This system was a rouge all along.
"I am not a Kidnapper"
[ Calling it a kidnapping is a bit too much, why not consider it as a surprise adoption? ]
Shen Mingze had a dumbfounded expression as he looked up to the sky, "say… it seems like… as I am getting to know you seem to slowly be revealing your real personality…"
[ I don't know what the player is talking about ]
"..."
"In any case I am not kidnapping a child"
The system no longer said anything, it seems like it wasn't shameless to the degree of forcing him to become a parent.
When Shen Minze was done talking to the system he looked down only to find the little kid staring at him.
"...What is it?" Shen Mingze said while doing his nice guy face, this time the little kid didn't get scared, instead Shen Mingze saw him extending an arm towards him.
In his small hand he held half a meat bun, Shen Mingze looked at his face once again and the kid was still staring at him.
If Shen Mingze didn't know any better he would've made the kid acknowledge himself as his father that instant, however since he did know better he just patted his head and urged him to continue eating.
The little kid however did not listen to him and in the end Shen Mingze bought three more meat buns from the previous stall, they divided all of them in half before eating them.
Now, they could've just divided the last one but he got the feeling that the kid liked sharing with him.
[ so we can't keep him? ]
Shen Mingze couldn't help but sigh, "suppose I do adopt him, tomorrow I will encounter another orphan just like him, what will I do then?"
[ adopt him as well? ]
It seems like the system was way more optimistic than he originally thought, or it really is showing its true colors as time is passing by.
"That's not how it works"
[ then? ]
"Then maybe one day I will have my own sect, just like the Chang family. Then I can help a lot of children"
[ that's a good idea ]
Shen Minge in the past had the dream of becoming the best musician anyone has ever seen, even better than his father but that is from a long time ago, before dying he had already given up on that dream.
But since he is living a new life can't he have a new dream now?
[ Player doesn't necessarily have to give up his old dream either ]
Yeah that's right, he can have more than one dream and he can accomplish all of them!
After a while the little kid finished eating and bowed to him once more before starting to leave. He was trying to run but slipped on the blanket while rushing. He tried to get up on his own but the pennies in his pocket slipped out and scattered all around once again.
"..."
"..."
[ … ]
In a rush he began to fumble around for the pennies once again. Shen Mingze stepped closer to help him when he heard the system talk to him.
[ there is one three steps left from your current position ]
"..."
So this big meanie could've helped him earlier but chose not to…
After a while they collected all the pennies once again, this time much faster with the help of the system and the kid bowed to him as thanks… Once again! Before starting to leave.
"Wait"
This time it was Shen Mingze that stopped him, the kid turned around to face him and tilted his small head to the side, looking confused.
When Shen Mingze hesitated to speak, the kid put a hand in his pocket and took out three pennies and raised them in his direction.
His head was still tilted to the side as if asking him if this was what he needed.
"No.. that's not it" no, more importantly does Shen Mingze look like a person that would demand money from kids?
Looking a little flustered, the little kid again put a hand in his pocket and took out three more pennies.
"..."
For some reason he feels like he could hear the system laughing at him, but that was probably just his imagination.
Seeing that Shen Mingze still didn't say anything, the little kid now looked a bit panicked and began to take out everything he had, dropping the pennies to the ground once again.
"..."
"..."
[ Pfft- ]
Seeing the kid trying to gather the pennies, ONCE AGAIN. Shen Mingze felt like he had just bullied a kid.
"I don't want your money…"
Shen Mingze rathered all the coins with the system's help and gave it to the kid, he then went to one of the stalls that were selling accessories for little kids and brought a little purse with flowers sewn onto it.
"Here"
He gave the purse to the little kid, when he saw that the kid still looked very much confused he took the pennies that he was holding with both his hands, put them in the purse and then put the purse in the kid's hands.
"Take it"
The kid looked confused for a while but then put the purse in his pocket and bowed down to thank him, ONCE AGAIN.
"..."
[ hahahahahahahahahahaha ]
The system no longer maintained the professional facade that he was going for and just started to laugh at him openly.
The kid again began to leave and this time Shen Mingze didn't waste time.
"How about this, meet me here tomorrow at 10 AM. I will buy you five meat buns if you do so"
The little kid seemed surprised for a while but then slowly nodded his head and then ran away at the speed of sound.
"Do you think he understood what I said?"
[ probably.. He looked like a smart kid ]
"Looks like a smart kid you say… No longer speaking formally, are you?"
[ Does the player want me to? ]
"Nah, not really"
Shen Mingze couldn't see the little kid anymore when he looked at the alleyway. He also turned around and began to leave.
after searching for a while Shen Mingze found an inn to stay, this time how ever the inn wasn't in some fancy location and looked quite rundown.
[ why are you staying here of all places? ]
"I need to save money if I want to open my own sect!"
[ ... ]
the system didn't say anything and Shen Mingze didn't question him, He entered the place and booked a room for the night for only 1 silver.
the room he was staying in wasn't that great but he will make do! for his future sect!
[ Player.. you seem to be gravely mistaken about something... ]
"hmm what is it?"
[ To start a cultivation sect.. you should first know how to cultivate... ]
"..."
[ ... ]
oh.. he forgot about that part..