Danger everywhere? Riku barely managed to hold back a curse, "There's really danger everywhere? I jus want to live peacefully!"
Moko refuted, "If you want to live peacefully, you better listen carefully! We live in a, hmm, I guess you could call it a realm? Uh-hm, Sounds good enough. Anyways, it's the Realm of Intermittent Blooming."
"..."
Moko questioned sternly, "Did I say something wrong?"
"No, but, uh... Who named it?"
"How should I know? Anyways, in this realm, cultivation exists! You might not feel it yet, but there's a qi that flows all around you."
"Uh-hm." Riku played along skeptically.
"Oh my," Moko sighed, "Just close your eyes, and follow along with me. I'll send my qi throughout your body."
Riku's hesitated, before relenting. Worse case scenario, Moko was playing a prank on him, right?
With his eyes closed, Riku felt a strange feeling.
Despite being strange, it was similar—the gentle heat and the coolness from earlier.
He felt both coursing through his bodies, wondering, "This sensation, it's the so-called "qi" you mentioned?"
"Correct, you could also refer to qi as energy. In this world, cultivators exist to absorb and cultivate qi, growing strong as a result! Of course, most cultivators cultivate alone, unlike you who has me at your side! Truly a great boon!"
"Huh? Why's that?"
"Naturally, the two of us can cultivate together, and so your cultivation will excel much faster than others! And before you decline, only by cultivating will you be able to live peacefully!"
Riku mused for a second, "Well, I don't really have any other choice, do I?"
"Naturally, Riku" Moko laughed, "After we get started, I'll tell you about my main abilities!"
Riku was confused, what "abilities" could he have? Even so, he decided to hold off on asking, but his eyes widened in shock the next moment.
Right in front of him, a youth with long green hair and sparkling yellow eyes. Riku couldn't help but freeze—such enchanting eyes!
Both had a near-identical height, their builds similarly slim. But this green haired youth... he was just too dashing, and his skin seemed fairer than even his own!
Riku shook his head to clear his thoughts, while the other laughed.
"Haha, Are you surprised, Riku? While I am connected to you, I am still able to take form outside as well. However, I can't retain this form for long! And furthermore, I can't do anything that will bring attention to my existence, otherwise the consequences would be dire."
Moko continued, "Give me your hand, I'll help you with the first stage of cultivation—Qi Condensation. I'll help you guide your first bit of qi into your dantian."
With Moko's studious gaze, Riku easily relented his hand.
As Moko held his hand in his own, Riku felt his heart skip a beat.
Moko's hands were really soft...
At this thought, Riku felt his face heat up, while Moko laughed teasingly.
"You're not scared, right? Even I never held someone's hands before, but what's there to worry about? Or are you afraid of germs?"
Riku couldn't help but think, 'Thankfully, he misunderstood.'
But then he thought, 'Wait—misunderstood what? Wha-What am I thinking?!'
He blurted out, "NO! I mean, no, I'm fine. Let's continue!"
"Tch. Weirdo. Anyways, just follow my lead. Even if you can't fully concentrate, we should be able to succeed."
Riku quickly closed his eyes, his face blushed a light red.
Soon to his amazement, he felt what seemed like a breeze of wind despite being in a cave, and an external qi seemed to surround his body.
Slowly, the qi entered his body, flowing into what was called his dantian. There all of his qi would be stored.
Time passed by, and Riku continued to cultivate.
Just next to him was the smiling Moko, 'Heh. He probably hasn't noticed that I've long stopped assisting him. He's not doing too bad either.'
At that moment, a snapping sound rang out, alongside a burst of qi engulfing Riku's body.
Riku's eyes snapped open, surprise on his face.
Looking at his hands, with a simple thought his qi started to course through his body, forming a tiny sphere in his hands.
"You finally broke through Qi Condensation, stepping into Foundation Establishment. Now, Foundation Establishment has 9 stages, though that isn't important for now."
Riku's eyes lit up like green jewels, as he asked eagerly, "Did I do good?"
"Yeah, you did great! Though, you can thank me for that."
Riku's smile widened at the compliment.
Right now, everything felt like a dream. And Riku felt one fear—that he could wake up at any moment.
At the same time, he was surprised.
'Even though I only just died, I'm already smiling so much. Is cultivating making me so happy? Or is it Moko's company?'
Regardless of what reason it was, Riku had to continue moving on.
He was curious about this world, the so-called Realm of Intermittent Blooming, and what sort of life he'd experience here.
"Hey, Moko," Riku started.
"Hmm? What's up?"
Riku was at a loss, considering the same problem in his previous life.
He blurted out absentmindedly, "What direction do I go from here?"
Moko tilted his head in confusion, "What direction do you go in? There's not just one direction you need to go in, you know that, right? There will be plenty of twists and turns, and the two of us will be going the same paths together, so what's it even matter?"
Riku was shocked, realizing that he had always been looking at the smaller picture.
Sure, some things should be thought out, but establishing a vague direction wasn't so bad, right?
And as Moko said, he wasn't alone.
Riku felt like the burden which accompanied him in his previous life was already gone, breathing out in relief.
But Moko suddenly spoke up, "However, my abilities will definitely affect the direction we go in—but in a good way!"
"Oh? How so?"
"Because the abilities I was given as a "system" are in starting a shop, more specifically—a traveling shop!"
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