Races: Online (VR Smartphone App)

Everything was a lie.

At least that was what it appeared to him.

But he never said a word because he also told lies.

Even someone pure as white snow had blood specks in it.

The rabbit bared their claws after the plum went away.

With her gone, there was no need for any disguises. But Xue still gave him a smile. "This Body Tempering Elixir, I can give you more than enough and if there are negative effects—I'm able to combat them by making a Neutralizing Pill."

"I thought you didn't want me to have them. That I was being blinded by greed and accumulation of wealth and all of that." He frowned at the alchemist rabbit in front of him.

Xue scratched his cheek. "...I reconsidered your reasons. As long as you keep it a secret and ensure that Miss Chan Lee is safe, it makes sense that you would want to benefit from the Body Tempering Elixir. I don't recommend you sell it as it may be traced back to here, but you can use it to enhance your body's capabilities and that includes your mental faculties. It'll surely help you find a job, Han Jing."

"Huh, so your motivations are revealed at last." Han Jing crossed his arms and eyed him. "I'm going to be your line of defense when the time comes—do you have people after your back? What are you hiding, rabbit."

"It's Xue." The man pouted at him.

"That's what Chan Lee calls you and you've accepted that name. But that's still not your name." Han Jing felt like an antagonist right now. He rubbed his face. "But whatever, I'll take them. If stuff happens, I'm sure we can still rely on Hua Zhao for a little bit of help."

"I thought you didn't trust him."

"I don't trust his motivations for helping you, helping Chan Lee however… I get that." He answered with a shrug. Xue didn't need to ask him about helping to protect Chan Lee, he already did that.

"Since you'll need to train your body as you want to aspire to be a cultivator, I'd recommend doing exercise and meditation, perhaps you'll be able to ask Hua Zhao or find a hidden scroll. But with the time needed to put the Body Temper Elixir to good use, you don't need to keep visiting me everyday."

"Chan Lee worries about you. She'd kick my butt if I don't feed you."

"I think I'm able to take care of myself, Han Jing. Please focus on your training, it's vital you take advantage of the elixir's properties."

Of course they would say something like that.

"Oh, by the way, Han Jing, since we're selling the rest of the batch to Hua Zhao—do you guys have some container to pour the Body Tempering Elixir in?"

.. .

Han Jing frowned at the memory of Xue's words. It seemed to be one method of telling him kindly: Go away Han Jing, I don't want you around the house anymore.

He wasn't sure on what to do, he finally received the Body Tempering Elixir—Xue was more than willing to give it to him that time around and he took that chance.

It was rightfully his.

But cultivation was not what he expected.

A few hours earlier, he tried meditating and then doing a bunch of martial arts moves he'd seen in the movies and shows. He didn't feel any progress at all. What a let down, cultivation wasn't as simple as drinking a potion bottle and expecting your XP to go up.

He should have known that.

It was much much easier to level up in the game—at least there were prerequisites he had to fulfill, actions he needed to rinse and repeat and then voila! He was a master player. He frowned as he jogged around the street, he could at least feel his blood and maybe even a bit of qi flowing around his body.

But it still wasn't enough.

"It's because I have no cultivation method or anything—" He found a rusty can by the corner of the road. He picked it up and threw it into the street, the can sizzled into the air and he watched as it struck against a car's tire.

A sharp cut formed on the wheel and air expelled through it.

"Oh fudge." He didn't know his own strength, but didn't that driver look familiar? Wait, that was one of the professors from the university—he recognized the sticker at the bumper of the car. "Well, that was an unerring throw. An unintended one too." He escaped the crime scene.

Body Tempering Elixir. Check.

Physical Exercise. Check.

Space. Check.

Cultivation Method. Not A Check.

Meditation Technique. Not A Check.

But he was practicing, exercising and keeping himself fit.

His phone beeped and he pulled it out to check the messages:

He swiped the notification from his game Races: Online and paid attention to its counterpart chat application. There was a message from one of his fellow players:

"Han Jing~ How's it going? Did you like the package I sent you? I hope you managed to put it to good use, I scrambled and traded with the Witch, you know I haven't really dabbled with Xianxia except for Mother's Peaches."

"...Thanks as always. I owe you one, I found someone who knew the ingredients but without any knowledge as well, I'm a bit stuck." He replied.

She replied instantly. "That's the problem with you people, harboring secret techniques from one another. It's why humans advance so slowly. :P"

He rubbed his eyes for a moment, he owed her already and now he was going to complain again. It was a wonder why she hadn't thrown him out.

"You're not wrong, but everybody keeps secrets. Even you." He replied and sighed a bit. He could already see their apartment in the distance, around this time… Chan Lee would have been at the university? Yeah she would be.

"It's a lot more fun that way~ Don't forget to log in every now and then Han! You've been playing via your phone lately, don't you find it boring?"

"I had matters to attend to, it can't be helped."

"Well, I heard that the Demon Lord is planning to attack you again."

"I think Wood Elf can handle it, we're an Alliance you know?"

"Pfft… relying on that Elf, you're silly. But I guess that's one way of boosting his ego, and also inspire him to keep his word maybe.

"Oi! You're ignoring me and leaving me on seen! What's the matter? Are you still hung up on the girl who shall not be named?"

Han Jing rubbed his face, wondering why he even bothered telling this to the game's Moderator. "I'm good, I'm fine—I'm testing out the recent updates of the game."

"That's the spirit!"