Location: Somewhere in the Mortal Realm (Where We Definitely Shouldn't Be)
One second, Bu Kedian was floating peacefully in the Heavenly Dao System space. The next, he was screaming through a collapsing rift in time and space, dragging a completely unbothered Wo Kedian with him.
[WARNING! WARNING! UNAUTHORIZED TIMELINE ENTRY DETECTED!]
"DAMN IT, WO KEDIAN, STOP MESSING WITH EXISTENCE!"
Wo Kedian, who had literally sneezed their teleportation off-course, merely tilted his head. "Eh? Chill, system. What's the worst that could—"
BOOOOOM!
The two crashed through multiple dimensional layers before slamming straight into the ground—well, Wo Kedian did. Bu Kedian, being a system, just watched in horror as his reckless host created a ten-meter crater in the middle of a busy city street.
A massive dust cloud erupted, and dozens of pedestrians screamed in terror.
"A-AHH! A METEOR FELL FROM THE SKY!"
"NO, IT'S A DEMON! A CULTIVATOR TRIED TO ASSASSINATE US!"
"HIDE YOUR SPIRIT STONES! THIS IS HOW ROBBERIES START!"
Wo Kedian stood up, dusted himself off, and cracked his neck. "Huh. That was a nice landing."
Bu Kedian felt like crying.
---
System Problem #1: We Are Now Wanted Criminals.
Before Bu Kedian could process the catastrophe, a squad of armored cultivators burst onto the scene.
"HALT! IN THE NAME OF THE JADE LOTUS SECT, IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"
Bu Kedian internally screamed. We JUST got here! HOW are we already in trouble?!
Wo Kedian stretched lazily. "Jade Lotus Sect? Never heard of 'em."
The lead cultivator's vein twitched. "YOU JUST CAUSED MASSIVE DESTRUCTION! WHO ARE YOU?!"
Wo Kedian grinned. "Me? I'm Wo Kedian, the strongest—"
Bu Kedian hacked into his vocal cords.
"He's nobody! He's just a passing wanderer! Just a normal, very average guy!"
Wo Kedian blinked. "Huh?"
Bu Kedian mentally gritted his teeth. LISTEN TO ME, YOU MENACE. "DO NOT flex your strength! Do NOT provoke them! We JUST arrived, we need to lay low!"
Wo Kedian rubbed his chin. "Lay low, huh?"
The Jade Lotus cultivators narrowed their eyes. "So… he admits he's suspicious?"
Bu Kedian internally combusted. This is it. We're gonna get executed on day one.
Then—
Wo Kedian smirked.
"…Oh yeah. I'm real suspicious. You caught me, boys."
Bu Kedian froze in horror. NO. NO, YOU ABSOLUTE FOOL—
Wo Kedian threw his hands up. "I'm actually a—uh, secret agent! From… uh…" He glanced at a nearby food stall and immediately pointed to the menu.
"…THE SPICY DUCK KINGDOM!"
A confused silence followed.
One of the cultivators muttered, "Spicy… Duck Kingdom?"
The lead cultivator frowned. "I've never heard of it."
Wo Kedian nodded sagely. "Of course you haven't. It's a top-secret nation. Only those who reach the profound realm of spicy duck appreciation can enter."
The entire street went silent.
Bu Kedian was this close to deactivating himself permanently.
"…You have GOT to be kidding me."
---
System Emergency #2: We Accidentally Started a Cult.
For some godforsaken reason, the street vendors suddenly gasped.
"Wait… he's from the Spicy Duck Kingdom?!"
"The legends were true?!"
"DOES THIS MEAN HE KNOWS THE SECRET SPICY DUCK TECHNIQUE?!"
Bu Kedian felt something inside him snap. "NO! THAT'S NOT A REAL THING!"
Wo Kedian, however, rolled with it.
"Oh, the Secret Spicy Duck Technique?" He flexed his fist, which radiated raw power. "Yeah. Yeah, I know it."
The Jade Lotus Sect disciples hesitated. "Wait… if he's from a hidden sect, does that mean he's actually…?"
A random old man stumbled forward. "I once heard a legend… of a powerful warrior who could fry a duck so crispy, it became an immortal beast!"
Bu Kedian stared at the old man. "Sir. You are MAKING THAT UP."
But it was too late. The rumor had already spread like wildfire.
In mere seconds, the crowd began to chant.
"SPICY DUCK KINGDOM! SPICY DUCK KINGDOM!"
Bu Kedian felt his soul detach from reality.
"THIS IS NOT HOW CULTIVATION WORKS."
Wo Kedian, meanwhile, looked extremely satisfied. "So, if I understand correctly… I'm now a legendary martial arts master?"
The Jade Lotus Sect disciples exchanged uncertain glances.
"…Maybe we should report this to the elders."
Bu Kedian panicked. "NO. No elders. Nobody needs to report anything. Let's just—"
Wo Kedian patted him. "Relax, system. It's fine."
Bu Kedian glared. "Fine? FINE?! You just accidentally started a CULT! We are in a TIMELINE WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO ENTER, and now people think you're some kind of SECRET MARTIAL ARTS LEGEND based on a DUCK MENU!"
Wo Kedian grinned. "Yep. And?"
Bu Kedian took a deep breath.
"Okay. Fine. You know what? Let's just go. Let's leave quietly before this gets out of hand."
But just as he said that—
A new notification appeared.
---
[NEW QUEST ACTIVATED!]
[TITLE: THE DUCK KING'S CHALLENGE!]
[DESCRIPTION: DEFEAT THE JADE LOTUS SECT'S HEAD DISCIPLE TO PROVE THE SPICY DUCK KINGDOM'S LEGACY!]
---
Bu Kedian froze.
Wo Kedian laughed. "Oh, now THIS is getting good."
The crowd cheered. "SPICY DUCK KINGDOM'S WARRIOR WILL FIGHT! IT'S DESTINY!"
The Jade Lotus Sect disciples immediately prepared for battle.
Bu Kedian felt all hope leave his soul.
"…We're gonna die."
---
Find out next time on Ancient Legends: I Am Stuck in the Heavenly Dao System!
Will Wo Kedian actually have to fight for his fake Spicy Duck Kingdom?!
Can Bu Kedian stop him from rewriting fate AGAIN?!
Just how much worse can this situation get?! (Hint: A LOT.)
Stay tuned for Chapter 4!