After Yan Qing settled the children at the small pavilion inside his courtyard, he went to his room and asked the system.
"System, you said I'll get a beginner gift after I reside in this residence?"
[ Affirmative ]
[ Issuing System Beginner Gift ]
[ 1 × Luminary Equinox Robe ]
[ This robe can deflect some attacks ]
"What do you mean by some attacks?"
The system ignored him and continued issuing the beginner gift.
[ 1 × Ri Yue Xing Aura ]
[ This special aura can deflect all attacks. Because the host is still a Nascent Soul cultivator, the aura comes with default limited usage ]
"Now it's all attacks? What's the difference between some attacks and all attacks?"
The system still ignored him and continued issuing the beginner gift.
[ 1 × Mythical Beast Pet: Minghe ]
"Minghe… as in Nether Fang?"
[ Affirmative ]
"How strong is this Minghe?"
[ Assessing Nether Fang cultivation ]
[ Designated object given to the host with default cultivation ]
"And what is its default cultivation?"
[ Monarch ]
"…Do you mean my Minghe's default cultivation is Immortal Monarch?"
[ Affirmative ]
"Monarch?! What the hell—my pet is much stronger than me."
[ Currently, the host is weak compared to other supreme beings in this realm. Therefore, the administrative force tailored the beginner gift to keep the host safe ]
"Keep me safe? Does your administrative force intend to let me wreak havoc in this realm?"
[ Affirmative ]
[ That is why the host was instantly forced into cultivation upon entering this realm ]
"I see… indeed, you never told me anything after forcing me into ten years of seclusion."
"Does this mean I'll face imminent danger in the future?"
[ Affirmative ]
[ Host, prepare to receive the beginner gift ]
A sudden gust of wind filled the luxurious room.
It swirled violently, yet strangely, the room itself did not seem affected by the wind at all.
Three wind spheres formed.
The swirling wind stopped, and the spheres began revealing their contents.
The first sphere materialized into a robe—simple yet dignified—with star embroidery along its hem, and sun-and-moon jewel-shaped adornments lining its edges.
The second sphere materialized into a green aura resembling a protective barrier, then vanished as it merged into Yan Qing's meridians.
The third sphere, however, continued swirling.
"Eh? Why does this wind sphere keep rotating?"
A few seconds later, it began to materialize.
Slowly, jet-black fur appeared.
Then came a pair of menacing, diamond-shaped eyes.
Soon, it revealed the form of a wolf—imposing beyond belief.
Standing nearly 1.8 meters tall and over 2.5 meters long.
A gigantic black wolf.
"Eh? Why does it look so familiar…?"
Before Yan Qing could finish his thought, the wolf suddenly pounced on him with all its might.
If Yan Qing weren't a cultivator, he would have fallen from the impact.
The giant black wolf immediately began licking Yan Qing's face affectionately.
"Hey—hey—hey—stop!"
Yan Qing tried to push the wolf away, but it kept licking his face relentlessly.
"Wait… are you my Xiao Hei?"
Woof!!
The wolf seemed to nod happily.
"Xiao Hei? Is this really you?"
Woof! Woof!!
"Xiao Hei! You're so big now!"
Wooooof!!
Yan Qing remembered the last time he saw his little dog—when he saved it during the fire that cost him his life.
Back then, the small black dog had barked desperately as it watched its owner get crushed beneath flaming beams.
Yan Qing hugged the massive wolf tightly.
"Xiao Hei… how were you when I wasn't around?"
The big wolf rubbed its huge head against Yan Qing's cheek.
"My good boy… my good boy…"
Yan Qing didn't even realize tears were falling from his eyes.
"My Xiao Hei became a big, bad wolf now… so majestic."
He looked into the wolf's eyes.
"I wish you could tell me how you also got transported into this world."
"System, is this really my Xiao Hei?"
[ Affirmative ]
"How?"
[ The administrative force investigated the host's cause of death and discovered a strong bond with this creature. They facilitated its transport from Earth to this realm, with adjustments ]
"And the adjustment?"
[ It was embedded with default high cultivation, with the limitation that it cannot speak human language ]
"Why? My Xiao Hei is the best boy. If he could speak, I'm sure he'd feel grateful for the arrangement."
[ Negative. The designated soul signed an agreement to retain high cultivation but lose the ability to speak human language ]
Yan Qing looked back at the wolf—the one he saved, and the reason he transmigrated.
"It's okay, Xiao Hei. Now you're imposing and have invincible cultivation. It's your turn to protect me, okay?"
Woof!!!
[ Mythical Beast Minghe can understand the host ]
"Really?!"
[ Affirmative ]
"My good boy!!!"
Yan Qing was overjoyed by the fact that Xiao Hei could understand him.
"Now that you're this big, we can't sleep on the same bed."
Xiao Hei tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"It's because the bed is too small right now… I'll either buy the biggest one or pay someone to build it."
Xiao Hei nodded.
"System, is that all?"
[ Affirmative ]
[ As for mundane items such as spirit stones, they are available according to the host's will ]
"Alright, thank you."
Yan Qing dragged his giant wolf toward the bed.
"Xiao Hei, tonight you sleep beside me on the floor—just for one night, okay?"
The wolf nodded again.
That night, one giant black wolf and one young man slept soundly, knowing they were together again in this lifetime.
The next morning, Yan Qing felt something heavy pressing on his head.
"Huh? Why is it so heavy…?"
He opened his eyes and saw a massive black paw resting on his head.
"Xiao Hei…"
The wolf licked his face again.
"Alright, alright, I'm up."
After cleaning and tidying himself, Yan Qing went to the small pavilion, but the children weren't there.
"They must be at Verdant Dragon Hall."
"Xiao Hei, let's go see the people I saved yesterday. Can you believe your weak owner saved fifteen people?"
Woof!!
When the group saw Yan Qing arrive at the hall, they were about to greet him as usual.
But then they saw the gigantic black wolf with diamond-shaped eyes.
They shuddered.
"Y-Young Immortal Master… that… that's a mythical beast…" Pei An said, pointing at Xiao Hei in disbelief.
"You're right, little Pei. This is my pet, Xiao Hei. Don't worry, he's kind. Come—he doesn't mind if you touch his fur."
Pei An walked forward hesitantly, afraid yet curious at the same time.
Xiao Hei sat beside Yan Qing, ignoring him.
"Xiao Hei, these are my people," Yan Qing coaxed.
"A-Are you sure he's fine, Lord Yan?" Pei An asked nervously.
"Of course. Come."
Finally, Pei An reached out and touched the jet-black fur.
"So soft… and smooth…"
"Haha, you're right."
Yan Qing picked Pei An up again and walked toward the group.
"Let's sit. I have a few matters to discuss with all of you."
The group felt uneasy.
They hadn't slept this well in years.
They had woken at dawn, confused, wanting to sweep the courtyard—but everything seemed spiritual. Even the pebbles looked like spirit stones, and they didn't dare touch anything.
In the end, they awkwardly gathered in Verdant Dragon Hall, waiting for Yan Qing.
Now that he had arrived—along with a massive mythical wolf—they looked at Yan Qing as if he were their sun.
Yan Qing glanced at them sitting stiffly on the red cedar seats and began speaking.
"So, we have fifteen people, am I right?"
"Yes, Young Immortal Master," they replied in unison.
"I will divide the fifteen of you into three groups."
"First, the elderly. We have Old He, Auntie Sun, and Auntie Qin."
The three elders straightened their posture.
"You three will be in charge of the kitchen and temporarily record all inventory within this mansion."
"But this mansion is huge, Young Immortal Master, and we can't read," Old He said awkwardly.
Yan Qing smiled.
"Luo Qinghe."
"Yes, Lord Yan," Luo Qinghe replied, straightening his back.
"You will teach the children to read and write."
"So, Yichen, Xinyi, little Pei, and Yu'er—you four will learn from Qinghe."
The children nodded excitedly.
"Don't worry about paper or brushes. I'll provide them later."
"I don't expect immediate results. Being able to read is the bare minimum. Any objections, elders?"
The three elders shook their heads vigorously.
"We wouldn't dare, Young Immortal Master."
Yan Qing then turned his gaze to the adults.
"Now, Lin Hua and Ying—you two can cook, right?"
The two women nodded.
"Good. You'll handle the kitchen, from buying ingredients to cooking. Mostly, you'll cook for yourselves. I'll probably eat outside often. I'll provide the spirit stones."
"Yes, Lord Yan," they replied, relieved to have responsibilities.
Finally, Yan Qing looked at the last three men.
"Li Shun, Wu Qingshan, Feng Rui."
The three looked at him expectantly.
"I want the three of you to survey goods in the city—from garments to construction materials. I want to build a new courtyard: two stories, twenty rooms."
"My lord wants to build a new courtyard? But outsiders will enter the mansion," one of them said.
"You're right. I'll build it near the forest entrance and set up a restriction array."
"Then us…?"
"I'll imbue you with sigils. Only you'll be allowed to move freely inside."
"This is unbelievable trust, Lord Yan," Feng Rui said.
"I hope it goes both ways."
"We wouldn't dare," they replied in unison.
"And lastly, Wenhai—you'll be the steward. I'll give you the spirit stones, and you'll distribute them. This includes stipends for all fifteen of you, including the children."
Tears immediately flowed.
Why do ancient people cry so easily…
"I need to visit the City Lord's office later. You may disperse and begin your arrangements."
Yan Qing tossed a storage ring to Zhou Wenhai.
Inside were one thousand mid-grade spirit stones and one hundred high-grade spirit stones.
"This is too much, Lord Yan," Wenhai said after sensing it.
"We'll need many things, and the new courtyard should match the main one's grandeur."
After everything was arranged, Yan Qing leapt into the air with Xiao Hei.
"Xiao Hei, since you're an Immortal Monarch, you can teleport us to the City Lord's mansion, right?"
Woof!!
Yan Qing laughed as he soared higher.
"Let's see what kind of disturbance will occur now that I've settled in this city."