In his past, he didn't make too many friends. Just a couple of few to let him not feel alone outside.
But there was one who he met later who would become his best friend later on.
Despite having different personalities, there would still be no conflict between them. They had spent great times from the end of school to the middle of university.
His best friend also had a different life than him. He was born into a family burdened with debt, so he wasn't able to enjoy the luxuries of youth like others.
Maybe because Yu Jing wanted to stay alone most of the time, they were able to get along so well. Disaster struck as his best friend dropped out of university after the debt went out of control.
Yu Jing had seen the hope in his eyes that, after completing university, he would get a better job that would make his debt go away, but that shattered. Things got worse when his mother died of illness. With no financial support, it was bound to happen.
The guilt of not letting his mother have a better life took over.
His brother didn't go to school because of the teachers' constant nagging about filling out the fees. He went rough and started doing drugs at a young age.
The guilt of not letting his brother get a better life took over.
His father disappeared somewhere in the meantime, leaving them alone.
The guilt of not k*??l1ng his father took over.
In the end, he took his life, leaving not a single message to others, not even to Yu Jing.
The last time Yu Jing saw his friend, he had the exact same face as the last time he saw him.
Suddenly, Yu Jing asked with a heavy heart, startling Victor. "Brother Victor, are you afraid of disappointing your family?"
Tears started to flow down from his eyes as Yu Jing's words poked his deepest feelings. "Ho- how do you know?"
"Brother Victor, I might sound rude, but you were a mortal too. Your life is basically no different from ours." Yu Jing said it with a warm smile. "So, please don't think of anything that could disappoint them. You are a cultivator, you are meant to go against fate. Think about the glory you can bring with your strength. Think of all the admiring eyes you will receive when you set foot on the peak. Think of the life you can give your family with your strength."
"Don't give up and truly become useless as someone like me."
Gritting his teeth and holding back his tears, Victor said it with strong conviction. "I promise I will never give up."
"Now sleep and don't think about anything else." Yu Jing left after seeing Victor regain his will.
[ Bearer of Connate Province Detected (Victor): A mortal who was lucky enough to get low grade spiritual roots. But because of having all his resources stolen, he wasn't able to make much progress like others. He was almost about to end his life full of regrets. Fortunately, the Mortal Sword God's words woke up his true self and changed his tracks of destiny. ]
Yu Jing nearly tripped over reading that. 'What the heck? I am still not the Mortal Sword God. Hell, I would be proud if I had even an ounce of it. So, how did my words even influence him?'
'Hello, system. Are you there? I need an explanation.'
[ Sorry, host. You have to figure it out yourself. Try to learn something by yourself and not be ready to be force feed by the Almighty System. ]
'Tch, useless.' Despite Yu Jing scoffing at the system, he understood what the system meant. 'I guess I have something to look forward to in this peaceful state.'
The next day, Yu Jing woke up from a rare sleep. Because of Victor, he didn't cultivate.
Yu Jing slept on the mattress as Victor slept on his bed. When he glanced at his bed, he saw that Victor was no more. He went outside and saw Victor swinging his sword.
'From the looks of it, he started practicing before sunrise.' Nonetheless, Yu Jing went to greet him. "Good morning, brother Victor. How was your sleep?"
Victor stopped his sword practice and greeted Yu Jing with a big smile. "Sleep is almost nonexistent to cultivators, Yu Jing. Last night, I was recovering from my injuries. When I felt I was close to recovering, I came outside to stretch my body."
"Wow, cultivators are awesome." Yu Jing blurted out in awe.
Victor felt proud to see Yu Jing's gaze, but then he remembered he was still at the bottom of the barrel in the world, so he retracted his pride.
Seeing it, Yu Jing nodded secretly. 'Good, good, good. You are just a 3rd Stage Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, even lower than me. How dare you become proud.'
"Yu Jing." Suddenly, Victor called him, making Yu Jing curious. "I have decided I will participate in the inner sect disciple exam, which will happen four years later. If I can achieve something in it, I will continue cultivating. And if I don't, I will die searching for an opportunity."
"You have changed, brother Victor." Yu Jing said with a warm smile, but inside, he was screaming loudly. 'What do you mean you will die!? Why is the word death always roaming in your mind? This idiot hasn't changed! Did he brew a suicidal habit?'
"I will take my leave now; you have work to do anyway. I will come when I have time." Victor left, waving his hands.
"Good luck." Yu Jing waved his hands back. The next moment, his face turned stern. 'I have to do something about this suicidal maniac or he will die.'
As he headed to his work station, he let out a heave of sigh. 'System, you have to increase the rate of pulls. This work is taxing.'
Three years passed by in the blink of an eye.
Yu Jing, who was now tall and full of strength, woke up from a deep state of cultivation. "This strength should be convincing and safe."