Victor stood in front of the old woman's stall, holding his newly purchased dark green robe with golden embroidery.
The exchange had been as unpleasant as he'd expected. Zhou Mei, the cantankerous merchant, had made a point of grumbling about Victor's earlier lack of funds, reminding him that she didn't deal with "riffraff" and only tolerated him because he finally had some money.
"Come back when you're rich enough to buy something worth my time," she had sneered before snatching the jade crescents from his hand.
Victor forced a smile. "Thanks for the amazing customer service, Zhou Mei. I'll be sure to recommend your stall to all the other riffraff."
As he walked away, he shook his head. "I don't know what's worse—her attitude or her prices. Note to self: find literally anyone else to buy from next time."
Victor wandered through Lingyun Town, taking in the sights and sounds.
The town was more expansive than he'd initially thought, with narrow alleys that branched into bustling squares and hidden courtyards. He passed a street performer juggling glowing orbs of qi, a blacksmith hammering away at a red-hot sword, and a merchant selling mysterious talismans that promised to ward off evil spirits.
"This place is pretty incredible," Victor muttered while grinning as he took it all in. "Way better than the valley."
As he rounded a corner, the aroma of roasted meat and spiced wine caught his attention. He followed his nose to a quaint inn with a wooden sign that read "Lingyun's Rest". The lively chatter and clinking of cups from inside drew him in.
Victor pushed open the door and stepped into the cozy interior. The inn was lively and full of chatters.
Its wooden beams were adorned with red lanterns that cast a warm glow across the surroundings. Tables were filled with patrons laughing and eating, and the scent of freshly cooked meals filled the air.
"Since I'm too young to drink in real life," Victor said to himself, "I'll drink as much as I want in the game."
Behind the counter stood a cheerful-looking young man around Victor's age. He had short, messy black hair and an easy smile that lit up the room. Spotting Victor, he waved him over.
"Welcome to Lingyun's Rest! What can I get you?" the young man asked.
Victor approached the counter and scanned the menu displayed on a wooden board. The names of the wines—Cloudmist Brew, Dragon's Nectar, and Phoenix Flame Wine—meant nothing to him. "Uh, I'll take the cheapest one," he said with a grin. "Don't want to blow my nonexistent fortune all at once."
The young man laughed while grabbing a bottle from the shelf. "Good choice. Clear Spring Wine. Light and refreshing, and it won't break the bank."
As he poured Victor a cup, he leaned on the counter and said, "I'm Chen Wen. And you?"
"Fang Chen," Victor replied before taking the cup. "Thanks for the drink, Chen Wen. So, do you run this place?"
"Nah, it's my dad's inn," Chen Wen said. "I just help out when I'm not… well, helping out."
Victor chuckled. "Fair enough. So, what's the deal with this town? Seems pretty lively."
Chen Wen's eyes lit up. "Lingyun Town has a long history. That statue in the center? It's of Master Lingyun, one of the most powerful cultivators of his time. He helped establish this place back when it was still a major city."
"A major city?" Victor raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Chen Wen's smile faltered slightly. "War, natural disasters… the usual. Lingyun fell from its former glory, but it's still home to some powerful families. The Bai, Zhao, Yan, and Qin families. They're the bigshots around here—nobody dares mess with them."
"Sounds like a power struggle waiting to happen," Victor said while taking a sip of his wine. A notification popped up on his interface:
<[ Effect: +1 Stamina Recovery ]>
<[ Effect: +1 Vitality ]>
Victor grinned. "Hey, this wine's doing wonders for my stats. Nobody can stop me from drinking here."
Chen Wen laughed. "Glad you're enjoying it. Anyway, I should get back to work. Let me know if you need anything else."
As Chen Wen walked off to attend to another table, Victor leaned back and savoured his drink.
The wine was smooth, with a hint of sweetness that lingered on his tongue. He glanced around the room, taking in the warm atmosphere.
"This game just keeps getting better," Victor muttered before lifting his cup for another sip.
The door to the inn burst open, and the lively chatter immediately died down.
Victor looked up to see a group of five young men stride in.
Their matching cultivation robes marked them as members of a powerful faction. The leader, a tall and arrogant-looking youth with handsome features, scanned the room with a sneer.
"Looks like trouble," Victor set his cup down and watched.
The group made their way to the center of the room as their presence commanded attention. Chen Wen approached them with his usual cheerful smile.
"Welcome to Lingyun's Rest," Chen Wen said. "What can I get for you?"
The leader, who Victor later learned was named Qin Fei, didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand and delivered a sharp slap to Chen Wen's face, sending him crashing to the floor.
The room gasped in unison, and Victor's hand tightened around his cup as Chen Wen's face immediately turned red and swollen.
Qin Fei's lips curled into a cruel smile. "I hear you've been spreading rumors about you and Bai Ting Ting."
Chen Wen struggled to his feet while clutching his blood-red cheek red. "Rumors? What rumors?"
Qin Fei's smile vanished and was replaced by a scowl. He gestured to his followers, who grabbed Chen Wen and dragged him to their leader. "Don't play dumb. You think a toad like you can eat swan's meat? Bai Ting Ting is out of your league!"
Chen Wen winced but met Qin Fei's gaze. "Ting Ting and I love each other. I never forced her into anything."
Qin Fei's anger flared. "Love? Don't make me laugh! You're a nobody, and you don't even have the ability to cultivate. What could she possibly see in you?"
Chen Wen's voice trembled but remained defiant. "She doesn't care about that."
Qin Fei's scowl deepened. "Then I'll make her care. After I break every bone in your legs, let's see if you can crawl back to her."
The room fell deathly silent as Qin Fei raised his hand gathering qi from the surroundings as he prepared to unleash a devastating strike.
Chen Wen shut his eyes reflexively as Qin Fei's hand came crashing down.
However, the pain he should have felt from the collision didn't come even after a few moments had gone by.
Chen Wen slowly opened one eye, and to his amazement, a figure was standing in between Qin Fei and himself.
"Hey," Victor's voice cut through the tension as he tightened his hand around Qin Fei's wrist.
"I think that's enough."
Fortunately, he had grabbed Qin Fei's wrist and stopped the attack before it could connect with Chen Wen.
All eyes turned to him, including Qin Fei's.
The leader's gaze darkened as he sized Victor up.
"And who do you think you are?" Qin Fei questioned with a disdainful tone.
"How dare you lay your hand on this young master?!"