"Huh? Where am I?"
"What is this place? Wasn't I just at home playing games? How did I end up here? Don't tell me I died from gaming too much?!"
"Why are people fighting here?! Shit— I need to run! Run! Damn it, what kind of unlucky place did I drop into? Couldn't they at least give me a tutorial first?!"
My name is Xuan. I'm a student. I used to live on Earth. But I was a hardcore game lover. I played so much that I didn't even study anymore. I even got expelled from school. Did I care? Not at all. I thought of myself as a pro gamer.
Then one day, while gaming, I fell asleep.
When I opened my eyes—
I was here.
It felt like I had respawned.
"Damn it… now I'm running for my life. Did someone set my life to hardcore mode?!"
Two hours later…
"Haah… finally, a city. I almost died back there. My life bar was probably one pixel away from zero."
Ting.
System activated.
"Host is currently in danger. We will assist the Host."
"The hell?! System, get lost! My life is already miserable enough. What, are you some premium package trying to sell me something?!"
"Negative, Host."
"Get lost."
"We can provide the Host with everything."
"You think I'm stupid? You'll make me run missions, do this, do that, and turn me into a lifelong slave. No thanks. I don't need a System."
Boom.
I punched it.
The System disappeared.
"Good. No System. Peace at last."
"…Wait. I don't even have money. I have absolutely nothing. Damn it, I'm starving. What kind of protagonist doesn't even get pocket money?!"
"Hey, brat! Move! Don't you see our Young Miss approaching?!"
"Huh?"
I turned around.
Oh. My. God.
"She's so beautiful… Miss, would you be my girlfriend? Instant proposal!"
"Brat, what nonsense are you saying? Look at yourself first. Someone at your level isn't worthy of our Young Miss."
"Suu… little brother."
"What did you just say?"
"Shut up first. Why should I be your girlfriend? What do you even have?"
"Huh? Because I'm handsome, obviously. There's no one in this world more handsome than me."
(Young Miss looked at him with a strange expression.)
Inside her mind—
Father keeps forcing me to marry someone I don't even like… If I make this man my husband… Father's face might turn ugly.
She smiled. A beautiful smile.
With a hint of danger.
"Fine. I'll marry you."
"Really?! Is this a speedrun success?!"
Inside his mind—
Hahaha! My luck isn't that bad after all. I just arrived in this world and already secured such a beautiful wife. Is this the protagonist buff?!
"Young Miss, please reconsider! He has nothing!" the guard said.
"Who I marry is none of your business. Are you overstepping?"
"S-Sorry, Young Miss…"
"Let's go. By the way, what's your name?"
"Beauty, when asking someone's name, you should introduce yours first. Confidence works both ways."
"My name is Ling Yan. Young Miss of the Ling Family. And yours?"
"Xuan. Future Ling Family son-in-law."
Guard.....
Ling Yan:"Your name is strange. No family name? You don't seem like someone from here."
"I'm not. I came from far away."
She looked at him carefully.
"Follow me."
"Yes, my wife—"
"We're not married yet. Call me Young Miss."
"Yes, Young Miss who will become my wife."
Guard's thoughts: This guy's confidence is at Soul Awakening Peak.
"How should I address you then?"
"Call me father. Hehehe—"
"You want to die?!"
Inside his mind—
I can't sense any cultivation from him. Nothing at all.
Cultivation Levels:
Body Tempering
Qi Gathering
Core Formation
Soul Awakening
Domain Step
"I can't feel his cultivation either… Don't tell me he surpassed Domain Step? Impossible. Hahaha… impossible, right?"
"When we meet my father, drop that attitude."
"Attitude? I don't have attitude. I just have natural charisma."
"You don't have attitude?"
"By the way, as Young Miss of the Ling Family, you must have many suitors, right?"
"Of course. Who wouldn't like someone as beautiful as me?"
"Then why are you still single? I bet you were waiting for someone as handsome as me. Destiny works like that."
Guard's thoughts: This bastard's flirting is outrageous.
Ling Yan's thoughts: Why did I agree to marry this idiot? Father might exile me.
"Are you shy talking to me? I think you're blushing."
"Shut up, dog!"
He grinned victoriously.
"Are you not afraid of the Family Head? You just declared marriage so casually."
"Family Head? Why would I be afraid? Even if he's the final boss, I'll try."
"You don't even respect him?"
"Why are you so worried? Concerned about your future father?"
"Y-You—!"
The guard released his aura.
Ling Yan held her forehead. "My head…"
Suddenly, a child bumped into her.
"I'm sorry, big sister…"
"It's fine."
"Brat! How dare you bump into our Young Miss—"
The guard raised his leg to kick.
"Stop."
Silence fell.
"Lower your leg. Or you'll embarrass yourself."
An invisible pressure descended.
The guard trembled.
"S-Sorry…"
Ling Yan's thoughts: Even my Qi Gathering Level 7 guard stopped instantly. Who exactly is this man?
"Kid, are you okay? Watch where you're going next time."
"Yes, big brother."
The child ran away.
"Let's go, Yan."
"…Mm."
Ling Yan's thoughts: Who is this Xuan? He seems to have no cultivation… yet his presence feels strange. But his mouth is definitely annoying.
One hour later.
Inside the Ling Family estate.
Ling Family Patriarch, Ling Tianhao, sat in the main hall.
"You've returned."
"Greeting, Father."
His gaze shifted to Xuan.
"And who is this beside you?"
Ling Yan hesitated.
"…My boyfriend."
Silence filled the hall.
Xuan stepped forward.
"Greeting, father-in-law. My name is Xuan. Yan's boyfriend."
Ling Tianhao's eyebrow twitched.
"What did you say?"
"Ah… was father-in-law too fast? Should I call you uncle instead?"
"Shut up!"
"Which family do you belong to?"
"I don't have one. Single package."
"Cultivation level?"
Xuan paused.
"…My Heart Level is high."
Ling Tianhao: .....
Ling Yan's thoughts:
…I want to die..