00003. The system can do that?

You know rewriting an story is harder then just making a new one... That said, here is another chapter and it's a lot different then the old one. I hope you guys are liking the new/old story.

Zhi’s home was placed outside of the village, close to the fields and one of the many water irrigation ducts. It was far enough away that most people rarely visited, since it was near the edge of the farmland. Most of the villagers lived in the village itself, with only a handful of them living further away.

It seemed weird to Zhi why his family chose to live so far away from everyone else, but even after he searched his memories he didn't know why. Well it didn't really matter anymore, he wasn't the original Zhi and planned to leave here soon.

Zhi looked around the valley a bit more, before he finally turned towards the elders house and began making his way to the center of the village. It took almost half an hour to reach the edge of the village.

Once inside the village he passed by a handful of people who didn't seem to notice him. A few glanced in his direction, but no one greeted him as he made his way to the elders building.

‘This kid really wasn’t close to anyone in this place, especially after his parents passed away.’ Zhi thought to himself.

[Zhi was always a loner, even when he worked in the fields around others. He never attended any of the village festivals either, so it's not strange he had no friends.]

After Zhi arrived at the village elders house, he raised his hand and lightly knocked on the door. A few seconds passed before a young man opened the door and asked, “Zhi? Why are you coming to visit the elder so late in the day? Did something happen?”

Zhi recognized Huan Wu from his new memories as he extended his hand and said, “Greetings Wu, I was wondering if Elder Ao was in. I have an important matter to discuss with him”

Wu's eyes slightly widened at the unexpected greeting, but shook the offered hand as he said, “Please come in, Zhi. I will get my father for you.”

[Would you like to use inspection on Huan Wu?]

‘The skill activates on touch? That might make it a little inconvenient to use… Whatever, show me what it can do.’ Zhi thought as he released the hand shake.

As Wu motioned Zhi to follow him inside, a screen popped into his vision off to the side. Zhi Ignored it while he followed Wu to a side room. The room is unadorned with only a small table and a few chairs inside. After Zhi sat down at the table, he glanced over the new window as Wu left to get his father.

----

Name: Haun Wu

Age: 16

Karma: Good

Cultivation: 3rd level of Houtian

Occupation: Assistant to Elder

Mood: Unsatisfied

Talent: Green thumb

----

Zhi studied the information window for a bit before he thought, ‘That leaves a lot to be desired, but I can still work with this skill for now. Does it really only work through touch?’

[Correct, only through physical contact will the skill be able to function. You will receive more information as the skill levels up and also be able to use the skill with just a glance.]

Zhi nodded to himself as he thought, ‘That will be helpful. Will the inspection skill also work on items or animals? Or is it only for people?’

[Inspection will work on anything. But it's also tied to the host's own knowledge and power. That said, if the skill level is high enough, the system can pick up the slack for a lazy host.]

‘In that case let's give it a try.’ Zhi thought as he glanced down at the table in front of him before he touched it and used the skill. A new window popped up in front of him that made him frown.

----

This is just a plain wooden table. Why would you inspect it? Are you stupid?

----

As Zhi was about to ask Buddha about the window information, the elder walked into the room with Wu. As Elder Ao sat down at the table, Wu stood behind his father on the right side.

Ao smiled kindly at Zhi as he said, “It's good to see you back on your feet, you were almost bedridden when I visited the other day to bring you food. Do you need more food? Is that what you wanted to talk about?”

Zhi bowed his head as he said, “Elder Ao is too kind. Thank you for all the help you've given me over the years.”

“You have no need to thank me. I was just doing what needed to be done as a responsible leader.”

Zhi raised his head back up as he said, “Maybe you feel that way, but you really helped me out when I needed it, so thank you.”

Ao nodded his head before he asked, “So what did you wish to talk about, Zhi?”

“I'll get straight to the point, I plan to leave the village and hope to sell my house along with the surrounding farmland for money I can use on my trip.”

The elder and his son were both startled as the elder asked, “Why do you wish to trade your family's house and farmland? Are you not planning to return?”

Zhi nodded as he said, “I don’t think I'll be back this way for a very long time, if at all. So no use letting the property and land go to waste.”

“Why do you want to leave all of the sudden? Did something happen?” The elder asked in concern.

Zhi smiled as he said, “You could say that. As you know, I am not a good farmer and as I laid sick in bed I realized I never would be. Since that’s the case, I want to see more of the world and maybe even find something I am good at doing while I’m at it.”

Ao studied the boy before him for a little while before he said, “If that is your wish, I will see what I can do for you. But keep in mind that selling your farmland will probably take a little while. Hopefully someone in the village wants to buy it, otherwise you will have to wait for a trade caravan to come by.”

“I understand Elder Ao, but please keep in mind I don’t mind selling at a loss. While I would like a fair price, my main concern is starting my journey. So the sooner you can sell it the better.”

The Elder paused for a moment as he thought it over before he said, “I will see what I can do for you, Zhi. If I can’t find a buyer and you don’t wish to wait. The only option would be to have the village buy it. But the price would be a lot less than selling it to someone who actually wanted it.”

Zhi bowed his head for a moment as he said, “Thank you elder. Also if it isn’t too much, could you spare some food. I checked this morning and only have a few potatoes left.”

The Elder turned to his son, “Wu, go and collect some supplies for Zhi.”

Wu nods slightly, “Yes, father.”

As Wu walked out of the room, Zhi extended his hand to Ao as he said, “Thank you again elder.”

Ao took Zhi’s hand and shook it firmly as he said, “You’re welcome Zhi, But I’m just doing my job.”

----

Name: Haun Ao

Age: 48

Karma: Good

Cultivation: 6th level of Houtian

Occupation: Village Elder

Mood: Concerned

Talent: Natural Leader

----

As Zhi released the handshake he asked, “Elder, do you mind if I speak freely for a moment?”

“Go ahead Zhi, what do you wish to say?”

“Have you considered asking Wu if he would like the land? I know you are training him to take over for you, but I believe he would enjoy being a farmer more. He always seemed to be happy out in the fields when he helped me. I could be wrong, but I figured I would let you know.” Zhi said.

Ao nodded as he said, “I will take it into consideration, thank you Zhi.”

They both sat in silence for about a minute before Wu returned with a sack of food. He placed it on the table as he said, “Here you go Zhi, this should last you for a week.”

Zhi nodded as he said, "Thank you, Wu.”

Zhi looked at Ao and Wu as he said, “I will take my leave now, elder Ao, Wu.”

As Zhi picked up the sack Ao stood up and said, “Give me a day or two to talk with everyone. I will find you a buyer as quickly as I can.”

Ao left the room before Wu guided Zhi to the front door and said goodbye. Zhi smiled to himself as he walked back to his home and thought, ‘That meeting went better than I thought it would and neither of them seemed suspicious of how I acted. Does it have something to do with the system?’

[Yes.]

Zhi started to sweat a little as he thought, ‘Is that some kinda mind control or something?’

[It's just a minor compulsion spell mixed into the illusion itself. It makes everyone see you as the old Zhi. It also makes them think whatever you do is normal and nothing is wrong.]

Zhi stopped walking as he thought, ‘I hope there's restrictions on how far a person can go with that.’

[Why would the system do something like that?]

‘Because people could abuse the hell out of it.’ Zhi thought as he started to walk again.

[How could they abuse it? It's only meant to help them leave the area they start in. After that it's removed.]

‘Buddha, I might have given you the wrong name.’ Zhi thought as he moved towards the front door of a house.

Once he reached it, he opened the door and walked inside. Inside he found a couple in their early twenties who were seated at a table in the middle of dinner. Both of them looked up at Zhi, but neither seemed surprised as the man said, “How are you doing Zhi? Did you need something?”

Zhi smiled at them as he said, “I'm good, I just stopped by to see if you had the money you owe me.”

The man frowned slightly as he thought over the words before he said, “Remind me how much it was again?”

“Not much, just an iron tal.” Zhi said with a smile.

The man nodded in understanding as he said, “Oh ya… Sorry about that Zhi, give me just a moment and I'll get it for you.”

[...]

As the man started to stand up Zhi said, “Actually now that I think about it, didn't you say I could borrow your wife for a night instead of being paid back with money?”

[!...]

This time the man and woman frowned before they smiled and the man said, “I do remember agreeing to that. Would you like to do that instead?”

[You…]

Zhi rubbed his chin in thought before he said, “Oh I forgot, you already paid me back a week ago. Sorry for disturbing your meal.”

As Zhi turned around the man said, “No worries Zhi, have a good night.”

After Zhi left the house he thought, ‘You understand the problem now?’

[Yes…]

‘Are you going to fix it?’

[I am just the system monitor. I will have to put in a support ticket.]

Zhi let out a sigh as he thought, ‘Well hopefully it gets fixed. You should also have someone double check to make sure that it wasn’t abused, because that is just crazy.’

[I will add a note.]

Zhi smirked as he thought, ‘Didn't you say you don't take notes?’

[...]

Zhi hummed to himself as he continued to walk home. When he arrived it was still dusk, but there would be at least another half an hour of light left. So he walked inside and grabbed the cleanest set of clothes he could find. Zhi took them and then walked back out of his house to the back before he followed a small trail over a hundred yards. A water irrigation duct was there that was used to help water the fields. While Zhi’s parents were still alive, they created a small channel from it that went into a five foot deep water basin. It was lined with some kinda rock clay, and made taking a bath really easy.

He laid the clean clothes on a rock and then stripped naked. Zhi then glanced down at himself, finally taking a minute to check his new body over. He already stood at just over five feet tall, while his body was lightly tanned and his muscles are well defined over his thin frame. He then looked down into the still water and the immature face of a boy. His eyes were a bright piercing blue and his black hair was short.

Zhi nodded to himself as he thought, ‘Nothing like my old body, but not bad at all.’

After Zhi dropped into the basin, he realized it was a terrible idea. His nether regions retracted inside of myself as he yelled, “Why the hell is this water so cold!”