Chapter 14: System’s Providence Sect
"NEEEEE CHEEEN! STOP SWINGING YOUR DAMN SWORD AND EAT!"
"Y-yes… YES MA'AM!"
It has been a week since the annihilation of One Well Village. Nee Chen is covered with sweat as he swung his sword repeatedly since morning.
A week ago, an old man came to their village carrying Zha Dong's almost unrecognizable head.
The old man who brought the head didn't say anything… he just left the bloodied head there, clearly presenting it to Nee Chen.
Seeing the dead demonic cultivator, Nee Chen felt disappointment and relief.
Disappointment that it wasn't him who did the kill… and relief that no one would go after his, Xiang Ya's, and Lu Gao's life anymore.
Nee Chen watched the old man then approach Xiang Ya. Curious, Nee Chen just watched as the mysterious old man healed Xiang Ya with a wave of his hand.
It all happened in the blink of an eye leaving Nee Chen in awe.
"If you desire power, come to Desolate Mountain to see me." With these words, the old man vanished in plain sight. Shortly after, Xiang Ya woke up.
A mortal's life is too fragile. They would crumble with a thought. Nee Chen doesn't really know how to put a finger on it, he just intuitively knows that staying in this village would be bad for them.
While pushing the thought of not burying the dead at the back of his mind, Nee Chen decisively and persistently decided that this would be for the best for them.
Surely, the officials of the kingdom can take care of it. Nee Chen wrote a letter and left it on a pigeon carrier for the nearest outpost to receive. Nee Chen released the pigeon to the skies with an optimistic mind.
Nee Chen had no choice, but to abandon the village. With his Martial Tempering strength, he safely brought Xiang Ya and Lu Gao by the riverside as he makes camp just somewhere else, as long as it is far from the village.
Nee Chen recalled these memories as if it happened yesterday. He then sheathed his sword and followed the smell of food as he returned to their campsite.
"Hmmm… That smells nice."
"Xiang Ya, thank you for the food!"
Nee Chen relished the fish that was slowly burned in the fire. Never letting go of his sword, he ate the fish with one hand. Though it lacks salt, it tastes just fine to him. He can't be picky… after all they just survived a tragedy.
"Umuu… Just eat your fill."
Xiang Ya nibbled at her food with droopy eyes. She doesn't know if it's because she slept on the damp soil, or because of what she went through, but she is feeling uncomfortable.
There was a suffocating sensation in her chest— there was anger, sadness, and fear.
Lu Gao is even worse as the young boy just kept on staring at his food.
Nee Chen is worried for Lu Gao.
"Little Gao, eat… I caught those fish with my bare hands… do you know how difficult is that? Eat."
"Big bro, I can't."
Guilt, remorse, and despair— these are the emotions swirling in the young boy's mind.
"I'd rather die!"
SLAP!
Because of Lu Gao's gloomy words, Xiang Ya slapped him. With teary eyes, she exclaimed, "Die? Why? Do you think living is that easy? You brat!"
No matter how painful, she has to live, and they have to live. For the sake of those who died.
"Listen here, Lu Gao!? What do you think your mom would want you to do after all that?"
"…"
"She would want you to live! I want you to live! And you, NEE CHEN?!"
"H-huh? Umm... What is it?"
"When are we going to the Desolate Mountain? It has been a week already! Instead of being sad and miserable, I'd rather find a way to get the vengeance we deserve."
'S-she knew?' Nee Chen felt conflict inside him. It seems that Xiang Ya didn't faint, and was semi-conscious after getting attacked by the Demonic Cultivator.
Looks like Xiang Ya heard the words of the mysterious old man...
"You don't have to go there, I am enough." Gripping his sword tight, Nee Chen told Xiang Ya that it doesn't matter. He alone can do it.
But Xiang Ya doesn't want that.
"You can't stop me, I am coming. It is not your revenge alone."
The once most beautiful flower of the village showed a tenacity never before seen in her. It was the middle of the night, and the moon above shone with luminous white. The fiery bonfire used to cook their fish was reduced to cinders.
"He said… he could give us power… I want it. So, Chen… Please…" Xiang Ya pleaded, her eyes a little bit misty.
"You do know there is no free lunch in the world, right?" Nee Chen gritted his teeth, reluctant of the bloody path that he believed, he alone, can take.
"He already saved me once. I am already indebted to him." Xiang Ya said in a calm voice, taking her chances that... Nee Chen just might see it on her way.
Nee Chen doesn't know what to say. It was her choice to make. Nee Chen then raised elder Fu's sword still in its sheathe and offered it to Xiang Ya.
"Please… don't… I can't." Xiang Ya without a second thought declined Nee Chen's gesture. It is just too painful for her. Though she wants vengeance, she doesn't want to be reminded of her grandfather this way.
"Brother Chen, Sister Ya… me too." Lu Gao also expressed his intention… a new reason to live fill his being.
With a helpless sigh, Nee Chen acquiesced to their wishes, "Fine, we'll start our journey tomorrow morning at the first ray of sunlight."
…
[Name: Fu Shi
Quintessence: 109
Players: 1/1]
Hmmm… It's not my habit to spy on people. It just happens that I wanted to check on them. It's all a coincidence that I overheard them.
But overheard is too much of an exaggeration. It's more like I read their lips while using Mind's Eye. It was a little bit difficult since its dark during the night, but I got the gist of the situation.
"Looks like it's time for a massive upgrade."
Ping! -100 quintessence.
Ping! Upgrading the Game Master's System!
[UPDATES!
*Daily Quintessence Points now depend on how many players you have
*Players can now earn Quintessence Points for the Game Master
*Pings on the deaths of players are now possible
*Player Level Cap: 2nd Stage— Mind Enlightenment
*Maximum Players: 1/10
Remarks: Congratulations on discovering the Upgrade function!]
Not bad, not bad at all! It was a hunch at first, but it looks like it worked.
"Yuan'er, I have a mission for you."
[Ping! Giving Quest... Escort!]
…
"Kyu-kyu-KYU!"
"U-uck, don't! Ouch, who did that?" Nee Chen woke up at the sight of a little bunny prodding his forehead. The bunny stopped when it noticed that Nee Chen is already awake.
'What the hell?'
The little bunny continued to do the said prodding, to his two other companions.
"A-ack!"
"Uwuuu, I still want to sleep! OUCH!"
Lu Gao's and Xiang Ya's foreheads are quite red. Nee Chen's already healed, maybe thanks to his Martial Tempering constitution, he felt thankful for being a 1st stage cultivator.
The little bunny is a topic of curiosity. Just what in the world is it doing here?
"Is this a demonic beast?" Lu Gao complained.
"No way, it's too cute!" Xiang Ya defended.
"It looks like it wants to lead us somewhere," Nee Chen being the most objective of the three carefully scrutinized the little bunny.
"Let's follow it; I think I know where it wants to lead us." He added, confident of his own deductions.
They traversed the Butterberry forest, Nee Chen, not even breaking a sweat thanks to their bunny bodyguard. The other two become tired too easily though, from the walking, which can't be helped.
The terrain is rough, but they persevered. Nee Chen even alternates between carrying Xiang Ya and Lu Gao
"Brother Chen, what do you think of the bunny?" Little Gao can't suppress his curiosity anymore, so he asked. But instead of Nee Chen, it was Xiang Ya that answered.
"It could only be the master cultivator that arrived in our village. After all, it was only he who could have known where we are staying. He arrived at our village unannounced and even exacted vengeance on that abominable demon… He is certainly a legendary figure. With this line of thought, it could only be him who sent us this… little bunny."
Nee Chen nodded in agreement with Xiang Ya's words. Moreover, the little bunny was friendly throughout their journey. It even hunts for them!
They watched the little bunny carve its way into these forests, safely escorting its charge forwards.
After two consecutive weeks of travel, they finally reached their destination. At the peak of Desolate Mountain, a cave carved with dragons on its edges majestically welcomed them.
"You have come,"
[Ping! Used 3 quintessence. Acquired 3 players]
"From now on, you three are members of the System's Providence Sect!"
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone