?

  The bathing room was not at all what I was expecting. I had actually walked right by its open door on my way back to find the siblings after I tested my new skills. I never would have realized what the tiled room was for, and certainly never would have figured out how it worked were it not for the Diaochan A.I. and the little identification boxes in my HUD.

  After using the [Toilet] and having the [Shower] explained to me, I set about dismissing Diaochan.

  “Unless you plan on entertaining me while I bathe, go wherever it is you go when I can't see you,” I said as I stepped into the shower and fiddled with its water controls.

  “Entertain?” Asked the Diaochan construct. “Did you want me to stream a program from the city network? There are all sorts of dramas and comedies and….you mean dance around naked in front of you, don’t you?”

  “I do,” I confirmed casually, at which point the A.I. decided to take my initial suggestion and vanished.

  My HUD informed me of the water temperature the shower controls were set to, but as the numbers meant nothing to me, I simply played around with them until the stream of water flowing down upon me was like that of a hot spring. This so-called shower was obviously a miracle of engineering, and whoever had invented the device had a mind blessed by the heavens. It was the first time since I arrived in this afterlife that I encountered something that I considered inherently superior to its counterpart in the world of my birth.

  The warm water cascading down upon me, the steam, the chance for a little privacy. It was all so ridiculously pleasant that I almost fell asleep standing right there.

  Whatever captured child of Zhurong, natural treasure, or human-crafted device that heated the water must have had some sort of limitation, as around the same time my fingers began to wrinkle, the water began to lose its pleasing temperature.

  I suppose I couldn’t simply spend the whole day under the relaxing flow of water and, with a sigh, switched the shower off.

  Clothes and a towel had been laid out for me, but I was more interested in the fogged-up mirror that sat halfway up the closed door at the bathing room's entrance.

  Striding over to it, I wiped the steam off the polished glass and finally got a look at myself since being reborn in this impossible city.

  It was a familiar face, though not quite my own. Strong jaw, lustrous black hair, though short and messy, no age lines, handsome features, flawless skin. I was looking at myself when I was eighteen. Or at least a possible version of it? My face and body weren't marred with the scars of my many battles. I was taller than I had been in life, and my nose was a little bigger, but more than that, I was so skinny!

  Yes, granted, I still had the lean and functional muscles of a lifelong warrior, but compared to how I had looked before my death, I may as well be a malnourished pig farmer.

  Of course, I had already come to terms with the fact that I no longer possessed the sheer power my body had held by the end of my life. Nor could I access the plethora of unmatched techniques I had known and mastered. None of that had prepared me to see such a small version of my younger self. Even at sixteen, I had held more bulk than this!

  Despite having only just washed a day of conflict's sweat and grime off of myself, I immediately dropped to the cement floor and began an intense series of bodyweight exercises until I grew frustrated with the lack of resistance and got dressed. Doubtless, amongst all the junk and broken machinery, the siblings would have something heavy I could lift. Also meat, I was going to need a lot of meat.

  Actually, that reminded me, I understood about the automated cultivation and the ability to improve oneself with cybernetics. What I wondered about was pills and elixirs. As what many have dubbed a primarily physical cultivator, I had imbibed all manner of body fortifying concoctions. As the Peerless one, the mightiest and most skilled warrior of my generation…of several generations, maybe all time. I naturally defy such pitiful classifications as elemental or physical cultivator; if I even have a Dao, it is the Dao of Lu Bu, or, I suppose, if I am feeling less arrogant, you might call it a Dao of martial superiority. None of that mattered now, of course, but I still wondered what I could do to regain more of my power quickly.

  The clothes that had been left for me didn’t resize themselves when I put them on, like the coat I had taken from the man in the hospital. Still, they fit well enough, even if I wasn’t exactly in love with the cut of them. The shirt was like a very tight short tunic with writing I didn’t understand on it. Though my HUD informed me it was a [Dark Blue CRYS?ALxCORE Band Merchandise T-Shirt]

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  The pants were a pair of [Black HexWear Cargo Pants With Decorative Straps and Metallic Push Clips]. I think those pants might be the most ridiculous item of clothing I have ever worn, with their superfluous straps and strange buckles. Understand this is coming from a man who used to wear a headdress featuring two flared peacock feathers into battle and would again if I were given the option.

  The siblings weren't in the workshop this time, though I had Diaochan determine the heaviest items within it. As it turned out, the [KaiRo Dynamics Gen 3 Flight Engine] was easily the heaviest single item within the piles of junk and rusting machinery. I didn't know what the numbers my HUD displayed meant. Fortunately, I'm not an idiot, so it was clear that a higher number meant heavier. According to the numbers Diaochan summoned before my eyes, the engine was actually a few ‘Lb’ heavier than what was listed as my maximum. Coming in at 1108Lb compared to my supposed 1101Lb maximum lift. In my mind, the weight, along with its significant size and blocky nature, which would make it awkward to lift, made the engine the perfect exercise tool.

  Diaochan assured me that while I wouldn’t be able to actually lift the engine in any meaningful way, it would be an effective way to train my body. I assured her that she was mistaken and that I am Lu Bu, and thus of course, I could lift it over my head.

  It wasn’t easy, but after proving her wrong enough times, my whole body was shaking with weakness. I went in search of my hosts and something to eat. The exhaustion that comes from working one’s muscles right up to their limit isn't a good feeling exactly, though I love it anyway. It is the feeling that precedes getting stronger.

  Now you might be thinking to yourself that I had done an awful lot in one day, including both receiving possible internal injuries and a significant amount of training without stopping to consume the food I was now looking for.

  Well, what do you want me to say? I am Lu Bu. I am greater than other men and can push myself further and more often. If you truly think this was what I would consider a ‘big day,’ you aren’t paying enough attention when I refer to myself as peerless.

  The siblings were sitting next to each other on a dusty and faded sofa that may have once been green…or red? Either way, it was brown now. They were in what I guessed was a sitting room of sorts. The ceiling was low and the room as cramped as every room here, bar the workshop itself, but I was still mesmerized by it when I first strode in.

  It was the wall opposite the room’s doorway. At first, I thought I was looking at a large and exceptionally clear window. This was not the case, and I am embarrassed to admit that realization made my breath catch in my throat. I was looking at an artificial sunset built into the wall. No, not built into it, it was the wall. It was like one of the little windows that could appear in my HUD, the ones that showed me examples of how techniques looked, or, the one that had demonstrated the use of the shower.

  “Is that accurate?” I asked, gesturing at the amazing wall as opposed to offering some sort of greeting.

  Ji-Ho blinked a few times and looked as though he had only just noticed my presence.

  “Accurate how?” He replied with a quizzical expression.

  “To the time of day.”

  His expression of amused puzzlement deepened.

  “Yeah, it is, but your HUD should tell you the time.”

  “The numbers are there, but they mean nothing to me, and I have little desire to learn them,” I grunted.

  Before the bright-haired young man could reply further, I continued.

  “I wish to speak to you about two matters. The first is my repayment of your hospitality. I have no funds yet in this world to gift you, but I will not have it said Lu Bu is an ungracious guest, so I require you to give me some task or another that I can reasonably achieve but will assist you.”

  His quizzical look turned into something of a smirk.

  “Require? Like, I don't have a choice in the matter?”

  “Correct. Secondly, I haven't eaten since I arrived here, and I would prefer you exercise your obligations as a host and feed me before I am forced to go rob someone.”

  I think my choice of words surprised him because it took a moment for Ji-Ho to respond to my demands.

  “Umm, okay, I might have a job for you tomorrow, actually, but yeah, food I can do that…Or more accurately.” Turning, he kicked his sister lightly in the shin.

  “Hey, trashlord! It was your idea to bring Bu home; you feed him.”

  The girl, who I take it had been deep in conversation with her A.I. or otherwise doing something with her HUD roused to awareness.

  “Huh, what?” She asked, rubbing her eyes like he had woken her from sleep.

  “Get Lu Bu some food.” He ordered again.

  “Go to hell, I cooked last night, it's your turn.”

  “It is.” Conceded the older brother. “Buuut like I said, it was your idea to bring him home, and I gave him my clothes so you look after him.”

  Ha-Rin looked as though she was going to protest, though apparently her brother's logic was unassailable, as she didn't actually complain.

  “Fine, just give me a minute to get the last of these details. There was a red Over-Surge on one of the sky tiers this morning.”

  I nodded, recalling the event. I wasn't sure what qualified as a sky tier. Perhaps it was up in the sky? Oh well, either it was irrelevant information or I would find out sooner or later.

  “I was there for that,” I said matter-of-factly. “Huh, what's that?” I asked as the Diaochan A.I. corrected me.

  “Oh, excuse me, apparently I actually caused it.”

  They gave him a shirt for a pop girl band, and some cool edgy pants like a Final Fantasy character, don't be jealous your fashion isn't as good.

  Patreon.