Location: Lotus Sun Sect – Elder Hall, Midnight
Lighting: Dramatic and uncalled for
Current Threat Level: Apparently "classified"
---
I sat across from Elder Lianhua in the dimly lit hall.
There were candles.
There was tea.
There was a spiritual pressure that made me nearly pee.
She folded her arms and stared at me.
"I've reviewed the duel," she said. "You should be dead."
"Trust me, that's my daily motto."
She slid a scroll across the table.
"Shadow Trade System has infiltrated at least three sect disciples. Possibly more. You are one of the few… unstable enough… to be immune to direct conversion."
"So, I'm your secret weapon?"
"No. You're our disposable bait."
"…Cool cool cool. I feel valued."
---
> [System Alert:]
New Mission: "Break the Chain – Phase 1"
Objective: Investigate sect pill division for possible system anchor
Bonus Objective: Don't die
System Bribe: +20 Spirit Coins & a free Mystery Noodle Bowl™
---
"Wait," I said. "Did my system just offer noodles as a mission reward?"
Lianhua blinked. "…What?"
"Nothing. Secret spirit technique."
---
The next day, I was disguised as… well, me. Because according to Lin Yumei, "No one takes you seriously anyway, so just walk in."
Yura slapped a fake badge on my robe: "Alchemical Assistant Third Class – Temporary Probation Division."
Yue Lan facepalmed as she handed me a list of names.
"If anything explodes," she said, "run back here."
"If anything breathes weird, I'm running."
---
Inside the Pill Division, it smelled like burnt ginseng and overcooked plot twists.
I met my guide: a nervous guy named Ren Huo, who kept sneezing into his cauldron.
"Are you the new assistant?"
"Allegedly," I said.
"Just don't open Drawer 7."
"…I already don't like that sentence."
---
As I pretended to clean shelves, my system pinged.
> [Scanning spiritual signatures...]
Anomaly Detected:
Name: Mei Lian
Position: Pill Crafter, Senior Apprentice
Signature Match: 38% Shadow Trade Affinity
Risk Level: Medium
Bonus Note: Wears too much perfume
I turned and saw her.
Elegant. Beautiful. Smiling too much.
Too calm.
Too... villainess-coded.
---
She approached.
"You're new."
"Spiritually, yes."
"I've never seen you here."
"I like to move in silence."
"Like a fart?"
"…Yes."
---
> [System Suggestion:]
Distract target
Check storage cabinet 3A
Do not open Drawer 7
(Seriously. Don't.)
---
I nodded. "Mind if I borrow a few herbs?"
"Only if you promise not to break anything."
"I never make promises I can't cry over later."
She left.
I crept over to cabinet 3A.
Inside was…
A tiny glowing cube.
> [System Alert:]
System Anchor Detected
Function: Packet relay node
Origin: Shadow Trade
Stability: Weak – can be severed
I grabbed it.
Everything exploded.
---
Okay—not everything. But definitely the cabinet.
Ren Huo screamed.
Mei Lian spun around, eyes glowing red.
"You touched my node?!"
"...Not on purpose?"
---
Suddenly—
> [Battle Detected:]
Name: Mei Lian
Cultivation: Late Foundation
System Enhancement: Shadow Pathway
Skills: Poison Veil, Vein Bind, Charm Infliction
System Override Requested… Declined.
She lunged at me.
I threw powdered turtle shell in her face.
She screamed, blinded.
I ran.
---
Just before she could recover, Yue Lan and Lin Yumei burst in through the window.
Like actual heroes.
Yue Lan flung a talisman.
Lin Yumei sliced through the exploding cauldron like butter.
Together, they sealed Mei Lian inside a glowing prison rune.
---
> [System Notification:]
First Anchor Severed.
Infection Rate in Pill Division: Down by 31%
Mission Progress: 1/5 Nodes Purged
Reward Received:
20 Spirit Coins
Mystery Noodle Bowl™
Extra: Cult-Linked Perfume (Uncommon – Smells Like Betrayal)
---
Back in my room that night, I slurped the noodles and sighed.
"I just wanted to be lazy. Now I'm on a demon-hunting squad."
Yura peeked in.
"Are the noodles good?"
"They taste like responsibility."