The sun was blazing. The air shimmered with heat.On a narrow mountain trail, two girls walked side by side, shaded by a single oil-paper umbrella the color of celadon.
The girl on the left had skin like snow and jet-black hair cascading down her back. Graceful and slender, she looked like she belonged in a painting. Her companion on the right was all sunshine—round cheeks, almond eyes, and a smile that flickered in and out like candlelight in the wind.
Together, they made a scene so picturesque that even the passing outer sect disciples—on their way to train, no less—slowed down to gawk.
"Zijin-jie," the cheerful girl asked, "wasn't Senior Brother Kong supposed to escort us on this trial? Why'd we come all the way to Blueheart Hall for some iron-brand guy? People are gonna laugh at us—saying our Shui Mirror Hall can't even produce a proper escort."
Zijin smiled faintly beneath the umbrella. "It's our first time out of the sect. Better to be safe than sorry. Brother Kong is strong, no doubt—but he's rarely left the sect, let alone served as a field Iron-Brand. Talent doesn't cover every situation outside. Sometimes experience is worth more than raw power."
"Oh~" The other girl nodded. "So this Iron-Brand we're finding—he's more experienced?"
"Let's just say… he's special. You'll see. Just trust me."
"Okay, I always trust you, Zijin-jie!"
"That's more like it. Come on, let's hurry—"
"Achoo!"
Somewhere not far away, someone sneezed with the force of a collapsing pagoda.
Ugh. Someone must be gossiping about how handsome I am again.
Silas Jiang rubbed his nose and trudged onward down the stone path. He had just reached a fork in the road when a commotion up ahead caught his attention.
"Hey! You think you can bump into me and just walk away?"
"S-senior brother, I'm terribly sorry! I was thinking about the technique our master taught this morning—I wasn't watching where I was going…"
"Yeah right! You ran into me on purpose, didn't you? So what are you gonna do about it, huh?"
A towering outer sect disciple was puffing up like a blowfish, looming over a scrawny new recruit who looked one stern word away from tears.
Just then, a familiar box popped up before Silas's eyes.
[System Notification: Choose Your Action]
🟢 Option 1: Step in and lecture the bully about sect unity and loving your juniors.Reward: Hunyuan Body Technique (Mystic Grade - Mid Tier)
🟡 Option 2: Pull the younger disciple behind you and offer to pay the compensation yourself.Reward: Thunder Dart (Yellow Grade - Mid Tier)
🔵 Option 3: Shout "Elder Lin is coming!" and blend into the crowd.Reward: Two Low-Tier Wood Spirit Stones
⚪ Option 4: Walk past and mind your own business.Reward: +1 Random Basic Attribute Point
Oooh. That first one's tempting—a Mystic-Grade cultivation technique for a little righteous scolding? Spicy.Third one's nice too. Just yell and vanish into the mob—quick stones, no risk. Efficient!Second one... Wait, Thunder Dart? Uncle Xu once said it can kill someone from eight hundred miles away. Now that's spicy and deadly!So naturally... I choose Option Four.
Without a flicker of emotion, Silas Jiang walked straight past the scene, eyes locked forward.
[System: Task Completed. Reward: Strength +1]
Strength again? Seriously? That's six times in a row now. I'm starting to feel like a bodybuilder on magical steroids...
Shaking his head and muttering to himself, Silas Jiang made his way up a stone stairway to a quiet lakeside.
Ahhh. Now that's more like it.
He took a seat on the stone steps and closed his eyes, letting the breeze—carrying faint traces of lake water—brush across his face like a cool whisper from the heavens.
Then came a soft sniffling.
He opened one eye.Sitting nearby, curled up like a sad dumpling, was a junior martial sister sobbing into her knees. Her delicate face was streaked with tears and injustice.
Before he could sigh, three new options blinked into view.
🟢 Option 1: Offer her the Mozi Pastry in your pocket.Reward: Eight-Treasure Linglong Ruler (Mystic Grade - High Tier)
🟡 Option 2: Gently ask what's wrong.Reward: Grade-Six Tranquility Pill
🔵 Option 3: Turn around and leave.Reward: +1 Random Skill Point
Wha—EXCUSE ME?! Handing over a snack gets me a high-tier mystic weapon?! What is she, a legendary princess in disguise!?
Heart racing, Silas Jiang immediately chose Option Three, spun on his heel, and power-walked away like his life depended on it.
[System: Task Completed. Reward: Painting Skill +1]
Painting? I didn't even glance at the scenery!
Sighing in relief, he took the long scenic route around the mountain, as he always did. By the time he finished, he'd triggered seven more options:
+2 Strength
+1 Constitution
+1 Zither Skill
+1 Alchemy
+1 Formation Crafting
+1 Insect Taming
Ah, what a peaceful, uneventful day at Guixin Sect.
Feeling rich in obscure talents, Jiang Beiran sauntered into the dining hall, ordered his favorite Jade Delight Platter, and sat at a corner table.
A bite of steamed bun, a bite of cabbage, a dash of fragrant oil—life was good.
At the next table, two disciples were whispering.
"Hey, did you hear? Senior Brother Luo Bei from Zhenwu Hall got seriously injured yesterday. Hall Master Song even summoned Healer Bu from Tranquil Mind Hall overnight."
"What?! But Luo Bei's Whirlwind Saber Technique was already perfected! What kind of monster did he run into?"
"They say… it was an internal conflict. He was injured by another sect member."
"What? An inner fight!? Then it must've been—"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!"
Silas Jiang shook his head and sighed.
Talent. Always the most dangerous trait in a sect full of jealous psychos.
Finishing the last bite of bun, he wiped his mouth, cleaned his dishes, and stepped out into the sun.
Now where should I wander this afternoon? Been to Little Bear Peak so often, I'm starting to grow moss there...
Just as he stood there debating which direction to waste his time in, a familiar voice called out.
"Silas ?"
He turned, eyes lighting up. "Senior Brother Lu!"
"What luck," Lu Bogui grinned, waving. "I just got back and ran into you already. Have you eaten?"
"Just finished." Silas jogged up, grinning back.
"Join me for another round?"
"Sure!"
Back in the dining hall, Lu Bogui ordered a jug of Cold Spring Wine and a mountain of beef. They sat near the window, the late sun casting warm stripes across their table.
"So," Silas asked, accepting a drink, "you were gone a long time. Did something happen on your trip?"
Lu Bogui nodded. "Trouble, yeah. Fighting broke out again in the Silas Jiang region."
"Another war?" Silas paused, wine in hand. "I wonder how many sects will get dragged in this time…"
Pouring himself a drink, Lu Bogui chuckled. "You should worry about yourself first. So—found your master yet?"