Li Wei and Leng Yue appeared near a serene riverbank, surrounded by a beautiful forest. The sunlight filtered through the dense trees, casting a warm glow over the lush greenery. The river flowed gently, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the vibrant colors of the surrounding flora.
Li Wei felt his stomach churn as teleportation nausea hit him. He managed to keep his composure, quickly checking himself to ensure everything was intact. Fingers, toes, head—all accounted for. Meanwhile, Leng Yue watched him with her usual calm, frosty demeanor.
Noticing her gaze, Li Wei cleared his throat awkwardly. From the old Li Wei's memories, he recalled avoiding Leng Yue out of jealousy over her rapid cultivation improvement. How pathetic, he thought. Now he was in an awkward position.
Before he could come up with a proper response, a system prompt appeared before him:
Side Quest: Command Leng Yue to Scout the Area
Objective: Any true young master has a powerful lackey to boss around. Command Leng Yue to scout the area.
Reward: 50 EXP, 10 System Coins
Li Wei's eyes widened. Great, a quest that could get me killed if I'm not careful, he thought. Still, he put on a confident face and addressed Leng Yue.
"Leng Yue, scout the area and report back," he commanded, hoping his voice didn't betray his nerves.
Leng Yue bowed and replied, "As you wish, Young Master." She took out a flying sword from her spatial ring and ascended into the air gracefully, leaving Li Wei to his thoughts.
He decided to walk along the riverbank, admiring the beauty of the place. At least the scenery is nice, he thought. But soon, his eyes caught sight of a female figure bathing in the distance. Panic set in as he quickly realized a cliché situation was about to unfold.
I do not need this right now, he thought, turning to leave. But as he did, he bumped into what felt like a brick wall. Looking up, he found a towering man blocking his path.
"Presumptuous! You dare spy on the lady of my Liu Clan!" the man roared, lifting Li Wei by the collar. "I, Zhao Feng, will not let you off!"
The commotion caught the attention of the lady in the river. She turned, revealing her stunning appearance: long, flowing black hair and piercing green eyes.
"What's the meaning of this, Zhao Feng?" she demanded, her voice sharp.
Zhao Feng pointed at Li Wei. "This spy! I caught him peeping at you!"
Li Wei couldn't believe it. This shameless guy was spying too and just happened to find me first, he thought bitterly. But he decided to play along for now.
The woman's eyes narrowed as she looked at Li Wei. "Turn away and wait there. I will deal with the peeper myself," she commanded angrily.
This can't be good, Li Wei thought, glancing around nervously. Where is Leng Yue when I need her?
The woman quickly dressed and approached Li Wei. She wore a form-fitting robe that accentuated her curves, with intricate embroidery marking her clan's status. Her wet hair clung to her face and neck, adding to her fierce beauty.
Li Wei swallowed hard, trying to maintain his composure. Great, just what I needed—an angry, beautiful woman ready to flay me alive. Could this day get any worse?
Her green eyes burned with anger. "Who are you?" she demanded.
Before Li Wei could answer, another system prompt appeared:
Side Quest: True Young Masters Fear No One
Objective: Talk down to the unknown pair.
Reward: 100 EXP, 20 System Coins
Li Wei inwardly groaned. This system should call itself the Courting Death System, he thought. But not one to back down, he accepted the quest.
Putting on his most imperious expression, he addressed the woman. "You are unworthy of hearing my majestic name. In fact, it is your honor that I have deigned to look upon your lowly self. You can thank me by kowtowing naked and confessing your wrongs."
GASP.
Zhao Feng was left speechless. Not even a young master from a high-level clan would make such an outrageous demand. He must've gone mad from fear, Zhao Feng thought.
The woman's face darkened, a forced smile twisting her lips. "Good, good," she said through gritted teeth. "Watch how I, Liu Mei, deal with you."
Just as Liu Mei prepared to strike, her pupils shrank, and a powerful presence descended upon them. Leng Yue landed gracefully beside Li Wei, her icy aura radiating authority.
"Are you alright, Young Master?" she asked, her tone calm and emotionless.
Li Wei tried not to show his immense relief. "I'm fine," he said, keeping his voice steady.
Leng Yue glanced at Zhao Feng and Liu Mei, her expression mildly curious. "I sensed these two earlier, but they're so weak I didn't think they'd be a problem. The man is only a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, and the girl is late Qi Gathering."
Zhao Feng and Liu Mei felt their hearts sink. Zhao Feng, among the best in Crescent Moon City, and Liu Mei, a talent of her generation, were utterly outclassed.
"Who are these people?" Zhao Feng thought, his confidence shattered.
Li Wei seized the moment, smirking. "I knew that," he said, waving dismissively. "I just wanted to test their character."
At that moment, a prompt appeared:
Side Quest Complete: Scout the Area
Side Quest Complete: True Young Masters Fear No One
Rewards: 150 EXP, 30 System Coins
Li Wei smiled. This is a perfect opportunity to complete the main quest, he thought, emboldened by his rewards. He looked at Zhao Feng and Liu Mei, both trembling with fear.
"Now that you've seen Mount Tai, it's time to properly apologize," Li Wei declared, his tone dripping with arrogance. "I won't repeat myself: kowtow and confess your wrongs."
GULP.
Zhao Feng and Liu Mei exchanged terrified glances. This madman really intends to go through with it, Zhao Feng thought, utterly defeated. Liu Mei, her earlier fury replaced with dread, hesitated, scanning for a way out of this humiliating situation.
Li Wei's smirk widened. Perfect. This is going even better than I hoped.