Morning came far too early.
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping, sunlight streaming through the window, and Mei Lin standing over me like a disappointed schoolteacher.
"Get up," she said.
I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head. "Five more minutes."
"No."
"Three?"
"No."
"One?"
She grabbed the blanket and yanked it off me with the strength of someone who had absolutely zero patience for my nonsense.
"Training begins now."
I sat up, hair sticking out in every direction, eyes half‑open. "You know, back on Earth, people usually start the day with coffee. Or at least a moment to contemplate their life choices."
"You died," she said. "Your life choices are irrelevant."
"Wow," I said. "Thanks for the pep talk."
Lian Hua was already awake, sitting in the corner meditating like a serene statue. Of course he was. The man probably hadn't slept since the Ming dynasty.
Mei Lin tossed me a wooden practice staff.
I caught it—barely.
"What's this for?" I asked.
"Balance," she said. "Control. Discipline."
"Three things I'm famously terrible at."
"Yes," she said. "I noticed."
We stepped outside into the garden. The morning air was crisp. Dew sparkled on the leaves. Birds chirped. It was peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Mei Lin pointed to a flat stone in the center of the garden.
"Stand on that."
"Okay," I said. "That seems easy."
"With one foot."
"Less easy."
"While holding the staff above your head."
"Even less easy."
"And maintaining Flame‑Seed Breath."
I stared at her.
"You're trying to kill me."
"No," she said. "If I wanted to kill you, I would simply let you train alone."
"Comforting."
I stepped onto the stone, lifted one foot, raised the staff, and inhaled.
Heat surged into my lungs.
My aura flickered.
My balance wobbled.
Mei Lin watched with the expression of someone grading a failing student.
"Your stance is weak," she said.
"I'm standing on one foot!"
"Your breathing is uneven."
"I'm trying not to explode!"
"Your focus is scattered."
"I HAVE ADHD OF THE SOUL."
She sighed.
"Again."
I inhaled.
Heat surged.
My foot slipped.
I fell off the stone and landed face‑first in the dirt.
Mei Lin didn't laugh.
Lian Hua didn't laugh.
The chickens in the yard definitely laughed.
I pushed myself up, spitting out dirt.
"This is stupid," I said. "Why do I need balance? I have fire. Fire doesn't balance. Fire burns."
Mei Lin stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"And what happens when your fire burns you?"
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Damn her and her logic.
She pointed at the stone again.
"Again."
I climbed back on.
Raised the staff.
Inhaled.
Heat surged.
My aura flickered.
I wobbled.
But this time, I didn't fall.
Mei Lin nodded slightly.
"Better."
"Thanks," I said. "I'll put that on my résumé."
We trained for hours.
Balance.
Breathing.
Control.
Every time I wobbled, Mei Lin corrected me.
Every time my aura flared too hot, she tapped my back with her staff.
Every time I complained, she ignored me.
By midday, I was drenched in sweat, shaking, and ready to collapse.
Mei Lin handed me a cup of water.
I drank it like a dying man.
"You learn quickly," she said.
"Really?" I said. "Because it feels like I'm learning how to suffer."
"That is cultivation."
"Great. Love that for me."
Lian Hua approached.
"Icarus," he said. "Your aura is stabilizing."
"Good," I said. "Maybe now I won't accidentally set myself on fire."
"Unlikely," Mei Lin said.
"Wow," I said. "Your confidence in me is inspiring."
She ignored that.
Lian Hua looked toward the village entrance.
"We should gather supplies," he said. "We will need them for travel."
"Travel?" I asked. "Where are we going?"
"There have been reports of demonic activity in the eastern valley," he said. "We should investigate."
"Of course," I said. "Because why rest when we can run toward danger?"
Mei Lin grabbed her staff.
"Come," she said. "We will go to the market."
I followed them, still sore from training.
The village was lively—vendors selling vegetables, herbs, talismans, and weapons. Children ran around. Old men played board games. Women chatted while carrying baskets.
It was… nice.
Normal.
A reminder that not everything in this world was chaos and demonic cultists.
We stopped at a stall selling dried meat and rice.
Mei Lin inspected the goods with the intensity of someone choosing a weapon.
"These will do," she said.
The vendor bowed. "Honored cultivators, please take what you need."
I blinked.
"Wait," I said. "People just… give you stuff?"
Mei Lin nodded. "Cultivators protect the people. In return, the people support us."
"Wow," I said. "Imagine if Earth worked like that. Instead of influencers getting free stuff for posting selfies."
She frowned. "What is an influencer?"
"Never mind."
We gathered supplies—food, herbs, bandages, talismans.
Then we headed back toward Mei Lin's house.
That's when I felt it.
A chill.
A shift in the air.
A ripple of energy that made the hairs on my arms stand up.
Lian Hua stopped walking.
Mei Lin froze.
I swallowed.
"Uh," I said. "Is that… normal?"
"No," Lian Hua said.
A figure stepped into the road ahead of us.
Tall.
Hooded.
Eyes glowing faintly purple.
A demonic cultivator.
Again.
"Seriously?" I said. "Do these guys have a tracking device on me?"
The demonic cultivator smiled.
"You are the Fire‑rooted one," he said. "The one who closed our gate."
I raised a hand.
"Okay, first of all, that was mostly Lian Hua. I just provided emotional support."
"You will come with me," the demonic cultivator said.
"Hard pass."
He raised his hand.
Dark energy crackled around his fingers.
Mei Lin stepped forward, staff glowing with green light.
"You will not touch him," she said.
The demonic cultivator laughed.
"You think you can stop me, Wood‑type?"
"Yes," she said.
He lunged.
Mei Lin moved faster.
Her staff struck his arm, releasing a burst of green energy. Vines erupted from the ground, wrapping around his legs.
He snarled and tore free.
Lian Hua stepped in, releasing a blast of wind that sent the demonic cultivator skidding back.
I inhaled.
Heat surged.
My aura flared.
The demonic cultivator turned toward me.
"You," he said. "Your fire will feed our realm."
"Yeah," I said. "I'm not really into being sacrificed. Bad for my complexion."
He charged.
I raised my hand.
"EMBER‑STRIKE PALM!"
My palm glowed red.
Heat exploded outward.
The demonic cultivator dodged, but the blast still grazed him, burning his cloak.
He hissed.
"You are stronger than expected."
"Thanks," I said. "I drink a lot of water."
He lunged again.
This time, he was faster.
Too fast.
He appeared in front of me, hand glowing with dark energy.
I froze.
Then—
CRACK
Mei Lin's staff slammed into his ribs.
He staggered.
Lian Hua followed with a blast of wind.
The demonic cultivator stumbled back, snarling.
"This is not over," he said. "The demonic sect will claim this region."
He vanished in a swirl of purple smoke.
Silence fell.
I exhaled shakily.
"Okay," I said. "That was… something."
Mei Lin lowered her staff.
"You need more training."
"I just fought a demonic cultivator!"
"And you almost died."
"Details."
Lian Hua nodded. "We must leave soon. The demonic sect is targeting you."
"Yeah," I said. "I noticed."
Mei Lin looked at me.
"You are reckless," she said. "But you are not weak."
I blinked.
"Was that… a compliment?"
"No."
"It sounded like a compliment."
"It was not."
I grinned.
"Thanks, Mei Lin."
She sighed.
"This is going to be exhausting."
"Welcome to the party," I said.
The system chimed.
[QUEST UPDATE: PARTY FORMATION — 2/3 MEMBERS FOUND]
[NEXT OBJECTIVE: TRAVEL EAST]
I looked at my two companions.
A stoic wind‑cultivator.
A strict wood‑cultivator.
And me.
A sarcastic fire hazard.
"Alright," I said. "Let's go save the world."