Lu Chang’an was startled

Host: Lu Chang’an

Gender: Male

Talent: Exceptional

Realm: Xiantian (One Qi)

Mind State: 380%

Acquired Techniques: [Lu Chang’an’s Tea]

Relationships: [???] Friendly (50)

[???] Familiar (35)

[???] Friendly (59)

……

Staring at the familiar system interface, Lu Chang’an, seated behind the counter of the tavern, let out a sigh.

A full year had passed since he arrived in this world.

In all that time, this broken system had barely provided him any help—it had even held him back.

Other people’s systems came with a beginner’s gift pack, guaranteed to drop an SSR on opening.

And him?

Not a single thing.

Even his cultivation technique was a common manual he’d haggled from Fatty Wang, who sold junk at the east end of town.

Thankfully, he was a peerless genius, even by the system’s admission.

In just one year, he’d trained that low-tier manual up to the Xiantian One Qi realm.

To be honest, up to now, the system had done nothing except occasionally offer him some seemingly useless hints.

Even those hints were riddled with problems.

Lu Chang’an suspected the system might have malfunctioned during his transmigration, throwing its functions into chaos.

“Chang’an, a pot of tea and a plate of peanuts.”

An old man with snow-white hair and beard, still spirited, walked in through the door.

He sat at the table by the entrance and casually ordered his usual.

“Coming right up, Third Master Luo!”

“Xian’er!”

“Xian’er!”

“Bring Third Master Luo a plate of peanuts!”

Yelling toward the back courtyard, Lu Chang’an hurried over to check the stove in the center of the main hall.

The kettle on top was whistling—the water was already boiling.

“Perfect timing, Third Master.”

“The water’s just boiled, so the tea will be ready soon.”

Lu Chang’an brought out a small black earthenware pot from behind the counter, just big enough to cup in both hands.

He carefully measured out some stir-fried tea leaves and dropped them into the kettle.

The moment the leaves touched the water, a refreshing fragrance wafted out through the spout, reaching Third Master Luo’s nose.

“Haha, Chang’an, your tea-making skill is truly unmatched.”

“I’ve drunk tea my whole life, but none compares to yours,” Third Master Luo said, patting his slightly round belly with hearty laughter.

“Of course.”

“My tavern relies on this tea skill to stay afloat, so it can’t be bad.”

“But Third Master, you seem in a good mood today.”

“Any good news?”

Lu Chang’an accepted the compliment calmly.

Even if the system was unreliable, his tea art was the only technique the system acknowledged—how could it be mediocre?

“You saw through me?”

“I am in a good mood.”

“An old friend wrote to me, saying they’ll visit me in a few days,” Third Master Luo replied, still beaming, but not overly excited.

Lu Chang’an glanced at the notifications scrolling in his system:

[You exchanged looks with ???.]

[??? is in a great mood today.]

[Affection +2.]

[You brewed tea for ???.]

[??? became more relaxed.]

[Affection +1.]

[You chatted with ???.]

[??? is delighted.]

[Affection +2.]

Right.

This was the system’s only useful function he’d discovered in the past year—displaying others’ affection toward him.

Originally, it might have been a praiseworthy feature, but something seemed wrong.

No matter who he talked to, the system always displayed [???].

Not only the notifications, but even the relationship list beneath his status screen showed nothing but [???] for everyone.

What use was that!

Even affection readings were hidden behind question marks?

Was this a guessing game?!

Back when he first transmigrated, unfamiliar with everything, he’d counted on the system as his golden finger to turn his life around.

But as it turned out, a dried fish flipped over was still a dried fish—the golden finger was essentially worthless.

His mentality had shattered.

After all, this was a high-martial fantasy world where people could move mountains and drain seas.

Without a golden finger, how could an ordinary person survive?

Thankfully, the heavens didn’t seal off every path.

His talent was actually quite good—unlike the protagonists in many novels who started as trash.

After scrounging the supposedly ubiquitous cultivation technique “Qi Refining Art” from Fatty Wang, Lu Chang’an had worked hard and broken into the Xiantian realm within a year—a realm many sought their whole lives but never reached.

Despite reaching Xiantian, he didn’t get cocky.

He lacked experience, but he’d read plenty of books!

Arrogance was absolutely out of the question.

The sensible plan was to cultivate quietly in the honest and simple Lingshui Town until he reached an invincible level, then emerge to dominate the world.

Victory required brains; blindly charging into fights wouldn’t always get you into the final circle.

Only the crafty old foxes laughed last.

But recently, even the once-peaceful Lingshui Town seemed to be stirring.

A few days ago, a group of righteous heroes had passed through, apparently hunting the witch Lu Yuesheng.

Lu Chang’an had heard of Lu Yuesheng’s reputation—a ruthless, merciless witch who had supposedly schemed to kill thirteen young heroes from the Liantian Manor in Shaanzhou and buried thousands alive.

When pressed about Lu Yuesheng, Lu Chang’an found it ridiculous.

Everyone in Lingshui Town was warm and hospitable—how could such a vicious witch hide here?

As if!

If she were here, he’d eat this teapot!

His mind wandering, he waited for the tea to finish brewing.

From the back door, a small figure emerged, carrying a small dish of peanuts and setting it on Third Master Luo’s table.

Seeing the petite figure, Third Master Luo seemed a bit tense.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves and bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you.”

The figure didn’t respond.

After placing the dish, she turned to go back to the kitchen.

“Xian’er?”

Lu Chang’an called out.

The small figure stopped and turned to stare straight at him.

It was a little girl in a white dress, about twelve or thirteen years old.

Her skin was pale, her features delicate, but her expression was icy cold—she looked hard to get along with.

Lu Chang’an had picked her up not long after he transmigrated.

Seeing her alone, dirty like a beggar, crouching in a corner, his pity had stirred.

She had been wary at first.

It took him a lot of coaxing before she reluctantly agreed to come back to the tavern.

Even now, a year later, the girl, named Xian’er, only had a barely passable relationship with him.

After living together day and night, her affection was still just fifty points.

Fifty points fell under “familiarity” in the system’s categorization.

Lu Chang’an guessed that sixty might be a threshold—a new stage.

But since the highest affection he’d ever seen was fifty-nine, he didn’t know what sixty meant in the system’s terms.

“Xian’er, you can’t do that.”

“Grandpa Luo is an elder, you should be polite,” Lu Chang’an said, crouching down and speaking softly to teach her proper manners.

To the side, out of Lu Chang’an’s view, Third Master Luo’s plump body trembled slightly at his words.

His smile twisted, and he looked almost like he wanted to cry.

Xian’er gave Lu Chang’an a cold stare, showing no sign of remorse.

Lu Chang’an felt helpless.

He’d been with Xian’er for a year, and honestly, he couldn’t bring himself to discipline her harshly.

After thinking a moment, he reached out and ruffled her hair.

“Xian’er, be good.”

“If you greet Grandpa Luo politely, I’ll let you taste my special tea, okay?”

Xian’er’s expression remained icy, but Lu Chang’an caught a flicker of excitement in her eyes.

‘Still just a child,’ he mused inwardly, with a slight headache.

His best tea wasn’t sold at the tavern—it was too complex to make, costing him a lot of mental energy every time.

So far, only five people, including himself, had tasted it.

“Hello, Grandpa Luo.”

Xian’er turned and greeted Third Master Luo with a blank face.

Third Master Luo broke out in a cold sweat.

He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his brow, forcing a smile and nodding repeatedly.

“Good, Xian’er… good…”

After greeting him, Xian’er left directly.

Passing by Lu Chang’an, she left a flat, emotionless remark: “Remember the tea.”

Lu Chang’an grunted an acknowledgment, then looked at Third Master Luo with puzzlement.

“Third Master, is the stove too hot in here?”

Third Master Luo was still sweating profusely, seeming hot.

But it was already autumn—though not cold, there was a cool breeze.

No matter how hot the stove, it shouldn’t be this bad.

Glancing at Third Master Luo’s stout figure, Lu Chang’an suddenly slapped his forehead, thinking he understood.

‘Maybe it’s because he’s a bit fat?’

With an apologetic smile, he went to dampen the stove fire.

“Bear with it a moment, Third Master.”

“The tea’s ready, and I’ll block the stove a bit—it’ll cool down.”

As Lu Chang’an turned to block the stove, someone else entered through the tavern door.

A young girl, with long black hair reaching her waist, wearing a purple dress.

Her face, free of makeup, carried a cold expression.

Her vacant eyes lit up only when she caught sight of the busy figure inside.

“Boss Lu, a pot of tea.”

“Miss Yue’er?”

“A rare guest!”

“You haven’t been here for days.”

Lu Chang’an greeted Yue’er while pouring tea for Third Master Luo.

“You’ve come at a bit of a busy time.”

“Third Master just ordered a pot, so you might have to wait a while.”

“That’s fine.”

Yue’er didn’t mind.

She sat down a little away from Third Master Luo, facing Lu Chang’an, seeming lost in thought.

Lu Chang’an was about to ask if she wanted anything else when the system suddenly changed, catching his attention.

[You conversed with ???.]

[??? Affection +1.]

[??? Affection reached 60!]

[Identity revealed—【Demonic Sect Witch Lu Yuesheng】.]

Staring blankly at the first real name that appeared in the relationship column—the glaring “[Lu Yuesheng] Friend (60) · Can Request Techniques”—Lu Chang’an couldn’t snap out of it for a long time.

Lu Yuesheng?

The murderous witch?

But just now, the only person I talked to was Miss Yue’er, right?

Cautiously glancing at Miss Yue’er, Lu Chang’an suddenly noticed a faint trace of blood on the edge of her sleeve.

It was barely visible because her clothes were purple.

At that moment, Lu Chang’an was terrified.