After Ling had finished testing some dubious 'medicine' on the man, she surveyed the disheveled figure before her.
"By the way, what's your name again?" she inquired, busily organizing the herbs she had used.
Tsk, what a waste of time.
The man stared at her incredulously. "My name is too precious for me to share with the likes of you!"
I can't believe I ended up in this world with such an arrogant jerk.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Consider yourself lucky you're good-looking, or I would've left you in a ditch somewhere," Ling remarked casually. The man's eyes widened, and he frantically searched for something.
"WHERE'S MY MASK?!"
Mask? What mask? Ling regarded him as if he were insane.
The man drew a sword out of thin air and pointed it at Ling. "You've seen my face, so you must die!" he declared menacingly. Unbeknownst to him, Ling felt no threat from his aura.
Useless system, why is this man acting so frantic? He seems utterly bizarre.
[This useless system has no idea. Wait a minute, I'm not a useless system!]
"Stop acting like I've massacred your entire family. I just saw your face, big deal. You're not even that attractive," Ling retorted, though she secretly acknowledged his devastating good looks.
The man pondered for a moment, then lowered his sword and suppressed his intimidating aura. He realized it wasn't wise to offend the hand that fed him.
"Don't breathe a word about this! If you do, I'll find you!" After issuing his threat, the man vanished into the cave's outskirts without a trace, leaving Ling bemused.
"What a weirdo, not even a thank you," she muttered to herself.
[Rewards obtained!]
"By the way, what should I call you?" Ling asked the voice.
[My creator bestowed the name AR-1009/wqy ver.2 upon me, but you can call me my nickname, 'FuFu.']
Night fell as Ling finished gathering herbs. She noticed a rectangular jade name tag attached to a rock in the cave, bearing the inscription 'Xiao Yun.' On the back, it read 'Great Leader of the Demon Gates Cult.'
A cult member? How ominous! But this token might be valuable. I wonder if I can sell it.
[My host loves money above all else.]
[Mission acquired!]
[Mission: Find your way out of the forest! - Rewards: 20 points]
What? Forest? I thought I was by the bay! Ling realized she was indeed surrounded by trees.
[Tsk, host should pay more attention to her surroundings.]
It took her five days to escape the forest, a frustrating experience. Now she was hungry, eyeing the food stalls longingly, but lacking the funds.
[Host, your hunger bar is low. Please eat to regain energy and train as soon as possible.]
What do you mean "train sooner or later"? At this rate, I'll starve!
With no other option, Ling pitifully stared at the displayed food. After walking for ten minutes, she grew tired and sat near a store. There, she witnessed a grand procession of golden soldiers and a prince's carriage.
In the vibrant heart of the bustling city, under the warm glow of the midday sun, Ling sat atop a stone pillar, her eyes wide with wonder. Before her, a breathtaking sight unfolded: a procession of horses, each adorned with resplendent golden armor, galloping proudly through the cobbled streets. Behind them, a magnificent golden carriage, adorned with intricate carvings and glinting in the sunlight, moved with an air of regal grace.
This spectacle was unlike anything Ling had ever witnessed. The rhythmic clattering of hooves against cobblestones filled the air, mingling with the excited whispers of the onlookers. It was a parade fit for royalty, and Ling's curiosity piqued, she turned to the townspeople around her, her eyes wide with intrigue.
"Who is the owner of such a grand procession?" Ling inquired, her voice barely audible over the din of the crowd.
The response came in a hushed tone, as if speaking the name alone invoked a sense of reverence. "That man is none other than Li Qiaoyun, the third prince of our Jingyan Kingdom," a nearby merchant answered, his eyes shining with awe.
Ling's gaze remained fixed on the majestic carriage, her mind racing with newfound knowledge. Prince Li Qiaoyun, she learned, was a figure of both respect and intrigue in the kingdom. He was not just any prince; he was the third prince, a man of considerable influence and cunning intellect. Ling couldn't help but admire the air of mystery that surrounded him, the enigma of his character.
The Li family, a lineage entrenched in the annals of history, had ruled the kingdom for generations. Under the wise and just Emperor Li Qing, the kingdom thrived in an era of peace, protected by an assembly of brilliant minds.
Li Qiaoyun, it seemed, was a man of paradoxes – a righteous yet cunning prince who had earned the favor of the current emperor, Li Qing. The Jingyan Kingdom, in turn, was a realm steeped in history, where the Li family had ruled for generations, presided over by an emperor known for his intelligence and just rule.
Jingyan Kingdom's strength lay not just in its rulers but in the myriad talents that populated its court. Here, genius martial artists, philosophers, generals, and scholars congregated within the palace walls. The wealth of knowledge and might within the kingdom dissuaded any neighboring powers from daring to challenge it, thus ensuring years of uninterrupted peace.
A tapestry of alliances and rivalries painted the political landscape. Four influential families, Wang, Qi, Li, and the formidable Xiao family, provided the bedrock of support to the kingdom. Whispers of the Xiao family's hidden young master, whose aura could allegedly wreak havoc on a continent, lent an air of unease to their power.
Though the Xiaos had remained loyal to the palace, the kingdom's internal politics threatened to disrupt the peace they had long enjoyed. With power-hungry court officials and a constant threat to the royal family, it seemed that their tranquil years might be drawing to a close. Yet, the emperor had refrained from taking action, perhaps in acknowledgment of the potent backup that the Xiaos possessed.
Not limited to noble families, Jingyan was also a realm teeming with powerful sects and cults. The heavenly cloud sect, renowned for its martial artists, aimed to cultivate immortals dedicated to the glory of the kingdom. Its leader, the youthful Lu Yanqin, possessed a century of loyalty to the throne.
Intrigue surrounded the Bloody Eye sect, a faction born of the enigmatic Demon's Gate cult, specializing in agents, assassins, and spies. Mo Li, their rumored leader, was an enigmatic figure, closely linked to the cult's master. A sect once shrouded in secrecy had reluctantly emerged into the public eye due to past incidents, but they remained elusive to commoners.
The Yin-Yang cultivating sect pursued the path of immortality, much like the heavenly cloud sect. It had an ancient leader known to be a thousand years old, yet the true identity of the great leader remained a secret. With a millennium of history, their influence was undeniable.
A unique sect, the purple Mist sect, consisted exclusively of female cultivators and was guarded by female immortals. Wu Yuanyi, their leader, was rumored to be an ageless beauty, and her detachment from love and enmity set her apart. Isolated from the rest of the kingdom and devoid of male presence, the sect maintained an air of mystery.
At the pinnacle of these factions was the Demon's Gate cult, an enigmatic entity that dealt in assassination, espionage, and intrigue. Notoriously difficult to find and unwilling to accept money, they demanded sacrifices that piqued their interest. Whispers of their leader, a five-millennia-old demon, struck fear into the hearts of all who heard of them, even the mighty emperor.
Ling wiped her runny nose with the back of her hand, glancing around the unfamiliar surroundings. The city was bustling with activity, and she felt like a lost kitten in a storm. She shook her head, trying to focus on her current situation.
With a determined expression, she straightened her back. "Alright, time to find a way to get food" She scanned the busy street, searching for any clues or opportunities that could help her survive in this mysterious world.
As she walked through the lively market, Ling overheard snippets of conversations about the powerful factions and sects in the Jingyan Kingdom. The Demon's Gate cult, in particular, seemed to be a topic of fear and intrigue among the locals. Ling couldn't help but wonder if her encounter with the injured man had something to do with these dangerous organizations.
But if they're so powerful, how did that man end up so severely injured? Ling pondered, her head spinning not just from hunger, but also from these unsolved mysteries.
Fufu, I'm starving~~~
[Host, perhaps you should take this mission seriously.]
Nah, why bother? As long as I stay out of it, let them kill each other while I enjoy steamed buns!
Speaking of which, steamed buns? Now I'm hungry again! Ugh! I hope one day I can savor delicious food. For now, I need to complete more missions and earn more points, Ling encouraged herself.
Unbeknownst to her, a man in black was tailing her in a dark alley.
"Why would master give his token to a foolish girl?" he murmured, disappearing into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Ling sneezed irritably.
"Achoo! Who's cursing me?" she grumbled, annoyed by the unseen force.