39: Six simulations

[Ding! The sixth simulation begins...]

[You confirm that you are entering the simulation.]

[You stay indoors, your mind completely occupied with calculating the plan for this simulation.]

[But after thinking it over and over, you realize—relying on martial arts simply cannot defeat a Cultivator.]

[Unless martial arts also has a higher Realm.]

[Day 3]

[Everyone in the manor is gossiping about two things—the Water Snake Gang was wiped out, and Tian Hong and his group were killed by bandits.]

[The servants chatter away:]

["Where did these petty thieves come from, having no sense of propriety?"]

["Could it be that they are specifically targeting our Qin Family?"]

["Maybe it's the same group that wiped out the Water Snake Gang!"]

["Then isn't our Qin Family done for?"]

[These words terrify everyone, as they fear the Qin Family will be the next target.]

[Day 5]

[You remember that your younger sister has an Awakening of a Cultivator Legacy, so you specifically invite her to the courtyard to have tea and snacks.]

["Yo, brother is suddenly so kind?" Qin Yu grabs a pastry and stuffs it into her mouth, "You aren't planning to poison me and then monopolize the family property, are you?"]

[You get straight to the point: "Do you think there are Cultivators in this world?"]

["Pfft—" Qin Yu spits the pastry into her palm, looking very serious, "Of course there are!"]

[After saying this, she stuffs the pastry back into her mouth.]

[You frown in disgust, waiting for her to swallow before continuing to ask: "Then have you ever seen a Cultivator?"]

[Qin Yu nods solemnly: "I have!"]

[Your eyes light up: "Where did you see one? Do you know how to become a Cultivator?"]

["I saw one in my dreams!" she says earnestly.]

[Your heart skips a beat—your younger sister has the memory of a Cultivator Legacy, which might be the key to countering Cultivators.]

[But she has said before that she cannot speak or write it out...]

[You refuse to give up: "What did the Immortal in your dream teach you?"]

[Qin Yu tilts her head: "It taught me... but it won't let me tell others."]

[You quickly say: "Brother is not a hum—pah... Brother is not 'others'!"]

["It just taught me how to breathe... what was it called... I forgot." She stuffs another pastry into her mouth.]

[You wave your hand helplessly: "Fine, fine, take it back and eat it."]

["Hmph, stinky brother!" Qin Yu grabs the plate and runs off.]

[Watching her skipping back, you decide to find another way.]

[Day 7]

[You put on a mask and arrive at Tianxiang Pavilion, listening to the commoners discussing the Water Snake Gang along the way.]

["Thanks to that nameless hero for helping us eradicate the Water Snake Gang, that scourge!"]

["It would be even better if they could wipe out the Qin Family too!"]

["It would be best to wipe out the Meng Family together with them; these people are all the same trash!"]

["Especially that playboy Qin Chen, he's disgusting to look at!"]

[Listening to these discussions, you just smile.]

[After arriving at the top floor of Tianxiang Pavilion, Fragrant Lord Qiao attacks you, but her punches land on your body like a tickle.]

[You slap her down with one palm, scaring her into shivering.]

[You give her two choices directly: either submit or die.]

[She immediately swears allegiance.]

[You tell her to monitor Ji Bin; although she is surprised, she dares not ask more.]

[Day 20]

[Fragrant Lord Qiao is dead, and you guess it was Ji Bin's doing. After thinking it over, you decide to meet Liu Caiping and Ji Bin in person.]

[Month 2]

[You pretend to go buy medicine and get to know Liu Caiping and Ji Bin.]

[Afterwards, you frequently run to the medicinal herb shop, trying various ways to make Liu Caiping happy.]

["Young Miss Liu is not only beautiful but also kind-hearted," you flatter her with a smile.]

["Young Master Qin is very different from the rumors; indeed, rumors cannot be trusted," Liu Caiping says with a smile.]

[Ji Bin says with hidden meaning: "Young Master Qin is already at the Perfected Innate Realm at such a young age; how could you possibly be a good-for-nothing?"]

[You smile and humbly say: "Brother Ji, you flatter me. I just have the Realm without the strength, and I don't like fighting and killing."]

["Besides, rumors kill; it's better that Fairy Liu is reasonable."]

[Ji Bin impatiently urges you to leave: "You've finished buying your medicine, so hurry up and leave."]

[You smile and say: "Brother Ji, haven't you finished delivering the medicine too? Why haven't you gone home yet?"]

[Liu Caiping shakes her head helplessly: "Both of you go back; I'm still busy."]

[You push and shove each other out the door.]

[When you turn around, you see the killing intent in Ji Bin's eyes, but you just smile.]

[You look at Liu Caiping again and are suddenly stunned—]

[You notice that Liu Caiping is looking at Ji Bin, her expression as if she is talking, but her mouth isn't moving...]

[You guess—this is the Cultivator's voice transmission.]

[You look at Ji Bin's grinning face again, guessing that it is most likely Liu Caiping warning him.]

[Only then do you suddenly realize—so Liu Caiping is also a Cultivator!]

[You immediately hatch a plan.]

[Month 3]

[You and Liu Caiping become increasingly familiar with each other.]

[You recite poetry from time to time to show off your literary talent.]

[You also often make her laugh heartily.]

[But every time you come, Ji Bin "happens" to appear.]

[Every time you notice them using voice transmission, you deliberately interrupt them.]

[Month 4]

[You specifically invite Liu Caiping alone to the Slave Market.]

[In the market—it is bustling with noise, iron chains clank, and ragged slaves are locked in cages, with buyers inspecting them like they are choosing cabbages.]

[You sigh and shake your head: "Heaven and Earth are heartless, treating all things as straw dogs... These people are too miserable."]

[Liu Caiping says indifferently: "This is the way of the world; the weak are either eaten, or they learn to eat others."]

[You say meaningfully: "If you ask me, people are divided into three types—those who are pawns, those who play the game, and those who... flip the chessboard."]

[You look at her: "Which type does Miss Liu want to be?"]

[She smiles sweetly: "That depends on whether Young Master is the one playing the game or the one flipping the table?"]

[You ask her in return: "Which type do you hope I am?"]

[She speaks slowly and methodically:]

["Pawns are the happiest because they are ignorant."]

["Chess players can win everything, but the risks are extreme."]

["The one who flips the table? That is nothing but a fool's dream," she chuckles.]

[Just as you are speaking, you see a woman kneeling and crying on the side of the road—Chu Chu.]

[Before her lies a female corpse; she is selling herself to bury her mother.]

[Without a word, you toss out thirty taels of silver: "Go bury your mother first; if you have difficulties, come to the Qin Family manor to find me."]

[Chu Chu kowtows repeatedly: "Thank you, Young Master! This servant will go to the Qin Family manor after burying my mother; I will never betray you in this life!"]

[A flash of appreciation passes through Liu Caiping's eyes.]

[Looking at Liu Caiping's smile, you know you are one step closer to the success of your plan.]

[Month 5]

[Liu Caiping's attitude toward you has clearly improved—all thanks to your literary talent.]

[You secretly gloat: Sure enough, even the most cold and aloof girl cannot withstand sweet talk.]

[For this, you specifically wrote a dozen cheesy love poems to give to her.]

[She actually accepted them!]

[You feel there is a chance.]