The morning sun was fully risen by the time Li Feng found himself standing at the entrance of the Li Clan estate, its towering gates looming over him with a cold, indifferent aura. Returning here felt like crawling back to his own humiliation, yet the System's recent quest nudged him forward, dangling the promise of power just out of reach. If he wanted to prove himself, he would need every advantage he could get.
Inside, the usual whispers began as he passed. Li Feng, once the revered young master, was now treated like a ghost, lingering at the fringes of his family's respect. But with the Celestial System in his mind and the "Charming Aura" quest active, he was determined to turn those whispers into admiration—or, at the very least, grudging respect.
He paused at the sight of a familiar figure by the training grounds: Chen Li, his childhood friend and the only person in the clan who hadn't distanced himself. Chen was practicing a simple sword form, his expression intensely focused, completely oblivious to Li Feng's approach. The sight brought a rare smile to Li Feng's face.
Perfect, he thought. The System had ordered him to gain an ally, and who better to start with than someone who had always been on his side?
Clearing his throat dramatically, Li Feng crossed his arms and called out, "Chen Li, training hard as ever, I see. Maybe if you practiced a bit less, you'd look as fresh and dashing as I do!"
Chen Li jolted out of his stance, blinking in surprise before breaking into a grin. "Li Feng! You're back. After last night, I thought… well, I thought you'd need a few days to cool down."
"Please," Li Feng replied with a casual wave. "The elders' opinions slide off me like water. Besides, I didn't come back to hear more from them. I came back to see you."
Chen Li raised an eyebrow, a flicker of curiosity in his expression. "See me? What's gotten into you?"
Li Feng let his smile turn conspiratorial. "Let's just say I'm working on a new… approach. One that might benefit both of us. How would you like to train under someone with serious ambition? Together, we can make this clan take notice."
Chen Li's face lit up, but he hesitated. "I'd love to, but… what kind of 'ambition' are we talking about, exactly? You've had some pretty wild ideas before."
Li Feng chuckled, leaning closer. "Let's just say I've found a way to get stronger—a lot stronger. And it doesn't involve kissing up to the elders. All I need is someone I can trust, someone who has my back no matter what. What do you say?"
The System pinged again, signaling a success.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the quest: Master of Charm.]
[Reward: Cultivation Boost +5, New Skill Unlocked: Charming Aura]
The surge of power that flowed through him felt invigorating, like a jolt of pure energy pulsing through his veins. It was a subtle boost, but he could feel his body respond, his senses sharpening, his confidence settling even deeper into his bones. More than that, he could feel a strange, warm aura radiating around him—an invisible charm that made his words sound a little sweeter, his presence more magnetic.
Chen Li's hesitation faded as he nodded. "All right, Li Feng. I'm in. Just… don't do anything too crazy, okay?"
Li Feng clapped him on the shoulder. "When have I ever done anything crazy?"
Chen Li's skeptical look didn't escape him, but he ignored it. They strolled together back to the main courtyard, where a few other young disciples of the clan were practicing their forms under the watchful eye of the clan's combat instructor, Elder Wen—a man known for his quick temper and even quicker strikes. His eyes were trained on Li Feng and Chen Li the moment they stepped onto the training grounds.
"Well, well," Elder Wen sneered. "If it isn't the disgraced young master, finally deciding to show himself again. Here to disturb our training?"
Li Feng's gaze met Elder Wen's without flinching. The "Charming Aura" skill seemed to hum in the background, as if reminding him of the newfound power he could wield with it. He inclined his head politely, a mocking smile tugging at the edges of his lips.
"Disturb?" he said smoothly. "Elder Wen, I was only hoping to join in the training. After all, if I'm going to restore the Li Clan's reputation, I'll need to stay sharp."
Elder Wen's face twisted, his eyes narrowing at the implication. But rather than snapping back as Li Feng expected, the elder paused, his eyes flickering with something unreadable.
The System chimed in his mind once more.
[New Quest Available: Demonstrate Your Worth]
[Task: Win a sparring match against one of your fellow clan members in front of Elder Wen.]
[Reward: +10 Cultivation Points, +5 Strength Points.]
Li Feng's smile grew as he turned to the group of disciples. His gaze settled on one of them—a burly young man named Zhu Bao, who had never missed an opportunity to make life difficult for him.
"Zhu Bao," he called, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Care for a friendly match? I could use a warm-up."
Zhu Bao scoffed, his arms crossing over his chest. "A warm-up? Against you?" He laughed, a loud, mocking sound that echoed across the courtyard. "I'll make this quick, then. Don't want you running home with a bruised ego."
The crowd murmured with excitement, gathering to watch as Li Feng and Zhu Bao squared off in the center of the training ground. The sparring circle formed around them, and Elder Wen's sharp eyes observed every move, clearly expecting Li Feng to fail.
But Li Feng's confidence didn't waver. The Cultivation Boost he'd received from the System made his body feel lighter, faster, as if his limbs were charged with new strength. His "Charming Aura" skill seemed to sharpen his focus, as if subtly influencing Zhu Bao's posture, telegraphing his next move.
Zhu Bao lunged, his movements fast and powerful, aiming to knock Li Feng off balance in one hit. But Li Feng sidestepped smoothly, a playful smile gracing his face as he danced just out of reach.
"Too slow, Zhu Bao," he taunted, feeling exhilarated.
Enraged, Zhu Bao swung harder, his strikes becoming wild and sloppy in his frustration. Li Feng took advantage, ducking under one of Zhu Bao's poorly aimed punches and delivering a quick, powerful jab to his opponent's chest. Zhu Bao staggered back, momentarily stunned, his face a mixture of surprise and fury.
Without missing a beat, Li Feng closed the distance, using his newfound agility to execute a graceful sweep that knocked Zhu Bao's legs out from under him. Zhu Bao crashed to the ground with a loud thud, groaning in defeat.
The crowd fell silent, stunned. Even Elder Wen's eyes widened slightly, his previous disdain replaced by reluctant respect.
[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Demonstrate Your Worth.]
[Reward: +10 Cultivation Points, +5 Strength Points.]
Feeling the surge of power once again, Li Feng took a deep breath, standing taller, his confidence solidifying with each quest completed. He looked down at Zhu Bao, extending a hand to help him up, and said with a smirk, "Thanks for the warm-up."
As Zhu Bao reluctantly accepted his hand, Li Feng glanced up to see Elder Wen watching him with a calculating look. It was clear that his little display hadn't gone unnoticed.
But it was Chen Li's expression, a look of admiration and trust, that truly mattered. For the first time in years, Li Feng felt a glimmer of hope. The System's power was real, and it had given him a chance to reclaim everything he'd lost.