Lin Yun followed Yu Tao'er into the simple yet comfortable main room of the house. It was sparsely but elegantly furnished with dark wood furniture. The air carried a faint, clean scent of sandalwood and the lingering aroma of the herbs she must use for cleaning.
"Wait here, Young Master! The bath will be ready soon!" Tao'er chirped before disappearing through a side door.
Left alone, Lin Yun took a moment to simply breathe. The walk home and the interaction with Yu Tao'er had grounded him, forcing the analytical part of his brain to the forefront.
The initial shock was receding, replaced by a grim determination. He was here. He had to survive. More than that, he had to thrive.
A few minutes later, Tao'er reappeared. "Your bath is ready, Young Master!"
She led him to a small, steam-filled room adjacent to the bedroom. In the center stood a large, polished wooden tub, filled with hot water that was tinged a pale green and gave off a soothing, herbal scent. A low stool beside it held a clean towel and a set of simple, fresh robes.
"Here you are! I've added some Green Spirit Grass and Soothing Bone leaves to the water. It will help with the aches and help your body recover its energy faster," she said proudly, clearly well-versed in basic medicinal care.
Lin Yun nodded. "Thank you, Tao'er. You can leave now."
Yu Tao'er blinked, her head tilting to the side like a confused little bird. "Leave? But Young Master, I haven't helped you undress yet. And who will scrub your back?"
Lin Yun felt his ears grow warm. Right. The whole personal maidservant thing.
"Uh. That won't be necessary today," he said, his voice a little strained. "I can manage on my own."
Yu Tao'er's expression shifted from confusion to genuine concern. She took a step closer, peering up at his face. "Young Master, are you sure you're feeling alright? Did the explosion affect your head? You always say my back scrubs are the best and that you're too tired to bathe yourself after cultivating..."
She looked so genuinely worried that Lin Yun almost laughed. The original Lin Yun was clearly a lazy brat who enjoyed being pampered. No wonder his cultivation progress was so slow, he thought wryly.
"I'm fine, Tao'er, really," he insisted, mustering a reassuring smile. "I just... feel like being alone with my thoughts for a bit. The accident has given me a lot to reflect on. Please."
He used a tone that was firm but kind, one that brooked no argument. It was a tone he'd sometimes used with junior programmers who needed gentle but clear direction.
Yu Tao'er studied his face for another long moment, her big eyes searching for any sign of illness or distress. Finally, she relented, though she still looked a little hurt and confused.
"Alright, Young Master... if you say so," she said, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I will be outside preparing your spirit tea. Call me if you need anything! Anything at all!"
With one last worried glance, she slipped out of the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her.
Lin Yun let out a long, relieved breath. That was awkward. He quickly slid the simple wooden bolt across the door, ensuring his privacy. The last thing he needed was the enthusiastic little maid bursting back in.
He stripped off the torn, bloodstained robes, letting them fall to the floor in a heap. His body was a canvas of faint bruises and shallow cuts.
He stepped into the wooden tub, the hot water a blissful embrace on his aching muscles. The herbal scent intensified, and he felt a faint, tingling energy begin to seep into his skin, easing the deep-seated soreness.
He sank down until the water lapped at his chin, closed his eyes, and allowed himself a moment of pure, unadulterated relaxation.
The tension of the day—the death, the rebirth, the conspiracy, the social minefield—began to melt away. For a few precious minutes, there was only the warmth and the silence.
But his mind, that of a programmer and a top-tier gamer, could not stay idle for long. This was a respawn. This was the beginning of a new playthrough. And he had a UI to navigate.
With a thought, the familiar golden screen of the Alchemy God System materialized in his mind's eye. It hovered there, transparent and ethereal, overlaying his view of the steamy bathroom.
His first stop was the Inventory. It displayed a mostly empty grid, except for one icon pulsing with a soft light: [New Player Starter Pack].
A thrill of anticipation, familiar from countless game launches, ran through him. He focused on it.
[Open Starter Pack?]
[Yes / No]
He mentally selected 'Yes'. The pack icon shimmered and vanished, replaced by several new items that popped into the inventory slots.
[Obtained: Low-grade Spirit Stones x100]
[Obtained: Qi Gathering Herb Bundle x1]
[Obtained: Body Tempering Herb Bundle x1]
[Obtained: Recipe: Basic Qi Gathering Pill]
[Obtained: Recipe: Basic Body Tempering Pill]
Lin Yun's eyebrows rose slightly. "100 spirit stones? Not bad for a starter fund."
In the game, this was the standard welcome package, enough to buy a few basic recipes and get started on the first few crafting missions.
He focused on the two recipes. Information flooded his mind, not as text to read, but as direct understanding—ingredient ratios, heating temperatures, fusion sequences, spiritual energy control points. It was all there, perfectly memorized.
Then, he frowned. These recipes were... different. Simpler in some aspects, more complex in others. The ingredient list was slightly altered, and the spiritual energy control required was more precise than the standard recipe the original Lin Yun had learned at the academy.
A slow smile spread across his face. "Of course. This is the system's optimized formula. The 'meta' build."
In any game, the developers often tweaked recipes and skills. The system version was undoubtedly the superior, most efficient one. He trusted the game mechanics implicitly. This was his cheat code.
Eagerly, he navigated to the [Missions] tab. Two new quests were listed, both glowing with a soft, inviting light.
[Mission: First Concoction - Body Tempering Pill]
[Objective: Successfully refine one (1) Basic Body Tempering Pill.]
[Reward: 50 EXP, 10 Spirit Stones.]
[Mission: First Concoction - Qi Gathering Pill]
[Objective: Successfully refine one (1) Basic Qi Gathering Pill.]
[Reward: 50 EXP, 10 Spirit Stones.]
Simple. straightforward. Classic beginner quests. The experience would hopefully push him toward Level 2, and the spirit stones would add to his meager capital.
"Not bad. Just like the game back then." Lin Yun nodded slowly and closed the system.
The warm water continued to soothe his body, but his mind was already racing, plotting his next moves. He needed to get a new cauldron. He needed to practice. He needed to get stronger.
The peace of the bath was over. The grind was about to begin…