[ Arrival at the Peak of the Ethereal Clouds Mountain. Safe Zone. ]
Safe zone, my ass.
Nobody likes this guy, even in his own sect, the only one who has to put up with his bullshit is... ah well.
There he is.
As he arrived, a man approached the cart.
The quality of the fabrics he wore and the headdress that gathered his long ebony hair left no doubt of his social status. A gold-threaded dragon was embroidered on his black-and-white hanfu. The man was tall, handsome, his appearance consistent with an important SEFM NPC.
Zi Xuan.
Now, that's an interesting guy! Why isn't he that man?! This one deserves his title of sect leader.
Not far from his head floated a white-letter phrase similar to MMORPG NPCs.
[ Leader of the Ethereal Clouds Sect, Master Zi Xuan. Title "The ethereal dragon dancing in the clouds". ]
With a smile of relief and authority, Zi Xuan greeted him by his name:
"Shoi-Ming-shidi, you're back just in time. I was almost worried. Tomorrow we celebrate the important ritual, and your presence among us is a sign from the heavens."
Shoi-Ming's luck, combined with his determination, had brought him back in time for a decisive moment.
Oh no.
A big yellow ! is added above his title.
[ Accept the tutorial quest : Five Dragons purification ceremony ? ]
Straightening up to look less nonchalant, he ticks a little at the "almost worried".
Ouch, that hurts, after all, he's been imprisoned! And the other one acts as if nothing had happened!
Did he even know? Didn't Chao already suspected it? It still hurts to see that he was right.
The GM waits for an answer.
Two buttons appear in front of him, "ACCEPT" "DECLINE", but nobody seems to see or react to them, as if time has frozen around him while he chooses his response.
"I was cap—"
[ Careful, what you're about to say is OOC, you'll get a penalty or lose points if you don't stay In Character. ]
"What? This guy never stops complaining and lowering himself like a worm in front of everyone!"
[ That's right, but he never complains as long as his life isn't in danger. ]
Rolling his eyes, he crosses his arms in annoyance, how are they supposed to know what happened to him here?! What's he going to look like, a guy who went for a little walk, just like that, for no reason?
Besides, what is this... a quest? Ah yes, the purification ceremony, that's still an important event.
Wait a minute, this involves him? This guy has so little presence, he didn't even notice. What's the point of him attending these events? He'll remain an irrelevant character. Besides, something tells him he's going to have a really bad time... but that's better than doing nothing.
He presses ACCEPT and greet the man with respect.
"Zi Xuan-shixiong, my apologies for being late, but I feel reassured to be here in time for the ceremony."
[ Beginning the tutorial quest: Five Dragons purification ceremony. ]
When the ACCEPT button is pushed, time resumes. Since the player hasn't asked for an explanation, the GM says nothing more.
The exclamation mark over Zi Xuan's head disappears, and he seems to come back to life. Like an NPC at the end of a dialogue box, he turns around and walks away.
Shoi-Ming is free to return to his quarters until his quest is launched, and the scenario needs him again.
[ Shoi-Ming quarters - Recovery rest area +20. ]
[ As Shoi-Ming walks toward his quarters, evening light filters softly through the paper windows, casting dancing shadows on the varnished wooden floor. His quarters, located in a quiet part of the sect, offer a breathtaking view of the inner gardens, where the cherry blossoms are beginning to shed their petals, creating a natural pink and white carpet. The main room is spacious. In the center, a spotless tatami invites meditation or study. Near the entrance, a small shelf contains several ancient scrolls and books, testimony to the character's thirst for knowledge. Next to it, a carved wooden chest, locked with a jade padlock, appears to contain valuables.
A sliding door leads to the bedroom, where a neatly folded futon awaits its occupant. Silk blankets in a blue similar to his clothes promise comfort and rest. On a small bedside table, a porcelain oil lamp diffuses a soft light, next to a censer whose fragrant smoke evokes the surrounding bamboo forests. The corner of the room is set up for martial arts, but has not been used for some time. The neglected weapons are an indication of Shoi-Ming's imposture, while their presence is a reminder of the miracles he "performed".
Another sliding door opens onto a private terrace, offering a view of the surrounding mountains. This is a place of retreat and solitude, where Shoi-Ming can escape from his responsibilities, if only for a moment. Finally, a small corner desk is overloaded with parchments, quill pens and ink, ready for correspondence or poetic contemplation. A small window above the desk allows natural light to illuminate the writings, and perhaps, inspire reflection or creation. ]
"I can see for myself, thank you very much. Do you really think I will read all of that ? That's way too long."
[ 24-hour timer started ]
"Touchy."
A discreet timer appears in the corner of his vision, counting down the remaining 24 hours to the "Five Dragons Purification Ceremony". This silent countdown adds a sense of urgency to the preparations, reminding him of the importance of his role in the events to come.
Even off-screen, the story goes on?
This time must be put to good use.
Each action chosen will have an impact on his performance at the ceremony and on how his peers perceive him.
[ How would you like to spend the next few hours?
Meditation on the terrace - Find inner peace and spiritual strength.
Study of sacred texts - Gain wisdom and knowledge of upcoming rituals.
Martial training - Sharpen your fighting skills for the challenges ahead.
Rest and reflection - Rest to be at your best, physically and mentally. ]
He's rather surprised, he didn't think this character would be so studious. Look at him, with his little piece of paradise, he really doesn't deserve it. He's just an imposter, but nobody's fooled, it's not very complicated to know that he lacks substance. .... He's just going to make a fool of himself at the ceremony.
Nevertheless, all these scrolls, all this calligraphy and even this place - he wasn't sure what to make of it... Was this bland man really trying hard? He didn't choose to be plain after all, he was born this way, with no particular abilities, he tried to strengthen himself, but saw it wasn't working so...
So what?
Did he give up? Did his reputation as a weakling make him let go?