Seeing the maid's expression—calm yet expectant—Li Mu understood immediately that refusal was not an option. Suppressing the unease rising in his chest, he took a slow breath.
"Fine. Lead the way."
The maid nodded without changing her expression and turned, walking as though it didn't matter whether Li Mu followed or not.
They weaved through cramped alleys and bustling stalls, making so many turns that Li Mu briefly wondered if she intended to lose him. Eventually, they arrived at a worn-looking inn wedged between two abandoned warehouses. Its location was so obscure that it seemed deliberately hidden.
Who builds an inn where customers will never find it?
The moment they stepped inside, Li Mu was hit by a wave of noise. The air buzzed with haggling voices, drunken laughter, and the clatter of mugs. Mercenaries, guards, pharmacists, and even cultivators mixed freely—too freely for a place this secretive.
This place… is far from simple.
The maid briefly turned to confirm he was still behind her, then continued upstairs without a word. They approached a room guarded by two men in sleek suits. Each held a rifle powered by energy cells, their helmets reflecting cold light. Li Mu felt their presence like invisible blades pressed against his throat.
I'm being watched like prey.
As he entered the room, a soft, haunting zither melody floated across the air. The music stopped as soon as he stepped inside.
Sitting before him was a woman whose beauty struck like wind across still water. Her hair cascaded down her shoulders like black silk, her lips soft and rosy, her phoenix eyes sharp and unreadable. She dismissed the maid with a graceful motion. The door closed, leaving the room silent.
Li Mu chose not to speak first.
They observed each other in silence until her lips curved slightly.
"Welcome," she began, her voice smooth as silk. "My apologies if my servant startled you."
"Not at all, Lady…?"
"Lin," she answered lightly. "You may address me as Lady Lin."
"Very well, Lady Lin. For what reason have you called me here?"
His directness made her smile widen, amused.
"Oh? You dislike wasting time, Young Master Li."
Li Mu's eyes narrowed. She knows my name.
"How do you know who I am?"
"I know far more than that," she replied, leaning back leisurely. "For example, that you sold several… unusual tech artifacts at the auction hall recently."
A sharp breath caught in his throat. How—?
Her eyes sparkled with playful mischief. Not wanting to be dragged around by her pacing, Li Mu cut straight through.
"What is it that you want? You wouldn't call me here just to flaunt your information."
"Correct." Lady Lin's tone shifted, a hint of seriousness behind it. "I'm here to make a deal. A partnership."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Tell me, have you heard of the Heavenly Insight Pavilion?"
"No. What is it?"
Her expression transformed—no longer playful, but reverent.
"It is the greatest cultivation institution on this floating island, and one of the strongest on the surrounding islands. It stands at the peak of mind-path cultivation. Decades of divine research, secret techniques, mental weaponry, and meditation methods—locked within its halls."
Her voice became a whisper of awe.
"Many of today's greatest mind cultivators walked out from its gates."
When she finally pulled herself back from the fervor, her noble composure returned, as if she hadn't just exposed her ambition.
"Entry into the Pavilion is every prodigy's dream. But it requires not just cultivation—one must possess exceptional insight. Without it, advancement is impossible."
"And that," she continued, "is why technology matters. Insight leads innovation. Mind cultivators push humanity forward. While the Pavilion doesn't focus on tech, its influence in the field is still among the highest."
Li Mu absorbed her words, awe rising in his chest. But doubt also crept in. A place like that would be impossibly competitive. Why would he matter there?
Lady Lin smirked, seeing through him.
"The Pavilion allows team registration. The requirements are stricter, but the advantages are greater. You will enter as my partner—you handle the tech division, and I will dominate in combat and cultivation."
She paused, then spoke slowly, clearly.
"This is a chance to change your fate, Li Mu. Do you accept?"
Li Mu felt turmoil in his chest. Why me? Why not a trained professional with a background, resources, or reputation?
He asked the question aloud.
"Why choose me?"
"Potential," she answered without hesitation. "Most people I could hire are already trapped at their current limits. Their futures are sealed."
She looked him straight in the eyes.
"But you… from the moment I saw your creations, I knew your insight could transcend boundaries. You are unpolished—but limitless."
Then, she extended her hand slightly—not for a shake, but as an invitation.
"So, Young Master Li Mu… will you pursue greatness with me?"
Her ambition and certainty ignited a fire deep within him. His vow, his humiliation, his rebirth—everything blazed up again.
No one will ever trample over me again.
This life, I will master my own fate.
He lifted his head. The same spark burned in Lady Lin's eyes.
"…Count me in, Lady Lin."
Satisfied, she turned away, her voice drifting behind her as she left.
"Someone will retrieve you tomorrow. You will receive access to my family's vault of secret information."
A final pause.
"Use this chance wisely."
The door shut, leaving Li Mu alone with the weight of a newly forged destiny.