Bloodline of the Forgotten Emperor

As soon as I left the Patriarch's chamber with a heavy heart, and approached my courtyard, I found a young lady — nothing extraordinary about her appearance, nothing notable about her at first glance.

As I got closer, she stood up straight with a graceful bow, her voice deep with respect. "Greetings, Young Master." She looked at me with a smile. "The Patriarch assigned me to you as your personal maid, and to be at your beck and call."

"At my beck and call." A smile crept onto my face despite myself. *This is more like it — even if I'm about to train my ass off to get stronger, at least someone has to handle the massaging and the cheerleading. Wouldn't it be awesome to be looked up to and worshipped like a god. Ah, it's a shame she's not exactly pretty, but that's acceptable.*

"Yes, Young Master. I'm also kind of good in bed, too." She said it with a hint of shyness pulling at the corner of her mouth, eyes dropping just slightly before finding mine again.

*Is she trying to seduce me? Little girl, you still have a long way to go.*

"I won't be needing that service. But you should know your limits."

"Sorry, Young Master."

"Forget it. I'm tired — prepare my bath. I want to refresh myself for a while and relax, because I'll be having a busy week from now."

"Yes, Young Master. It will be ready." She bowed, then turned to leave. When she was about to open the door, I realized I didn't even know her name.

"Wait." She turned, attentive. "What's your name?" I asked, nothing special behind it — though I'd bet she was surprised, since I rarely ask for the names of servants, or even my own peers. You can't really blame me. I've never needed to. But my personal maid was a different matter; I ought to know that much.

"Mei. Mei Chang, Young Master." She said it with a tone of solemnity.

"Okay, Mei. I think I'll go with that one. You can go." She bowed again and quietly closed the door behind her.

I went to the nearest chair and sat down, legs finally grateful for it — I'd been walking and standing since morning.

*System.*

*Yes.*

*I've been wanting to ask you this for a while.*

*What is it. Let it not be what I think it is.*

*It's exactly what you're thinking, okay. So where's my newbie gift? I haven't gotten one yet. Don't tell me you've got nothing in stock for me.*

*Save it, Host. You've already received it.*

*Received what? When? Where? By what time? Don't tell me you're trying to scam me.* Pure sarcasm, no attempt to hide it.

*This isn't a fantasy novel — wake up to reality, Host. You already received your gift. The body you're in, the family background — that's the newbie gift.*

"You can't be serious." My reaction landed flatter than I meant it to.

*Yeah. That's it.*

Before I could keep bickering, a knock came at the door. I was too lazy to cross the distance to answer it — the room was nearly the size of a football pitch.

"Just come in, the door's open," I said, sitting back in the chair, arranging my face into something cold and unbothered.

Mei opened the door and walked in gracefully. "Young Master, your tub is ready for your bath."

"Okay, you can go. I'll send for you when I need you." I stayed seated, eyes half-closed, bored expression firmly in place — she wouldn't call me out on it. She knew the consequences well enough not to try.

"Young Master, it's my duty to always stay by your side, no matter what." She said it standing rooted to the spot, a thread of stubbornness running under the words.

I opened one eye and looked at her for a moment. "Whatever. Stick to me like a leech if you want. I won't mind."

I stood and headed for the bathroom, chatting with the System in my mind as I ignored her entirely. *System, even though you clearly don't want to give me a newbie gift I deserve by every fair standard in this universe, can you at least give me a quest with a decent reward attached? Something to feel motivated about.*

*I have a task for you, Host. I'm just not sure you'll like the reward attached to it.* Mockery, thick and unmistakable in its tone.

*Just let the cat out of the bag already. Don't play mysterious with me.*

*Since you insist — call up your status, and you'll see the quest there. Saves me the energy of alerting you with a full task announcement and the rest of the theatrics.* Laziness, deeply embedded in every word.

*Look who's talking. Don't tell me the Almighty System is lazy because it has nothing better to do.* Clear mockery, sent right back at it.

*Status,* I said within my mind, curious despite myself what this lazy excuse of a system would hand me. Honestly, I prayed to every god I could remember the name of that it wouldn't be a nightmare-tier task.

---

**Status**

Host Name: Long Zaitian

State: Alive (healthy and ready for action)

Race: Primordial Dragon

Bloodline: Primordial Tyrant Bloodline (pray you don't end up as some fetish cultivator's pill ingredient)

Technique: Dragon Scripture Manual (???)

**Task Section**

1. Don't beg Elder Mo Xuan for mercy, or curse him, during the course of your first week of training. (You can do it, man. I'm betting my fortunes on you.)

Reward: Heaven Meridian Pill (Heaven grade)

2. Make progress with the Phoenix girl betrothed to you. (You can do it, hero. The world is waiting for you.)

Reward: Romance (how are you supposed to be *rewarded* for winning a girl's heart, don't be sassy, Host)

---

I took a deep breath, which I was fairly sure caught Mei's attention — not that I cared right now. *System, is there a need for all those sassy remarks of yours? Is this genuinely how you motivate people, in whatever language you speak?*

*Pretty sure that's exactly how I motivate people. Don't you feel your own adrenaline spiking right now? I'll take that as a compliment.* Sarcasm, unbothered and entirely pleased with itself.

*System,* I thought, already dreading the answer, *what exactly does "Dragon Scripture Manual (???)" mean. Why is there a question mark on my own technique.*

Silence. Long enough that I stopped moving toward the bathroom entirely.

*That,* the System said finally, *is a very good question. I don't actually know either.*