"Sure! but you go first, I still have something to try," said Li Wei.
"Alright"
Li Wei watched as Bright Sun's silhouette disappeared. He quickly got back to his position and recalled his memories. While he was entering the room and practicing, he closely observed one of the nearby players who was practicing. He randomly chose that one since he was relatively close and was practicing kicks.
He did not know what technique that was, but he just wanted to see if imitating the movements would produce any effect. He tried to replicate as much as possible of what he remembered, but as he expected, nothing happened.
Disappointed, Li Wei drew his swords and started practicing his own moves. He already had 72% fatigue right now, but since the rooms had better fatigue regeneration, he did not mind accumulating some more.
After another 30 minutes, he decided to leave the training center. He still had some errands to run. To begin with, Li Wei needed to submit his loot at the Warrior Association. Since he already gave part of the Giant Worm Hides to the Fleeting Clouds Sect, he could only complete the quest 3 times instead of 5.
He obtained 1500 exp and 30 contribution points just from completing the quest and an additional 200 contribution points in exchange for the loot. It was the same ratio as that of the Fleeting Clouds Sect. There was no need for him to remember how much points he had since everything was recorded in the identification crystal.
Li Wei left the Warrior Association for the Blacksmith Association. He still needed to collect the grade 0 equipment that he should have obtained when signing up.
Professions also had their own associations. There, special rooms were available in which the success rate of crafting would increase. Many materials could also be sold or bought there. Naturally, shops still existed everywhere in the city, but the craftsmen would sometimes need some materials immediately and would not have time to go to the shops.
The grade 0 equipment offered to players for joining the sect were all made by players. The different guilds were already trying to raise some craftsmen.
When Li Wei went in, he talked to the receptionist, who pointed him to one of the meeting rooms. All the large guilds were permanently renting rooms at the associations. They did not have the funds to set up their own private facilities yet. After all, only one week had passed since the start of the game, and they all had to start from scratch, being able to rent rooms could already be considered successful.
Li Wei was immediately greeted by a player called Metal Dragon. As he saw Li Wei present his identification crystal, he quickly nodded and presented Li Wei with a pile of grade 0 equipment. He could choose anything he liked.
However, as Li Wei browsed through the equipment, he felt let down. None of them were top grade 0 equipment. Most of them were average, not even better than his own equipment. He knew that all the players had to learn blacksmithing from the very beginning, but still, he hoped to be able to find some hidden gems.
His contract only mentioned a grade 0 equipment. There was no mention of the quality. Li Wei could only pick one at random. He had no use for it but he could still sell it later.
Having completed his goal, Li Wei left the association for his inn. He did not need to repair his weapons yet. It has only been one day since he entered the open world; it would take some time for the durability to decrease. Although the game wanted to recycle money from the players, developers were not that cruel.
Li Wei wandered around the city for a little while. It was very different from Little Root Town. The sun had already set but the city was still very lively. There was night lighting everywhere on the streets. Hawkers and were setting up their stalls while taverns and bars were booming.
Li Wei quietly walked to the inn Avalanche was occupying. It was the one named Starry Skies. It was found at the end of the main street; the environment there was quieter since it was closer to the residential area.
He quickly pushed the inn's door. There were a few players seated in the main room discussing with a pint of beer in hand. Li Wei was actually surprised to find two rather old men playing chess silently in a corner of the room. What really surprised him was that they were both level 11.
One of the men turned his attention to the newcomer for a brief second but quickly lost interest and once again focused on the chess board. As for Li Wei, he simply went to the counter and presented his identification crystal.
Everything was registered in there, including the guild he belonged to. The receptionist of the inn quickly gave a key to Li Wei and proposed him to pass by the dining hall since they were serving dinners and he could grab something to eat.
Li Wei nodded, a good meal after a long day was always welcomed especially since everything was being paid by the sect. He was surprised that not many players were dining but he recalled that Sun Rose mentioned that the Fleeting Clouds Sect had some trouble recruiting right now.
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After eating, Li Wei went back to his room, he was delighted to have his own room. Li Wei did not mind sharing but he enjoyed having some privacy.
As usual, he lay down on his bed and finally opened the information booklet he was given. It mainly contained information about the secondary professions and the minor additions like the durability mechanic.
Additionally, it mentioned that in case people did not enjoy the game and would like to stop, many jobs were also available. They could work as accountants, artisans or do office work for the NPCs just like in real life.
The booklet was not very long but Li Wei still carefully read through it. He did not want to miss any information that could affect his future. And after making sure that he did not miss anything, he let go of the information booklet which vanished by itself.
...
At the same time in another room of Starry Skies, a middle-aged man was seated in a messy office, reading through a pile of documents.
"Knock knock"
"Enter!"
A young blond lady entered the office in her nightwear, her long smooth hair was attached in a ponytail, going all the way to her plump bottom.
"Dad! Is everything alright?" asked the young lady.
"Ah Cai Die. It's you! I am just going through some minor documents. Don't worry about it. What did you do today?"
The man raised his tired eyes from the pile of papers. He made a gentle smile to his daughter and leaned against the sofa to talk to her. His name was Cai Wenjian, the patriarch of the branch family.
"Don't push yourself too hard. Today went as usual. Just did some hunting. It's easy since I am a priest; there is no need for me to put myself in danger..."
Bright Sun talked while sitting in a chair in front of her father, she knew he was very busy sorting out the affairs of the family, but she still came since her father would be leaving the city the next day. "I also recruited the person I mentioned. As you said, he agreed when I showed our family technique."
"Mmmm. I saw the guild logs. It is fine even if he is just in the outer sect. If he really did defeat the 14th floor of the Tower of Heroes, it would be good if we can keep a good relationship with him," answered Cai Wenjian while making a small nod.
"Yes, but dad, you should know that today was the first time he tried the Gliding Steps. He was still able to achieve 89% completion rate," said Bright Sun.
Cai Wenjian frowned a little, he clearly knew what such a high completion rate meant since he himself practiced techniques. "Then either he is extremely talented, or he is a spy sent by the other families. You should be careful, Cai Die!"
"Don't worry dad, I will be careful... But you know, he said that the Gliding Steps was not a unisex technique but rather a male one," hesitantly said Bright Sun.
Her father displayed a surprised expression for a second, but he quickly let out a laugh, "Don't mind him. The old patriarch already perfected the technique and many females in the clan did use it without any issues. He is just trying to attract your attention. He probably could not resist my beautiful daughter."
"Dad! Not everyone is a playboy like that idiot from the Wang Family," exclaimed Bright Sun as she slightly blushed. Her father always like to tease her about boys whenever they talked, she never got used to it.
"Anyway, just keep a good relationship with him and be careful, I will be leaving tomorrow at dawn with the elders of the clan. I already arranged everything. Just help your brother in case he messes up. Elder Mo will stay here just in case. If anything happens, just talk to him," said the Cai Wenjian with a more serious tone.
The atmosphere turned more solemn. Although she knew that her father had to leave, Cai Die felt reluctant. Her father had always been very busy as the patriarch of the branch of the Cai Family, he rarely spent time with his daughter. But there was nothing he could do. He too felt that he let down his family, but he had to shoulder the responsibilities of the family.
"Do you really have to leave? Mom isn't even here yet," quietly asked Cai Die, slightly lowering her head.
"Cai Die, I would also like to stay here longer, but the family needs to make some preparations. We clearly won't have a strong footing here, but we can start to deploy ourselves in the smaller nearby towns. The new patriarch ordered it. There is nothing I can do... And the other families are also sending their elders to other towns. We must not fall behind," said Cai Wenjian with an apologetic smile.
He felt really bad for leaving her daughter like that, when they entered the game, he thought that he would have more free time to spend with his family. It was an opportunity to redeem himself, but reality was cruel, they did not even spawn in the same Beginner's Town and now, the family needed his help to develop.
"I understand father... Don't worry, everything will be fine in your absence."
"I am sorry Cai Die. I am not always here for you... but mom will be here soon."
"Yes, father..."
Silence once again fell on the room, the two did not know what to say.
'Sigh! Sometimes, I wish I was not the patriarch...' said Cai Die's father in his heart. He was quite successful as a patriarch but failed miserably as a father.
....
At the same time, in another inn of the city,
"Good job darling, with the boss' loot you brought back, we can already guarantee to get a peak grade 0 blacksmith in the near future," said a short-haired lady as she gently brought an apple slice to her mouth.
"Thanks mom. But I would not have succeeded without the help of Seven."
A small family of three were quietly enjoying a late-night snack in a small office. Sun Rose was quietly enjoying a cup of coffee while talking to her parents.
"Yes, even though you were not able to recruit him. At least he joined our allies. We did not expect that they would take out one of their main techniques… You should focus on your own development. You are the future of the Liu Family, never forget it!"
Sun Rose silently nodded, her father had always been very strict to her. She was their unique child and the heir of the Liu Family. Sometimes, she wished she did not hold such an important position. Although she was cheerful and friendly in public, she did suffer quite a lot. Constantly having to behave as a perfect person for the face of the family. Her only joy, when she was young, was when Cai Die came to her house, but in the end, due to the difference in status, the two gradually distanced themselves. But now that they were in the game, she once again could meet Cai Die. Although she was a bit formal at first, the two quickly dropped the barriers between them.
"Yes, I've already transferred 250 contribution points to him."
"Do as you see fit. You make good decisions," nodded Sun Rose's father, "We will be leaving tomorrow morning, you should train hard in our absence."
"Yes father, tomorrow we will be going to the dungeon with the entire sect..."
...
At the same time, somewhere else in Algate City,
"Yes, young master, miss Liu and miss Cai brought a new recruit to the sect. Apparently, he was able to clear the 14th floor of the Tower of Heroes."
If Li Wei looked at the player who was speaking, he would instantly recognize him as the one who stood up in the inn when Sun Rose brought him away to the private room.
"Are you sure about that? The 14th floor... Even brother Wang could not clear it. A random person would not be able to do that," said a young man who was silently watching the stars on a balcony, his right hand holding a cup of wine.
"This is what I've heard, my hearing is quite good since I practice the Sense Opening Technique. I am almost certain," said the man, keeping his head down in a sign of respect.
"Mmmm",
The young man took a light sip from his glass, completely ignoring the player behind him. The latter did not know what to do, but since he was already there, he had to wait to be dismissed.
"There is the sect's expedition tomorrow. Send someone appropriate to test him. But don't bring too much attention on us... It might just be a misunderstanding... We don't want normal players to get a bad opinion of the Fleeting Clouds Sect."
"Yes, young master"