The moment the carriage entered the Lin Estate, Ginn immediately understood one thing.
Rich people were terrifying.
The wide stone road leading from the entrance stretched so far that Ginn could no longer see the main gate after only a few moments. Rows of ancient trees lined both sides of the road, their branches swaying gently as the afternoon breeze passed through them. Small streams flowed between carefully arranged gardens filled with flowers that Ginn couldn't even name. Servants dressed in neat uniforms busily moved from one courtyard to another while guards stood motionless at every important intersection.
"…"
Ginn silently looked around before lowering his head and looking at the wine jar still resting comfortably in his arms.
Then he looked outside again.
"…"
Finally, he reached a conclusion.
'These people definitely have a wine cellar.'
Compared to the scenery outside, that conclusion was far more important.
Back on Earth, Ginn had once visited the house of a company executive after everyone in the office had been invited to celebrate the release of a mobile game. The executive's house had been so large that Ginn got lost looking for the bathroom and accidentally wandered into a storage room filled entirely with expensive bottles of wine.
He still remembered crying a little that day.
Not because he got lost.
But because he wasn't allowed to drink any of them.
Looking at the Lin Estate now, Ginn suddenly felt that executive's house could probably fit inside one of the courtyards outside.
'Damn rich people…'
His eyes wandered from building to building.
'How much money does this place even cost?'
The more he looked, the more unreasonable everything became.
One pavilion stood in the middle of a small lake connected by a curved stone bridge. Another building had an entire garden dedicated to nothing but bamboo. Several servants carefully trimmed bushes that already looked perfect, while another group swept spotless stone paths.
Ginn couldn't understand it.
'They're cleaning something that's already clean.'
'Rich people really have too much free time.'
He suddenly became jealous.
If only he had enough money to hire someone to clean his apartment back on Earth…
Actually…
If he had that much money, he probably wouldn't have rented that apartment in the first place.
While Ginn was busy comparing the Lin Estate to his old apartment, the carriage finally stopped in front of the largest building he had seen since arriving in this world.
Its entrance alone was supported by eight thick wooden pillars carved with dragons and clouds. The dark green roof curved elegantly upward, while several bronze lanterns hung beneath the eaves despite it still being daytime.
The moment the carriage came to a complete stop, more than a dozen servants hurried over.
"My Lady!"
"My Lady has returned!"
Several maids quickly surrounded the carriage while two middle-aged servants respectfully opened the door.
Lin Qingxue stepped down first.
The servants immediately bowed.
"We greet Young Miss."
Lin Qingxue smiled gently.
"You may rise."
Although her voice wasn't loud, everyone immediately obeyed.
Seeing this, Ginn scratched his cheek.
'Status really is convenient.'
No need to shout.
No need to threaten anyone.
Just saying three words was enough to make everyone listen.
'Maybe becoming rich isn't so bad.'
His train of thought quickly changed.
'No.'
'Becoming rich sounds troublesome.'
'I'll just become friends with rich people instead.'
That way he could enjoy the benefits without having to work.
Satisfied with his brilliant life philosophy, Ginn grabbed his wine jar and slowly climbed out of the carriage.
The moment his feet touched the ground, dozens of curious gazes landed on him.
"…"
"…"
"…"
The servants quietly looked at the unfamiliar young man carrying a wine jar like it was some priceless treasure.
His clothes were simple.
His hair was messy.
The scar beside his eye made him appear somewhat fierce.
Most importantly…
He had stepped out of Young Miss Lin's carriage.
Several maids immediately exchanged glances.
'Who is he?'
'Young Miss actually brought a man home?'
'Could he be…'
Ginn naturally had no idea what they were thinking.
He was too busy looking around.
'No wine cellar in sight…'
His disappointment lasted only a second before another thought entered his mind.
'It wouldn't make sense to put it outside anyway.'
He nodded to himself.
That sounded reasonable.
While Ginn was seriously considering where wealthy people normally stored alcohol, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from inside the building.
"Qingxue!"
A young man dressed in spotless white robes quickly walked out, followed closely by two elderly men.
His handsome face was filled with worry, but the moment he saw Lin Qingxue standing safely outside, his tense expression visibly relaxed.
"You finally returned."
Lin Qingxue smiled faintly.
"Big Brother."
Ginn, who had been observing the building, unconsciously looked toward the newcomer.
'Big brother?'
The young man was tall, well-built, and carried himself with remarkable confidence. A finely crafted sword rested at his waist, while a jade pendant hung from his belt.
Everything about him screamed…
Rich.
'Definitely rich.'
Ginn silently judged.
The young man quickly walked over.
"I received news that your convoy was attacked outside the city. Father was preparing to send another rescue team."
Lin Qingxue lowered her head slightly.
"I've made everyone worry."
The young man gently shook his head.
"As long as you're safe."
Only after saying those words did he finally notice Ginn standing several steps away.
His eyes paused briefly on the wine jar.
Then on Ginn's clothes.
Finally…
On the temporary wooden identity token hanging from Ginn's waist.
The young man's expression became slightly puzzled.
"And this gentleman is…"
Before Lin Qingxue could answer, Ginn already had his own opinion.
'White robe.'
'Sword.'
'Handsome.'
'Rich.'
'Older brother.'
He immediately reached a conclusion.
'Yep.'
'One hundred percent.'
'Future troublesome character.'
Too many web novels had started exactly like this.
A wealthy young master.
Good-looking.
Talented.
Polite on the surface.
Arrogant underneath.
Ginn had practically memorized the formula.
'Let's see…'
'The next line should be…'
'Who are you?'
'Or…'
'How dare you stand beside my sister?'
'Or maybe…'
'Guards, throw this beggar out.'
While Ginn was happily predicting the future inside his head, the young man unexpectedly stepped forward.
Then…
He cupped his fists toward Ginn.
"My name is Lin Tianyu."
"Thank you for saving my sister."
"I, Lin Tianyu, will never forget this favor."
"…"
Ginn blinked.
"…"
Lin Qingxue blinked.
"…"
Even several servants looked surprised.
Ginn's thoughts completely froze.
'…Huh?'
He stared at Lin Tianyu for several seconds.
The expected script…
Had completely disappeared.
No arrogance.
No hostility.
No looking down on him.
The man had actually thanked him.
'Wrong.'
'This is wrong.'
'This isn't how web novels work.'
Lin Tianyu noticed Ginn staring blankly at him and smiled.
"Did I say something strange?"
Ginn subconsciously answered honestly.
"A little."
Lin Tianyu looked confused.
"I did?"
"Yeah."
"You thanked me."
"…Shouldn't I?"
Ginn frowned.
Now he was the confused one.
'Wait…'
'Is he actually a decent person?'
That possibility somehow felt stranger than being transported into another world.
Back on Earth, Ginn had met plenty of wealthy people.
Most weren't bad.
They simply lived in a different world from ordinary people.
Still…
He had already prepared himself to deal with an arrogant young master.
Now the man suddenly turned out to be polite.
'What the heck?'
'Did I enter the wrong novel?'
Lin Qingxue covered her mouth, trying to suppress a laugh.
She could clearly tell that Ginn had misunderstood her elder brother.
"Big Brother has always treated people politely," she explained.
Ginn nodded absentmindedly.
"I can see that."
Then he quietly added inside his heart.
'That's even scarier.'
People who smiled all the time were either saints…
Or monsters.
Ginn wasn't sure which category Lin Tianyu belonged to yet.
Before anyone could continue the conversation, one of the elderly men behind Lin Tianyu suddenly stepped forward.
His hair was completely white, but his posture remained perfectly straight. Unlike Lin Tianyu, whose smile appeared warm and approachable, the old man's expression remained serious from beginning to end.
He carefully examined Ginn.
Then…
His eyes slowly narrowed.
"Hmm?"
Ginn instinctively became alert.
'The old guy noticed something?'
The elder walked one full circle around Ginn without saying a word.
He even stopped behind him for a moment before returning to the front.
Only then did he speak.
"So…"
"You are the young man who saved our Young Miss?"
His voice wasn't hostile.
But it carried an invisible pressure that made ordinary people instinctively nervous.
Unfortunately…
Ginn had already experienced Yan Di's pressure.
Compared to that terrifying cultivator…
This old man felt about as threatening as a grumpy security guard.
Ginn nodded.
"I guess."
"I guess?"
The elder raised an eyebrow.
"You don't sound very certain."
Ginn scratched his head.
"Well… I was mostly trying to save myself."
Silence.
Several servants looked at one another.
Lin Qingxue smiled helplessly.
Only Lin Tianyu laughed.
"Hahaha!"
"As honest as the report described."
The elder, however, didn't laugh.
Instead, he continued observing Ginn with great interest.
"You admit that so easily?"
Ginn shrugged.
"They wanted to kill me."
"So I killed them."
"I don't think that's particularly complicated."
The elder remained silent.
His sharp eyes never left Ginn's face.
For some reason…
He felt that this strange young man wasn't lying.
Not even a little.
Everything he said…
He genuinely believed.
Which somehow made him even harder to understand.
The elder remained silent for a few more seconds before finally withdrawing his gaze from Ginn. "Interesting," he mumbled under his breath, stroking his long white beard.
Ginn heard him perfectly.
His enhanced senses had become quite troublesome in that regard. Ever since waking up inside the carriage, conversations that should have been whispers sounded almost normal to him. At first, Ginn thought everyone in this world simply sucked at whispering, but after noticing Lin Qingxue failing to hear things that were perfectly clear to him, he eventually realized that the problem was his ears.
Or rather…
The problem was his Senses stat.
'Only four points and it's already like this.'
Ginn suddenly remembered that he had dumped sixty points into Physique without thinking.
"…"
'Maybe that wasn't the smartest decision.'
He had been drunk when he designed most of the system and even more careless when distributing the points, so Ginn honestly couldn't remember exactly how much stronger every point was supposed to make someone.
At the time, his reasoning had been simple.
More Physique meant a stronger body.
A stronger body meant better alcohol tolerance.
Better alcohol tolerance meant more drinking.
Perfect logic.
Unfortunately, he hadn't considered the possibility that he would actually have to live with the consequences.
The broken carriage seat immediately came to mind.
'I'll need to be careful.'
The last thing he wanted was to accidentally crush a wine jar while drinking.
Just imagining such a tragedy made Ginn shiver.
Lin Tianyu noticed the sudden change in his expression. "Brother Ginn, are you feeling unwell?"
"Hm? No."
"Your face suddenly became pale."
"I remembered something horrible."
Lin Tianyu became concerned. "Your lost memories?"
"Worse."
Everyone nearby became quiet.
Even the white-haired elder turned his attention back toward Ginn.
Ginn looked at the wine jar in his arms.
"I was thinking about accidentally breaking this."
"…"
"…"
"…"
Lin Tianyu looked at the jar.
Then at Ginn.
Then back at the jar.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed throughout the courtyard.
Even the serious elder's lips twitched slightly.
Lin Qingxue, on the other hand, wasn't surprised in the slightest. After everything she had witnessed during their short journey together, she was starting to understand just how important alcohol was to her savior.
"Brother Ginn truly loves his wine," Lin Tianyu said.
"Love is a strong word."
Ginn paused.
He looked at the jar again.
"…Actually, no. It's accurate."
Before Lin Tianyu could respond, hurried footsteps came from inside the main hall.
This time, nobody spoke.
The atmosphere around the servants immediately changed.
They straightened their backs and lowered their heads as a middle-aged man slowly walked out of the building.
Unlike Lin Tianyu, who wore spotless white robes, the newcomer wore a dark-blue robe decorated with silver patterns. His black hair was tied neatly behind his head, with several strands of gray visible near his temples. He wasn't particularly muscular, nor did he carry a weapon, but the moment he appeared Ginn could immediately tell that this man wasn't ordinary.
There was something about the way everyone reacted to him.
The servants bowed.
The guards straightened.
Even the white-haired elder moved slightly to the side.
The man's eyes immediately landed on Lin Qingxue.
"Qingxue."
His voice remained calm, but Ginn could hear the concern underneath it.
"Father."
Lin Qingxue quickly walked toward him.
The man examined her from head to toe before placing both hands on her shoulders. Only after confirming for himself that she was unharmed did the tension in his expression finally loosen.
"You are injured?"
"My wounds have already been treated."
"What happened to Elder Mo and the others?"
Lin Qingxue's expression darkened.
"We were separated."
The man's hands tightened slightly around her shoulders.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then his gaze moved toward Ginn.
"And this is?"
Lin Tianyu stepped forward. "Father, this is Brother Ginn. He is the one who saved Qingxue."
Ginn raised the wine jar slightly.
"Hello."
The courtyard became silent again.
Lin Tianyu coughed into his fist.
Lin Qingxue looked away.
The white-haired elder closed his eyes.
Ginn looked around.
'What?'
He didn't understand what he had done wrong.
Back on Earth, saying hello was perfectly acceptable.
Apparently, wealthy cultivation families required something more complicated.
The middle-aged man stared at Ginn for a moment before unexpectedly smiling.
"Lin Hao."
Ginn blinked.
"What?"
"My name."
The man cupped his hands.
"I am Lin Hao, current Patriarch of the Lin Clan and Qingxue's father."
"Oh."
Ginn quickly realized what was happening and awkwardly copied the gesture.
"Ginn. Currently unemployed."
Lin Tianyu almost laughed again.
Lin Qingxue's shoulders shook slightly.
Even Lin Hao seemed caught off guard.
"Unemployed?"
"The city guard made it official."
Ginn pulled out his temporary identity token and showed it to him.
Lin Hao looked down.
Name: Ginn
Cultivation: Qi Refining Fourth Level
Occupation: Unemployed
Guarantor: Lin Clan
"…"
Lin Hao stared at the token longer than necessary.
Then he looked at his daughter.
Lin Qingxue sighed.
"It is a long story."
"I can see that."
Lin Hao returned his attention to Ginn and cupped his hands once more. "Regardless of your occupation, you saved my daughter's life. For that, my Lin Clan owes you a great debt."
Ginn immediately became interested.
'Owes me?'
That sounded promising.
Money?
Wine?
Perhaps both?
Before his imagination could get out of control, Lin Hao continued.
"Whatever reward you desire, as long as it is within my Lin Clan's ability, I will do my best to provide it."
Ginn's eyes brightened.
Lin Qingxue immediately knew what was coming.
"Savior—"
"Do you have an Ice Art?"
"…"
Lin Hao paused.
The white-haired elder raised an eyebrow.
Lin Tianyu looked confused.
Of all the possible requests they expected…
An Ice Art wasn't one of them.
"Ice Art?" Lin Hao repeated.
"Something that makes ice."
Ginn lifted the wine jar.
"Preferably enough to cool this."
Lin Hao stared at him.
"You wish to learn an Ice Art…"
"Yes."
"…to cool wine?"
"Exactly."
Another silence descended over the courtyard.
Ginn frowned.
Why did everyone keep becoming silent whenever he answered a question?
Was his accent strange?
The white-haired elder finally spoke. "Young man, cultivation techniques are not kitchen tools."
Ginn looked at him.
"If it makes ice, I don't see the difference."
The elder's beard twitched.
Lin Tianyu quickly turned away, pretending to cough.
Lin Qingxue covered her mouth.
Lin Hao remained remarkably composed, although Ginn could see amusement forming in his eyes.
"Ice cultivation techniques are somewhat rare in Qingshan City," Lin Hao explained. "Most require an affinity toward cold Qi, an ice spiritual root, or a suitable physique. Trying to cultivate an incompatible elemental art can damage the meridians."
Ginn's excitement faded slightly.
"That troublesome?"
The white-haired elder nodded. "Cultivation is naturally troublesome."
Ginn immediately disliked that sentence.
Anything containing the words naturally troublesome deserved to be avoided.
"Is there another way to make ice?"
"Formation arrays, certain artifacts, talismans, or cultivators who specialize in cold techniques."
Ginn considered his options.
Buying an artifact probably cost money.
Talismans probably cost money.
Hiring cultivators definitely cost money.
Learning it himself sounded like the cheapest long-term option.
'So Ice Art it is.'
Ginn nodded.
"I still want to try."
Lin Hao looked at him thoughtfully. "Our clan library contains several records concerning elemental cultivation. I cannot promise that there is a complete Ice Art suitable for you, but you may look through the first floor."
Ginn's eyes lit up.
"Free?"
Lin Hao blinked.
"…Yes."
"Deal."
The answer came so quickly that Lin Hao didn't know whether to laugh.
The white-haired elder frowned. "Patriarch, outsiders are normally forbidden from entering the clan library."
"He saved Qingxue's life."
"But—"
"First floor only."
The elder remained silent for a moment before cupping his hands.
"As Patriarch commands."
Ginn immediately liked Lin Hao.
Free accommodation.
Free access to cultivation books.
Possibly free alcohol.
This family was becoming better by the minute.
'I definitely saved the right rich girl.'
Before Ginn could ask about the location of the wine cellar, Lin Hao's expression suddenly became serious.
"Qingxue."
The warmth in his voice disappeared.
"Come inside."
Lin Qingxue nodded.
Everyone followed Lin Hao into the main hall.
Ginn hesitated.
Technically, whatever family matter they were about to discuss had nothing to do with him.
He could probably use this opportunity to find the kitchen.
Or the wine cellar.
Or the library.
All three sounded significantly more interesting than a family meeting.
Ginn slowly took one step backward.
Lin Qingxue immediately noticed.
"Savior, please come as well."
Ginn froze.
'Damn.'
He turned around.
"Do I need to?"
"You witnessed what happened."
"Unfortunately."
Lin Hao looked at him. "Your account may help us understand the attack."
Ginn sighed.
There went his escape.
"Fine."
He followed them inside.
The main hall was even more extravagant than the exterior. Thick wooden pillars supported the high ceiling, while paintings of mountains and strange beasts decorated the walls. Several large chairs were arranged along both sides of the room, with two larger seats positioned at the far end.
Ginn's eyes wandered around.
'No alcohol.'
His interest immediately dropped by half.
Several elders were already waiting inside.
The moment Lin Qingxue entered, conversations erupted.
"Young Miss!"
"Qingxue, are you injured?"
"Where are the guards?"
"What happened?"
Lin Hao raised one hand.
The room immediately became silent.
"Sit."
Everyone obeyed.
Ginn looked around for somewhere to sit and chose the chair closest to the exit.
'Always know your escape route.'
Bar Fight 101.
Lin Qingxue sat beside her father while Lin Tianyu remained nearby. The white-haired elder took a seat opposite Ginn.
Lin Hao's expression hardened.
"Tell us everything."
Lin Qingxue took a deep breath.
"Our group left Green Willow Town shortly after sunrise yesterday. Everything was normal for the first several hours. When we reached Blackstone Forest, we discovered a merchant carriage blocking the road."
One elder frowned.
"An ambush?"
Lin Qingxue nodded.
"Elder Mo immediately sensed something was wrong. Before we could turn around, several masked cultivators attacked from the forest."
The atmosphere inside the hall changed.
Ginn stopped drinking.
'Masked cultivators?'
He hadn't known about that part.
Lin Qingxue continued.
"Elder Mo and Captain Wei stayed behind with most of the guards. They ordered me to escape with Maid Xiu and four others using the smaller carriage."
Lin Hao's expression became darker.
"And?"
"We escaped through the eastern forest path, but someone was already waiting."
An elderly woman sitting near the front leaned forward.
"More cultivators?"
Lin Qingxue shook her head.
"Bandits."
The elders looked at one another.
"Bandits?"
"Ordinary bandits?"
"That makes no sense."
Ginn quietly agreed.
Even he had wondered why someone dressed like Lin Qingxue had been chased by such weak people.
Lin Qingxue clenched her hands.
"They knew which path we would take."
The room became silent.
This time…
Even Ginn understood the implication.
'Oh.'
His eyes moved around the room.
'Someone leaked the route.'
Lin Hao slowly leaned back in his chair.
"How many people knew the emergency route?"
Lin Qingxue didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Several elders' expressions had already changed.
Lin Tianyu's smile disappeared.
The white-haired elder's eyes became cold.
Finally, Lin Qingxue spoke.
"The route was decided before we left."
"Only members of the Lin Clan knew."
Ginn quietly lowered the wine jar.
'And here I was worried about arrogant young masters.'
He looked around at the suddenly tense faces inside the hall.
'This is worse.'
Family politics.
He hated family politics.
Mostly because he had never had a family and therefore had absolutely no experience dealing with them.
Lin Hao tapped one finger against the armrest.
"What happened after the bandits appeared?"
"Maid Xiu and the remaining guards stayed behind to delay them. I continued alone, but I was already injured during the first ambush."
Lin Qingxue unconsciously looked toward Ginn.
"That is when I encountered Savior."
Every pair of eyes inside the hall turned toward him.
Ginn froze with the wine jar halfway to his mouth.
"…What?"
Lin Hao looked directly at him.
"What did you see?"
Ginn thought carefully.
"A woman running toward me."
Lin Qingxue's eyebrow twitched.
"Then?"
"Five bandits."
"And?"
"She fell on me."
Several elders looked toward Lin Qingxue.
Her face reddened.
"Savior!"
"What? That's what happened."
Lin Hao rubbed his forehead.
"Please continue."
Ginn sighed.
"They thought I was her guard. I told them I wasn't. They didn't believe me. I offered them the girl."
"…"
Lin Qingxue stared at him.
Lin Tianyu stared at him.
Every elder stared at him.
Ginn suddenly realized he probably should have skipped that detail.
"…To avoid unnecessary bloodshed."
Lin Qingxue's eyes narrowed.
Ginn quickly continued.
"They refused, attacked me, and I killed four of them."
Lin Hao frowned.
"Four?"
"There were five."
"What happened to the fifth?"
Ginn's expression changed slightly.
He remembered the crushing pressure.
The hand gripping his hair.
Yan Di laughing at him.
"He was different."
Lin Hao immediately became serious.
"Different how?"
"He called himself a cultivator."
The elders exchanged looks.
"What cultivation?"
Ginn shrugged.
"No idea."
"Could you estimate his realm?"
"No."
"Did he use a technique?"
"I don't know."
"What kind of Qi did he possess?"
"No idea."
Lin Hao's eyebrow twitched.
"Then what do you know?"
Ginn thought about it.
"He was strong."
"…"
"Very strong."
"…"
"Like having an elephant sitting on your lungs."
Nobody spoke.
Ginn nodded.
"That's the best description I have."
The white-haired elder suddenly leaned forward.
"Did he give you his name?"
Ginn's eyes moved toward him.
For the first time since entering the hall, Ginn hesitated.
Then he remembered the man's final words before losing consciousness.
"I think…"
"He called himself Yan Di."
The effect was immediate.
The white-haired elder shot to his feet.
Lin Hao's expression changed.
Several elders inhaled sharply.
Even Lin Tianyu lost his composure.
Ginn looked around.
"…You know him?"
The white-haired elder stared at him.
"Are you certain?"
"Pretty sure."
"What did he look like?"
"Like a bandit."
The elder's face darkened.
"More specifically."
Ginn scratched his cheek.
"Middle-aged. Annoying smile. Dagger. Dressed like the others."
"And he told you his name was Yan Di?"
"Yeah."
The white-haired elder slowly sat down.
"This…"
Lin Hao looked toward him.
"Second Elder?"
The old man remained silent for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"If it truly was that Yan Di…"
He looked directly at Ginn.
"…then the fact that this young man is sitting here alive is more unbelievable than him killing those bandits."
Ginn blinked.
'That strong?'
His hand unconsciously moved toward the jade ring Yan Di had given him.
For the first time…
Ginn wondered exactly who the strange cultivator he had spat on actually was.
Ginn unconsciously rubbed the jade ring on his finger.
When Yan Di gave it to him, Ginn didn't think much about it. His consciousness had already been halfway out the window, and the moment the man mentioned that the ring contained liquor, everything else immediately became irrelevant.
Who could blame him?
He had just been shot in the stomach, nearly suffocated to death, and watched four people die by his own hands.
At that moment, alcohol was the only thing Ginn wanted.
Now, however, after seeing the expressions of everyone inside the hall, he was beginning to wonder if he had accidentally encountered someone far more troublesome than he initially believed.
"That strong?" Ginn asked.
The white-haired elder stared at him as though Ginn had just asked whether the sun was hot.
"If we are speaking about the same Yan Di, strong would be an understatement."
Ginn's face slowly became serious.
The elder continued, "The name Yan Di is well known among cultivators throughout the Great Yan Dynasty. He is an inner elder of the Blazing Sun Sect and a cultivator who reached the Core Formation Realm many years ago."
Ginn nodded slowly.
"…I understood none of that."
The white-haired elder froze.
Lin Tianyu looked at Ginn strangely. "Brother Ginn, surely you know about the cultivation realms?"
"No."
"The Blazing Sun Sect?"
"No."
"Core Formation?"
"No."
"The major sects of the Great Yan Dynasty?"
"Never heard of them."
"…"
Ginn looked around the hall.
Everyone was staring at him again.
"What?"
Lin Qingxue quickly explained. "Savior appears to have lost most of his memories. He did not even remember the name of the Great Yan Dynasty before we reached Qingshan City."
Several elders immediately began whispering among themselves.
Ginn sighed.
'Amnesia really is convenient.'
He didn't even have to explain anything anymore.
Whenever he didn't know something, Lin Qingxue did the work for him.
At this rate, Ginn was beginning to wonder if he should keep pretending to have amnesia forever.
"Then allow me to explain," Lin Tianyu said. "The path of cultivation begins with Qi Refining. After that comes Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—"
"Wait."
Ginn raised his hand.
Lin Tianyu stopped.
Ginn counted silently with his fingers.
"Qi Refining…"
"Foundation…"
"Core…"
He looked toward the white-haired elder.
"And you're telling me that guy was at the third major realm?"
"At minimum," the elder answered.
Ginn became silent.
He remembered Yan Di casually releasing his pressure.
He remembered falling onto his knees without being able to resist.
He remembered Yan Di lifting him by his hair.
Then…
He remembered spitting directly into the man's face.
"…"
Cold sweat slowly appeared on Ginn's forehead.
'What the fuck was I thinking?'
At the time, Ginn genuinely believed everything was a dream.
If he died, he expected to wake up in his apartment with a hangover and probably discover that he had fallen asleep on his keyboard again.
But now…
Now he knew this world was real.
That meant the cultivator had been real.
The pressure had been real.
And the possibility of dying had been very, very real.
Ginn suddenly lifted the wine jar and took several large gulps.
"Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!"
Lin Tianyu stared at him.
"Brother Ginn?"
Ginn lowered the jar.
"I needed that."
The white-haired elder narrowed his eyes. "If you truly encountered Yan Di, how did you survive?"
Ginn wiped his mouth.
"He let me go."
"He simply let you go?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Ginn thought about it.
"He said he liked my spirit."
The elder's eyebrows rose.
"Anything else?"
"He wanted to make me his disciple."
This time, several elders stood up.
"What?!"
Lin Tianyu stared at Ginn in disbelief.
Even Lin Hao leaned forward.
"Yan Di personally offered to accept you as a disciple?"
Ginn scratched his cheek.
"Something like that."
"And you refused?"
"I was almost unconscious."
"Did you give him an answer?"
"No."
A strange silence filled the room.
Ginn could tell everyone was looking at him differently now.
He didn't like it.
'Why do I feel like I just said something important?'
One of the elders shook his head.
"What incredible fortune."
Another sighed.
"To receive the attention of a Core Formation cultivator…"
"Many young cultivators would sacrifice everything for such an opportunity."
Ginn frowned.
Everything?
That sounded excessive.
"Is being his disciple that good?"
The white-haired elder nearly pulled out his beard.
"Young man, do you understand how difficult it is for an ordinary cultivator to enter a major sect, much less become the personal disciple of a Core Formation elder?"
"No."
"…Of course you don't."
The elder sighed heavily.
Ginn wasn't particularly bothered.
Becoming someone's disciple sounded suspiciously similar to getting a job.
There would be rules.
Training.
Responsibilities.
Someone constantly telling him what to do.
He had already spent enough of his previous life listening to managers complain about deadlines.
The thought of getting transported to another world only to acquire another boss didn't excite him.
'I'll pass.'
Unless Yan Di provided free liquor.
Then negotiations could begin.
Lin Hao suddenly spoke.
"Did Yan Di say why he was with the bandits?"
The room immediately became serious again.
Ginn thought back to their conversation.
"He said something about experiencing the mortal realm."
The white-haired elder frowned.
"Experiencing the mortal realm?"
"He also said he promised someone something."
Lin Hao's eyes sharpened.
"What exactly did he say?"
Ginn tried remembering.
Alcohol had helped erase some of the unpleasant memories, but Yan Di's ridiculous behavior was difficult to forget.
"He said he couldn't make me his disciple because of a promise he made."
Lin Hao exchanged a glance with the white-haired elder.
Ginn noticed.
"What?"
Neither answered immediately.
The white-haired elder stroked his beard.
"If Yan Di truly disguised himself as one of the bandits, then those men were almost certainly not ordinary bandits he happened to encounter."
Lin Qingxue's expression changed.
"You believe he was involved in the ambush?"
"Not necessarily."
Lin Hao shook his head.
"If a Core Formation cultivator wanted Qingxue dead, she would never have returned."
Everyone became silent.
Ginn nodded.
That much he understood.
If Yan Di had wanted Lin Qingxue dead, Ginn certainly couldn't have stopped him.
He couldn't even stand beneath the man's pressure.
Lin Hao continued, "More importantly, if the Blazing Sun Sect wished to move against our Lin Clan, they would have no reason to use ordinary bandits."
"Then why was he there?" Lin Tianyu asked.
Nobody answered.
That was the problem.
Yan Di was too powerful.
The bandits were too weak.
Lin Qingxue's guards had been deliberately separated from her.
And someone knew exactly which emergency route she would use.
The pieces didn't fit together.
At least…
Not yet.
Lin Hao's expression became cold.
"Second Elder."
The white-haired man immediately stood.
"Patriarch."
"Send people to Blackstone Forest. Find Elder Mo, Captain Wei, and every surviving member of Qingxue's escort."
"Understood."
"Do not announce Qingxue's return outside the clan yet."
The elder nodded.
Lin Hao continued. "Tianyu, double the guards around the estate. Nobody enters or leaves without being recorded."
"Yes, Father."
"Also find out exactly who knew Qingxue's route before she departed."
Lin Tianyu's expression hardened.
"I understand."
Ginn quietly watched everything from his seat.
'Yep.'
'Definitely family politics.'
He took another drink.
He wanted absolutely no part of it.
Lin Hao's gaze moved toward the elders.
"Until we know otherwise, assume the route was leaked."
Several expressions immediately became uncomfortable.
Nobody said the obvious words.
Someone inside the Lin Clan might have betrayed Lin Qingxue.
Ginn leaned farther into his chair.
'And I just agreed to live here.'
He suddenly regretted his decision.
Maybe sleeping on the street wasn't so bad.
He could find a nice alley.
Buy a blanket.
Maybe live behind the Drunken Immortal Pavilion and survive on leftovers.
His imagination was already constructing his new homeless lifestyle when Lin Hao turned toward him.
"Young Friend Ginn."
Ginn's thoughts immediately returned.
"Hm?"
"I apologize that you had to witness our family matters."
"No problem."
Ginn waved his hand.
"I wasn't listening."
"…"
Lin Tianyu coughed.
Lin Qingxue looked at Ginn suspiciously.
Ginn took another sip.
He had actually listened to everything.
But pretending otherwise seemed safer.
Lin Hao smiled faintly.
"Regardless, you have already been dragged into this matter because of Qingxue. The men who attacked her may eventually learn your identity."
Ginn's drinking stopped.
"…What?"
"If the attack was planned, whoever arranged it may investigate how Qingxue survived."
Ginn slowly lowered the jar.
'Wait.'
He hadn't considered that.
The mastermind might discover that some random stranger had killed their men and helped Lin Qingxue return home.
Which meant…
'They might come after me.'
A vein appeared on Ginn's forehead.
He hadn't even wanted to save her!
Why was the trouble continuing to follow him?
Ginn looked toward Lin Qingxue.
She noticed his gaze.
"Savior?"
Ginn wanted to complain.
He really did.
But seeing her expression, the words disappeared.
She had nearly died.
Compared to her, Ginn had gotten lucky.
He sighed.
"Forget it."
Lin Qingxue smiled slightly.
Ginn immediately looked away.
'Don't look at me like that.'
He was beginning to understand how men ended up doing stupid things for beautiful women.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Lin Hao stood.
"This discussion is finished for now. Qingxue needs rest. We will continue after the search party returns."
Everyone slowly rose from their seats.
Ginn was the first person standing.
Finally.
Freedom.
He had been sitting there for what felt like hours.
His wine jar was also becoming dangerously light.
He needed to investigate that wine cellar immediately.
As Ginn approached the door, however, the white-haired elder suddenly called him.
"Young man."
Ginn stopped.
"What?"
The elder's gaze moved toward Ginn's hand.
More specifically…
The jade ring.
"That ring."
Ginn instinctively covered it.
"What about it?"
"Where did you obtain it?"
Ginn looked down.
"Yan Di gave it to me."
The elder's eyes widened.
"He gave you a spatial ring?"
"Is that what this is called?"
Ginn raised his hand and examined it.
The elder stared at him in disbelief.
"Do you not know how to use it?"
"No."
"…"
Ginn suddenly remembered something.
"But he said there's alcohol inside."
The elder closed his eyes.
Of course.
Of all the things stored inside a spatial ring…
This young man only cared about the liquor.
"Channel a small amount of Qi into the ring."
Ginn blinked.
"How?"
The elder froze.
"How?"
"Yes."
"You are a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator."
"Apparently."
"And you don't know how to circulate Qi?"
"No."
The elder stared at him.
Ginn stared back.
Finally, the old man rubbed his forehead.
"How did you cultivate to the fourth level?"
Ginn thought about the system.
"I slept."
The elder's expression darkened.
"Young man."
"I'm serious."
The elder turned around.
"Forget I asked."
Ginn shrugged.
His answer was the truth.
Not his problem if nobody believed him.
Lin Qingxue approached Ginn. "Savior, I can ask someone to teach you the basic Qi circulation method tomorrow."
Ginn's eyes brightened.
"Will that help me use the ring?"
"Yes."
"Then definitely."
The Ice Art could wait a little.
There was alcohol trapped inside his ring.
That was an emergency.
A servant soon arrived and guided Ginn away from the main hall toward the guest courtyard.
The Lin Estate was even larger than Ginn initially realized. They passed through several stone pathways, two gardens, and a small bridge before finally arriving at a quiet courtyard surrounded by bamboo.
A small house stood in the center.
"This will be Young Master's residence," the servant said respectfully.
Ginn looked around.
There was a bedroom.
A sitting room.
A private bath.
Even a small garden.
"…All mine?"
"Yes."
Ginn became emotional.
His old apartment could probably fit inside the bedroom.
"Does it cost anything?"
The servant looked confused.
"No."
Ginn nearly cried.
Free housing.
He had finally achieved something he had failed to accomplish during twenty-something years on Earth.
"Would Young Master like anything else?"
Ginn immediately answered.
"Wine."
The servant bowed.
"I will have some delivered."
Ginn watched him leave.
For several seconds…
He simply stood there.
Then he smiled.
"This place isn't bad."
He entered the house and immediately collapsed onto the bed.
Soft.
Very soft.
Dangerously soft.
Ginn stared at the ceiling.
For the first time since arriving in this world, he was completely alone.
No bandits.
No cultivators choking him with pressure.
No beautiful woman trying to repay him with her body.
No guards asking for identification.
No wealthy family interrogating him.
Just silence.
"Ahhh…"
Ginn stretched his arms.
"This is life."
Then—
A transparent screen appeared.
Ginn blinked.
He had almost forgotten about it.
He sat up.
The numbers immediately caught his attention.
Ginn
Cultivation: Qi Refining Lv.4
Qi Pool: 63,784
Efficiency: 4/s
Senses: 4
Physique: 64
Charm: 4
Comprehension: 4
Luck: 4
Potential: 4
Unassigned Points: 0
Ginn stared at the Qi Pool.
"…"
He rubbed his eyes.
Then looked again.
Qi Pool: 63,788
Four more.
63,792
Another four.
Ginn slowly sat upright.
"Sixty-three thousand?"
Back when he first arrived, a hundred Qi had been enough for his first breakthrough.
The next required two hundred.
Then four hundred.
The requirement doubled every level.
Ginn began calculating inside his head.
Lv.4 to Lv.5…
Eight hundred.
Lv.5 to Lv.6…
Sixteen hundred.
Lv.6 to Lv.7…
Thirty-two hundred.
Lv.7 to Lv.8…
Sixty-four hundred.
His smile slowly widened.
He had enough.
More than enough for several breakthroughs.
Ginn raised his finger toward the transparent screen.
Then stopped.
His smile disappeared.
He remembered what happened last time.
The upgrades didn't activate immediately.
They only took effect after he slept.
Ginn looked at the bed beneath him.
Then at the screen.
Then back at the bed.
"…"
A dangerous idea entered his head.
He could spend the Qi.
Break through several times.
Sleep.
Wake up stronger.
Without meditating.
Without training.
Without doing anything.
Ginn's grin returned.
"Hehehe."
Other cultivators spent years training.
He took naps.
"This system…"
Ginn wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.
"…I take back everything bad I ever said about you."
His finger moved toward Breakthrough.
Then stopped again.
Something else caught his attention.
Tomorrow…
He would gain access to the Lin Clan library.
Somewhere inside might be an Ice Art.
Ginn looked at his enormous Qi reserve.
He remembered Lin Hao saying that cultivating incompatible elemental techniques could damage someone's meridians.
Normally…
That sounded dangerous.
But Ginn didn't cultivate normally.
His system handled breakthroughs.
His system accumulated Qi.
His system applied changes while he slept.
Ginn rubbed his chin.
'What if techniques work the same way?'
He didn't know.
But tomorrow…
He intended to find out.
Ginn fell backward onto the bed.
A smile remained on his face as the Qi Pool continued increasing.
63,812
63,816
63,820
Every second he spent doing absolutely nothing…
He became richer in Qi.
Free housing.
Free food.
Free cultivation.
A library filled with techniques.
And possibly an Ice Art.
Ginn closed his eyes.
"Maybe getting sent here really wasn't a mistake."
A knock suddenly came from outside.
"Young Master Ginn, I have brought the wine you requested."
Ginn's eyes shot open.
He disappeared from the bed so quickly that the servant outside nearly dropped the tray when the door flew open.
"Give me that."
Ginn happily grabbed the wine.
Tomorrow could worry about itself.
Tonight…
He had more important cultivation to do.