Wang Ping sat on the small wooden bed of the Jade Spring Inn, staring at the ceiling. The rough beams above him were old, with small cracks etched into the wood, but they radiated a strange warmth under the sunlight filtering in from the single window.
A thousand thoughts ran through his mind.
He had arrived in this cultivation world barely hours ago. He had survived the forest, faced a demonic beast, and witnessed the raw power of a cultivator like Chen Tianyu. Yet, despite the Ultimate Cultivation System now embedded in him, he knew that survival here wasn't guaranteed.
A system, after all, could guide, inform, and even provide experience points. But it could not grant him absolute power. Not against the countless dangers that roamed this world. And when he thought of monsters, he didn't just mean the wild beasts or demonic creatures. He meant humans.
This world was harsh. Ruthless. Survival of the fittest wasn't just a saying; it was law. And humans could be far crueler than any beast.
His thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door.
"Sir… your meal is ready."
The voice was light, delicate, almost musical. Wang Ping blinked, coming out of his reverie.
He turned toward the door and saw a girl, barely fifteen, standing there with a tray of food in her hands. Her hair was a soft, golden blonde, falling in silky strands over her shoulders. She had delicate features, large bright eyes, and a slender yet graceful figure. She wore a simple dress, but somehow it matched her perfectly, hinting at beauty and elegance without being ostentatious.
"Uh… thank you," Wang Ping said, suddenly aware that he hadn't eaten in hours. In fact, he didn't even realize he was hungry until she mentioned it.
The girl smiled softly. "Please, sir, come down. It's fresh, just cooked."
He followed her, descending the wooden stairs of the inn. The steps creaked under his weight, each one echoing in the warm, cozy interior. As he reached the bottom, the aroma of the food hit his senses.
It was intoxicating.
The smell of freshly cooked rice, steaming vegetables, and roasted meat filled the room. Wang Ping inhaled deeply, realizing with sudden clarity that he had not eaten any proper meal for a very long time.
He rushed to the table. His hands trembled slightly with anticipation. His first bite was heaven. Soft rice, tender meat, and the perfect seasoning combined into a taste he had almost forgotten.
"Do you… like it?" asked the innkeeper, a man who appeared to be in his late forties, with a round, kind face. He wore a simple brown tunic and an apron. His name was Huang Liang, and despite his rough exterior, there was warmth in his eyes.
Wang Ping nodded eagerly, nearly shoving another spoonful into his mouth. "Yes… yes, it's amazing!"
Huang Liang chuckled. "You seem hungry, young man. Here, have another bowl. On the house."
From behind, the blonde girl giggled quietly. Her laughter was soft, melodic, and gentle. "He really does eat fast," she whispered to no one in particular. Wang Ping's cheeks flushed as he realized he hadn't noticed her standing behind him.
Her name was Huang Yinuo, the daughter of the innkeeper. She watched him with amusement, her laughter a brief moment of light in the harshness of the world outside.
But their quiet moment of comfort didn't last long.
************
A sudden, violent crash shattered the inn's door. Splinters flew across the floor as the heavy wood splintered, the sound echoing like thunder through the small inn.
Wang Ping froze.
Three men stepped inside, their faces twisted into scowls. The leader, a tall man with a cruel expression and a long scar running from his temple down to his cheek, took the lead. His name was Ma Han, and he carried a massive axe slung across his broad shoulders. His two companions followed closely behind: Li Jun, stockier with a thick neck and arms like tree trunks, and Feng Tao, a wiry, fast-moving youth whose eyes darted around the room constantly.
The three clearly looked like trouble.
Ma Han's voice boomed across the inn. "Old man! Where is the rest of the money you owe?"
Huang Liang trembled. His round face turned pale. "P-please… just ten gold coins… I need time… I will get it to you!"
Ma Han laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Wang Ping's spine. "Ten gold coins, you say? How many years should we give you? You barely make twenty silver coins a month, and you expect us to wait until you die?!"
He stepped closer to Huang Liang, stretching the heavy axe toward the innkeeper's neck. The blade gleamed in the sunlight.
Huang Liang stammered, desperate. "Please… I beg you! Give me time!"
Before Ma Han could answer, Huang Yinuo rushed forward, her hands trembling, trying to stop them from hurting her father.
"Ohh…" Ma Han's eyes darkened. A wicked grin spread across his face. "Why don't you give us your daughter instead? I'll talk to the boss and let your old man off for a while."
The inn suddenly felt suffocating. People from the streets nearby had begun murmuring. Their voices grew louder, curious about the commotion. Some whispered, "Why would anyone owe these kinds of people money?" Others said, "It's the man's fault for borrowing in the first place."
But as their voices increased, the three cultivators' gazes became heavy and oppressive. The pressure radiating from Ma Han, Li Jun, and Feng Tao crushed everything near them. Even Wang Ping, who had been standing at the side, felt the immense force press down on him. His knees buckled, and his face hit the wooden floor with a painful thud.
These men weren't just ordinary ruffians. Wang Ping could sense the cultivation aura emanating from them. Ma Han was at the second stage of Qi Condensation, and his companions were at the first and second stages. Even at such low stages, the presence of cultivators could overwhelm ordinary mortals.
Huang Liang tried to resist, but Ma Han's axe slammed lightly across his shoulder, knocking him to the ground. Pain radiated through his body, but he tried to shield his daughter with his trembling arms.
Wang Ping's eyes narrowed. He could feel the situation clearly. This was not random violence. The men had come specifically for Huang Yinuo. Their attacks were deliberate, designed to provoke her, to draw her into a reaction that could be exploited.
And now, Wang Ping understood something else—something harsh about this world.
Being beautiful is a disadvantage.
Huang Yinuo was incredibly beautiful. Her curves were delicate, perfectly balanced, her legs long and graceful. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, falling in a silky cascade. In a world where strength ruled, beauty could attract unwanted attention. It made her a target.
Before anyone could act further, Ma Han grabbed her roughly by the arm. Li Jun and Feng Tao flanked him, preventing any resistance.
"Let's go," Ma Han sneered.
Despite Huang Liang's desperate cries and Wang Ping's frozen shock, Huang Yinuo was dragged from the inn. Her laughter and soft voice were replaced by the cruel silence of the street outside.
The crowd watched, frozen, as the three men disappeared into the distance. They faded along the horizon, their silhouettes small but imposing.
Wang Ping clenched his fists. His body throbbed from the pressure of their cultivator auras, but his mind was sharp and focused.
This is just the beginning, he thought.
If I don't intervene, she'll be lost. But if I act… I can start changing the future.
The world was ruthless. But Wang Ping was no longer just a mortal who had stumbled into it by accident.
He had the system. He had knowledge. And now, he had a goal.
Huang Yinuo had become his first test.
And Wang Ping knew, deep in his heart, that the first step toward survival in this cultivation world was not to hide, but to act.
Wang Ping rose from the floor. His eyes gleamed with determination, as the faint glow of the system interface appeared before him once more.
[Ultimate Cultivation System]
Host: Wang Ping
Current Task: Rescue Huang Yinuo from the red axe gang
Mission level : yellow
Warning : due to having zero cultivation, you will be given a temporary cultivation of the 3 stage of qi condensation
time limit : 24 hours
Reward : 200 exp points