This Opening Is Too Tropey

"Senior Brother knows me well—I don't have any grand ambitions. I just want to be an ordinary disciple of the Returning Heart Sect. But I've been diligently training in the Returning Heart Skill and the One Word Swordplay, and I'm more than capable of taking a few junior brothers and sisters down the mountain for trials now and then."

"Ahh... you." Shaking his head, Lu Bogui, who knew his Junior Disciple's nature all too well, didn't press further. Instead, he pulled a small cloth bag from his bosom and set it before Jiang Beiran.

"A gift for you. Birthday present." After saying this, Lu Bogui added with a smile, "A little late, though."

Jiang Beiran's hand, holding his chopsticks, paused. He rubbed his slightly stinging nose and said, "You remembered this even while training down the mountain? Honestly, I'd forgotten it myself."

"How could I forget? This year marks your twentieth—a big birthday. I wanted to rush back to celebrate with you, but I really couldn't get away."

"Senior Brother..."

Seeing Jiang Beiran's eyes redden, Lu Bogui picked up a piece of beef and placed it in his bowl, murmuring softly, "Time flies. In the blink of an eye, you've been on the mountain for five years. I still remember the first time I saw you, haha."

"Yeah... five years already." Jiang Beiran sighed with deep emotion.

Five years ago, he had suddenly transmigrated into this chaotic, sect-ridden fantasy world.

And it seemed the heavens weren't inclined to give him much time to mentally prepare, as a string of cliché events came crashing down on him one after another.

First, he was an orphan, currently living under his uncle's roof, enduring his aunt's scorn and unabashed mockery every single day.

"What? Can't I say a few words to you? You freeloader."

"I could keep a dog and it would at least guard the door. What use are you?"

"Hmph, can't even handle a simple chore like mopping the floor. You'll grow up to be a useless waste, still eating me out of house and home."

How could Jiang Beiran take that? He'd gone through all the trouble of transmigrating to be the protagonist! Why should he put up with this crap!?

So at dinner, he slammed his bowl to the ground, pointed at his ugly, fat aunt, and roared, "I must have done no good deeds for eighteen lifetimes to run into a shrew like you—looks human, acts like a dog! From today on, I'm out of here! Go eat shit!"

Having vented, Jiang Beiran turned and bolted out of that shabby thatched cottage, leaving his life of dependency behind for good.

But after just one night, Jiang Beiran was done for. Simply put, he was starving.

He'd run out on pure impulse, without even a single flatbread, let alone any money.

So he spent the night hungry and cold. At sunrise, he paced in front of a steamed bun stall for a good twenty minutes, only to be chased off by the vendor with three emphatic "Scrams!"

Luckily, the heavens never close all doors on a transmigrator. At dusk, just as Jiang Beiran found a relatively warm corner to sit in, a kindly-looking Taoist priest approached and handed him a fragrant sesame cake, saying gently, "Eat up, little one."

Jiang Beiran was ravenous. He didn't dare hesitate for a second. Thanking the man, he grabbed the cake and wolfed it down.

"Take it easy, slow down. When you're done, I've got more." The Taoist pulled out a gourd of water and handed it to Jiang Beiran. "Ah, poor child."

"Th-thank you, Taoist." Taking the gourd, Jiang Beiran chugged a few gulps and burst into tears on the spot—whether from the cake's fragrance or the water's chill, he couldn't tell.

After scarfing down two cakes in one go and finally feeling alive again, Jiang Beiran thanked the Taoist profusely.

"No need." The Taoist waved his hand, then asked with a smile, "Do you know why, among all the hungry children on the street, I chose to give you a cake?"

Jiang Beiran shook his head. "No."

"Because I see that your bones are extraordinary—you have the makings of a martial prodigy. Within three years, you'll surely be a standout among the younger generation of my Blazing Fire Sect!"

The moment the Taoist spoke those words, three options flashed before Jiang Beiran's eyes.

[Option One: Immediately say, "Please take me as your disciple, Taoist." Completion reward: Profound Fire Body (Yellow Rank High Grade)]

[Option Two: "I've never met a master like you before. May I ask what kind of place the Blazing Fire Sect is?" Completion reward: Blazing Fire Blade (Yellow Rank Middle Grade)]

[Option Three: Politely decline the Taoist's kindness. Completion reward: Random Basic Attribute Point +1]

'Aha! The system's here!'

Jiang Beiran was smug. The perks of being a transmigrator were great! A double blessing in an instant—both the old master and the system had shown up.

'Is this the legendary protagonist treatment? This is way too good!'

Then Jiang Beiran started agonizing over whether to pick one or two. Picking one made him seem a bit too eager, but the reward—Profound Fire Body—sounded perfect for the Taoist's Blazing Fire Sect, clearly a tailored match from the system.

Picking two let him flatter the Taoist while appearing cautious, and the Blazing Fire Blade seemed fitting for the sect too—a solid option.

As for three? Only an idiot would choose that! Turning down a freebie for a measly one-point attribute boost? That wasn't even a consolation prize.

After wrestling with it, Jiang Beiran went with one. After all, a body cultivation method sounded more important—it might double his early training efficiency.

"Please take me as your disciple, Taoist!" Having made his choice, Jiang Beiran dropped to his knees and shouted in the most sincere tone he could muster.

The Taoist smiled faintly, reached out to help Jiang Beiran up, and patted his shoulder. "To become my disciple, you'll first have to pass a trial."

"A trial?" Jiang Beiran hesitated for a moment, then immediately said seriously, "I'll definitely work hard to pass it!"

"Good!" The Taoist nodded in satisfaction, flicked his sleeves, and turned around. "Then follow me."

"Yes!"

[Option quest completed. Apprenticeship quest initiated. Reward will be settled upon quest completion.]

[Quest Objective: Become the Black Robed Taoist's disciple.]

'Huh? The reward isn't given directly?'

Jiang Beiran had thought that shouting "Please take me as your disciple, Taoist!" would net him the Profound Fire Body right away. He hadn't expected it to only trigger a quest.

'Oh well, no big deal. Having something to look forward to is good too.' With that thought, Jiang Beiran stepped forward to follow the Taoist.

After two grueling days of travel, Jiang Beiran finally followed the Daoist priest to the foot of a mountain.

"Beiran, this place is called Lingmao Peak, and your trial grounds are right here."

Jiang Beiran, who was eating a flatbread behind him, nodded vigorously after hearing this. "Please rest assured, I will not let you down!"

Over the past two days together, Jiang Beiran had told the Daoist priest everything about running away from home and having no relatives to turn to. The priest was quite sympathetic after hearing it, and along the way he had taken great care of him—when Jiang Beiran was hungry, he used the Flame Palm to heat up flatbreads for him; when he was tired, he set up a tent for him. This moved Jiang Beiran beyond words, and he vowed that once he learned some skills, he would definitely repay his Master well!