Chapter 3: Three Years in a Dream, Embarrassing Confessions

“How could my innate aptitude and comprehension suddenly improve?”
“Is it really just a dream? Did I spend three years in it?”
Early in the morning, Chen Kaixin, clutching books and biting into spicy steamed buns, joined the crowd of students heading to class, still puzzled by the strange improvement in his innate aptitude and comprehension.
Three years ago, when he first entered the game, his innate aptitude was only 15 points and his comprehension 17. The official website had claimed that the highest values could reach 35 for innate aptitude and 27 for comprehension!
It was said that even if one deleted their account and created a new one, their character stats wouldn’t change. Yet, after three years, when he returned, his stats had improved to 18 for innate aptitude and 25 for comprehension. The other two stats remained the same: 21 for strength and 18 for agility.
Overall, his current status was much better than three years ago. Back then, his low comprehension had caused him to face many setbacks, preventing him from learning many top-tier martial arts.
“No wonder a kind aunt from the Murong family in Gusu could easily take a liking to me—my comprehension has actually reached 25…”
Though puzzled, Chen Kaixin secretly felt pleased. Higher comprehension meant more and faster opportunities to acquire advanced martial arts!
Of course! Advanced martial arts wouldn’t just appear out of nowhere. Without being observant enough to spot tasks and complete difficult ones, high comprehension would be useless. Otherwise, how could players with lower comprehension and innate aptitude survive?
Thinking this, Chen Kaixin calmed down…
Back then, it was through his own hard work that he managed to rise from among millions of players to make it into the top 16 of the Huashan Sword Competition. At that time, his innate aptitude and comprehension were also poor—so what had that achieved? Initial stats couldn’t determine a person’s success or future fate.
It was… still himself who counted!
Chen Kaixin didn’t realize that his three friends had quietly left him at some point.
From the academy’s main road to his classroom, countless people stared at him, whispering and discussing this shameless guy who had boldly offered an umbrella to the campus beauty Xu Xin after class. Yet, he remained completely unbothered, continuing to encourage himself.
Even when he entered the classroom, his expression didn’t change at all. Many people drew a sad conclusion:
“It’s unbelievable—this guy’s audacity has really reached an extreme!”

Including all the girls from Dormitory 203, who had been secretly following behind under the escort of several other girls, were also quite disappointed. They had planned to teach that bold boy a lesson, but he didn’t even show any sign of looking back, wasting their enthusiasm for nothing.
“Xu Xin, class is over. Let’s wait at the corridor entrance after class; that guy will definitely confess to you.”
“They meant well, you guys.”
“Men are all wolves in sheep’s clothing. Even if they claim to have good intentions, we must protect our treasures from Dormitory 203 from being taken by those wolves.” “Exactly! If they want to take her, they first have to pass us!”
The women of Dormitory 203 declared this collectively, immediately drawing the attention and interest of the boys around them.
“I don’t want to deal with you!”
With a swish of her ponytail, Xu Xin, her face red, rushed into the classroom holding her textbooks, followed by giggles.
…
After class, the three women from Dormitory 203 left the classroom early to wait downstairs, but they didn’t see the angry Chen Kaixin. Upon further inquiry, they found out that the boy had done something sensational on campus again.
Not long after Chen Kaixin sat down in the classroom, he went straight to the office and talked to several teachers, saying he wouldn’t continue attending classes and would instead review in the dormitory. What surprised everyone even more was that these teachers agreed without exception!
Xu Xin, who hadn’t paid much attention to this strange and shy boy before, became interested and curious after hearing this news. For the first time, she repeated the boy’s name several times in her mind and remembered it.
…
While the students at Nanhua University were busy with their classes, Happy had returned to the world of martial arts and chivalry, back to the mansion of the Murong family in Gusu. Living an unremarkable life, she went to the market to buy carrots and vegetables, then brought them to the backyard to feed the group of white rabbits raised by the Murong family’s young lady. Her days were quite comfortable and leisurely.
Usually, such simple chores had to be done patiently for seven or eight days before triggering subsequent tasks; otherwise, the initial “good luck” would end, and the butler would send her back to the front yard under the pretext of laziness, forcing her to start over like other ordinary players, beginning with basic techniques and chores.
Happy, who had been in this world for three years, had long mastered this routine. She behaved diligently at the Murong mansion, with nothing to be criticized about.
Several times when she went offline to eat, the Lonely Three Wolves asked her about her situation in the game. Upon learning it was the Murong family, they became excited as if they had taken some kind of stimulant.

The next question made him lose interest immediately—working odd jobs for several days without even being taught any martial arts techniques or principles.
“How could this be?”
“Maybe there’s no task at all. Happy, I think you’d better give up… This is a waste of time. It’s better to start from the outer ranks; maybe you could already have learned one or two skills by now.”
“That’s right. Feeding rabbits all day—what’s the point?”
In response to the Lonely Three Wolves’ advice, Happy smiled but refused to agree.
The days of openness in the martial world were still short, and many strategies hadn’t been revealed yet. It was understandable that they didn’t know the full situation.
“Actually, I’m not completely without gains.”
Happy explained with a smile, “Carrying things back and forth every day, catching rabbits—my strength and agility have improved. I plan to keep doing this for a few more days. If there’s still no change, I’ll listen to you.”
“Alright.”
The others looked helpless and stopped pressing him.
Anyway, since Happy didn’t need to attend classes anymore, he had plenty of free time. Even if he sacrificed a few days, he could catch up quickly later.
Two more days passed.
While feeding in the backyard, Happy noticed a little rabbit that wouldn’t come over. It seemed weak, lying motionless in a corner, its fur dull. Curious, he rushed over and picked it up.
There was a small wound on the rabbit’s abdomen, oozing pus—it seemed infected.
Realizing there might be a chance for improvement, Happy quickly took the rabbit to the butler!
“Stop.”
A clear voice came from behind.
“Where are you taking my Xiaobai?”
Turning around, Happy saw the girl in white he had glimpsed in the front yard—she had appeared in the garden somehow. She looked like a fairy, with bright eyes, white teeth, and glowing arms, so ethereal that it made one feel ashamed in comparison.
“It’s sick. I want to ask the butler for help to find a doctor for it.”
Happy stammered, looking at the fairy-like Miss Murong before him.
“Pfft.”
Miss Murong couldn’t help but laugh. “How can you find a doctor for a sick rabbit? You’re such a cute kid.”
“…”
Happy scratched his head and smiled foolishly, amusing Miss Murong again.
“Alright, give me Xiaobai.”
“Mm.”
Unfazed by Xiaobai’s illness, Miss Murong gently took it and her beautiful eyes shifted to Happy. “What’s your name?”
“Happy.”

“Happy, that’s great… Xiaobai is sick. As a reward for your careful care of him and the others these days, I’ll teach you a mental technique. Go to the Purple Bamboo Forest in the eastern suburbs outside the city and cut down three sections of purple bamboo for me.” Miss Murong walked over to Happy, handed him a piece of white paper and a short sword, then floated away.
“Obtained ‘Quanzhen Mental Technique’.”
“Obtained a short sword.”
Hearing the system’s notification, Happy was stunned. He had thought it would be an advanced martial art from the Murong family, but it turned out to be the most ordinary “Quanzhen Mental Technique” of Quanzhen Taoism.
“Well, it’s just the Quanzhen Mental Technique. I’ve practiced it before.”
Happy sat cross-legged on the spot, memorized the technique in his mind, and began to follow its instructions…