Where the hell is my Hat?

In the endless green forest lay a tall figure, dressed in a very distinct style. Their eyes slowly opened, revealing a sea-green color.

POV (Alex)

"Damn, when was the last time I slept so well?" I murmured, stretching my arms and legs. "Wait, what was I supposed to be doing?"

I stood up and stared at the sky, rubbing my eyes in confusion. "Yep, the sky definitely has two moons." As I slowly regained my bearings, memories started to flood back.

I lifted my hand and stared at my lightly tanned skin. "Well, my skin color is the same, but I definitely grew taller." I immediately began feeling my arms and legs. "Ha ha, muscle."

Instinctively, I reached for my hat, but my fingers found nothing. "Wait, where is my hat?" I began searching the area where I had been lying, but it was nowhere to be found.

"System."

"Yes, host?"

"Do you have my hat, or do you know where it is?"

"I do not possess it. I would have informed you if I did, but I can help you locate it."

"Did somebody rob me? You would think they would also take my sword" I started tapping my foot impatiently. "Did you not see who took my hat?"

"I was activated at the same time you opened your eyes. I was not operational when it happened."

"Then do your best to locate it."

Suddenly, a pair of golden footprints appeared before me.

"Follow the golden footsteps," the system instructed.

"Oh, fantastic." I followed the glowing steps, winding deeper into the secluded forest.

"What the hell happened here?" I muttered upon arriving at a gruesome scene. Eight bodies were scattered on the blood-soaked ground.

"Looks like they were killed."

"Yeah, I can tell," I said, rolling my eyes. I approached cautiously, examining the scene.

"Was it a beast or a human?" I asked.

"Judging from the clean slashes and the location of the wounds, it appears to be done by humans," the system responded.

"Did I make the right decision on coming here?" I tightened my grip on my sword, a sad smile creeping onto my face. 

"Well, the other universes were just as chaotic and murderous."

"Well, that's life from no-"  I was cut off by a sudden movement from one of the bodies.

"Ew, is it coming back as a zombie?"

"Host, it appears someone survived the attack."

A small figure, drenched in blood, struggled to stand. Clutched in their hand was—

"Wait, that's my hat!"

I approached the child, who couldn't be more than three years old. Their wide eyes stared at me with caution.

"Hey there, little guy, would you mind giving me back my hat?"

The child looked at me, confused, and took a few steps back.

"System, do I not speak this world's language?"

"My apologies, it seems I forgot to activate the universal translator."

"How could you forget? You're a system!"

I could hear the system scoff. 

I then turned my attention back to the child. "Can you understand me now? I mean you no harm, I just want my hat back." I pointed to his hand.

The child's eyes started to water, and he tightened his small fists around the rim of my hat.

"It's simple, just take it from the child," the system suggested.

"You're cold-hearted."

"I don't possess a heart."

Just as I was about to respond, the child tried to run away.

I quickly grabbed him, but he started shaking and his eyes looking at me with pure fear.

My heart tightened painfully. I put my arms around him, patting his back. "Calm down, child. No harm will come to you."

He quickly fell asleep, and I gently pried my hat from his surprisingly strong grip.

I inspected my hat but saw no blood on it, even though the child's hands and body were covered in it.

"Does my hat have a special ability?" I asked.

"It's made from indestructible material, it never gets dirty,  you can always summon it back to you, etc."

"Wow, that's amazing. Wait, why didn't you tell me I could've just summoned it back?"

"Did you not choose this hat yourself?"

"Uh, well..." I had been too excited about its appearance to look at its abilities. "Okay, that one's on me."

"What are you going to do with this child?"

I looked at the small child, who had clearly been left to die. "He will be my first disciple."

Who would have thought I would meet my first disciple on my very first day in this universe?

"Should we burn the bodies of the deceased?" 

"No, since they are most likely the family members of my first disciple, they should be buried in a nice place," I replied.

"Do what you wish."

"System, how do I use appraisal?" I asked.

"Focus and think about the word appraisal."

"Okay, thanks."

I looked at the corpses, deciding to begin with the woman the child was laying with.

'Appraisal.'

Li Mei

Gender: Female  

Age: 24  

Cultivation: Core Formation Realm / Late Stage  

Status: Deceased (3 hours)

Cause: Slit throat

Next, I examined the man beside her.

Yutian Liang 

Gender: Male  

Age: 25  

Cultivation: Soul Transformation Realm / Peak Stage  

Status: Deceased(2 hours)

Cause: Sword to the Heart

"System, what's the relationship between them and this child?" I inquired.

"They appear to be his parents. Why don't you appraise the child?" the system suggested.

"Yeah, you're right."

Yutian Wei

Gender: Male  

Age: 2 ½  

Cultivation: Mortal Realm / Early Stage  

Status: Alive  

Cause: Healed by the Hat

"Is it normal for a toddler to already have cultivation?" I asked, surprised.

"No, usually cultivation begins around the age of 8. Looks like you've found a prodigy," the system confirmed.

"Indeed," I nodded, a mix of admiration and determination evident in my voice. "As expected from my disciple."

Curiosity piqued, I delved deeper into his profile. "Wait, 'healed by the Hat'? What does that mean?"

"Your hat possesses healing abilities and sometimes acts on its own instincts. It must have sensed the child's distress and intervened," the system explained.

A smile touched my lips. "That's remarkable. From now on, I won't need to worry about my own injuries."

"Host, what are you going to do now"

"Well first we need to bury the dead "