North was left in a dilemma regarding how to approach Fatty before he stormed off like the protagonist.

Moreover, he didn’t want to anger this Npc for no reason. But, he also remembered Npc with Fatty Character Templates supposed to be friendly with everything. Still, this was tricky. He couldn’t just walk up and bluntly ask, "Hey, wanna tell me your entire life story?" That was the kind of stupidity that got people killed. At the same time, letting Fatty leave without learning anything might mean missing a crucial opportunity.

So, he had to play it smart. North took a breath, adjusted his posture, and casually stepped a little closer, making sure to keep his presence non-threatening. The key was to not make it seem like he was forcing a conversation.

He tilted his head, looking up at the sky with a tired sigh.

"Man… friendships are harder than fighting a demon beast sometimes."

It was casual, just a passing comment, as if he was just thinking out loud. Fatty, who had been staring at the ground with his fists clenched, twitched slightly. He turned his head, eyes narrowing, as if trying to decide whether to respond.

A second passed. Then another. And then—

"Ha!" Fatty let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. "You don’t even know the half of it."

North kept his expression neutral, but internally, he was grinning. Hook, line, and sinker.

"Yeah?" North gave a light chuckle, acting as if he wasn’t totally invested. "I mean, people get blinded by emotions all the time. No matter how much you warn them, they only see what they want to see."

Fatty froze mid-breath. His face twisted, eyes flashing with frustration, before he suddenly exhaled sharply, like he had been holding it all in.

"Exactly!" He turned toward North fully now, voice rising. "That’s exactly it! You try to help, you tell them the truth, and what do you get? Accusations. Betrayal. Disrespect."

North shrugged, keeping his tone light. "So, what? You just let him go?"

Fatty’s expression flickered.

His lips parted slightly, as if about to argue, but then he shut them just as quickly.

North saw it instantly. That tiny moment of doubt. He wasn’t fully convinced that he had done the right thing.

Fatty let out a heavy breath, looking at the sky. "I should’ve yelled more at him," he muttered. "Tried harder to knock some sense into him."

North didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he let Fatty sit with his own thoughts. The silence stretched just long enough for Fatty to feel the weight of his words.

Then, North spoke again, carefully choosing his words. "Maybe," he said, tilting his head slightly. "Or maybe you already did your part. You gave him the truth. What he does with it? That’s on him."

Fatty’s eyes flickered again. "...You really think so?"

North gave a half-smile. "I don’t know your whole story, but I’ve seen it before. Some people have to learn the hard way."

Fatty was silent for a moment. Then, he sighed, rubbing his face. "Maybe," he muttered. "But it still pisses me off."

North chuckled. "That just means you care."

Fatty let out a dry laugh. "Yeah. That’s the problem."

This was his chance. Now that Fatty was talking freely, North could ease into the real question.

He glanced at him, keeping his tone casual. "So… what do you think happens next?"

Fatty snorted. "He’ll keep chasing after that girl, obviously. Probably end up humiliating himself in the end."

North nodded slowly. "But what about you?"

Fatty crossed his arms, inhaled deeply, and looked toward the sky. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across his troubled face. A cool mountain breeze carried the distant chimes of bells from the shops.

"No." His voice was quiet but resolute. "I can't just let things go like this." Fatty clenched his fists, "I need to do something about Yue Linxi."

North's mind immediately flashed through his mental files containing recent info.

Yue Linxi.

A Jade Beauty archetype. The kind he'd coded to be walking catastrophes.

North exhaled. "Alright," he said slowly. "Then what's your grand plan, Brother…?"

Fatty's grin was sudden and sharp. "The Festival of Seasons."

North blinked. "...What?"

"What? You don't know about Festival of Seasons?" Fatty's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you new here?"

North rubbed the back of his head, feigning embarrassment. "Just arrived today in the city with my family from the village to start a new life. So I don't know much about the city yet."

"That confirms it," Fatty looked at his face then at his strange clothes. His gaze lingered on North's hoodie with a mix of curiosity and mild disdain.

"Anyway," he turned toward the bustling street, "I'll tell you, it's not a secret." He pointed toward the crowd surging toward the checkpoint. "Look at everybody trying to enter the inner city to get glimpses of geniuses."

The crowd indeed seemed more excited than usual. Disciples in various sect robes pushed forward, while merchants hawked talismans and spirit fruits from makeshift stalls. Above, more Visionaries flew past using various methods such as flying beasts or rich used white clouds, their robes billowing in the winds.

"The week is the Festival of Seasons," Fatty continued, his voice taking on a storyteller's cadence. "All the famous young Visionaries will be gathered in the Inner City at Plum Gardens to trade pointers."

North’s brain immediately went into overdrive.

* Young generation Visionaries gathering in one place?

* A major event hosted by a powerful clan?

* A setting that practically radiated "plot-important scene" energy?

Oh, this was not good (for him).

Fatty, unaware of North’s internal crisis, continued explaining. "The Festival is important because it's hosted by the Lustrous Sky Clan." He gestured toward the golden pagoda piercing the clouds. "They control the entire mountain and nearby region and resource points. Their word is law here."

North nodded slowly, listening very carefully.

"That's why young masters from various clans, tribes, and sects are pouring in from all over. See those ships anchored in the sky?" Fatty pointed to massive vessels floating among the clouds, their hulls decorated with clan insignias. To be honest, the sight of the magnificent ship floating above the clouds alone caused him to stop breathing.

"Each one carries another faction's prideful genius."

To the North, this sounded like a prime disaster waiting to happen.

"At the end of the Festival," Fatty continued, his voice dropping lower, "there's the Four Seasons Banquet."

North frowned. "Sounds fancy."

"It's not just fancy," Fatty said seriously. "It's a competition. The Lustrous Sky Clan picks four people from the young generation based on their strength, skills, talent, and other qualifications."

He held up four fingers, each one trailing a faint wisp of qi. "These four are given the titles of Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn."

North raised a brow. "What's the point?"

Fatty shrugged, but his casual gesture belied the weight of his words. "Influence. Prestige. Being chosen as one of the Four Seasons basically guarantees a high position in the Visionary world. It means you're recognized as one of the strongest and most talented Visionaries of your generation. Last year's Winter was already challenging elders one level above him."

North slowly processed that information, watching another flying ship dock above the city.

"So," he said, thinking aloud, "the strongest young Visionaries from all the top factions are going to one location to fight for titles, glory, and recognition."

North was about to wash his hands of this entire situation until Fatty dropped the final piece of information.

"Yue Linxi will definitely attend."

North glanced at the pink crystal above Fatty's head.

Fatty's expression darkened. "She's not just beautiful. She's powerful. And she has backing. She's the kind of person who wouldn't miss an opportunity like this."

He gritted his teeth, "She's got something planned. I know it. I don't know what it is yet, but it involves Li Yi. And if it's a scheme that could hurt him…I want to stop it before it happens."

North exhaled slowly. He had been expecting Fatty to throw away his friendship with Li Yi. But instead, he was still looking out for him. Even after being rejected. Even after being pushed away. Even after knowing Li Yi wouldn't believe him. Fatty still wanted to protect him.

North's lips twitched slightly.

"Man," he muttered under his breath. "These NPCs really do live up to their trope."

…

After that, Fatty seemed to make up his mind and suddenly started sauntering toward the line where guards were checking identification and collecting fees for entrance. North could only watch his broad back disappear into the crowd, the realization slowly dawning that Fatty hadn't even asked him anything.

Well, that's awkward... At least he should have thanked me if not asking me to come with him.

Tsk! Tsk!

Acting too smart never helps anyone. North’s face continued to fall as he saw Fatty pull out a jade identity slip and hand over two nether coins like it was nothing. The guards barely even looked at him. The moment his payment was taken, Fatty was waved through the checkpoint like a normal, law-abiding citizen.

North felt his eye twitch violently. The pink crystal above Fatty's head flickered once before disappearing into the crowd.

North smacked his hand against his thigh in frustration. Now he really needed to find some other method to get in.

"I actually thought befriending him would help," he muttered under his breath.

He had genuinely believed that maybe, just maybe, Fatty would at least casually gesture him over or come up with some convenient excuse to bring him along. But no. Fatty wasn’t that stupid. He wasn’t about to risk his own pass for some random guy he just met. And honestly? North couldn’t blame him. I wouldn’t help me either.

Still, North felt these Npcs acted too smart. He walked back to the wall, leaning against the cool stone. Now, he was back to where he started. Waiting for something to happen. And given his Base Template… Something would definitely happen. He just had to be patient. Also, the Festival of Seasons did intrigue him; a chance to see how his NPC geniuses performed in person. Of course, keeping himself safe wouldn't be a problem if he just tread carefully.

The predicaments might be falling from the sky for me, but if I sidestep at the right moment, I should be able to stay relatively safe…

Though, his current situation was far from ideal—no home, no proper clothes to blend in with the crowd, and no resources. His problems were piling up.

[Warning: Survival Tax Due in 4 Hours]

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

He ignored the glaring red warning and watched another group of young masters stride through the checkpoint, their robes pristine and jade slips glinting in the sun.

Samewhile mentally organizing his priorities.

[PROBLEMS]

✔ Checkpoint Access – No ID, No Money.

✔ No Food – Would starve soon.

✔ No Shelter – Can’t sleep on the streets forever.

✔ Clothes Stand Out – His hoodie and jeans weren’t helping.

All of it boiled down to one thing.

[I Need the Damn Money.]

But for now, first thing’s first. Getting past the damn checkpoint.

North exhaled sharply. "Alright," he muttered. "Time to get creative."

He straightened his posture, rolled his shoulders, and casually scanned his surroundings. Something would happen soon. It always did. Now… the question was what kind of disaster would show up first.

…

A line of supply carts was entering through a side gate, considerably less grand than the main entrance. Workers hauled crates and baskets, while merchants argued with guards over documentation.

"You want how many Rain coins per crate?" A worker's voice rose above the general clamor. "Not worth the risk! That stuff makes normal people sick!"

North's attention sharpened. The merchant, a round-faced man in expensive but practical robes, was growing increasingly frustrated as workers walked away from his cart.

"It's just festival decorations!" the merchant called out. "Simple spirit-infused lanterns! They're perfectly safe!"

Festival decorations? North straightened. Now that was something worth paying attention to.

Immediately, North’s brain clicked into place. [This is my chance.]

If he played this right, he could get paid while also getting inside the festival. Now, he just needed to approach without looking suspicious. North took a deep breath, schooling his features into a mix of mild curiosity and clueless commoner.

Then, he carefully approached the merchant.

"Uh, excuse me," he said, carefully pitching his voice to sound just a little hesitant.

The merchant supervisor spun around, his expression already one of annoyance—until he noticed North.

North had deliberately kept his hoodie pulled slightly up, shadowing his features just enough to make himself seem like an average laborer.

"Who are you?" the merchant demanded, eyeing him suspiciously, especially given North's face and his strange clothes.

North scratched the back of his head, pretending to be nervous. "I'm new to the city," he said. "I overheard you needed help?"

The merchant scowled. "And why should I hire some random passerby?"

North shrugged, keeping his expression humble. "I’m just a commoner from a village near the mountains," he lied smoothly. "Came to the city hoping to make some money. I don’t have much, so I’m not picky about the job."

He spread his hands in a non-threatening gesture. "Just thought if you were still short on workers, I could lend a hand and early some for my survival."

The merchant hesitated.

North could see the internal calculations happening.

* He was short-staffed.

* The festival was already behind schedule.

* He needed cheap labor.

Finally, the merchant let out a deep sigh.

"Fine," he said, rubbing his forehead. "As long as you don’t run away screaming. Can you read the warning talismans?"

North nodded, the warning talismans were simple color-coded tags to prevent workers from mixing incompatible stuff. "I can manage that much."

[Temporary Job Acquired: Festival Worker]

"Pay is at the end of the day," the merchant continued, rubbing his temples. "We’re handling decorations for some of the Festival of Seasons—specifically, the hanging lanterns and spirit inscriptions in the Plum Gardens. Young masters from every nearby major sect and clans will be there – can't have the place looking shabby.."

As if to emphasize his point, a flying ship drifted overhead, its sails emblazoned with the crest of some distant sect. More people were arriving for the festival.

“Oh,” North was a little surprised that his wish had come true so early. He mused:

[Current Funds: 0]

[Soon-to-be Funds: More than 0]

"What's the pay?" North asked, keeping his tone neutral.

The merchant grunted, barely sparing him a glance. "Five Nether Coins per shift."

North paused. Five. That sounded small. Very small. He had no idea how much a Nether Coins was actually worth, but from the merchant’s indifferent tone, it probably wasn’t much. Could he even buy food with that? Would he end up working for an entire day just to afford half a steamed bun? His stomach twisted at the thought. But reality was cruel—he needed money. Any money. If he wanted to pass through the checkpoint, he had no other choice.

North exhaled sharply, pushing down his doubts. "I'll do it."

The merchant eyed him for another second, "Good," he said. "Get to work, I don’t pay people standing doing nothing. The faster this gets done, the faster I stop losing money."

North smiled wryly and made his way toward the group of workers gathered beside a dozen or so massive carriages, each one loaded to the brim with goods. Some of the men were busy soothing restless beasts, keeping them from getting spooked by the bustling checkpoint. Others stood around idly, arms crossed, waiting for the tedious documentation process to be completed

This is my life now. A once-successful programmer, now reduced to general labor. What a drop.

North fell in line with two dozen other workers, trudging forward as they began passing through the checkpoint. He had been tense the entire time, half-expecting some overzealous guard to stop him, demand identification, or worse—ask for a name that didn’t exist in the system. But no. The workers belonged to the merchant’s party, and apparently, that was enough. No lists. No checks. Just a wave-through. The merchant had cleared everything in advance, a small miracle in a world that seemed designed to screw him over at every turn.

North sighed. And here I was, overthinking everything

The moment they crossed the checkpoint, North noticed a difference. It was subtle at first—just a change in the air, the feeling of the space around him.

But the deeper they walked, the more obvious it became. The streets were spotless. Unlike the outer city, where dirt roads were uneven and littered with the dust of trade and travel, the streets here were smooth, paved with polished stone that reflected the sunlight faintly. The architecture was grander, more refined. Multi-story residences stood tall, their rooftops curved elegantly, adorned with ornate carvings of celestial beasts and flowing clouds. The air smelled different. The smoky aroma of street vendors and the musty scent of cheap taverns were gone. Instead, he caught hints of burning incense, medicinal herbs, and faint floral perfumes.

This wasn’t a market district anymore. This was a residential area and also the inner section of the Lustrous Sky Clan.

Despite the shift in environment, there was still a steady flow of people on the road.

Clan or sect disciples in long robes moved in small groups, carrying jade slips and scrolls. Merchants with well-fed bellies rode past in luxurious carriages, their servants walking beside them. Armored guards patrolled the roads, their spears polished, their postures upright and disciplined. Unlike the guards at the checkpoint, these ones were clearly trained professionals. Occasionally, a young master or noble lady would stride by, accompanied by bodyguards and attendants.

Meanwhile, No one loitered. No one yelled out sales pitches. Even the servants of noble houses carried themselves with a sense of order.

As North walked quietly, he let his gaze drift casually while keeping his ears open. The workers around him were relaxed, but chatty. And people who talked freely and comfortably often let valuable things slip.

"—lost the entire shipment," a worker ahead of him muttered. "Third one this month."

"The beast tide's getting worse," another replied, shifting his crate nervously. "My cousin works the western routes. Says they lost thirty percent of their goods this season. The wild beasts are acting strange, moving in larger groups."

"Heard it's because of that thing the Wang Clan's young master stirred up in the Dark Forest."

"Shh! Don't talk about Young Master Wang. He's here for the festival, you know."

The conversation shifted as they passed a particularly impressive mansion. "Speaking of young masters, you hear about the new genius from Frost Peak?"

"The one who became Rank 4 Visionary before turning twenty three? Yeah, they say he's favored for the Winter position."

"No, no, I mean the really interesting one. That girl who came out of nowhere. Beat three inner disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect in succession."

"Oh, Ming Yue? They say she uses some kind of sound technique. Makes people explode just by humming."

One of the older workers, a man with graying hair, chuckled. "You lot are too focused on the obvious choices."

The younger workers looked at him curiously. "What do you mean, Old Liu?"

The older worker smirked. "I mean, everyone’s talking about the same clan heirs and sect geniuses. But there’s another name floating around."

The men leaned in slightly. "Who?"

The older worker grinned. "Some nobody rogue Visionary from the western territories. No big background, no major affiliations."

"Then why bring him up?"

"Because," Old Liu said with amusement, "he’s been challenging sect disciples and beating them. One after another. And not just any disciples—inner disciples."

That got everyone’s attention. North’s interest piqued as well.

"Name?" one of the workers asked.

Old Liu grinned. "His name is Ji Ruohan."

Suddenly, a commotion up ahead drew their attention. A young man stood in their path, hands clasped behind his back, staring at the setting sun. His white robes seemed to absorb and reflect sunlight, creating a subtle aurora around his form.

"That's Young Master Jiang," someone whispered. "They say he became Rank 4 Visionary through sword images."

North studied the newcomer young master carefully. Pure sword Image?

This Jiang talked with the owner of the merchant for a few moments before quietly departing.

"Keep up!" the merchant called from ahead. "We need to have everything in place before the moon rises!"

…

…

Meanwhile, North compiled all the info he had heard so far:

The wilderness is becoming more dangerous. Why?

The Festival of Seasons is bringing in monsters, not just noble heirs.

Many random rogue Visionaries are making waves.

North mentally stored the information. At worst? It was just idle gossip. At best? It could help him predict who to avoid—or who might become a problem later.

Finally after thirty minutes of walking, the merchant party seemed to reach their final location.

North had expected the Plum Gardens to be grand, considering it was the main venue of the Festival of Seasons, but what he saw was beyond anything he had imagined. It wasn’t just a place. It seemed like a different world in itself. The moment they stepped past the outer boundary, the sky above them darkened. But it wasn’t the gloom of night. It was a celestial expanse, a sky filled with glistening silver stars and deep purple hues, as if they had walked into a permanent twilight. A soft glow shimmered along the edges of the horizon, casting the entire garden in an dreamlike glow.

North blinked.

"Okay. This definitely doesn’t look like a Garden."

It was some kind of controlled domain.

And considering who was hosting this event?

[Blessed Land Detected: Lustrous Sky Clan's Celestial Mirage]

North inhaled slowly, compiling the new info provided by the system. "So they made their own sky, huh?"

A simulated world, inside another simulated world. How Odd!

His eyes drifted upward, a colossal rock island, floating effortlessly in the sky above them. From its edge, a majestic waterfall cascaded downward, glowing faintly in the twilight radiance. The water didn’t fall straight down. Instead, it moved with purpose, gently spilling from one floating miniature island to the next, creating a cascading network of silver-blue streams that eventually merged into a single, crystal-clear pond. From there, the water twisted into a thin stream, weaving serpent-like through the Plum Gardens, feeding into smaller creeks and pools.

Cherry plum trees lined the winding paths, their branches heavy with blossoms that never seemed to fully fall. Instead, petals danced on air currents that moved with purposeful rhythm. Behind them, bamboo forests stretched into impossible distances, their green stalks occasionally chiming against each other with musical notes that seemed to harmonize with the falling water.

Overhead, dancers rehearsed for the evening's festivities, their bodies gliding through the air on invisible paths. The dancers moved like fairies, their silk robes trailing behind, their faces bearing the kind of beauty that made one unable to look away.

North’s jaw tightened slightly. The sheer power and control it would take to maintain something like this? The Lustrous Sky Clan wasn’t just rich. They were showing off their power to the world.

He also couldn’t deny the sheer breathtaking beauty of it all.

"Stop gawking!" the merchant and other bosses barked at the worker. "Everyone, remember your location and don’t get lost. Also, we're here to work, not admire."

The relaxed atmosphere vanished. The workers immediately straightened, shifting into serious, no-nonsense mode. No chatting. No wandering. Just work. North picked up a crate like everyone else, blending into the crowd. And as he carried it inside, his thoughts swirled.

Members of the Lustrous Sky Clan seemed to supervise the preparations, their robes marked with clouds that actually moved. A young woman with jade ornaments in her hair directed workers with graceful gestures.

"The Winter pavilion needs frost essence lanterns," she called out. "Summer pavilion requires solar crystal arrays. Do not mix them.”

North carefully placed frost essence lanterns along a path as he was directed. But, the gardens seemed to stretch forever, each turn revealing new wonders. A grove where glowing butterflies danced between trees dripping with spirit dew. A meditation area where stones floated in perfect formation. A tea house built over a pond where spirit fish drew patterns of good fortune with their movements.

Some workers whispered prayers before handling particularly potent decorations.

A group of dancers passed overhead, rehearsing a complex formation dance. Their movements left trails of light in the air, forming characters of blessing and fortune that lingered before fading. Their bodies and faces were indeed quite exquisite, as if they had been cherry picked.

His thoughts trailed off as he watched nearby a young man casually adjust a few runes inside a formation with a gesture, shifting the flow of a nearby stream to better match the garden's rhythm.

As one job finished, the bosses began directing them to new areas, their voice now hushed with appropriate reverence. Night would fall soon—the real night, beyond this twilight—and everything had to be perfect. After all, the gardens would host the most talented young Visionaries of the age.

North placed another lantern, watching it suddenly glow in bright blue light with wisp of cold smoke thread bellowing out.

Silently, he couldn't help but wonder: how much his simple simulator world had evolved. It was far beyond his original design, what else in this world had taken on a life of its own? Can these people be called real?