Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes. The soft scent of medicinal herbs filled the air as sunlight trickled in through the wooden window of his room. His body ached with pain, the aftereffects of fighting a Qi Refining stage 6 beast in the forest. He had barely managed to escape death and was rescued at the last moment by his master.
He struggled to sit up, wincing as pain shot through his ribs. Gritting his teeth, he looked down at his bandaged torso.
"So this is the pain of the real world of cultivation," he muttered, forcing a weak smile. "No rest, no mercy."
He looked around and found a familiar storage ring on his finger. Curious, he channeled his Qi slightly and peeked inside. Only ten low-grade spiritual stones and one healing pill were stored inside.
"That's it? Just this?" Lin Xuan frowned. "This body's original owner was really… too naïve. He gave away all his resources… for them."
His eyes darkened as the memories returned—the seven sisters he had raised with love and devotion, the ones he had protected for ten years within this sect. The ones who would eventually betray him without hesitation.
He clenched his fist. "Even if they're your sisters… if you give away everything and don't grow strong yourself… how will you protect them? You're just giving them tools to abandon you."
Shaking his head, Lin Xuan sighed. "But fine. I'll make do with what I have."
Just then, the door creaked open.
A young girl rushed in, dressed in plain clothes, worry evident on her face. She had gentle features, her hair tied simply behind her back, and her hands carried a bowl of steaming soup.
"Young Master, are you alright?" she cried as she rushed to his bedside.
Lin Xuan blinked. "Ah… I remember now. Lan'er. A servant. Always silently taking care of this body's daily needs. Never cultivated, yet never complained. She's been here since childhood. And yet… the original Lin Xuan barely treated her properly out of fear that the sisters would misunderstand."
He chuckled bitterly. "What a fool. He kept everyone else happy and ignored the only one who was truly loyal."
Lin Xuan sat up straighter. "Lan'er."
"Yes, Young Master!" she stood straight, eyes full of concern.
He reached into his ring and took out all 10 low-grade spiritual stones and the healing pill.
"These are for you."
Lan'er's eyes widened in shock. "Young Master? I-I cannot… These are too valuable! I'm just a servant. I…"
Lin Xuan's gaze turned sharp. "That's an order."
Lan'er hesitated, then slowly took the items with trembling hands. Tears welled up in her eyes as she bowed deeply. "T-Thank you, Young Master… I will treasure them."
"Go now. Rest well," he said gently, waving her off.
As soon as she left the room and closed the door behind her, a crisp sound echoed in his mind.
Ding! Gift successfully given.
+100 low-grade spiritual stones
+10 healing pills
Lin Xuan grinned, leaning back on his bed.
"As expected… tenfold return."
He immediately consumed the new healing pills and meditated. After an entire day of focused healing, his injuries were fully recovered, and he felt stronger than ever.
Looking at the pile of spiritual stones, he murmured, "What if I give these away again…?"
Ding! Duplicate items cannot be used for repeat returns.
"Tsk." He clicked his tongue. "Of course. If I could duplicate forever, I'd be the richest man in the world in one day."
He stood up and stepped outside for the first time since his injury, walking toward his master's residence. As he passed through the sect's training grounds, whispers followed him.
"Hmph, there goes the sect's greatest disappointment."
"He has the best master, the best resources, the Lin family's backing… and yet he's still stuck at Qi Refining level 5."
"Isn't he just clinging to his seven junior sisters? Following them like a dog hoping to win favor."
"What a waste of a surname. Lin Xuan? More like Lin Trash."
He heard every word. And for the first time… he smiled.
"That's what happens when you're too kind. Too soft. People think you're weak. They mistake humility for cowardice."
He clenched his fists as his eyes turned cold.
"But from today on… I'll show them. In this world of cultivation, strength speaks. If kindness is treated as weakness… then I'll use cruelty to rise."