The wind still bit at Li Xian's face as he limped along the narrow cliff path, each step heavier than the last. The Lin Clan training ground lay far ahead, perched atop a jagged plateau that glowed faintly with Qi energy even from this distance. Every glance reminded him how powerless he had always been—always last in every training, always mocked, always poor.
And yet… something had changed.
The System pulsed in his mind like a heartbeat:
Mission 1: Survive and reach the Lin Clan training ground.
Reward: Gold, Treasure, Companion Opportunity.
"Survive… that's it?" he muttered, kicking a loose stone down the cliffside. It tumbled into the mist far below. "I can handle that… right?"
A faint vibration tickled his mind, and the System continued:
Nearby danger detected.
Activate Combat Tutorial? [Yes/No]
Li Xian froze. Danger? Already? His heart pounded, but he swallowed hard and whispered, "Yes… I need to know how to fight."
Suddenly, the path ahead rippled like heatwaves, and three figures emerged from the mist. Low-level bandits, Li Xian realized. Their Qi was weak but unmistakably malicious, their eyes gleaming with the promise of gold—or a corpse.
He backed up instinctively, but the cliff behind him ended abruptly in a steep drop. There was nowhere to retreat.
System Notification: Combat Mode Activated.
Enemy: Bandit Tier 1 x3.
Recommended action: Use Basic Attack.
Li Xian's hands shook, but he felt the Qi Seed in his palm. Closing his fist around the blue orb, he allowed it to flow into his limbs. Instantly, a warmth coursed through his muscles, and his vision sharpened.
"Take… this!" he shouted, more from instinct than courage, and thrust his right fist forward.
A faint blue trail of energy followed his punch, slamming into the first bandit. The man staggered back, coughing and clutching his chest as sparks of Qi crackled around him.
The second bandit lunged. Li Xian barely had time to react. The System pinged again:
New Skill Unlocked: Qi Shockwave – Short-range AoE attack.
Suggested use: multiple enemies.
He clenched his fists, closing his eyes for a fraction of a second to focus. When he opened them, a wave of blue energy erupted from his body, striking the remaining two bandits. Both were thrown back violently, their screams echoing against the cliffs.
Li Xian's chest heaved. Sweat dripped down his temples. "I… I did it," he muttered, disbelief in his voice. The System chimed once more:
Mission Update: Combat tutorial completed.
Experience +5, Mission Progress +20%.
A rush of satisfaction warmed him. This—this was proof. He could survive. He could rise.
Before he could catch his breath, a voice cut through the wind.
"You've got some nerve, showing up here alone."
Li Xian spun. On the cliff above, Li Yuxin stood, her crimson robes flaring in the wind, hair like molten fire cascading around her shoulders. She leaned casually against a jagged stone, one hand resting on the hilt of a short blade. Her golden eyes glinted with amusement, and a playful smirk tugged at her lips.
Li Xian's heart skipped. She's… beautiful. The warmth in his chest was more than fear or relief—it was excitement, attraction, something he had never felt before.
System Notification: Companion Interaction Detected.
Potential Relationship Progress: Li Yuxin +5 Affection.
"Uh… h-hi," Li Xian stammered, face heating.
Li Yuxin laughed, a low, melodic sound that made his ears tingle. "Not bad for a scrawny kid from the Yun Clan. You survived a bandit attack and even managed to use some Qi. Hm… maybe you're not completely useless."
System Suggestion: Flirt or Compliment to Increase Affection Points. [Yes/No]
Li Xian swallowed hard. Flirt? With her? "Th-thank you… for noticing," he said, voice cracking slightly.
Her smile widened, and the wind caught her robes dramatically. "Hmm… I'll be watching you. Don't get yourself killed."
With that, she leapt from the cliff, landing gracefully on the path ahead. Her movements were precise, elegant, and impossibly fast. Li Xian's jaw dropped.
System Notification: Li Yuxin Demonstrates Superior Cultivation Ability. Observe to Learn.
He shook his head, trying to focus. Survival came first. He followed as the path narrowed into a dense forest, shadows twisting unnaturally in the mist.
"Bandits aren't your only problem," Li Yuxin said, her voice serious now. "The Lin Clan doesn't take kindly to outsiders, even weak ones like you. Survive long enough to reach their training grounds, and maybe I'll consider helping you."
Her words weren't exactly reassuring, but Li Xian felt a spark of hope. The System chimed again:
Mission Progress: +50% – Enter Lin Clan Territory.
Enemy Resistance: Low.
Recommended Action: Observe and Avoid Conflict.
They moved in silence, the forest around them thick with Qi energy. Li Xian's senses tingled with each step. Then, the trees rustled violently ahead. Three more figures stepped into their path.
Enemy Detected: Lin Clan Low-Tier Guards x3.
Li Xian froze, but Li Yuxin didn't flinch. She drew her blade, its edge shimmering faintly with her Qi.
"Stay behind me," she commanded, voice sharp.
System Suggestion: Observe Companion Techniques or Assist. [Assist/Observe]
Li Xian clenched his fists. Assist… He stepped forward, raising his palm. The blue Qi Seed pulsed in his hand. He could feel it, guiding him. He extended his palm, and a small shockwave of blue energy shot toward the nearest guard, staggering him.
Li Yuxin's eyes widened slightly. "Not bad… you've got raw potential, kid."
The fight was brief but intense. Li Yuxin moved like a storm, each strike precise, each movement lethal yet elegant. Li Xian tried to imitate, using bursts of Qi to push back the guards. They fell one by one, surprised by the boy's sudden courage and power.
System Notification: Mission Progress +80%.
Combat Experience +10.
Potential Companion Affection +10.
When the last guard collapsed, Li Yuxin sheathed her blade and turned to him, a small smirk on her face. "Looks like you might survive longer than I thought."
Li Xian's chest heaved. His clothes were torn, sweat soaked his hair, and his body ached—but the thrill of combat coursed through him like fire. I… I did it. I survived.
He barely noticed how close she had come, her presence overwhelming, the faint scent of her perfume—or was it Qi?—making his heart race. The System chimed softly in his mind:
Companion Affection Increased: Li Yuxin +15.
Unlock Potential R18 Interaction upon further missions.
Li Xian swallowed. The thought of romance, something he had only dreamed of from afar, seemed suddenly… possible.
"Rest here for a moment," Li Yuxin said, leaning against a tree, her crimson robes catching the fading sunlight. "You're going to need your strength. The Lin Clan isn't as weak as these fools."
He nodded, still trying to catch his breath. "Thank you… for helping me."
She tilted her head, her golden eyes locking on his. "Don't thank me yet. I haven't decided if you're worth my attention. But…" She paused, a playful smirk returning, "you're amusing."
Li Xian's face burned hotter than the midday sun. He wanted to say something clever, something to impress her, but all that came out was a quiet, "I… I'll try to survive."
System Notification: Mission 1 Completed.
Reward: 50 Gold, Minor Treasure Chest, Companion Unlock Chance. Mission 2 Unlocked: Earn Recognition in Lin Clan.
As he glanced toward the Lin Clan training ground in the distance, a sudden tremor shook the forest floor. Leaves rustled violently, and a low, sinister laugh echoed through the trees.
Danger Detected: Unknown Enemy Approaching.
Recommended Action: Caution.
Li Xian's heart thudded. He had survived his first real challenge, gained his first Companion, and even tasted the thrill of combat—but the System's warning made it clear: the path ahead was far more dangerous than he had imagined.
And behind the shadowed trees, glowing red eyes watched, patient, hungry, and unmoving.
This was only the beginning…