She then left with the squirrel in her arms, wearing a grateful smile that lit up her already beautiful face.
As for the squirrel? I couldn't care less what happened to it. It could've joined a demon sect or started a squirrel revolution—I wouldn't blink.
I yawned like a bored old sage, stretched my arms dramatically, and then turned my attention to the real treasure left behind—food. Mountains of it. Steaming, fragrant, glorious food.
An hour passed in the blink of an eye.
I devoured everything. And I mean everything By the end, I was so full I could barely breathe, but it was worth it—my Golden Body cultivation had advanced. I was now knocking on the door of the Second Layer.
I felt… satisfied. Not the "enlightenment from a Dao epiphany" kind of satisfaction, but the kind you get after eating an entire buffet and realizing you don't look like a walking skeleton anymore.
"I'm skinny now," I muttered, looking down at myself with pride. "But at least I'm not a skinny bone person."
In my past life, I also dabbled in cultivation techniques related to appearance enhancement—yes, that shallow. One such technique was the legendary Peerless Face art. I earned it as a reward for heroically—ahem—slaughtering an entire sect. Honorary, they said. Heroic, I say. Efficient, really.
Though I never used the technique before. Too busy with… well, sect-slaying business.
That night, I stood in front of a mirror. For the first time in ages, there was the slightest hint of fat on my cheeks. Just a little puff. My once dull blue eyes now sparkled with a faint clarity, like a pond with slightly less mud.
"At this point," I whispered to my reflection, "I could be considered a little above average… at best."
I began cultivating Peerless Face that night. And by morning?
My eyebags had vanished. My face was smoother, clearer—almost... handsome. Not devastatingly so, but enough to raise a few eyebrows. I nodded at my reflection with all the pride of someone who'd just unlocked the "slightly above average" achievement.
"Perfect," I whispered. "Just in time for the date."
---
The second day came, much the same as before. Luna, my ever-present Maid these past days, was taking care of the squirrel. She even named it Seo.
Apparently, we had "similar personalities."
I didn't know whether to feel insulted or flattered, so I just shrugged. "Must be a compliment," I told myself as the squirrel chomped on a nut like it was plotting a coup.
That day, everyone in the manor—from maids to gardeners—stared at me in shock. Their jaws dropped like I had returned from the dead looking like a... passable mortal.
"Is that… the Young Master?" someone whispered behind my back.
"Is he glowing?"
"No, that's just grease. Wait… no, he is glowing!"
Rumors spread quickly, but were also forgotten just as fast—such was the fickle nature of gossip in the rich districts.
I walked through the halls with an air of haughty pride. Not because I wanted to, but because my body insisted on strutting like it owned the place. Muscle memory is a stubborn thing.
Later that night, I reached the Second Layer of the Golden Body. My bones strengthened, my skin toughened, and my body felt lighter. It was like switching from rusty armor to lightweight silk. I could even run without wheezing now!
---
The next morning, I spoke to Luna.
"I'll be heading out today."My voice a whisper
She nodded a bit curious were I'm going but didn't ask because i didn't explain
Luna had been around me constantly these past few days. Our relationship had grown… comfortably casual. She'd been keeping a keen eye on my bodily changes, and I could tell she was curious.
"You've gained weight surprisingly fast," she said with a suspicious squint. "Is it because you keep demanding six meals a day?"
I grinned. "Talent."
She raised an eyebrow. "You also digest food like a black hole."
Then she did something unexpected—she used her healing skills to examine me. Luna was a certified 2-Star Healer, after all.
Her verdict? "Your core's still completely shattered. Not even a spark of mana. You couldn't light a candle with your soul if your life depended on it."
I shrugged. "Good thing I'm not a mage."
She just chuckled and turned to pat the squirrel. "Don't worry. I'll take care of Seo while you're out."
I nodded, satisfied. "Don't feed him too much. He's starting to look… Fat"
---
I stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a well-tailored suit. Honestly? I looked… almost handsome. Almost. The clothes did some heavy lifting, like a good supporting cast for an untrained actor.
Compared to our last meeting, this was a glow-up of legendary proportions. At least now, I didn't look like a malnourished ghost.
I flexed my arm, frowned at the still-skinny bicep, and sighed. "One day, you'll be majestic."
Just then, a maid knocked on the door. "Young Master, your guest is waiting."
I nodded and walked down the hallway with all the grace I could muster, which was really just me trying not to trip on the rug.
Eventually, I reached the garden, and from there, the manor gates. A fancy carriage waited outside—and inside, I could sense her presence. Silvia Elean.
She looked… breathtaking. Even more beautiful than the last time. Her silver hair shimmered like moonlight, and her long elven ears twitched slightly, which I desperately wanted to touch. I resisted. Barely.
This was it.
Even in my past life, I never had a proper date. This was the first. So I put in some effort.
This time, I wanted to look weak. Pathetic, even. Harmless. Just a normal guy living a peaceful life. That was the plan.
I stepped into the carriage and sat across from her.
Silvia looked at me—and froze.
My face instinctively twisted into a smug expression that screamed, I bet you regret Trying to break the engagement now, huh? One of those faces that just begged to be slapped.
She exhaled sharply. "At least you're not leering like last time."
Silvia Elean. Proud noble. Elven royalty. Holder of the most squishable-looking ears in the land. And also my fiancée… technically.
I smiled politely. "So, my lovely fiancée, where are we headed today?"
She scoffed. "We're going to a restaurant. That's it. Don't get any weird ideas."
I chuckled softly, my smile just a touch too charming. She blinked. Blushed. Looked away.
Success.
No way in hell I'm getting charmed by that disgusting face, she told herself.
But even she had to admit—he had changed. A lot. In just a few days. His core was still shattered (she checked, just in case), but his whole aura had shifted. Subtly.
Silvia, for all her aloofness, was a genius. She'd reached 2-Star Peak Layer at only 17. If I tried anything suspicious, she'd blast me with a fireball before I could blink.
For now, though, I just sat back in the carriage, pretending to be nothing more than a slightly arrogant, newly-handsome Person
and it's just
Just a normal date.
What could possibly go wrong?