I Am a Young Man with Lofty Ambitions

"Brother Xiao Bai, are you there?"

An elegant, lilting voice drifted in, carrying a trace of softness and allure that made one's heart tremble.

The voice reached the courtyard, interrupting Xiao Bai's reverie—his so-called fantasies.

Xiao Bai came back to his senses and subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth.

Good thing he hadn't drooled. That was more like his usual self.

As expected of a young man with aspirations, determined to remain unruffled even with Mount Tai bearing down on his head.

"I'm not here. There's no one here."

"Hmph, you said there's no one here, then what are you? Aren't you human?"

Xiao Bai: "..."

Damn it, someone as smart as him had actually fallen for a trick—and one he had set up himself.

After thinking it over, he decided it was better to get straight to the point.

"Who is it? Don't bother me if it's nothing important!"

As a well-rounded young man who had seen countless grand occasions and beautiful women with makeup, how could he be seduced and confused by a nice voice like this? He replied impatiently.

The girl outside nearly exploded with rage.

As the daughter of the Xiao Family's Elder of Martial Instruction, when had anyone ever spoken to her in such a tone? A flicker of displeasure crossed her face.

Still, upon hearing the question from inside, she answered subconsciously.

"Cousin Xiao Bai, it's me, Xiao Mei."

"Oh, what is it?" A flat voice came from within.

Hearing that calm, waterlike voice, the girl could not help stamping her foot again, as if she wanted to vent all her resentment on the floor.

"Xiao Mei, lighter. If you break my floor, you'll have to pay for it."

The moment he stepped out, he saw a girl glaring at him angrily. Dressed in pink, she was brimming with girlish charm.

Her fair skin had a rosy glow, as though water could be squeezed from it. Her delicate little face was flushed red, though it was currently puffed up like a tiny ball, making one want to reach out and pinch it.

Of course, as someone with an adult mind, Xiao Bai could withstand such a minor temptation.

After all, he was a young man with lofty ambitions. Something like this would be forgotten in minutes.

"You!"

"Hmph, Cousin Xiao Bai, I came to see you so early in the morning. Fine, you didn't come out to welcome me, but you even treated me like this. I'm unhappy now..."

As she spoke, she turned her face aside, looking exactly like a child throwing a tantrum: I'm angry. If you don't comfort me, I won't be happy. Hurry up and comfort me!

Unfortunately, Xiao Bai paid no attention to her display. Instead, he calmly said something that left her quite helpless.

"You should just tell me what you want. My time is limited. I'm very, very busy!"

"Uh..."

Hearing Xiao Bai's words, Xiao Mei was speechless for a moment. She had no idea what to say.

Inwardly, she cursed him. Idiot, blockhead, man with no romantic sense. You'll be single for life.

Xiao Bai had no idea what the girl before him was thinking. He merely said impatiently, "What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and tell me what it is."

Prompted by Xiao Bai, Xiao Mei finally came back to her senses and remembered what she had come to say.

"Cousin Xiao Bai, the family assembly will be held in a few days. At that time, they'll test the results of our recent cultivation. But I've reached a bottleneck lately, and my strength hasn't improved at all. So I thought about going out for a walk..."

"I was about to go out and happened to pass by your courtyard, so I thought of you, who have always been cultivating. The changes in Wutan City have been especially noticeable these past few years. I figured you probably aren't very familiar with the city anymore, so I wanted to ask you to come out with me. I can also introduce you to the changes over the past few years."

After saying that, Xiao Mei looked at Xiao Bai expectantly. Her large eyes were misty with tears, as if she would cry if he refused.

Xiao Bai was somewhat tempted by her words.

Xiao Bai swore that he absolutely did not agree because he had softened at the sight of those watery eyes.

To be honest, ever since arriving in this world, he had been working hard to absorb energy. Every day, he did nothing but cultivate and sleep. He had not done anything else at all, much less stepped out of the Xiao Family gates to see the world outside.

Even without Xiao Mei saying so, Xiao Bai himself had wanted to go out and take a look.

It was only that he had never been able to spare the time, which was why he had never acted on it.

And the reason he had kept putting it off was to meet a better version of himself.

That was why he had cultivated so frantically before, raising his strength. This was, after all, a world where strength reigned supreme, where the bigger fist was the only hard truth.

But now, he had some ability to protect himself, and there was even someone willing to guide him. Why not?

"Alright, I agree." Xiao Bai nodded, accepting Xiao Mei's suggestion.

Having someone guide him for free was not an opportunity that came often, and the guide was fairly pretty too. She was pleasant enough to look at.

Besides, this girl had clearly come specifically to find him, yet she insisted that she had merely happened to pass by.

One had to know that among all the Xiao Family disciples, Xiao Bai's residence was the farthest from the Xiao Family gates—without question.

If the Xiao Family were viewed as a circle, with the gate on one side, then if one drew a diameter through the circle, the point where it met the circle on the opposite side would be where Xiao Bai now lived. Beyond it lay the Xiao Family's back mountain.

A year ago, after Xiao Bai displayed his strength, the Xiao Family had intended to move him somewhere else, but he refused.

He liked the air by the back mountain and its sense of tranquility. It unconsciously calmed him, allowing him to quietly feel this world.

Thus, Xiao Bai could easily tell that the girl was lying, but he did not expose her. Her muddled, adorably foolish appearance made him somewhat captivated.

That was also why, after thinking for a moment, Xiao Bai agreed without hesitation.

"Mhm, great! Then let's hurry and go!"

As she spoke, the girl revealed a delighted smile. She walked as though springs had been fitted beneath her feet, bouncing along as she grabbed Xiao Bai and pulled him toward the family gates.

Xiao Bai had not expected her to be in such a hurry and was dragged forward a few steps.

Feeling the pull on his body, Xiao Bai quickly steadied himself and smiled helplessly at the girl.

"Wait, don't rush! I need to go inside and get something."

No matter which world one was in, there was one thing that had to be brought along when going out.

Money!

As the saying went, "A penny can stump a hero."

That was the importance of money.

After Xiao Bai displayed his strength, his cultivation resources increased as well. Then he began doing a little business, selling off the things he did not need and converting them into Gold Coins.

Through this, Xiao Bai's little treasury became much fuller.

Although he had used most of it to buy Magic Crystals, the small portion he had set aside was enough for immediate needs.

After taking his Gold Coins, Xiao Bai left the Xiao Family with Xiao Mei and began strolling around Wutan City...