Before I even look over there, my scan shows an attractive woman lying on the ground. One who is clearly trying to capitalize on this opportunity she sees in front of her.

In some ways, you have to respect the fact that she's willing to be so shameless to get help. I switch over to my low-level scan to get any history on this person and how far they'd be able to make it without my help.

What I see causes me to freeze for the slightest moment.

She's actually an agent.

Specifically, a skilled servant for one of the young Noblewomen here. That noble woman is actually one of the ones that were following me when we first reached the dorms. Her background seems to be mostly secretly serving her and being the eyes and ears for her. Involving herself in different groups.

She actually could make it the majority of this trip and, if she pushed herself, could go even further. Though, it might cause her some damage.

My scan naturally turns to the noblewoman, who is obviously more than she appears. She's established herself as part of the in-Group of those young masters and young ladies. She also has the background to fit in with them. Neither too high nor too low.

What they don't know is that she's also been taking training from a rogue cultivator, as well. Not the nice kind, either. However, it is only that. She uses whatever she can, when she can. She doesn't care about the lines between nobles and commoners. Resources are resources.

A perfect example is when she was going to connect with me, along with those young ladies and masters. While she still retreated with them, she was only being subtle to maintain her cover. Pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger.

Armed with this knowledge, I use the other areas of my scan to help me figure out a way through this.

With the increase of my abilities, because of my healing constitution, my mind can move extremely quickly. And increasing every day. Despite that, inquiries like this still take time.

In the interim, I adopt what would be the most normal reaction to something like this.

I just stare at her. Making my face is impassive as possible. I take it much farther than most would.

The surrounding mummers fall to nothing, as I stand there silently, just staring at her. Even her face is turning red, as she slowly climbs to her feet, laughing nervously.

Some people seem to get some distance from her as it takes my scan around a minute to do so. Many people distance themselves from her, as I continue to not move, blink, or do anything that shows any mercy with this awkward situation.

Interestingly enough, I can sense that the noblewoman seems to look really nervous at what my reaction might be to her servant. I actually believe they may have a good relationship, and she actually cares for her. A plus in my book, towards her.

Finally, my scan gives me the answer I was looking for, with me reactivating my conversation scan to go along with the plan.

I finally start purposefully moving, with my direction heading straight at her. Her back straightens, as it's clear I have her and everyone’s attention.

I stop right in front of her and lock eyes with the noblewoman who controls her. It seems to shock her deeply, as she freezes and with her eyes shaking.

I squint my eyes, almost in confusion at her actions, and then move them back to the woman in front of me.

That should throw her through a loop.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Does he know anything? Was he just attracted to me? Did I do something that tipped him off?”

There're many ways that my look could be interpreted. Just how it should be.

“Do you think it is enough to just ask for help?”

I make my voice low, harsh, and curt. Setting the tone of the one-way conversation. She is about to say something, but I cut her off.

“If you want to receive help from me, you need to push yourself to the brink, at the very least.”

I wave my hand around at the other people on the ground.

“These people have worked themselves to the bone, trying to get even a small bit further, despite their lack of ability. If someone like yourself, who could actually make it up this mountain, can't even respect the effort they've put forth towards this, why would I believe you would do the same for me or any of my people?”

Her foot takes a step back, apparently shocked at my recognition of her abilities and the open admonishment. Understandable, as she doesn’t appear to be that strong. Her eyes look as flustered as her masters. I press my advantage while laying some groundwork.

I step to her, my eyes and face much closer than before. Her face is reddened, appearing as though a deer in the headlights.

“Look. If you can push yourself to that point and truly know you have nothing left to give, then you can ask for help in such a way to me. Even then, we will see what you are made of. I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

I spoke directly to the woman, though my words were also meant for everyone around us.

The worst thing you can allow in groups like these is weakness.

Her doing that action gave off the image that I would accept anyone into my group. Prior information on me should give off that I'm a bleeding heart and typically try to help people wherever I can. This gives off a certain type of image, especially in this society.

Even if ultimately my actions say differently, at least the words I say and the image I try to give off, needs to be one that can't be taken lightly.

Something I'm not comfortable with, but will need to learn. Which means I need to change and obscure what has already been established.

Quickly.

With these words said, I turn away and walk briskly back to my group. My scan picks up that she's collapsed on the ground to her knees in a daze. Her friends gather around her, consoling her and checking to see if she's OK. She's done some reactions and attempts to relieve them of their worries, having shaken out of her stupor.

I did, however, see something before she did that, that scares me a bit. It was almost imperceptible, but my scan picked it up.

She mouthed, “More, Daddy.”

…

…

This is a joke, right? This can’t be a thing here too. Right?

On a whim, I decide to use a new version of the scan. One that I never imagine I would create.

This scan determines what people’s kinks are. The only reason I'm doing this is because I really need to know if people’s kinks are as wild as they were on Earth.

All this reveals for me is that pretty much is the same here.

Despite the lack of the Internet, there's still actual cultivation, creatures, and legends here. Where people on earth only had their imaginations to go off of, the people here both have their imagination and practical usage of those ideas. This only aided because you could technically cultivate regardless of efficiency.

Whether or not they’re publicly accepted is a different question.

So, the number of kinks is just about equal here.

All I can do is give a sigh and commit myself to moving on and focusing on getting up this mountain and getting to cultivating.

… though, I want to talk with her more now.

Sigh.

Snap out of it, James.

After that internal crisis, we keep moving at a good pace. Keeping with what I said, I don’t help anyone else that I see on the ground. Despite how bad I feel for them.

It really will be best if these people don’t make it all the way up. They’ll have a terrible time, even if they did. These two were the only exceptions I’ll really make for anyone that doesn’t make it to camp.

Luckily for me, no one else begged for help but just laid there, wallowing in their own frustration.

Soon enough, we reached the point where we will make camp.

My strength and eyes can see far up ahead is the body cultivation folk. Heading all the way back to where we are now, is a lot of different camps of people who seemed to take this time to relax and prepare for the journey up ahead.

The numbers of people that made it up this far seem to be much larger than most testing groups. This must be an overall better year.

At the speed that we’ve been traveling, most of the day is done, but we’ve reached the quarter point.

While most people will try to catch food or rest, this is where I must now prepare to create large amounts of medicine.

I can feel my face tighten at the task before me.

And then I hear Mei Lin’s stomach loudly growl.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Her face turns red from embarrassment.

Ah.

Maybe I should set stuff up first for my team before we move on to that.

Right.