The next day.
Qin Yang got up early.
On the way to work, he bought two fried dough sticks and a bowl of sweet tofu pudding—a simple breakfast to start the day.
After arriving at the library, he headed straight to his workstation.
Ground floor, Area 1.
The Jiangcheng Martial Arts Library had three floors, with the first floor divided into eight separate areas.
The first level stored some of the most basic martial arts manuals. The higher the floor, the more advanced the techniques. Unfortunately, Qin Yang didn't have the clearance to access the second or third floors. His job was to manage his own corner of the library. Naturally, those upper floors were guarded by the true experts stationed here.
On the neatly organized shelves, numerous martial arts secret books were lined up in order. As a librarian, Qin Yang was free to browse these basic martial arts manuals at will.
Now that he had reached the level of half-step innate cultivation, he figured it was time to select a martial art to train seriously. If danger ever came knocking, he needed something—anything—to protect himself.
He skimmed over the titles.
Huiyuan Palm Technique.
Tiger Roar Sword Technique.
Luo Family Spear Skills.
And more...
After scanning several manuals, Qin Yang eventually picked up a sword manual titled Qingfeng Sword Technique.
There were many techniques to choose from, but Qin Yang understood the importance of not overreaching. Rather than spreading himself thin, he chose to focus on a single basic sword technique.
As for why he chose swordsmanship?
No particular reason. He just thought it looked cool.
A sunny young man at heart, Qin Yang still carried the dream of becoming a heroic swordsman. Who hadn't fantasized about roaming the world with a sword in hand?
Although he didn't yet have the strength to travel the world, nothing was stopping him from pursuing swordsmanship in his own way.
Without women clouding your thoughts, you can become a god when you draw your sword.
That said, Qin Yang didn't actually own a sword, and practicing martial arts inside the library was strictly forbidden. So he could only squat silently in the corner, memorizing the movements described in the manual.
The original Qin Yang had never practiced martial arts before. Despite his half-step innate cultivation, he was still a complete novice. However, that cultivation level gave him a significant edge. At the very least, these basic martial arts weren't too difficult for him to comprehend.
By the time the clock hit noon, Qin Yang stretched lazily and closed the manual.
Time to eat.
The library had its own cafeteria. The food was cheap, and surprisingly good. Qin Yang ordered a plate of braised pork—it cost less than three yuan. High quality, low price.
"Alas, when will days like this end?"
"I think I'm getting depression, staying cooped up in this library every day."
Qin Yang was happily digging into his braised pork when he overheard a few listless coworkers nearby.
"Who told us to be born with trash talent? We're doomed to be laborers forever!"
"If you cultivate hard enough, maybe you'll reach the third level of the acquired realm and land a better job someday."
"Level three? At my rate, I'd be thirty by then. I'll be lucky to get hired as a security guard."
"Yeah, life's unfair. Poor talent equals a lifetime at the bottom."
Qin Yang shook his head silently. He let out a sigh.
Seems like surviving in this world is even tougher than in my past life.
Here, strength reigned supreme. If you had no power, you were doomed to toil at the lowest rungs of society.
But none of that had anything to do with Qin Yang.
He didn't have lofty dreams or ambitions. All he wanted was to eat well, drink well, and live in peace.
Even though he had become a half-step innate expert, Qin Yang had no intention of changing jobs. He liked the calm of the library.
First, he wasn't interested in chasing money. After struggling through decades in his previous life, he just wanted to enjoy this second chance. He wanted a life of peace, free from the endless grind.
Second, the system had told him this was a fantasy world. Qin Yang had read countless novels. He knew exactly how dangerous such a world could be.
One wrong move, and some powerful master might descend from the heavens and obliterate him on a whim.
The outside world was far too dangerous. It was better to stay safe here in the library.
The life of constant fighting and bloodshed wasn't for him.
Third, his golden finger—the so-called system—was wildly unreliable. Qin Yang still didn't understand how it worked.
His current half-step innate cultivation came out of nowhere. Even after all this time, he had no clue what triggered the system.
Sure, the system improved his cultivation level, but it didn't improve his aptitude. His ability to absorb star power remained as slow as ever.
Even though he was only a half-step away from breaking through to the true innate realm, Qin Yang knew that with his poor aptitude, that final step might take a lifetime.
Forget it. As someone with no real talent, the best thing to do was to lie down and do nothing.
Qin Yang stopped dwelling on it. After polishing off the last of the braised pork, he returned to work and resumed reading.
Time slipped by.
Another month passed.
Qin Yang spent his days reading and eating. Life was peaceful.
Since its mysterious appearance, the system had vanished again, as if it had never existed.
If Qin Yang didn't have the cultivation to prove it, he might've believed he imagined the whole thing.
He even tried killing small animals, hoping to trigger the system's return.
But nothing worked.
In the end, he gave up.
Fine. He'd just live his life, read his books, and do his job honestly.
Stupid system... It's better if it never shows up again.
Qin Yang firmly believed that even without the system, he could still lie down and live a good life.
Over the past month, he also got to know his colleagues better.
The original Qin Yang had been withdrawn and self-deprecating. He rarely spoke to others and wasn't very well liked.
But with his new attitude and efforts, people's impressions began to change.
Some of the female staff even started whispering about him behind his back, referring to him privately as the "hall grass"—the most handsome guy in the library.
Qin Yang couldn't help but sigh.
"Being handsome really is a burden..."
"Qin Yang, reading again?"
A cheerful voice called out.
"Let's go! It's time for dinner."
A hand clapped him on the shoulder. Startled, Qin Yang glared at the culprit.
"Can't you at least give me a heads-up?"
The culprit was Xia He, the administrator of Area 2 on the first floor, and one of Qin Yang's closest coworkers.
If Qin Yang had been forced into this library job by circumstance, Xia He had done so by choice.
He came from a well-off family, and his parents were quite wealthy. In the library, he was known as one of the few second-generation rich kids.
But due to his poor talent—and the fact that he was an only child—his parents didn't want him risking his life outside. So they told him to take it easy and live off their wealth.
"Hey, next time, for sure."
Xia He grinned and draped an arm over Qin Yang's shoulder as the two of them walked toward the cafeteria.