At that moment, I felt like my journey—my new story—had finally begun.
I had no idea where I was going or what I'd do with this new life, but one thing was certain: I would make the most of it.
Live in a way that actually made sense. No pointless tournaments or aimless clout-chasing.
Honestly, one of my dreams was to start my own sect—a place that didn't take part in the usual competitions and absolutely refused to let arrogant young masters cause chaos within its walls.
That would actually make things better for everyone. Of course, for something like that, my strength would need to grow—a lot.
I followed the only road nearby. Just walked, not knowing what to expect.
What kind of city would I reach? Would I run into bandits—or someone willing to help?
On the first day after leaving the cave, after hours of walking, I finally came across another path... and people.
A carriage passed by. Maybe it was my tired face, my sweaty body, or the dirt-covered clothes I was wearing. Whatever it was, for some reason, the carriage stopped.
A man approached—he was the one driving it, guiding two horses.
"Good afternoon, young man," he said. "Are you alright?"
That was a golden opportunity. Not something you see every day—someone offering help.
And honestly, I didn't know when I'd meet another soul. He was the first person I'd seen in hours.
With a smile, I answered, "To be honest, not really. I have no direction, no idea where to go, and hardly any belongings. Had some family issues... ended up getting kicked out."
The man gave me a wary look. Not everyone gets expelled from their own family—he was clearly wondering if I was someone worth trusting.
Still, despite the doubt in his eyes, he offered me a ride.
"Hop in the back," he said. "I've got some goods I'm taking to the city. Find a spot and sit down."
"Thank you so much," I said, bowing slightly. "You're incredibly kind."
I climbed into the back of the carriage just like he asked. It was packed with boxes. I didn't open any of them, even though curiosity tugged hard.
It wouldn't be ethical. The last thing I wanted was to upset the man. That carriage? It was the best thing to happen to me in days.
Even with my newly unlocked Qi Condensation—first layer—I was still weak. My body couldn't take endless walking.
I barely qualified as a cultivator. A far cry from being anything important.
The carriage had a small window. I found a spot near it and gazed outside as we traveled. It made the journey feel less dull than it could've been.
By nightfall, the carriage came to a stop. That man—he was a merchant—pulled up beside a roadside tavern.
These kinds of places were pretty common. Built for travelers who needed somewhere to sleep between cities.
Cities could be days apart, and spots like these were the lifeline in between.
After stepping down from the carriage, I spoke to the man.
"I don't have much money. Sleeping here might be a problem."
My family had left me with a little coin, but it wasn't much. I needed to stretch every copper. I had no clue when I'd earn money again.
"Don't worry, kid," the merchant said. "I'll pay for you. But when we reach the city, you help me unload the carriage."
"Deal," I said, reaching out.
We shook hands and locked in the agreement. Honestly, it worked in his favor too—if he didn't get help unloading, he'd have to hire someone, and that meant spending even more coin.
The tavern looked simple—two floors, built entirely out of wood. But it was well-kept.
There wasn't a single part damaged, and the interior was clean and well-organized. The first floor housed a restaurant with several tables; upstairs were the guest rooms.
When we arrived, only two people were seated in the restaurant, each at a separate table. That region didn't attract many adventurers or merchants, so the tavern was rarely crowded.
Even if it was simple by most standards… it was a massive upgrade from the forest I'd been surviving in.
To me, this was luxury. A proper bed instead of the cold, hard ground? You couldn't put a price on that.
The merchant—who I'd come to know as Zhao Lintao—booked two rooms for us, one each.
"Ten bronze coins per room, per night," said the person at the counter.
Zhao Lintao paid without hesitation. Before heading upstairs, we decided to grab a meal.
I ordered something basic—rice with a piece of meat. Nothing fancy or expensive. And surprisingly, Zhao Lintao ordered the same.
"I live in a small village," he said. "This is what we're used to eating. And you—why were you kicked out of your home?"
I decided to tell him.
"I was cast out because I wasn't gifted. My brothers are talented cultivators, and I'm… not. Since my family runs the village, they expelled me to protect their reputation."
That was the truth. Sure, I used to be completely incapable of cultivating due to my damaged spiritual roots—but there was no way to explain that I'd somehow fixed them. That part had to remain a secret.
"That's rough…" Zhao Lintao said. "I can give you a ride to the next city. It's a bit bigger—you might be able to find a job or something useful there."
"Thank you so much. I'll repay this favor one day."
I meant it. That merchant had helped me more than he knew. And when the time came, I'd do the same for him.
"No need for that, my friend. Just drop by when you're settled. I live in the village of Misty Mountain."
"I will—no doubt."
After dinner, I went up to my room and lay down. The feeling was absolutely wonderful.
Don't get me wrong—the mattress was garbage. Hard as a rock. But compared to the dirt and stones I'd slept on the past few nights? It felt divine.
That night, I slept like a log. I was basically knocked out. Zhao Lintao had to wake me the next morning so we could continue the journey.
And so, we hit the road again. Things stayed peaceful—for a while.
But two days later, just as we were about to stop and rest again, a group of men on horseback emerged from the forest, blocking the path ahead.
It was easy to tell—they were bandits.
"Get off the carriage and hand over everything you've got!" one of them shouted.