Chapter 11: The Second Town and Diana Gift
After leaving their first town behind, Lucen and Diana made their way down the quiet road, the stars shimmering faintly in the gathering night. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the mingled scents of pine and distant hearth smoke. Though they walked in silence, there was an unspoken understanding between them: this world was cruel, but they would face it together.
As they reached the outskirts of the next town—a town even larger than the last—Lucen felt a small spark of relief. This was the second largest town in the Murim world, known for its closeness to Mount Hua Sect. Even at this late hour, the streets bustled with martial artists and merchants. The glow of red and gold lanterns painted the cobblestones in warm light, while the clinking of swords and the low murmur of warriors echoed all around.
"This place… it's alive," Lucen murmured, his crimson eyes taking in the colors and the energy. The vibrant silk robes of the martial artists rippled in the night breeze, and the rough calluses on their hands spoke of hard training and fierce battles.
But as they passed through the gates, Lucen realized with a faint laugh that he had forgotten to ask even the name of the last town. He stopped in his tracks, hugging his head in exasperation. "Damn it… how could I forget something so basic?"
Diana, who didn't fully understand, reached out and gently patted his shoulder. "It's all right," she said softly, her small voice filled with quiet determination. Even if I don't know what's wrong, I'll stand with you.
Lucen let out a breath and nodded. "Right… let's figure this out." He turned inward, calling to the system. "Hey, system—if you can extract skills from this dimension using my ability, can you also give me information about this world?"
For a moment, there was silence. Then the system spoke, its voice calm and mechanical:
System: Recommendation—use your Origin unique ability. Ground yourself and imagine what you need.
Lucen blinked, startled. "Origin… of course." He'd been so focused on his Extract and Summon abilities, he had almost forgotten the one skill that let him truly see the heart of things.
Taking a steady breath, Lucen let his mind settle, and activated Origin. Information flooded into him, illuminating the structure of this world—its history, its powers, the factions that ruled its lands. He saw glimpses of the Righteous Alliance, the Demonic Alliance, and the Royal Family… even the legends of the Blood Demons who had once stalked this land.
A quiet awe flickered in his gaze. "This skill… it's not just unique. It's something deeper." In that moment, he realized how powerful this ability truly was—how it let him see beyond the surface of things, to the very root of the world itself.
He asked the system softly, "Are you sure this is just a unique ability?"
System: User has requested an unaccessible inquiry… processing… progress shutdown. I can't tell you now. Sorry for the trouble.
Lucen fell silent, a thoughtful frown on his lips. This system… it's not just a tool. It's something alive, something with its own will. He felt a flicker of frustration—but also determination. If the system wouldn't tell him everything, he would grow strong enough to uncover it himself.
As the night deepened, Lucen found a small, tidy inn. He paid for a room with two beds, leading Diana upstairs. The flickering lantern light cast long shadows on the walls, and the scent of steamed rice and roasted meat drifted from the kitchen below.
As they entered, the innkeeper shot them a sideways look and clicked his tongue. "Tsk, tsk… all nobles are the same," he muttered, shaking his head.
Lucen paused, blinking in surprise. In that moment, it hit him—he was bringing a young girl into a room alone. In this world, marriages could happen as young as five years old. A faint flush crept across his cheeks as he realized what the innkeeper—and probably Diana—might be thinking.
He glanced down at Diana, seeing her uncertain expression. Her wide eyes flickered with fear… and something like expectation. Is this what happens to children like me? she wondered silently. Her small hands clenched at her sides, but she said nothing.
When they entered the room and Lucen closed the door behind them, he immediately turned and bowed deeply to her. "I'm so sorry, Diana," he said, his voice sincere and warm. "I didn't even think about how this might look. To me, you're like a little sister—I only brought you here because I wanted you to be safe. If I scared you… I'm truly sorry."
Diana's shoulders relaxed, and a small breath of relief escaped her. But at the same time, a faint flush colored her cheeks. Am I not… good enough? The thought crossed her mind unbidden, and she quickly looked away, a shy smile playing at her lips.
Lucen noticed her expression, and for a brief, awkward moment, the two of them felt like a newlywed couple caught in an embarrassing misunderstanding. He cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Ahem… anyway," he said, his voice lighter, "do you want to learn martial arts? I can teach you. I have the best martial art skill in this world with me."
Diana's eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity, her earlier embarrassment forgotten. She smiled innocently. "Okay… if you say so." In her heart, she felt a new warmth—a gentle hope that maybe she could be something more than a shadow in this world.
Lucen activated Origin once more, checking Diana's potential. To his shock, he discovered she had the Ice Heavenly Vein—a rare, almost mythical body type. In Murim's history, only two people had ever possessed it. One of them was the current Ice Palace Master—Ryu Sugam, who was said to have stopped aging at twenty years old, even now in her eighties.
The biggest issues was Those who possessed the Ice Heavenly Vein or Fire evenly vain could share their affinity with the first person whoo take their virgin energy ..— if that ice power taken from her the person who get it will be like having double elemental power. Lucen's crimson eyes glinted. "This… is beyond rare," he thought. "I need to protect her. She's ....."
After a long moment of thought, Lucen let out a breath. "We can't wait here. I already have everything I need—skills, information… and now, this." He turned inward, his voice steady. "Hey, system—you said I can bring anything from this world to mine. Can I bring… a person?"
System: If that person was originally fated to die in this world's timeline, you may bring them.
Lucen's eyes widened, a quiet shock settling in his chest. "What…?" he whispered.
End of Chapter 11.