Mini Me

Currency

1. Copper Coins 

• Value: 1 Copper Coin

2. Silver Coins 

• Value: 100 Copper Coins = 1 Silver Coin

3. Gold Coins 

• Value: 100 Silver Coins = 1 Gold Coin (10,000 Copper Coins)

4. Platinum Coins 

• Value: 100 Gold Coins = 1 Platinum Coin (1,000,000 Copper Coins)

—

The sun shone brightly as I covered my face.

"I did a pretty good job, in my opinion," I mused aloud. "What do you think, system?"

"Not bad," the system responded.

I gazed upon the site where a grim murder once stained the ground, now transformed into a majestic cemetery.

I wanted to keep it hidden, so I created two barriers with the system's help. These defenses not only shielded the area from prying eyes but also cloaked it with an illusion of a serene field of dandelions, ensuring its secrets remained undisturbed even if curious wanderers happened upon it.

Suddenly, while I was admiring my masterpiece, I heard the sound of small footsteps. I quickly turned around and came face to face with Yutian Wei, who had finally woken up from his nap. 

"Where is my Mom and Dad?" His voice was surprisingly clear for his age.

"I took care of them, as well as the others," I replied gently.

"Are they… gone?" His gaze dropped to his shoes, holding back tears.

I placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Yes, I'm sorry. There was nothing more I could do."

He looked up at me, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Offering a warm smile, I said, "But don't worry, child. I'll take care of you now."

Yutian wiped his tears with the back of his hand. "You will?"

"Unless you have other family members," I added gently.

He shook his head quickly.

"Then it's settled. From now on, I'll be your Master, and you'll be my disciple."

He gazed at me with curiosity, pointing to himself. "Disciple?"

I nodded solemnly and gently guided him to the entrance of the cemetery.

Taking his hand, I placed it on the large, black doors. With a slow, creaking sound, the doors swung open.

Stepping inside, he gazed around in awe. What seemed modest from outside unfolded into a vast hall, lined with seven towering columns on each side, crafted from exquisite white marble.

I gestured towards the spaces between the columns. "Here is where you can keep your treasures safe."

His eyes widened in disbelief. "All this… for me?"

"Absolutely," I assured him warmly. "You're my first disciple, and you deserve nothing but the finest."

We proceeded towards the altar at the heart of the hall.

In the center lay two ornate golden caskets, surrounded by three pristine white ones on each side. Each casket held someone dear to him— his parents and other loved ones.

I gently placed my hands on each casket. "This is where your parents rest now, in peace."

"Thank you," he murmured, tears welling up despite his efforts to hold them back.

"It's the least I could do," I replied softly, wiping his tears away. "Take your time to say goodbye."

He nodded and sat down beside the caskets, hugging both. "Goodbye. I'll come and visit you again."

'Don't worry, I'll take good care of him from now on,' I thought.

Suddenly, he stood up with newfound determination, reaching out to clasp my hand. "Let's go."

—

"Master, I'm exhausted," he groaned, slumping onto the ground.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his dramatics. "We've barely been walking for two hours, and I've been carrying you most of the way," I retorted, staring down at him.

He looked up at me with a pitiful expression, his eyes welling with fatigue and pleading. "But Master, my legs feel like they're going to fall off."

Sighing, I glanced around. "Fine, but it'll be dark soon anyway."

As if on cue, the system piped in, "There's a town just 10 minutes ahead."

I turned back to my young disciple, shaking my head. "I'll carry you until we reach town. But before that, we need to get you out of those bloody robes."

He blinked at me, confusion furrowing his brow. "Huh?"

—

The air was crisp and fresh as we approached the quaint town of Emerald Peak. Nestled between lush green hills and framed by a clear, azure sky, the town bustled with the energy of market day. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from rare herbs to shimmering fabrics. 

Yutian Wei, clutched my hand tightly, his wide eyes taking in the sights with a mixture of awe and curiosity. Dressed in a miniature version of my own attire—red, gold, and black robes—he looked every bit the tiny cultivator he aspired to be.

We garnered more than a few curious glances as we made our way through the town. My towering height of six feet five inches, combined with my sea-green eyes, cowboy hat, and the mask covering the lower half of my face, marked me as a stranger and an oddity. I could feel the weight of their stares, but I paid them no mind.

We approached the largest inn in town, the Jade Dragon Inn. Pushing open the heavy wooden door, we stepped inside. The hum of conversation dimmed noticeably as heads turned to assess the newcomers.

The scent of incense and freshly brewed tea filled the air. Behind the counter, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a welcoming smile greeted us.

"Welcome to the Jade Dragon Inn," she said, her eyes flicking briefly over my unusual attire before settling on Wei with a softer expression. "How may I assist you today?"

"A room for two for one night, please," I replied, my voice firm but polite.

She nodded, retrieving a key from the wall behind her. "We have a lovely room on the second floor with a view of the garden. Would that be fine?" 

"Yeah, it's perfect"

"Great, that would be 20 copper coins."

I nodded gratefully and reached into my robe, retrieving my infinite black and red colored coin pouch. With a silent chant of 'copper, copper' in my mind, I deftly pulled out the required 20 coins. The innkeeper accepted them with a nod of approval, her kind eyes briefly glancing at the intricate patterns on the coins before focusing warmly on Yutian Wei.

She then hands me the key"I hope it will suit your needs"

With the transaction completed, I thanked her and led Wei up the creaking wooden staircase. The stares from the patrons followed us, but no one dared to say anything. Once we reached our room, I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

The room was modest but clean, with a large bed, a small table with chairs, and a window overlooking a serene garden. I set our belongings down and closed the door behind us, finally allowing myself to relax.

Wei immediately began exploring the room, his tiny hands touching everything within reach. I watched him with a small smile, my heart swelling with pride and affection. 

—

In the quiet stillness of the night, five men clad in dark attire crept through the dense forest towards the secluded clearing where only hours before, they had left a gruesome massacre behind. Moonlight filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows over their tense faces.

As they approached the clearing, the leader—a man with a weathered countenance and piercing eyes—motioned for the others to halt. They spread out cautiously, every sense alert to any sign of danger or unexpected change.

What greeted them was far from what they anticipated. Instead of the blood-soaked ground and lifeless bodies they had left, the clearing was now blanketed with an unexpected sight—a field of peculiar yellow flowers, their petals shimmering in the moonlight. There was no trace left of the violence they had inflicted earlier.

Three of the men exchanged anxious glances, their minds racing with fear and uncertainty. One whispered hoarsely, "What if the 1st young master finds out? He'll have our heads for this!"

The leader, his voice low and commanding, stepped forward, his expression unwavering. "Calm yourselves," he said firmly. "There's no way they could have survived. I made sure of it."

Another man, his voice trembling slightly, spoke up. "But, sir, I saw the child. He was still breathing…"

The leader cut him off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "A child, no matter how prodigious, cannot survive such fatal wounds. Trust me, there's no cause for concern."

Despite his assurances, unease lingered among the group like a gathering storm. They knew the consequences of failure in their line of work, especially when it involved the influential and ruthless 1st young master. Yet, they also knew better than to question their leader's judgment.

With a final sweep of the area, the leader signaled for them to depart. Reluctantly, they turned away from the clearing, their minds heavy with doubt and dread.