New Quests

[Main Quest One: Midnight Escape

• Description: Uncover those who operate under the cover of night.

• Duration: Quest must be complete before Meng Mei goes to the YuHu sect.

• Upon completion Meng Mei will receive a protection charm from the system.

• Failure will result in the Libaogong sect losing reputation points.]

[Special Event Side Quest: The Timid Tiger

• Description: Save the illegitimate son from his bullies.

• Duration: Event will be triggered under the correct circumstances.

• Upon completion Meng Mei will receive another side quest in this line

• Failure will result in Meng Mei having a harder time completing her goals.]

The moon was already high in the sky by the time Meng Mei was able to properly examine her new quests. Feng-laoshi had noticed her distraction and had gotten onto her. After that Meng Mei's day was so busy she didn't have even a moment to check.

She was curled up in her bed with the curtains drawn. The thin reed mat that served as her mattress had certainly taken a few days to adjust to but she had an advantage since her grandmother had a similar set up for her guest beds. At least jade pillows weren't a thing here. They got actual cushions stuffed with goose feathers to use as pillows.

Currently Meng Mei was using that pillow as a back cushion. She'd twisted herself up in her blanket so that only her head was exposed as she read the system's messages. It was vaguely reminiscent of how she curled up when she was reading her webnovels. Except Meng Xiāng hadn't furnished her bed with hundreds of stuffed animals.

“Why are these quests so vague?” Meng Mei asked with a yawn. In comparison to the description on the Tutorial Quest, these quests had practically no details. It was a little worrying since Meng Mei was unsure of how to really proceed with them.

[Since Main Quest One may take place over the next few years this system is just giving A-Mei a generalization. As you progress this system will give smaller objectives to help you accomplish Main Quest One.]

[As for the Special Event Side Quest, it will only activate under special circumstances and this system does not wish to spoil them （ ＾ν＾）]

“The timid tiger side quest refers to Lai Huang right?” She asked, her heart speeding up a bit. Being here, living amongst the Meng family was nothing like getting to meet her favorite character. In some of these recent days as she tried to complete the Tutorial Quest, she'd almost forgotten that Lai Huang, Zhong Changming, and Han Xiaolian all existed in this world.

[Correct! (≧▽≦)]

“Okay, last question, what are reputation points?”

[Since A-Mei has completed the Tutorial Quest, this system will use reputation points to score how well you are contributing to the story. You do have the power to change elements of the story but you must do it in ways that will not disturb the flow of the narrative.]

[If you stray too far from Meng Xiāng's character, you will affect Libaogong's reputation. In the event you reduce the reputation points to zero, Libaogong will fall into disgrace and you will not be able to interact with any characters.]

“So it's like a safety net for Seasons of Sorrow. I have editorial power, not scripting power.” Meng Mei summarized.

[Correct! This will not affect A-Mei's goal of saving Lai Huang.]

Meng Mei hummed in confirmation. It was strange to think that she'd actually be moving towards that goal tomorrow. It was one thing to say she was going to save him when she was high off the joy of transmigration. But to actually enact a plan was an entirely different thing.

She barely noticed as the system window gradually disappeared in the face of her silence.

For the first time since she arrived, Meng Mei felt just how alone she was.

She'd been so focused on trying to be Meng Xiāng she hadn't had time to actually consider what it meant for her to be here. She was the only person who had any knowledge of her home. The only person who remembered what her real name was and what her mom and dad looked like.

The sudden wave of loneliness threatened to crush her. Choking on her breath she pressed her nails into her arm. The jolt of pain helped clear her mind and she rushed to even out her breathing.

She may be the only person who remembered her true self, but she's not the only person who remembers her home world.

“System.”

[Yes A-Mei?]

“Can I contact User2?” She asked as she stared down at the four crescent shaped marks on her arm. Her small, perfectly smooth and pale arm.

[. . .]

[How would A-Mei like to contact User2?]

“I don't know,” she said, looking back up at the system, “could I use your weird magical technology to do it? Like a texting service?”

[This system will process A-Mei's request. Right now A-Mei should get some rest.]

“Such a caring system.” Meng Mei huffed in amusement. She did see the reason behind the gentle reminder so she slowly started unwrapping herself. Her movements were almost methodical as she rearranged herself. In only a few moments, she was laying on her side, ready for bed.

She stared at the curtains on her bed for a long moment.

Being here, being Meng Xiāng, was her fresh start. She was no longer plagued by that wall that separated her from experiencing life. She'd never felt as present in her life as she did in this moment.

She couldn't let her anxieties take this from her. This was a chance at adventure. A chance to live.

“I will seize this opportunity. I will save Lai Huang. I will not crumble to my anxieties.” She whispered to the dark room. She wrapped those words around her heart and steeled herself against the future.

Maybe if she said it enough, it'd stop feeling like a lie