Chapter 6 – The Identity That Wasn’t Mine

Chapter 6 – The Identity That Wasn't Mine

Chen Yunran didn't own much.

A few sets of clothes. Some books. An old laptop that had seen better days.

And, of course, the lingering feeling that none of it actually belonged to him.

His past life had been spent in mountains and hidden sects. His second life had been filled with pill cauldrons, assassination missions, and Qi-infused blades.

Now?

He was stuffing socks and instant noodle packets into a duffel bag.

Truly, what a life.

Ending the Lease

His landlord was a grumpy old man who didn't ask questions as long as the rent was paid.

Which worked in Chen Yunran's favor.

"I'm moving out," he said bluntly.

The landlord gave him a long look. "You've got a month left on the lease."

[Host, negotiating rent refunds is a sign of financial responsibility. You should attempt it.]

"...I don't think that's how this works."

[Incorrect.]

Chen Yunran sighed. "Look, I'm leaving today. If you want, you can keep half of my deposit, but I need the other half back."

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Half?"

"It's either that, or I stay the full month and don't pay for next month," he said with a shrug.

The landlord studied him for a moment. Then—

"Tsk. Fine."

He handed over the money, muttering about 'damn kids and their sudden decisions.'

[Negotiation Successful. Host has acquired +1 Luck.]

"Wait, I can actually get stats for this?"

[No. That was sarcasm.]

Chen Yunran clenched his fist. "...You're the worst."

[Correction. I am the Ordinary Life Assistance System.]

He didn't bother replying.

He had a new place to find.

The Hunt for a New Home

Finding an apartment wasn't easy when you had no credit history, no job, and a fake identity.

Fortunately, his second life had given him experience in bluffing.

And his first life had taught him the fine art of bullshitting.

After an hour of searching, he found a decent one-bedroom apartment that was reasonably priced and in an area that wasn't completely terrible.

The landlord, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, eyed him warily.

"You got proof of income?"

[Warning: You do not.]

Chen Yunran smiled. "Freelancer. I do remote work."

"Got bank statements?"

[Host, lying without evidence is unwise.]

Chen Yunran clenched his teeth. "I… don't have them with me right now."

The landlord crossed her arms. "Then what do you have?"

A long silence.

[Host, activating emergency assistance.]

[New Skill Unlocked – 'Minor Forgery']

[(You can now falsify minor documents and create believable fake IDs. Use responsibly.)]

Suddenly, his mind filled with new knowledge.

How to create fake transaction records.

How to edit digital documents without leaving a trace.

How to make a completely fabricated background sound convincing.

The System wasn't joking.

"…I can show you some online invoices," he said smoothly, pulling out his phone.

With a few quick edits, he generated a fake financial report that looked completely legitimate.

The landlord gave it a once-over. Then a twice-over.

Finally, she sighed. "Fine. First and last month's rent upfront."

Chen Yunran handed over the cash and signed the lease.

[New Residence Acquired. Host's probability of being found has decreased.]

Finally. A step forward.

Job Hunting & A New Identity

With his living situation settled, it was time for the next step.

[Host, employment is necessary.]

"I know."

[Then why are you looking at coffee shop job listings?]

"…Because they're easy?"

[Incorrect answer.]

A new job meant new documents, and new documents meant a new identity.

And what better place to blend in than a tech company?

He found a junior IT position at a large tech firm that didn't require a degree.

[Host, you lack technical experience.]

Chen Yunran groaned. "So? Fix it."

[New Skills Unlocked – 'Basic Hacking' & 'Technical Proficiency']

Suddenly, he knew how to bypass firewalls, encrypt data, and write scripts like he had been doing it for years.

He stared at the job description again.

"…I can actually do this now."

[Obviously.]

"…This is kind of terrifying."

[Terrifying would be starving to death because you couldn't pass an interview.]

Chen Yunran clicked 'Apply.'

Time to see if he could actually fake a normal life.

[Updated Stats & Skills]

[Host: Chen Yunran]

➡ Race: Human (Ascended – Sealed)

➡ Physique: Weakened Cultivator Body (Recovering)

[Stats]

Strength: 9 (Still can't open pickle jars without effort.) Agility: 9 (Fast, but not 'escape debt collectors' fast.) Stamina: 8 (You won't collapse after one flight of stairs. Progress.) Perception: 8 (Your instincts are sharp. Too bad your life choices aren't.) Qi Reserves: Sealed (Your past self is rolling in his spiritual grave.) Luck: 6 (Statistically, you might win a scratch card. But don't count on it.)

[Innate Skills]

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

Fast Learner (Passive): Your ability to analyze and adapt to new knowledge is significantly enhanced. (Maybe apply it to social skills?)

Survival Instinct (Passive): Your gut feeling warns you of danger before it happens. (It's screaming at you right now.)

(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 office work.)

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

Pill Creation (Active): You retain expertise in concocting powerful medicines, poisons, and enhancement elixirs. (Illegal in most places.)

Stealth Mastery (Passive): You were a master of concealment and infiltration techniques, allowing you to move undetected. (Why does this feel necessary for job hunting?)

Weapon Proficiency (Passive): You have instinctive mastery over various weapons, even improvised ones. (Staplers can be lethal in the right hands.)

Vital Recovery (Passive): Natural healing speed increased by 20%. Fatigue accumulation reduced. (Your body is still pathetic, but improving.)

(Newly Unlocked Skills) Minor Forgery (Active): You can falsify minor documents and create believable fake IDs. (A necessary skill for 'ordinary' life.)

Basic Hacking (Passive): You can bypass low-security systems and encrypt data with ease. (For 'legal' purposes only, of course.)

Technical Proficiency (Passive): You have IT skills suitable for office work and minor cybersecurity tasks. (Congratulations, you are now slightly employable.)