I woke up with the first ray of dawn slipping through the small window.
My body ached—every muscle protesting last night's work. But there was something else. Something new.
A sense of purpose.
I sat up slowly, rubbed my eyes, and looked around. The small room in the corner of the shop was simple—a narrow wooden bed, a small table, and a chest for clothes.
The original Liu Chen's memories were vivid here. This room had been his only refuge. The place where he hid from his parents' disappointment, from the neighbors' pitying looks, from the harsh truth that he was... ordinary.
But now...
[Ding! Good morning, Host!]
[Mission Time Remaining: 6 days, 14 hours]
[Reminder: Complete the back room preparation to receive the Starter Package!]
"I know, I know," I muttered, standing and stretching. Every joint popped in protest.
I left my room quietly, trying not to wake my parents. But when I reached the small kitchen behind the shop, I found Mother—Liu Mei—already there, preparing breakfast.
"Chen!" She turned, surprised. "Why are you up so early? You should rest, you're still recovering—"
"I'm fine, Mother. Really." I approached, smelling rice porridge and pickles. "In fact, I feel... much better."
She looked at me, her eyes studying my face with a mother's care. Then she smiled—a small, cautious, but genuine smile.
"You look different," she said quietly. "In your eyes. More... present."
Because I'm a different person, I thought, but only said: "Maybe death changes perspective."
She laughed—a short, nervous laugh. "Don't joke about that."
"Sorry."
We sat together, eating the hot porridge. It was simple—rice, a bit of salted meat, pickled vegetables—but it was the most delicious meal I'd had since... well, since the transmigration.
"Chen," Mother said after a moment of silence, "about your idea. This... Gaming Hall."
"Yes?"
"Your father didn't sleep well last night. He was worried." She looked at her bowl. "We... we want to believe in you. But you must understand. We don't have much reserve money. If this fails—"
"It won't fail." I said it with more confidence than I felt.
She looked at me, her eyes searching for something—any sign of the old reckless son who wasted everything.
But all she saw was... me. Someone new. Someone different.
"Alright," she said finally. "Seven days. But Chen... this time, if you need help, ask for it. Don't try to do everything alone."
"I won't. Promise."
After breakfast, I went straight to the back room.
In daylight, it looked better than it had last night. The cleaning I'd done was obvious—the floor now exposed, the walls visible, the window letting in sunlight.
But it was still... empty. Just a room.
[Ding! Mission Progress: 30%]
[To reach 100%: Complete the following]
Thorough cleaning ✓
Remove all unnecessary items (70% complete)
Prepare space for computer and chair
Secure basic power source
"Power source?" I raised an eyebrow. "System, this is a cultivation world. They don't have electricity."
[Ding! That's why the Host must be creative in finding a solution!]
[Tip: Many cultivators use energy crystals or activation formations to power magical tools. Find a suitable alternative!]
"Energy crystals." I sighed. "Which probably cost a fortune."
[Ding! Challenge builds character!]
"System, you're really annoying."
[Ding! The System only provides motivation!]
I spent the next few hours finishing the room cleanup. I moved the last old boxes to another storage area, wiped down the walls, and even tried to fix the cracked window with a piece of cloth and wood.
It wasn't perfect. But it was... usable.
By noon, the room was completely empty except for an old wooden table I'd placed in the corner—a temporary "desk"—and a simple chair.
[Ding! Mission Progress: 75%]
[Remaining: Secure power source!]
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked around.
Power source. In a world without electricity.
How in the—
A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts.
"Chen?" Mother's voice. "There's someone here to see you
I stepped out of the back room and found a young man standing in the silk shop, looking around curiously.
He was in his early twenties, wearing simple but clean clothes—a blue cotton shirt and brown pants. But the thing that caught my attention was... the aura.
Faint. Barely noticeable. But it was there—a slight vibration in the air around him, a sign that he was a cultivator.
Qi Condensation stage, the memories whispered. First stage. Barely above ordinary humans, but still a cultivator.
"Chen!" The young man smiled when he saw me. "I heard you woke up! We thought you were dead!"
I looked at him, and memories flooded in.
Zhao Yun. Childhood friend. One of the few who hadn't abandoned the original Liu Chen even after it was discovered he had no spiritual roots.
"Yun," I said, and the name came naturally. "I'm... yes. I'm fine."
"Fine? They found you dead in an alley!" He entered, looking me up and down. "What happened?"
"Stupid," I said simply. "I was stupid, got drunk, and almost died. Now I'm... trying to be less stupid."
He laughed—a loud, genuine laugh. "Well, that's an improvement!" Then he became serious. "But seriously, Chen. I was worried."
"I appreciate that."
"So," he looked around, "what's this I heard about a new business idea? My father said your father mentioned something in the market this morning."
News travels fast in a small town.
"It's... complicated. Want to see?
I took Zhao Yun to the back room.
He stood there, looking around at the empty space, confusion clear on his face.
"It's... an empty room."
"For now, yes. But imagine," I began, trying to translate my vision into words he could understand. "Imagine a magical machine where you can enter... another world. A world of stories and adventures. Where you can become a hero, fight monsters, explore strange lands."
He stared at me. "Like... an opium dream?"
"No! No drugs." I sighed. "Look, you know how some sects use 'illusion arrays' for training? Where they create a phantom world and disciples fight phantom enemies?"
"Yes, but those are very rare and expensive. Only major sects—" He stopped, his eyes widening. "Wait. Are you saying you have something similar?"
"Something like that. But completely different." I turned. "And it won't be just for combat training. It'll be for entertainment. For stories. For experiences."
"And why would people pay for this?"
"Why do people pay for singers? For storytellers? For plays?" I looked at him. "Because people want to escape. They want to feel something different."
Yun was silent for a long moment.
Then he smiled. "Chen, you're either a genius or crazy."
"Probably both."
"Well," he laughed, "at least you're not boring anymore. When will it be ready?"
"Six days. If everything goes according to plan."
"Six days." He whistled. "Ambitious." Then, as if remembering something, he searched his pocket. "Ah, almost forgot. This is the main reason I came."
He pulled out something—a small crystal, the size of his finger, glowing with a faint blue light.
Low-grade energy crystal, the memories whispered.
"Take this," he said, extending it toward me.
"Yun, I can't—this must cost—"
"Ten copper coins in the market. Not much." He smiled. "And consider it... an investment. If this Gaming Hall succeeds, I want to be the first customer."
I took the crystal, feeling the faint warmth, the pulsing energy within it.
[Ding! Suitable power source detected!]
[Low-grade energy crystal: Sufficient for basic use]
[Mission Progress: 100%]
I looked at Yun—at the genuine smile, the hand extended in friendship—and felt something warm in my chest.
"Thanks, Yun. Really."
"Don't mention it." He waved his hand. "Just remember, when you become successful, remember who gave you your first energy crystal!"
We laughed together, the sound filling the empty room.
After Yun left, I closed the back room door and placed the energy crystal on the table.
[Ding! Congratulations! Beginner Mission 100% Complete!]
[Distributing Starter Package...]
Suddenly, light appeared—a soft golden light filling the room.
From nothing, something formed.
A computer with VR headset.
The tower was simple black, the screen flat, keyboard and mouse. But the thing that caught my attention was... the headset.
A sleek black helmet with glowing blue lenses. It looked advanced, futuristic, something that didn't belong in this world.
And it didn't.
[Received: Gaming Computer + VR Headset - Basic Model]
[Specifications: Sufficient to run one game smoothly]
[Power Source: Connected to energy crystal (low consumption)]
[Received: Game - "Resident Evil: The Beginning"]
[Genre: Survival Horror / Action]
[Description: Escape from a haunted mansion filled with monsters. Gather resources. Survive. Every death teaches you something new.]
[SPECIAL WARNING: This game is NOT just for entertainment!]
[UNIQUE FEATURES:]
Physical Learning: Movements and techniques learned in-game can be applied in the real world (with difficulty)
Simulated Cultivation System: Kill monsters to earn "Experience Points" that translate to slight muscle strength in reality
Real-World Rewards: Certain achievements in-game grant tangible rewards
[Received: Skill - "Languages of the World"]
[Effect: Host can understand and speak all languages in this world]
[Note: System has automatically translated all game text to the local language!]
I stood there, staring at the screen displaying the final warning.
"Wait... movements from the game work in reality?"
[Ding! Correct! But remember: In-game, you control a virtual body with enhanced capabilities. In reality, your ordinary human body will struggle to replicate the same movements. Training required!]
"And killing monsters... makes me stronger?"
[Ding! Very slightly! Don't expect to become a cultivator. But with time, you may notice improvement in strength, speed, reflexes. Think of it as... intensive physical training, but more efficient!]
I understood now.
This wasn't just an ordinary gaming hall.
This was a real shop. A place where people—even those without spiritual roots—could gain power.
Not on the level of cultivators. But something.
Something better than nothing.
I walked toward the computer, picked up the VR headset, and turned it in my hands. It was light, cold to the touch.
"Alright," I whispered. "Let's see what you can do."
I put on the headset.
At first, complete darkness.
Then—
[Welcome to Resident Evil: The Beginning]
[Calibrating...]
[Calibration Complete]
[Prepare Yourself]
Suddenly, I was... somewhere else.
I was no longer in the back room. No longer in the silk shop.
I was standing in... a lobby.
A luxurious, large lobby with a high ceiling and a massive chandelier hanging overhead. Marble stairs ascending to the second floor. Oil paintings hung on the walls—pale faces staring with empty eyes.
Everything was... real.
I raised my hand—and saw my hand. Not my real hand, but the character's hand in the game. But it moved when I moved. It felt... real.
I looked around. The mansion was silent. Too silent. Only the sound of my breathing—heavy, tense—filled the air.
[Tutorial: Use your head to look around. Move your body forward.]
I tried a step.
My real body—standing in the back room—moved forward, and in-game, my character moved.
"Oh... my god."
This wasn't like VR games from my old world. This was... full immersion.
I walked through the lobby, my footsteps echoing on the marble floor. Everything was detailed—the dust in the air, cracks in the walls, even the smell—a damp, musty smell, something... rotten.
Wait. Smell?
How could a VR headset create smells?
[Ding! System technology exceeds your current understanding. Just enjoy the experience!]
I reached a large wooden door. I extended my hand—felt the cold wood under my fingers—and pushed.
Creak.
The door opened, revealing... a long, dark corridor.
And from somewhere in the darkness, I heard a sound.
A groan.
Low, rattling, inhuman.
My body—my real body, in the real world—froze.
My heart was pounding. My palms were sweating inside the invisible gloves.
This... this was real terror.
I entered the corridor slowly, each step cautious.
The darkness was suffocating. The walls narrow. My footsteps muffled on the old, rotting carpet.
Then I saw it.
At the end of the corridor, illuminated by pale moonlight streaming through a broken window—
Something.
A human figure. Or... it had been human once.
Now, it was... something else.
The skin was gray, rotting, hanging from bones. The eyes were white, empty. The mouth open in a silent wail, teeth yellow and broken.
A zombie.
And it turned... toward me.
"No, no, no—"
It ran.
Ran toward me, hands outstretched, making a sound—a hungry, desperate groan.
Instinctively, I stepped back. My real body stepped back two paces, and in-game, my character moved backward.
But I wasn't fast enough.
It reached me. Grabbed my arm. Pulled me toward its open mouth—
[Damage Received! Health: -20]
Pain—sharp, burning pain—exploded in my arm.
Not real pain. My real body wasn't injured. But the headset made me feel it.
"Let go!" I swung my fist—an awkward, desperate punch.
[Attack! Damage: -5]
The zombie stumbled backward, but didn't fall.
And lunged again.
This time, I was ready. I dodged to the side—my real body rolled right, and the virtual world spun—and the zombie crashed into the wall.
I saw a small table nearby. And on it—
A knife.
I grabbed it. Felt its weight, the cold metal.
The zombie turned toward me again.
This time, I didn't hesitate.
I ran forward, knife raised, and stabbed—
[Critical Hit! Damage: -50]
[Enemy Defeated!]
The zombie fell, its body dissolving into gray smoke.
And I... stood there, breathing hard, my body trembling.
After the Battle
I removed the VR headset.
Immediately, I was back in the back room. Reality. Safety.
But my heart was still racing. My hands were still shaking.
"That... that was..."
[Ding! Congratulations on completing your first combat encounter!]
[Rewards:]
+10 Experience Points
Small real-world reward: +0.1% muscle strength
[Note: You may not notice the difference immediately. The effect will accumulate over time!]
I looked at my hands—the same hands, thin, weak.
But... was there a difference? Something subtle?
I lifted the wooden chair beside me. It was... slightly lighter than I expected?
Or was I just imagining it?
[Ding! The effects are real, but gradual. Don't expect miracles after one encounter. But keep playing, keep fighting, and you'll notice the change!]
I sat on the chair, still trying to process what had just happened.
The game was... incredible. Terrifying. Unbelievably immersive.
But the most important part?
It worked.
If I could feel this—the fear, the adrenaline, the satisfaction of defeating an enemy—what would others feel?
Cultivators who were used to power, what would they think when facing real danger, even if virtual?
Ordinary humans like me, who could never become heroes in reality, how would they feel when they could finally fight?
This wasn't just entertainment.
This was... liberation.
I spent the next hour testing the system.
I discovered that:
Gaming time is limited by the energy crystal: Each hour of gameplay consumes about 10% of the crystal. One crystal = 10 hours of gameplay.
Rewards accumulate slowly: No one will become a super warrior overnight. But with months of regular play? The difference will be noticeable.
Combat techniques are learnable: The moves you master in-game—dodging, stabbing, timing—can be applied in reality. But your real body will need training to match what your virtual body does.
The game has a "shop": Players can use points earned from killing to buy better weapons, health supplies, and even "special combat techniques."
[Ding! Special Combat Techniques can be applied in the real world once mastered in-game!]
"So if someone learns, say, a sword technique in the game..."
[Ding! They'll be able to use the same technique in reality—provided their body is strong enough and they have a real sword!]
"This... this will change everything."
In a world where only cultivators could learn powerful combat techniques, this game was offering an alternative.
A slow, difficult alternative, but available.
To anyone.
Even to someone without spiritual roots like me.
A soft knock on the door.
"Chen?" Mother's voice. "Dinner is ready. And you... haven't come out for hours."
I looked at the window. When did it get dark outside?
I opened the door and found her standing there, holding a food tray.
"You didn't come out all afternoon," she said, worried. "Are you alright? Do you need—"
She stopped, her eyes widening as she saw the computer behind me.
"What... what is that?"
I hesitated. How to explain?
Then I decided: The best way to explain is to show.
"Come in. I'll show you."
I led Mother inside, her eyes widening as she looked at the computer and the strange headset.
"Is this... a magical device?"
"Sort of." I helped her sit. "But don't worry. It's completely safe."
"Chen, I'm not sure—"
"Trust me, Mother. Please."
She looked at me for a long moment. Then nodded slowly.
"Alright. But if anything strange happens—"
"I'll stop it immediately. Promise."
I gently placed the headset on her head, adjusting the straps.
"Now, you'll see... another world. Don't be afraid. Everything is an illusion. Nothing can truly hurt you."
"An illusion..." she repeated in a weak voice.
I started the game.
For a moment, Mother remained completely silent, her body stiff.
Then—
"Oh... oh my."
Her voice was filled with wonder. Fear. Awe.
"Chen, I'm... I'm in a mansion. How—where—"
"You're in the game, Mother. Move forward slowly. Look around."
I watched her move—cautious, nervous steps. Her hands raised slowly, examining her virtual body.
"This... this is impossible."
"But it's real."
She walked through the lobby, stopped at the paintings, touched (well, tried to touch) the walls.
Then she heard the sound.
The groan.
She froze.
"Chen? What... what is that sound?"
"It's... part of the game. A monster. But remember—it's not real."
"A monster." Her voice trembled.
The zombie appeared, lurching from the shadows.
And Mother—Liu Mei, the woman who'd spent her life selling silk, who'd never held a weapon—
Screamed.
"Get me out! Chen, get me out!"
I quickly pulled off the headset.
She sat there, breathing hard, her face pale.
"Sorry, sorry, Mother. I should have warned you—"
"That thing... that thing..." She looked at me, eyes wide. "It looked... so real."
"I know. It's scary. Maybe a horror game was a bad idea for the first try—"
"No."
She stood, still trembling slightly, and reached for the headset.
"Again."
"What?"
"Put it on again." She looked at me, something hard in her eyes. "I won't run this time."
Mother's second attempt was... different.
When the zombie appeared, she didn't scream.
She froze, yes. But she didn't run.
Instead, she picked up—just like I had—a knife from a nearby table.
And when the zombie lunged at her—
She stabbed.
Awkward. Trembling. But she stabbed.
[Successful Hit! Damage: -15]
The zombie stumbled backward.
"Oh my god... I hit it." Her voice was filled with disbelief.
"You did, Mother! Again!"
She stabbed again. And again.
Her movements were uncoordinated, without any technique, but she was fighting.
[Enemy Defeated!]
The zombie fell and faded.
And for a moment, there was complete silence.
Then—
"I did it!"
Mother laughed—a loud, disbelieving, triumphant laugh.
"Chen! Did you see? I killed that thing!"
She removed the headset, her face flushed, eyes sparkling.
"That was... that was..."
"Amazing?" I offered.
"Terrifying. But also... yes. Amazing." She looked at her hands—her real hands, which trembled slightly. "I... I've never fought anything in my life. But now..."
"Now you know how it feels."
"Yes." She looked at me, something new in her eyes. "Chen, if this is what the Gaming Hall will offer... if people can experience this..."
"They'll pay." I finished the sentence. "They'll pay to experience something they could never experience in real life."
"Not just that." She stood, still looking at her hands. "Chen, I feel... different. Stronger. Like something changed."
[Ding! New player detected: Liu Mei]
[Reward granted: +0.1% muscle strength]
[Note: The effect is subtle but real!]
I smiled. "That's because something did change, Mother."
After Mother went to sleep—after she excitedly told Father about the "amazing experience"—I stayed in the back room, looking at the computer.
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the Beginner Mission!]
[Rewards:]
Unlocked: Daily Quest System
Unlocked: Customer Mode (You can now allow others to use the Gaming Hall for a fee)
Granted: 1x Additional Low-Grade Energy Crystal (gift from the System)
[Next Mission: Get your first paying customer!]
[Reward: ???]
[Time Remaining: 6 days]
I looked at the information, my mind racing.
Six days to get my first customer.
I had:
One computer with VR
One game (survival horror)
Two energy crystals (20 hours of total gameplay)
A small room
It wasn't much. But it was a start.
The question now was: How do I attract customers?
In a world where people can watch cultivators fly, mages shoot fire, warriors shatter rocks—
How do I convince them that sitting in a small room, wearing a strange headset, is worth their time and money?
The answer hit me suddenly.
Free trial.
If Mother—a woman who'd never played a game in her life—could be hooked like that, what about others?
All I needed was to get them to try it.
Just once.
And I'd prove it to them.
I opened the system interface.
"System, can I offer free trial sessions?"
[Ding! Yes! But be warned: Energy crystals are limited. Use them wisely!]
"How much time is enough to convince someone?"
[Ding! Based on System analysis: 15-20 minutes is sufficient for new players to become hooked!]
Twenty minutes. About a third of an hour. From one crystal (10 hours), I could offer about 30 free trial sessions.
If one out of every three people became a paying customer...
This could work.
This could actually work.
I grabbed a piece of paper and started writing:
"Liu's Gaming Hall - Grand Opening!"
Experience Another World.
Fight Monsters.
Become a Hero.
Free Trial Session: 15 minutes
Location: Liu's Premium Silk Shop - Back Room
Simple. Direct. Mysterious enough to spark curiosity.
Tomorrow, I'd post this in the market. Tell people. Maybe ask Zhao Yun to spread the word among his friends.
And then...
Then we'd see if the world was ready for a gaming hall in a cultivation world.
I woke with the sunrise, filled with strange energy.
My body still ached from the past two days' work, but there was... something else.
A feeling of excitement.
For the first time since transmigrating, I felt like I was building something. Not just surviving. Building.
After a quick breakfast, I took the announcement I'd written and headed to the market.
The Azure Spring City market was a loud, chaotic, life-filled place.
Stall after stall lined the streets—vendors selling fruits, vegetables, cloth, tools, even low-grade medicinal pills for beginner cultivators.
People talked, haggled, laughed.
And I walked through it all, holding my announcement, trying to find the perfect place to post it.
"Chen!"
I turned and found Zhao Yun running toward me, grinning widely.
"I saw your mother yesterday in the market. She told me about... wait, was she serious? You actually built a gaming hall in one day?"
"Sort of." I showed him the announcement. "I'm opening tomorrow. Free trial sessions."
He read it, eyes widening.
"Fight monsters? Become a hero? Chen, what—"
"Just trust me." I smiled. "But I need your help. Can you spread the word? Tell your friends. Anyone who might be interested."
"Interested in what? You haven't explained what a Gaming Hall actually is—"
"Because I can't explain it. They have to experience it."
He looked at me for a long moment. Then sighed.
"Chen, you're lucky I trust you." He took the announcement. "Fine. I'll spread it. But if this is just a scam—"
"Not a scam. Promise."
"Alright." He turned to leave, then stopped. "Oh, your mother mentioned something about 'killing a scary monster.' Is that... part of the game?"
"Yes."
"Is it really scary?"
"Terrifying."
He grinned—a sharp, excited grin. "Excellent. I'm definitely coming tomorrow."
I spent the rest of the day preparing the back room.
Cleaned more. Arranged the chair and table. Even placed two candles to make the lighting more welcoming.
The place was still small, still simple.
But it was... ready.
[Ding! Alert: You now have everything needed to officially open the Gaming Hall!]
[Do you want to activate "Customer Mode"?]
"Yes."
[Ding! Activated!]
[You can now set prices, track usage, and manage reservations!]
[Recommended pricing: 5 copper coins/hour for ordinary humans, 1 silver coin/hour for cultivators]
Five copper coins. About the cost of a simple meal.
Affordable. But not so cheap that people wouldn't value it.
"Acceptable."
[Ding! Prices set! Good luck, Host!]
I sat on the chair, looking at the computer, the headset, the small room that might become something more.
Tomorrow, the first real customer would come.
Tomorrow, I'd prove this could work.
Tomorrow—
Liu's Gaming Hall would truly begin operations.
I lay in my bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
My mind raced with plans, possibilities, fears.
What if no one came?
What if they came but didn't like the game?
What if this was all a foolish idea—trying to sell video games in a world where people can literally fly?
[Ding! Stop overthinking.]
"Easy for you to say."
[Ding! You have a unique product. You already have one satisfied customer (your mother). And you have a friend spreading the word. Everything else depends on execution.]
"And if I fail?"
[Ding! Then you try again. But you won't fail.]
"How do you know?"
[Ding! Because the System believes in you. Even if you don't believe in yourself yet.]
I laughed—a short, tired laugh.
"A motivational system. That's new."
[Ding! The System is only realistic. Now sleep. Tomorrow is a big day.]
I closed my eyes.
And for the first time in days, I slept without dreams.
Just... hope.