The Mistres Flutist QuYi and the Reluctant Disciple

I. The Third Day in the Murim World

The third day in the Murim world had begun, and Ahmed wasn't sure whether he was getting used to the chaos or if his mind had simply shattered beyond repair. He was in a world that looked like it had been torn from the pages of a forgotten legend, and yet, everything felt like a cruel joke. It was no longer even clear if the System was messing with him for fun or if this place was just naturally insane.

He trudged through a dirt path, irritated by the sound of birds chirping, which only seemed to remind him of how much he missed his old life—well, if you could call it a life. At least there, the worst thing he had to deal with was his friend beating him at solitaire. Now? Now, he was stuck here in this wretched fantasy land full of sword-swinging weirdos, and the System wouldn't leave him alone for a second.

[SYSTEM: Good morning, my adorable prince! 😘💖 I see you're already in a mood today. How about you take a deep breath and admire the beauty of this world? Or, you know, just whine some more. 😆]

Ahmed ignored the voice, focusing on the path ahead, but it didn't make a difference. The System's taunting was unrelenting.

[SYSTEM: Oh, I almost forgot—today's the day you get a new mentor! Ain't that exciting? 😏]

Ahmed stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing. "Wait, what? No. I don't need any more help from you. Or anyone. You know what? If you think for one second I'm going to be some disciple, you've got another thing coming."

[SYSTEM: Awwww, come on! Who could resist? She's super cool! 😎🎶]

As he spoke, a soft melody floated on the breeze. A flute. The sound was so sweet and haunting that it seemed to reach into Ahmed's very soul. He spun around, eyes wide, looking for the source of the music.

That's when he saw her.

II. Master Flutist QuYi

Standing before him was a woman dressed in flowing robes, her posture elegant, her eyes sharp. She was holding a beautiful, long flute, which seemed to shimmer under the sunlight. Her face was serious yet serene, as if she had just emerged from a legend.

She lowered the flute slowly, giving Ahmed a soft but piercing look. "I have been looking for you," she said, her voice smooth and commanding.

Ahmed's mind raced. "What? You've been looking for me?" he repeated, bewildered. "I don't know who you are, lady, but you're not my type. I don't even play the flute!"

[SYSTEM: Oooh, I can tell she's gonna love you. Look at you—such a cute little grump. 😘💖]

"You misunderstand," the woman said, her tone calm. "I am Master QuYi, the Flutist of the Jade Palace. I have been chosen to take you as my disciple."

Ahmed blinked, trying to process what was happening. "No way. No way, I'm not anyone's disciple. I just want to go home! This isn't even real!" He threw his arms up in exasperation. "System, this is your work again, isn't it? Stop playing around!"

[SYSTEM: Oh, come on! Don't you want to be trained by a master? She's like, top-tier! 😏]

Ahmed's eyes narrowed. "This is just another one of your dumb jokes, isn't it? I'm not interested, okay? I don't care if she's a flutist or a dragon. I'm not—"

Master QuYi raised an eyebrow. "You do not know what you're rejecting. I can teach you power. Control over your inner energy, the ability to command the winds with a single note. This world is more than you realize."

Ahmed rubbed his forehead. "Oh, this is just great," he muttered. "I'm stuck in a crazy world, and now you want me to play the flute? You've got to be kidding me."

[SYSTEM: Don't worry, sweetie. If you don't want to take her up on the offer, I'll just keep bugging you until you do. 😜]

"You'll regret this," Ahmed snapped at the System, but his words had no effect. The voice only responded with a mocking giggle.

[SYSTEM: Awwww, don't be so salty! Just accept it. I swear, it'll be fun. You'll be fabulous at it. 😘🎶]

III. The Reluctant Disciple

Master QuYi didn't wait for Ahmed to accept her offer. She simply turned and began walking toward a nearby clearing, motioning for him to follow. "Come," she called over her shoulder. "You'll see soon enough."

Ahmed groaned and hesitantly followed, all the while muttering under his breath about how he was going to make the System pay for everything. But his words were nothing more than a fleeting whisper in the wind.

Once they reached the clearing, Master QuYi sat cross-legged on the ground, her flute resting beside her. "This world, you see, is a place where power can be gained through art," she said. "And the flute... the flute is the key. It is not merely an instrument. It is a conduit."

"Yeah, sure, I'm totally sold on the flute power," Ahmed replied sarcastically, but there was a part of him that was still curious. Could this really be a way to escape?

[SYSTEM: Yes! Yes, it could be! 😘🎶 Trust me, sweetie, you're gonna be a pro in no time. You'll be the next legendary flutist. 😎]

IV. The Trial

Master QuYi handed Ahmed the flute, and he stared at it like it was some kind of alien artifact. "Go ahead," she said. "Try it."

With a dramatic sigh, Ahmed placed the flute to his lips. Nothing. The only sound that came out was a squeaky noise that made him cringe.

[SYSTEM: Hahahaha! That's adorable! Look at him! A little squeaky flute boy! 😆]

Ahmed gritted his teeth. "I'm not a flutist. I'm a guy who just wants to go home!"

[SYSTEM: Sure you are, sweetie. But you're also my adorable little flute player now. 😘🎶]

Master QuYi didn't seem phased by Ahmed's frustration. "You have potential," she said, as if she could see something in him that even he didn't understand. "It is in your breath, in your spirit. You must find it."

"Yeah, right," Ahmed muttered, clearly unimpressed. "This is all just a joke."

[SYSTEM: Oh, I'm so gonna enjoy watching you struggle with this. Can't wait for the show! 😆]

V. A Sweetly Annoying Melody

Despite his protests, Ahmed continued to play. Slowly, a soft melody began to emerge. It was terrible, but there was something oddly compelling about the sound. It felt... alive in a way.

[SYSTEM: Okay, okay, that's not terrible. You're such a natural! 💖🎶]

"I'm not doing this for your entertainment, System!" Ahmed grumbled, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Master QuYi smiled softly. "You're improving, little by little. It will take time, but you have the capacity to grow. I sense a powerful energy in you—energy you haven't yet learned to control."

VI. The Unlikely Mentor

As the day drew to a close, Ahmed found himself sitting cross-legged on the ground, still holding the flute. His fingers ached, and his head throbbed from the strain of trying to make music. But for the first time, he didn't mind. Maybe this flute stuff wasn't so bad after all.

[SYSTEM: Oh, you're so cute when you play the flute! You'll be the best one day! 😘🎶]

"Shut up, System," Ahmed muttered. "And don't you dare call me cute."

[SYSTEM: Oops, my bad! 😉]

Epilogue: The Flutist's Curse

As the stars twinkled above and the sounds of the Murim world filled the night air, Ahmed couldn't help but wonder if this flute nonsense was his only way forward. One thing was certain, though: he wasn't going down without a fight. No matter how annoying this system was, he wasn't going to be anyone's puppet.

But little did he know, the true challenge had only just begun.

End of Chapter