Inside a bustling tavern, a cloaked figure sat at a secluded table, quietly eavesdropping on the conversations around them while eating a bowl of porridge.
"I heard the Verdant Pine Sect will open their secret realm in a few days."
"Thinking of going in? Trust me, that place has already been stripped clean. I don't even know why they still maintain it."
"If you knew how much they make from fools who think they're the chosen ones who'll uncover a treasure everyone else missed, you'd think differently."
"Hahaha, what treasures? The sect must have taken everything valuable long before opening it to outsiders."
"Shh, don't say that out loud. What if a sect member hears you?"
"Pah, so what if they do?" the other man muttered, lowering his voice despite his bravado.
By the time their conversation died down, the cloaked figure had finished their porridge. They placed five copper coins on the table and quietly left the tavern.
* * * *
The Verdant Pine Sect opening their secret realm? Just like they said, only fools would go in.
It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but I was one of those fools back then. That happened about a year and a half after my transmigration into this world. By that time, I had reached the 5th realm of the Qi Foundation stage, which I thought was impressive as a rouge cultivator.
Transmigrating into another world only inflated my ego further. I imagined becoming one of those dragon-blooded protagonists from the novels I used to read, turning misfortune into fortune, spotting opportunities wherever they appeared, defying the heavens, and reaching the pinnacle of the cultivation world.
So when the Verdant Pine Sect announced they would open their secret realm to outsiders, I thought it was my golden opportunity to go in and discover treasures no one else had.
I spent almost all my spirit stones just to secure a spot, about 150 spirit stones. Normally, the price is only 100, but apparently resellers exist in this world as well. Most of the spots had been bought by them and resold at ridiculous prices.
I even suspect they have ties to the sect.
Anyway, as people said, the secret realm was truly bare. There was hardly anything valuable, and even when I found herbs worth something, they were guarded by spirit beasts at the Qi Condensation stage or close to it.
Oh, and the kicker? The sect only allows Qi Foundation cultivators in.
And they call themselves an orthodox sect? Pah! It still makes my blood boil thinking about it.
Even after searching every corner I could, I only found six low-tier spirit herbs before the time limit ended and I was kicked out of the realm. I sold them for barely five spirit stones each, making only thirty in total.
I say 'made', but it's more accurate to say I lost 120 spirit stones. And on top of that, I paid with my mental state, constantly running from other cultivators who wanted to kill me and take what little I had.
I wasn't that stressed about dying, though. Just like in the novels I used to read, the sect gave each cultivator a token. You could crush it to teleport out if you were in danger. The only downside was that you couldn't bring anything you found in the realm with you, and they even charge fifty-spirit-stone for using it!
I was already down 150 spirit stones and had barely anything left. So for the first time in two lifetimes, I ran like my wallet depended on it.
Anyway, just like cultivators say, Water flows, mud settles; let the past drift away.
Lost in thought, I suddenly realized I had already arrived at the inn I was staying in.
As I pushed the gate open and entered the building, the clamor of voices filled my ears. This inn was part hotel, part restaurant, and since the sun was setting, workers were done with their jobs and filling their stomachs in here. You might ask why I ate at a tavern if the place I'm staying in had a restaurant.
Well, because the tavern is better for eavesdropping. People drink and talk freely there, while here everyone focuses on eating.
I made my way to the stairs leading to the upper floor when someone called out to me. Turning toward the voice, I saw A-Ling, who seemed to be working as the receptionist today.
"Welcome back, Yue Rin! Feeling hungry today?" she asked with a bright, professional smile.
"I already ate, so not today. Thanks."
"Alright then. Enjoy your day!" she replied, still smiling.
A-Ling was one of the workers in the inn. We'd gotten acquainted when she came to clean my room while I was cultivating. Thinking of her, I continued upstairs and headed towards my room.
When I opened the door, a simple room greeted me, which only consisted of a simple bed, a table with a mirror, a small cabinet for clothes, and a window overlooking an alley.
* * * *
Once the door closed behind them, the cloaked figure let out a quiet sigh and set their sword, still in its scabbard, carefully beside the door.
They moved toward the small cabinet and slowly untied their cloak. As the hood slipped back, a woman's face was revealed in the dim light. Not strikingly beautiful, but subtly pretty, enough to catch a second glance. Her blue eyes reflected the warm orange glow of the setting sun through the window, standing out against the soft purple of her hair
After removing the robe, she hung it neatly on the hook. Her tunic was plain and slightly worn, patched in a few places. Tugging at it loosened the chest binding beneath, and as the tight fabric gave way, her chest rose slightly, a small, natural bounce she ignored. Her pants were equally simple and patched, nothing fancy.
In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, for women, death could sometimes be the kinder outcome, especially for a rogue cultivator moving alone. When she had transmigrated, she found herself in the body of a homeless sixteen-year-old girl who had survived the streets by any means she could. At that moment, a tight, unpleasant feeling clung over her face. As her hand touched her face, she realized the girl had smeared mud over her features. It had long since dried into a tight, irritating layer.
She had also noticed the tightness on her chest and discovered the girl had bound it flat. From that day onward, chest binding remained a habit she did, though the mud was replaced with a hood to conceal her face.
After a quick cleaning spell, she moved toward the window and closed the curtains. Crawling under the blanket, she murmured to herself.
* * * *
"The new year is just a few weeks away, and here I am still stuck at the 9th realm of Qi Foundation… sigh."
My original plan was to reach the Core Formation realm and enter a sect as an inner disciple when I turned twenty and recruitment began.
But it seems I was aiming too high. Because of malnutrition and stress from wandering thee streets, this body's foundation was damaged. Every time I tried to meditate and draw in Qi, my meridians hurt like they were about to rupture, forcing me to stop. I simply couldn't absorb enough Qi to break through to Qi Condensation.
After searching around I found one possible solution, a low-tier foundation strengthening pill. But don't let 'low-tier' fool you, its price starts at 750 spirit stones. And so many people vie over it, raising its rarity and price.
You can't even buy it normally; you have to look for it at auctions, where the price depends on whether you're unlucky enough to meet a rich competitor.
So for the past few months, I've been doing missions at the Rogue Cultivators Alliance pavilion to save money while searching for the pill. It should help strengthen my foundation enough to break through, though I have a nagging feeling one pill won't be enough. But I just ignore it and hope for the best.
"Yawn… seems thinking too much made me tired. I'll leave this for my future self. Right now, it's time to enjoy my favorite activity besides eating, sleeping! Good night."