When my boots finally hit the smooth stone of the main road, and I saw the distant city walls shimmering under a wisp of cooking smoke, my nose stung. For a second there, I nearly shed two heroic tears.

  I threw my head back and yelled, “Heaven has eyes! I actually survived the Shenmu Village Disaster!”

  The moment almost moved me to poetry—

  Then, of course, the system decided to ruin it.

  A familiar, cold tone rang right beside my ear—

  clean and metallic, like someone dunked a bell in snowmelt and struck it with iron:

  “Ding—Plot evaluation complete.

  Side Quest [Shenmu Village: Final Phase] achieved.

  Title granted: Accidental Hero – Wild Disaster Suppression Edition.

  Reward: One (1) instance of ‘Side Quest Foresight’.”

  I almost tripped over my own pack. My pupils shrank.

  “System, you damn piece of code! You finally show your face! Where the hell were you these past few days? I prayed to mountain gods, bribed the earth spirits, even made a chicken kneel and knock three times for you—and you didn’t even bother to flicker a light?”

  “System entered silent maintenance three days ago,” it replied, calm as a dead fish. “Now updated to Version 2.0.

  Thank you for your continued patience. Please cherish your experience.”

  I blinked. “Two point what now? You ascended or something? Got any new divine abilities for me? Treasure? Power? A rich spouse with legs up to heaven?”

  “Negative.

  Due to mainline restrictions, Host has not yet unlocked advanced permissions such as Noble Ambition or Predestined Luck in Love.”

  “Excuse me?” I barked. “I’ve been running for my life for chapters! Even the Blood Lotus cult master and his right-hand man are tagging along! You’re telling me I don’t even qualify for one ‘happily ever after’ side perk?”

  “System assessment: should Host achieve critical plot milestones, wish-related events may be triggered.”

  I squinted. “So you’re saying… if I keep struggling, fighting, and not dying—there’s a chance my dreams come true?”

  “Possible. Not guaranteed.”

  “…”

  I inhaled sharply and squared my shoulders. “So basically—it’s luck, looks, and my big damn mouth keeping me alive?”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Affirmative.”

  The silence afterward felt like agreement.

  I clapped my chest. “Fine. Let’s do this. Whatever’s ahead—gold, glory, or a dozen pissed-off wolves—it’s still forward or bust. I didn’t crawl out of Shenmu to quit now!”

  I shouted, “I’m going in!” and stepped toward the city gates—

  “Friendly reminder,” the system interrupted sweetly, “Upon entry, Host will trigger new quest: The Strange Case of Chongping City: Three Bureaus of Justice.

  Current checkpoint saved. Progress locked.”

  “…What?” I froze. “Say that again?”

  “Checkpoint locked. Loading plot.”

  “Wait, wait—don’t you dare load anything! My bag’s not even tied right—my belt’s—”

  Too late.

  The city gates groaned open like the throat of fate itself, yawning to swallow me whole. Wind swept out from inside, flipping my sleeves and mocking my hesitation.

  “Good luck on your journey,” the system whispered.

  I muttered, “You shut up.”

  And there it was—three characters carved above the archway:

  Chongping City.

  I barely crossed the threshold before two guards blocked my way.

  “Hold it! Search him!”

  “…Huh?”

  They were efficient, I’ll give them that—one flipped through my bag before I even found my footing, another barked, “State your name, age, and purpose! Got travel papers?”

  My heart skipped. I scrambled for composure. “Uh, the name’s… Nangong—” My eyes caught a twig sticking out of my pack from Shenmu. Inspiration struck, changing a little bit my name. “—Qu! Nangong Qu! Came down from Shenmu Mountain. Visiting… a friend.”

  “Shenmu Mountain?” one frowned. “Which one? How many households up there? Any temples? Your friend’s name, occupation, residence?”

  I froze. The questions rained down like arrows—no, like a tax audit.

  “I—uh—” My brain went blank. “My friend’s name is… Yo. Yo Gath!”

  (It sounded brilliant in my head. Yo Gath—you guess. Absolute genius.)

  The youngest guard whispered, “That sounds fake as hell.”

  I coughed politely. “A distant cousin. Haven’t seen him in a year. I, uh, might’ve missed his address.”

  “Suspicious,” one muttered. “Speech inconsistent.”

  “Detain him?” another asked.

  “Forget it,” the leader waved me off. “He’s not on the wanted list. Must be some clueless traveler. Let him go—but stay out of trouble, stranger!”

  Before I could defend my family’s honor, they shoved me through the gate. My pack was upside down, my pastries squashed beyond recognition.

  “Chongping City…” I muttered, stumbling down the street.

  An old man with gray hair patted my shoulder, whispering, “Don’t mind the guards, lad. They’re on edge. A murder happened.”

  My spine stiffened. “A murder?”

  He sighed. “Aye. You must be from out of town. Chongping’s always been a quiet place, good folk, honest work. Then a few days ago, a royal inspector came from the capital—and that very night, a body turned up.”

  My scalp prickled. “And the victim was…?”

  “The daughter of Lord Liu,” he said gravely. “You must’ve heard the name—governed this region for ten years, honest as they come. Fine man, fine family.”

  The old man’s voice dropped lower, like the tale itself might summon ghosts.

  “Seventeen, she was. Pretty as a painting. Educated, refined, already engaged to the son of the Prefect. Perfect match, the talk of the city. But that night…” He shivered. “All gone.”

  “What happened?” I asked, even though I already regretted it.

  He leaned closer, eyes darting around.

  “Here’s the strange part. The girl said she was haunted.”

  “…Haunted?” I repeated.

  And just like that, my scalp started to itch again.