Name?

Lin Xiao waited, his mind racing. He wondered what rewards the system would give him. The system notification appeared:

[Rewards Calculated]

[+2 All stats]

[+250 Exp]

[New Skill: Vitality Absorption]

[Skill Upgrade: Memory Manipulation Lvl 3 (Domain unlocked)]

[+2 Skill points]

Lin Xiao was shocked at these rewards.

He felt a surge of power as his stats increased, making him stronger and sharper.

The experience points brought him a little closer to his next level up, and the new skill and upgrade can be game-changers.

He quickly focused on the upgrade to Memory Manipulation. With the new domain ability, he now had a 100-meter range in which he could alter anyone's memories as he wished.

A circular, almost transparent field manifested around him, indicating the domain's reach. As he experimented, he could see the memories of his cats, watching snippets of their past from their perspective.

This new ability would be invaluable for both offense and defense, allowing him to control and manipulate situations on a whole new level.

Next, he turned to the new skill: Vitality Absorption.

[Vitality Absorption: A skill that allows the user to absorb the vitality and life force of others to heal and strengthen themselves. Can be used to drain energy from enemies, weakening them while simultaneously restoring the user's health and stamina. This skill can also temporarily boost the user's physical abilities.]

Lin Xiao was taken aback. This was the same skill the raider leader had used, and now it was his.

The potential of this skill was immense, but it also carried a certain moral weight. He would need to use it wisely.

After absorbing all this new information, Lin Xiao decided to head down the mountain.

As he made his way, he suddenly saw a strange wooden house near the mountain's entrance. He hadn't noticed it before for some reason.

The sign above it read, "Li Ancestral Palace."

He realized this must be the place Li Jing had mentioned. His curiosity was piqued, and he approached the building cautiously.

The structure was rustic yet sturdy, with intricately carved wooden beams and an aura of ancient history. Lin Xiao stood before the entrance.

Just as Lin Xiao was about to enter the Li Ancestral Palace, his phone suddenly started ringing.

He quickly took it out and saw that it was his mom. He picked up the call.

"Hey, Mom. What's up?" he answered, trying to sound casual.

"Where are you, Lin Xiao?" his mother's voice came through, slightly worried. "I've been calling for a while."

"I'm just out with some friends," he lied smoothly, not wanting to explain the whole dungeon ordeal. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, just wanted to make sure you're coming home for dinner. Be back before 10 PM, alright?"

Lin Xiao glanced at his watch. It was already 8:30 PM. If he wanted to get home by 10, he needed to leave immediately.

"Alright, Mom. I'll be home soon," he assured her.

"Good. Be safe, okay? See you soon."

"Will do. Bye, Mom," he said, hanging up the phone.

He looked back at the entrance of the Li Ancestral Palace, feeling a pang of disappointment.

He knew he couldn't afford to be late and worry about his mother. He made a mental note to come back another day when he had more time.

"I'll come back another time," he told himself, turning away from the ancient structure.

Unbeknownst to Lin Xiao, deep within the Li Ancestral Palace, in a chamber where the names of the oldest ancestors were inscribed, there was a name that would have caught his attention had he entered.

The name was Li Mei.

The palace stood silent, holding secrets that could change everything Lin Xiao knew about the system dungeon.

...

...

By the time he reached his home, the sun had already set. He pushed open the door, greeted by the familiar warmth and the aroma of dinner.

His mother was in the kitchen, humming a tune, and his younger sister was setting the table.

"There you are," his mom said, glancing up. "Wash up, dinner's almost ready."

Lin Xiao nodded, heading to his room to drop off his stuff and cats. As he washed his hands, he looked at his reflection in the mirror, thinking about the day's events.

Despite his powers and the adventure in the dungeon, he felt an odd sense of normalcy returning home.

After a while, his mother called him down for dinner.

Lin Xiao sat down at the dining table, a mix of emotions swirling within him.

As he looked at his mother and sister, little tears welled up in his eyes, but he quickly rubbed them away, not wanting anyone to see.

He has always believed that appearing emotionless made him strong, a shield he had put up ever since his father died.

His mother brought dinner to the table, a warm smile on her face. "I made your favorite, Xiao," she said, placing a steaming dish of dumplings in front of him.

His sister chatted excitedly about her day at school, her voice a comforting background noise.

Lin Xiao forced a smile, grateful for the normalcy of this moment but also deeply sad. He had spent what felt like weeks in the dungeon, battling cold and danger, and nobody here knew.

After dinner, he helped clear the table, the routine grounding him.

Finally, he went to his room, closing the door behind him. He sat on his bed, his cats curling up beside him. 

Lying down, he stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a tangle of emotions and plans.

Lin Xiao sighed deeply, feeling the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him.

"It's better to just sleep," he muttered to himself.

He turned off the light, the room dimming to a comforting darkness.

His cats, sensing his need for comfort, curled up beside him, their purring a soothing background noise.

Lin Xiao closed his eyes, willing himself to relax.

The bed felt unusually comfortable after the rough conditions of the dungeon.

He tried to focus on the simple pleasures: the softness of the mattress, the warmth of his blanket, and the familiar sounds of his home.

As he drifted off, he thought of his mother and sister, their voices still echoing in his mind. He reminded himself that, he was back.