Sogen exited Somaal City, and suddenly, a quest appeared from the system:
"Go to Hamar Town and convince Rudriger, a smith, to let you work in his shop. Reward: 10,000 coins (system coins, not real-world coins)."
Sogen was surprised to see the system window since he thought it was all a dream, but now he believed it was real.
"What is the point of the system now that I have been banished from my clan?" he said.
With a sigh, he accepted whatever was happening.
"System, what can these coins be used for?"
The system replied that the coins could be used to exchange for items in the system shop.
He asked the system to open the System Shop.
"A notification appears, opening the system shop. Host cultivation level detected: low; shop adjusted to low level."
The moment Sogen opened the system shop, his breath caught.
Grade Five pills.
His mind reeled. Even the clan's elders and counselors had only heard rumors of such treasures—yet here they were, lined up in abundance. And this was only the low-grade section.
His gaze swept across the interface. Rare medicinal herbs. Ancient cultivation manuals. Combat techniques. Items whose value could shake an entire clan.
If this was merely the lowest tier… then what kind of monstrosities lay in the mid- and high-grade shops?
The excitement didn't last long.
A quick glance at the prices made his heart sink. Thirty thousand system coins was the starting point. Many items cost far more. After a brief inspection, he accepted the harsh reality—at his current level, only a handful of low-grade pills were within reach.
Sogen closed the system window and pressed on toward his destination.
Three days later, the cart finally arrived at Hamar Town. He paid the driver and stepped down, lifting his gaze to the towering gate ahead. No one stopped him as he passed through, and soon the town unfolded before his eyes.
Bustling streets. Ordinary buildings. Nothing out of the ordinary.
Hunger tugged at him, and he chose a nearby restaurant.
Midway through his meal, raised voices drew his attention.
Five young men, each around twenty years old, were standing near the counter. They spoke loudly, demanding money in the name of "protection," their hands slamming against the table as they harassed the trembling young woman.
Sogen's expression darkened.
All five were at the second stage of cultivation. He, on the other hand, was not.
Making enemies on his very first day in town would be foolish.
So he watched. And waited.
But if they crossed the line—if they dared do something truly vile—then even with his pitiful cultivation, Sogen knew he would step in.
Some things were worth the risk.
The commotion at the counter finally drew the owner out.
She was an elderly woman, her back slightly hunched with age. Without a word of protest, she retrieved a small pouch and placed it into the hands of the young men, bowing repeatedly as she begged them to leave.
The boys laughed as they turned toward the door.
Just before stepping out, one of them caught sight of Sogen and paused. His gaze swept over Sogen from head to toe, sharp and assessing.
"Hey, kid. You new here?"
Sogen met his eyes and gave a short nod.
"Hmph. Since it's your first time, we'll let you off for now," the youth said lazily. "No protection fee this month. But starting next month, you'll pay five silver coins. Don't forget."
Sogen nodded again, his expression calm.
One gold coin was worth a hundred silver coins. Five silver was nothing to him—but to ordinary townsfolk, even a hundred gold coins could remain an unattainable dream for an entire lifetime.
The boys left in high spirits, their laughter fading into the street.
Slowly, the restaurant returned to its usual rhythm. Dishes clattered. Conversations resumed. Yet the heaviness in the air did not disperse. The old woman behind the counter and the young girl beside her both wore expressions clouded with lingering fear.
At that moment, a familiar translucent screen appeared before Sogen's eyes.
[Quest Triggered]
Objective: Gather information on the thugs and Rudriger's Workshop
Reward: 5,000 System Coins
Sogen rose from his seat and approached the counter. After settling his bill, he spoke in a calm, measured tone.
"Auntie… who were those people?"
The old woman's face stiffened. After a brief hesitation, she lowered her voice.
"They serve the village chief," she said bitterly. "A cruel man. A tyrant. He's already reached the fourth stage of the Earth Realm."
Every month, his men came to collect protection fees. Anyone who refused would be beaten, their shops smashed to pieces without mercy.
"You're new here," she added quietly. "It's best to stay away from them."
Sogen nodded, committing her words to memory. After a brief pause, he asked another question.
"Is there a workshop in town?"
The old woman blinked, then frowned in thought. After a moment, she nodded.
"There is. It belongs to an old man named Rudriger," she said. "But don't expect much. He rarely leaves his workshop, barely speaks, and doesn't take in workers or apprentices."
Still, she recited the address for him.
Sogen thanked her sincerely, then turned and left the restaurant, the system quest quietly ticking away in the back of his mind.
Sogen made his way through the streets until he finally found Rudriger's workshop, tucked beside the main road. From the outside, it looked unremarkable—weathered wood, a faded sign, and a faint metallic scent lingering in the air.
He stepped inside.
The interior was quiet. Only a handful of weapons hung on the walls, each one plain yet meticulously maintained. At the center of the workshop stood an old man.
His hair and beard were snow-white, but his build was solid, almost imposing. His movements were steady and precise as he carved a blade, every strike deliberate. Though he appeared aged, there was an unmistakable vigor about him—an energy that did not belong to an ordinary craftsman. His face remained expressionless, as if nothing in the world could distract him from his work.
Sogen approached the counter and spoke carefully.
"Are you Mr. Rudriger?"
"Yes."
The reply was curt. The old man did not even lift his head.
Sogen took a breath. "Sir, I wish to work here. Please allow me to help in your workshop."
The carving stopped.
Slowly, the old man raised his eyes and examined Sogen from head to toe.
"I don't take in workers," he said flatly. "And you're far too young for this trade. Training a novice takes months—sometimes years. Judging by your age, you lack even the basics of smithing."
Before Sogen could respond, his vision flickered.
A familiar translucent screen unfolded before him.
[Daily Reward Activated]
Reward Acquired: Basic Smithy Techniques and Knowledge
Sogen stiffened.
Now?
You decide to show up now?
The thought barely formed before a surge of information crashed into his mind. Metal properties. Smelting temperatures. Forging angles. Carving patterns. Knowledge layered upon knowledge, as if years of experience had been forcefully etched into his consciousness.
When the sensation faded, Sogen exhaled slowly.
He looked back at Rudriger. "I have a basic understanding of smithing," he said calmly. "I believe I can be of use."
Rudriger snorted faintly, but Sogen continued.
"The patterns you're carving on that blade originate from ancient designs," he said, glancing at the weapon. "They symbolize peace rather than conquest."
His eyes then shifted to the ores resting on the counter.
"The smaller piece is cold iron ore. The larger one is black iron ore."
Silence filled the workshop.
For the first time, Rudriger's expression shifted.
A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes before he masked it. He set his tools aside and folded his arms.
"You have good eyes, boy," he said slowly.
"Even seasoned blacksmiths struggle to distinguish those two at a glance. Most rely on texture to tell them apart."
He studied Sogen again, far more carefully this time.
"I can take you in," he said at last. "But I won't pay you much. Food, shelter, and fifteen silver coins for your work. That's all I can offer."
"Is that acceptable?"
Sogen nodded without hesitation.
At once, another system notification appeared.
[Quest Completed]
Reward: 10,000 System Coins
Item Acquired: Grade 1 Earth-Shattering Pill
Status: Stored in Inventory
Rudriger turned and motioned for him to follow.
They passed through a narrow corridor and stopped before a small room. It was simple—just a bed, a table, and a single window—but it was clean.
"You'll start tomorrow," Rudriger said. "Rest today."
With that, he closed the door behind him.
Left alone, Sogen clenched his fists, his heart pounding.
My first step… begins here.