Shelter and Shadows

As the cold wind howled around them, Ethan clung to the back of Liu Tieshan's warhorse, thoughts swirling in his mind.

Liu Tieshan. That was the name of the man who had effortlessly annihilated a Rank 3 Gu Master like Jin Tu without lifting a finger. Stern, powerful, and calm to a terrifying degree. There was no doubt—this man was someone important.

Then there was Liu Lan, his wife. Beautiful, deadly, and every bit as sharp as her husband. She hadn't hesitated to crush Jin Tu if it meant finding her son.

And the little boy—Liu Xiaofan, nicknamed Yan'er. The child who had unknowingly dragged Ethan into the chaos of Gu Masters, tribal clans, and soul-rending power.

Ethan didn't know the full details, but he'd gathered enough. The Liu Clan was no ordinary backwater group. From the aura of dominance Tieshan and Lan carried, and the reverence they seemed to inspire in even their enemies, it was clear—they were elites. Possibly elders or key figures within the Liu Clan, maybe even the top of the hierarchy.

And Ethan? He was just… some guy from another world who played video games and happened to be in the right (or wrong) place at the right time.

And yet, he thought, I'm riding with them. Being treated like… a guest? An ally?

It was surreal.

As the sun began to dip behind the mountains, the sky darkened ominously. Thick clouds gathered, and a drizzle turned into steady rainfall. The frigid wind carried droplets that stung Ethan's skin like needles.

"We'll camp here," Liu Tieshan said at last, his voice cutting through the storm like a blade.

He dismounted and pulled a small jade token from his robes. With a flick of his wrist, he activated it.

Ethan's jaw dropped as a translucent, dome-like structure began to shimmer into existence before them—then solidified into a compact, multi-roomed wooden building. Warm light flickered from inside. It looked like a miniature lodge, cozy and dry despite the downpour.

"A Gu House…" Ethan murmured, eyes wide. So this was a real treasure—a shelter infused with Gu.

Liu Lan had already entered with Liu Xiaofan, who was dozing off in her arms. She looked over her shoulder at Ethan. "You get your own room."

He blinked. "Wait, seriously?"

She smiled faintly. "You saved Yan'er. Of course."

Ethan stepped into the Gu House. The interior was warm, with soft lighting and wooden walls that glowed faintly with life. He was led to a small room with a bedroll, a basin of clean water, and even a small shelf.

For the first time since he'd arrived in this cruel world, Ethan would sleep indoors. Not in a cave. Not on the cold ground. Not surrounded by the threat of wild beasts or rogue Gu Masters.

He exhaled slowly and sat down, listening to the rain drum against the enchanted roof.

For now… he was safe.

Ethan sat cross-legged on the floor of his private room, the gentle patter of rain muffled by the Gu House's protective shell. Warmth radiated from the walls, but his thoughts were colder, heavier.

He had survived.

He had saved a child.

He had somehow earned the favor of powerful people.

And now… it was time.

DING!

The interface flickered back into view—clean, glowing text overlaying the dim room like a hologram.

Mission Complete: Survive the Gu Master's Pursuit-Objective: Survive and escape the pursuit of hostile Gu Master(s)-Bonus Objective: Ensure the child's safety-Hidden Objective: Assist in resolving the pursuit permanently

Reward:

Status Menu (Unlocked)

Innate Talents Gained:

-Soul Path Affinity – Intermediate

-Luck Path Affinity – Basic

-Dream Path Affinity – Low

Would you like to claim your rewards?[YES] [NO]

Ethan didn't hesitate.

He reached out and mentally pressed [YES].

The moment he did, a strange sensation ran through his body—not painful, but undeniably powerful. It was like something deep inside him had been rewired, calibrated, aligned.

He felt his breath catch.

His mind grew clearer.

His body… lighter?

And his soul—he could feel something stirring. Something deeper than mere energy. A layer beneath thought. A kind of resonance he'd never experienced before.

Then, the interface shimmered and shifted into a new tab.

_____________________________

[Status Menu – Unlocked]

Name: EthanLevel: 3Race: HumanAffiliation: NoneCultivation Path(s): Not InitiatedGu Master Rank: Not Applicable

Innate Talents:

Soul Path: Intermediate Affinity

Luck Path: Primary Affinity

Dream Path: Low Affinity

Titles: Transmigrator(Epic)

Active Buffs: None

_____________________________

As the [Status Menu] hovered silently before him, Ethan's gaze lingered on the three words that could change everything:

Innate Talents: Soul Path, Luck Path, Dream Path Affinity

There were no numbers, no percentages, no tutorials—just these cryptic labels. But somehow, deep down, Ethan could feel what they represented.

"Affinity," he muttered. "That must be… my potential to grow along these cultivation paths. Like talent. Or a compatibility rating."

He sat up on the soft bed the Liu couple had prepared for him inside the Gu House. Outside, rain tapped gently on the roof, muted by the house's strange organic material. Inside his private room, Ethan finally had a moment to think.

He focused first on the Luck Path.

"I remember this from the game lore," he whispered. "The Luck Path was created by Giant Sun Immortal Venerable…"

Giant Sun. One of the famed Nine Venerables of the Gu World.

"He was the founder of the Longevity Heaven, and a powerhouse who could bend fortune itself. The guy literally rewrote people's fates just by existing."

Luck Path cultivators were terrifying in their own right. They didn't control fire or wind—but probability. Gu worms from this path could influence events, increase one's chances of survival, or even curse others with endless misfortune. Their strength wasn't flashy—but it was subtle, overwhelming, and practically impossible to predict.

"To think I have even a chance to step into that path…"

Next, he turned his thoughts toward the Soul Path.

"This one… founded by Spectral Soul Demon Venerable."

Ethan shivered at the name.

The most infamous of all Venerables. A monster who once sought to destroy fate itself and plunge the world into chaos. Spectral Soul's path revolved around the soul—not just strengthening it, but manipulating, devouring, and even resurrecting it through terrifying Gu methods.

Soul Path was one of the most foundational paths in the Gu World. It was key to resisting mental attacks, increasing willpower, enhancing memory, and casting soul-based abilities like possession, soul beasts, or even soul searching.

"If Spectral Soul walked that path… then it's dangerous. But strong. And if I have the potential to grow in it, I can't ignore it."

Finally, Ethan thought about the most mysterious one:

Dream Path.

"…This one's weird. It wasn't even a thing during the early Venerable era, right?"

He recalled scattered fragments from in-game lore. The Dream Path was a newer path, still being explored by modern Gu Immortals. It focused on illusions, dreams, memory realms, and alternate realities. Very few mortals had access to it—yet the few that did uncovered insights far beyond ordinary comprehension.

"And if I'm remembering right… a Wisdom Path Immortal once predicted that the next Venerable… would rise through the Dream Path."

That line alone made Ethan pause.

In a world where Fate, Strength, and Time reigned supreme… the Dream Path was the unknown variable.

"Even if my affinity is low… just having any resonance with that path means something."

Ethan leaned back, taking it all in.

Luck to survive.Soul to grow strong.Dream to… maybe transcend?

He closed the status window and exhaled, long and slow. The rain continued its soft song outside, and the Gu House's warmth wrapped around him like a cocoon.

He still had no Gu. No cultivation. No techniques.

But he had something most people didn't: Potential.