***********
He nearly choked on air at the sheer absurdity of that statement.
'Proper decorum, my a**! Where in the world did you even learn something like that?!'
A low groan escaped him as he rubbed his temple. No matter how many times he argued, Silver never relented when it came to its so-called "principles."
And yet…
Despite his complaints, there was a faint trace of amusement hidden beneath his irritation.
At times, he almost found the situation laughable.
There were even moments when a strange thought crossed his mind—
If Silver could ever take on a physical form… become human…
Then perhaps—
Perhaps it would be the only being he could ever truly trust.
After all, through countless lifetimes, through endless cycles of betrayal and deception, Silver had never once turned against him.
But that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
A fleeting, impossible fantasy.
« Esteemed host, please prepare yourself to engage with the protagonist. Remain vigilant. If assistance is required, do not hesitate to call upon Silver… »
Silver's warning drew his attention back to the present.
Over the years, he had encountered countless protagonists. Some conformed to the roles written for them, while others diverged in ways that defied expectation.
More often than not, what was recorded within the System Archive failed to reflect reality.
And this time…
It seemed to be one of those cases.
He remained seated at the edge of the cliff, unmoving. The wind brushed against his robes as silence stretched into the distance.
Moments passed.
Then—
He felt it.
A presence.
Familiar, yet strangely off.
Even as the figure arrived behind him, he made no move to turn around. Instead, he extended his perception outward, quietly observing, analyzing—relying on instincts honed through countless lifetimes.
"This lowly mortal, Xiao Zixin, greets the Immortal Master Shen Haoran."
Only then did the Immortal Master slowly open his eyes.
With measured grace, he rose to his feet and turned to face the young man who had addressed him with such reverence.
Xiao Zixin stood before him, bowing respectfully with his hands clasped together—a picture of humility and discipline.
He watched him in silence.
Carefully.
Thoroughly.
There was no need to activate any specialized abilities.
One glance was enough.
'…Now what?'
According to the information provided by the system, this worldline followed a familiar structure—one centered around familial conflict, political intrigue, and the ever-present theme of revenge.
The setting itself resembled a typical ancient era world, infused with elements of [xianxia].
And yet… something about it felt inconsistent.
The primary stage for the story was a secular world—one rooted in mortal affairs and political power struggles.
But scattered throughout the narrative were references to immortality… to Immortal Masters who existed beyond mortal limits.
It created a contradiction.
A fracture within the story's logic.
'…Troublesome.'
This wasn't his first time dealing with a flawed or overly complex narrative.
And from experience, he knew that such inconsistencies often pointed toward something deeper—a hidden layer beneath the surface.
A concealed plot.
Which, unfortunately, meant more trouble.
'Not like I have the luxury to complain…'
He suppressed the urge to sigh aloud.
As for the protagonist of this worldline—
Xiao Zixin.
Born into the esteemed Xiao Household, one of the most influential families within the Imperial Capital of the Northern Xia Empire.
The second son of the principal wife, Madam Xiao.
The Second Young Master.
"No need to bow. Rise."
At his words, Xiao Zixin straightened his posture and lifted his head.
A polite smile adorned his face—one that seemed genuine at first glance. There was even a faint glimmer of admiration in his eyes as he looked at Shen Haoran, as though standing before someone he deeply respected.
But—
That was only on the surface.
From Shen Haoran's perspective…
Something was wrong.
This protagonist—
Xiao Zixin—
Was different.
Far too different.
'…Yes. Too different.'
A subtle unease settled within him; one he could not immediately define.
It wasn't something he could pinpoint through logic alone.
Rather—
It was instinct.
The kind of instinct sharpened through a thousand lives.
The moment he had transmigrated into this body—taking on the identity of Shen Haoran—something unusual had already occurred.
He had not received the original owner's memories.
Not immediately.
Not even partially.
And in all his years as a Dimensional Traveler—
This…
Was the first time such a situation had ever happened.
He had even attempted to ask Silver to retrieve the original owner's memories from the System Archive. However, for reasons unknown, Silver was unable to access them. That alone was already unusual—something that had never happened in all his time as a Dimensional Traveler.
And that made it even more suspicious.
Since he had no understanding of what kind of person he had possessed, he instead instructed Silver to retrieve the identity profile of the original body from the System Archive.
The moment he reviewed the information…
He frowned.
The man he now inhabited was none other than a reclusive Immortal Master—one belonging to a well-established sect in the Upper Realm. Yet for reasons that remained unclear, this Immortal Master had withdrawn himself completely from society.
Not only that—
He had descended from the Upper Realm to the Lower Realm… and, from that moment on, never left.
Such behavior was contradictory to someone of his standing.
The information provided by the System Archive abruptly triggered the release of a hidden task. As the contents unfolded before him, his frown deepened even further.
**********
< Hidden Main Task Unlocked #1: Uncover the mysteries of the reclusive Immortal Master Shen Haoran and his connection to the Zhang Household. >
< Hidden Sub Task #1: Take Zhang Hui Ying as your disciple and prevent her impending doom. >
**********
Because of the sudden emergence of a hidden plot, the situation had immediately grown more complicated than before.
Although this was not the first time he had handled such troublesome tasks, even he could tell—
This worldline was far from simple.
There had been instances in the past where he struggled with certain missions, yet he had never failed.
Not even once.
And this time… would be no different.
***********