Hour 5 of Weakness Period, 19 hours remaining.
Lin Che woke from his coma to find himself lying on a shabby bamboo bed. Dry, stiff straw underneath pricked his back like needles. The room reeked of cheap herbal bitterness and damp mold. A hole in the thatched roof let moonlight pour in, casting a pale glow on his ashen face.
This wasn't Green Stone City.
Hell, it wasn't even an inn.
[System Alert: Host was carried to Tianmen Ridge's crumbling temple by Fenglei Escort guards. Distance to Green Stone City: 47km.]
[Friendly Reminder: Long-distance movement = death wish during weakness period. Stay put, or your meridians will suffer permanent damage. Pro tip: Your current body can barely handle breathing, let alone "extreme sports." Chill.]
The bearded escort walked in, beard twitching as he spoke: "Senior, you're awake? This is hemostatic herb soup we brewed. It's low-grade, but it'll stop you from... uh... bleeding out everywhere." He paused, awkward. "There's a warrant for your arrest at the city gate. 500 spirit stones. We can't enter the city—someone might recognize you and cash in."
Lin Che downed the soup in one gulp. The bitter taste exploded on his tongue. He didn't even flinch. The Zhao Family moved fast. How long since he'd scared off Zhao Tianxiong? Their government infiltration ran deeper than he'd thought.
[System Analysis: Portrait similarity: 87%. But the painter made you look like a brain-dead thug. Solution: New hairstyle + shave = similarity drops below 60%. System-approved hack. Or wear a straw hat—zero effort, hero results.]
He got up. Lin Ying slept by the bed, clutching half a steamed bun, drooling. He gently tucked the quilt around her. The kid was starving—dreaming of food.
"Brother..." She blinked awake. "Are we home? Sugar-coated haws?"
"Not yet." He ruffled her hair, voice soft. "Soon."
Outside the temple, the terrain was dangerously strategic. Spiritual energy here was 10x Qingfeng Town's level. Tianmen Ridge stretched ahead, peaks like knife-cuts, clouds coiling mid-mountain. Spirit birds cried overhead.
A village perched below. Built on cliffs, easy to defend. Walls: three zhang high (≈10m), made of logs. Tattered flags fluttered.
[System Scan: Unknown faction—Tianmen Village. Force: 3x Qi Condensing, 47x Body Tempering. Danger: Medium. Warning: Their leader just hit Peak Qi Condensing. Aura unstable = trigger-happy. Don't piss him off.]
"Senior," the bearded escort whispered, "this place is bandit territory. We should leave before dawn. They massacred a merchant caravan last month. No survivors."
Before he finished, the temple was surrounded.
Twenty burly men closed in, weapons drawn. Their leader: eight chi tall (≈2.6m), nine green dragons tattooed on his bare chest, holding a mountain-splitting axe. His voice boomed:
"This mountain is mine, this tree is mine!
Pass here, pay the toll!
Refuse? No survivors under my axe!"
[System Target: Shi Jin (Tianmen Village Leader). Cultivation: Peak Qi Condensing. Threat Level: You're dinner. During weakness period, you're a dish—steamed or braised, his choice.]
Lin Che's lips curved. "Weizhou's hunter? Killed Zhen Guanxi and fled to the mountains? Nine-dragon tattoo—quite the statement."
Shi Jin nearly dropped his axe. "You... how do you know my story?!"
"Lucky guess." Lin Che coughed, voice weak but certain. "Official mark on your axe—war trophy. Unstable aura means you broke through Peak Qi Condensing less than three months ago. And your eyes..." His gaze sharpened. "...hold hatred. Not regret. Hatred for the government, tyrants, this world."
Shi Jin's expression shifted. He lowered his axe. "Interesting. You're not government scum? Not here for the bounty?"
"I'm the wanted one." Lin Che flashed the warrant portrait—where he looked like a brute. "500 spirit stones. I'm worth more than you."
[Bluff Success Rate: 73%! Host's got talent. Recommend career change: street storyteller. 100 spirit stones/month easy. Or gambling house shill—steady income, zero risk.]
Shi Jin roared with laughter. "Good! Enemy of my enemy is my friend! Stay—Tianmen Village protects you! Touch him, answer to my axe!"
"Why should I trust you?" Lin Che's eyes stayed sharp. "Just words?"
"Because of this." Shi Jin pointed to the village below. Morning light revealed smoke rising, people moving—women washing clothes by the river, children playing.
"Hundreds of brothers, driven to banditry by tyrants. We rob the rich, help the poor. Don't touch the poor, don't kill the weak. Half our people are orphans and widows. We protect them."
[Keyword: "Rob rich, help poor". Moral Score: Barely passing. You can crash here, but keep your guard up. Bandits are bandits—don't fully trust them with your life or Lin Ying's.]
Lin Che studied the village. Spiritual energy was abundant—perfect for healing. The weakness period needed safety. And bandit cover would throw off Zhao Tianxiong.
"Fine," he nodded. "Three conditions."
"Name them." Shi Jin slung his axe over his shoulder.
"First: Build a school. Teach everyone—men, women, old, young—to read. She needs friends and safety. Literacy prevents deception."
Shi Jin blinked. "We're warriors. Can't read a single character..."
"Illiteracy makes you pawns." Lin Che's voice chilled. "Like when a tyrant stole your land. No knowledge of law, so you killed. With literacy, you fight back—with lawsuits, with law."
Shi Jin's pupils contracted. His grip on the axe loosened.
[Defense Breached! Persuasion: 41%. Host's verbal skills: S-tier. Ancient diplomats Su Qin/Zhang Yi would be proud.]
"Second: You raid Black Wind Village with me. They're beasts—rob women, kill children, massacre villages. I need three days to heal, then we strike."
Lin Che was pale as death, leaning on his rusted knife to stay upright.
Shi Jin finally noticed. "You're injured? Badly?"
Lin Che stayed silent.
Shi Jin studied his eyes—still sharp despite weakness. He nodded. "Deal! Three days! You and your sister are honored guests! Neglect you, and I chop heads!"
He roared at his men: "These two are honored guests! Touch them, and I twist your head off! Understood?!"
"UNDERSTOOD!" The bandits' roar shook the sky.
[Relationship Update: Tianmen Village (Friendly). Rep: 300/1000. Temporary safe house acquired! ⚠️ Warning: Bandit loyalty is fickle. Finish that initiation task fast, or you're back to being hunted.]
---
Day 3 of Weakness Period, 8 hours remaining.
Shi Jin arrived with three early-Qi Condensing leaders: "Senior, time's up. Black Wind Village awaits at Eagle Sorrow Gorge, 30 li north. Brothers are ready."
[System Warning: Enemy Lineup - 1x Peak Qi Condensing (leader), 3x Mid Qi Condensing, 35x Body Tempering. Your power ≈ Late Body Tempering. Win rate: <5%. You'll be minced meat—extra spicy Sichuan style.]
Lin Che opened his eyes, gaze calm: "Can't win head-on. Can outsmart them."
He whispered in Shi Jin's ear. The bandit leader's eyes lit up.
"Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!"
[Tactical Analysis: 67% success rate. Host is big-brain gaming this. Risky, but respect.]
"But..." Lin Che paused, face ghostly pale. "We delay one day."
"Why?!" Shi Jin frowned. "We're ready now!"
Lin Che gestured at his own body: "Current state? I'd cough up blood before reaching the gorge. Follow my plan. Dig traps deeper. Stock fire-arrows. Bring out the strong wine."
"One day," his voice was steel despite weakness. "Then we move."
[⚠️ Critical Alert: Weakness period ends in 8 hours. You're cutting it close, host. One wrong move, and you're permanently offline.]
Shi Jin studied him, then nodded. "Fine! One day! Brothers, rest up—tomorrow night, we hunt!"
[Hidden Quest: Initiation | Status: Preparing (Day 1/2)]
[System: You're gambling with your life. I like it. Don't die.]
Lin Che shut his eyes. One more day to recover. One more day for enemies to lower their guard.
Most importantly: 8 hours until his weakness period ends.
[Chapter 6 End]