"Young Master, I bring a message from your father."
Her eyes drift briefly around the room as she hands me the envelope.
I reach out my hand, attempting to grab it.
But I can't…? Why is her grip tighter…
Seriously, what's her deal?
"Do you want me to take it, or not?"
She nods and lowers her voice.
"Your father, Patriarch, said that only you can view this letter."
Is that it? The story is that I lost my memory.
Who would I show it to?
Forget it. Let's move on.
"Right, I get it. Just hand it over to me."
Finally… so much fuss about a letter.
"Since I've relayed the message, I will take my leave. Rest well, Young Master."
Finally, an opportunity.
Perhaps…
"Where are you going?"
The words cut through the air like a blade, cold and absolute.
Xiaoye freezes mid-step, her breath caught in her throat. She doesn't dare make a sound.
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
I rise from the bed, each slow step toward her echoing like a countdown.
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
"Did I say you could leave?"
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
My tone is low and deliberate, each word sending chills down her spine.
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
I stop behind her, close enough for my breath to ghost across her ear.
"Answer. Me."
The words drop like a death sentence.
[You've gained 1 point of Fear.]
Her shoulders tremble, but no sound leaves her lips.
[You've gained 2 points of Fear.]
[!Warning!]
[The target is reaching critical levels of fear. Any more and there will be irreversible trauma.]
Trauma? Just from this?
I only applied a small amount of Qi into my voice. I know she's not a cultivator, but…
"Pathetic."
The word slips out like a whisper, barely audible, yet loud enough for her to hear it.
Her knees lose their strength. She stumbles forward before collapsing flat onto the floor.
"…?"
[Note: The target has suffered permanent trauma.]
[When triggered, Host will be rewarded with Fear.]
"What?"
She's not dead, is she?
Did I do something horrible…?
"…"
Well, she didn't deserve it, but I learned something new from this.
"Thank you, Xiaoye."
But this trauma mechanic…
I will have to make good use of it.
"Status."
[STATUS]
[Name: Han Ye]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Tremor Initiate ▸ Qi Gathering Stage 1 ▸ +]
[Fear Points: 7]
Seven Fear points… that's significant.
Let's see how many points I can put into cultivation.
Tap…
[Cultivation: Tremor Initiate ▸ Qi Gathering Stage 1 ▸ +]
[Host can spend 2 Fear points to increase cultivation by 1 stage.]
[Proceed? YES/NO]
Price doubled, but all things considered, that's rather cheap.
"Yes, proceed."
I brace myself for the familiar agony… yet, to my surprise, it never comes.
"…?"
No pain this time? Thank god…
Instead, warmth enters me, flowing through my veins before settling in my dantian.
I still have some Fear—let's go all in.
Tap…
[Cultivation: Tremor Initiate – Middle Stage ▸ Qi Gathering Stage 5 ▸ +]
"!!!"
That's…
A slow smirk spreads across my lips.
I might be able to go out sooner than I thought…
Tap...
[Fear Points: 5]
[Cultivation: Tremor Initiate – Middle Stage ▸ Qi Gathering Stage 5 ▸ +]
[Host can spend 4 Fear points to increase cultivation by 1 stage.]
[Proceed? YES/NO]
There's no reason to hesitate.
"Proceed."
The moment my will affirms the choice, I brace for the familiar warmth.
But this time… it doesn't come.
Instead, a frigid torrent tears into my veins, something sharp, invasive, like ice threading through my very marrow.
Every heartbeat feels heavier, colder… like my blood has been replaced with something that hates being inside me.
It slithers toward my dantian, wrapping itself around the lingering warmth from before.
What's going on?
"System, I have a question."
[...]
"Can you only talk in the void?"
[...]
Fine, I'll wait.
But these two Qi… they're nothing alike. One is warm, while the other is ice cold.
No, not just cold… It squirms. Pulses. Presses against my insides like it's searching for a way out.
Lurking. Crawling. Clinging.
Like Fear itself given form.
What if I push this into my voice?
Wouldn't the effect be multiplied? I remember the way she froze…
That was without this. With it? I'm not sure she'd survive the sound.
I definitely can't test it here. I need to go out.
My gaze drops to the floor. Xiaoye still lies face down, unmoving.
It was an accident, alright?
I step over and grip her by the collar, dragging her limp body across the floor.
Her hair trails behind, catching on the threshold before I pull her into the corridor.
I prop her against the wall and let go.
Her head rolls to the side, her breathing slow but steady.
I let out a long sigh as I give her one more glance.
Look, it's not like I'm proud of this…
But it's done. Might as well make the best of it.
Who knows, maybe someone will wander around here and find you here.
On that note…
I crouch, tilting her head at an unnatural angle, letting her hair spill over her face.
I drag my finger across the furniture, coating my fingertip in dust.
That should be more than enough for a little "makeup."
I smear it across her cheeks, dulling the color until she looks almost lifeless.
Something's still missing… ah. Right.
I lift her chin, gently prying her lips open.
Perfect. A masterpiece, if I do say so myself.
If someone walks by, it'll be a feast.
[STATUS]
[Name: Han Ye]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Tremor Initiate - Late Stage ▸ Qi Gathering Stage 10 ▸ +]
[Fear Points: 1]