Chapter 3. Adapting to the New Home

  The creaking of wooden floorboards echoed under his steps as Wu Ji Han cautiously stepped into the hallway. He was still struggling to get used to this place, but he was already feeling a bit more confident. Here, in the home of Lian and Mo Yun, there were no threats, no monsters, no traps—just an ordinary, albeit slightly gloomy, domestic life.

  Lian sat at the table, sipping some hot drink, while Mo Yun lazily yawned, stretching out on the bed.

  "Oh, you're awake?" Mo Yun asked lazily, yawning.

  "Yeah..." Wu Ji Han mumbled, looking around. "Is this really… a safe place?"

  "As long as no one dies, then yes," Lian smirked, taking another sip of his drink.

  Mo Yun sat up and tossed an apple to Wu Ji Han.

  "Enough philosophy. Do something useful instead. You're living here now, which means…"

  "...I have to help around the house?" Wu Ji Han guessed, catching the apple.

  "Bingo!" Mo Yun clapped his hands. "Lian cooks, I take care of the gear, and you, newbie… will be in charge of cleaning!"

  Wu Ji Han frowned.

  "So, the most boring job?"

  "Exactly," Mo Yun grinned. "Welcome to real life, buddy."

  Lian smiled slightly.

  "If you want to switch tasks, you can learn to cook."

  "Pfft, come on, cleaning isn't that—" Wu Ji Han stopped mid-sentence as he looked around the room. Dusty shelves, dirty dishes, trash in the corners. "...Okay, it's worse than I thought."

  Mo Yun patted him on the back.

  "Come on, show us what you've got!"

  With a resigned sigh, Wu Ji Han grabbed a rag and a broom and began tidying up the room. "The trials in the forest were easier than this," he thought to himself.

  A few minutes later, a loud crash rang out.

  "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Lian shouted, rushing over.

  "It was... an accident," Wu Ji Han muttered, staring at the shattered plate and the overturned bucket spilling water all over the table.

  Mo Yun burst into laughter.

  "I can already tell it's going to be fun having you here!"

  Lian sighed tiredly.

  "Way more fun than I'd like..."

  Wu Ji Han gave an awkward smile.

  "Alright, alright, I'll fix it!"

  He grabbed the rag but accidentally knocked another object off the shelf. Lian covered his face with his hand while Mo Yun continued laughing.

  Thus began Wu Ji Han's first day in his new home.

  ---

  After what felt like an eternity of cleaning—filled with a series of unfortunate accidents—Wu Ji Han finally collapsed onto a chair, exhausted. He felt like he had worked like a slave, but at least the room looked somewhat decent now.

  "Not bad for a first try," Lian admitted reluctantly as he examined the results. "Though you almost set the place on fire."

  "You were the one who said that cobweb was in the way!" Wu Ji Han protested.

  "I didn't say to burn it!"

  Mo Yun barely held back his laughter.

  "Enough arguing, let's eat," he suggested, standing up.

  Lian headed toward the kitchen and gestured for Wu Ji Han to follow.

  "Since you were so eager to change tasks, today you'll learn to cook."

  "What?!" Wu Ji Han froze. "You want me to blow something up again?"

  "I hope not," Lian muttered.

  He pulled out some strange vegetables, meat, and a pouch of spices from the pantry. Wu Ji Han eyed them skeptically.

  "And… what am I supposed to do with this?"

  "Start by chopping."

  Lian handed him a knife, but Wu Ji Han looked at it as if it were a deadly weapon.

  "I… I've never cooked before."

  "Even better. If you survive this, nothing else will seem scary," Mo Yun chuckled, sitting on a stool.

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  Wu Ji Han cautiously took the knife and began chopping the vegetables. The first few pieces turned out somewhat decent, but as soon as he relaxed, the blade slipped, nearly cutting him.

  "Careful," Lian said calmly, adjusting his grip. "Hold the knife like this."

  After a few minutes, a messy pile of chopped vegetables lay on the table. Lian sighed heavily.

  "Well, it'll do. Now for the meat."

  Wu Ji Han grabbed a piece of meat and tried to cut it, but the knife got stuck. He pressed harder, and the chunk of meat suddenly slipped off the table—flying straight toward Mo Yun.

  "Hey!" Mo Yun deflected it with his hand like he was in a fight.

  "It was an accident!" Wu Ji Han yelped.

  "You have a talent for causing chaos," Lian shook his head.

  After several attempts, the meat was finally cut, and the ingredients were ready. Lian lit the stove, tossed everything into a pot, and added spices.

  "Now we wait."

  Half an hour later, the kitchen was filled with a strange aroma. Wu Ji Han inhaled deeply.

  "It smells… surprisingly good."

  "Of course," Lian said calmly.

  "Not because you," Mo Yun smirked.

  At last, the food was ready. Lian poured the soup into bowls, and the three of them sat down at the table.

  Wu Ji Han took a spoonful and tasted it. The flavor was… unusual, but pleasant.

  "This… is actually good."

  Mo Yun nodded.

  "Yeah. I hope you learn to cook as well as Lian, or we'll all die from food poisoning."

  Wu Ji Han frowned.

  "You have too much faith in me..."

  Thus ended his first cooking experience.

  ---

  After the "successful" dinner, Wu Ji Han hoped to finally get some rest. But Lian had other plans.

  "Now you're in charge of laundry."

  "...What?!"

  Lian pointed to a basket full of dirty clothes.

  "It's simple: take a basin, fill it with water, add soap, and scrub the clothes."

  "Can't we just… I don't know… use magic?"

  "Magic is a luxury. Hard work builds body," Lian said seriously.

  Mo Yun laughed.

  "He's messing with you."

  "I already figured that out!" Wu Ji Han groaned.

  With a heavy sigh, he grabbed the basket and trudged toward the well. A wooden basin filled with water was already there. Wu Ji Han rolled up his sleeves, dipped the clothes into the water, and started scrubbing.

  After a few minutes, his fingers went numb.

  "This is endless torture!"

  "Stop whining, it's only been five minutes," Mo Yun called out, lounging on a nearby rock.

  "Yeah, and now try not to spill all the water when you rinse," Lian added.

  Gritting his teeth, Wu Ji Han lifted the basin and tried to pour out the dirty water carefully… but tilted it too much. The cold water splashed all over him.

  "Dammit!!!"

  Mo Yun doubled over laughing, while Lian shook his head.

  "You really have a talent for getting into trouble."

  "It was an accident!"

  "Of course."

  By the time the clothes were finally washed and hung to dry, Wu Ji Han swore he never wanted to touch laundry again.

  "Tomorrow, it's your turn to clean the yard," Lian said casually.

  "I'm not a slave!"

  "Welcome to life."

  Mo Yun burst out laughing again.

  Thus ended another day of adaptation in his new home.

  ***

  Morning Arrived…

  Morning arrived, and as Wu Ji Han stretched, enjoying the softness of his pillow, suddenly…

  — Get up. It's your turn to clean the courtyard today.

  Lian's voice was cold and merciless, like a verdict from fate.

  — Are you serious?.. — Wu Ji Han groaned, pulling the blanket over his head.

  — Yes.

  — Let's discuss this! How about I do nothing today… and also do nothing tomorrow?

  Lian silently tossed him a broom.

  — Alright, alright, I get it…

  With a heavy sigh, Wu Ji Han stepped outside. Before him lay today's battlefield—the courtyard, covered in leaves, dust, and strange feathers.

  — Why is it so filthy here?

  — Because someone has to clean it, — Mo Yun noted philosophically while sipping tea on the veranda.

  — And why is that someone me?!

  — Because you're the newbie, — he smirked.

  Gritting his teeth, Wu Ji Han grabbed the broom and made his first sweeping motion. Dust immediately rose into the air, making him cough violently.

  — Damn it! I'm going to suffocate!

  — Breathe deeper, you'll get used to it, — Mo Yun advised with a serious expression.

  Ignoring the teasing, Wu Ji Han continued cleaning. But the more he swept, the worse it got. Leaves scattered in all directions, and dust settled on his face, turning him into a living statue of despair.

  — How is anyone supposed to control this thing?!

  — You just need to find the rhythm, — Lian said, watching him with arms crossed.

  — What rhythm?! I feel like I'm fighting this cursed courtyard!

  Just then, a gust of wind blew, scattering all the leaves he had gathered back across the yard.

  — …

  — …

  — …

  — Defeat, — Mo Yun declared.

  — Damn you all!

  Deciding that a broom was a weakling's weapon, Wu Ji Han grabbed a shovel and attempted to scoop up the leaves. But overestimating his strength, he slipped on a wet patch and crashed into a pile of garbage.

  — Pfft—Hahaha! — Mo Yun was already rolling on the floor laughing.

  Lian covered his face with his hand.

  — Just because you arrived in the City of Forgotten Names doesn't mean you should forget how to walk.

  — I HATE THIS PLACE!

  But when the work was finally done, Wu Ji Han stood proudly, leaning on the broom.

  — I won.

  — Let's see what you say tomorrow when you have to clean again, — Lian remarked.

  — WHAT?!

  — Welcome to adulthood.

  Mo Yun burst into laughter again.

  ---

  After a long day filled with trials (such as battling a broom), Wu Ji Han collapsed onto his bed with relief. He was ready to sleep, but then Mo Yun peeked into the room with a sly smile.

  — Hey, you still awake?

  — If I don't answer, will you leave?

  — No.

  — Then yes, I'm awake…

  A few minutes later, all three of them sat in the same room. The lights were dim, and candles flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls.

  — Since we're living together now, I propose a tradition: telling scary stories before bed! — Mo Yun said enthusiastically.

  — Why?

  — So we sleep worse, — he grinned.

  — Great plan. I already regret agreeing.

  Lian sighed but stayed, deciding he wouldn't be able to sleep anyway until these two calmed down.

  — Fine, start, — he told Mo Yun.

  Rubbing his hands together, Mo Yun began:

  — This story happened in a strange city… No one remembers its real name, but everyone calls it… the City of Forgotten Names!

  — That doesn't count, — Wu Ji Han instantly interrupted.

  — Alright, alright, another one then.

  Mo Yun leaned forward, lowering his voice ominously:

  — One night, a man heard knocking at his door. But when he opened it—no one was there. The next day, the knocking returned, but this time, a shadow was visible through the gap. He opened the door—again, no one. On the third night, he heard knocking, but this time… at the window. He looked outside… and saw someone staring at him. He—

  — Pfft, not scary, — Wu Ji Han scoffed.

  — Then you tell one.

  He thought for a moment before slowly saying:

  — Once, there was a guy who ended up in a strange city. There, he met two people who forced him to work, wouldn't let him rest properly, and told him dumb scary stories.

  — Very realistic, — Lian commented dryly.

  — And one day, that guy had enough… and threw them out the window.

  Mo Yun laughed.

  — Nice try, but that won't work.

  Lian was about to get up when suddenly, the candle flames flickered violently.

  — …

  — …

  — Now that's weird, — Wu Ji Han said quietly.

  They exchanged glances, then slowly turned toward the window. There, beyond the glass, a shadow flickered.

  — …Mo Yun, is this part of your story?

  — I'd love to say yes… but no.

  The candles went out.

  — …

  — …

  — Maybe we should just go to sleep?

  — Yeah, agreed.

  — Better lock the door.

  — Already did.

  Trying not to show fear, the three of them lay down. But none of them slept a wink that night, listening intently to every sound in the darkness.