2 First Quest

[I am going to transfer a portion of the memories I have been able to save, originating from this boy to you, host.]

Su Meng felt a sharp pain in his head but it was nothing compared to when his soul was being fused with the thing talking in his mind. He didn't release a sound and just endured it for a minute before he could finally make out his body's background.

"Looks like I really came into such a worthless world where weak can only bow down and pray for their safety." Su Meng muttered while looking up at the clear sky.

'Still, why is that last thing I can see from his memories is fainting near this river? I guess it's due to the accumulation of stress...Anyway, these clothes, long hair...yep, this is definitely old Chinese fashion.'

'This boy named Su Meng was actually living outside of the city named Floating Cloud City. Together with his family, he was collecting herbs and materials from weak monsters, or should I say wild animals? From his memories I can tell that they look more like evolved wild animals, in this world, even regular humans have higher strength than humans on the Earth and it wouldn't be fair if the wild animals wouldn't have evolved as well. Just recently...his parents went to go harvest some herbs but it has been more than 2 weeks and he hasn't heard anything about them. On top of that, he is working for the Xia clan, and not filling their requirements means heavy punishment. He and his family have to deliver a certain amount of herbs on the first day of each month. Not only are they getting their protection, but they are also getting paid quite well, however that also means heavier punishment for not fulfilling the order.'

'Yo, you fucker, was this done intentionally?' Su Meng asked the voice that has kept quiet for some time in his mind.

[Is the host perhaps talking to me? I haven't done anything, how could I be aware of his life situation?]

'You sure? Then why did you let me have my preferences? Why did you choose the matter regarding his relatives so well, huh? Or was it simply you thinking that since he is alone in the wildness, he can't have relatives? For such a robotic voice, you aren't very well programmed, you lack intelligence.'

[...Since the host could figure it out from such small slip-ups, I will reward the host for his intelligence with honesty] The voice replied in the same monotonous tone despite just being insulted by Su Meng.

[The host's destiny is already set in stone. Sooner or later, the host will become the focus of attention from many sides, however, please don't misunderstand, this is not my doing. I too am powerless against it, all I could do was to pick the body that is least related to some influential people. Naturally, the host doesn't have to be afraid, I will do my best to help you on this journey through the new world, however, I can only help the host when he accumulates a certain amount of merits.]

'...Well, my parents are already missing and I still have some gold waiting inside my house. I can just flee and spit on some Xia clan.' Su Meng finally stood up from the ground and dusted his clothes off the dirt.

[I wouldn't recommend that course of action, host.] The voice quickly replied, much quicker than usual as if it was slightly worried.

'Why?' Su Meng asked while recalling the way to his house before he finally remembered.

[First of all, the host should already be aware that this world uses "Profound Way" to increase the strength of the individual. The "Profound Way" of this world gifts each mortal innate profound veins which allow them to cultivate profound strength. The host's body used to be very close to the fourth level of the Elementary Profound Realm, however, I had to use all of his remaining profound energy at once to get rid of any unnecessary negative emotions, resentments, and other things that could influence the host after taking over the body, unfortunately, his meridians were damaged in the process, rendering this body to only common mortal with slightly higher strength than others since he used to cultivate. If the host sets foot somewhere out of the Xia clan's influence, he might suffer a fate worse than death, after all, when I said that the host's destiny is set in stone, I wasn't just joking. The strong rule in this world, the host mustn't make any hasty decisions]

'So?' The answer that voice inside Su Meng's head never expected from him.

[What? What does the host mean by "so?" This is matter of life and death, the host mustn't take it lightly]

'I have already died once...although it wasn't exactly pleasant, who cares? Why do you behave like you are more worried than me? Perhaps if I die, even you will disappear. Why do you even insist on helping me anyway? I think you have chosen the wrong person, I am not someone who let's some "destiny" fuck with my life if you are telling me that the trouble will come to find me even if I will just lay down and play humble servant of the Xia clan then...go fuck yourself.' Su Meng replied with a cold face while opening the door of his house that looked more like the hunter's lodge.

[...Looks like the host is actually a very stubborn person. I wonder what the host used to do in his previous life. Well, no matter, I can try my best to give the host time to adapt to this world, however, first of all, the Xia clan's order is to be delivered in a week and few days. The host should focus on this task first if he truly doesn't want any trouble.]

[ |Gather enough herbs and materials from dead monsters to fulfill the Xia clan's order in time.| (22/50) (24/30), time remaining: 9 days 15 hours, 26 minutes, 10 seconds]

[Rewards: ???]

Suddenly, Su Meng saw a text in front of his eyes so he tried to touch it with his hand but his hand just went right through the text.

'I guess I should really complete this first before I start thinking about what to do with my new life, that is if I manage to survive in this forest without this body's previous cultivation. Even with his previous cultivation of the fourth level of the Elementary Profound Realm, I would have some trouble surviving here in case I stumbled upon bad luck. Anyway, is this thing in my head what they used to call a System in my previous world? I still have trouble recalling all my memories but I am slowly recovering however I doubt I can fish out anything good from my old memories.' Su Meng thought before he decided to take a look around the house, trying to find anything that could help him.

'Hey, I will call you Vista from now on'

[Why Vista of all things? Is there any deeper meaning?]

'Yeah, you are causing me only trouble ever since you installed yourself into me. I hope there will be an upgrade in the future.' Su Meng thought before he found some old dull sword.

He went ahead to sharpen it, fortunately, he found the right equipment for it in his house.

[I almost forgot to show this to the host because it was a long time since I had such a long conversation with anyone. Here you go, host]

[Name: Su Meng]

[Cultivation: None (Damaged Meridians)

[Skills: |Elementary Harvesting (Lv. 5)+|, |Elementary boxing (Lv. 4)+|, |Elementary Swordsmanship (Lv. 0)+|, |Elementary Detection (Lv. 4)+|, |Elementary Tracking (Lv. 4)+|, |Elementary Concealment (Lv. 4)+|, |Elementary Alchemy (Lv. 1)+ ]

[Skill points: 100]

[Inventory: Amateurly sharpened sword, 22 of various medicinal herbs, 24 remains of monsters]

"What the hell is that level 0?!" Su Meng for the first time shouted with a disbelieving expression on his face.

[I guess it's because this body has never trained in swordsmanship. Going deep inside the forest would be a suicide with the host's current condition, the host probably should focus on the edges of the forest]

'Bullshit, the edges of the forest won't be enough, with the danger comes also reward, there is no way I can complete this quest by picking up the herbs on the edge of the forest. I also need to kill a few monsters, preferably some that aren't too old since the older means stronger. I should skip a day or two of exploring and focus just on training before I try to venture deep inside the forest. I might not be able to cultivate and use profound energy to strengthen my body but with enough skills, I can take down monsters with low defense. I should avoid defense-type monsters even if their power is equal to the first level of the Elementary Profound Realm.' Su Meng frowned and thought while holding his chin and looking down at the ground in front of his house.