Chapter 12

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Chapter 12: A Cup of Tea with a Price

You You didn’t realize she had such immense strength. She knew about the game system, but with her skills locked and her bag filled with useless items, she’d assumed she was ordinary. Even after leveling up through that firework incident, she’d only noticed improved stamina and speed – helpful for travel and escaping danger.

But lifting a two-meter-tall giant beast effortlessly? That felt completely wrong!

She glanced at her stunned teammates. What now? How could she explain this weird strength? Could she still pretend nothing happened by putting down the little monster?

"Young Lady You, you… you… could it be…" Liu Qing’s hands trembled like leaves as she pointed between the tiny monster in You You’s grip and the crater in the ground.

You You panicked slightly, "Wait, listen! This isn’t…"

"Cultivator!" Liu Qing blurted out before she could finish.

"What?" Since when did this world have cultivators?

（⊙_⊙）?

The others snapped out of their daze, nodding like enlightened sheep.

"That explains it! No wonder she handled the monster easily."

"It’s Tier Four! Only cultivators can defeat those!"

"My first time seeing a female cultivator! This humble one is blessed!"

"I knew she wasn’t some regular noble lady!"

"An immortal cultivator walking among us!"

"…"

Meow?

（⊙_⊙）

Since when did I get this backstory?!

"Young Lady You…" Lin Feng studied her with mixed emotions, "Are you truly…?"

"No! I don’t even know what’s happening!" You You protested. Would they believe her?

Lin Feng glanced at the dead River Beast and clasped his hands in formal salute. "We apologize for our rudeness, Immortal Cultivator. We failed to recognize your status."

"No, you’re misunderstanding! I’m not…"

"Memory loss explains everything," Lin Feng recalled her earlier claims. The group buzzed with renewed excitement.

"Right! She said she only remembers her name!"

"Of course she hid her celestial techniques – she forgot them!"

"Still subdued a Tier Four monster despite amnesia! True cultivator power!"

"Which immortal sect? What Cultivation level?"

"Female cultivators are always core disciples!"

Their battle-worn solemnity vanished. Where they’d once treated You You like porcelain, now they practically genuflected.

You You, who couldn’t get a word in the entire time: “…”

Well, looks like this “cultivator” status was now set in stone!

○-￣-_

———

High above.

A tall figure stood against the wind, his crimson robe blazing like flames across the sky, outshining even the sun behind him. His face held an otherworldly beauty as he gazed down at the conflicted young woman below, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.

“Master, the girl is safe now,” the man in black behind him spoke cautiously. “Shall we intervene further?”

“No need.” The man’s slender fingers brushed his scarlet sleeves, a spark of interest in his eyes. “I thought her mere ordinary people, but this… unexpected. Yet her Cultivation…” His brows furrowed, gaze sharpening. Even as a projection, he shouldn’t fail to read a mortal’s power level.

“Perhaps she carries a treasure to mask it—females often do,” the man in black suggested. “Her Cultivation must be at least Foundation Building. Possibly Golden Core Stage.” Only such strength could subdue a Tier Four Monster.

“Interesting.” The man’s lips curved. “A Golden Core female cultivator coinciding with two groups of beast hunters? How… convenient.”

“Master means to…”

“They barred my entry, did they not?” The man’s beauty turned icy. “Now they’ve sent us a guide.”

The man in black jolted. “I’ll arrange—”

“No.” The master’s grip tightened on his sleeve as he stared at the awkwardly smiling figure below. “This requires my personal attention.”

Shock flashed across the subordinate’s face before he bowed. “Understood.”

———

After being forcibly labeled a cultivator, You You noticed her teammates’ behavior growing stranger. Where they’d once been cautiously protective, now they treated her like fragile porcelain.

The group still headed for Shangyang City, but their goal shifted—instead of contacting her family through officials, they now sought to find her sect.

Yin Fan and Lin Feng’s teams formed an uneasy truce, both insisting on escorting her. Guarding a noble lady brought honor, but escorting a female cultivator? That promised lifetime bragging rights, let alone potential cultivation tips.

Yin Fan seized every chance to hover near You You. “Immortal cultivator! Thirsty? Try this capital-city tea!” He thrust forward an ornate water pouch.

You You accepted with her usual smile. “Thanks!”

Yin Fan’s face exploded crimson. His hands shook so badly he nearly dropped the pouch. She smiled! She smiled at hiiiiim!!

（／≧ω＼）

Unaware, You You drank deeply. “Hey, this is good!”

“N-No problem!” Yin Fan wheezed, clutching his pounding chest. What kindness! Surely immortal tea surpassed Mortal Realm brew—she drank it all to spare his feelings!

Few females existed in his world, let alone cultivators. No wonder even stickler Lin Feng broke vows to escort her.

Gathering courage, Yin Fan blurted: “Immortal You! What… what do you think of beast hunters?”

“You’re great!” You You grinned. Good brother material!

Yin Fan’s eyes lit like torches. “Then—how many partners do you have? What’s your criteria? Would I qualify? Ten spouses max is fine!!”

Pfft—

Tea sprayed everywhere.

So this was a marriage-proposal beverage?!

Σ（Д—）