"Identification?"
Ginn looked at the guard outside the carriage and then at Lin Qingxue, hoping that the girl would somehow solve the problem for him. Although he had managed to survive five bandits and one ridiculously powerful cultivator not too long ago, the word identification somehow made him feel more nervous than having a blade pointed at his neck.
'The heck am I supposed to show him? My driver's license? I don't even remember where I left that thing.'
Back on Earth, Ginn barely carried any identification with him. Most of the time, he only brought enough money to buy alcohol and his apartment key, and there had even been a few occasions when he had forgotten the key and was forced to sleep outside his own door. Now that he was in another world, there was no chance that anything from Earth would help him even if he still had it.
Lin Qingxue noticed Ginn's strange expression and immediately understood that something was wrong. She had already concluded that her savior had lost most of his memories, so it wasn't difficult for her to guess why the question had caused him to freeze.
"Captain, he is with me," Lin Qingxue said, taking out a small jade token from inside her sleeve. The surface of the token was smooth and pale green, with the word Lin carved in the middle. Although it didn't look particularly expensive to Ginn, the guard's expression changed the moment he saw it.
"Young Miss Lin." The captain immediately cupped his hands and bowed slightly. His stern expression softened, but only for a moment before he looked at Ginn again. "I apologize for stopping your carriage, but the city has recently increased its security. We were informed that several criminals and wandering cultivators have been entering the city using false identities."
"That is understandable," Lin Qingxue replied. "This man saved my life during an attack outside the city. Unfortunately, he seems to have lost his memories and does not possess an identity token."
Hearing Lin Qingxue's words, the captain carefully examined Ginn from head to toe.
Ginn was now wearing a clean dark-blue robe that Lin Qingxue's people had given him after changing his bloodied clothes. The robe was simple but obviously made from better material than the farm clothes he had worn before. His hair was still somewhat messy, and the long scar beside his right eye made him look more dangerous than he actually was.
At least, that was what Ginn believed.
The captain, however, saw something completely different.
The young man before him showed no spiritual energy, yet Young Miss Lin claimed that he had saved her from bandits. His posture appeared careless, almost lazy, and instead of showing fear while being questioned by several armed guards, he simply sat inside the carriage while holding a jar of wine.
The captain narrowed his eyes.
"May I ask how he saved you?"
Lin Qingxue's expression became complicated as she remembered the blood-covered road and the bodies of the bandits scattered around Ginn.
"Our group was attacked on the road. Four armed men chased me after the rest of my guards were separated. He killed all four of them and protected me until the danger passed."
The nearby guards immediately looked at Ginn with surprise.
Ginn nearly choked on the wine he was drinking.
'Protected her?'
He remembered trying to hand Lin Qingxue over to the bandits the moment they threatened him.
'I clearly told them they could take her.'
Of course, Ginn didn't say that aloud. Correcting Lin Qingxue would only make his situation worse, and he was beginning to understand that being known as her savior was far more useful than being known as the bystander who had been dragged into the problem against his will.
The captain continued to stare at Ginn.
"You killed four armed men alone?"
Ginn wiped his mouth with his sleeve. "Something like that."
"Without cultivating?"
"Apparently."
The captain frowned.
Although it wasn't impossible for an experienced mortal warrior to defeat several bandits, the man before him didn't look like a trained soldier. His hands didn't have the thick calluses of someone who had spent years holding a sword, and the way he carried himself lacked the discipline of a martial artist.
What the captain didn't know was that Ginn's experience came from narrow bars, broken bottles, cheap tables, and angry drunkards who usually didn't care about proper fighting techniques.
"Can I see your hands?" the captain asked.
Ginn looked at him suspiciously.
"What for?"
"I only wish to confirm something."
'Confirm what? That I have ten fingers?'
Ginn placed the wine jar beside him and stretched one hand toward the captain. The captain examined his palm and immediately noticed the absence of sword calluses.
His frown deepened.
One of the younger guards standing behind him leaned closer and whispered, "Captain, could Young Miss Lin have been deceived?"
Although the guard tried to keep his voice low, Ginn's improved senses allowed him to hear every word clearly.
His eyebrow twitched.
'Deceived? Come here and let me deceive your face with my fist.'
Lin Qingxue also heard the guard and became unhappy. "Are you saying that I cannot recognize the person who saved my life?"
The younger guard immediately lowered his head. "I would not dare, Young Miss Lin."
The captain raised his hand to silence the others before looking at Ginn again. "Please do not misunderstand. We are only carrying out our duty. Since you do not have an identity token, we will need to record your name, place of origin, and cultivation."
Ginn felt a headache coming.
"Name?"
"Ginn."
The captain waited for him to continue.
After several seconds of silence, he asked, "Your full name?"
"That is my full name."
"No family name?"
"None that I remember."
The captain looked at Lin Qingxue, who gave him a meaningful look as if to remind him of Ginn's supposed memory loss.
The captain sighed and took out a thin wooden tablet together with a brush.
"Place of origin?"
"Far away."
"How far?"
"Very."
The captain paused.
"Which city?"
"I don't know."
"Which province?"
"I don't know."
"Which dynasty?"
"I don't know."
The captain slowly lowered his brush and looked directly at Ginn.
Ginn looked back at him with an innocent expression.
'What do you want from me? I only learned the name of this dynasty a few minutes ago.'
The captain rubbed his forehead before continuing. "Sect?"
"None."
"Clan?"
"None."
"Occupation?"
Ginn's expression suddenly became serious.
That was a question he could answer.
"Game developer."
The captain's brush froze above the wooden tablet.
"A… what?"
Ginn immediately realized his mistake.
Lin Qingxue tilted her head. "Game developer?"
"It means…" Ginn searched his mind for an explanation that someone from a cultivation world could understand. "I create things that people use to waste their time."
The captain stared at him.
Lin Qingxue stared at him.
The guards stared at him.
Ginn thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Yes, that sounds accurate."
The captain slowly wrote something on the wooden tablet.
Ginn leaned forward, trying to see what he had written, but the captain quickly moved it away.
"What did you put?"
"Unemployed."
"What? I'm not unemployed!"
The captain raised an eyebrow. "Do you currently have work?"
Ginn opened his mouth, but no words came out.
His game company was gone.
His computer was gone.
Earth itself might be gone.
After a long silence, Ginn leaned back against the carriage.
"Fine. Unemployed."
The younger guards struggled to hide their laughter.
Ginn picked up his wine jar again and took a large drink.
'Not even one day in another world and I've already been officially registered as unemployed. What a great start.'
The captain continued filling out the wooden tablet. "Cultivation level?"
Ginn was about to say that he didn't know when the transparent system screen appeared in his mind.
Cultivation: Qi Refining Lv.4
He had no idea how the system's level compared to the cultivation system of this world. Saying the wrong thing might bring unnecessary attention, especially since he had already learned that his body had become much stronger after sleeping.
"None," Ginn answered.
The captain looked at him strangely. "You are certain?"
"Very."
The captain stepped back and examined him again.
Young Miss Lin had claimed that Ginn defeated four bandits, yet he said he wasn't a cultivator. His hands showed no sign of sword training, and there was no visible spiritual energy around him.
Everything about him was suspicious.
At that moment, one of the other guards approached and whispered something into the captain's ear. The captain nodded before turning toward Ginn.
"Since your origin and identity cannot be confirmed, you will need to undergo a basic examination before entering Qingshan City."
Ginn frowned. "What kind of examination?"
"Nothing dangerous. We only need to determine whether you are hiding your cultivation or carrying anything forbidden."
Ginn immediately thought about the jade ring Yan Di had given him.
He still hadn't properly examined the ring or the liquor stored inside it. He didn't even know how to use it, but if the guards discovered that it belonged to a powerful cultivator, more questions might follow.
'This is becoming troublesome.'
The captain gestured toward a tall gray pillar standing beside the city gate. The pillar was slightly taller than a person and covered in faint lines that formed several circular patterns around its surface.
"Place your hand on the Spirit Measuring Pillar. It will reveal whether you possess spiritual energy."
Ginn looked at the pillar.
Then he looked at his wine.
Then he looked at the guards.
'Why does every fantasy world have one of these things?'
He had seen similar objects in countless web novels and games. Usually, the protagonist would place a hand on the stone and create some unbelievable result that shocked everyone nearby.
Ginn had no interest in becoming that kind of protagonist.
He only wanted to enter the city, find a tavern, drink, and perhaps look for someone who could teach him an ice cultivation technique.
The thought of ice immediately improved his mood.
After learning that the people of this world normally drank their wine at room temperature, Ginn had already decided that he would find a way to create ice. If learning an Ice Art was what it took to chill his liquor, then he would learn one even if he had to join a sect filled with troublesome old men.
Of course, he hoped there was a simpler option.
Perhaps he could hire an ice cultivator to follow him around and cool his drinks.
'No, that sounds expensive.'
Learning the technique himself was probably better.
"Savior?" Lin Qingxue called after noticing that Ginn was staring blankly at the pillar.
Ginn snapped out of his thoughts.
"Do I really need to touch it?"
The captain nodded. "It is required."
Ginn sighed and stepped out of the carriage while carrying the wine jar under one arm.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he noticed several people in the nearby lines looking in his direction. Some were curious about the Lin Clan carriage, while others had heard the conversation and wanted to see whether Ginn truly possessed cultivation.
Ginn ignored them and walked toward the pillar.
The closer he came, the more uncomfortable he felt.
'Please don't explode.'
He had designed enough games to know that systems enjoyed creating dramatic moments at the worst possible time. If the pillar suddenly shattered or lit up the entire sky, Ginn would have no idea how to explain it.
The captain stood beside him. "Place your palm at the center and remain still."
Ginn placed the wine jar on the ground before pressing his right hand against the cold stone.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Ginn breathed a sigh of relief.
The captain frowned.
The faint lines covering the pillar remained dark, showing no sign of spiritual energy.
"As I said, I'm not a cultivator," Ginn said, removing his hand.
Before his palm could completely leave the pillar, however, a weak light suddenly appeared near its base.
The captain's eyes narrowed.
The first circular line lit up.
Then the second.
Then the third.
The light climbed slowly, stopping at the fourth mark.
The guards became silent.
Ginn looked at the pillar and then at the captain.
"Is that bad?"
The captain didn't answer immediately.
The Spirit Measuring Pillar was designed to detect the amount of refined Qi inside a person's body. The fourth mark indicated the fourth level of Qi Refining.
It wasn't an impressive cultivation level, especially inside Qingshan City, but it directly contradicted Ginn's claim that he wasn't a cultivator.
"You said you had no cultivation," the captain said.
"I don't."
The captain pointed toward the glowing marks.
"Then explain that."
Ginn looked at the pillar again.
'So the game's Qi Refining level matches this world's cultivation.'
That was useful information.
Unfortunately, it didn't help his current situation.
"I only found out about it earlier," Ginn said honestly.
The captain's expression became increasingly suspicious. "You only found out that you are at the fourth level of Qi Refining earlier?"
"Yes."
"How could you cultivate without knowing?"
Ginn thought about the Idle Cultivation System generating Qi while he sat around doing nothing.
"I was sleeping."
The captain stared at him.
The nearby guards stared at him.
Several people waiting in line also turned toward him.
Ginn could feel that his answer hadn't helped.
One of the younger guards laughed. "You reached the fourth level of Qi Refining by sleeping?"
"Apparently."
The young guard shook his head. "Do you take us for fools?"
Ginn became irritated.
"Why would I lie about something this stupid?"
"Enough," the captain said, silencing the young guard. He looked at Lin Qingxue, who appeared just as surprised as everyone else. "Young Miss Lin, did you know that he was a cultivator?"
Lin Qingxue shook her head.
She remembered Yan Di calling Ginn a mortal during their confrontation. If Ginn had already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining at that time, an experienced cultivator like Yan Di should have noticed.
Could Ginn truly have broken through while unconscious?
That sounded impossible.
Lin Qingxue looked at Ginn with growing curiosity.
The more she learned about her savior, the stranger he became.
The captain walked toward the pillar and examined the glowing marks. After confirming that there was nothing wrong with the formation, he returned to Ginn.
"Even if you have lost your memories, you should still be able to sense the spiritual energy inside your body."
Ginn shrugged. "I can't."
That was also true.
The system displayed Qi as numbers, but Ginn had no idea how to feel or control it. As far as he was concerned, the energy might as well not exist.
The captain remained silent for several moments before sighing.
"Your cultivation level is low, and the pillar has not detected any demonic or forbidden energy. Since Young Miss Lin is willing to guarantee your identity, I will allow you to enter the city under the Lin Clan's responsibility."
Ginn's eyes brightened.
"That's it?"
"You must still register for a temporary identity token."
"How much does that cost?"
"One silver coin."
Ginn's expression froze.
He had no idea what a silver coin was worth, but he knew he didn't have one.
He looked at Lin Qingxue.
Lin Qingxue understood immediately and took out a small piece of silver.
"I will pay for him."
The captain accepted the silver and handed Ginn a wooden token. The word Temporary was carved on one side, while the other side contained his name, cultivation level, and the Lin Clan's symbol.
Ginn examined it carefully.
Under occupation, the captain had truly written unemployed.
Ginn's eyebrow twitched.
"Can you change this?"
"No."
"I told you I create games."
The captain looked at him without expression. "Enter the city before I change it to suspicious vagrant."
Ginn quietly put the token inside his robe.
'Unemployed is fine.'
After completing the inspection, the captain stepped aside and ordered the other guards to open the gate. Lin Qingxue returned to the carriage, while Ginn picked up his wine jar and followed her.
Before climbing inside, Ginn looked up at the enormous walls surrounding the city.
From this distance, they appeared even larger than before. The stone blocks were covered in faded markings, and Ginn could feel a faint pressure coming from the wall itself. Armed guards patrolled the top, while several large crossbows pointed toward the road outside.
'They really take city security seriously.'
The carriage began moving again.
As they passed through the gate, Ginn leaned toward the window and looked outside with interest.
The moment they entered Qingshan City, a wave of noise and unfamiliar scents struck him.
The streets were filled with people.
Merchants shouted from behind stalls covered in colorful fabrics, weapons, herbs, and strange beast parts. Children ran between pedestrians while carrying small wooden toys. Carriages and mounted cultivators moved through the wide central road, forcing ordinary people to remain near the sides.
Buildings made from wood and stone lined both sides of the street. Most were two or three stories high, with large signs hanging above their entrances.
Ginn saw weapon shops, medicine halls, restaurants, clothing stores, and several businesses he couldn't understand.
Then his eyes landed on the building he had noticed from outside.
Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The three-story tavern stood near the city gate, decorated with red lanterns and golden carvings of wine jars. Several attendants welcomed customers at the entrance, while the sound of laughter and music came from inside.
Ginn pressed his face closer to the window.
The smell of cooked meat and strong liquor drifted through the street.
His mouth watered.
Lin Qingxue followed his gaze and smiled. "The Drunken Immortal Pavilion is one of the most famous restaurants in Qingshan City. Their spirit wine is particularly popular among cultivators."
Ginn slowly turned toward her.
"Spirit wine?"
"Wine infused with spiritual herbs and Qi. It can strengthen the body and assist cultivation, although the effects depend on the quality."
Ginn's hands began trembling.
Wine that could help him cultivate.
His two favorite things had somehow become one.
"How much?"
Lin Qingxue thought for a moment. "Their cheapest spirit wine should cost around ten silver coins per jar."
Ginn looked at the temporary identity token in his hand.
One silver coin had been enough to register him.
Ten silver coins for one jar of wine.
His heart ached despite having no understanding of the local economy.
"Expensive?"
"For ordinary people, yes. For cultivators, it is considered affordable."
Ginn leaned back into his seat.
'So I need money.'
His peaceful plan had encountered its first obstacle.
Even in another world, alcohol wasn't free.
He briefly considered selling something from his storage ring, but Yan Di had only mentioned liquor. Selling liquor to buy different liquor sounded like a terrible business strategy.
Perhaps the ring itself was valuable, but Ginn had no intention of selling something that could store several meters of alcohol.
That would be like selling a refrigerator to buy ice cubes.
Absolutely foolish.
As the carriage moved farther away from the tavern, Ginn continued staring at it until the building disappeared behind another street.
'I'll come back.'
He made a silent promise.
He would drink every type of wine inside that pavilion.
Preferably cold.
Lin Qingxue noticed Ginn's determined expression and wondered what kind of serious matter he was thinking about now.
"Savior, we will reach the Lin residence soon," she said. "You may stay there while you recover and decide what you wish to do."
Ginn turned toward her.
"Stay there?"
"Of course. You saved my life, and you have nowhere else to go. My father will surely welcome you as an honored guest."
Ginn became cautious.
Living with a wealthy clan sounded comfortable, but he had read enough cultivation stories to know that large families were filled with internal disputes, arrogant young masters, arranged marriages, and elders who enjoyed looking down on people.
"Does your family have many troublesome relatives?"
Lin Qingxue blinked. "Troublesome?"
"People who like challenging strangers for no reason. Cousins who shout that someone is courting death. Elders who think everyone outside the clan is trash."
Lin Qingxue looked confused.
"We have disagreements like any family, but I would not describe them that way."
Ginn narrowed his eyes.
'That's exactly what someone from a troublesome family would say.'
However, he had no money, no identity, and no knowledge of the world. Refusing Lin Qingxue's offer would leave him wandering the streets with nothing except a jar of wine and a storage ring he didn't know how to use.
The choice was obvious.
"Fine. I'll stay for a while."
Lin Qingxue smiled brightly.
Ginn raised one finger.
"But I have one condition."
Her expression became serious. "Please tell me. As long as it is within my ability, I will do my best."
"Do you know anyone who practices an Ice Art?"
Lin Qingxue looked surprised.
"An Ice Art?"
"Yes. Something that can create ice."
She thought for a moment. "Ice-based cultivation techniques are uncommon in Qingshan City because they require a suitable spiritual root or special physique. However, the Lin Clan's library may contain a few basic records. Why do you ask?"
Ginn looked at the wine jar in his hands.
"Warm wine is a crime."
Lin Qingxue became silent.
Ginn continued with a serious expression. "I need a way to make ice. A cultivation technique, an artifact, a formation—I don't care. As long as it can chill alcohol, I want it."
Lin Qingxue stared at him, unable to tell whether he was joking.
He wasn't.
After seeing the determination in Ginn's eyes, she slowly nodded.
"I will ask my father."
"Good."
Ginn relaxed against the cushion.
He now had several goals.
Get money.
Drink spirit wine.
Learn an Ice Art.
Find a way to live without working.
The last one was the most important.
A short while later, the carriage left the crowded market streets and entered a quieter district. The buildings became larger, and tall walls surrounded private estates decorated with clan symbols.
Eventually, the carriage stopped before a massive red gate guarded by two stone lions.
The word Lin was carved on a golden plaque above the entrance.
Ginn looked through the window.
Several armed guards stood outside, while servants hurried forward after recognizing Lin Qingxue's carriage.
The gate slowly opened, revealing a large estate filled with courtyards, gardens, and buildings that stretched farther than Ginn could see.
He tightened his hold on the wine jar.
'Please don't let there be an arrogant young master.'
As the carriage entered the estate, a young man dressed in white robes came rushing toward them with several servants following behind him. His handsome face was filled with worry until he saw Lin Qingxue step out of the carriage.
"Qingxue!"
Lin Qingxue turned toward him.
The young man's expression relaxed, but the moment he noticed Ginn stepping out behind her while carrying a jar of wine, his eyes became cold.
"Who is this man?"
Ginn looked at the young man's clothes, expression, and the sword hanging from his waist.
He sighed.
'Of course.'
'Not even five minutes inside the clan and one already appeared.'