Yi Ming was draped in a pristine white robe, his hair tied up in a high bun adorned with an intricate crown. Despite the style, his long, thick hair cascaded down to his knees in a shimmering black curtain. As he stepped out of the cave's entrance, two young men dressed in blue disciple robes rushed toward him with urgency.
"Grandmaster Xue!" they exclaimed, clasping their hands and bowing deeply in salute.
Now bearing the name Xue Laohu, Yi Ming winced as a sharp, pulsating headache surged through his skull, his hand instinctively clutching his forehead in pain.
"Where… where is this? Where am I?" Xue Laohu asked, still massaging his temples as the dull ache persisted. The two disciples exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes wide with shock, but quickly composed themselves.
"This is Sect Mount Dingbu," one of them replied hastily. "Grandmaster Xue, you underwent qi deviation and secluded yourself in the mountain range to recover. Do you not remember?"
Of course I don't recall any of this! Yi Ming shouted inwardly, the frustration gnawing at him. But outwardly, he maintained his composure and merely responded with a curt, "Mn."
As they left the mountain range, they finally arrived at Sect Mount Dingbu. The architecture was breathtaking—elegant structures adorned with intricate carvings and ornate detailing, each building radiating a sense of grandeur and history. At the entrance of the vast courtyard, stone tiger statues stood as vigilant guardians, their fierce expressions frozen in time.
Xue Laohu's attention was soon drawn to the Lord of the Mao clan, who awaited him at the entrance, ready to greet him. "Grandmaster Xue, it is truly a pleasure to see you overcome your qi deviation. This is surely a testament to the great immortal's strength," Mao Jing Xu said warmly, his wide smile crinkling the corners of his eyes as he pulled Xue Laohu into an embrace.
Xue Laohu, feeling stiff and disoriented, could only manage a low, begrudging "Mnn."
Mao Jing Xu, the Lord of Mount Sect Dingbu, was a tall and lanky man, his body deceptively strong despite his thin frame. A long, well-kept beard framed his sharp features, and his hair was neatly tied into a high bun. He radiated the aura of a seasoned elder, both wise and eccentric. Leading Xue Laohu inside, he signaled for a servant to bring tea.
As Xue Laohu sat down, his hand remained pressed to his forehead, still rubbing in vain, hoping that the repetitive motion would wake him from what felt like an absurd, unshakable dream. Yet, no matter how many times he blinked or how hard he pressed, the reality around him stayed disturbingly vivid.
"Grandmaster Xue, do you not think it is time for you to find disciples?" Lord Mao asked, blowing into his cup of tea before taking a hasty sip. A grimace flashed across his face as he instantly burned his tongue, causing him to fan his mouth in a comical display.
Watching this, Xue Laohu set his own cup down with caution, not daring to risk the same fate. He observed Lord Mao's tongue turning a vibrant red, pulsating from the burn.
Once again, Xue Laohu responded with a noncommittal, "Mnn," his mind far too preoccupied to offer anything more. With his tongue still out, Lord Mao mumbled through the pain, "You must be tired. Please, rest well. We can continue this conversation another time."
"Thank you," Xue Laohu replied, bowing slightly before he turned and made his way to the bedchamber.
The room was simple yet elegant, with dark wooden beams stretching across the ceiling and soft lantern light casting long shadows on the polished floor. Xue Laohu lay down on the large bed, the silk sheets cool against his skin, though his mind remained far from calm.
It'd be nice if I knew what the hell is going on here, he thought, frustration gnawing at him as he stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling.
Just as the thought finished, the sound of someone clearing their throat pierced the quiet of the room. He jolted upright, heart pounding, his eyes darting left and right. The room was still—empty. No one was there. His breath quickened as a faint glow flickered before him.
Out of thin air, a screen appeared, glowing faintly in the dimly lit room. His eyes widened in disbelief as words began to scroll across the surface. A raspy voice echoed, filling the room with an eerie presence.
USER HAS FIVE DAYS TO UNLOCK SHOU MC
Xue Laohu blinked, his mind reeling. What in the world was happening? The screen hovered, silent and foreboding, as if waiting for him to respond.
He hesitated, then raised an eyebrow, speaking into the stillness. "Alright… and if I don't? What happens then?"
The raspy voice returned, more menacing this time, followed by a faint cough.
FIVE DAYS. THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS NOW.
Before Xue Laohu could question further, the screen flickered to reveal a countdown—five days, ticking down second by second.
Yi Ming, now fully inhabiting the body of Xue Laohu, furrowed his brow. This has to be a dream. There's no other explanation. With a huff, he turned away from the screen, dismissing it as another figment of his imagination.
Over the next four days, Xue Laohu opted to ignore the bizarre countdown, choosing instead to indulge in the serene life offered to him at Sect Mount Dingbu. He spent hours basking in the warm sunlight, letting the golden rays soak into his skin as he rested in the courtyard.
During his leisure, he found himself listening to the maidens recite poetry, the maiden's sweet voice mingling with the rustling of the trees. Sometimes they would sit together, sipping fragrant tea while overlooking the lush mountain landscape.
Xue Laohu also explored the sect, wandering through its winding paths, marveling at the grandeur of the architecture and the tranquil beauty of the surroundings. The delicate blossoms that adorned the pathways, the quiet chirping of birds, and the distant sound of waterfalls brought a sense of peace he hadn't known in years. It was easy to forget the strange events, easy to let himself believe this might be some extended, surreal dream.
But even in his contentment, a gnawing sense of unease lingered in the back of his mind, reminding him that the clock was still ticking. Four days had passed, and he hadn't taken a single step toward understanding what was required of him—or what might happen when the time ran out.
Late that night, just as Xue Laohu began to drift into a restless sleep, a sharp, wheezing sound pierced the stillness, sending an unpleasant chill down his spine.
"WARNING! WARNING! 24-HOUR COUNTDOWN! WARNING! WARNING!"
The blaring voice echoed through the room, followed by a series of harsh, rattling coughs that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. The noise was relentless, grating on his nerves as it reverberated through the walls, making it impossible to sleep.
For over an hour, the obnoxious sound refused to relent, the hacking coughs growing louder and more guttural. Yi Ming, groaned and pressed his palms to his ears, but nothing could block out the invasive voice.
Finally, he could take it no longer. "Alright already! I give up! What do you want me to do?" he shouted in frustration, glaring at the floating screen that now flashed a bold, pulsing red, the countdown ticking ominously in the corner.
The voice cleared its throat in response, the disgusting sound of thick phlegm being dislodged making Yi Ming grimace. After an exaggerated pause, the voice rasped out in a strained tone,
FIRST MISSION: ENTER SHOU AND THE GRIM AUCTION: THE DARKEST DEALS BEGIN
The words hung in the air, as the red screen pulsed once more. "Huh?" Yi Ming blinked, utterly dumbfounded. None of this made sense. He hadn't been able to grasp a single thing before the voice began again, this time with a fit of irritated wheezing.
THE AUCTION BEGINS IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS AT KEWANG CHENGSHI.
The voice rasped before pausing for another long, hacking cough.
USER MUST FIND THE SHOU MC AND BEING HIM TO MOUNT DINGBU. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A PENALTY OF…-100 LIFE POINTS
As the words hung in the air, the screen flickered, and a new display appeared, showing Yi Ming's life points. His eyes widened in disbelief. 300 points? That was all he had.
"Hey, wait a minute! How come I only have 300 life points? What a rip-off!" He crossed his arms, scowling at the flickering screen. "That's barely anything! What do you expect me to do with this?"
Sulking, he glanced at the countdown, which continued to tick down mercilessly. With a resigned sigh, he muttered, "Fine. Can I at least get a description of the Shou? How am I supposed to find him if I don't even know what I'm looking for?"
The voice let out a series of deep, thoughtful hmmm's and haw's for a moment, as if deliberating whether to grant him the information. After a prolonged silence, it finally spoke, the raspy tone even more grating.
FOR 50 LIFE POINTS, USER MAY OBTAIN…ONE DETAIL REGARDING SHOU
Yi Ming's jaw dropped. "Are you serious?! 50 points for one detail?!" He looked back at the screen, realizing that if he gave up any more points, his remaining margin for error was dangerously thin. Begrudgingly, he weighed his options.
The screen continued to flicker, indifferent to his dilemma, as the voice awaited his response. Yi Ming felt the frustration rising in his chest. This system is straight-up robbing me, he groaned inwardly, eyeing his dwindling life points with disdain. "This better be a really good detail for 50 life points," he muttered, watching as the number on the screen dropped from 300 to 250.
The voice, as cold and detached as ever, responded, "
THE SHOU HAS A MOLE AT THE BOTTOM CORNER OF HIS LIPS.
And with that, the voice faded, leaving Yi Ming standing in disbelief, alone with his thoughts. Great, he thought sarcastically, just what I needed—another vague detail. That's so helpful. He cursed under his breath before getting up from the bed, his feet hitting the cold floor as he slipped into his shoes.
He didn't have a clue where Kewang Chengshi was, but the urgency of the situation left no room for delay. With the countdown looming and a life point penalty hanging over his head, he knew he had to move fast.
As he hurried out of his chambers, he spotted a young disciple dozing off near the entrance of Mount Dingbu. The boy's head bobbed slightly as he leaned against the gate, a line of drool glistening at the corner of his mouth. Yi Ming cleared his throat sharply. "You there!"
The disciple jolted awake, eyes wide with panic as he wiped the drool from his chin in a hurry. Seeing Xue Laohu standing before him, he bowed low, trembling at the thought of being reprimanded by such a high-ranking elder. "M-my apologies, Grandmaster Xue," he stammered.
Yi Ming, too impatient to care about the disciple's fear, waved it off. "What direction is Kewang Chengshi?"
The disciple blinked in surprise, but quickly pointed to the south. "It's 50 li in that direction, Grandmaster," he said, his voice shaking as he bowed once more, hoping Xue Laohu wouldn't report his lapse in discipline to the higher-ups.
Yi Ming nodded curtly, already turning to leave. "Right," he muttered, a sense of urgency prickling at his nerves. 50 li… that's going to take a while. He could feel the weight of the ticking countdown pressing down on him, and with every step, he felt time slipping through his fingers.
"50 li?" Yi Ming, still adjusting to being Xue Laohu, muttered in frustration. "Damn, how am I supposed to get there in time? I'll never make it. Do we have any horses around here?"
The disciple blinked, confused by the question. "Grandmaster Xue? You could simply ride your sword. It wouldn't take more than an hour to reach Kewang Chengshi that way."
Yi Ming froze, his mind scrambling to process what he'd just heard. Ride my sword? He masked his confusion quickly, puffing out his chest and putting on a smug expression. "What? I mean, of course I knew that! I was just… testing you! To see if you were paying attention," he lied through his teeth, glancing away for a moment before clearing his throat.
The disciple, now standing at full attention, straightened his posture and quickly stopped slouching, no longer daring to lean on the pillar. "Yes, Grandmaster Xue," he replied, bowing slightly, though his expression remained cautious.
Xue Laohu—or rather, Yi Ming—nodded in satisfaction, doing his best to appear calm and collected, though his heart was racing. He took hold of his sword, the cool weight of it settling in his hand. This better be easier than it sounds, he thought, summoning whatever confidence he could muster.
With a small leap, he hopped onto the blade, finding his balance as he awkwardly adjusted to the sensation of floating midair. For a moment, he teetered slightly, nearly tipping over before he caught himself. Okay, so this is actually happening…
The night air was cool against his face as the sword lifted into the air, carrying him away from Mount Dingbu and into the dark horizon. The wind rushed past him as he soared through the night, the landscape below vanishing into shadows as he sped toward Kewang Chengshi. In the distance, the faint glow of city lights beckoned him onward, the ticking countdown still looming in the back of his mind.