[Option 1: Step forward to help the tofu pudding stall owner. Reward: Five Circulations Breathing Technique (Mysterious Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 2: Inquire with nearby stall owners about the situation. Reward: Soul-Seizing Finger (Yellow Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 3: Stay away from the area. Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1] After so many years of "martial world experience," Jiang Beiran had learned one truth well—never underestimate anyone.
Even if someone’s cultivation was far beneath yours, once they truly held a grudge against you, they were capable of anything—poisoning, hiring assassins, setting traps. In short, it was impossible to guard against everything. If a single person could pose such a threat, then an entire faction was even more dangerous.
Every gang that managed to survive long-term in a region had some sort of backing or means. Otherwise, they would have been wiped out long ago. And given that Jiang Beiran was certain this world was targeting him, the odds of unlikely events happening skyrocketed.
For instance, some people might seem utterly unremarkable on the surface but secretly had an elder brother at the Mysterious King level—completely unreasonable. So for Jiang Beiran, encountering this kind of choice was nothing new. Almost every town had its share of tyrannical landlords or reckless wandering warriors.
Though these wandering warriors bore the word "warrior" in their title, they were little more than ruffians. Most of the time, they bullied the weak and oppressed the common folk. Occasionally, however, they might display loyalty and even perform acts of chivalry.
When Jiang Beiran first encountered these wandering warriors, they reminded him of the "heroes of Mount Liang"—sometimes they helped commoners fight corrupt officials, and other times they drank without paying. Some of the worse ones even ran shops selling human flesh buns or engaged in petty theft. But none of this stopped them from calling themselves warriors.
As usual, Jiang Beiran immediately chose Option 3. He grabbed Fang Qiuyao, who was about to rush forward, and said, "I’ve told you many times—without my orders, no reckless actions." Fang Qiuyao, still held back, wore an indignant expression. She turned and glared at Jiang Beiran.
"And you call yourself a disciple of the Heart Returning Sect? Isn’t upholding justice our duty!?"
Expecting this reaction, Jiang Beiran replied, "The reason Guardian Yu entrusted you to me was so I could teach you how to truly uphold justice in the Mysterious Dragon Continent."
"Hmph! You’re just a coward!"
At this point, Liu Ziqin stepped forward and tugged at Fang Qiuyao’s sleeve.
"Qiuyao, we’re new here and unfamiliar with the area. We don’t have much experience in the martial world yet. Let’s listen to Senior Brother Jiang for now."
"I—" Fang Qiuyao took a deep breath, then finally let out a cold snort and reluctantly stepped back behind Jiang Beiran, her face still dark.
Sigh, still so young... Jiang Beiran didn’t particularly dislike Fang Qiuyao’s righteous temperament. After all, it showed she had a kind heart.
Unfortunately, kindness alone was rarely enough to survive in these chaotic times.
"Let’s go. This is no place to linger."
Based on his understanding of the System, since Option 3 explicitly stated to stay away, it meant something even more troublesome was bound to happen if they stayed. Fang Qiuyao snorted again but was dragged along by Liu Ziqin as they followed Jiang Beiran.
Unlike Fang Qiuyao and Liu Ziqin, the Yu sisters’ curiosity about Jiang Beiran had deepened yet again. In the past, the so-called "young talents" who followed them around would jump at any chance to show off their skills in "heroic" situations like this.
Some even staged fake acts of chivalry just to impress them, making them laugh like they were watching a monkey show. But this Senior Brother Jiang showed absolutely no desire to perform in front of them. Was he truly cowardly... or just hiding his depths well?
So intriguing!
The gazes of the Yu sisters locked onto Jiang Beiran’s retreating figure. After turning several corners, Jiang Beiran and the group finally found a relatively clean inn. At the same time, the System’s notification sounded.
[Option mission completed. Reward: Forging +1] "Waiter, do you have any rooms available?"
Stepping into the main hall, Jiang Beiran stopped a waiter to ask. The waiter, who had been busy delivering wine, froze. He had been keeping an eye on the entrance, yet he hadn’t noticed guests entering at all.
If the manager finds out, I’ll get scolded again. Sneaking a glance at the counter and seeing the manager wasn’t looking his way, the waiter sighed in relief and quickly replied to Jiang Beiran, "My apologies for the oversight, esteemed guests. We have plenty of rooms available.
May I ask which type you’d prefer? Our inn offers Heaven-class, Earth-class, Human-class, Simple, Humble, and Dormitory rooms. If you’d like, I can show you each."
Just as Jiang Beiran was about to respond, three new options appeared before him.
[Option 1: Stay in a Heaven-class room. Reward: City-Shattering Eighteen Strikes (Mysterious Grade, High Tier)] [Option 2: Stay in an Earth-class room. Reward: Azure Clarity Sword (Yellow Grade, High Tier)] [Option 3: Stay in a Human-class room. Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1] As expected, the mountains below still have plenty of fleece to shear.
We’ve barely entered the town, and already two options have appeared. Jiang Beiran had encountered this kind of choice many times before. The reason a simple room selection could trigger a Mysterious Grade, High Tier reward was usually because some young noble out for fun would demand you give up your room.
He had seen this scenario play out in inns too many times. And these spoiled brats were particularly vile—even if you willingly gave up the room, they’d still stop you to sneer, "A lowly dog like you dares to stay in a Heaven-class room? You’ve ruined this young master’s outing.
Fine, bark three times like a dog, and I’ll mercifully let you go." And that wasn’t the end of it. Even if you swallowed the humiliation, they’d still find ways to torment you further.
They simply had to make you miserable so they could laugh at your suffering and feed their twisted sense of superiority. This was precisely why Jiang Beiran didn’t camp outside away from crowds but chose to stay in these chaotic places—the attribute points were too tempting to pass up.
After all these years, he had yet to encounter a situation where the System gave only high-difficulty options for mundane daily choices. After selecting Option 3, Jiang Beiran asked the junior sisters how they wanted to arrange their rooms.
In the end, they settled on three rooms: one for Jiang Beiran, one for Liu Ziqin and Fang Qiuyao, and one for the Yu sisters. Though Jiang Beiran warned the Yu sisters that a Human-class room’s bed likely wouldn’t fit three, they assured him they had their own solution.
He could only agree for now—if it turned out to be insufficient, they could always book another room later. Led by the waiter, the six arrived at Jiang Beiran’s Human-class room first. With a creak, the waiter pushed open the door.
The sight of the simple bed and chipped square table inside made all five girls frown simultaneously. Before any of them could complain, Jiang Beiran turned to the waiter. Just as he was about to dismiss him, another option popped up.
[Option 1: Dismiss the waiter directly. Reward: Sweeping Away a Thousand Armies (Yellow Grade, High Tier)] [Option 2: Tip the waiter five copper coins. Reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1] Perfect.
Jiang Beiran was pleased at triggering another option but also sighed at how many pitfalls lay beyond the mountains. Options involving tipping waiters were rare for Jiang Beiran, but based on his experience, the waiter himself wasn’t the reason for the Yellow Grade, High Tier reward. Rather, not tipping might set off a chain reaction leading to trouble later.
Of course, this was all speculation—Jiang Beiran had no intention of testing his curiosity to the point of inviting disaster. Choosing Option 2, Jiang Beiran took out five copper coins from his pouch and handed them to the waiter.
"You may go for now. I’ll call if I need anything."
Delighted, the waiter accepted the coins and nodded repeatedly.
"Of course, thank you, sir! Just ring the bell if you need anything—I’ll come right away."
"Good."
Jiang Beiran nodded.
"Then I’ll take my leave, sir. Rest well."
(End of Chapter)