Lin Xian finished sweeping the last part of the eastern path just as the sun passed noon. His arms were sore, his back burned from bending all morning... But atleast he'd earn ten contribution points by evening. It wasn't much but his life was measured in thing's like broom work.
He slowly walked back to his Hut, a tiny wooden shack hidden behind the trees. The door creaked loudly when he pushed it open. He went inside, barred it shut and dropped onto to the straw mat.
The blue screen floated in front of him quietly waiting. Xian wiped sweat from his face with his dirty sleeves and stared at it.
"Alright" he muttered "Let's say I believe you. But how am I supposed to... You know. With this face? With this body? Huh? I'm just a Tempered body Third Layer trash that gets beaten by anyone stronger than air. And women like Mei Ling don't even notice me. They don't walk with me... They step over me."
[Strength and appearance are tools, Host. Not the only ones. Confidence is the sharpest blade. Desire is the forge.]
The window shifted, new text scrolling like a merchant's ledger.
[Recommended Starter Item: Bewitching Dragon's Breath Incense ]
[Effect Duration: 30 minutes]
[Area of Influence: 5-meter radius around burning incense]
[Primary Effect on Females: Extreme arousal spike. Inhibitions lowered. Rational thought suppressed. Physical need becomes overwhelming within 3–5 minutes.]
[Secondary Effect on Host: Yang qi amplification + stamina surge. Performance increased by 300–500% for duration.]
[Recipe:]
[- Crimson Flame leaf×3
- Moonlit Orchid Root ×1
- Calming resin
- Low-grade Spirit Coal ×1 (for ignition) ]
Xian read it twice. His mouth went dry.
"You're saying… light this thing, bring a woman inside, and she'll just… lose her mind? Can't control herself?"
[Correct.]
"And it works on me too? Makes me… better?"
[Significantly.]
Xian let out a short, shaky laugh. "That's cheating. That's straight-up demonic."
[The heavens reward the bold, Host. Not the virtuous.]
He sat up straighter. A reckless glint entered his eyes.
"Fine. Show me the total price."
The window updated.
[Cost: 8 Contribution Points (total required materials)]
'Eight point's. Almost a Full days labor.' He stood up, brushed the dust off his robe and headed for the Contribution hall before he could change his mind.
The contribution hall smelled of old papers, dried herbs and incense. A dozen disciple stood in line, waiting for their turn. Behind the Long counter sat a young women in pale green outer sect robe. She looked to be in her twenties. Her black hair was tied loosely with a silver ribbon. Her eyes were gray in color like storm clouds... Yet soft and gentle, but sharp at the same time. Her figure stood out even more under plain cloths. Soft curves, a slim waist, and heavy breast rising gently with each breath.
Xian's face grew hot the moment he stepped into her view. She looked up and their eyes met. Her cheeks turned pink. She quickly looked back at the ledger, fingers tightening around the brush.
Xian Swallowed, his heart pounding. When it was his turn he stepped forward.
"Uh... Hello" he said, his voice cracked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "Hello Senior Sister... I need Three crimson flame leaf, one moonlit orchid root, one calming resin, and one low grade spirit coal."
She wrote it down without looking up at first, then paused. "These are... quite specific" she said softly her voice was gentle but there was clear curiosity in it. "May I ask what you need them for?"
Xian scratched the back of his neck. "It's just... For personal use. Nothing bad I swear." He said awkwardly.
She looked at him for a long moment. Something passed through her storm gray eyes... Maybe recognition, maybe doubt... he couldn't tell. In the end, she nodded.
"It'll be Eight contribution points" she said and slid a small Bamboo token across the counter. "Take this to the storeroom window."
Xian handed over his sect token. She deducted the points with a small surge of qi. When she passed him the receipt their fingers brushed for a brief second. Both of them startled slightly
"Thank you" he mumbled.
"Be careful with those herbs. Some of them... Reacts strongly when mixed together. " She said and lowered her head slightly.
Xian nodded and took the small cloth pouch from the storeroom clerk and rushed out, his face was hot and his heart was racing.
He didn't noticed her watching him as he left.. and after few minutes later she quietly stepped away from the counter whispering something to the senior disciple in charge and slipped out through a side door.
Xian walked fast along the twisting paths, gripping the pouch like it held something priceless. His thoughts were all over the place.
'Thirty minutes. That's all it takes? Who though? Mei Lin? No that's just Suicide... One of the laundry girl? Naw too risky they gossip like crows. Maybe... Someone who wouldn't scream for the enforcers right away.'
He reached his Hut slipper inside and barred the door shut again. The blue screen appeared instantly.
[Materials confirmed. Incense can be compounded with basic qi control. Estimated time: 1 minutes.]
[Warning: Effect is indiscriminate within range. Host advised to choose target area carefully.]
Xian smirked despite himself. "Yeah, yeah. I get it. No lighting it in the dining hall."
Xian sat crossed leg on the straw mat and started sorting the herbs, following the simple test shown by the Floating blue screen.
Outside his Hut, Hidden behind a thick patch of bamboo, the girl from the counter was crouching quietly.
Her name was Su Yan. An outer disciple with Tempered Body Ninth layer Cultivation. She was from the alchemy pavilion.
She had seen Lin Xian get Beaten up all the time, watching from the shadows at the edge of the training ground. She had seen him fall... Then force himself back up again and again. She has seen the fire in his eyes, stubborn and unbroken even whole Blood spilled from hi mouth. She was the one who dragged him to the tree herself, left the healing cream and run before he wake up.
"Why those herbs? They're not for healing, neither for cultivation pills. That combination... It's almost like..." Her cheeks flushed as the realization but.
She knew she should leave and report him and let the enforcers deal with whatever strange thing he was planning. But she doesn't wanted to put him in Trouble... So she stayed hidden in the shadows quietly waiting.
Inside the hut Xian finished shaping the incense stick. It was thin and dark red. He held it up and looked at it quietly, admiring the work.
"Alright, Devil" he said softly. "Let's see if you're worth the eight point's."