If there's one thing I've learned since arriving in Jin, it's that cultivators have a very specific talent: they can make you feel like an idiot without saying much at all.
Case in point: Mei Lin.
Wood‑type cultivator. Sharp eyes. Calm voice. The kind of person who looks at you like she's already analyzed your entire personality, found it lacking, and is now deciding whether to fix you or throw you away.
And apparently, according to the system, she was now part of my party.
Lucky me.
We stood at the edge of the village, the sun dipping low behind the hills. Lanterns flickered to life, casting warm light across the dirt paths and wooden houses. Smoke curled from chimneys. It looked peaceful—too peaceful, considering the demonic nonsense we'd just escaped.
Mei Lin crossed her arms.
"So," she said, "you're the Fire‑type."
"Wow," I said. "Word travels fast."
"I sensed your aura from half a li away," she replied. "It was… loud."
"Loud?" I repeated. "What am I, a spiritual car alarm?"
She didn't smile. Of course she didn't the reference didn't even process.
Lian Hua stepped between us, and I can't lie it was probably to prevent me from saying something that would get me smacked with that staff she carried. believe me, I know she would.
"Mei Lin," he said, "Icarus is new to this world cough cough forgive him."
She raised an eyebrow. "New?"
"Very new," I said. "Like, 'died five hours ago and woke up in a Wuxia fever dream' new."
She blinked. "You died?"
"Yeah," I said. "Truck-kun. Long story."
She stared at me for a moment, then nodded slowly, as if that somehow made sense.
"Your aura is unstable," she said. "Fire‑type roots are volatile. You need guidance."
"Oh good," I said. "Another person here to lecture me."
Lian Hua sighed. "He is… adjusting."
"I'm adjusting just fine," I said. "I only almost exploded twice today."
Mei Lin pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Come," she said. "We should speak inside."
She led us toward a small house near the center of the village. It was simple—wooden walls, a tiled roof, a small garden out front filled with herbs and flowers. The air smelled faintly of mint and something sweet.
Inside, the house was tidy. Too tidy. Like she'd cleaned it five minutes before we arrived just in case guests materialized out of thin air.
She gestured for us to sit at a low table.
I sat cross‑legged, trying not to look like someone who had never sat cross‑legged at a low table before. Spoiler: I failed.
Mei Lin poured tea for all three of us.
I took a sip.
It tasted like grass and disappointment.
"So," I said, setting the cup down, "what's your deal?"
She blinked. "My… deal?"
"Yeah," I said. "You show up in the woods, glare at me like I owe you money, and now we're having tea. I feel like I missed a few steps."
Lian Hua cleared his throat. "Mei Lin is a wandering cultivator, like myself. We have crossed paths before."
"Ah," I said. "So you two are friends."
Mei Lin shook her head. "No."
Lian Hua nodded. "Yes."
They looked at each other.
I raised an eyebrow.
"Wow," I said. "This party is off to a great start."
Mei Lin ignored me and turned to Lian Hua.
"You said the demonic sect opened a realm gate?"
"Yes," he said. "Icarus helped close it."
She looked at me again, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You fought a demonic cultivator at Stage 1?"
"Technically Stage 11 now," I said. "I leveled up. Like a champ."
She stared.
Then she sighed.
"You're going to be a problem."
"Lady," I said, "I've been a problem since birth."
Lian Hua set his cup down.
"We should discuss our next steps."
"Next steps?" I said. "I was kind of hoping for 'nap' or 'eat something that isn't spiritual grass tea.'"
Mei Lin ignored me.
"The demonic sects are growing bolder," she said. "If they opened a gate in that town, they will target others."
Lian Hua nodded. "We should investigate the region. There may be more activity."
"Great," I said. "So we're going demon hunting. Love that for us."
Mei Lin studied me again.
"You have potential," she said. "But you lack discipline."
"Yeah," I said. "I also lack a manual, a teacher, and any idea what I'm doing."
She tapped the table.
"Show me your breathing technique."
I blinked.
"My what now?"
"Your breathing technique," she repeated. "All cultivators have one. Show me."
I hesitated.
Then the system chimed.
[BREATHING TECHNIQUE: FLAME‑SEED BREATH — LEVEL 1]
[DEMONSTRATION RECOMMENDED]
"Fine," I said. "But if I accidentally set your house on fire, that's on you."
I closed my eyes.
Inhaled.
Heat surged into my lungs.
My chest glowed faintly red.
The air shimmered around me.
Mei Lin leaned forward, eyes widening slightly.
Lian Hua's expression tightened.
I exhaled.
A wave of warm air rippled across the room, making the lantern flames flicker.
When I opened my eyes, Mei Lin was staring at me like I'd just grown a second head.
"That," she said slowly, "is not a beginner technique."
"Yeah," I said. "Tell that to the system. It didn't exactly give me a tutorial."
She stood abruptly.
"Come outside."
"Why?"
"Because if you stay in here, you will burn my house down."
Fair enough.
We stepped into the garden. The sun had fully set, and lanterns glowed softly along the path. Crickets chirped. The air was cool.
Mei Lin crossed her arms.
"Again," she said. "But this time, control it."
"I am controlling it," I said.
"No," she said. "You're surviving it."
I frowned.
"That's rude."
"True," she said. "But still rude."
I inhaled again.
Heat surged.
My aura flared.
Mei Lin stepped closer, placing a hand on my back.
"Slow," she said. "Fire is not only destruction. It is warmth. Light. Life. Do not force it. Guide it."
I tried.
I really did.
But Fire‑type thoughts are… loud.
Ambitious.
Chaotic.
Like a toddler with a flamethrower.
The heat spiked.
My aura flared brighter.
Mei Lin's eyes widened.
"Too much," she said. "Stop."
"I'm trying!"
"Stop!"
"I CAN'T—"
FWOOOM
A burst of flame erupted from my body, shooting upward like a pillar of fire. The garden lit up. The lanterns flickered wildly. The air shimmered.
Mei Lin leapt back.
Lian Hua rushed forward.
I stood there, panting, smoke curling from my clothes.
"Okay," I said. "That was… not ideal."
Mei Lin stared at me.
Then she said something I did not expect.
"You're dangerous."
"Wow," I said. "Thanks."
"That was not a compliment."
"I know."
She stepped closer, studying me with a mixture of frustration and fascination.
"You have immense potential," she said. "But your control is nonexistent."
"Yeah," I said. "I noticed."
Lian Hua nodded. "He needs training."
Mei Lin sighed.
"I suppose I can help."
I blinked.
"Wait. Really?"
"Yes," she said. "Because if I don't, you will burn half of Jin to the ground."
"Okay," I said. "That's fair."
She pointed at me.
"Starting tomorrow, you will train with me."
"Great," I said. "Looking forward to it."
"You will not enjoy it."
"I never enjoy anything."
She ignored that.
Lian Hua stepped forward.
"We should rest. Tomorrow will be difficult."
"Fantastic," I said. "Can't wait."
We headed back inside.
Mei Lin prepared sleeping mats.
Lian Hua meditated in the corner.
I lay down, staring at the ceiling.
The system chimed softly.
[QUEST UPDATE: PARTY FORMATION — 2/3 MEMBERS FOUND]
[NEXT OBJECTIVE: CONTINUE CULTIVATION TRAINING]
I sighed.
"Yeah," I whispered. "I get it. I'm a walking fire hazard."
The system didn't respond.
It never did.
I closed my eyes.
Tomorrow, I would train.
Tomorrow, I would learn control.
Tomorrow, I would take another step toward the peak.
But tonight?
Tonight I was just a guy who got hit by a truck and woke up in a world that expected him to save it.
"Great," I muttered. "No pressure."
Sleep took me.
And somewhere in the distance, something stirred.
A demonic sect.
A new threat.
A new chapter.