Chapter 5 – The Home That Wasn’t Mine

Chapter 5 – The Home That Wasn't Mine

Ding!

Chen Yunran had never felt more relieved to leave a place.

The hospital had been suffocating—sterile air, uncomfortable beds, and the ever-looming presence of the System forcing him to exercise.

But as he stepped out into the morning light, breathing in the crisp air of the city…

It still didn't feel like freedom.

Familiar Streets, Unfamiliar Life

The streets were exactly as he remembered—bustling, noisy, and indifferent.

Yet, they felt different.

He recognized the convenience store at the corner, the bakery with overpriced coffee, the old man who always sat near the bus stop.

But it wasn't his familiarity.

It belonged to a version of himself that had never existed.

A version of Chen Yunran who had lived a normal life here.

That version was dead.

Now, he was something else entirely.

[Host, you are being unusually sentimental. Move faster.]

"…Can't I have a moment?"

[No. You are wasting time.]

Chen Yunran sighed. "Right. Should've expected that."

His feet carried him forward, down the familiar path to his apartment.

Or rather—

The apartment that belonged to someone he no longer was.

Inside a Life That Wasn't His

The key still fit.

That, at least, was one small mercy.

The moment he stepped inside, he was greeted with the same plain, unremarkable space he had always known.

Minimal decorations. A functional but dull layout. The faint scent of instant noodles and cheap air freshener.

It felt like a place someone existed in, not lived in.

He slowly walked inside, his fingers brushing against the furniture, the walls, the remnants of a life he had only partially inherited.

The desk still had old books and half-used notebooks.

The kitchen had unwashed dishes, left there before his accident.

The bed was exactly how he had left it—messy, unmade.

Familiar. Yet utterly foreign.

[This location is unsuitable.]

Chen Yunran blinked. "…What?"

[You should move out immediately.]

"…You're joking."

[I do not joke.]

"Then explain."

[This apartment is already marked.]

A chill ran down his spine. "Marked…?"

[Your 'accident' was no accident. The people who tried to kill you will try again. Staying here increases the probability of being found by 89%.]

His fingers tightened into a fist.

He had suspected as much.

The so-called accident had never felt right.

But hearing it confirmed was still different.

"…And you're only telling me this now?"

[You were in no condition to relocate before. Now you are.]

"How considerate."

[You're welcome.]

Chen Yunran let out a long breath. He needed to think.

But more than that—

He needed to prepare.

[New Mission Assigned: Relocate.]

[Objective: Find a new residence within three days.]

[Additional Objective: Secure new employment.]

[Rewards: +1 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill Unlocked – 'Urban Evasion']

So much for rest.

[Updated Stats & Skills]

[Host: Chen Yunran]

➡ Race: Human (Ascended – Sealed)

➡ Physique: Weakened Cultivator Body (Recovering)

[Stats]

Strength: 9 (You might win an arm-wrestling match. Against a child.) Agility: 9 (Fast enough to dodge responsibilities. Barely.) Stamina: 8 (Your endurance is no longer pathetic. Just disappointing.) Perception: 8 (You can now tell when people are lying. Not that it helps.) Qi Reserves: Sealed (Your past self would disown you.)

[Innate Skills]

(From First Life – The Struggling Survivor) Perseverance (Passive): Your refusal to die makes you a cockroach in human form. (System disapproves of your life choices.)

Fast Learner (Passive): Your ability to analyze and adapt to new knowledge is significantly enhanced. (If only this applied to common sense.)

Survival Instinct (Passive): Your gut feeling warns you of danger before it happens. (Not that you listen.)

(From Second Life – The Cultivator & Assassin) Cultivation Techniques (Passive): You possess advanced knowledge of Qi techniques, martial arts, and energy refinement. (None of which help with minimum wage work.)

Body Refinement Mastery (Passive): Your body was once indestructible. Even weakened, you recover faster than normal humans. (Doesn't mean you should test it.)

Pill Creation (Active): You retain expertise in concocting powerful medicines, poisons, and enhancement elixirs. (Maybe you should open a side hustle.)

Stealth Mastery (Passive): You were a master of concealment and infiltration techniques, allowing you to move undetected. (If only this worked on your responsibilities.)

Weapon Proficiency (Passive): You have instinctive mastery over various weapons, even improvised ones. (You could probably kill someone with a plastic spoon. Please don't.)

Vital Recovery (Passive): Natural healing speed increased by 20%. Fatigue accumulation reduced. (Your body is slowly remembering how to function.)

(Sealed Skills) Transformation (Locked. Will unlock upon first employment.) (It's almost time.) (Newly Unlocked Skill – Next Chapter) Urban Evasion (Passive): You instinctively know how to lose a tail, disappear in a crowd, and avoid detection in an urban setting. (A skill necessary for those with enemies.)