Li Mu stared at the girl in front of him, his mind and heart racing with countless thoughts. She snorted, then turned away.
"Just great… meeting a fool on my first day."
She disappeared into the crowd, leaving Li Mu confused. Whispers and muffled laughter followed him, and he could feel the curious gazes of onlookers settling on him.
Keeping his expression calm, he approached a guard standing nearby. "Excuse me… could you tell me what this crystal is? And when does the Heavenly Insight Pavilion examination take place?"
The guard blinked at his drenched clothes, then coughed. "You stared at the crystal too long, didn't you?"
Li Mu gave a small nod. The guard didn't bother waiting for a response. "That crystal is called a Soul Crystal. It tests the strength and quality of an examinee's soul during the Heavenly Insight Pavilion examination."
The guard's gaze hardened. "Looking at you, I strongly suggest you don't even try. Not everyone has the right to gaze upon the Soul Crystal—especially those of low talent."
With that, he turned and walked away, ignoring Li Mu entirely.
Li Mu remained unfazed. He considered his options: wander the world in search of profound truths… or leverage the resources of the Heavenly Insight Pavilion to uncover deeper knowledge. The answer was obvious.
"But first… I need somewhere to stay," he murmured, patting his empty pockets. No money meant sleeping on the streets was out of the question.
He wandered the square until he spotted a job board and scanned the postings:
Hunt down a wild boar and deliver parts to Dragon Bell Inn – Reward: 3 silver coins
Alchemy apprentice for the day – Reward: 10 silver coins, Alchemy Association
Spider Moon Flower required by the Leng Family – Reward: 30 silver coins
Li Mu quickly eliminated the hunting task. That left two options: the alchemy apprenticeship or the flower quest.
"The alchemy task probably requires a deep understanding of herbs… which I don't have," he thought. "Looks like the Spider Moon Flower task is the better choice."
Following the directions, he entered the job center, a medium-sized hall dimly lit by lanterns. People of all kinds—commoners, mercenaries, even guards—bustled about, filling the space with endless noise.
After waiting in line, Li Mu was greeted by a friendly woman. "How may I help you today, sir?"
Surprised by her kindness, Li Mu thought, So not everyone here has an attitude problem. Good to know.
He handed her the job listing. She scanned it, then gave him a knowing smirk.
"Word of advice… drop this task. It's not worth it."
"And why is that?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you know who the flower is for?"
"No," he replied.
"It's for Leng Qiu, the little phoenix of the Leng Clan," the woman said. "She's famous for her beauty and talent, predicted to rank in the top three of the examination. Do you realize how many young masters are searching for this flower just to please her? You're a commoner—don't fish in shark-infested waters."
Li Mu's lips curled into a cold smile. You really can't judge a book by its cover… what a snake.
Still, he decided to accept the quest. I need to eat, he thought simply.
The woman sneered, her smirk lingering. "What a waste of a pretty face." She stamped the quest, wrote his name down, and gave him instructions on where to find the flower before calling, "Next, please!"
Already resolved, Li Mu didn't linger. Striding out of the job center, he headed toward the west gate, determination in every step.
Stepping out of the city, Li Mu surveyed the sprawling jungle ahead. A weathered signpost read: "Beware Poisonous Snakes."
He spread his senses, cautious with every step. Thanks to the enhancements to his soul, he could sense everything within a hundred meters.
Moving deeper into the jungle, he caught a faint, elusive scent. Following it carefully, he soon arrived at a cavern.
Something's off, he thought. If it were this easy to find, someone would have claimed it long ago.
A sudden crunch behind him made him freeze. Instantly, he melted into the shadows behind a tree, making sure not to make a sound.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted a group of ten men, each armed with cold weapons—spears, swords, bows. At the center, standing in a position clearly considered the safest, was a young man in luxurious clothing. His hair was tied back in a neat bun, and he carried an air of rebellion that drew attention.
"Remember the plan, everyone. I don't want any mistakes," the young master commanded.
"Yes, Young Master. Leave it to us."
"Just don't forget the drinks after."
"Of course, of course. Everything will be paid for."
"Cheers! Brothers, to the Young Master!"
"Hahaha!"
The young master smirked, casually perching atop a boulder as his men carried out their tasks.
Li Mu's lips curved into a small smile. Premium bait, and it's just landed in my lap