty much spent the entire day. Performing the moves I learnt thanks to the girls while meditating and gathering more Qi into my body whenever I felt tired, that was my routine. Something else I found out was that actively gathering and absorbing Qi into the body could elevate muscle pain as well as wash away fatigue which was incredibly useful. I spent most of my time meditating as any prolonged activity put a huge strain on my body, even with my new muscles. It just wasn¡¯t realistic to keep doing the same punch for hours without rest so I didn¡¯t even try to do something insane like that. Thanks to my intensive meditation (which really was just me focusing on absorbing Qi while thinking about other stuff) the flame inside of me was once again just as big as before and I even managed to absorb some of the Qi into my muscles, making them once again slightly stronger. Just by how long it took me to get my inner flame back to normal it was evident that even with the steps I was taking in my path of cultivation, it wouldn¡¯t just instantly make me ridiculously strong, which made sense at the end of the day. I mean even with a shortcut there were still people out there who trained years and years without end, so how could I make the same progress as them in only a day? Remember dear reader that this is still a real world and not just a work of fiction so I can¡¯t just become a god like character in a day, even if I wished for it. Another thing I have to say is that it felt good getting stronger like this but can¡¯t get ahead of myself or even worse, turn arrogant. That was a thing that killed many more people than anything else, arrogance. Never underestimate anybody, not even a child. See everyone as your enemy until they prove you wrong (but even then keep an eye on them). That was the kind of motto that I lived by since a few years now and even more so ever since I arrived in this world. By the time the sun went down I could barely even stand straight. My body and mind were dead tired. The moment I stopped I could feel Hua Hong approach me and before she could even say anything I put an arm around her shoulder and heavily leaned against her, just to keep myself from falling down. My breathing was ragged and my eyes kept losing focus, sweat stuck to me like a second skin and the only reason I wasn¡¯t dehydrated was because the girls had made me drink buckets of water throughout the day. Still, I was at my limit and I knew it. Just mustering up the strength to form a proper sentence took me nearly 10 whole seconds. ¡°H-Help me to the bath¡­ please.¡± Nothing happened for quite a while and only after lifting my head did I see the wide eyes and red face. It dawned on me that leaning against her body like that, my chest pressing against her boob and my groin against her hip, was a very erotic way of standing together. Naturally my reason for doing this was so I wouldn¡¯t fall face first to the ground but for her this position as well as my added weight made for a rather¡­ unique experience. I swear, one day I will kill this author for constantly creating situations like this, just you wait scumbag! After nearly a minute I turned my head towards Hua Ping who was watching us with a knowing smile. ¡°One day you have to tell me what the Head-maid did to you guys that your head is always filled with perverted stuff but that is something for another time. Please Hua Ping, remind your sister of her duties as my servant and get her out of whatever fantasy she has fallen into. I just don¡¯t have the strength for that anymore today.¡± Tired as I was it took a lot out of me to say all of that and already my legs were failing me. Darkness was blanketing around me and only the sensation of a warm and soft body pressing against me from my left kept me from slipping away. When I came to I was sandwiched between Hua Hong and Hua Ping. They were helping me (more like dragging me) to the bath. Even though I knew it wasn¡¯t wise I chipped off a small portion of my Qi flame and sent it through my body. This naturally was only a precaution so that I wasn¡¯t completely helpless but I decided to keep my body limp and without strength, for now at least. In a way I was testing them. I know, cruel right? But you never know and especially I didn¡¯t want to take a gamble. Whatever happened next was on the girls and if they tried something¡­ Alright, I admit I was 80% wishing for something to happen but part of me was still suspicious of them, I swear. Trust was not something I could just give out anymore, it had to be earned. Whatever happened next while I was ¡®helpless¡¯ was on them. We arrived at the bath that I usually used without any issues. It was a bit closer to the center of the mansion which was why the servants of the clan cleaned it on a daily basis and made sure to keep the water warm at all times, even when it was barely used. Simply hanging a small red shield on the door told everyone that it was in use, so you wouldn¡¯t be disturbed. When Hua Hong and Hua Ping brought me in and put me on a small wooden chair while locking the door behind us I was close to stopping my act. For the simple reason that I knew what was going to happen next. If I kept playing the ¡®exhausted¡¯ Young Master role they would be forced to undress me and that was something I was not looking forward to. Despite my interest in their bodies that they showed me willingly, I still knew what shame meant. After a short but intense inner battle I closed my eyes and let out a small, defeated sigh. Sacrifices had to be made and if I wanted them to be my allies in this world, real ones and not just servants, then I would have to play this little game till the end. I guess what made it all a bit easier for me now was that my chiseled body barely even reminded me of my own anymore. Gone were the fat and lanky frame, instead I now looked like the dream of every girl, that much I could tell from their hungry eyes. It was quite amusing to watch their expressions change with every inch of skin they uncovered. Soon enough my upper body was bare and only my pants remained. I was slumped on the small chair, my eyes barely half open but even so I was able to study their eyes and faces. It was both uncomfortable as well as interesting to see their gazes wander over my bursting pecs, inflated tri as well as biceps and metal hard abs. Every slow breath I took moved my chest up and down, muscles unconsciously tensed and relaxed, I was sure it was quite a show they watched and only when their eyes wandered down did I feel out of my depth. Despite all my calculations as well as theories, Hua Ping was the first to reach for the hem of my pants. ¡°H-Help me lift the Young Master.¡± She whispered, completely entranced by what she saw and did. I could see Hua Hong throwing a wary look towards her sister before approaching me and pulling me up. Her grip beneath my armpits was steady and despite my weight she never wavered. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Feeling the cloth leave my hips I couldn¡¯t help but close my eyes somewhat bashfully, now really wishing I was out cold and not wide awake for this part. ¡°By the Gods¡­¡± This small whisper finally managed to wake me up again from my muddle-headedness and my eyes snapped open. Following their gaze, I felt myself internally stop as if hitting a roadblock. I am sure you can imagine it by now but we were all currently looking at my genitals, or at least what had happened to them. Previously, my only scoff as well as disappointment with this new body was that ¡®it¡¯ was a lot smaller than before. Understandable, as my now eastern features as well as younger body had little to nothing in common with my old one but still, my manly pride was obviously a little hurt. Now however, ¡®it¡¯ had obviously grown considerably thanks to my special way of Qi absorption. I dare even say ¡®it¡¯ had never looked more majestic and imposing but I could have very well been imagining that one. What I did not imagine however was that the size did clearly change, and that drastically. Our gazes were fixed on this strange phenomenon for quite a while and the girls apparently didn¡¯t even notice that my eyes were wide open. Deciding that now was not the time to blow my cover I half-closed them again and waited for their next move. Which didn¡¯t come. For quite a while¡­ Seriously have they never seen a penis before? I mean I could understand some fascination, especially with my big size now, but this was a little much. After nearly 2 whole minutes of awkward silence, Hua Hong and Hua Ping exchanged a glance and finally moved my body towards the water. It felt good to sink down into the warm liquid embrace as every fiber in my body shouted in pleasure. After nearly dropping to my shoulders I finally hit the bottom and the girls let me go while making sure my head wouldn¡¯t slip beneath the surface. Half sitting, half floating in the warm and comfortable bath, I felt my body relax completely for the first time all day. This was what I had yearned for and needed, this bath was my paradise. I could hear the girls discussing something behind me in low whispers but my mind was starting to drift away in this soothing pleasure, uncaring for anything else that was happening around me. That was only until I felt something grip around the base of my little junior though. Snapping my eyes wide open while turning my head to the right I was able to meet face to face with a stunned Hua Ping, one of her arms dipped deep into the water and by the feel of it, the perpetrator that woke me up. ¡°Would you like it if I did something like that with you while you were defenseless or asleep?¡± I asked her, steel in my voice. Similar to receiving an electric shock her hand immediately let go and shot out of the water but not before I caught her wrist. ¡°Forgive me Young Master, please forgive my insolence! We just couldn¡¯t believe it being real, the stories that were told to us as by the Head Maid-¡° ¡°Should have prepared and explained to you what you can and cannot do when someone is asleep, especially when this someone is a person that you serve.¡± Seeing her face grow completely pale I felt a tug on my hand as she was struggling to break free but it was no use. I had her and before this was resolved, I wouldn¡¯t let go. ¡°Young Master, please forgive my sister! It was our fault and we were just curious.¡± Hua Ping¡¯s voice was weak and pleading in my ears. They clearly knew what they had tried was wrong but I saw no regret in their eyes and even now Hua Ping¡¯s cheeks were slightly flushed, clearly remembering what she had just touched. Despite everything that was going on and the slight anger I was feeling, I would be lying if I said I didn¡¯t expect something to go wrong. Considering their age, inexperience with this sort of thing despite their supposed ¡®training¡¯ and the world we now lived in, I couldn¡¯t fault them for falling prey to curiosity and a little bit of lust. Even I was not sure if I could resist Hua Hong¡¯s charm for example if I had to gently undress her and then put her into a bath. Still, in a way I was a little disappointed that Hua Hong hadn¡¯t stopped her sister as she was the one that claimed to be in love with me. If she had put her own arm into the water I would have been able to understand but sending her sister to do it instead was somewhat, strange¡­ Nevertheless, punishment was in order and that was something I had been looking forward to. The whole entire reason why I had been hoping for something to happen was so I could pay them back in turn. I liked to have a clear conscience but at the end of the day I was also a man. Holding on like this, with two beautiful girls so close to me and hormones guiding nearly every thought, it was more than a little difficult to stay sane. Now however I had an excuse to go a little overboard, not to the extend of my dream (I was not a beast after all), but I would still have a little bit of fun. Trying my best to mask the dirty smile that was about to appear on my face I instead managed to pull off a grim version of it as I pulled Hua Ping closer. Showtime. With a cold gaze I let my eyes wander over her body without restraint, mild disgust visible on my face. ¡°I will give you a choice. I am going to let go of your arm and when I do, both of you start undressing and join me in my bath. That will be your punishment for your actions. Should you once again go against my will and not follow this order then I will be forced to maim you both while afterwards selling you off to the guards of the clan. Choose wisely.¡± The way I had said it all, with a stone cold glare and mocking smile on my face, accompanied by my nearly emotionless voice helped scare the living daylights out of them. Only now, faced with my cruel (and fake) threats did they understand the consequences of their actions, that much was apparent by the silent weeping they were both doing. Honestly speaking, the tears I had not expected considering that they only had one realistic choice to make but I decided to roll with it. Hua Hong exchanged a look with her sister, once again communicating between each other with their eyes, before both girls started to frantically strip. I watched it all with an amused smile while feeling slightly guilty. Looking at the terror in their eyes reminded me that another Master would have done something far worse to them, I at least meant them no harm, despite the little bit of anger I felt. Most of my desire to share a nice bath with them stemmed from my lust. After seeing the girls in the flesh my teenage brain couldn¡¯t stop thinking about it, which was starting to annoy me by now. My hope was that this nice bath together with them, where I would be able to ogle them as much as I wanted to without consequences, would help calm down the rampaging hormones inside of me. Anything more than looking was off the table for me. Not even while giving them ¡®punishement¡¯ would I force myself on them. And no this had nothing to do with me trying to be noble, considering that what I was doing right now was far away from any noble act whatsoever. Me not wanting to force myself on them was one of my moral guidelines that I established for myself when I was younger. You always hear how terrible rape is and that you should never do it, that it was against anything that was good. This constant ¡®rape is bad¡¯ attitude that everyone had was forced down your throat and hammered into your mind by society as well as other people. But only when it happened to someone you loved, someone you cared about would those words truly hit home. I rarely talk about this but one of my ex-girlfriends was a victim of rape when I was younger and seeing her after the event, what it did to her¡­ It didn¡¯t only break her but a part of me too. My views about the subject of consent didn¡¯t come from me being a good person or because it was ¡®wrong¡¯ no, it came from pain and misery. Two things that change how you think about something forever. Despite my lust that was starting to drive me mad, I never thought about doing something to them. Because every time my thoughts started to slip and wander into that direction, I saw the way she looked, the face of my ex-girlfriend and the pain in her eyes. Trust me on this but that is the strongest boner killer that I know and for that I am thankful. At least my eyes had something innocent and nice to feast themselves on, now that Hua Hong and Hua Ping were naked and standing next to the bath. Their faces were still pale and their eyes darted around but they did as I told them without any moaning and entered the water. Silence soon enough surrounded us as we sat in the now small bath, 3 bodies sure took up quite a lot of the already limited space. Thanks to them the water had risen nearly up to my chin and only my face was above the surface now while the rest of body basked in the warmth. I could feel their gazes on me, both fearful and surprisingly enough somewhat longingly. It was time to end this little game though. My previously stern gaze turned soft and a giggle escaped my throat as I looked at both of these beauties that were stuck in a small pool of water with me. ¡°Have you figured it out yet?¡± I asked them, devious joy visible on my face. Noticing that the air around me had visibly changed ever since they entered the bath, a look of confusion appeared on their pale faces. Only after a few seconds did Hua Ping¡¯s eyes grow wide as she realized the meaning behind my words. Her expressions changed in rapid fashion, from scared and confused to astonished, then angered and finally, relieved. ¡°I can¡¯t believe that you played us like that Young Master, really, shame on you!¡± Hua Ping said with a laugh while splashing water towards me. I on my end started to break out into loud laughter, especially after seeing Hua Hong¡¯s confusion. ¡°The Young Master was never serious with what he said, he only did that to force us into the bath.¡± Hua Ping explained to her sister and the same change of expressions soon enough appeared on Hua Hong¡¯s face, which once again made me enter a laughing fit. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you Young Master, have you no shame?!¡± Hua Hong screamed while continuously splashing water into my face, her entire visage a mask of anger. It was clear that she couldn¡¯t just ignore what happened and not take it to heart like her sister, maybe her fear had been too big but seeing her vent her anger on her ¡®Master¡¯ this way was hilarious for me. I couldn¡¯t help it but I soon enough started to splash back and in a matter of minutes the entire bath was soaking wet and filled with small puddles. Believe it or not but I did what I did to free these two of their mental shackles. Looking at them now, faces filled with anger as well as childish glee, splashing water my way showed their true colors and personalities. Even the previous rude grab towards my lower region was a step in the right direction, a sign of progress in my eyes. Because if I wanted true allies and companions in this life, then I needed to get rid of this Master and servant behavior as soon as possible. In name we could be just that, but not in nature. That had been the other 20% with my idea of the bath. To help them break out of their shell a little bit more. But it seemed like my plans were a bit too effective as I could see and also feel Hua Hong kicking towards me in the water, barely missing my family jewels on multiple occasions. Now, faced with a very real threat and danger to myself and my future spawns I had not much to laugh as my options were quite limited. I could leave the bath and escape the kicks that way, but that would be showing weakness and despite my intentions, I did not want to look like a weak wimp before the girls. So what I did instead was jump forward. The water in the bath started to shift drastically as I lunged towards Hua Hong and put an arm around her so that her kicks wouldn¡¯t hit me anymore. It only dawned on me afterwards that she was now leaning into my embrace and neither of us dared to move. The silence that ensued after the splashing and laughter was quite a heavy one. Frozen stiff and unsure what to do we looked at each other for a bit before avoiding eye contact again. Hua Ping just watched us silently, not daring to make a sound as she sat opposite us in the warm water. It didn¡¯t take long until my body relaxed again thanks to the soothing warmth of the bath. Not caring for any complaint I pulled Hua Hong a bit closer so she wouldn¡¯t lean into my ribs too much and closed my eyes in content. I knew that it was stupid to mislead her like this and I could imagine the face she had right now but forgive me for being a bit selfish as I was relishing in her soft body that now pressed against me. Call it momentarily being weak but I just wanted to relax and stay like this for a bit. Just a bit¡­ ¡­. It didn¡¯t take long until I felt the Young Master¡¯s breath grow steady. I couldn¡¯t help but be astonished at the remarkable timing he chose to fall asleep, now that one of his arms kept me close to his chest. Just feeling the intricate play of his muscles work beneath my fingers filled me with slight euphoria and I couldn¡¯t help the slow caressing rounds I was drawing over his stomach. My own chest was pressed against his and a voice inside my head told me that he had done that one purpose, even though I couldn¡¯t be mad at him for that. Honestly speaking, instead of anger or disgust for his actions, I only felt happiness and relieve that he at least liked my body. My heart couldn¡¯t help but flutter every time I thought about how he had pulled me towards him. This alone proved that he was at least somewhat interested in me, and that I had a chance. Allowing a small smile to appear on my lips I willingly leaned even more into his embrace. My breasts felt slightly uncomfortable because of it but seeing the smile that slowly formed on the Young Master¡¯s face during his sleep made it all the more worth it. If my body could help the Young Master, then I would gladly give everything I had an was to him. A few days ago, thinking along those lines would have disturbed or even disgusted me but now it only felt proper and right. Weird how feelings for a person could change your viewpoint like that. With any other person I would be afraid of the changes that I was going through, but not with him. Whenever I looked at the new Young Master I reminded myself of the past few days and could voice multiple examples of leniency and kindness that were so foreign to me and my sister. The incident that happened not long ago, with Hua Ping grabbing for the Young Master¡¯s¡­ thing for example could have turned out bad, very bad actually. Only when he threatened us, which turned out to be fake too, did we realize our mishap. We had gotten so used to the way he acted around us and treated us that we forgot how our life had been not too long ago. The previous incident showed what kind of person he really was. For a man like him it was ok to feel that way, right? That was at least how I tried to convince myself but in the end it was the first time in my life that I experienced this odd sensation in my chest. All I can say is that I enjoyed the touch of our bodies in the water more than anything else in my life. I wanted to pull myself even closer, melt within his arms but I knew to restrain myself, even if it wasn¡¯t easy. The Young Master was currently asleep and even though he wouldn¡¯t take it to heart should I do something indecent, a look of disappointment was not something I liked to see on his face. For now at least I was more than satisfied with the situation and enjoyed the feeling of his strong arm around me as well as our bodies gently pressing against each other. If only every day could be like this¡­ Or could it? ---- Hope you liked the chapter and as always feel free to leave a comment, love reading them. I wish you all an enjoyable evening! [th_aji.gif] (really just wanted to put this gif here) Chapter 7 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! So reading svelric''s comment got me in a pretty good mood so you guys are getting this one ahead of schedule, that means that the next one will come a tad later (haven''t even planned it out properly yet). No need to feel sad though as it will only be delayed by like 1 day or so (not having an actual schedule is awesome I can be lazy and no one will know hehehehehehe- oops). Anyways, enjoy the first fight scene of the story. ---- Chapter 7: The chirping sound of birds and sunshine falling through the paper window woke me. After falling asleep in the bath last night for nearly half an hour, me and the girls quickly went to bed without another incident. I had been too tired to care or feel embarrassed about anything else at that point but remembering it now brought a whirlpool of emotions to the table. Sadly, this moment of contemplation and tender awakening was rudely interrupted by an all too familiar feeling. One I had tried to suppress for as long as possible. Yes, it was finally time to revisit the hellish thing they called toilet in this world. I had tried to resist it, but my bowels were full and so was my bladder. In fear of possibly damaging my body if I kept up this attitude any further, I resigned myself to my fate and sprinted down the hallways, dreading what was to come. Just like anticipated, it was horrible. While erasing the last 5 minutes of my life with a firm mind I once again returned to my room and found both Hua Hong and Hua Ping still sleeping in their beds. Just looking at their slender figures and content faces gave rise to a rather peculiar feeling in my chest. It wasn¡¯t lust or excitement as you might suspect dear reader but a mix of happiness and peace. If they could sleep in every day like this without anything bad happening, then that was truly a life worth living. In a way I was trying to create such a life not only for me but also them. Just because they were my maids, that didn¡¯t mean I wanted them to work themselves to death or take care of me forever. As mentioned before but I saw them as more than just maids at this point. They had a place in my heart, what exactly that meant even I was not sure of but time would tell. Leaving them a note was not an option as I still had no idea how to write or even read, so without waking them I silently packed a few things and let them to sleep. It was nearly 2 weeks of time now that I had been residing in the body of ¡®Li Jun¡¯. During this entire time, both girls had been by my side from the first to the last minute and only ever left to do my bidding. In 12 days they had not taken even a few hours for themselves. Apparently the idea of a ¡®weekend¡¯ or even working hours as well as free time didn¡¯t really exist for them. My only guess was that the working class, so 99% of the population, could not take days off that easily here. A man in power had many responsibilities but also just as many options to take some time for himself. Only those with low status had to grovel and serve each day with a hunched back. Cultivators too were an exalted existence in the eyes of the common people. Only powerful clans like the one I luckily ended up in had the money and resources to properly educate and help young cultivators. Just because you had talent didn¡¯t mean you could just start cultivating. At least it should have been like that. Everyone thought that it was the norm and rarely was there someone from low birth that had not ingrained this common sense deep into their bones. It is like telling people that gravity doesn¡¯t exist even though everyone could feel and see its effects. Others would call you crazy, simple as that. And even if those people tried it, they would constantly have this nagging feeling in the back of their heads while trying to sense Qi. This doubt was constantly undermining their determination and asking them ¡®How could everyone be wrong?¡¯ or ¡®Do I just not have any talents for cultivation?¡¯. Those were not their own thoughts but those of others, heard and absorbed since a small age. It was something they couldn¡¯t help but think as they tried to defy the common sense, only to ultimately fail. Not because they had no talent to cultivate mind you, but because they would simply give up too fast to see results. Trying the same thing over and over while expecting a different result was the definition of insanity. Because they had these doubts deep down while trying to feel this strange energy which they knew very little about, those commoners quickly gave up. I was told that even those with talent needed nearly half a month to consciously absorb Qi into their body. Now imagine doing something for 2 weeks at best and nearly 3 months at worst while everyone you know and love tells you that it will never work. Kind of a bummer to your self-confidence, wouldn¡¯t you say so too? And because every cultivator already struggles enough while competing with different youngsters of other clans, who in their right mind would convince commoners that it was only a matter of time and will? This was one of the first things I learned from Hua Ping, but this knowledge was a kind of secret that could never be told to outsiders. The girls only knew about it because they had to, as maids to a powerful clan like the Flamedragon clan their education demanded it from them. I could somewhat sympathize with this suppression of the masses and general public as murderers or crazy people gaining knowledge to something like high cultivation was a very dangerous thing indeed. Not only that but the cultivation resources of this world were already coveted enough, adding over 200% more people to the struggle would make things only worse. Why exactly the number of people who were cultivators in this world approached 30% of the population no one knew but I decided to simply keep this rough estimate in mind. The sad truth was that here, without advanced technology, commoners were needed. Who in their right mind would want to grow rice or raise animals if everyone would be able to be a mighty cultivator? The answer was not a single one. I detested slavery because it was unneeded even here. However, I did not want everyone to be a cultivator. The dangers such a change would bring with it were just too great. It was like giving each and every person on the planet a gun back on earth, can you imagine that? With great power comes great responsibility (totally not stolen quote) and those words rang true especially here. The second unspoken rule of this world that I learned of was that although low in birth and beneath cultivators, normal people could not be harmed as one wished. This was something I could get behind. I for one just saw them as people but I was pretty sure that other cultivators, those that viewed commoners similarly to ants, simply didn¡¯t want to dirty their hands with something like mindlessly killing, as it was beneath them. If you haven¡¯t guessed it by now but many cultivators were arrogant assholes that the world would be better without, another reason why more of them would be bad for everyone involved. Now back to the topic I was trying to get to. The third unspoken rule of this world was that competition between cultivators was the norm and even killing was not prohibited in most cases, only frowned upon. For example, if I was to kill someone in the Clan Gathering that was still over half a year away, then the consequences would be disqualification as well as some sort of punishment. Pretty light considering I would have ended the life of a young teenager with a bright future ahead of him or her. Now I have no intention of killing anyone, but just because I viewed the world like this, that didn¡¯t mean others would hesitate in turn. This was something I was most afraid of and the reason I had my mind set on training. The morning quickly disappeared as I ran, punched, kicked and meditated. Only when it was noon did I see Hua Hong and Hua Ping appear in the courtyard with slightly red faces. It was evident that they had ran here as fast as possible after waking up and finding me missing. ¡°Young Master, please don¡¯t just leave us behind like that next time. We are your maids and sworn to serve you. Abandoning us like that is just cruel!¡± Hua Hong said with a slightly angry expression. I was sure she tried to hide it but her mask had started to slip these days thanks to my efforts so it was easy to guess her mood. ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, looking at both of you mumbling my name in your sleep while occasionally moaning, I just didn¡¯t have it in me to wake you up¡± I said while showing her a dirty grin. This naturally infuriated Hua Hong even more and her expression turned a shade darker while Hua Ping let out a low giggle and grinned back my way. I could tell that she had a much easier time interacting with me when I spoke like this than her sister Hua Hong. ¡°Nevertheless, I hope that the Young Master will wake us next time, should you wake up earlier than us.¡± Hua Hong¡¯s words and her expression that seemed to say ¡®or else¡¯ didn¡¯t really match together but I just decided to roll with it. Maybe teasing her so that she would flip out in anger and rage was the way to go with her. I put down the iron weight I had been using to train my arm muscles and fixated my gaze on her body while thinking about possible ways to make her boil with anger. The girl in question naturally misinterpreted my staring and after 10 seconds her anger was replaced by something else as she looked away. ¡°Maybe ravaging her body would make her open up a bit more.¡± I murmured, deep in thought but still loud enough so that both girls heard my words. Their expressions were naturally priceless. ¡°Oops. Well, seems I will have to take a different approach-¡° ¡°Young Master!¡± And just like that we had a rather lovely conversation about morals during which Hua Hong¡¯s eyes could have probably melted stone. Am I being too sadistic with the teasing or was this really the right way to go? Those kind of thoughts swam through my head while Hua Hong¡¯s words and anger were completely ignored. I only occasionally nodded or said ¡°I know¡±. ¡°You aren¡¯t even listening to me, are you Young Master?¡± ¡°Nope, not at all.¡± The arctic frost that appeared in her eyes as well as the twitching of her mouth told me that I had said the wrong thing. Alright, I think that was enough for now. With only a few steps I approached Hua Hong and placed a hand on her head while gently caressing her soft and dark hair. ¡°If you keep looking like that you will only grow wrinkles so cheer up, I was only messing with you.¡± The surprise about this sudden action was evident in her eyes but she let me pet her head without a word and stayed silent. Even though I couldn¡¯t properly see her face as it was hidden by her bangs, her overall atmosphere and body language told me that this little trick had worked. Hua Ping silently watched the entire thing with the same grin as before from the sidelines. My mind already went back to training and I turned around so I wasn¡¯t able to see the look in her eyes after my hand left her head. I had an inkling that what I was doing right now was cruel but it was only for the best, at least that is what I told myself every time I overstepped the boundary between the two of us. The next week proceeded just like that. I stood up, trained until night and went to bed. It was boring, tedious and exhausting but I persevered for an entire week. My Qi flame had nearly doubled after all my efforts. I would have had even more Qi normally but I burned nearly 5 times the amount I was now the proud owner of and absorbed it into my muscles. My body had grown even bigger and no matter how much I tried, quite a few of my muscles now refused to absorb any more Qi. Because I had no idea what to do and neither possessed a quick guide for this completely new path I had forged for myself, my only option was to fill every muscle in my body to the brim and see what would happen afterwards. Currently, every upper body muscle and the majority of my lower body had been filled. I was maybe a few days of training away from my goal and my frame had nearly doubled once again compared to before. Now the changes to my body could no longer be hidden by a wide robe anymore as I towered over nearly everyone in the mansion, including the guards. Quite a few people had started to whisper behind my wide back as I ignored their stares. Logically speaking it was only natural that they had grown curious as to why and how the previously frail looking 16-year-old Young Master was now a towering giant. Even with medicines and eating meat every day like a maniac, this kind of change in such a short time just didn¡¯t make sense. Despite my larger body, my consumption of food had not changed much as my muscles stemmed from the Qi in the atmosphere and not proteins that I had ingested. Even I could not make much sense of why this was really happening. It seemed completely illogical considering what I knew about the human body and I would have given a lot to find out and quantify this mysterious thing that they call Qi here but that wasn¡¯t an option, sadly. With heads turning wherever I went, quite a few people started to approach and ask me questions but I evaded them each and every time. It was just like this that someone asked me for a sparring session on the 23rd day of my arrival in this world. I had tried to find the whereabouts of Zhan Feng in the past couple of days, the rumored ¡®crazy¡¯ blacksmith, but that had turned into quite the hurdle. Whatever experiments he was doing in the name of science, I had seen more than one burned down building while wearing my disguise by now. This naturally meant that he moved around a lot so tracking him down while avoiding trouble left and right was quite the hassle. The person in question that challenged me was called Li Shun and he was supposedly at the 5th layer of Foundation Gathering, just like I had been not too long ago. Only problem was that he had probably mastered a martial skill or two since he had been training for a few years by now. Compared to my own training that was all about learning to punch and kick properly, it was laughable. I wasn¡¯t a hot headed guy to begin with and didn¡¯t want to fight anyone this early on so I naturally tried to weasel my way out of this public challenge. ¡°Must we really settle our differences with a fight senior brother? How about we talk about this first? As you know my body is still recuperating and I am somewhat weak and not at my peak at the moment.¡± Just looking at my bulging frame that was nearly ripping through my clothes at each tiny movement I was doing, one could tell that my words didn¡¯t really hold true but maybe looking at my humble smile somewhat deterred the boy. I could probably attribute that to my new frightening height that was nearly double his too but that could have only been me. Now that I think about it, why exactly was he even challenging me anyways? If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I mean for me it was already strange enough but others should be more than a bit intimidated by my rapid transformation so why then¡­ Something wasn¡¯t right here. ¡°Wait a second, I have changed my mind. Let¡¯s go and exchange some pointers senior brother.¡± This abrupt statement as well as change of heart from my mouth stunned everyone in the vicinity and Li Shun¡¯s expression which had previously been a bit arrogant and domineering after my excuses immediately broke apart. ¡°P-pardon me junior brother but what did you say? I think my ears aren¡¯t working properly today.¡± The boy before me asked with a nervous laugh as small drops of sweat appeared on his forehead while his gaze fearfully traveled over my gigantic body. Thought so, someone set this guy up to test me. Good thing I still remembered all those previous Xianxia scenario¡¯s so well from the stories. Not only that but he supposedly was at the same level as me so the danger to my person and body was pretty low, call it cowardice but I wanted to see what the training and cultivation I had been doing these past few days did, without getting injured in the process naturally. Turning around and walking towards one of the empty platforms not far away I threw a look back and replied with a hidden grin. ¡°You heard me senior brother. I accept your challenge to exchange some pointers. Let me see how much you have improved.¡± Did I imagine that or did his knees just buckle a little from my words? My eyes are probably playing tricks on me. Time to see what my personal cultivation technique and previous knowledge is truly worth in this world¡­ ¡­.. Watching the Young Master step on stage, each and every one of his steps silent despite his now changed form and formidable height, I couldn¡¯t help but gulp. I dare say I knew this new Young Master pretty well at this point and was not surprised when he declined the challenge, what did stun me and my sister was the change of heart. The moment he spoke of ¡®exchanging pointers¡¯ his entire aura changed and a chill went down my spine. It was unclear to me what it was but before he was burlier and taller than any other youth his age yet still had a peaceful nature and gentle air to him so I never felt intimidated or scared from this change. Now however looking at his bare chest, chiseled muscles and firm expression, it felt akin to looking at an unsheathed sword. The Young Master still wore the same smile and a similar expression but just the look in Hua Ping¡¯s eyes told me that I wasn¡¯t imagining this earthshaking change. In a matter of minutes, a crowd formed around the stage that the Young Master and Li Shun now stood on. Both young men had their chest bare in this exchange but if one compared the two, calling Li Shun¡¯s build ¡®lacking¡¯ was putting things nicely. I couldn¡¯t help but think that this was more like a child facing against a terrifying Divine Beast instead of just a simple exchange of pointers. ¡°Shall we begin?¡± The Young Master asked after taking a quick look around at the gathered faces. Many young boys and girls of the clan made up the crowd but here and there an adult and even elder could be spotted. Just from that it was clear that quite a few people were curious about how the fantastical change of the Young Master¡¯s body had influenced his fighting strength and cultivation. Before the Body Enlightenment stage, only with bouts or strength assessments would it be possible to see at which stage a cultivator was. The Body Enlightenment stage was the clear divide where Qi would slowly perforate through the body and the more amount that was unconsciously leaked, the more powerful a cultivator was. It was because of this reason that it was so hard to tell what stage someone was at or when they would break through in the Foundation Gathering or Qi Condensation stages. Only the person themselves would have a vague idea as they could clearly feel the amount of Qi that they had in their body. My breath wasn¡¯t able to escape my lungs as I anxiously watched the Young Master take a fighting stance and the paler looking Li Shun obviously did the same. Both young men remained motionless for a moment and one would have been able to hear a pin drop in the crowd surrounding them. Slowly, without making any fast movements, the Young Master opened his right hand and told Li Shun to start with a ¡®come hither¡¯ taunt. This blatant mockery of his opponent let a few chuckles resound in the crowd and a bright red sheen quickly replaced the paleness of Li Shun¡¯s face. It was clear that anger had freed him from the obvious pressure that he was feeling from the Young Master¡¯s gigantic body. Accompanied by a low shout, a blurry figure dashed forward and shot towards the Young Master similarly to the stone that felled Goliath. This explosive speed naturally surprised many people that were watching the battle and an elder of the clan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in surprise. ¡°6th layer of Foundation Gathering! Li Shun has broken through to the next level!¡± These two sentences alone sent a wave of excitement through everyone present and they opened their eyes wide as to not miss even a single moment of the following exchange. My heart tightened as I watched Li Shun¡¯s fist approach the Young Master like a falling meteor. I naturally knew what the 6th layer of Foundation Gathering meant. From the 1st to the 5th, each layer represented a 50 jin increase in strength but from the 6th onwards, it would be 100 jin or more. That meant that Li Shun currently had a strength of at least 350 jin (1 jin is 0.5 kg/ 1 jin is close to 1 pound). And this was only a rough estimate as technique, speed and the use of Qi could multiply this number in a punch easily. To put it into simpler terms, one layer was a world of difference. Not only would one¡¯s strength increase but every other attribute too, including mental fitness and perception. Some high level cultivators could master a martial art in days but a low level cultivator would in turn take years. This was the gigantic gap that cultivation could help you fill. The punch that descended upon the Young Master carried a faint trace of the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯ that were all too common in the Li clan. It was only a small success of the martial art but even that was more than what most youths¡¯ Li Shun¡¯s age would be able to master. Just from that it was clear that he was a talent that would only rise in the clan and remembering the basic movements that the Young Master had been training each day, it sent a chill down my spine. How would he be able to counter a fist that already touched on the principle of a martial art? This question that appeared in my mind was quickly answered. It wasn¡¯t countered at all. I didn¡¯t know if it was because the Young Master could not dodge in time or because Li Shun was just that much stronger but the punch landed on the Young Master¡¯s chest with a resounding thud that reverberated through the hall and I couldn¡¯t help but flinch in pain. Li Shun who, now that his punch successfully landed, wore a delighted expression on his face. He continued the attack with a kick that once again struck against the motionless chest of the Young Master. 4 or 5 attacks landed on the Young Master¡¯s body this way and I was about to rush forward to stop this nonsensical duel when my sister, Hua Ping held my arm to keep me from rushing on-stage. ¡°Let me go!¡± I hissed, anger audible in my voice but only when I heard her next words did I calm down. ¡°Look closely at the Young Master.¡± After mouthing this short but simple sentence she immediately let go of my arm and puzzled I once again focused my eyes on the fighting stage. Despite the distress I felt in my heart as attack after attack hit the Young Master¡¯s body like angry hornets, I calmed my heart and watched the fight unfold. It took me nearly 5 breaths of time to notice. The Young Master currently had a defensive stance and blocked a few attacks here and there but most rained down on him like the torrential rain, a never-ending stream of aggression. Despite this obviously dire situation that would have already left any other cultivator of the 5th layer beaten until he was black and blue, the Young Master showed a completely calm and collected expression behind his guard. Two eyes, similar to a predators watched Lu Shun as he continued his attacks, patiently waiting. The strangest thing was that no matter how much he was hit, not a single sound escaped the Young Master¡¯s throat. I wasn¡¯t the only one who noticed this anomaly, as more time passed, the surrounding crowd noticed this fact too. After nearly 5 minutes, Li Shun stopped dead in his tracks, a look of exhaustion and fear on his face as he stared wide eyed towards the Young Master who still stood with his guard up, just like he had been since the first attack. ¡°Are you done?¡± A deep voice asked and it took me a bit to realize that it was the Young Master who had spoken. It was so very different compared to the calm and upbeat intonation that he normally had that I thought for a moment my ears were playing tricks on me. Was this his real voice? Before I could pursue this thought further another sentence floated into the surrounding crowd. ¡°Well I guess it is my turn then.¡± Following a shake of his body, his right foot charged forward, waist turned and a fist, accompanied by the howling of wind struck Li Shun directly in the stomach. ¡°Uff!¡± This sound was an immediate exhalation of the air in Li Shun¡¯s lungs and rang through the hall before a body shot off the fighting stage and over the heads of everyone present. With a bone breaking crash that resounded in the hall, only the Young Master now remained on the stage and it took everyone a while to realize that the curled up body behind them that was gasping for air was Li Shun. His fist still extended from the punch, a look of surprise was visible on the Young Master¡¯s face for a second before quickly disappearing again. Silence reigned in the hall as everyone was too stunned to utter a single word. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, one of the elders muttered one sentence with a quivering voice that once again sent a wave of shock through the people that were present. ¡°My goodness, 8th layer of Foundation Gathering¡­¡± ¡­.. News about the match and its mindboggling results quickly spread throughout the clan, even though I didn¡¯t like that it did. That Li Shun had advanced by a layer was pushed to the side as not important and everyone talked about only one thing, how my power had leaped up by 3 entire layers. Some speculated that it was the accumulated Qi from when I was in a coma that manifested only now and also said that was why my body had grown so large and obviously powerful. Others simply thought I had a lucky encounter and ate some rare pill or plant while the last bunch strongly believed that my body unlocked some sort of godly strength after waking up. It was simply put a messy situation that I didn¡¯t want to deal with at all. Questions were dodged, invitations declined and I pretty much locked myself either in my room or the training hall that I used. To be honest, even I had been stunned when I saw what a full powered punch after going through the basics for over a week could do. Just the toughness alone from my muscles made every attack of Li Shun feel like a light slap. It was simply out of this world how much my strength had increased after using this new way of cultivation. Only problem was that I was starting to hit a roadblock. With my current progress, I was close to filling each and every muscle to the brim with Qi but what I should do afterwards was a mystery. Alright, I admit I had some ideas but those would have to be carefully tested, to make sure that I wasn¡¯t doing something stupid or potentially dangerous so I had pushed all of that to a later date. Right now I spent my days with training the basic foundations of the Blazing Fists and learning how to read, something that was well overdue. Hua Hong was probably the most patient teacher that I will ever meet and explained everything with a sheer unlimited amount of patience, something I was all too glad she had access to. I tried my best, I really did but it wasn¡¯t an easy hurdle to pass and it would still take a lot of time and effort on my part to stop being illiterate. Simple things like ¡®apple¡¯ or ¡®sword¡¯ were words I could now identify when reading a scroll or text but that was the end of my progress, shameful I know. A day or two passed like this in peace and quiet. But this tranquil living sadly wasn¡¯t meant to last for long as a rather annoying event that included everyone in the Li clan was about to commence. The powerful clans inside Dragon city kept each other at bay, everyone knew that. They contested for power and wealth but also traded between each other, at least the ones that had friendly relations did. The Xu clan, otherwise also known as the Icephoenix clan was one such a force that had good ties with the Li clan. Many marriages between both factions took place every year so it could be said that we were one big family, even though at the end of the day we still only pursued the best for our respective clans. A group of the Xu clan would be arriving to the mansion this evening and everyone would have to attend the banquet that would therefore be held to celebrate the occasion. This was so that the elders of each faction could discuss business while the youngsters of the clan would be able to get to know each other, a win-win situation so to speak. The reason I was unhappy with this? I was forced to attend. Not only that but Hua Hong told me that there was a girl from the Xu clan that had especially asked about me and my condition and was more than a little angry when I had not informed her that I had woken up from my coma. Apparently the former inhabitant of this body had a good relation with this girl and a few of her friends that would also come to visit this evening. I on the other hand naturally had no idea who those people were so it would not only be awkward but possibly dangerous, should they ask too many questions. Not only that but I was also getting sick of giving the same excuse each and every time. It gets tiresome, trust me. Maybe it had a little bit to do with the fact that the girl of the Xu clan was apparently my ex-fianc¨¦ but that was just a small matter, at least that was what I told myself. I am not trying to be mean here but girls almost always meant trouble, especially in a Xianxia setting. It would be better to live without them for now and avoid any romantic relationships, funny thing to say when I was constantly teasing Hua Hong I know but that was different. She was my maid. Those other rich girls were only one thing, unnecessary trouble. Call me a hypocrite but am I the only one who is smelling the flag with this event? I mean I was told the girl was already pissed off with me, that was indicator enough that this was going to be an annoying evening. ---- Hope you liked it, should you have any thoughts or want to say/ask something, just comment below. Always love reading comments ^^. Anyways, see you in 2 or so days when I have finished the next one. I wish you all a good and enjoyable evening! [th_059_.gif] Chapter 8 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! So here is the next chapter and boy was this a joy/pain to write. Hope you enjoy it! ---- Chapter 8: The day went by pretty quickly. I decided to take a break from training and just enjoyed lunch and some chit chat with the girls (although half the reason as to why was because I was simply fed up with gathering Qi, it was an insanely slow and boring process). Over time I learned more about the background of Hua Hong as well as Hua Ping and talks like this revealed quite a bit. First of all, the two of them were basically infants when they arrived at the Li clan. Their house and previous clan had been plundered and burned down by raiders and bandits that frequented the world outside of Dragon city. Laws existed but criminal cultivators without any care for human lives did too. Both girls had no idea what really happened back then but fact was that they had been sold as slaves and were brought up to be maids. It seems that the reason as to why the clan went through such a long effort of providing food and education was so that their servants wouldn¡¯t backstab them. A dog rarely ever bites the hand that cares for and feeds it and the same logic applied in this case. Other than learning customs and preparing for their life as servants of the clan, they couldn¡¯t tell me much else. They had lived a pretty sheltered life but still knew how harsh the outside world could be and how lucky both of them were to end up in this situation, as things could have easily gone a lot worse. With no knowledge of their birth parents and the only familiar love known to them being the one that they shared between each other, I could imagine how their lives had been controlled by very strict rules that they normally followed down to the letter. That also explained why opening up their shell proved to be such a hassle. I knew I could trust them now, but I needed 100%. They had to open up to me so I could be sure that they were my first real allies and people I could blindly trust, no matter what happened. Having read countless Xianxia stories, I knew that if I wanted to survive in this world then I would need at least a few people that would stand with me through thick and thin. For the simple reason that people in those stories either had bullshit luck or were unlucky to the point where even plot armor could barely protect them. And here in this all too real world, there was no such thing as plot armor. One thing that I could tell after talking with the girls for longer periods of time and getting their opinion on a few matters was that they were obviously curious about me. They were closest to me so they experienced the change of personality and my actions first hand. Without a doubt there were countless questions on their mind about me but their shell prevented them from voicing any. When the day came that they honestly confronted me about what happened, that was when I could trust them 100% and also possibly tell them the truth. But that was something for much later as their training seemed to be ingrained into their bones. Seriously, should I ever meet this head maid then I am going to find out what it was that she did to reform these two like this. Because it was starting to piss me off at this point. And no, my mood had nothing to do with that I really just didn¡¯t want to attend the banquet, that would be stupid. Anyways, the day went without a hitch, peaceful and quiet. One good thing about being in a powerful clan was that I didn¡¯t have to worry about money or finding work. It was true that if my strength was not high enough in a few years then I would be a bottom feeder and low person in the clan, but I would still be a part of it at the end of the day. The kind of job I would do would be some kind of management position but no actual labor or proper education was needed for something like that, at least not in my case. And should I stay at the top, well forget working at all. The clan head would invest everything in me so that I could become a powerhouse that would represent and possibly even elevate the Li clan¡¯s position. A dream come true so to speak. As I watched the sun slowly descend while tinging the blue sky in a pinkish color, a sigh escaped between my lips. The banquet was not far away now and judging from the looks that I kept getting from both girls, it would be for the best if I started to get ready. ¡°Is it really necessary for me to attend the event?¡± I asked Hua Hong for the 100th time like a whiny teen while she on the other hand only showed a dry smile. ¡°I mentioned this before but I will gladly say it again, as the Young Master of the clan and because someone specifically asked for you, not attending would be giving the other party no face. An unwise move no matter how one looks at the situation.¡± Was I imagining her tone starting to get annoyed at the end there or was she actually starting to give me some sass? Not dwelling on the matter I simply nodded and grudgingly resigned myself to my fate. If you haven¡¯t noticed it by now, I am the kind of person that likes things to go my way and hates doing something when I am forced to, childish I know but that is me. Getting ready was simple enough. Hua Hong decided that I would need to wear something that represented my status so she convinced (more like forced) me to put on a dark red robe with golden embroidered Chinese dragons. The entire piece looked pretty good on me apparently and was close to a tent in size to fit around my gigantic form. When I looked at my reflection in a pond after washing up and wearing the red robe I could only confirm that it did fit my new body pretty well. It did have one downside though, the entire piece showed my muscles pretty damn well as it was tailored to emphasize the body. Seeing my transformed body was not something I was used to yet and it made me feel a bit uncomfortable. I would gather countless stares this evening and not only because of my increased height and wide frame anymore. To call me male eye candy was not even a joke anymore since the girls were the living proof that my bulging muscles were attractive in a certain way. If I could I would get rid of them to be honest as any kind of attention was a bad thing but because of the way I cultivated now, that was no longer an option. The weapons that I normally hid on my body for reassurance, like the two crossbows that were strapped to my arms, the pouches of needles on my legs and the dagger that was in a breast pocket would have to be left behind this evening. A shame really as I was starting to get used to having them on me and without them I felt strangely enough somewhat naked. While we are on the topic, I did continue my training with these 3 different hidden weapons and have become somewhat comfortable with them. I had increased my previous 5-8 feet shooting range with the crossbows to 12-15 feet. The needles were still somewhat iffy in my fingers but I managed to shoot them into soft ground without a problem although I can¡¯t say for sure that against flesh I would be able to do the same. My most improvement was with the dagger. The basic manual of the clan that Hua Ping had brought me before had a section about weapons and one of those included was naturally the dagger. I was able to learn the basics of wielding this rather tricky instrument of killing and have become slightly proficient with it. What I mean with that is that I knew how to not cut myself on accident when swinging right and left. Not much else was achieved until now. Compared to other Mc¡¯s, I felt like I was greatly lacking as they seemed to instantly master nearly every martial art but as always, those were just stories after all. When I compared their godlike talent of martial arts to simple decision making that they did, then I could only shudder in disgust. I guess in that department I could be dubbed as a genius? That wasn¡¯t really accurate either but let¡¯s settle on that for now. Makes me at least feel a bit better about myself. Hua Hong who normally stuck to my arm kept her respectful distance today. I hadn¡¯t really noticed it until now but she did change a bit since the first time I met her. She was a lot more open about her feelings and tried to be in physical contact with me as much as possible but speaking her mind on the other hand seemed to be a different subject all-together. Was it strange that I missed the feeling of her body leaning against mine while I walked through these halls? It made sense that in an important meeting like this and especially one between different factions that she kept herself in check but that made me realize something. What did the others from my clan think of us when they saw her clinging to my arm like that? I mean I could guess the content of their thoughts but nothing positive came to mind. In a way I couldn¡¯t help but throw a glance backwards. She walked together with her sister, wearing a dark green dress with small lotus flowers as well as bamboo plants sewn on it. Did she realize that her actions were possibly ruining her reputation and spreading rumors behind her back? I wasn¡¯t sure. At this point it was clear to me that she was far from dumb or unaware of her surroundings. Hua Hong was a smart girl that knew how to hold herself in almost all situations and a good person at heart. Maybe she knew the consequences of her actions even before she showed them in public. Her eyes quickly found mine as I had been looking at her for some time now and a shy smile as well as blush spread on her cheeks, an adorable reaction which once again made me feel like an asshole. Turning my head back forward, dark thoughts clouded my mind as I continued down the hallways, heading ever so slowly towards the center of the mansion. Our destination wasn¡¯t far away but my mind sure as hell was. Was what I was doing really the right thing or was I in reality only playing around with the tender feelings of a poor girl that didn¡¯t know any better? Were my own goals really worth the lies, manipulation and misleading? I mean I know I wasn¡¯t a good person but what I was doing to Hua Hong at the moment while people talked behind her back without even being reassured by me that I felt the same about her¡­ It was cruel. A lot worse than I initially thought. Especially because chastity was a pretty big deal in my old world and here, even more so. If a woman was ¡®used¡¯ here, her value as a human being, especially if she wasn¡¯t married, dropped considerably. Don¡¯t ask me why all those noble cultivators or powerful people cared about something like fleshly innocents so much, but facts were facts. Having rumors spread around you about something like that was bad for a girl here, really bad. Goddamn, what the hell was I actually doing. ¡°Ah, Li Jun, good to see you!¡± A voice resounded not far to my right, dragging me away from the depths of my mind and back to reality. It took me a few seconds to actually realize that whoever it was that spoke was talking to me. Even after nearly a month of time it was still somewhat odd to be called ¡®Li Jun¡¯ by everyone. I was approached by a middle aged man who seemed to be around 40 years of age and sported a short goatee as well as sharp gaze. Naturally, I had no idea who this guy was. But fret not dear reader, Hua Hong is on the case! Seriously, I need to thank her more for helping me out in situations like this. ¡°This is Mo Huen, dear friend of your father as well as manager of the clan. Although having no direct blood in his veins to tie him to the Li clan, he is a merchant at heart. Profit and friendship with the Clan Head have made him into an important figure and pillar of the Li Clan. The Young Master normally always addressed him as Uncle Mo.¡± Hua Hong said while keeping her voice to a whisper in my ear. I am seriously contemplating if I should give her some kind of reward for always pulling me out of sticky situations like this. ¡°Uncle Mo, good to see that life has still not left those old bones of yours.¡± I outwardly responded with a smile and my words were followed by a bear like hug as well as loud laughter of the man who I now knew was called Mo Huen. Just by the way he treated me, it seemed like the previous owner of this body and Uncle Mo were considerably closer than anybody else I have met until now. ¡°It really is true what they say about your drastic change. Your body has grown big and sturdy beyond this old man¡¯s imagination!¡± He exclaimed while taking a closer look at my ripped chest and arms. After a few second his eyes found my own again and just seeing the warm gaze and honest smile made me lower my guard somewhat. I still had no idea who this man really was but he didn¡¯t seem to be a bad person and had definitely cared for the previous owner of this body. ¡°I am sorry that I have not taken the time to speak with you until now Li Jun but work sent me into the Baras region to the west and I returned as fast as I could after getting news that you had woken up. Seems I came just in time for a rather joyous occasion too.¡± Mo Huen said while looking around at the gathered people who wore expensive and exotically colored clothes, not unlike my own. ¡°You call it joyous, I call it annoying.¡± I murmured, still somewhat pissed off and from the corner of my eye I could see the grin that was starting to form on Mo Huen¡¯s face. ¡°Seems what the rumors are saying is true, you are different compared to before. I am not sure if I should be happy or sad about this change.¡± With a slight trace of melancholy visible on his face, Mo Huen accompanied the 3 of us towards the banquet and I was able to get to know this sharp eyed man a bit better. He took my change of body and personality in stride as I was still his ¡°little Li Jun¡± at the end of the day. Whatever that meant. It seemed as if he really liked to be called Uncle and when I addressed him once without it he had a look on his face as if I had just ripped his heart out so I quickly corrected myself. Seriously, where did this creepy Uncle come from and why the hell do I have to be his nephew¡­ My own shit talking aside thanks to my horrid mood, Uncle Mo was a pretty alright guy as far as I could tell and I was already starting to like the man after only a few minutes of talking. I am not sure if it was his personality or something completely else but he was the first person that I met with which I could genuinely convers and talk to. No honorifics or exaggerated lip service, only a friendly chat. God have I missed this. I don¡¯t want to bash on the girls but they always kept a respectful attitude towards me no matter what. With Uncle Mo I could be a bit more balls to the walls and we had a rather interesting conversation about various females of the clan and their body shapes while Hua Hong and Hua Ping who were walking behind us tried their best not to blush or show disgust on their faces. Yes, it was that kind of talk that I thoroughly enjoyed and I wasn¡¯t the only one. ¡°Look at that one, good behind but rather lacking in the front. She would probably be good in bed but any kind of service will be lacking with her other assets, not to mention that her face is only so-so.¡± Uncle Mo said while wildly pointing at a young woman not far from us. I couldn¡¯t help but think that he was right. Others around us naturally started to notice the nature of our conversation as we slowly made our way through the hallways of the clan and various colorful expressions could be seen all around. Uncle Mo apparently didn¡¯t care what others thought and completely disregarded any angry looks he was getting from the partners of the girls he was loudly commentating on. Despite this absolutely atrocious behavior that both of us showed, not even one person dared to approach us and my guess was that I had Uncle Mo¡¯s status to thank for that. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. A bright smile was on my face the entire time as the conversation topic shifted towards different positions and possible angles and I could hear a few faint hearted younger girls gag and grow pale when they caught wind of a sentence or two from our talk. Seriously, props to Uncle Mo for pulling something like this in public with a completely straight face and no sign of shame visible on it. In my heart I couldn¡¯t help but be somewhat on guard while in the man¡¯s company as he was still an unknown variable, but just from what I had seen until now, I really hoped that this Uncle Mo would be staying for a long time. He honest to god seemed to be the most down to earth man I have met in this world until now. ¡°The Young Master is a pig, the Young Master is a pig, the Young Master is a pig¡­¡± This quiet chant had been going on behind me for some time now and I decided to just tune it out while continuing my highly intellectual conversation with Uncle Mo. Should I count it as a positive or negative that she was finally not afraid to speak her mind anymore even on the account that it was only so she could insult me? Let¡¯s contemplate this subject later. Uncle Mo, Hua Hong, Hua Ping and I had a calm and steady pace with which we walked through the now packed halls leading us into a splendidly decorated and bustling room. A dome shaped ceiling with countless gaps let in the fleeting sunshine of the setting sun. Countless people stood or sat in the gigantic room and talked to each other. Food and drink was abundant and tables were like stars in the sky as they filled the area. When we entered the room, countless people instantly recognized Uncle Mo and started to hit up a conversation with him. Judging by the sorry look he was throwing my way, they were not the kind of people he could just disregard so I waved him goodbye and left him to drown in the crowd that was starting to form around him. I made no attempt to help or shift some of the attention he was getting on me as it seemed to be bothersome to deal with so I didn¡¯t even try. ¡°Shall we find a place to sit down?¡± I asked the girls and they readily agreed with slightly nervous expressions. A gathering of so many important people naturally tugged a bit on their nerves and they tried their best not to bump into anyone or step on a foot or two. Just maneuvering through the crowd would have been a hassle if it was not for my gigantic body that towered over nearly everyone present and intimidated quite a few people to the point where they stepped away way before I had to. The girls stuck close behind me so that they wouldn¡¯t get lost in the masses and we eventually reached a table that was empty. All I could hope for as we sat down was that no one was going to bother us this evening but this hope was quickly crushed, as Xianxia logic wouldn¡¯t allow something like that, naturally. In a matter of seconds after sitting down, a female voice resounded behind us and I had an inkling that this was going to be a pain, just my gut telling me that really. ¡°Li Jun, is that really you?¡± The surprise and awe in the question itself told me that the person who was talking knew the previous owner of this body (duh, I bet every single reader can already guess who she is). As I turned around in my seat, a girl came into view that stuck out of the crowd like a peacock between swans. She was beautiful, no doubt about that but just by her demeanor alone I started to detest her. Don¡¯t get me wrong now, she wasn¡¯t even doing anything that would warrant detesting her but despite her surprised and stunned expression, an air of arrogance and superiority could be felt from her that was stifling. It was clear as day that ingrained into her bones was an arrogance that could not be found in many people. As if she was a Queen that looked down on everyone else from her throne. And I was looking down on her. Not because I felt myself to be above her, but because I literally was. I did mention before that I was pretty tall so she had to look up to me to actually see my face. Despite my instinct telling me that she was not the kind of person I wanted to deal with as she reminded me heavily of nearly every single villain that appeared in Xianxia stories who is first arrogant and pisses off the MC that way, I still put on a fake smile and greeted her back. ¡°It is nice to see you too, how are you doing?¡± Once again, I had no idea who this girl was but I decided to just roll with it. She took a while to examine my body and didn¡¯t seem to be the least bit embarrassed about her obvious staring before finally responding. ¡°Good so far, better than you I heard. Did you really have to attempt suicide after I made my father cancel the marriage between us? Weakness like this was the reason that I didn¡¯t want to marry you Li Jun.¡± Ouch. Talk about being a bitch. Not only did the previous owner pretty much kill himself because of her, but she didn¡¯t even feel the least bit sorry or apologized and instead criticized me right after seeing me again. I can guess that in her mind I was bringing a bad rep to her and would have especially done so if this body had died but saying something like that in a Xianxia setting was throwing dirt on my ¡®face¡¯. Well, I guess I at least know now what it was that happened to the previous owner of this body, she happened. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I like my girls to have a bit of fire and this girl, with her pretty dark blue eyes, smooth and perfect face as well as glittering long hair that reached down to her hip sure had some. But there is fire, and then there is magma that burns you to death, and she was the later. Just from this little bit that I talked with her, I could tell what kind of person she was. ¡°So what happened with your body? Why did you grow so tall and... big?¡± She went on, not giving me even the chance to defend myself or say that I really wasn¡¯t a wimp. Did I mention that I didn¡¯t like this girl yet? ¡°It just happened after I woke up and I have no idea why either.¡± I said with a shrug while Hua Hong and Hua Ping had rather cold and distant expressions on their faces as they watched the pretty girl. This was also the perfect time to send a pleading glance towards Hua Hong which she thankfully caught and also understood. While leaning slightly forward she had her mouth close to my ear and whispered into it. ¡°Her name is Xu Luin Young Master, and she is a very hard hearted person. I would advise to be careful in her presence, especially any comments about her person are dangerous.¡± This little bit of information was a godsend for me and I felt grateful towards Hua Hong as she leaned back once again. Xu Luin thankfully hadn¡¯t noticed our little exchange and sat down at our table without even waiting to be invited. Arrogant as always I see. I naturally hid my disgust and displeasure about her presence behind a steel like smiling mask while putting a plate of food invitingly before her. ¡°You think I am going to eat this garbage? My stomach will only get upset from food like this so don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She really wasn¡¯t making it easy. I could already see the eyelid of Hua Ping twitching in a dangerous way and quickly pulled the plate that I had offered to Xu Luin towards myself. It was a dish that I had eaten quite a lot these past few days. They called it a Commoner¡¯s dinner here but I knew it under the name of Meat bun from my world. What it really was in the end was a palm sized dough that was filled with meat and various other things like vegetables or even sweets. The girls and a few cooks of the clan had naturally been surprised when I asked for this dish that was normally looked down upon by the richer people but I didn¡¯t really feel like eating cow tongue or monkey brain, delicacies that only made me want to throw up. Rice dishes with vegetables were good but eating a Meat bun once in a while really made the difference for my pallet. Not only that but these Meat buns were a lot better than the ones back in my world so how could I resist this delicious temptation? Should I say it was as expected when I noticed the disgusted look that Xu Luin was giving me when she saw me eating what she had dubbed as ¡®garbage¡¯? Silence filled the table and quite a few good looking males of the clan approached us when they saw Xu Luin sitting there but that was only until they saw me. They then immediately stopped and made a 180 degree turn which was pretty hilarious to look at after seeing it happen 5 to 6 times. Seems I had unintentionally placed a seed of fear in many young men around my age when the rumors about my abnormal power up and huge body started to circulate. Having no desire whatsoever to talk with this absolute bitch of a woman, a strange kind of tension appeared around the table and Xu Luin¡¯s expression was visibly dropping by the second. I could tell that she wasn¡¯t happy and was already sighing internally but thankfully any kind of trouble or scene she would have made we were all spared from as another voice echoed into our direction. ¡°Li Jun, Xu Luin!¡± A girl that didn¡¯t look older than 12 with her baby face and small as well as stick thin body approached our table with rapid steps before sitting down next to me. Hua Hong had previously sat there but immediately stood up when she recognized the girl, even though I naturally (as always) had no idea who this little loli was supposed to be. She was currently staring at me with big eyes which I was already used to and I used the time in which she examined my body to do the same to her. I have to admit that she was definitely pretty and very cute, especially when she growing some more curves later. The guys would probably line up for her then but at the moment her appearance didn¡¯t stir my heart at all. Unlike the time when I saw both Hua Hong and Hua Ping naked. She had a baby face, cheeks that made her look like a little porcelain doll, curly dark blue hair that framed her face and wore a tunic that matched her hair color. All in all, a cute little girl that gave me a much better impression than this other person that I don¡¯t even want to mention. ¡°Xu Xie, how did you even find us in these masses?¡± Xu Luin asked with an annoyed expression on her face. That naturally made me like the new girl instantly a lot more when I saw that Xu Luin didn¡¯t seem to have a good disposition towards her. ¡°What nonsense are you talking about, I would always find my big brother Li Jun no matter how many people there are. Even though he really is a lot¡­ bigger now.¡± Once again the little girl¡¯s eyes started to wander over my muscular chest and arms. ¡°I am sorry I didn¡¯t visit you sooner but my father forced me to cultivate behind closed doors for two months because of an unjust incident that I was blamed for so I wasn¡¯t able to see you until now.¡± ¡°What unjust incident, you were peeking at naked boys from the clan while they were taking a bath. How exactly is that unjust?¡± Xu Luin retorted and a terrifying murderous expression appeared on the previously cute, doll like face of Xu Xie. Seriously, are all the girls the previous owner of this body associated with completely bat-shit crazy?! Seeing the glare she was now getting, Xu Luin only wryly smiled. ¡°What, did you not want your ¡®big brother¡¯ Li Jun to know that his little Xu Xie is a girl with a perverted heart?¡± She teased, throwing a powder-keg into the angry fire that raged in the other girl¡¯s eyes. ¡°Make sure to wash your neck.¡± Xu Xie said with a menacing look in her eyes that sent shivers down my spine. I had read enough Xianxia stories to know that this little and innocent looking girl had just voiced a death threat. ¡°What, is the woman that is stuck in a child¡¯s body going to go after me now? Well I better watch out then!¡± Xu Luin said with an evil smile and just based on the immediate reaction of Xu Xie pulling a dagger from her robes, I could tell that she had hit a sore spot. ¡°I think it would be in everyone¡¯s best interest if we all calm down a bit. Or do you both seriously want to embarrass your entire clan?¡± Hua Hong said with a serious gaze. ¡°Oh shut it you stupid slut. After warming your bed every night this cheap maid is now also speaking for you Li Jun? Goddamn coward.¡± Xu Luin ferociously said with venom laced words. My own smile that I had forced myself to wear on my face finally broke away after this unwarranted verbal harassment of the only person that had stood with me ever since waking up in this new world. For the first time in ages I felt real anger welling up inside of me but I suppressed it right away. I could feel Hua Hong tense up behind me and could imagine her face but this was not the time and the place. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I would have gladly punched this girl¡¯s teeth out but just like Hua Hong had previously said, no one wanted a scene here and now at this rather joyful event. After a few moments in which everyone was glaring at the each other, Xu Xie finally put her dagger away again and Xu Luin arrogantly threw her head to the side with an audible ¡°Hmph¡±. Silence reigned around the table, longer than ever before. I seriously couldn¡¯t wait for this entire farce to finally end and was counting down the seconds. ¡°Well you guys are sure having a party here. One of your closest family members could have died the day before and you all would still wear happier expressions on your faces.¡± Another voice chimed in from the right as a handsome and well-dressed male around my age approached the table. ¡°Took me long enough to find you big sister.¡± He said while looking at Xu Xie. Yup, this was definitely a loli now. ¡°Xu Feng, what are you doing here instead of looking for young girls to drag into your chambers? I am sure many of the Li clan¡¯s young women would gladly spread their legs for you. I mean you and your sister are already famous as the pervert pair of the Xu clan so no need to worry about reputation or anything that resembles something like that.¡± The ever so charming Xu Luin spoke with a condescending glare that the young man called Xu Feng just laughed off. He didn¡¯t seem to be affected by the dangerous words that Xu Luin had just spoken aloud at all as if he had heard them a million times already. An admirable attitude that I could only approve off, even though I did notice the murderous glint that appeared here and there in his eyes when he looked towards Xu Luin. This girl sure knew how to make enemies right and left. Instead of responding to Xu Luin, which he probably saw as beneath him (hah, serves you right bitch) he directed his next words towards me. ¡°So I heard an interesting rumor about you Li Jun and it is really hard for me to believe, but is it true that you had a match against someone from your clan recently and revealed the 8th layer of Foundation Gathering in your cultivation?¡± One thing I do have to say is that the reactions of the people who had no idea about this and sat around the table were priceless and something I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Xu Luin¡¯s chin for example dropped to the point where it looked like it would unhinge itself at any moment and Xu Xie spat out a mouth full of tea onto the table and turned my way without even wiping away the liquid that was still dripping down from her face. Everyone was looking at me with big eyes and I could see something click in their minds as they once again looked at my tall and muscular body. ¡°This has to be some kind of joke!¡± Xu Luin shouted while standing up, drawing the attention of nearly everyone present in the room. Seems like me trying to avoid a scene was just wishful thinking after all. ---- Well that sure is some cliffhanger right there (could have made it a lot worse but decided against it to avoid people getting theit panties in a twist). Hope you had a fun time reading and comment anything you want below. Wish you all an enjoyable evening and peace out! [th_099_.gif] Chapter 9 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! So I have been brainstorming the past few days about the overall story and how it is going to go. I feel like I have a much better grasp on it now but it did delay this chapter release a bit. Sorry about that. I do have some good news though. Starting from next weekend, I will have a LOT more time for this project so you guys can look forward to that (whoever still reads this little story that is). ---- Chapter 9: Feeling countless eyes on me that scanned my body from head to toe was not a pleasant feeling. Xu Luin was still standing there with a face that demanded answers and I could see that both Xu Xie, who had finally bothered to wipe her face clean, and Xu Feng were thinking the same. ¡°Alright, how about we all sit down again and talk about this in a normal manner that doesn¡¯t attract the attention of the entire clan. That sound good?¡± I asked, mainly pointing the question towards Xu Luin who was making a scene and it apparently only now dawned on her. She looked around at the countless faces that had their attention directed towards us before slowly sitting down again. After a few seconds, the dead silence that had been stifling the hall dissipated, as if it had only been a bad dream. ¡°Alright.¡± I said while keeping my gaze concentrated on the few that were not part of our little group and still kept their attention towards our table. Seems like they had gotten a whiff of our previous talk and were just as intrigued as Xu Luin about the subject of my rapid growth. ¡°So tell us then Li Jun, what was the cause for this incredible transformation?¡± Xu Feng asked, a seemingly eternal grin stuck to his lips while sipping on a glass of wine. I purposely took my time with answering and decided to enjoy a gulp of the liquor they handed out here too. Surprisingly enough, it tasted kind of bland. I mean I never tried alcohol in this world so I guess even in a high class clan like this one it couldn¡¯t compete with the one from back home? ¡°Beats me.¡± This simple but short answer put a row of question marks on everyone¡¯s faces and it dawned on me then that they once again didn¡¯t know what that phrase meant. ¡°What I meant to say was, I also have no idea why or even how this happened.¡± I said, having to resort to the longer version. Seriously, would they understand me if I threw a ¡®Mount Tai¡¯ or two in there instead? ¡°So even you yourself cannot explain this phenomenon.¡± Xu Xie echoed after me. The entire thing would have naturally been a lot less creepy if she didn¡¯t look at my bulging muscles with a hungry look while speaking but nothing is perfect I guess. I mean she was cute and all but I am not into little girls and especially not older ladies stuck in young bodies. As mentioned before and I will say it gladly again, the women the previous owner of this body knew all seemed to be the ¡®crazy you don¡¯t want to touch¡¯ kind. So you can forget that budding dream of a harem with these girls right this instant dear reader! I am not a fan of crazy! ¡°B-but how can this be. How can the useless and untalented Li Jun suddenly have such an earth shattering change that he also doesn¡¯t deserve? Why couldn¡¯t it have been me?¡± Xu Luin mumbled with a lost look on her face. Once again she was showing that absolutely lovely personality to the world. Go for it girl! This kind of shit only makes me kind of want to bash your head in with a rock! And no I am not saying that because she is actually starting to get to me, that would be ridiculous. Trying to change the subject, I asked what level their cultivation had reached since the last time we all saw each other and their answers left me with a somewhat defeated feeling. Xu Xie was at the 7th layer of Qi Condensation, Xu Feng at the 8th layer of Qi Condensation and Xu Luin, the loveliest lady I have ever met was at the 9th layer of Qi Condensation. Now mind you, not Foundation Gathering, the stage I was currently at, but Qi Condensation. They were an entire realm above me and not only that, all of them were even approaching the Body enlightenment stage. Was there really such a discrepancy between the Li and Xu Clan?! Because I remember a certain rising star of the Li clan that was at the 7th layer of Foundation Gathering. No wonder our clan was going downhill. Compared to the younger generation of other clans, we just didn¡¯t seem to have any talent whatsoever. ¡°I hope that this stroke of good fortune continues for a long time for you Li Jun.¡± Xu Feng said while lifting his glass in my direction, a smile ever so present on his face. W-was that actually a nice comment towards a low tier bottom feeder like me for once?! I think I am starting to feel tears forming in the corner of my eyes¡­ Alright, enough playing around (more like getting my feelings hurt by a certain evil female). As lovely as the company of these 3 was, the only person I actually didn¡¯t want to run away from at this point was Xu Feng. Together with the previous incident, I had every intention of going back to my little courtyard and spending the rest of the evening there together with the girls. ¡°It is about due for me to excuse myself. I am still somewhat weak and want to take an early rest so I wish you all an enjoyable evening an-¡° ¡°You will stay here until I have some answers.¡± Xu Luin casually remarked while interrupting me. Can I just say that I officially hate this bitch? Once again, anger was rushing through my entire body at the commanding tone she was using with me. I had a clear understanding of this world at this point. Cultivators liked to flaunt their powers and be above others. If you had a higher cultivation level than that other guy? Well guess what, you are his new daddy! He has to kiss your boots and lick your behind from now on because you are stronger than him! Isn¡¯t that great fun?! No. Not one bit. I think I know now what it really was about Xu Luin that had ticked me off from the moment I met her. She embodied every single characteristic of a human piece of trash that treats everyone like shit for basically no other reason than sky high arrogance. Everyone had a breaking point in their patience, and I was starting to hit mine with this girl. I knew it was dumb, getting so worked up. More than anyone, I should know what this Xianxia setting was trying to do right now. And before any of that could happen, before I finally goddamn lost it with this bitch, I had to leave. I was not blessed with heaven defying plot armor that would allow me to skip levels in cultivation as easily as taking a step forward. Neither did I have martial talent that could bridge that gap. I had only my wit (which was starting to quickly disappear thanks to this girl¡¯s grating personality) and the knowledge of my previous world. Call it temporary insanity, a fit of rage or my true nature coming to light but I really wanted to teach this girl a lesson in the Clan Gathering that was half a year away from now. It must have been something on my face or a change in my behavior but I could feel Hua Hong¡¯s small and soft hand on my broad back. This was the only reason I didn¡¯t snap back at Xu Luin even though I really wanted to. The mental support I found from this gesture that was hidden from the eyes of others helped me calm my billowing anger as a dead pan expression appeared on my face. I could clearly see the surprise on their faces as I stood up without another word and left the table. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear me? I said you are going to stay here!¡± A shout resounded from behind me, evidently coming from Xu Luin but I paid it no mind. All I concentrated on was the warm hand that was still pressing against my back, as if pushing me forward step by step. ¡°Li Jun, I will remember this!¡± Once again the angry voice of a certain female who had lost all face from my behavior bellowed into my direction as I finally stepped out of the room. A sigh escaped from my mouth when I realized that I had been holding my breath until now. Hua Hong¡¯s hand remained on my back the entire time as we walked to the desolate northern side of the manor in complete silence. When we finally reached our goal I couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved. It was only after closing the door behind me and sitting down on my bed that I felt the soothing warmth leave me as Hua Hong pulled her arm back. I was left in deep thought for a few minutes while Hua Hong and Hua Ping looked at me with worried gazes. Time passed and complete darkness quickly filled the room as the sun had finally fully disappeared behind the horizon. Hua Ping was in the middle of standing up to light a candle but my arm shot out like a pit viper and held her back. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡± This single word came over my lips in a short growl and I could feel the girl shiver in my grasp as she stared at my face that was hidden by the shadows. Only after she once again completely sat down did I let her go. I could feel their eyes on me, even though it was dark and they would only be able to make out my frame. Undoubtedly, countless questions stirred their minds despite the pressing silence that remained in the room and it was time to set things straight. This decision did not come easily for me but my mind had already settled on it. Now or never. ¡°I have known you two for nearly a month now and it is clear that you are smart so you should have a few questions about me. Questions I have been avoiding, no matter how many times someone asked me.¡± Just by the way they both tensed it was clear that I had their attention. ¡°After all this time, despite the number of people I have met, only you two have stayed dead loyal. More so than I could have ever asked of you. You never truly questioned or doubted me even though both of you definitely had much you wanted to know. I will give you this one chance, a show of trust that exceeds our current relationship of ¡®Master¡¯ and ¡®Servant¡¯.¡± Hua Ping was stirring a bit in her seat while Hua Hong on the other hand remained completely still. The darkness made it impossible to guess their expressions but I was betting on my gut here. ¡°My attempts to lure you both out of your shell and away from the mental shackles that have been put on you have borne fruit but that is no longer enough after tonight¡¯s events, that is what I realized. I need to be able to trust you two with more than just simple services. So I have decided to give you both a choice. Ask and I will answer. It doesn¡¯t matter what it is, you can ask me anything and I will not hide a single thing. No more hiding or dodging the question. In return you will no longer be simple maids but retainers and my followers for as long as I life. There is much I do not know and many who will possibly come after my life but it is clear to me now that I can no longer delay seeking true allies. Should you feel that what I am asking of you two is too much or your interest in certain aspects about me is not too high, please leave this instant. I will not blame nor resent you. It is simply time to stop playing around and face the future fully prepared.¡± After the last few words left my mouth I closed my eyes. Even I myself was not sure why exactly I did that. I mean it was already dark enough so I wouldn¡¯t be able to see their faces anyways. In a way it was probably done instinctively to hide my view of the world as I waited for their decision. Or anything, really. Time passed eternally slow as I sat there, hoping, wishing for the right answer. As I said before, the events of today had been an eye opener for me. I needed someone to have my back no matter the situation, even in death. The thought of being betrayed, feeling the sickening realization trickling in that you had been played scared me. Having experienced the same thing before when I found out that my girlfriend had been cheating on me, that it was with one of my best friends too on top of that. It had hurt. This right here, in a Xianxia world with an unknown amount of life threatening dangers was worse. Betrayal here wouldn¡¯t only just hurt and leave scars, it would straight up lead me to hell. Which was why I was rigidly sitting on my bed and waiting. Praying that my instinct hadn¡¯t been wrong. After nearly a minute passed, I felt something shift beside me as Hua Hong stood up from the bed. A storm of thoughts and emotions hit me like a sucker punch in the gut as I listened to her soft footsteps moving away from me. More than the disappointment I felt and sadness about this, the surprise that it was her of all people that would leave first struck me the most. I couldn¡¯t help but inwardly laugh at the ¡®love¡¯ she was supposedly feeling for me. It should have been obvious. Who in their right mind would really care about me at the end of the day? Self-mocking thoughts like these swirled around in my mind as a burst of light suddenly assaulted my closed eyes. Surprised, I opened them and found both Hua Hong and Hua Ping standing before me, each holding a lit candle in their soft hands. Despite everything I had been left to believe and my worries, they both stood their ground with a small smile plastered on their faces. ¡°Who are you?¡± This simple and honest question floated in the room after Hua Hong uttered the sentence in a calm manner. I could see her determination as well as resolve as she voiced these three life changing words. More than anything else I felt grateful as I looked into her almond colored eyes before switching towards Hua Ping¡¯s face and gaze that showed the exact same look as her sister. ¡°My name is Fiodor, and I am not the Young Master of the ¡®Li¡¯ clan. To be more precise, I am not even really someone from this world.¡± ¡­. I could feel the unease and sweat of my sister¡¯s hand as we looked towards the Young Master when I asked him this question. Just judging by the serious look on his face, the anxiousness and trepidation as well as worry that dissipated from his eyes the moment I asked him this, it was clear that the decision we had made was the right one. Me and my sister genuinely enjoyed the company of the new Young Master. Sure we were curious, but more than anything else we both had felt something for the first time in our life ever since the Young Master had woken up. Acceptance and care. Something we had only ever known from each other emanated from the Young Master¡¯s body and actions at every moment. He didn¡¯t treat us like strangers, servants or slaves. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. All things we had grown used to over the years. The Young Master treated my sister and me like true friends. It had taken a while for us to realize this, simply because it was an unconceivable outcome. No one in their right mind would really care about their servants that were only there and trained to follow orders. It was simply unheard of. But his presence changed that. The pleasant talks we had from time to time, joking and teasing that he frivolously did whenever possible and the look in his eyes when he let us sleep whenever he went to train. Ever since that fated day me and my sister had slept in he had stood up early and always left without waking us. This strange behavior naturally puzzled the two of us so we decided to see what it really was that made him do so. We pretended to be asleep, just like we had been the previous few days he had woken up early and watched him get ready from between half closed eyes. It was the moment he turned around and looked at us before leaving that would forever be stuck in our minds and the moment we realized the truth. The genuine smile that burned brighter than a thousand suns, a warm glint of affection and care in his eyes coupled with the wave of his hand and a murmured ¡°sleep well you two¡± before he left struck a chord in my heart. It was only when I couldn¡¯t hear his footsteps anymore that I let the tears flow freely. How we deserved a treatment like this? I had no idea. But I was grateful for it. More than I could have ever expressed in words. It was little things and actions like these that made my sister and me stand hand in hand before the gigantic frame of the Young Master today while asking this question that had always been on my mind. And it was also after my words had echoed inside the room that I once again saw the same smile and warmth in his eyes that had unwittingly made me fall in love with this man. His answer though was not what I expected. ¡°My name is Fiodor, and I am not the Young Master of the ¡®Li¡¯ clan. To be more precise, I am not even really someone from this world.¡± If anybody would have told me something similar I would have called them a liar or laughed but this was not a moment for lies or a joke. It was clear from his expression that he was speaking the truth which allowed a torrent of new questions to bloom inside of me. ¡°What do you mean you are not from this world?¡± I heard my sister ask. This was naturally also something I couldn¡¯t wrap my head around so I closely stared and waited for a reply. ¡°I mean that I died in my old world, one as different from this one as heaven and earth, and came here. How or why I can¡¯t tell you, all I know is that after I died the next thing I remember was waking up in this body you all seemed to call ¡®Li Jun¡¯. And before you ask, no, I don¡¯t think he is still alive. It has been nearly a month now but I never heard a voice in my sleep, during the day or anything similar. Everything is as if this was my original body so my best bet is that ¡®Li Jun¡¯ has already moved on.¡± I could feel a tremble through my sister¡¯s hand and knew that she was thinking the same thing as me. If news of this started floating around the clan¡­ The results of something like that would be terrible, especially considering the Clan Head¡¯s, Li Kong¡¯s temper. No wonder ¡®Fiodor¡¯ had been adamant about us staying with him until he died after answering our questions. This kind of information wasn¡¯t only dangerous, it was deadly. Just like this we learned more about the mysterious entity called ¡®Fiodor¡¯. The conversation itself continued until nearly dawn. Through it, both my sister and I had a general idea of the ¡®paradise¡¯ that Fiodor was describing to us. From metal birds that sailed through the sky to a hidden archive of information and indecent material that he called ¡®Porn¡¯, many things came to light. All of this sounded like a fantasy or crazy dream but despite my doubts and inquiries, his responses and explanation were too sudden and sound to be made up. Either he was completely mad or telling us the truth. Those were the only two options I was left with after an entire night of questioning and every time I looked into his warm eyes I couldn¡¯t help but lean towards the later. If someone like him was a mad and a crazy lunatic, then I would gladly join him in this world of his. It sounded so much better than this one after all. One thing this late night talk did explain were several of his actions or behaviors me and sister always couldn¡¯t help but describe as ¡®strange¡¯. The news that slaves were no longer a thing back in his old world shocked us both silly, only finding out that cultivation didn¡¯t exist either and was only a theoretical concept trumped that. That technology could evolve to a stage where by pressing a thing that he called ¡®button¡¯ and entire country would go up in flames without any need for Qi or effort was a frightening concept. Even more so when he told us about something called an ¡®A-bomb¡¯, a weapon of mass destruction. ¡®Radiation poisoning, ¡®World wars¡¯, ¡®Biological Warfare¡¯, many unknown concepts and terms that sent chills down my spine were explained to us with a light hearted tone. It was clear that this ¡®paradise¡¯ was in no sense perfect but still a lot more peaceful nowadays, according to Fiodor. Countless unthinkable tales of human ingenuity and achievements left both my sister and me flabbergasted. Walking on the ¡®Moon¡¯, the abolishment of old political systems in many countries, a strange energy called ¡®electricity¡¯ that seemed to give power to nearly everything in his old world. Much he told us that we would have to slowly think about and make sense off. It was definitely too much to comprehend in a single night and as the sunlight of a new day was beginning to warm our bodies, my eyelids started to droop. I felt tired, confused by what the ¡®Young Master¡¯ had told us and curious about what else he would tell us. ¡°Alright, I think that is enough for now. We will have enough time to talk about this later, now that I know that I can fully trust you two. You both look tired to the point of falling over so don¡¯t force yourself any longer and just take a nap.¡± He said in a warm and soothing voice before gently pushing my shoulder so that I fell backwards and onto the bed. ¡°But we have our duties as your servants to take care of and have to make sure that-¡° I tried to argue back while struggling weakly against this all too powerful arm that was pressing me into the soft embrace of the Young Master¡¯s bed. My eyes closed by themselves and I could hear the faint reply of the man that I now knew as Fiodor from somewhere in the distance. ¡°For now you don¡¯t need to worry about anything. Get some rest and we will continue our conversation when you wake up. Sleep tight you two.¡± That last part made me want to struggle against the blanket that was thrown over me and held me like iron weights, but it was pointless. After only a few seconds, darkness filled my mind despite the sunlight that was shining through the paper windows and a dream filled with an exotic and unknown world took me away. ¡­.. The cat was finally out of the bag. I had told them everything despite a small nagging voice in the back of my head telling me that I was being stupid without holding anything back. Right now I was sitting in the training area of the Li clan and watching various youths practice their Martial arts as well as Qi techniques on a few training targets or in an exchange of pointers. Martial arts used Qi together with weapons or in tune with the body while Qi Techniques on the other hand focused on using the inner Qi of a practitioner outside of the body in various forms. I was once told from Hua Hong that there were 4 different grades for Martial arts and Qi techniques. From the worst to the best it was Basic, Mortal, Earth and Heaven grade. Each of these also had a low, middle or high rank which determined how useful or efficient a particular Martial art or Qi technique was. It was simple logic that determined that a Heaven grade high rank Martial art would be a god like fortune to chance upon. Even the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯ that I was currently studying with the help of Hua Hong was only rated as a Basic middle rank Martial art. Despite that as a Basic grade it was pretty simple to get a grasp of, I had quite an internal struggle in comprehending certain aspects described in it. Like how the hell am I supposed to let my punch be both explosive and fiery at the same time? With not much explanation except these vague concepts of throwing a punch given to me I had naturally hit a bit of a roadblock in my study of the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯. This was quite normal, Hua Hong had told me, as mastering a martial art or Qi technique, even when it was of the lowest grade, was a difficult thing. Not only that but Qi techniques, which needed the person in question to use their Qi outside of the body could only be practiced when one reached the Qi Condensation stage. The difference between a Qi Condensation Cultivator and a Body Enlightenment Cultivator using the same Qi technique while having the same mastery over it was said to be enormous. Which was why Qi Techniques being generally only a thing for those at the Body Enlightenment stage or above (whatever that might be, maybe one day we will find out) was the overall common sense. I for one had no thoughts about acquiring a Qi technique or even another martial art as I watched a boy of maybe 16 smash his hand against a brick which soon after the collision broke into two. No, what I was trying to observe and gain a bit more understanding into was this mysterious thing called Qi. Sure, I had personally experienced it many times while absorbing it into my body and knew that it had something to do with oxygen, but what exactly enabled an elderly man in his 40s to let a pillar of flame shoot out of his hand? What made it so that a girl¡¯s leg grew hard to the point of steel as she kicked a wooden pillar apart? I watched countless different Martial arts and Qi techniques for the entire day as the people of the Li clan practiced. Many noticed my hulking body sitting at a corner of the courtyard and watching them which attracted quite a bit of attention in its own right but after two hours, nobody paid any real mind to my eyes that followed their movements anymore. From time to time I still received a quick look thanks to yesterday¡¯s events with Xu Luin but other than that I was glad that nobody walked up to bother me. Reason being that I felt myself inching closer towards an answer to my question since a few minutes ago. What I was looking at was the before mentioned elder of the Li clan using various complicated hand seals that made no sense to me and looked like a certain yellow haired anime character giving it his all to me. Having nurtured my Qi flame to the size of an adult¡¯s fist, I had a certain feel for the Qi that was outside of my body, which included the one in the elder¡¯s hands. I was not really watching the seals he was performing, but more staring and feeling for the changes that the Qi in his hands was going through. Logic alone told me that those seals had no real meaning as channeling Qi was more of a mental thing. So what did they represent then? The only thing that came to mind was a help of some sorts. It was quite possible that this elder truly thought that the Qi technique he was performing only worked thanks to those seals, but my logic that didn¡¯t stem from this world nor believed in the overall bullshit that making weird signs with your hand would determine if fire or water appeared from your hands. When I reached this point my thought process came to a sudden and abrupt stop. How exactly was Qi transforming into Fire or Water anyways? I mean I understood that it had something to do with oxygen before but it was clearly only tied to it and not the actual thing, that much at least even I could feel when I absorbed it into my body. So how then, with little connection to oxygen that was being burned to fuel a flame or the good old H2O could Qi turn into said things? I mean it was obviously some kind of energy not present back on earth but how could a cultivator will it into a specific form? Looking at my own hands while deep in thought, the answer soon enough appeared in my mind. It had always been there, staring me directly in the face. How did I absorb the Qi into my body or Qi Flame when I was meditating? With my thoughts of course, but that was only half the answer. It was imagination, desire or mental power, call it what you want, that enabled me to move this unknown energy. If it was indirectly or directly linked with life on this planet itself I couldn¡¯t say but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if it wasn¡¯t electricity that was currently coursing through my body but instead Qi, let¡¯s just say that much. And it was about time to find out if my revelation about Qi was right or not. Because if it was¡­ that would change everything. I concentrated on my hand while sending the Qi in my body towards my palm. Naturally I was still not at the stage where I could send my Qi freely outside of my body but there was still something else I could try. With as much concentration as I could muster I thought about water, everything I knew about it from science classes, how clouds were made up of it, the oceans, rain, blood, moisture in the air, underground water sources, the feeling of being submerged into it and finally, I imagined my goal. The Qi flame inside of me billowed before suddenly shrinking by nearly half as a wet patch appeared on my palm, seemingly sweat that had been pressed out of my body. I stared at this small achievement with shaking hands before quickly looking around and wiping my palm clean. It had taken me quite a bit of internal Qi because it was somewhat outside of my body but nevertheless, it had worked. My theory was correct. And I finally understood why I couldn¡¯t understand the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯ completely until now. It was unclear to me if what I had discovered was common knowledge or an incredible secret but for me, it opened up a new world. Childhood dreams of shooting fireballs out of my hand, creating earth walls beneath my feet when I walked and lifting my body with the power of the wind resurfaced for the first time in years together with something else. A desire to grow stronger. No longer only fueled by the want of staying alive but the need to see those dreams of an age long gone fulfilled. As long as I reached a high enough level of cultivation, with my imagination, born from a different world and filled to the brim with thousands of stories created from brilliant minds as well as experiences of countless lifetimes, not even the sky seemed to be the limit. ---- A tiny bit shorter than normal but I wanted to end it on that note. Hope you liked it and as always, write a comment if you feel like it or find a mistake. Always appreciate that! Anyways, hope you all have a good day! Chapter 10 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! Finally! I got some more time on my hands, YUS! Anyways, here is the chapter that got heavily delayed thanks to the bane we call real life, curse you! Just fyi but will have a lot more time from now on so more chapters will come out a LOT faster. ---- Chapter 10 For the sake of clarity, habit and so we wouldn¡¯t slip up when other people were around, it was decided that the girls would continue to address me as Young Master or Li Jun. Even though they still only addressed me as Young Master despite the talk we had. It was clear that we did indeed get closer, the 3 of us, but that was the last hurdle that was still just as imposing and unmoving as ever. Hua Ping mentioned something about it being an ¡®honor¡¯ for them to call me that way even though I had no idea what she meant by that and neither would she elaborate. Thanks to my breakthrough in my understanding of Qi I was able to come up with many different theories and ideas and was burning for the time that I entered the Qi condensation level, whenever that would be. Another thing I discovered was that used up Qi, not how I was burning it away to nurture my body, but how I had used it to press a bit of sweat out of my body, recovered quite quickly and pretty much on its own. It wasn¡¯t to the point of recovering after an hour or two of meditation like in some other stories I had previously read, but instead of taking 2 weeks it took me about 2 days of intense meditation to get my Qi flame back to the size of an adult¡¯s fist. Just from that it was clear that Qi, although energy based, was similar to a muscle. When you achieved a certain kind of strength, it would not take as much time and effort to reach that same height once again. Another thing that I noticed was that although my muscles were filled to the brim, Qi was starting to meld together with my tendons. It was only logical that they would be next as they connected to the filled muscles but as mentioned before I had to take this kind of stuff slowly. That it was happening naturally and on its own was a good sign so I was pretty sure that I was really moving into the right direction. After about 3 days, I was able to integrate a huge amount of Qi into my tendons and ligaments, much more than I was previously able to stuff into my muscles. This brought about a rather strange change as my height actually started to reduce a bit on this 3rd day. I had been so used to my gigantic frame and size at this point that this noticeable decrease came with a surprise and was also the reason why I stopped my cultivation madness. It was incredibly satisfying to feel strength like never before flowing through my body as every step that I took was accompanied by a low thud. Even though my height had decreased, I felt somewhat heavier than before and my guess was that I had become ¡®denser¡¯ if that made any sense at all. Standing before a stone with a size that was rivaling my previous one, a gigantic number was carved onto it. ¡°1000!¡± This round and smooth stone had two handles at the sides and a near exact weight of 1 thousand Jin. It was normally used to determine if someone broke through or was close to the Qi Condensation stage. Despite my doubts if what I was feeling was false or not, I grabbed those handles, bent my knees and pulled with all my might. A low thud echoed out into the surroundings as well as a shout of emotion and surprise as the stone actually lifted up a tiny bit before slamming back into the ground. ¡°So I wasn¡¯t imagining it.¡± I murmured, staring at my own hands. My body had grown and the amount of muscles alone was very evident at this point, but more than anything, my strength had exploded up immensely while the actual amount of Qi inside of me was accumulating at a moderate pace. Based on my internal Qi, I had reached the crossroad between the 6th and 7th layer of Foundation Gathering but my fleshly body had actually started to cross over into the Qi Condensation stage. This alone could be considered as terrifying in most people¡¯s eyes, that much I was sure of. My unique cultivation nurtured the body far better than my own Qi. What exactly the end to this road was, even I didn¡¯t know as I once again grabbed the two iron handles that were hammered into the thousand Jin stone. Tensing every single muscle I was now the proud owner of, my feet dug into the ground as the stone lifted off the ground, this time without me letting go out of surprise. I stayed motionless, 1 thousand Jin held in my hands in a steady and calm manner. Judging by the fact that I wasn¡¯t really growing tired despite the weight I was holding, it was clear to me that I had already passed the thousand Jin mark some time ago. A childish joy was visible in my eyes for a second before I let go of the stone once again. Wiping some of the sweat that had started to accumulate on my brow away I turned and walked to the side of the courtyard I was training at to get a drink of water. Hua Hong and Hua Ping were currently outside of the clan in disguise and looking for the mad blacksmith that I had not forgotten about. If my guess was correct, he would play an incredibly important role in the future as someone of his line of work would pose to be an incredible asset should he grasp what I would be able to tell him. Having advanced knowledge when it came to forging techniques that spanned thousands of years and were possibly completely unknown in this world did have its advantages after all. But that was something I would discover after questioning the blacksmith in person and when I knew more about his ability as well as knowledge in these matters. Until then I would be concentrating on training as much as I could, even if it was starting to get a bit boring and tedious. Now that I was once again wearing my secret weapons on my body I felt safe and strangely comfortable even though most of my throwing needles were either bent or chipped at this point. Despite them being of supposedly great quality, it only took a dozen or so practice throws for them to go out of shape, which made me suspect that they were not made out of the good old iron I was used to. Naturally it could be that such an ore didn¡¯t even exist here but I kind of doubted that. Even with my crossbow bolts I had to be careful as 2 of them already snapped thanks to a badly aimed shot of mine. So most of my time was spent mastering the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯ and I have to say I was able to get the hang of it at this point. Every time I punched I sent a tiny bit of Qi through my arms and thought of a fiery explosion which surprisingly enough helped in increasing the speed and ferocity of my attacks. When I tried doing the same without imagining the flames by just sending Qi through my arms, the speed of my attacks barely increased. The only reason I even noticed this to begin with was because I was paying careful attention towards it but it seemed like my previous suspicion of imagination playing a big role in quite a lot of things that involved Qi turned out to be true. Now I know what you might be thinking dear reader, why not try using my internal Qi in my arms and thinking about wind or some other thing that could help create some kind of strange phenomenon? Well the answer to that is quite a simple one. Whenever I didn¡¯t have a clear picture, like let¡¯s say not an entire martial arts manual explaining how to properly punch and what to ¡®be¡¯ like during the process, similar to what the ¡®Blazing Fists¡¯ scroll was doing for me, I used up a ridiculous amount of Qi. The reason for this was only an educated guess but I at least suspected that it was because I wasn¡¯t sure what to imagine or make my body do. It was the problem of there being too many things and options to choose from as well as a theoretical outcome that caused this massive amount of energy loss. I had to really think, imagine and get a clear image while also using the best catalyst (like with speed imagining a hurricane or storm for example) to really get anywhere. This was miles away from creating my own techniques or even eclipsing already preexisting ones, but it was a start. One thing was for sure, should I ever reach Qi condensation, then I would be able to filter water simply out of thin air thanks to something convenient called ¡®moisture¡¯. It basically meant that even in a desert I would always be able to acquire water. Affinities existed even in this world but because I had such a good grasp on the science of things I was able to draw connections between many seemingly unrelated concepts, like there actually being water in the air, that I could use to my advantage. I was pretty sure that I was one of the only, if not the only one, that really knew about this to such a degree. Thanks to this huge advantage I could only frown upon something useless like ¡®elemental affinities¡¯. Qi experiments were thus put on a temporary hold until I grew stronger, as every bit I wasted took hours to regain, and that was already pretty fast. I was indeed growing stronger at a steady pace, but my thoughts kept circling around certain pills that could increase my cultivation by a good bit these days. Call it my own greed getting ahead of me but shooting flames out of your hands? Everyone wanted to do that! And so did I. It was pretty clear that thanks to my rather unique way of cultivation, my body would grow way ahead of my Qi, which was okay, but still made me itch for the time when I would be able to mindlessly waste it. Not like now where I had to watch my internal Qi flame carefully so it wouldn¡¯t just completely disappear. To put it another way, despite my growth, I still felt incredibly weak compared to others that were out there. Which was why I wanted to use pills as a short cut. This train of thought was interrupted by the sound of soft footsteps coming from my left and I turned my head to see if the girls had brought any news. What I didn¡¯t expect was to find Li Min, my ¡®big sister¡¯ in the clan standing before me. We had occasionally met after that rather interesting late-night talk but it was the first time since then that she actively looked for me. This naturally made me suspicious. Not because of her mind you, but of the Xianxia setting trying to put me into a difficult position. Until now it had tried a few times but nothing outrageous or life threatening had happened yet, still you never know. And this sudden visit from her gave me a nasty premonition that things were no longer going to stay as peaceful as before. ¡°Li Jun.¡± She greeted me, a small smile on her lips. Alright, so it looks like I am not just going to get thrown out for no reason judging by that expression, good. Now I know this might sound like I was just paranoid but if you ever read Xianxia stories then you know that they do some crazy plot twist from time to time which make no sense whatsoever and are only there to make the life of the main character harder. Ok, maybe I was being a bit paranoid here. ¡°Is there anything you want to talk about big sister Li Min?¡± I asked with the most honest and real smile that I was able to muster. Please don¡¯t throw me out¡­ ¡°I have come to take you to the Clan Head as he has some questions for you.¡± Fuck! Alright stay cool, nothing conclusive that indicates you are a soul parasite occupying his son¡¯s body has come up yet, no need to panic. Actually, now that I think about it, who in the world would suspect this to begin with?! Logic, this simple but most powerful tool known to mankind helped me keep a completely straight face on the outside. Without even asking another question or allowing a frown to appear I followed her deeper into the mansion. To be honest, I was starting to dearly miss the two bodies that always followed closely behind me at this point. Despite my hidden weapons that were always kept close as a precaution and Li Min leading me to see the Clan Head, I felt uneasy. Not because the man I was about to once again meet wasn¡¯t anyone I particularly cared about, but because there was no logical reason for him to call me. If he had not made a move despite me clearly showing a much higher cultivation level than before in the clan, why make it now? Only two reasons came to mind, either I was in trouble because something of the past I had no knowledge of had caught up, or I had been found out and was even more so in trouble. Both cases didn¡¯t give me a good feeling but there was not much I could do to change the inevitable. If I didn¡¯t want to arouse any suspicion, complying without a word was the right thing to do. It made me feel vulnerable, yes, but that was because I didn¡¯t expect it. There were not many things that could surprise me when someone was working against me, simple logic and putting myself in the person¡¯s shoes could help me anticipate a lot of things. This though came as a real surprise, and I didn¡¯t like surprises. Can you now understand why I was reacting like someone had plucked my feathers while I was sleeping dear reader? Maybe I had been a bit arrogant to believe that everything was in my palm but seriously, summoning me in the middle of the night like this when I was about to end my training session and head to my room was pretty strange. More so considering I had never really talked much with my ¡®father¡¯ after waking up. Just judging by the fact that he had sent Li Min, it was clear that they were close in some way as she had also been there with him when I first opened my eyes. What exactly this connection was I wasn¡¯t sure about but knowing that he trusted her enough to send her to get me in the middle of the night was a piece of information I decided to remember. I have said this before but I didn¡¯t call her ¡®big sister¡¯ because she actually was my sister. Now that I thought about it, what did I really know about this girl except her name and that she was a bit na?ve? We never talked much despite her apparently caring a lot about me. Strange¡­ I didn¡¯t like this at all. Too many unknown factors and things were not adding up. Something else was going one here and I could only hope that the following meeting could shed some light on certain things. .... My steps eventually halted before a wooden door while Li Min stood next to it quietly, obviously waiting for me to be the first to enter. Despite the power rushing through my gigantic body, I felt more than a bit nervous as I walked into the room. My eyes soon enough saw a rather unique picture. Li Kong looked¡­ old. That was the only way I could describe it. This before middle aged man now had streaks of silver in his hair as well as dark circles beneath his eyes. The room itself was adorned with luxurious vases, pictures and mahogany furniture but all this glamour made his condition stick out even more. Honestly speaking he looked like he had not slept in days. ¡°Li Jun, it is good that you are here.¡± Li Kong said, greeting me as he waved his hand. A sign for me to step closer. When I was eventually seated in a rather comfortable chair that nearly broke apart beneath the weight and mass of my body I noticed that Li Min was now standing to the right of my father. Seems like their connection really is far deeper than anticipated. ¡°Now then Li Jun, would you tell me why it is that you have hired a painter for yourself as well as to why you are fervently looking all over town for a certain blacksmith?¡± Li Kong asked, a strange glint in his eyes and not the smidgen of a smile on his lips. Why they both looked so tense was eluding me. I mean honestly, it wasn¡¯t like what I was doing was a crime or in any way harmful to anyone, right? ¡°It is but to follow a rather interesting idea of mine, nothing too major-¡± ¡°And what would this idea be?¡± Li Kong asked, cutting me off before I could even finish my sentence. This sudden aggressiveness and strange undertone that I only just now noticed left me stumped. What the hell was going on here? ¡°Li Jun, don¡¯t worry about the Clan Head. He is just curious, that is all. Now please, could you tell me what it is that you have been thinking about doing recently?¡± Her smile. Yeah, the thing that had been on her face this entire time while Li Kong looked like someone personally close to him just died 5 minutes ago. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. It was this that had made me nervous the entire time. This smile never reached her eyes unlike the one I had seen on her before. ¡°Something that will help the clan.¡± I couldn¡¯t outright tell them that I had only some rough ideas and needed those 2 to achieve at least something with them. Unlike what you might think dear reader, I had no idea how a toilet really worked even though I had a general idea of the insides of one. Neither did I know how to build a computer or anything advanced like that from scratch but I knew that something like that COULD exist and had my experience and imagination that was grounded on facts as clues. Together with a (hopefully) quick witted blacksmith I would eventually be able to bring a bit of technology back. Because no matter how oblivious you are as a human being to the wonders around you, your brain starts to pick things up unconsciously. And that was enough. Li Min¡¯s smile pretty much instantly froze as my words echoed inside the room as a never before seen coldness was emanating from her eyes and a grim expression was visible on Li Kong¡¯s face during this change too. Naturally I was more than confused as to why this was happening and silence now reigned inside the room. It was only when I noticed a tinge of sadness and despair appearing in the corner of Li Kong¡¯s eyes that I had been avoiding to look directly into until now that a thought struck me like a bolt of lightning. Could I have made a near fatal mistake? Until now I had treated nearly everyone of this world like an idiot, unconsciously or not but I had been looking down on them after reading countless Xianxia stories and seeing my views reinforced by some of their actions. But this was not essentially true. I knew for a fact that the girls for example were exempt from this rule. So what did that mean? That these two that were now standing before me could probably think outside the box too. And not only that. The rumor, myth and legends about reincarnation in my old world. Stories that were retold many a times and an entire fiction category that existed around it. All of this existed here too, but in this world it was a fact. They knew about reincarnation and what it meant probably better than most of my own world so what did my actions and words in the past couple of weeks tell them? That I was no longer the old Young Master. Not because of ¡®Amnesia¡¯ but because of something far more tragic. I had, intentionally or not, doomed myself with looking down on them and doubting their ability. No, I had let my guards down around them. A cold feeling was invading into my body as I looked into their faces and a new thought was crawling its way into my head. Should I run? This would be probably my only chance if at all to make it out alive or in one piece. Who knows maybe they had some kind of ritual that would put an end to my existence that had occupied this foreign body. Just judging by the fact that people could quite literally play the last ai*b*nder in this world I had no reason to doubt that something like that existed here too. Was this really the end to my plans and future? The tired voice of a man that had aged well ahead of his time echoed in the room and immediately ripped me out of my thoughts. ¡°I am only going to ask you this one time, are you my son?¡± My first impulse was to lie. Shout out ¡®Yes!¡¯ and be done with it. Saving my own hide came first, right? And then I saw the tears of a man at the end of his wits. It was clear to me then that he knew. He knew that I was not him, that this was not his son that was sitting before him but even still he had clung to a hope that was now slowly dwindling away. It was this raw emotion that I could see in his gaze and on his face that stopped me. I was not a cold hearted person to begin with. Even to this day, after nearly a month here I still had my doubts of being able to end a person¡¯s life when given the choice so how could I steel my heart and blatantly lie? It was the thing that had been burning inside of me more and more this entire time and the reason why I had to tell someone like the girls. Guilt. No matter if fate had deemed it so or because it was just pure luck, but I had ended up in a new body. This entire time I had been waiting for something to change. Like having strange dreams of the previous Young Master¡¯s past or another person suddenly floating around in my head while I went to do my daily business. But nothing like that happened. And with this silence came guilt. Was I the reason why there was no one in this body anymore? I couldn¡¯t help but think so. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I was happy to be alive and enjoyed every moment here even though there were some unpleasant parts. After all, I was lucky to have a second chance like this. But that made me think that I had gained this thanks to stealing it from someone else. I doubted I even deserved something like a second chance considering I had never done anything outstanding or noteworthy in my past life, but fact was I had received it. And now, faced with a grief stricken father and a cold looking ¡®big sister¡¯, this guilt multiplied and made me weigh my options. Telling them the truth would go against everything I had worked towards, it would burn many bridges and make my life a lot harder, if not ending it right away. But that was the worst case scenario and I heavily doubted they could do it even if they were sad. After all I still looked like the guy. Going by the fact that they had given me nearly a month before calling me, it was clear that they hadn¡¯t been sure, but what I previously said only reinforced their fears and worries instead of dismissing them. So they gave me a choice and asked me a simple question. Even though they knew the answer. This, more than anything else, was more a test of my character. I could see that much clearly. Lying would be easy, even lying in a way that would trick them was possible. But was it what I wanted to do? Now don¡¯t get me wrong, I don¡¯t believe in this justice crap or being honest at all. Hell, if at all I would say I believed in the opposite. But what I did strongly believe in was to stay true to at least yourself. That included to always do what you wanted to do or achieve it as best as possible and what was deemed to be inside of your limits. And I didn¡¯t want to crush this poor man¡¯s hopes nor the dream of once again being reunited with his son after all this time. I mean the possibility still existed that I would one day wake up as another person. So I chose the third option. ¡°All I can say is that I don¡¯t remember any of you before waking up, I am sorry.¡± Now this sounded like me saying that I had no idea if I was his son or not, but if one examined this sentence and thought about it a bit more, it could mean something else entirely too. I couldn¡¯t tell them and I was sorry about the lie. A half-truth that would neither put my plans at jeopardy nor completely crush their hopes. But at the same time I was lying to them in a way. And for that I couldn¡¯t help but once again feel a light sting in my heart. Li Kong was looking at me for a long time after my words left my mouth and I wasn¡¯t entirely sure how much time really passed before he finally let out a defeated sigh. ¡°You may leave.¡± It was a simple and short way of telling me to fuck off. Clearly, this had not been what he had hoped for but I decided not to add more fuel to the fire and quietly stood up while exiting the room. A silence that rang far longer than before filled the air after I was gone and a soft hand firmly placed itself onto Li Kong¡¯s shoulder. ¡­. When I returned to the room, I found both girls waiting there for me. ¡°Our search was once again unsuccessful.¡± Hua Ping reported with a downcast face but I didn¡¯t care much for that crazy blacksmith at the moment. After about 10 seconds I decided to just bite the bullet and tell them. ¡°We have a situation.¡± This naturally only helped in putting question marks above their heads as I slowly retold what happened with the Clan Head. When they heard that I was basically ¡®found out¡¯ both girls immediately turned a shade paler and started to tremble a bit before calming their shaking hands and feet. ¡°So what are we supposed to do now?¡± Hua Ping asked, a tinge of fear in her voice. It was clear that she knew better than I what devastating news and possible dangers the current situation brought with it. Even I had the feeling that staying inside the clan could no longer be considered as ¡®safe¡¯ after today¡¯s events. I doubted that Li Min or my father would do anything against me but considering I could definitely not hide anything within this mansion before their eyes even if I wanted to, this place would only spell trouble for me from now on. They were alert and on guard before me, knowing that much, how could I on the other hand not be? I also had not forgotten a certain father and son duo that had it out for me and would love to take action the moment I moved away from here. Basically, after earlier I felt like I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. There were things here in this clan that I definitely couldn¡¯t spit on like being able to live quite leisurely while also having the prestige of the Li clan itself. It helped open a lot more doors than it would close, that much I figured out by now. Just looking at it from a financial standpoint¡­ It was at that moment that I stopped my train of thought and looked at Hua Hong. ¡°How much money do we currently have?¡± The girl quickly reacted to my question and pulled out a small green pouch from between her breasts (a rather interesting place to store things I have to say) while immediately spilling its contents on the table before us. ¡°Thanks to our recent expenses, like paying the painter and ¡®asking¡¯ a few rather shady looking people for information we have about 28 Gold coins left.¡± She said while quickly counting the various coins that were spilled out before her. ¡°How long would we be able to live comfortably in a decent inn while also eating 3 times a day? Remember, decent, not luxurious.¡± ¡°About half a year Young Master, not much more but also not less.¡± This was actually longer than I had expected. Considering the rather expensive price of a hotel or inn, adventurers and cultivators alike only spent one or two nights to sleep at places like that and especially inside a gigantic city like this, one meal was pricy enough. Nobody would spend a long time in places like that normally but I couldn¡¯t really afford to buy a decent house and live in an already packed city like this with a meager 28 Gold, that much I was sure of. It looked like holding out until the Clan Gathering was quite possible but what about other resources I would need? Despite everything, I was in dire need of some pills and elixirs that would help my cultivation tremendously and some real fighting experience could also not be overlooked. My victory before was because I had waited for the other party to exhaust itself and I threw a punch without much technique or finesse behind it afterwards. The result looked mighty, sure, but the truth was quite different from the story. As much as it pained me, I knew lying would have been the smart move today. But what was done is done. I had locked the door and thrown away the key, time to look for a new room. What I meant with that was that no matter how bad things looked, there was always a silver lining. And mine was quite simple really, my past knowledge. If I was able to use it effectively, or even just use simple Xianxia logic, then I would be able to profit quite a bit. Not long ago I had been afraid of a few random scrubs being able to off me in a street corner thanks to my meager cultivation but now things were different. Sure, being careful was one thing but there was little use of hiding all the time now that I had a body that bordered on the Qi condensation stage. I eventually made my decision and decided on the things we needed to do. It was about time to leave the safe zone and start some PvP (And no I was not going to go on a murder spree either, just felt like putting that one out there). ¡­. ¡°I think we got everything.¡± I finally said after shoulder the ¡®bag¡¯. Naturally, this little bag of mine was not just any ordinary ¡®bag¡¯. In reality, this thing contained a bunch of ingredients as well as valuables like the skull and strange ore that I previously picked up and was dubbed as ¡®disguise kit¡¯ by me. Simply because it had a staggering amount of pre-prepared skin colors one could apply, different hair styles as well as an entire week¡¯s worth of costumes to choose from. This little baby was the reason why I waited three days before leaving. I naturally sent one of the girls ahead to book the inn we had previously talked about while also informing the painter of a new base of operations that he could meet us at, should his services be needed. In all honesty I was pretty thrilled about the situation as the ¡®Dragon¡¯s tail¡¯ was famed to be an excellent place to stay at and had a relatively low price tag if one took the quality of the place in consideration. Not only that but I would be able to live on my own again too (kind of). Quite a few people had been surprised when they heard I was leaving and Uncle Mo especially had made a ruckus when I told him the news. Seriously, bless his heart. But in the end I gave a vague reason to everyone that asked me and only hinted towards the Clan Gathering. That was thankfully enough to shut most of them up. There was no doubt in my mind that they all had no confidence in me concerning that little competition and even I was unsure if I was going to go far in it but that was in the distant future. For now, I at least had a new home to get to and a goal. To make as much money as possible and to cultivate more. It sounded quite simple but naturally I wasn¡¯t going to go about it the normal way, my unique cultivation technique alone proved that point. With the girls following behind me I approached the gigantic golden gate and couldn¡¯t help but raise my head up to stare at it for a moment. I was unsure when I would see it again. If and when I returned, everything would probably be a lot different than it was now. The future is a strange thing really. We can try to go against it and cling to the past like shipwrecked clenching a piece of wood in a storm but no matter how much we struggle, eventually we are all swept away. My path was leading away from this place for now, and only fate would entail if I returned as myself or as Li Jun. Honestly speaking, this thought still scared me, that I could possibly lose my chance at a new life but I had no other choice but to embrace the future. Because for me there was no past in this world to cling to. ¡­. Two shadows, one taller than the other watched a muscular man with a somewhat childish looking face and two nearly identical looking maids leave through a small exit beside a pair of gigantic golden doors. They silently stood at the top of the wall that surrounded the mansion of a certain clan and watched these three figures disappear into the distance. Soon enough they were lost in the crowds but nevertheless they still remained standing in silence. Only when a deep sigh was heard did those two descend from the wall and return to their home. A place that they hoped a certain person would return to again in the future. Just like he did in the past. ---- Alright, hope you enjoyed the chapter and leave a comment below if you feel like it. Always nice to read your thoughts or other things. ^^ Wish you all an enjoyable evening and see ya later nerds! [th_084_.gif] Chapter 11 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! So, here is the next chapter and I actually had to rewrite this one a couple of times as I wasn''t too satisfied with it (wanted to post it last night but got tired and it felt a bit iffy so I changed a few things this morning). Also, I am going to put a few things into <> brackets from now on to make reading a bit easier. Hope you enjoy! ---- Chapter 11: One thing that countless stories never tell the tale of when they talk about a world without something like a proper sewer, is the smell. When we walked down the wide and rich streets of the different powers that inhabited Dragon City it was still alright but the moment you went down into a side alley or entered a market, a certain stench invaded your nose. And it was bad. A mix of urine, shit and too many sweaty bodies. Considering that my sense of smell had already been heavily impaired thanks to my daily visit to a certain room of death, it was quite marvelous that I was still able to distinctly make out every little disgusting detail that had eventually filled these streets. So I naturally couldn¡¯t help but wonder if the smell alone would have given me a heart attack before my fateful encounter with the room of death that helped singe some of those fine hairs inside my nose off. A rather peculiar, if not scary thought indeed. But that was something for another time I suppose. Hua Hong was currently leading the way through a thick crowd of people while holding my hand so she wouldn¡¯t lose me. An unnecessary action considering that everybody stepped aside as soon as they saw my gigantic frame but I let her do it if it made her happy to hold my hand like this. We managed to make quick progress and didn¡¯t even have to stop or ask for directions, she was apparently quite well informed of the location to our new, and hopefully temporary home. It still nearly took half the day to arrive at the other side of the city as we had agreed upon to save as much money as possible from now on, so taking a carriage was therefore a no go. Naturally that would have been a lot faster but the walk we had and especially for Hua Hong holding my hand for such a long time, was pretty nice. As long as you ignored the stench that is. Because it kind of ruined any romantic or peaceful mood if you ask me. Seriously, is there no rain ever or are people just that dirty?! I might also be a bit easy to tick off right now after spending such a long time in the crowded streets. This was by the way one of the main reasons why I refrained from personally searching for the blacksmith after the first few days and instead concentrated on cultivating. It was partially to escape this smelly hell. And I mean it¡­ only partially. ¡°We are here, Young Master.¡± Hua Ping said while tapping on my shoulder to get my attention. I had been standing there deep in thought for some time already and people started looking towards my direction with suspicious eyes considering I had examined a certain wall of a building for a lot longer than what seemed healthy. ¡°Ah, sorry about that.¡± I told her with an embarrassed grin and she only showed her pearl white teeth in what seemed like an ¡®I am already used to it¡¯ smile. Before us was a two-story building with paper windows and an outside fa?ade that left one to believe that you were looking at a black scaled beast. The craftsmanship alone was astounding as each corner, doorway and window frame was carved to look like scales which had then been painted black. ¡°Well, let¡¯s go and step into the belly of the beast, shall we?¡± I jokingly said while approaching the door and I could feel a number of people that had heard me roll their eyes behind me. The inside was decorated in a unique fashion too as the overall flair was purposely a darker one. Chairs that had been carved to look like various beasts with countless swords that killed them as the backrest. Tables, seemingly made out of a dragon¡¯s hide and a fire pit in the middle of the room as well as a chimney that stretched into the sky that resembled the pulsating heart of a mighty beast, thanks to the ingenuity of countless craftsmen. It looked absolutely stunning and beyond anything I had ever seen up to this point. There were a few people sitting around here and there as many eyes fell upon us, the newcomers when we entered the room. ¡°Ah, Welcome to the Dragon¡¯s tail dear customers. We serve food, drink and lodging for anyone that can afford it and we also have a rather unique d¨¦cor as you can see, which many other customers quite fancy. Have you come to book a room?¡± A young female attendant asked while approaching us and I could clearly see that she was more than a bit stunned by my wide and muscular frame that towered over everyone present in the room. ¡°We already booked our room.¡± Hua Ping answered while stepping before me, as my body alone had previously hidden her and she showed the female attendant a small golden key in her hand. Immediately the facial expression of the girl changed quite drastically. She hastily bowed deeply before us to the point where her head was about to smack into the floor and a shrill shout from her mouth stunned everyone present. ¡°This lowly one is incredibly honored to meet such important guests as you! Please, don¡¯t hesitate to ask or use me however you wish!¡± A rather heavy silence followed these mindboggling and dangerous words as the girl kept her head down. I mean she wasn¡¯t ugly to begin with but to say something like this before a bunch of other people¡­ Seems like the treatment of someone that had booked the best room in the inn for nearly 6 months is quite different indeed. There naturally were countless better inns in Dragon City as this one was normally never booked by cultivators thanks to its somewhat remote location but we eventually settled on it, the price and appeal of the place was quite to my liking after all. Still, to be greeted like this¡­ ¡°Raise your head please, there is no need for this.¡± I finally said towards the girl. ¡°I cannot! Someone as lowly as me can only do this to remedy the previous blunder!¡± With ¡®blunder¡¯, did she mean the conversation where she treated us in a more casual way? I mean that wasn¡¯t really her fault right? Makes one wonder about the temper of some of the other VIP guests that booked a room in this place for an extended amount time. ¡°Ti Fue, enough. Can¡¯t you see that you are making our honored guests uncomfortable?¡± An elderly voice suddenly resounded from a door to the right and a man, seemingly in his 60s came to greet us. ¡°My name is Ti Yan and I am the owner of this humble establishment. Please forgive my daughter¡¯s casual words on behalf of this old man.¡± He said while clasping his hands before me and bowing deeply. ¡°I was never angry to begin with and there is no need to treat us this way. If at all I prefer the more casual way to begin with.¡± I said with a smile and wave of my hand. The only real reason I preferred it this way was because I hated how everyone else present in the room was eyeing us at the moment. Did I mention that any kind of attention was bad? ¡°As you wish.¡± Ti Yan said while bowing again before doing the same towards Hua Hong and Hua Ping. The action surprised me somewhat considering that it was obvious from their attire alone that the girls were servants of mine, but to treat them with such respect nevertheless¡­ This old man knew his stuff. ¡°Would you like to have a meal first before my daughter will show you to your room?¡± ¡°No thank you, finding our room for now is all we need.¡± I replied and with a wave of Ti Yan¡¯s hand his daughter led us up the stairs into the 1st floor. She still seemed to be somewhat nervous around me despite my previous words. The countless eyes that followed our departure I naturally tried to ignore to the best of my ability but I had a feeling that we were going to run into a bit of trouble later on thanks to this incident. ¡­. ¡°Incompetent!¡± Followed by these harsh words a wave of heat rushed to my feet, wandering up my body and eventually engulfing me before a punch into my gut sent me sprawling on the floor. I coughed, nearly non-stop while holding my stomach as pain shot through my system non-stop My long hair was singed from the flames and my body showed a few burn marks here and there but despite all of this, what hurt the most was the hatred in my brother¡¯s eyes as he looked down towards my sorry figure. ¡°Your cultivation is shameful beyond words to our Lei clan! Born with the Phoenix Physique but too scared to use it, you are a disgrace!¡± I could only lower my head in silence while his venomous eyes looked like they wanted to eat me alive. He hadn¡¯t always been like this. My brother was originally a kind and caring person, especially towards me, his younger sister. But by the time I turned 8 and they found out the ¡®gift¡¯ I was born with, something that was only seen once in a millennium in the clan, he changed. The kind older brother I knew of was overcome with greed and jealousy. ¡®Why did it have to be you; why couldn¡¯t it have been me?!¡¯ was what his eyes seemed to say each time he looked at me from that day onward. He himself was someone with a peak earth grade cultivation talent in the clan which was an incredible rarity, but compared to my ¡®gift¡¯ it was much too inferior. I had seen it as a curse these past few years. It took away my brother, my friends and even my father saw me more as an object than anything else. The only person in the world that still treated me like before was my mother, but that was because she herself was a rather special case. I could feel my heart bleeding whenever I thought of her illness that was slowly wasting her life away and binding her to a bed. Father had long since given up on her and gotten a new wife, an action that disgusted and angered me beyond words but mother only said I shouldn¡¯t hate him for it. Sadly, that was the only thing I couldn¡¯t do that she asked of me. My brother on the other hand I couldn¡¯t hate. No matter how much it hurt and despite the grievances he was bringing me, every time I tried, the image of a kinder, younger version of him would bubble up in my mind. And whatever pain I was in at the moment, just thinking of that past him made it all go away. ¡°Stand up, Lei Xi!¡± A cold voice said, bringing me back to reality as I looked into his dark and clouded eyes. Flames were already accumulating in Lei Long¡¯s hands as waves of Qi crashed against me. Slowly, despite the pain of each of my joints and the burns that filled my body, I did as I was told. A smile, not gentle or kind as it had been in the past but cruel and malicious appeared on his face as he greeted my feeble body with an inferno that knocked me off my feet. The only thing I could feel as darkness overcame me was the fire that seemed to devour my entire being whole. ¡­. I got to say the room itself was quite to my liking. Just like the rest of the inn it followed a certain kind of theme and every single piece of furniture was carved or made to look like it was part of a dragon. Bed sheet that resembled wings, windows that seemed to be the eyes of a gigantic creature as well as walls and a ceiling that were ¡®covered¡¯ in scales. Can I just say that I applaud the effort and craftsmanship that went into this? Because honestly speaking, even a 5-star hotel back in my own world pales compared to it. Well except the bathroom I suppose, but I was going to let that one slide. I talked about it with the girls and we eventually settled on booking only a single room instead of 2 or 3 as we had shared mine back in the clan all the time anyways so it seemed a bit ridiculous to change habits now. With not much to unpack, the 3 of us quickly settled in our new home but we had a new problem now. The bed was big, gigantic even, but putting 3 people into it would be cutting it rather close. Not only that, Hua Ping always had her own until now so this was going to be interesting. I could see that the girls were occasionally looking my way and then towards the bed but decided to ignore it for now. That was something we would figure out at night, for now at least it was time to make some money. How you ask my dear reader? Well I have some ideas. ¡­. The day was bright as the sun high up in the sky shone down on the small stall. This particular stall was naturally my own one. Just like every other day in the past 10 years I was sitting behind the counter and haggling with customers. My wares, which ranged from simple vegetables I previously bought from mortal farmers to rare and potent herbs that were useful in cultivation sold pretty well. It was not the best business on this busy marketplace, but it was my business. I had worked to establish connections and contacts in Dragon City for years now and it had paid off with a solid and somewhat lucrative income. The days passed rather peacefully normally but today seemed to be one of these rare occasions where something exciting and out of the ordinary would take place in this market area. ¡°Come, come, strong men and pretty women of Dragon City and take a look at my Pills! I, Ge Hong have made a new discovery in enhancing existing pills and would like to share this with the world!¡± A voice suddenly clamored, cutting through any and all noise that previously existed in the market area. Many people¡¯s heads naturally turned in surprise and were looking for the source of this voice, only to find a tall and big bellied middle aged man standing at a corner of the market. ¡°Now, now, don¡¯t be shy and take a look at the various pills I have refined.¡± The man loudly said with a beaming smile that seemed to reach the heavens. Grasping behind him, a collection of pills that had a purple color to them appeared in his palm and immediately a strong aromatic scent filled the surrounding air. Interested by the words of this strange middle aged man and somewhat convinced by the strong medicinal scent that was drifting around everyone¡¯s noses, a crowd quickly formed around him. ¡°Step closer and take a look! This is a pill called that has been once again refined by me to increase its effect by more than 10%!¡± The surrounding crowd immediately let out a collective gasp and even I couldn¡¯t help but swallow when I heard these words. Everyone knew that taking a certain pill too many times would steadily decrease the effect it would have to a cultivator¡¯s body as he or she would build up a resistance to the contents. So increasing the effects of a pill by more than 10% would naturally make the whole pill worth a lot more in people¡¯s eyes. Who in their right mind would buy the inferior pill and ingest it after all? I couldn¡¯t help but shake my head though at this middle aged man and his tactics. A few blue eyed youngsters might fall for these pretty and enticing words but it was clear from the outlook of the overall crowd that many had their doubts. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Finally, after a few more minutes of continued advertising from the middle aged man, someone stepped forward. Many eyes landed on this young female, dressed in expensive robes that had an annoyed expression on her face as she looked at the middle aged man who instead only showed her a kind smile. Just going by looks and demeanor alone, I couldn¡¯t but inwardly sigh as this girl was obviously from a rich and powerful background. ¡°What is the name of this pill, old man?¡± The young female asked, a look of contempt on her face. As if he didn¡¯t see her expression at all the middle aged man let out a small chuckle before speaking again. ¡°I have named it the pill.¡± The girl let out a hollow laugh and showed a row of pearl white teeth. ¡°So if I understood this correctly you are trying to sell people this ordinary pill under a different name. You are nothing more than a dirty con artist!¡± Her loud and crystal clear voice echoed in the entire market place and immediately a few people in the crowd who had previously been skeptical of this middle aged man couldn¡¯t help but shout a few words too. ¡°She is right; you are obviously trying to swindle people out of their hard earned money old man!¡± ¡°Even telling us the name of the pill you are blatantly advertising as something special, shameless!¡± ¡°Go back home before some big shot or the market police puts you behind bars you charlatan!¡± Despite the countless voices throwing curses and mean words his way, the middle aged man named Ge Hong didn¡¯t even blink an eye as he looked towards the young female standing before him. ¡°Unconvinced of its effects? Well then take one and see for yourself.¡± Immediately a purple colored pill sailed through the air and was swiftly caught by a slender, white hand. The young female who had previously spoken aloud eyed the pill in her hands dubiously before gingerly putting it between her rosy lips. Immediately the crowd in the market place went deathly silence. Even I couldn¡¯t help but rise from my seat. A nearly inaudible ¡®gulp¡¯ went through the rows of people before the girl furrowed her brow and closed her eyes. Seconds slowly passed and turned into minutes as everyone present waited with a baited breath. The only one who was seemingly calm during this time was Ge Hong as he stood, hands crossed over his bulging stomach, waiting with a smile. After nearly half an incense stick of time, a serious expression appeared on the girl¡¯s face and she opened her eyes. Before anyone in the crowd could ask questions, her crystal clear voice once again resounded in the surrounding area, but this time a bit quieter. ¡°How much for 5 of them?¡± I couldn¡¯t help but open my mouth in disbelief as I fell backwards, only to land back on my chair. The expected scene of this obvious charlatan being called out on his tricks didn¡¯t happen, instead the girl immediately asked for the price of 5 of them. Could it be? The crowd in the area naturally had the same thoughts as fiery gazes immediately fell on the pills in the middle aged man¡¯s hands. ¡°Well considering these pills have been largely refined by someone else and only have an increased effectiveness of 10% I will naturally only ask for a 10% increase of the original¡¯s price. One is 1 thousand Silver coins so one pill will therefore only cost 1 thousand and 100 Silver coins. Is that agreeable with you little girl?¡± Ge Hong asked with a magnanimous smile that seemed to show only goodwill to everyone around him. Once again the crowd was stunned and a few people present nearly fell to the floor thanks to his words. This kind of cheap price was insane! It wouldn¡¯t have shocked anyone in the market place if this new pill would cost 150% of the pill because an increase of 10% was a big thing. But to only sell it at such a low price¡­ This was obviously a once in a lifetime chance! ¡°Hey, old man Ge, give me 10 of those pills please!¡± ¡°I need 20 of them for my 4 sons!¡± ¡°I will take 10 too!¡± A clamor of voices erupted after the young female had conducted her business and quickly disappeared in the approaching masses that flowed towards the big bellied middle aged man like a river flowing into the sea. After only half an hour, Ge Hong had to announce that he had run out of pills to sell. ¡°Fear not my friends of many ages, I have simply run out but that does not mean that there won¡¯t be more. At the first light of dawn tomorrow I will be standing here in this same spot with a new batch of pills, no worries!¡± The before dejected crowd of people who didn¡¯t have a chance to purchase a pill immediately erupted in loud cheers after hearing those words. ¡°Make sure to make more this time!¡± ¡°Yeah, I am going to tell all my friends about it so make sure you have enough in stock!¡± Just as fast as he had appeared before he disappeared again, only this time many eyes followed the departing figure of Ge Hong. Turning my head slowly towards lady Ma that had a stall next to mine I couldn¡¯t help but open my mouth somewhat baffled. ¡°Do you really think he is going to be back tomorrow?¡± The woman simply shrugged her shoulders as her eyes too followed the silhouette of Ge Hong. ¡°One thing is for sure though, should he be here tomorrow and there is no angry mob asking for a refund, then I am going to buy some for my son too.¡± Despite my doubts I couldn¡¯t help but agree that she was right. Maybe I really should bring some more money with me, just as a precaution. ¡­. Looking at the vast amount of silver Coins in my hands that piled up to a small mountain, I couldn¡¯t help but smile in utter glee. In an incredibly short amount of time I had made quite the profit. The girls and I originally had about 22 Gold coins left after renting the room in the Dragon¡¯s tail inn. This money was supposed to be used for things like cultivation and food as well as other things but I had decided to use 10 of our precious gold coins for an experiment. After looking around in a shop that sold pills as well as various herbs for nearly half a day before stumbling upon this very cheap but effective pill called I had slowly formulated a plan in my head. The price for this pill was in reality not even 1 thousand Silver, at least not in the bigger shops that I was looking in. They went for about 800 Silver a piece but that was only because I was flashing my identity as a ¡®Young Master¡¯ around, normal people had to pay the original price of 1 thousand Silver coins. Well the truth was that ¡®normal people¡¯ wouldn¡¯t even be able to afford these pills to begin with. There was a vast difference in treatment for cultivators and mortals. A mortal soldier would get about 1 Silver each month as payment and could barely scrape by a living while a cultivator that was part of the country¡¯s army or city guard would receive a salary of 5 thousand Silver and upwards, depending on his or her cultivation level. The reason for this was quite simple really. A mortal could train their body over years and be an expert of weapons as well as easily swing about 200 pounds of force. While a cultivator on the other hand would be able to instantly increase their power by 50 pounds each time they advanced a layer and that was taking the lowest of all levels in cultivation into account. Let¡¯s not even talk about the case of a cultivator training himself in martial arts that needed Qi or other techniques. The simple but hard truth was that having Qi and not having it was just too big of a gap to cover for mortal soldiers. Someone at the 3rd layer of Foundation Gathering for example alone could easily beat a dozen soldiers or more. The only ones who made more profit than cultivators were merchants, but to be a merchant you needed a quick mind and already preexisting funds to start with. Those two things alone proved to be an immense hurdle for many which wasn¡¯t a surprise considering the low wages and bad treatment that non-cultivators sometimes received. Now you might ask yourself dear reader, how did I suddenly gain enlightenment into pill concocting and was able to enhance this type of pill? Well the simple answer was, I didn¡¯t, not really anyways. When the shopkeeper had first explained to me the effects of the pill he told me that consuming it was quite the struggle as a lot of energy had to be used to consume this type of aggressive pill properly. I naturally ate one as a test run and couldn¡¯t agree to his words more. The Qi that came from this pill once you ate it was like a vicious beast and your body the cage. You had to constantly fight it until you absorbed all the Qi that the pill was able to provide. This process alone wasted quite a bit of Qi from the pill and your body itself, this was one of the reasons why the pill was so cheap too. The idea I had after trying my first pill of obviously low quality was to improve it. I mean I was in no way an expert of anything but there were a few things even I understood thanks to my previous world¡¯s knowledge. Let¡¯s not even talk about the chemical reaction or contents of these various pills in the shop that I was looking at which for some reason contained this mysterious thing called Qi. Everyone knew that a calm mind was needed to properly absorb the Qi in the atmosphere as well as a certain degree of concentration, that was what meditation was used for after all. My idea? Find an ingredient to add to this pill that would help the mind relax and be at peace while absorbing it. I can only thank my own luck that I had already found such an ingredient in one of my previous endeavors around the city. It was called . Now I know what you might be thinking, what the fuck was that? I mean even I had never heard of it considering I knew it under a different name. It was Lavender. Plain and simple. It was something that calmed the nerves, used in various antidepressants and making it into oil was quite the common technique back in my world. They had used this in this world as a form of incense or flower d¨¦cor. No one had apparently figured out that this simple and cheap ¡®weed¡¯ as many called it could be used in medicine or even cooking. I was honestly surprised when I saw this all too familiar plant in a small shop that sold all kinds of incense that would aid in cultivation as well as cover up some nasty smells in your home. Did I know if my idea with mixing lavender and this pill with foreign ingredients would work? Hell no. So I simply made a watery paste out of the lavender I bought and dunked the pill into it. Messing around with this foreign object with who knows how many different ingredients in any other way didn¡¯t seem like a good idea so coating it was my first try. I let the experimental pill sit for a few minutes until it dried and then just gulped it down. This was naturally a bit dangerous but I was ready to throw up at any moment should I feel something was wrong. The intensity of the pill itself didn¡¯t really lessen but the constant smell of lavender that was stuck in my nose after swallowing the pill helped calm my mind a great deal and made absorbing the Qi of the pill easier. Thus my claims that my pill truly increased the amount of Qi were not really wrong, but it was more like the amount you were able to absorb increased, not the actual amount of Qi stored in the pill itself. Color me surprised but my plan had for once worked flawlessly. I feel like I am having it way too easy now so I am beginning to get a bit worried. With my experiment being a grand success I decided to buy a big supply of pills as well as a stock pile of lavender and quickly manufactured them into my precious new money maker. The first batch contained around 120 or so pills that all in all had a value of at least 12 Gold. My next step in my plan was to use a disguise, so I put a wig as well as fake beard on, changed my features slightly so I looked a lot older and stuffed my disguise kit that was mainly used as a bag with loads of bulky things to make it puffy and round. Then I used a hidden feature of the bag and simply put it on my front while adjusting the straps properly. I also removed any sharp or hard items that were contained in the bag itself. A big belly was therefore easily manufactured. After putting some wide clothes on as well as another set on top of it so my tall frame looked a lot bulkier, I was basically finished. I decided to hunch over a bit so my height didn¡¯t quite tower over everything around and turned towards the girls. ¡°So, what do you guys think?¡± I asked them in a huskier and deeper voice that I decided to improvise. They only looked at my transformed self with open mouths so I figured that I had done a good enough job for now. After a few minutes of experimentation with my new voice I finally felt comfortable talking this way and once again addressed them. ¡°One of you will have to help me get the ball rolling and play a certain role for me. Any volunteers?¡± I asked and surprisingly enough Hua Ping actually decided to be the one in the spotlight. Or to put it in another way, ¡°I always wanted to act like a snobby brat from a rich family anyways¡±. Her words, not mine. We went through the dialogue I had prepared for her many times until she could play the whole thing to the point where even I believed it and went on our way. The results spoke for themselves. Even I didn¡¯t think it would be this easy to convince a crowd of people with flowery words and a helper in form of an arrogant rich girl. Do the people of this world really not know how to see through an obvious sham? I mean what I was selling them did work but if the entire population was this easy to trick then becoming a full-time con artist may actually be the way to go for me here. I am obviously joking naturally but it was something to consider. One thing you might be wondering about is why I sold these pills I created for such a cheap price. Well the reason is quite simple really, I didn¡¯t only want to make money. After today I had established myself under a different name. Ge Hong was seen as an elderly figure that always had a good natured smile on his face and instead of taking advantage of others sold his inventions for cheap and didn¡¯t rip people off. He was a saint really, at least that was what people saw him as. And sometimes, Image is a lot more important and powerful than even money. ---- And that is that, a little peek at a different character that will be introduced eventually and the rise of Ge Hong! Hope you liked it and leave a comment below if you feel like it people, always love reading them. I wish you all a wonderful day! [th_059_.gif] Chapter 12 As always, keep in mind that you are reading this from the biased viewpoint of the Main Character! Not everything is the absolute truth! Well, I am back. You guys know the feeling of finally getting some time to yourself and then you suddenly are burried in countless responsibilities as well as forced to attend a lot of schedules to the point were even getting a hint of free time feels like a chore? All I can say is, I hate real life with a passion <3 Anyways, enough of that, here is the chapter... ---- Chapter 12: Once back at the inn I immediately set out to countless Alchemist shops in town and bought as many pills as I could. There were actually a lot more things in these Alchemist shops than just pills that intrigued me. Various poisons from lethal to straight up strange were openly sold to customers and a variety of potions such as metal melting acids or appearance changing ones made my fingers itch for my money pouch. In the end though I remained strong and refrained from needlessly wasting my Silver coins. Although intriguing, these were things for another time when I had the capital to mindlessly spend a few Gold, not right now. Back at our room, with time to spare while I waited for the pills to dry, I once again returned to cultivating. This was not something I had forgotten despite my newfound money making method and I diligently tried to keep at it. There was no real change with my Qi flame as it had barely approached the size of an average ripe apple despite the various pills I had taken. The biggest change and main reason to this was naturally that I had used most of the absorbed Qi as fuel to nurture my tendons. After having ingested 10 or so pills I felt a distinct difference. The girls were currently downstairs to get our dinner and I could hear them enter the room. I had just finished pumping the last bit of Qi into every single tendon in my body when a shiver went through me. It was only small at first but I soon enough started shaking, as audible squirming and cracking sounds could be heard from my body. ¡°Young Master?!¡± Hua Hong anxiously asked while stepping closer to my gigantic frame. I had my eyes closed and tried to determine the cause of this strange occurrence as panic slowly invaded my mind. The shaking continued and I could feel the muscles in my body expanding and contracting uncontrollably. My height jumped and decreased by an entire foot during this entire time and waves of pain surged through me. ¡°Aghh!¡± A sound, half growl and half moan escaped my clenched teeth as the wooden tiles beneath me started to visibly crack. Seconds turned into minutes as the pain together with my moans became stronger. No matter what the girls said to me at this point I couldn¡¯t understand a single word as the only thing on my mind was the agony I was currently in. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, a loud bang, like the sound of a gunshot resounded in the room and every muscle in my body contracted at the same time to their maximum capacity. This time however they no longer expanded like before and simply stayed contracted. Unsure if it was really over or not I gingerly opened my eyes, only to find both girls sitting before me with open mouths. Judging by their distressed appearances, they had been visibly worried but now only shock remained on their faces and I soon enough found out why. My entire body, the massive frame I was so used to had shrunk down to the height and physique of a 10-year-old boy. A very muscular 10-year-old boy I might add, but nevertheless a child¡¯s physique. ¡°What the¡­¡± While looking at my own body I stood up and tried to understand this colossal change. ¡°You can¡¯t be serious world, am I going to stay like this forever now?!¡± I asked aloud, a mix of awe and panic audible in my voice. After calming down a bit and remembering what had happened before, I tried to relax the tensed muscles in my body and another shocking change occurred. My height increased once again, back to my previous peak and even above that, considering that I could now feel the ceiling scraping against the top of my head as I simply expanded like a blowup doll. This time, even I couldn¡¯t help but stare with an open mouth at this unbelievable spectacle. When I once again concentrated and tried to tense and contract my muscles, I was back to the muscular 10-year-old brat. ¡°No way¡­¡± After a few more tries it was clear to me what had happened. Whatever this path of cultivation that I was treading on really was, it now allowed me to change my size and height however I willed it. I had total control over my muscles and tendons but felt a lot heavier overall, despite the small size I could squeeze myself into. Simply put, this was amazing and beyond anything I could have ever hoped for. I mean imagine chasing someone based on their height and build and when you pass the next street corner you only find a child looking back at you. Would you continue chasing or attack the child? Coupled with my disguising technique which was getting better and better each day thanks to my activities, I now had a ridiculously terrifying ability to deceive someone. Other cultivators might see through it but mortals, so about 2/3rd of the world population, would be absolutely helpless against me. This naturally led to another thought. Would I be able to completely change my physical structure, appearance and even have the ability to regrow body parts once I had filled each and every corner of my body with Qi? Because if so I was going to turn into a monster more than anything else, and I was loving it. ¡°Is everything ok Young Master?¡± Hua Hong finally asked with a concerned expression on her face which finally brought me back to reality as I had been staring at my hands for a while now. ¡°I am fine, more than that actually. I am fan-fucking-tastic.¡± I said with a laugh as I clenched my right hand into a fist. ¡°W-what was that earlier?¡± Hua Ping asked after a round of silence and it only dawned on me then that I had never told them about my unique cultivation method before. ¡°Well, I broke through to another stage¡­ I think.¡± I eventually said, still somewhat unsure if that really was the case or not as there were no guidelines to follow or a book that explained everything to me. ¡°Wait, you broke through? I mean that is good, but what happened to your body Young Master?¡± Hua Ping continued to question me with a furrowed brow as she just didn¡¯t understand what I meant with ¡®broke through¡¯. ¡°Alright, so to put it into simple terms, I have a unique way of cultivating that involves my body more than anything else and I think I just broke through to the Qi Condensation stage, at least my body did.¡± Once again a round of silence went through the room as both girls looked at me with eyes round as golf balls. ¡°And this unique way of cultivation the Young Master managed to pick up where exactly?¡± Hua Hong inquired, with a face that seemed to say that she already knew the answer to that question. ¡°I invented it myself.¡± ¡°Young Master!!!¡± They both shouted at the same time while immediately giving me a lecture about how dangerous that was and how it could have incredibly negative impacts on my body as well as lead to my death. Naturally I already knew all of that but I wasn¡¯t messing around with something as unreliable as ¡®Meridians¡¯ or ¡®Qi paths¡¯ so I didn¡¯t really see an issue with my method at all. After about 2 hours I was finally able to convince them that I knew what I was doing and that it was not anything outrageous so that they could calm down again. The pills I had prepared previously were long since finished and night time had descended around us. Even the dinner they had brought up had been forgotten until now and I decided to only eat 2 delicious meat buns before jumping into bed. It was then that we all remembered another thing that we had forgotten about until now. How we all would be sleeping in 1 bed from now on. Glancing to their shadowy silhouettes that stood on either side of the bed while I was already lying in the middle of it, I couldn¡¯t help but audibly sigh. ¡°I am not going to eat anyone and we will have to get used to this eventually so stop messing around and go to sleep.¡± I would be lying if I said that my heart didn¡¯t skip a beat when I felt them both slip under the covers with me but I tried to keep my thoughts clean. An awkward silence filled the dark room and to keep my mind from wandering I decided to simply close my eyes and get some shut eye. As interesting as this scenario was with my lower region showing some dangerous activity, I wanted to be a gentleman in this situation to the best of my ability. Not for them mind you, but to keep myself from being an early father. Condoms were not a thing in this world and any sort of protection like the pill had not been invented yet. Having kids now would really be the last thing I wanted so forgive me for not doing the obvious, despite how damn tempting it was. I had been counting sheep mentally for a few minutes already when I felt something move to the left of me. My first thought was that one of the girls was simply turning around. This naturally immediately changed when I felt an arm as well as body coil around me. Hua Hong had done this countless times back in the clan but to do it now when her sister was in the same bed with us¡­ This girl was dangerous. Despite the incredible stimulation, I tried to keep calm but another wrench was immediately thrown my way, destroying whatever peace of mind I previously had. And this one came in the form of a hand that was placed on my crotch. Finally having enough, I opened my mouth and spoke aloud in the complete darkness that surrounded us. ¡°You know that counts as sexual harassment, right?¡± ¡°Oh really, does it now?¡± A voice answered as the hand retreated again and my mind and body froze when I realized that it was Hua Ping who had responded to me. Oh lord, what did I get myself into with trying to save some money and only getting one room? ¡­. Despite the awkward sleeping situation, we were currently having the days pass by us rather peacefully. The name ¡®Ge Hong¡¯ had made its way known to many in Dragon City thanks to word of mouth. In only 1 week I was able to make over 20 Gold coins with this new pill. Now, the money was good and all, but I was starting to hit a sort of roadblock. No matter if it was viewed as something useful and interesting to many, my pills would only help someone properly in the Foundation Gathering stage, that much was evident after my body entered the Qi Condensation stage. Thanks to this the people who were intrigued had already bought their ample supply from me, so demand was steadily decreasing. But that wasn¡¯t the biggest issue. Even though the amount of pills people bought overall decreased, I still required tons of pills each day. Where is the problem with that you ask? Well because I was using the identity as the Young Master of the Li Clan in Dragon City, buying thousands of pills had already started to draw some attention from various shops. So connecting my real identity and Ge Hong would not take much longer if I kept this up. It was clear from the decrease in demand as well as this little problem with my identity being revealed sooner or later that I had to switch brands. I would have to either come up with a new alteration or actually create my own pills from scratch this time. Sure, I had some ideas concerning both but my knowledge about Alchemists and how they operated was just too limited at the moment as their trade was not easily shared, that much I was able to find out. Just like this I was contemplating my future actions while selling pills in my disguise as Ge Hong when an unusual figure suddenly approached me. And with unusual, I mean dressed in extremely expensive and colorful clothing. Something you don¡¯t see every day in this area of the city as this was more of a commercial district than the settlement of powerful families or clans. ¡°You must be Ge Hong I suppose?¡± The man asked while stroking his small goatee. His attire consisted of a dark red robe that had an imprint of a golden dragon on it as well as a few other accessories such as a shining bracelet that chimed similar to bells each time he stroked his beard, which he seemed to do a lot. ¡°And who might you be?¡± I threw back while keeping a friendly smile on my face for appearance¡¯s sake. ¡°My name is Chen Lu and I am from the 7-star auction house. I am here today to look at the man that was hailed as a saint by many and to also propose a small deal, if you are interested that is.¡± The man said while giving me a mysterious smile and examining my big frame from top to bottom. Thanks to my ability to change my height and width via will I was now able to pull off an even more realistic version of Ge Hong so I didn¡¯t feel too naked beneath this direct stare. This had actually not been the first time that a certain power of the city had tried to rope my new identity in. A few days prior a middle sized clan with the surname of Reihu had tried to invite me to a visit with the promise of beauties and money, as having an Alchemist in their midst would improve their position greatly. I had naturally tactfully refused while also gifting them 20 of my pills to show some goodwill. They hadn¡¯t been pleased but the small gift I gave them showed that I was at least not enemies with them and also gave their clan a lot of face. This was something I had done on the spur of the moment but it had turned into a saving grace for my wellbeing in the end, so I was quite grateful to my instincts. I vaguely remember the name of ¡®7-star¡¯ auction house from the girls as I had asked them many different things when I woke up in this new world. The word ¡®auction¡¯ only helped in sending a chill down my spine as it was true that many benefits could be reaped from a place such as that, but that was not all someone could gain there. I had not forgotten that no matter which novel I read, it always turned out the same way. The main character would inevitably run into trouble in the place they called ¡®auction house¡¯ in this world. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but am I seriously the only one who remembers the countless times things went from pretty ok to near death in auction houses? Or from being an unknown visitor to a mortal enemy with the strongest clan in the respective city? Yeah, it was that kind of bad that you would be able to gain from those places, which was why I had tried my hardest to stay as far away as possible from anything that even resembled it until now. Once again, maybe I was just being paranoid considering that the various authors of those books just really needed to create situations that made little sense and would inconvenience the main character for the plot¡¯s sake but you never know. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. Maybe the word ¡®auction¡¯ was simply a taboo word in a Xianxia setting. I mean the facts support this wild theory quite well. ¡°And what would this deal be if I may ask?¡± I cautiously asked while mentally weighing my options if running away suddenly without a word would create a big scene or not. ¡°Well first of all we would like to invite you to the coming event, the monthly auction that will be held in 4 days. This is the only day each month that our doors open for customers as we spend the rest of the time collecting various treasures and goods that will hopefully please many. And with this we are coming to the second reason as to why I am here. For being able to attend the auction as well as watch it all from the VIP area, reserved for only the most important of guests, we ask only for a batch of your new pills so that we can display them at our auction. You will naturally be paid the standard price you ask of all others beforehand and we will only make the profit that your product will bring us in this auction, it is quite simple really.¡± This naturally did sound quite simple but I was darn sure that was not how it really was. Despite my pills being a new thing on the market and was being received extremely well, their low price and limited use made them very unattractive for any big-shots of the city. So why then would one of them, the 7-star auction house which was renowned for their wealth and information network want a batch of my pills? Well to lure me into their circle of course. I was an unknown figure that they still knew very little about so they saw this as an opportunity to invest in me. That was probably how they judged things at least. I saw it for what it was. A chance to look at and buy a few things I would normally never be able to find even at a black market. Despite everything I have previously said, I was quite intrigued in attending this auction, really. I mean the main reason for my interest was because I was promised to be in the very safe and secluded VIP area as well as my previous increase in strength, but that was beside the point. Attending this auction may be the only chance I would have to acquire a few things that would help me in the coming Tournament that was still about half a year away. I mean theoretically there were still 5 more auctions to be held from the 7-star auction house alone until then, but that was the problem. It was a theoretical possibility. What if I was not in the city at the moment of one of the auctions? What if something extraordinary happened that would make me inevitably leave the city for a good while, what then? I would lose my chance; it was simple as that. So right now I felt quite torn. Either say no and continue in peace, or agree and be put into a possibly bad as well as dangerous situation thanks to the usual Xianxia setting. This was not an easy decision to make, especially for someone as paranoid and scared for his life as me but I eventually leaned towards saying yes, despite my brain telling me that I was being a complete idiot. ¡°How many pills would you need?¡± I asked in the voice of Ge Hong with not even a trace of the inner battle I had just left behind me visible on my face or audible in my words. ¡°I think 500 would be a good number, is that going to be a problem?¡± Chen Lu inquired with another strange smile. ¡°That will be a bit tough but if it is for the friends of the 7-star auction house, how could I dare to decline?¡± Mentally I was just laughing at this small number as even 5 thousand would have been no problem for me to deliver if one took the little amount of effort it took me to change a into a pill into account. ¡°Good, very good. I hope you keep your end of the deal and that we will see each other again in 4 days¡¯ time ten. Farewell, Ge Hong the Saint.¡± I waved him off with a beaming smile while inwardly sneering. This guy looked nice and easy going on the outside but he gave me a bad feeling and I was starting to trust my instincts a lot more these days after that incident with the Reihu clan. Especially the way he had called me a ¡®Saint¡¯. Did he really think I didn¡¯t see the arrogant and mocking glint in his eyes? Despite my misgivings about this representative of the auction house that obviously looked down on me, I was internally thrilled and quickly wrapped up my business in the market place. Simply telling them that I had run out prematurely was easy enough, as no one stayed to count how much I had really sold today. Telling the few customers who were unable to purchase some of my pills that I would be back tomorrow with more, I swiftly returned to the inn. I didn¡¯t have to wait long for the girls and after telling them a quick summary of today¡¯s events we started to discuss who would come along with me. The reason why I only wanted one of them to accompany was simple enough. Although of common birth, Hua Hong and Hua Ping were incredibly beautiful twins that looked very similar to each other. This similarity and beauty would attract many eyes should they arrive together with ¡®Ge Hong¡¯ and a few members of the Li clan or other influential powers familiar with my real identity might even recognize them. This in turn would once again create an unwanted connection between my real identity and the new one I had just created. Therefore, only one of the girls would come with me to the event under the condition of being somewhat disguised too. Hua Ping didn¡¯t like dressing up to look different each day to begin with but to do it again and this time so that it would lower her natural beauty by a huge margin¡­ well let¡¯s just say she quickly allowed her sister to accompany me on the day of the auction¡­ Just from the way she had basically escaped this issue it was clear that she held her own beauty in a much higher regard than Hua Hong and I couldn¡¯t really blame her for that either. If a god or the heavens had gifted anyone else with such features they would surely protest against anything that would lower that beauty with all their might, simply out of principle. Hua Hong on the other hand was delighted that she would be able to attend such an event with me, even if both of us would look nothing like our usual selves. If I didn¡¯t know any better, I would have thought that she saw this as some kind of date but just the idea seemed too ridiculous, even in my mind. We would be heavily disguised and between countless powerful and domineering individuals with massive backgrounds. There would definitely be an invisible pressure on our shoulders the entire time while we had to take each step as if treading on thin ice. Whoever saw this as a happy go lucky date was not quite right in the head. Maybe my mind was wandering in this strange direction because of Hua Hong¡¯s aloof smile or by the way she was searching through my pile of disguises to find the best one, but I was starting to get a bad feeling. Everything was going to go smoothly and without any major incidents at that auction, right? ¡­. ¡°How did you get those bruises?¡± My mother asked immediately after I entered the room. Despite my efforts in hiding them with a bit of face powder as well as wearing long sleeves she seemed to see through it all with just a glance. ¡°I exchanged a few pointers with some seniors of the clan and was not careful enough.¡± I replied with a noncommittal smile. Seeing her brows furrow despite her pale face, I couldn¡¯t help but evade her piercing glare. ¡°I had really hoped you wouldn¡¯t lie to me. Has your father not talked to your brother yet to stop his violent tendencies?¡± She asked and I could feel the knot in my chest squeezing a bit tighter when I heard my mother talk about father. I was told not to hate him after he abandoned mother the moment she fell ill so he could look for a new wife, but that was the only thing I could not do that mother asked of me. ¡°He did, but Lei Long only wanted to show me his new technique and I was simply too weak to receive it, there is no need to worry.¡± Even with my body aching like this while I lifted my hand to guide the spoon full of soup to my mother¡¯s mouth, I couldn¡¯t really hate my brother. Lei Long had fallen into a dark place ever since my unique physique became known to the world and had pushed his importance in the clan down by a big margin. It was clear that he blamed me for it, but so did I deep down. I blamed my gift for taking away my big brother from me and all I could do these days was hope for him to wake up from the nightmare he was trapped in while silently enduring his hate filled gaze. We remained in silence for the rest of the meal while I was feeding her. My mother had contracted a rare and incurable disease many years ago with an unknown origin, making her frail and weak beyond compare, to the point where even lifting her hand had become a chore. Dark circles were under her eyes and with her pale skin as well as fallen in cheeks her prior beauty was nowhere to be found. If someone had told me that my beautiful and strong mother would one day fall to this level I would have demanded for the person to be executed on the spot, simply for trying to smear dirt on the crystal clear image I had of my own mother. Now however, there was no way to shut my eyes or turn away from the truth. Countless doctors and physicians had examined her over the years and all came to the same conclusion. Something was sucking the life out of her. She would die in a mere 2 years if this drain on her body as well as spirit continued, but because no one could find a probable cause, not a single one of those countless doctors and physicians was able to procure a cure. Sure, there were countless miracle like drugs as well as herbs that existed in this world but they were as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns. It was something one would stumble upon but not something one could hope to find even in an entire lifetime. Any hope in my heart to see the strong and powerful mother from a few years ago again had been extinguished when even the most well-known doctor in all of Dragon City, Cang Gong had told me that he knew of no cure. This sudden disease in my mother had appeared shortly after giving birth to me but she had kept this fact hidden with the help of countless drugs and medicines, until 3 years ago where nothing seemed to work anymore. Her physical appearance and strength that was far above the Body Enlightenment stage thus disappeared practically overnight and all that remained was the weak and frail body of a previous female expert. Just looking at her like this when she didn¡¯t even have the strength to eat filled me with bone-deep sorrow. My thoughts were quickly disrupted by the sound of a door being pulled open behind me and when I turned my head I saw the person I hated the most in my life standing before me. ¡°Lei Xi, you know you can leave this to the countless maids in the clan, why aren¡¯t you cultivating instead?¡± My father asked with a disdainful look when he saw me holding a spoon to the lips of his previous wife. ¡°What do you want?¡± I inquired with a frosty expression and voice, not even deeming his presence worth another look. A sigh resounded behind me and I was thankful that he remained standing next to the door and didn¡¯t step inside the room. ¡°I came to inform you that we will both be going to attend the coming auction of the 7-star auction house and that you will be able to meet your fianc¨¦ there for the first time too.¡± Before his words even had the chance to fully dissipate I turned around in a blur while anger quickly made itself apparent on my face. ¡°What are you talking about?! I don¡¯t have a fianc¨¦!¡± ¡°Well as I have just informed you, yes you do. You will be able to meet him in 4 days so no need to be nervous.¡± He replied with a calm voice, completely ignoring my visible anger. ¡°I am not nervous. I have no fianc¨¦ and I will not go with you because I have never agreed to anything like this in the first place!¡± My insides burned with an uncontrollable fire as I stared into his expressionless eyes and all I could think was how I hated him for what he was trying to do to his own daughter at the moment. ¡°I have already spoken with the head of the Gen Clan about the marriage and it is a decided thing so there is nothing you can do to stop it. Should you still be unwilling to meet your future husband then I will naturally take your view into consideration but let me tell you something else. This coming auction is rather special because I was told that there will be an incredibly rare and precious herb for sale which is not found even once in a millennium. And this herb is said to be something that can heal anyone, even from the brink of death. I think you understand my meaning with this, right?¡± The way he was smiling during his explanation, with his eyes full of confidence made me grind my teeth in anger once again but the news he was bringing filled my heart with a glimmer of hope for the first time in months. If there was a way to safe her with this¡­ I no longer internally resisted his proposal of meeting this ¡®fiance¡¯ and he seemed to noticed this change as well because he left without another word. That he had not spared even a single glance towards mother despite the time spent talking to me once again made my insides burn with anger, but the thought of a possible cure quickly blew away every other distraction in my mind. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go. He knows he can''t really force you.¡± Mother said beside me with a weak voice while grasping my hand and I immediately gently squeezed it, but my mind was only filled with a single thought. If I had to meet and possibly even marry someone I didn¡¯t know just so that my mother could live¡­ then that was worth it for me. After all, she was the only person left in my life that I truly held dear, and for her I would even spend it in misery if it meant that she would remain by my side through it all. ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright.¡± I whispered back with eyes cast down on the sickly pale hand held in my own. ---- And that is that for now. The few observant people around this place will naturally notice that this chapter was a tad shorter than normal but it seemed like a good place to end it for me and I will try to make the next one longer in turn, to make up for that. I know some people don''t like the switch away from our destined MC''s POV but for what i have planned it will sadly be a reccuring thing. Still, maybe the average chapter length that is triple that of other stories on this site can somewhat make up for it for those people who feel cheated out of some of the possible story. ^^ Hope you have a wonderful time and just to make things clear, no I will not just suddenly disappear again. For now things are fine and should this happen again, I will get my lazy as well as sorry ass to at least make an announcment for it. Peace out! :GG: