1 one

He woke up. His body was heavy and his stomach empty, though he didn't mind. Carefully he sat up. The moss under him was very thick and soft, the trees around him tall and the night sky sprinkled with stars and stardust.

He looked at his hands. They were those of a youth with pale skin who had apparently worked very hard. The clothes were as golden as the bright moon, but dirty and ripped at several places.

Carefully he stood up. The body was thin and small, but obviously had eaten well and lived a comfortable life.

Two long strands of hair fell equally over his temples, cheeks and ears. They reached his hips. He touched the lower back of his head. The hair was bound tightly into a ponytail, but at shoulder height, it was cleanly cut off.

He heard water. Quietly, he walked over and looked at himself. Now he really was certain, that was not him. The face that was mirrored in the calm river was very pretty, young and a bit bruised, which made the lips a seductive red. If he wanted to, he could look just like a young woman - which seemed to be the reason for quite a lot of bullying.

He moved his face closer to the water. The eyes were of a clear brown. Very pretty, he thought.

So now he knew what he looked like, but he didn't know who he was, and there was no indication of his identity. Well, too bad.

He thought back. This wasn't his body, but it also wasn't bad. As much as he remembered, he had just died after living a long, great life and he was able to meet his great grandchildren. He also was a famous author and well known for his advanced thoughts.

Now, being in a new body wasn't too bad, though it was sad to not remember the previous life. But it was over. He died with a smile. How ridiculous it would be to whine after it.

He raised his head again. The hair strands were wet and dripped on his clothes.

There was only one thing he hadn't checked yet: his voice. He hummed a bit. His throat hurt, but he continued. His voice was soft and gentle, a bit like an instrument. Very good, very pretty.

He sneered. There were only two damn words to describe this body: Very pretty. And he really didn't like that. His vocabulary was too big for such a great loss of descriptions!

He stood up and looked around. In the distance was a faint glow. While walking towards that glow, he noticed that his senses were extremely sharp. But that was also the reason he was very anxious. There were so many strange sounds around him, so many breaths and moves. This guy was a wimp! And, if his soul was now in this body, what happened to the original soul? Did he kick the bucket or what?! Probably.

After a while, he was still used to his big, fast steps, he reached the opposite of a town. The town was glowing in a faint red. There were many lanterns and people in red clothes. There seemed to be a celebration, with soft but epic music and calmly smiling faces.

The town was mirrored in the river and the whole picture gave one a feeling of peace.

„Ran MiQian?"

He turned around.

The man that stood in front of him had long black hair. His robe was made out of white and grey silk that seemed silver-ish. He was tall with broad shoulders and a gentle face. His eyebrows were straight, his skin like jade, and he wore a slightly confused look.

The tall man came closer and eyed him carefully.

„You are Ran MiQian, right?"

„I… don't know…"

The man raised the tips of his eyebrows slightly.

„Hm… Well, come with me. I know a place where you can stay, but you have to work for it."

„What kind of work?"

„Cleaning, sewing, keeping things in a presentable state."

„I… think I can do that…"

„Good. Allow me to ask how you got here."

„I don't know."

„Amnesia…?"

„Probably."

„Oh. Well, your name is Ran MiQian, and you're a young master of the MifeiRan sect. But at the moment, you cannot leave this place. So try your best."

„Okay. And what should I call you?"

„Hm… Young master Fei."

MiQian nodded. He quietly followed the young master to a tall, red building. It was certainly not a brothel, but a hotel. Every guest seemed to have a high status, looked well clothed and such. If he wanted to work here, he had to do his best, that much was obvious.

He was brought into a small room, then was told to wait.

„Welcome to the simulation." A programmed voice suddenly said a while after the master had left the room.

„This place is not real. It is the first location of the novel ?)"/§&8°72 „6"$&^9/„%. You have the duty to correct the mishaps and plot holes of the original novel. To help you survive this location, please look at your instructions."

MiQian looked at the file that had appeared in his field of vision. He opened it and saw a schedule that showed what he had to do. There were also tips for certain locations in the hotel, which guests like what and so on.

There was also a file about him, but he only looked at it after he had carefully memorized the file with tips and instructions.

His name was Ran MiQian, birth name Qi. He was the youngest master of the fifth generation of the cultivational sect Ran of the Mifei region, and although his cultivation was high, he was very weak. Most people didn't know how to handle him, and he was scared of basically everything. There wasn't much more to his character.

„If this is a novel, who is the protagonist…?"

„Question registered. Name: …"

MiQian frowned at the name. He was not from China, he wouldn't be able to remember this name! What genre is this anyway, wuxia? Xianxia would also be possible… Ah, it was probably both.

He sighed. And there it was: the name was gone! When he would hear it, he would remember it, but else… Not a chance.

He went through his tasks again. A bundle of red and white clothes lay beside one end of the mattress. Work clothes. MiQian looked at them with contempt but still put them on. He felt like he was in a movie - no, wait, he was in a novel, so it was almost the same.

The door to his room was opened and a round, small lady entered. She had a face full of smiles and silver hair, and she gave him a list with rooms he should clean, then led him to them.

„Birth name?" She asked.

„Qi."

„Mhm. A-Qi, please take good care. It would be sad to lose another newcomer."

„I'll do my best."

„Mhm. Just be as polite as possible."

„Yes, Madame."

The old lady laughed.

MiQian entered the door and silently began to clean, while the old lady waited outside and watched him. The guest in that room completely ignored them, writing a letter.

He found the instructions really helpful, since they told him a bit about this guest. As long as he didn't touch the papers or brushes, everything was alright.

„Hey, I need more ink." The man said.

MiQian looked at the lady, and she nodded, so he put away his things and started grinding ink at the ink stone.

„You."

MiQian looked up. The man stared him down with cold amber eyes, surrounded by wild honey colored hair.

„Yes?"

„Are you good at writing?"

„I… don't know…"

„Hmph."

The man began to write again, and MiQian continued. That man was named Qiao Li and was apparently a bit weird. Most people kept their distance from him, and it was said that he had contacts to demons and ghosts in the underworld, though all rumors were unconfirmed. He was powerful enough to be sect leader - if he ever desired that. But he didn't. He was fine with being just there.

MiQian was also scared of having to write. He didn't grow up with these characters, as if he would be able to write and understand them just because he was in a novel. On the other hand, he could speak it, so maybe he should try writing…?

„That's enough. Continue cleaning."

He bowed and retreated. Qiao Li was really a bit uncomfortable to be around.

He cleaned the other rooms under the careful eyes of the lady and was approved. On the second day, he was shown around by a young girl. There was a big room with boards on which plates with names hung. With that system, the workers were assigned to certain rooms, no matter which guest would occupy it.

After that he was also shown the canteen where everyone ate whenever it fit and the baths which were only open for the workers in the early morning and evening.

The weird system in MiQians head noted everything down and made a rough plan for him, when he would do what and so on.

MiQian also got a magic bell. When his rooms master would need anything, it would ring.

Before the girl left, she said to him „And if they don't tell you to leave, then just retreat into a corner."

He followed her with his eyes, then decided that he was hungry and went to the canteen. Just as he had finished eating, the bell at his hip rung.

He ran up the stairs, knocked at the door after he had confirmed the number and entered as quietly as he could.

Qiao Li looked at him with a weird look in his eyes.

„What can I do for you, master?"

„Hm, yes, it might work… You are a girl, aren't you?"

„I am not, sir…"

„Oh."

„Sir?"

Qiao Li chewed on his nails.

„Sir, if there is anything I can help you with, please do tell me. That is my duty."

„Your duty… Are you sure?"

„W-well…"

„If you had to crossdress for a party where you would encounter violent beings, would you do it?"

„Is there a guarantee to survive it?"

„Me."

„Hm… I should be able to do it…"

„Good. Here, write your full name as pretty as you can."

MiQian raised his eyebrows and stepped to the desk. He took the brush and began to write. The signs were carefully drawn and looked like paintings from someone who should be famous.

„You're good…! Your name?"

„Ran MiQian, birth name Qi."

„Good, good. Well, first of all, practice a bit."

„What exactly?"

„Crossdressing."

A few days went by, and MiQian wore a pretty, light and dark green robe for women. The short hair was braided and seemed to glow because of the white pearls. The two hair strands still covered his temples and cheeks, making his round face look a bit more delicate.

The decent makeup made this impression even stronger, and because of MiQian always being unsure of himself, he looked like a petite mistress. Qiao Li was very happy with himself and MiQian, who was mostly embarrassed.

„I will address you as MiQian, and you will address me as Lord Qiao, understood?"

„Yes, Lord Qiao."

Qiao Lis eyebrow twitched as MiQian hid his mouth behind the wide sleeve when speaking, his head lowered and looking up with big brown eyes. It looked too real!! What the hell had he done, using that servant!

Qiao Li gritted his teeth, calmed down and then gave MiQian a brush and a fan.

„You can use those to defend yourself."

MiQian stared at the fan and the brush, then at Qiao Li. He knew that there was a technique in Chinese martial arts that used fans, and in anime and such they were often used to make magical winds or whatever one would call that, but the brush? What the hell was he supposed to do with that, write incantations on the fan?

He opened the fan. It was made out of very durable wood and the painting on it had delicate features. No, he really shouldn't scribble over this beautiful landscape. But how would he use the damn brush?! And the instructions weren't helping either!

He could only sigh and let both items disappear in his left sleeve. A dagger would have certainly been more useful, but if they went to a place where weapons weren't allowed, it made sense to not carry something like that around.

MiQian glanced at the mirror on the desk. The reflection was of poor quality, but enough to see that he was really skilled at doing makeup. He couldn't help but be proud of himself. He must have been a woman in his past life - but by standards of the novel, that was embarrassing for any man to say, closer to an insult than to a compliment.

He remembered the last few days which he had spent trying to be more feminine. It was a success, but the visits of young master Fei reduced his triumph.

The young master knew Ran MiQian and he had apparently a high position in this small town. Everyone was respectful towards him and he had a calm personality, somehow getting along quite well with Qiao Li. It was really weird to see. Was Qiao Li a tsundere? Well, apparently!

These two almost seemed like a couple… How cute! MiQian felt like he could watch that the whole day! Why wasn't that made into a novel…

Just as his thoughts started drifting away, Qiao Li brought him back to reality. He should come to this room tomorrow at the same time.

MiQian nodded, quickly changed his clothes and went back to his room. After he had hidden the woman's clothes, he turned around and stared at the young master who was leaning on the wall next to the door.

„Young master Fei, is there something you need?"

„Ah, you really don't remember anything… How sad."

MiQian looked at him with a complicated look.

„Well then, let me tell you a bit about your past." The young master said as he sat down beside MiQian.