Su Yan, Yun Xiu, and Yu Mei walked inside the house. Hun Yu was about to follow them when he suddenly noticed a strange smell emanating from his clothes.
It was an unpleasant mix of dirt and sweat.
"Might be because of those bandits," he thought, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Then he remembered the perfume he had received in the starter pack.
Visualizing it, a bottle made of pure glass with an intricate imperial design appeared in his hand.
The bottle was elegant, with delicate patterns etched into the glass, catching the light in a way that made it sparkle.
He sprayed some on himself, the refreshing scent immediately masking the odor, and placed the bottle back in his pocket.
He headed inside the house. As soon as he entered, Yun Xiu and Su Yan turned their heads towards him. The change in his scent was immediately noticeable.
Su Yan approached him and, closing the distance, sniffed the air around him. "Why do you smell totally different now?" she asked suspiciously, her eyes narrowing.
"And not just any smell—you actually smell quite good."
"I..." He was at a loss for words, caught off guard by her scrutiny. Why hadn't he thought this through? Now he would have to come up with a plausible explanation.
Slowly, he took out the bottle of perfume. It was made of pure glass and looked so beautiful that anyone would want to possess it.
The bottle's craftsmanship was evident, with its intricate designs and the way it felt perfectly balanced in his hand.
Su Yan took the bottle from his hand and examined it closely, her curiosity piqued.
"Where do you get such good things?" she asked, her eyes not leaving the bottle. "First that sword, and now this beautiful bottle."
Without answering, he took the bottle back from her hand, not wanting to delve into the origins of his possessions. Instead, he sprayed some perfume on her.
As she smelled the fragrance, she noticed it enhanced her already pleasant scent, making her smell even better.
The transformation was remarkable, and she couldn't help but feel a little more at ease.
"Just be careful with what you carry," she warned, her tone softer but still firm. "You never know what kind of attention it might attract."
Quickly, she took the perfume from Hun Yu and walked over to Yun Xiu, who had been watching from the side.
Yun Xiu was curious and allowed Su Yan to apply some on her as well. After smelling the perfume, Yun Xiu's expression brightened—what woman doesn't like to smell good?
Suddenly, a screen appeared in front of Hun Yu. He read the contents:
{Mission: Convince Yun Xiu, the Sect Master of the Sky Wind Sect, to accept you as a personal assistant. Time limit: 1 month.
Rewards: Unlock Shop, 5 energy points.}
{Accept/Reject}
As he read the mission, his first thought was, "Are you kidding? Accepting me, a non-cultivator, as an assistant?" But then he noticed the rewards.
If he could unlock the shop function of the system, he might get something valuable and possibly become a cultivator. He pressed 'Accept' since there was no penalty for trying.
He looked at the two girls, who seemed to be enjoying the perfume's scent.
"It seems the Sect Master likes this product very much," he suddenly said. "Although I want to give it to the Sect Master for saving my life, I can't since it is a family heirloom," he continued. "But it can be given if the Sect Master fulfills one condition of mine."
Yun Xiu, intrigued, considered acquiring this perfume that made her smell ten times better. "I am listening," she said.
"The condition is that the Sect Master must accept me as an assistant and provide me with some work.
I may not have cultivation talent, but I can use my sharp intelligence to assist you in your daily tasks," he said, his request evident in his voice.
Yun Xiu raised an eyebrow, considering his proposition. "You want to be my assistant in exchange for this perfume?"
"Yes," Hun Yu confirmed. "I believe I can be of help to you. And who knows, maybe you'll find my skills useful in ways you hadn't expected."
Yun Xiu glanced at Su Yan, who shrugged slightly, then back at Hun Yu. "Very well," she said.
"I will accept your condition. But remember, this position comes with responsibilities. Do not take it lightly."
Hun Yu bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Sect Master. I won't let you down."
Yun Xiu nodded, a faint smile on her lips. "We shall see. Now, let's all rest. Tomorrow, your duties will begin."
As Hun Yu settled in for the night, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety.
The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, he felt a sense of purpose. He closed his eyes.
Su Yan glared at Hun Yu, her frustration evident, but she held back as Yun Xiu began to speak.
"Hmm... Okay, I don't have a problem with that," Yun Xiu replied after a moment of contemplation.
"But you must prove your value within three months as an assistant. Otherwise, there's no point in having you in that role," she stated in a composed tone.
On the side, Su Yan stood with her mouth agape in shock. Did the sect master just accept a normal person who isn't even a cultivator as an assistant?
After some time, Hun Yu went outside with Yu Mei, leaving only Su Yan and Yun Xiu in the house.
Su Yan turned to Yun Xiu, her curiosity overcoming her. "Sect Master, are you sure about this? Hun Yu is just a regular person."
Yun Xiu smiled softly. "Sometimes, even the most ordinary people can have extraordinary potential. Let's see what he can do. Besides, if he fails, we lose nothing."
Su Yan nodded slowly, still processing the unexpected turn of events. Meanwhile, outside, Hun Yu felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.
The mission had begun, and he had only three months to prove himself. He glanced at Yu Mei, who had been silently supportive throughout.
"Yu Mei," he said, "I need your help to make this work. Could you please put in some good words for me in front of them?"
Yu Mei smiled. "I'll help you, Big Brother Hun Yu. Don't worry."
inside the house Su Yan looked at the Yun Xiu and asked "Um, Sect Master, if it's not rude, may I ask why you accepted his condition? He was obviously lying about the heirloom stuff," she remarked in a composed tone.
Yun Xiu closed her eyes, nodding in agreement. "I know. I'm just interested in what he wants to achieve, and I also want to know how he got such a thing, which could be sold for millions of gold coins.
There seem to be many mysteries around him. Let's see how long he can hide," Yun Xiu mused.
Hearing Yun Xiu's words, admiration flowed in Su Yan's eyes. It seemed the sect master was truly the most powerful and intelligent woman in the world to her.
Seeing Su Yan's admiring gaze, Yun Xiu sighed. "Okay, you should go back; your grandpa should be waiting," she said. Su Yan nodded before leaving.
"And take that girl, Yu Mei, with you," she added before Su Yan left.
Outside, Su Yan looked at Yu Mei, who was nearby.
She glanced at Hun Yu with a hint of anger in her eyes, still remembering the despicable means he used to defeat her. With a huff, she walked towards Yu Mei.
"Little girl, the Sect Master has told me to take you to the sect with me," she said to Yu Mei.
"But..." Yu Mei began to protest, wanting to stay in the beautiful place.
"No buts. You are coming with me," Su Yan insisted. "And I forgot to mention, there are many candy shops in the sect," she added, knowing Yu Mei liked candy very much.
Hearing about the candies, Yu Mei hesitated. She turned to Hun Yu and asked if she should go.
Hun Yu told her to go with Su Yan, and with that assurance, she said goodbye and left with Su Yan.
As they left, Hun Yu sat silently on the ground, contemplating the recent events. But there was a bigger problem on his mind.
It was Yun Xiu herself. Every time he was near her, his heart raced faster and faster.
She seemed to have a magnetic effect on him, like a fairy enchanting a mere mortal. He shook his head, wondering how he could have such thoughts.
She was on a whole other level in terms of status and power, while he was just a normal mortal.
This sensation was entirely new to him; he had never experienced anything like it with any other girl.
Hun Yu gazed at the sun as it began its descent, casting a warm glow over the landscape. A sudden voice interrupted his thoughts, causing him to stumble over a rock and fall.
"You can live in the shack beside the house," Yun Xiu said.
He nodded, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions and events.
After some time, he walked towards the shack. Although it was modest, it was enough for him to sleep in.
It was not as bad as he had expected; it seemed well-maintained and furnished.
He slowly sat down and turned to look out the window, but suddenly he felt a strange sensation.
He placed a hand over his chest, feeling a tingling sensation. Concern etched across his face, he pressed his hand firmly against his chest.
Suddenly, a sharp, searing pain pierced through him. With a gasp, he stumbled to his knees, clutching his chest as darkness encroached upon his vision.
Collapsing onto the floor, Hun Yu's mind raced. "What's happening to me?" he thought, panic rising within him.
The pain intensified, radiating through his body. His breathing became labored, each inhale feeling like fire in his lungs.