"Fate Token?"

Old Wei set his cup of wine down slowly, deliberately—the practiced motion of a man who had seen too much, cared too little, and had mastered the art of being cryptic purely to frustrate others.

North leaned forward. "Yes! Fate Token!" He nodded eagerly. "How do I get one?"

Old Wei’s calm, aged eyes studied North for a moment, gaze unreadable, as if weighing his worth.

Then, after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Didn’t your family provide for you?" He swirled the wine in his cup lazily. "If a child has any talent, their family would do everything in their power to buy one."

Did he really look like someone with a family backing him?! Was his torn, dust-covered hoodie not enough of a hint? Did this scam artist of a tutorial NPC not see the absolute despair in his eyes?!

Sigh! Focus. Adapt. Fast-forward.

North didn’t hesitate. "My family was poor. We couldn’t afford one."

The lie slipped out smoothly. No hesitation, no embellishment. He needed to fast-forward past this nonsense.

Old Wei stroked his long white beard, deep in thought. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-three." There was no point in lying about that.

"Too old."

North barely had time to process that before Old Wei shook his head with absolute finality. "There are many competitions held by the various clans in the city," he continued, "but the participant age must be under fifteen. With your age, they won’t even let you in."

North’s brow furrowed. Shit. He hadn’t even considered that his age might be a factor. Now, if he barged into a clan-held competition—which, honestly, was already on his list of ideas—not only would they throw him out, they might even slap him on the way out for his audacity.

"Oh, come on."

North massaged his pulsating forehead. So what, just because he was twenty-three, he was now trash?

Actually… wait. Didn’t he make this rule?

His mind flashed back to all the times players complained in forums about how hard it was to start as an older character.

[Player: Cultivator42]: "WTF, why do all sects reject you if you’re over 18?! How am I supposed to level up?!"

[Player: ScrewedOver]: "Bro, I made a 30-year-old dude, and the first NPC I met literally told me to go home and start a farm instead of cultivating."

North wanted to punch himself.

This was his own fault.

Fine.

If the normal method didn’t work, he just had to find another way.

[Alternative Methods to Get a Fate Token:]

1. Steal One.

2. Scam One.

3. Find an Illegal Market.

4. Trigger a Random Plot and Hope It Gives a Reward.

North sighed.

So, robbery, deception, crime, or throwing himself into disaster. Fantastic. This world was basically forcing him into villainy. And honestly? He was starting to understand why villains existed.

“But…”

What Quest giver Wei next said gave North a little hope.

“There is one way for you.”

North eyes sparkled and he stared at Old Wei’s face expectantly.

“I have a way for you to obtain a Fate Token. But in exchange, you must deliver something for me.”

North’s brain went on full alert. This was a Quest. He had designed a million of these "small errand" quests before. And 99% of them led directly into something dangerous.

"...What do I have to deliver?"

Wei tapped the wooden counter. "A letter."

[New Item Received: Sealed Letter from Quest Giver Wei]

North narrowed his eyes.

"That’s it?"

"A simple delivery," Wei confirmed. "Take it to the Golden Feather Pavilion in the Inner City. Hand it to a man named Yun Jian. Once you do that, you will receive your Fate Token as your payment."

North held the letter carefully. No bloodstains. No mysterious dark aura. Just an ordinary piece of parchment, carefully folded and sealed with wax. It was suspiciously normal.

[Quest Updated: Deliver Wei's Letter to Yun Jian.]

[Reward: A Fate Token (Allegedly).]

It seemed like a good start—hoping everything would go quietly and peacefully from here. North could only hope as he pocketed the letter. Still, something about Quest Giver Wei nagged at him. The old man seemed to know more than he let on, which was concerning since North had written his original dialogue tree himself.

North shook his head. That was a problem for future North. Right now, present North had bigger concerns.

A quick glance at his stats confirmed what he already knew.

[Plot Armor: 6% - Critical Low]

[Survival Tax: Still in Debt]

[Surreal Charm: CATASTROPHICALLY HIGH]

[Base Template: Wherever I Stop, A Plot Begins]

[Installed Archetype: Newbie Luck]

Nothing had changed. Which meant trouble was still coming. But he could take cautious steps to limit its influence. So, with a deep sigh, North bowed slightly to Wei, spun on his heel, and made a sharp U-turn out of the inn—praying he wouldn’t immediately crash into some lunatic on the way.

The first thing he noticed upon stepping outside? The city was massive. Not just in size, but in design.

The entire city was built into a mountain, the stonework perfectly carved and polished, its pathways shaped into terraced levels that ascended toward the heart of civilization. At its center, a colossal pagoda loomed above all, its golden spire catching the sunlight and sending out a faint, divine glow. There was no need for maps or guidance.

Even without asking, North could tell:

[The Inner City is near the pagoda.]

It was the heart of power, where the richest, strongest, and most terrifying figures in the city lived. And if Yun Jian—the man he needed to deliver the letter to—was there, then North had no choice but to go straight toward the lion’s den.

As North walked through the stone-paved streets, he observed the people moving around him.

Most wore robes and tunics, clearly favoring the traditional cultivator aesthetic. Many carried weapons on their backs, as if it were completely normal to be armed at all times. Some of these people moved with purpose—cultivators on a hunt, mercenaries on a contract, sect disciples returning from missions. There were also the odd ones. A few wore thick, untamed beast hides, their savage appearance and scent of dried blood making it clear they lived more in wilderness than civilization.

North didn’t know what to think about that.

More importantly, though—he was getting looks.

People glanced at him, eyes lingering for just a second or two before moving on. No one attacked him outright, which was a huge win in his book. But he knew exactly why he was standing out. It was his clothes. Unlike the locals, who all wore either flowing robes, armored vests, or battle-ready attire, North was wandering around in a hoodie and jeans. He wasn’t glaringly foreign, but he definitely didn’t blend in perfectly, either.

But it might also be because of how he looked, while outside the simulator, it was harder to make inside NPCs facial features altogether, but now he could tell pretty clearly they seemed to have somewhat a mix of asian and caucasian features mixed together with too many generations. Most of these people had pale skin and strong muscles, weathered by cold and mountain air, but this also could be due to them living in harsh environment and cultivation and fighting for survival.

And then there was him. A college dude from New York.

His features weren’t so bizarre that he looked alien, but he was still different enough to be noticeable.

North sighed. This was fine. Maybe. After all, this was just one city. Maybe there were other places in this world where people looked more like him. Maybe. But for now? He had bigger problems. Like delivering this letter without getting stabbed. Or worse—accidentally getting involved in another damn plot.

He forcefully pushed the worries to the back of his mind. Instead, he focused on gathering other important info, like how there were carriages rolling on the main road, but it wasn't what made him glance curiously. It was that some people were travelling on beasts, like a huge snake with a small pavilion on its back that slithered too fast on the road, its scales catching sunlight like polished jade. A toad the size of a small house jumped quite high and far, its passengers seemingly unbothered by the stomach-churning leaps. A few people were travelling on white winter wolves, their fur rippling with frost even in the warm air.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

His gaze shifted to the bustling merchant shops lined up along the long street. Even in his own world, a city's true heart was always its market. And here? It was a fascinating blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Streams of both men and women weaved in and out of the shops, their movements fluid, confident.

The voices of merchants boomed through the air:

"Rare Qi-Infused Silk! Lighter than air, stronger than steel!"

"Beast Cores! Absorb the essence, strengthen your cultivation!"

"Genuine Fire Serpent Meat! Good for health, extends longevity!"

He wasn’t sure how much of it was legitimate. He was, however, very sure he did not want to eat anything that once belonged to a fire serpent.

One of the subtler details he began to notice was the variation in clothing.

Women's attire itself was interesting, he inferred many of them wore clothes styled accordingly to their class or status. Normal mortal women wore simple long skirts and their dress was mostly long, with a wide hem. The cuffs and stitching of the dress carrying exquisite embroidery of floral, bird and animal, or other auspicious patterns—protection charms and luck-drawing formations woven subtly into the designs. Their were also young ladies who seemed to belong to clans or big families, their clothes were mostly similar but with colorful and exaggerated skirts and dress styles. Golden threads that actually contained real gold, silks dyed with crushed spirit gems, hems that floated an inch off the ground.

They all looked quite good honestly, both in appearance and style, and North had to curb himself to not stare for more than a quick look lest he get entangled with something he wanted to avoid. He'd coded enough "you dare look at my daughter?" scenarios to know better. One wrong glance could trigger a dozen young masters appearing out of thin air, each demanding satisfaction for this grievous insult to their sect's honor.

Though a thought appeared silently and unbridled at the back of his head, given his charm was catastrophically high, would all ladies find him terrifyingly attractive? His system status flashed in warning at the very thought, so he gave up on the thought immediately.

Well... that was only time would tell. And hopefully that time wouldn't come with sword beams and engagement ultimatums.

Anyway, so far, the city seemed structured.

* The main roads were filled with moving carriages and beasts.

* The marketplace was packed, bustling with business, trade, and opportunity.

* Wealth and status were reflected in clothing, movement, and presence.

And best of all, he could understand and speak in the common tongue of this world, which was kinda a huge relief itself. It took him quite a long time to realize that he wasn't speaking English with the shameless girl or Quest Giver Wei. The words flowed naturally from his tongue, as if he'd spoken them all his life.

He inferred that this simulator was too real and too detailed. He also quietly wondered if these people were really NPCs, but that could only time and more research would tell. Each person he passed had depths in their eyes.

For now, he decided to focus on gaining powers, but the thought sent another jolt of ecstasy through his nerves. How wonderful! He dreamed of flying on clouds like many Visionaries he had seen on his way above the buildings, their robes billowing in winds as they soared past. But he immediately curbed his mind, lest he cursed his luck.

As North walked deeper into the city, the streets became wider, cleaner, and significantly more guarded. That was his first warning. His second warning? The checkpoint.

North stopped dead in his tracks.

Up ahead, four armored guards stood at attention, their spears gleaming under the sun, their eyes cold and unreadable. A long line of people waited before them, each holding small jade identification tablets and handing over two nether coins.

North’s face scrunched up immediately. Yeah. Just when he had started to feel too comfortable, the world slapped him with a paywall.

He clicked his tongue, glancing around. He ran through his mental options. If this was still a simulation game… If he had player access… There were ways to glitch the system.

[Infinite Coin Exploit]

* Open terminal.

* Input “gm.modify.currency+999999.”

* Instantly become rich.

[Bypass Guards]

* Exploit NPC pathing.

* Jump on a moving carriage at the right frame.

* Glitch through the collision boundary.

[Steal an ID]

* Find a low-level NPC.

* Trigger a pickpocket prompt.

* Walk in like nothing happened.

North licked his lips. "Alright. Step one… open terminal."

He cleared his throat. "System. Open console."

Nothing.

"System. Run admin commands."

Silence.

"...System. You absolute bastard, answer me."

Okay. Fine. He was in the world now. He wasn’t a player anymore. No commands. No admin access. Just pure suffering.

North exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Okay. Think, dumbass. What’s your next move?"

He scanned the checkpoint again. The guards were serious. No way he could just walk through. The line moved at a slow but steady pace. People were checking in, paying, and passing through. The jade ID tablets were being carefully examined. No bribing. No faking it. So… alternatives.

[Option 1: Find A Job & Earn Money Legitimately]

* Pros: Avoids conflict, makes him a law-abiding citizen.

* Cons: Requires time, effort, and interacting with people, all of which sound horrible.

[Option 2: Steal An ID From Someone In Line]

* Pros: Fast, immediate access.

* Cons: If caught, he’d probably be executed on the spot.

[Option 3: Sneak In By Hiding On A Carriage]

* Pros: Minimal interaction required, no need for money.

* Cons: High chance of getting caught and being labeled a criminal.

[Option 4: Wait For A Random Event To Happen]

* Pros: His Base Template almost guarantees something chaotic will occur.

* Cons: That "something" might involve his violent death.

North bit his lip. He didn’t want to risk a crime. And he didn’t have time to work an honest job. Which meant… [New Strategy: Observe & Wait For A Stupid Opportunity.]

He took a casual step back, blending into the crowd. And then he waited. Because in this world… All he had to do was stand still long enough… And a plot would come crashing down on him.

North sighed. "...Bring it on."

…

"Brother Li, you must listen!"

The voice belonged to a round, heavyset young man, red-faced and flustered, speaking with the kind of intensity only a true brother-in-arms could have. His robes were slightly disheveled, as if he had rushed here just to deliver this warning.

His face was earnest, his eyes filled with frustration and helplessness. "That Yue girl—she's not what you think!" You have to listen to me, I dug into her background myself!"

Standing opposite him was his friend. And this was where things got strange. Because the other man was… perfect.

North’s brows furrowed.

The handsome young man standing there had a presence that was almost blinding. Tall. Broad-shouldered. His white robes flowed with a natural grace, like the wind itself favored him. His face was striking, sharp but refined, with an air of righteousness. Even his hair looked like it had been combed by destiny itself.

North had seen characters like this before.

This was the kind of MC template he had seen a thousand times. A "Heaven’s Chosen Protagonist" type. Someone who should be fated for greatness. Someone who should have a loyal fatty friend by his side, supporting him until the very end.

And yet… The script was going wrong.

The fatty friend clenched his fists, taking a deep breath before speaking again. "Brother Li, I’m not saying this to hurt you! I just… I just don’t want to see you used!"

His voice wavered slightly, but he forced himself to continue. "I looked into her past myself. That woman—you think she’s pure, that she loves you. But she’s just using your name to rise in status!"

Li froze, his eyes darkening.

But the fatty didn’t stop. "I even found out—" He hesitated, lowering his voice, but North could still hear. "I heard she’s been involved with the Fourth Young Master of the Lustrous Sky Clan. There are rumors that she even spent the night in his courtyard!"

Li’s entire expression twisted. "What… did you just say?" His voice was low, dangerous.

The fatty swallowed nervously but stood his ground.

"I’m saying—she’s been scheming this whole time! I’m not saying this to hurt you, Brother Li! I care about you! I think of you as my closest friend, so I can’t just watch you be—"

"ENOUGH!"

Li’s roar echoed down the street, stunning even the passing pedestrians.

"Yue Lingxi is pure as jade! How dare you spread such filthy rumors?" Li's aura flared, making nearby ground shake like an earthquake. "If anyone else spoke such words, their head would leave their shoulders!"

"I—"

Li's next words came out cold as winter frost. "If you truly see me as a brother, you'll never speak of this again. Never." He turned sharply, robes swirling. "I thought you'd be happy for me. I thought you'd understand what finding true love means."

The fatty’s face fell.

"Brother Li…" His voice cracked slightly, but he forced a weak smile.

"You really believe me so small-hearted?"

Li didn’t respond. Perhaps he could bring himself to think anything bad about the woman he loved crazily. So, he simply turned away, his white robes fluttering behind him as he stormed off toward the Inner City gates. The fatty stood there, fists trembling at his sides. He looked like he wanted to call out. To chase after him. But in the end… He didn’t. His shoulders slumped, and he lowered his head in disappointment.

For a moment, North's focus narrowed entirely on the scene before him—the heartbreak, the shattering of bonds, the way the fatty stood there, fists clenched, watching his closest friend walk away.

Then... something changed. A bright pink crystal suddenly appeared above both of their heads, pulsing with an violet glow that only North could see.

His breath caught in his throat as the system message flashed:

[Vision Unlocked: Narrative Roles Identified]

Above Fatty's head, a title shimmered into existence:

[The Fatty Best Friend]

[Status: Template Destabilizing]

[Warning: Role Deviation Detected]

And above the walking-off protagonist?

[The Heaven-Favored Protagonist]

[Status: Alignment Shifting]

[Warning: Plot Armor Fluctuating]

North froze. "What... the hell?"

His first instinct was to panic. Why was he suddenly seeing this? Why now? Then, his mind kicked into gear. This perhaps might be his golden finger, seeing their Character Templates. How bad! He was immediately disappointed. What was supposed to do with this knowledge? It had never displayed these "Character Templates" before. But now? It was showing their roles like floating text above each person—"Guard Type B," "Minor Noble Family Young Master," "Common Street Vendor." Information he could've guessed just by looking at their clothes and bearing. The system wasn't telling him anything useful.

Still, North reasoned, if he could see "Character Templates," then he could theoretically predict who mattered in this world. Who was destined for greatness. Who was doomed to fail. And who was being rewritten in real time. A guard might have "Future Sect Leader" hidden in their template, or a beggar might carry "Hidden Dragon" in their code.

But the problem was... What the hell was he supposed to do with this?

Pushing the new problem aside, he had three options:

[Option 1: Follow Li, the Protagonist]

* Pros: He was still the "Heaven-Favored Protagonist," meaning wherever he went, something important would happen. A protagonist's path would be filled with opportunities, treasures, and revelations.

* Cons: He was pissed, meaning getting involved might just make things worse. And North knew exactly how bad "worse" could get around an angry protagonist.

[Option 2: Approach the Fatty]

* Pros: His role had changed. If North could figure out why, he might learn how the system really worked. What's more, he might help him slip past the checkpoint, which he desperately needed to cross. Template changes weren't supposed to happen—this could be key to understanding his new reality.

* Cons: He was in a bad mood.

[Option 3: Leave and Pretend He Saw Nothing]

* The safest option, but also the one least likely to yield answers or advantages.

North exhaled sharply, glancing between the two figures. If this was just a normal broken friendship, he wouldn't care. But this? This was a shift in fate itself. And if fate was shifting, then what else was changing? He could play it to his advantage, maybe even learn how to shift his own template.

North tightened his grip on Wei's letter. The paper crinkled, reminding him of his precarious position in this world.

"Ah. I really don't want to get involved."

The words came out as a whisper, even as his mind raced through the possibilities.

Getting tangled in protagonist drama was exactly the kind of thing that got NPCs killed in spectacular ways.