Sorry Junior Sister, you've mistaken me for someone else. My surname is Wang.

When Jiang Beiran first joined the sect, he had already learned about the Twenty-Four Halls of the Returning Heart Sect. Among them, the Blue Heart Hall, characterized by its study of chess manuals, captivated him the most. This was because he had accumulated a considerable amount of [Chess] points while in the mines previously.

During the two months he spent in the mines, the simplest options at the beginning were all for increasing basic attribute points like Strength or Constitution. However, starting from the second week, new rewards appeared: [Basic Skill Points].

These included arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as technical skills like alchemy, forging, beast taming, and sewing. Later on, formations, medicine, brewing, and more were added.

Among these skills, [Chess] was Jiang Beiran's highest at the moment.

With his original intention unchanged, Jiang Beiran, having passed the test, found the Blue Heart Hall according to the sect map everyone received upon entry and went to seek apprenticeship.

Entry into the sect required a test, and entry into a hall was no different. The Blue Heart Hall had two tests: one was a disciple sparring match, and the other was a disciple chess match.

As soon as the first sparring match began, three options popped up before Jiang Beiran's eyes.

[Option One: Easily defeat the opponent. Completion Reward: Eight Trigrams Spear (Profound Grade Low Rank)]

[Option Two: Go easy on the opponent, complete the reward: Gilded Plum Blossom Bell (Yellow Rank High Grade)]

[Option Three: Be decisively defeated and leave the stage. Completion Reward: Random Basic Skill Point +1]

Having prepared himself mentally, Jiang Beiran directly chose three. He then deliberately exposed various weaknesses and was struck down from the stage by his opponent's palm, accompanied by many disdainful laughs.

However, during the chess match, the system, unusually, did not present any options.

Through a series of previous observations and summaries, Jiang Beiran discovered that the system only presented options at critical moments. The absence of an option meant that the choice was insignificant and would not have a significant impact on the future.

'Whether I win or lose the chess match doesn't matter?' Jiang Beiran couldn't help but feel puzzled.

It wasn't until later, when he entered the Blue Heart Hall due to his relatively excellent chess skills, that Jiang Beiran realized the Blue Heart Hall's supposed specialty of studying chess manuals was merely an embellishment.

It was like when students are in school; if your Language, Math, and English scores are all excellent, and you also play an instrument, teachers will praise you for being talented.

But if you only play the instrument well, and your Language, Math, and English scores are a mess, teachers will say to put aside those irrelevant things and focus on improving your grades first.

And within the Returning Heart Sect, "Language, Math, English" naturally represented Martial Arts.

It was precisely for this reason that after entering the Blue Heart Hall, Jiang Beiran didn't have a single Master who wanted to take him as a disciple. This led him to ultimately become a Registered Disciple of the Blue Heart Hall. That's right, the kind of disciple who only has a name, and nothing else.

However, Jiang Beiran didn't mind this. After all, the system's intention was clearly to tell him that taking a Master carried risks. So, being a Registered Disciple wasn't bad at all. He had already decided on his cultivation path: constantly seeking opportunities to trigger options and raise his basic attributes. Although it seemed meager to only gain one point each time, as long as he accumulated enough, he would eventually soar!

Seeing Jiang Beiran's wry smile, Lu Bogui, realizing he had said the wrong thing, quickly raised his wine cup and said, "Oh, right, I almost forgot. Happy birthday, Junior Brother."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." After expressing his gratitude, Jiang Beiran picked up his wine cup and clinked it against Lu Bogui's.

After eating and drinking their fill, Lu Bogui patted Jiang Beiran's shoulder at the entrance of the mess hall and said, "Then I'll be heading back to report to Master."

"Alright, Senior Brother, take care." Jiang Beiran bowed respectfully.

Waving his hand, Lu Bogui turned around and left with a flourish. Jiang Beiran, meanwhile, continued his afternoon of "window shopping."

In the evening, Jiang Beiran, having triggered the options five times, returned to Blue Heart Hall. To his surprise, a pretty female disciple stood at the entrance of his hut.

At the same time, Liu Zijin noticed Jiang Beiran walking towards her and quickly stepped forward to greet him. "Liu Zijin of Water Mirror Hall pays respects to Senior Brother Jiang."

The junior sister before him was exceptionally beautiful, with eyes that sparkled and cheeks that bloomed with a smile. As she spoke, her voice was like a gentle orchid, exuding an indescribable tenderness and charm.

'Danger level is very high!'

Based on Jiang Beiran's experience over the past five years with beautiful junior sisters, a mere brush of shoulders was enough for the system to present a reward option of Xuan-grade or higher. And this junior sister was the most beautiful one he had seen in five years.

Although he was surprised that the system hadn't presented an option this time, Jiang Beiran immediately cupped his hands and said, "Junior Sister, you must have mistaken me for someone else. My surname is Wang."

"Wang...?"

As Liu Zijin looked at him in confusion, Jiang Beiran cupped his hands again and walked past her.

But before Jiang Beiran could take a few steps, Liu Zijin caught up, unfurling a scroll in her hand. "It can't be wrong. Isn't this you in the painting, Senior Brother?"

'Damn! Who is it, to have captured even a tenth of my handsomeness? They've got some skill.'

Looking at his likeness on the scroll in Liu Zijin's hand, Jiang Beiran could only explain further, "There are many disciples in Blue Heart Hall. It's normal for a few to look alike. But my surname really isn't Jiang. I wish Junior Sister finds the handsome Senior Brother in the painting soon."

Just then, a male disciple walked over and called out to Jiang Beiran, "Senior Brother Jiang, Senior Brother Cheng from Cheng Li Hall asked me to invite you to play a couple of games of chess with him."

After speaking, he noticed Liu Zijin, who was still looking bewildered, beside Jiang Beiran. His eyes widened instantly, his mind filled with the thought of "So beautiful."

Upon hearing the male disciple call out "Senior Brother Jiang," Liu Zijin first froze, then immediately stepped in front of Jiang Beiran. "You really are Senior Brother Jiang!"

Jiang Beiran smiled and shook his head, replying, "No, Junior Sister, you misheard. He called for Senior Brother Wang."

"No way!" Liu Zijin exclaimed, then turned to the male disciple and asked, "Excuse me, is he Jiang Beiran, Senior Brother Jiang?"

When the male disciple heard Liu Zijin asking him, he immediately became energized and replied, "Yes! It's him, Jiang Beiran, Senior Brother Jiang. The genuine article."

Sighing inwardly that this junior brother was still too young and didn't understand how terrifying such a beauty could be, Jiang Beiran put on a smile again and said to Liu Zijin, "Alright, it's me. I was just playing a little joke on Junior Sister just now."

Liu Zijin covered her mouth and chuckled, "So that's how it is. Senior Brother Jiang is truly interesting."

'Huh?'

Jiang Beiran was a little stunned. He had expected that even if Liu Zijin didn't get angry and turn away, she would at least question him angrily, giving him an excuse to slip away.

But he hadn't expected this...

'She actually just thinks I'm humorous?'

Knowing he couldn't escape this situation, Jiang Beiran first said to the male disciple, "Go tell Senior Brother Cheng that I'll be there shortly."

"Okay." The male disciple nodded, but showed no intention of leaving, his eyes occasionally glancing towards Liu Zijin.

'Alas, you can't teach a fool.'

Sighing inwardly, Jiang Beiran looked back at Liu Zijin and asked, "May I ask why Junior Sister has specifically come to Blue Heart Hall to find me?"