LOST CULTIVATION METHODS

The moment between Jin and Lila had grown tense in the most unexpected way.

As Lila crossed her legs, each movement seemed to deepen the pull of her presence. Jin could barely focus. Then, the system chimed again:

[Lila Fern – Affection Level Rising: 66%… 67%… 69%...]

Jin blinked. "Wait, what?"

The affection meter ticked upward like a countdown timer in reverse. Every second, it climbed.

[Affection Level: 72%]

He rubbed his temples. "What is happening? I barely said anything!"

He'd heard the system mention a skill called Mind Reader once—locked, but obtainable. Maybe once he had that, he could start understanding what was going on in these girls' heads.

Trying to reset the mood, he cleared his throat. "You can, uh, wear some of my mother's clothes. You two… have similar body types."

Lila raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "Ohhh? So you noticed my body?"

Jin flushed. "I mean—yes, but—not like that!"

She giggled, amused by his flustered reaction. He handed her some clean clothes and watched as she casually walked to one of the guest rooms nearby.

He sat back at the table, eyes trailing the hallway, only to realize—the door was still open.

And she was undressing. Towel first.

Jin's eyes widened.

"You… you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" he muttered.

Her silhouette gleamed in the low sunlight. Perfect skin, curved like polished jade. He tried to look away. He really did.

But when he whispered, "Since you're so bold, show me what you have," it was as much prayer as protest.

She was flawless. Ethereal. Deadly. And in that moment, almost too tempting.

His lower half saluted with such force the table nearly lifted.

Then—

A cold, bone-chilling sensation ran down his spine.

Jin's instincts screamed.

He slowly turned to the door—

Lana stood there, eyes locked on him like a tiger watching prey.

Before she could storm in, Sarah darted in from the side, whispering quickly, "Mom! You can't! She's teasing hubby on purpose."

Then she added more shyly, "Besides… me and Ari can't handle him."

Lana's hand froze mid-reach.

She glanced down at Sarah, blinking.

"…You shouldn't know things like that," Lana muttered, lovingly flicking her daughter's forehead.

They all knew what happened during the journey from the inheritance trial. Jin had taken opportunities where he could. And each time, it ended in mutual satisfaction… and exhaustion.

Back in the dining hall, Jin groaned and stood up, tent-pitched trousers straining. He composed himself the best he could and walked outside.

The gathered crowd—all twenty-five of the surviving townsfolk—were watching curiously.

He cleared his throat and raised his voice.

"First order of business. I am now the City Lord of Valeria. With this token," he held it high, "I inherit the responsibility to return this city to its former glory."

There were whispers, wide eyes.

"But," he continued, "we can't do this alone. My companions and I are strong, yes—but a city needs more than strength. It needs hands. Brains. Coordination."

He looked around. "So if you're willing to work, I'll assign duties according to your elemental affinity and cultivation. We'll handle food and shelter for now."

A man stepped forward. "I'm wood element, City Lord."

"Good. Wood elementals—go into the forest, gather lumber.

Earth elementals—dig trenches, help with the well, find water.

Fire types—start purifying the rubble and help with forges.

Water mages—cleanse the surviving parts of the manor and make medicine.

Wind mages—scout. See what remains of our outer lands."

They all moved, one after another, eager to contribute. Hope sparked again in their eyes.

Meanwhile, deep in the forest—

A man ran, armor torn, face bloodied. In his arms he held a bleeding young girl, no older than eighteen. Behind them thundered a beast—red-scaled, horned, and fuming.

The man's armor, once regal, was now charred. His face pale with desperation.

He burst into a clearing—and stumbled.

A group of townsfolk gathering wood turned and gasped.

"Help her!" he cried. "Please, save her! I'll hold the beast—"

But even before he could swing his sword, a wave of exhaustion overtook him. His limbs weakened. His eyes blurred.

His last thoughts drifted to happy memories.

His daughter's smile… the way she used to braid his hair when he napped.

Then—darkness.

Back in Valeria, Jin heard it.

A roar.

[ALERT: Hostile Beast Presence Detected]

He narrowed his eyes. Wind exploded beneath his feet as he activated Wind Surge.

In moments, he reached the site.

The beast was massive—eight feet tall at the shoulder, scaled in burning crimson. Its horns curled like ram's, its claws cracked the earth.

Jin didn't waste time.

Tyrant Body—Activate.

His skin hardened. Muscles surged. The air bent around him.

He lunged—meeting the beast pound for pound, fist for claw.

Each blow sent shockwaves.

The beast bellowed and lunged—Jin countered with a spinning elbow to its jaw.

Then—

Dragon Might—Unleashed.

The beast collapsed, kneeling as if the weight of a mountain crushed it.

Jin approached and with surgical precision, slit its throat. The beast let out one last breath and crumpled.

He turned to the villagers. "Take the injured back. I'll handle this."

Once alone, the system chimed in.

[Beast Core Compatible for Ancient Technique: Beast Weapon Forging]

"What the hell is that?" Jin asked.

[A long-lost crafting art. With the beast's remains, a personalized weapon can be forged. Permission to consume the core?]

"Yeah," Jin said. "Take it. And we're even, stupid system."

[Rude. Processing...]

The core vanished into particles.

Moments later, the girls arrived—Lana, Arielle, Sarah, and Lila.

They stopped.

The ground was stained in blood—but Jin stood there, clean, uninjured.

Just a knife in his hand, crimson and still dripping.

The beast's body… gone.

[WARNING: Suspicion Level Raised – Lana, Arielle, Sarah, Lila]

[They think you're hiding something.]

"…Great," Jin muttered. "Now I'm the suspicious city lord with blood on his blade and no body to show for it."

He sheathed the knife slowly. "Girls… I can explain."

They didn't say a word.

But the way they looked at him?

Let's just say…

The beast wasn't the scariest thing he'd faced that day.