Kai and Liu Wei set out at dawn, the cool morning air nipping at their faces as they made their way into the forest surrounding the Misty Waterfall Village.

Kai kept his eyes on the map floating in his vision, carefully guiding them along the path indicated by the treasure map they'd found in the bandit camp. The digital overlay showed their position as a blue dot, slowly moving across the terrain.

This is just like following a quest marker, Kai mused. Except the graphics are a lot more realistic.

Liu Wei trudged along beside him, occasionally casting nervous glances at the shadowy undergrowth. The young man's hand kept drifting to the dagger at his belt, as if reassuring himself it was still there.

After about an hour of walking in silence, Liu Wei cleared his throat awkwardly. "So, um, Master Kai... where are you from originally?"

"To be honest, Liu Wei, I don't really remember much," Kai said, keeping his eye on the map. "I must have hit my head or something because a lot of my past is fuzzy."

Liu Wei's face fell slightly, and he looked down at his feet. "Oh... I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to pry. You probably don't want to talk about it."

Kai laughed, trying to lighten the mood. "No, no, I'm being honest. I really don't remember much."

Liu Wei perked up a bit at Kai's laughter. "Is Kai Thorn even your real name? It's... kind of strange, if you don't mind me saying."

Kai shrugged, keeping his expression neutral. "That's all I remember. It might be a nickname for all I know. Why? Does it mean something funny in your language?"

Liu Wei shook his head quickly. "No, no! It's just... unusual. I've never heard a name like that before."

"Well, maybe I'm just an unusual guy," Kai said with a wink. "It keeps things interesting, don't you think?"

Liu Wei nodded, a small smile forming on his face. "I suppose it does, Master."

Better to keep things vague, Kai thought. The less I have to lie about, the easier it'll be to keep my story straight.

Sensing Liu Wei's disappointment, Kai decided to change the subject. "What about you, Liu Wei? Where are you from? What happened to your family when you joined the bandits?"

Liu Wei's face clouded over, a mix of sadness and uncertainty in his eyes. "I... I don't know what happened to them. I haven't seen my family in five years, since I was 13."

Kai raised an eyebrow, “Did the bandits promise to leave your family alone if you joined?”

“Yes, the bandit leader promised that if I joined, they'd spare my family. I'm sure they kept their word. They didn't kill them."

Kai kept his face carefully neutral, not wanting to dash Liu Wei's hopes. But inwardly, he was far less certain. Bandit leaders aren't exactly known for their honesty, he thought. But there's no point in telling him that now.

"It'll be nice to see them again someday," Liu Wei said, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Have you tried to find them since then?" Kai asked gently.

Liu Wei shook his head. "I was afraid... afraid of what I might find. Or what they might think of me, after all I've done."

Kai placed a hand on Liu Wei's shoulder. "Hey, you were just trying to survive. I'm sure they'd understand that."

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"You really think so?" Liu Wei asked, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Kai nodded. "I do. And you know what? After we've entered the Azure Sky Sect, we'll pay a visit to your village. You can show your family how you've become an Immortal cultivator."

Liu Wei's face lit up, his eyes shining with hope and excitement. "Really, Master? You'd do that for me?"

Kai nodded, smiling. "Of course. What's the point of gaining power if you can't use it to help the people you care about?"

Plus, having a loyal follower with strong motivations is always useful in these kinds of stories, Kai thought pragmatically. Who knows, maybe Liu Wei is secretly a protagonist, he’s got the tragic backstory after all…

"Thank you, Master," Liu Wei said, bowing deeply. "I... I don't know what to say."

As they continued walking, Liu Wei peppered Kai with questions about cultivation and the Azure Sky Sect. Kai answered as best he could, drawing on his knowledge of xianxia novels and games to fill in the gaps.

"Master, is it true that the Azure Sky Sect compound is always surrounded by clouds?" Liu Wei asked, his eyes wide with wonder.

Kai nodded sagely. "That's what I've heard from Zhang Wei. They say the clouds are filled with spiritual energy that helps cultivators advance faster."

At least, that's how it usually works in these kinds of settings, Kai thought. I hope I'm not setting us up for disappointment.

Liu Wei's face scrunched up in confusion. "But how do they see where they're going if they're always in the clouds?"

Kai chuckled. "I'm sure they have ways of navigating. Maybe they can sense the spiritual energy, or they have special techniques for parting the clouds."

Or maybe it's just for dramatic effect and they actually live below the cloud line, Kai mused. Fantasy worlds don't always make perfect sense.

"It's beautiful here," Liu Wei remarked, looking at the forest around them. "I never really appreciated nature when I was with the bandits. We were always too busy... well, you know."

Kai nodded. "It's amazing what you can see when you're not constantly looking over your shoulder. But stay alert – beauty can hide danger in this world."

Liu Wei's hand drifted to his dagger again. "You're right, Master. I'll keep my guard up."

As they walked, Kai kept one eye on his map display, watching for any signs of danger or points of interest. The forest around them seemed peaceful enough, with birds chirping and small animals scurrying through the underbrush.

This is almost too easy, Kai thought, a hint of suspicion creeping into his mind. In games, when things seem this calm, it usually means something big is about to happen.

As if on cue, a red dot suddenly appeared on Kai's map, rapidly approaching from the east.

I knew it, Kai thought, his body tensing.

"Liu Wei," Kai said sharply, cutting off the young man's latest question about sect life. "Get up in that tree and cover me."

Liu Wei blinked in surprise but didn't hesitate. Years of following orders as a bandit had honed his reflexes. He scrambled up the nearest tree with impressive agility, positioning himself on a sturdy branch with a clear view of the area.

"What is it, Master?" Liu Wei whispered.

Kai took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared to face whatever was charging towards them. He ran through his available skills mentally, trying to guess what would be most effective against an unknown enemy.

Iron Skin for defense, Wind Step for mobility, and Flame Palm for offense, Kai decided. But I'll have to be careful with my qi usage. I don't have an infinite mana pool here.

"Something's coming," Kai replied, his eyes scanning the underbrush. "Something big. Be ready with those daggers of yours."

The sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves grew louder. Kai could hear heavy breathing and the thud of something large moving through the forest.

Please don't be a boss monster, Kai thought, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. I'm not nearly high enough level for that yet.

"Master," Liu Wei whispered urgently from above, "I think I see something moving in the bushes to your right!"

Kai nodded, shifting his stance to face the direction. "Good eye, Liu Wei.”

Suddenly, the bushes in front of them exploded outward. Kai's eyes widened in shock and disgust as a massive, cockroach-like beast burst into view. It was easily the size of a school bus, its body glowed with a sickly, greenish-black sheen.

Oh, come on! Kai thought, fighting back a wave of revulsion. I hate insects, and definitely those bigger than me!

"By the heavens!" Liu Wei shouted, his voice a mix of awe and terror. "What even is that?"

As the monstrous cockroach skittered towards him on its numerous legs, a message popped up in Kai's vision:

Giant Scavenger Roach

Level: Qi Refining Stage 6

HP: 500/500

Strength: 40

Agility: 37

Endurance: 43

Special Ability: Acidic Spit

Weakness: Fire

"It's a Giant Scavenger Roach," Kai called out, his mind racing to formulate a strategy. "And it doesn’t look like it’s here to make friends!"