Chapter Two: Gaining Experience from Killing a Chicken? That's Something New

“Look, he’s coming out.”

A voice rang out from the crowd.

Everyone turned their gaze to Chen Xiang.

“See, I told you—he really is an idiot. Look at that hair, chopped so short. Isn’t he afraid of bringing down heaven’s wrath?”

“Let’s keep our distance, just in case he goes berserk and hurts someone.”

“Huh, but actually, that short hair looks kind of nice,” remarked a girl of seventeen or eighteen, her features fresh and bright.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Our hair and skin are gifts from our parents—cutting them brings punishment from the heavens,” a middle-aged woman beside her scolded in a low voice. The girl started, her face blanching, and quickly lowered her head.

Chen Xiang’s face was as dark as charcoal. He’d just been tricked by the system and left nearly drained, and now he was being treated as a fool by the villagers. He’d never been the forgiving type, and how could he tolerate having his noble character maligned? What’s more, having just cultivated the Chaos Sutra, he was no longer an ordinary mortal, but a true cultivator—and that called for some swagger.

Clenching his fists, he glared fiercely at the villagers. “What are you staring at? Haven’t you ever seen a handsome guy before? Keep staring and I’ll beat you all up!”

The villagers all took a step back, watching him warily.

“See? He’s crazy. Doesn’t he see how many of us there are? And he’s threatening to beat us all.”

“Mom, I’m scared!”

“Should we go hold him down?”

…

Chen Xiang’s mouth twitched. Go ahead, I dare you! I’m a cultivator now—come at me, I’ll even give you a handicap.

A white-haired elder stepped forward from the crowd, leaning on his cane. The villagers parted respectfully for him—clearly, he was the most distinguished person present.

“Young man, where are you from, and why are you dressed like this?” he asked. By ‘dressed like this,’ he clearly meant Chen Xiang’s hair; such short hair was an oddity in this place.

At last, someone willing to talk, Chen Xiang thought, reining in his temper.

“I’m from another country. This hairstyle is normal where I’m from. I got lost while traveling and somehow ended up here,” he explained, making up a plausible excuse.

So that’s it, everyone nodded in understanding.

“So he’s not an idiot after all,” the pretty girl murmured.

Chen Xiang’s mouth twitched again. Girl, don’t think just because you’re pretty I won’t flirt with you!

The girl, realizing her slip, quickly dropped her gaze.

“That’s good then. When Xiaoyun rescued you from the lakeside yesterday, she found your appearance strange, but since you’re a friend from afar, we ought to treat you well,” the elder said.

“Nonsense, I should be the one thanking…who was it? Oh, Xiaoyun. And everyone, rest assured—I’m no villain. Back home, I work for charity,” Chen Xiang replied with a gentleman’s smile.

If a man of his age could be so hospitable, Chen Xiang figured he should show some manners himself.

“Charity, is it?” the elder mused. Doing good deeds, so young and already so noble—what a fine lad!

But what Chen Xiang was thinking was: if I spend money on shops and restaurants around the school, isn’t that a kind of charity, too?

“Haha, young man, make yourself at home here. Outsiders are rare in our village. We may be poor, but whatever you need, we’ll do our best to provide,” the elder said heartily.

Then he turned to the villagers, his tone a little stern. “Go on, disperse! What kind of spectacle are you making, crowding around like this and letting outsiders laugh at us?”

He’d been enjoying a quiet nap when he saw the commotion and had come to see what was happening.

Don’t you know old folks need their rest? I worry so much for you all.

“Yes, Village Chief!”

“Let’s go, let’s go, disperse…”

…

The villagers broke up, murmuring among themselves.

The fresh-faced girl of seventeen or eighteen stayed behind and hurried over to Chen Xiang.

“Hey, is that hair really a national trait where you’re from? Where is your country, anyway? And why is your skin even paler than mine? Do you use some special whitening cream?”

Her questions spilled out in a rapid-fire barrage.

Born in the wilds, the girl’s beauty was natural and unspoiled, her innocence shining at this tender age.

A beauty before him—how could Chen Xiang resist? She had insulted him earlier, but he was not one to hold grudges.

He swept his bangs aside and struck a dashing pose. “Beauty, we—”

He suddenly changed his expression, turning stern. “Get lost! Ask again and I’ll beat you!”

The girl yelped, stumbling back a few steps.

“Mom, he’s so scary!” she cried, running from the courtyard in tears.

Humph. I’m not petty—I’m precise about my grudges! Chen Xiang felt a surge of pride at having frightened her away.

Little did he realize that this, too, was how his long history of singlehood began.

Besides, Chen Xiang had no time for banter now. Having restored his spiritual root and cultivated the Chaos Sutra, he now felt the spiritual energy around him slowly being drawn into his body.

But how to level up remained a question worth pondering.

The village chief hadn’t left yet. Seeing Chen Xiang scare the girl, he frowned, suddenly wondering if he’d been duped.

“Hey, sorry about earlier, big brother. Are you alright?” A dark-skinned boy approached Chen Xiang shyly.

Chen Xiang rolled his eyes. “Alright? What do you mean? Weren’t you the one who called everyone over just now?”

Though he’d been distracted by the system, he’d still overheard the conversation between the boy and the middle-aged woman.

The boy looked embarrassed and quickly changed the subject.

“My bad, big brother! Come on, it’s getting dark. I’ll have my mom make something tasty.”

Chen Xiang wasn’t buying it. He made a fist and ground it into Xiaoyun’s head.

“Oh, it’s nothing, I’m not bothered. By the way, Xiaoyun, does your mom know how silky your hair is?”

…

Back in the house, Chen Xiang dragged Xiaoyun along to tell him about this world.

But Xiaoyun was still young and knew little. All he could say was that this continent was ruled by four great nations.

They were currently in the Eastern Li Kingdom. The other three were Western Yuan, Northern Yu, and Southern Yi, with many small countries around them.

The four nations lay at the four cardinal points, and under their balance, the continent had enjoyed peace for centuries.

Even villagers like Xiaoyun knew of the existence of cultivators. Their greatest dream was for someone in the village to become one, so prosperity would follow.

The mightiest in the Eastern Li Kingdom was the current Li Emperor, a master at the Infant Transformation stage.

Chen Xiang was surprised. Weren’t cultivators supposed to practice in seclusion, seeking higher realms? How could one be an emperor?

And Infant Transformation—he was only at the first level of Qi Refining, three major realms below that. Four, to be precise. In the eyes of an Infant Transformation master, he was less than insignificant.

“Sigh, comparison only brings pain. I suppose it’s time for me to level up,” Chen Xiang thought wistfully.

After all, in this strange new world, strength was the only way to sleep soundly at night.

And with a system, what was there to fear? He could max out in no time!

The boy saw Chen Xiang alternating between melancholy and silly grins and thought he was losing it again, taking a few steps back warily.

Chen Xiang noticed Xiaoyun’s odd behavior. “Why are you standing so far away? Come back and tell me more about the Eastern Li Kingdom.”

Startled, Xiaoyun quickly waved his hands. “That’s all I know, really.”

“Oh? That’s a pity,” Chen Xiang said, disappointed. Since he was now in Eastern Li, it was good to know more about the place—he couldn’t stay in this village forever.

He was destined for cultivation!

Just then, Xiaoyun’s mother appeared in the courtyard, a chicken in one hand, calling, “Xiaoyun, come here a moment!”

Xiaoyun hurried over. “What is it, Mom?”

His mother said, “Help me kill this chicken. I can’t bring myself to do it.”

Xiaoyun recoiled, “Huh? Mom, I—I don’t know how, and I—I’m scared.”

She sighed, “Your father’s out hunting and hasn’t returned. I can’t do it myself, and with a guest in the house, we can’t just serve vegetables.”

“Is something wrong, sister-in-law? Can I help?” Chen Xiang stepped out, seeing her holding a kitchen knife and a rooster stripped of neck feathers.

“Oh, little brother, it’s just that I want to make a dish with this chicken, but neither of us dares do the killing, and Xiaoyun’s father isn’t home, so we’re at a loss,” she said.

Chen Xiang nodded. “I see. Let me do it—I’ve killed chickens a few times before.”

“I couldn’t possibly ask you,” she said shyly.

“No trouble at all. I’m staying here, so I should help out,” Chen Xiang replied with a smile.

“Well…alright.” She handed him the knife and the rooster.

Chen Xiang followed Xiaoyun to the kitchen, which, though small, had all the necessary utensils.

With Xiaoyun watching, Chen Xiang pinned the chicken to the board, raised the knife, and brought it down in one swift motion. The head fell cleanly, and he quickly held the neck over a bowl, letting the blood flow in as the body convulsed.

That’s how Chen Xiang killed chickens—simple and direct.

Xiaoyun stared, wide-eyed. So that’s how it’s done? Another trick learned!

But just then, something startled Chen Xiang.

A system notification sounded in his mind.

“Ding! Congratulations to host ‘Chen Xiang’ for killing a domestic chicken. You have gained one experience point.”

Chen Xiang: “…”

What the—killing a chicken gives experience? Is this for real?

He opened his personal status panel.

“Host: Chen Xiang
Realm: Qi Refining, Level One (barely strong enough to truss a chicken)
Experience: 1/100
Reputation: 0
Technique: Chaos Sutra
Occupation: Farmer
…”

What the—system, are you messing with me? Chen Xiang shouted as he scanned the information.

“To be continued…”