"Jiang Xun, do you know what cultivation is?"
When Sang Linger asked this, the air went still for a moment.
She looked at Jiang Xun, expecting to see longing, hesitation, or a sense of being overwhelmed by favor on this Mortal's face.
But Jiang Xun just had a foolish look on his face.
It was as if he had no idea what cultivation even was.
Sang Linger puffed out her cheeks.
After all, the words "immortal cultivation" were an unreachable dream for countless Mortals, the only path to heaven that could change one's fate.
So many people wanted to enter the immortal gates but found no way in.
And now, this opportunity was laid out right in front of Jiang Xun.
"In one year, the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect's decennial Ascension Assembly will begin. If you wish, I will give you an Ascension Token."
"If you succeed in the trials then, it will be possible for you to enter my Xuanxiao Sect."
Because Sang Linger was quite short, she stood on a rock about ten feet higher than Jiang Xun, her tone serious:
"Consider it repayment for the kindness you showed by risking your life to save me."
But Jiang Xun only froze for a moment before grinning.
He gave a smile that was as simple as could be, even carrying a hint of silliness, and shook his head:
"This lowly one doesn't have that kind of fortune, nor that kind of ambition. I'll be content to live out this life peacefully.
There's no need to repay any kindness."
He refused cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation or any yearning for the immortal path.
What a joke!
He wouldn't go to the Xuanxiao Immortal Sect of all places.
He wanted to find a safe place to lay low.
The small spark of concern that had just risen in Sang Linger's heart—one she hadn't even examined herself—felt like it had been doused by a bucket of cold water.
Her delicate brows furrowed as she stared at Jiang Xun's face, which was written with contentment, and a surge of nameless anger flared up.
How ungrateful!
She had kindly pointed out a bright path for him.
Instead, he didn't appreciate it at all.
It was better than digging for herbs in this mountain gully for a lifetime, only to perhaps end up as food for a Yao Beast one day.
And the result?
The other party looked like a piece of rotten wood that couldn't be carved, someone with no ambition whatsoever!
Sang Linger turned her face away in anger, not wanting to look at him anymore.
She really was meddling in things that weren't her business.
Master was right; a Mortal's vision is only as wide as the eye of a needle. All they see is the tiny plot of land in front of them. If you tell them about the great path to heaven, they just think you're telling a story.
She stopped paying attention to Jiang Xun.
Her pace quickened a few notches, as if the air would be fresher the further she got from this unreasonable Mortal.
Jiang Xun looked at Sang Linger, who had suddenly turned cold and walked ahead, feeling a bit bewildered.
This Fairy's temper really changed in an instant.
He instinctively pulled up the System panel and glanced at Sang Linger's status.
[Favorability: 60]
60?
Friend level?
Jiang Xun muttered to himself.
How strange. If this favorability were on a brother from his past life, he'd have to give him an elbow strike.
But facing Sang Linger, he'd better forget it.
He shook his head, tossing the thought aside.
The thoughts of a Cultivator, especially one with a noble background and great talent, were best left un-guessed.
Guessing wrong could easily cost one's life.
The two of them, one in front and one behind, silently walked the rest of the mountain path.
When the familiar outline of the town, carrying the scent of hearth and home, appeared before his eyes, Jiang Xun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just as they approached the town entrance, a thin, small figure suddenly rushed out from a stone bench by the roadside and slammed into Jiang Xun's arms.
It was Jiang Wanxing.
The young girl's hair was a bit messy, her eyes were clearly red and swollen, and her small face was a mix of joy and lingering fear.
Her lips trembled, and it took a long while before she squeezed out a tearful voice:
"Brother! You... you're back!"
She gripped the hem of Jiang Xun's clothes tightly.
"You said you were only going into the mountains, you didn't say you'd stay overnight! The mountain wind was so loud at night, and there were wolves howling... I... I was scared..."
A spot in Jiang Xun's heart was gently touched.
He reached out and rubbed his sister's dry hair, his voice softer than usual:
"It's okay, isn't Brother back now? I was... delayed on the road."
Only then did Jiang Wanxing notice Sang Linger nearby. She hurriedly let go of Jiang Xun, stepped back two paces, and actually fell to her knees with a thud, kowtowing to Sang Linger:
"Thank you, Immortal Master! For helping me find my brother!"
Sang Linger was startled.
Although her status was exalted, she usually only interacted with fellow disciples or elders.
When had she ever been bowed to with such a grand gesture by a Mortal girl?
She shifted uncomfortably and raised her hand as if to help her up:
"Get up, there's no need for this.
I didn't really do anything; on the contrary, your brother helped me quite a bit."
She was telling the truth, but Jiang Wanxing only thought the Immortal Master was being humble.
Jiang Xun helped his sister up and cupped his hands toward Sang Linger:
"Since we have returned safely to town, if there is nothing else, this lowly one will take his sister back first. Today... thank you, Fairy."
Sang Linger looked at Jiang Xun's respectful yet distant appearance, as if he were eager to draw a clear line between them.
Thinking back to his spineless look when he refused her, she felt a faint sense of annoyance.
She turned her head slightly and gave an "mm" from her nose as a response.
Just then, two other figures rounded the corner from another mountain path outside the town; they were Han Chen and Qin Lin.
The two of them also looked a bit tired, but their spirits were decent.
Qin Lin spotted Jiang Xun at once, his eyes lighting up as he strode over.
Jiang Xun's heart tightened, wondering what this cold-faced Immortal Master intended to do.
Qin Lin came to a halt in front of him and clasped his fists, his tone unusually solemn:
"Brother Jiang, regarding that day in the cave, thank you."
"If you hadn't risked yourself to throw the knife and retrieve the talisman, we might not have lasted until help arrived."
Jiang Xun hurriedly bowed, lowering his posture even further:
"The Immortal Master overstates it! This lowly one only did a trivial thing; I truly cannot accept a 'thank you' from the Immortal Master."
Qin Lin said no more and directly took an object from his sleeve, handing it over.
It was a thumb-sized, entirely golden bell engraved with fine runes. It made a crisp sound with a light shake.
"This is a zhenan bell. Though it is a low-grade Magical Artifact, hanging it in your home can disperse ordinary Yin energy and filth, protecting the residence.
If you have no use for it, you can also exchange it for some silver," Qin Lin said flatly, yet with an arrogance that suggested he was someone who settled scores clearly and never left debts unpaid.
Jiang Xun hesitated for a moment, but seeing Qin Lin's firm attitude, he had no choice but to accept it with both hands and thank him again:
"Thank you for the generous gift, Immortal Master."
Watching this scene from the side, Han Chen's expression was somewhat uncertain.
He stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Xun, and he gave a cold snort:
"Thank him? If he hadn't led us to that ghostly place, how would we have fallen into such a dangerous situation? Strictly speaking, he bears half the responsibility!"
"Senior Brother Han!" Sang Linger immediately spoke up, her tone carrying displeasure.
"It was our own decision to go into that cave to investigate. How can we blame the person who led the way?
If we push the reason for every danger onto others, then why even bother with cultivation! We might as well go home and sleep!"
She was speaking up for Jiang Xun, and her tone was sharp.
She had long been annoyed by the other's playboy-like demeanor, which was why she hadn't gone into the mountains with him later.
Jiang Xun stepped forward and gave Han Chen a deep bow, his tone extremely sincere:
"The Immortal Master Han is right to lecture me! It was all my fault for failing to warn you of the mountain's dangers beforehand, causing the three Immortal Masters to fall into peril! I know my mistake, please punish me!"
He kept his posture extremely low, admitting his fault quickly and decisively, taking all the responsibility upon himself.
Han Chen was stunned by this sudden apology.
He had only been unable to hold back his spite because he saw Qin Lin being polite to Jiang Xun and Sang Linger speaking up for him.
But now that Jiang Xun had admitted all fault with an attitude as humble as the dust, it made him look like he was bullying someone using his status.
He was a dignified Inner Sect Disciple of the Xuanxiao Sect, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If word got out that he was bickering with a Mortal or even venting his anger by holding him accountable... wouldn't people laugh at his narrow-mindedness?
He waved his hand irritably, as if trying to drive away something unlucky:
"Forget it, forget it! What does a Mortal like you know!"
It served as a way for him to save face.
When Sang Linger saw that just as she had argued for Jiang Xun, he had gone and apologized so eagerly, she was left with nothing but a sense of frustrated anger at his lack of backbone.
She stamped her foot, glared at Jiang Xun, and turned to leave, her figure quickly disappearing around the street corner.
Seeing that he had displeased Sang Linger, Han Chen's gaze toward Jiang Xun grew even more annoyed. He gave a cold snort and also left with a flick of his sleeves.
Qin Lin gave Jiang Xun a slight nod as a farewell and followed after them.
In the blink of an eye, only the Jiang siblings remained at the town entrance.
Jiang Xun straightened up, brushed off non-existent dust from his lapel, and the fearful, humble expression on his face had already vanished, replaced by his usual calm.
He took the hand of the still-dazed Jiang Wanxing and walked toward their home.
Jiang Wanxing stole a glance at him and asked softly, "Brother, those Immortal Masters..."
"It's nothing."
Jiang Xun interrupted her, his tone normal. "Don't ask too much about the Immortal Masters' business. Let's go home."
It was true he was a transmigrator, but he hadn't transmigrated into a game character with heaven-defying cultivation who could take on anyone he didn't like.
His ten-plus years of surfing the internet in his past life had long taught him one thing.
When you have no money and no power, do what someone with no money and no power should do.
If you want to flip the table, you must first have the strength and confidence to do so.
What did he have now?
A cultivation level of the second layer of Qi Refining, a few Demonic Technique treasures he didn't dare show easily, a System that specifically screwed him over, plus a sensitive sister.
This bit of capital was too small to even make a splash in the deep waters of the cultivation world.
In front of a colossus like the Xuanxiao Sect, he didn't even count as an ant.
Jiang Xun never considered himself a protagonist.
But all successful people can be the protagonists of their own lives.
The prerequisite is that you can succeed.
Those who think they are the chosen ones and show off everywhere during their development phase aren't protagonists; they're cannon fodder, experience packs on someone else's path to leveling up.
Moreover, he had that 'Option' in his head that could pop up at any time and screw over its owner.
If it gave him an option like 'confess in public' or 'provoke a Golden Core' at a critical moment one day, he really wouldn't even know how he died.