Chapter 115: Making A Decision
Liam lay down on the bed, thinking about what he had just read and dissecting it bit by bit. And the more he did that, the more one truth became unavoidable: this world was more dangerous than anything he had imagined.
While cultivation and magical worlds are inherently filled with danger, this world is even more dangerous.
Not just because of the beasts that prowled its forests or the cultivators who wielded powers beyond comprehension, but because of the politics.
But also because of the possible layers of alliances, rivalries, blood feuds, sect disputes, imperial decrees. With how the politics is structured and how complex, and volatile the whole thing is, he feels that even just the casual exploration will be filled with a lot of dangers.
It was a storm where even the smallest ripple could trigger chaos.
And while he wasn’t scared of a little push and shove, taking on a families, clans and the rest isn’t something someone like him, a nobody here, with no family name or sect backing can handle.
He has no bloodline to protect him. He’s a foreigner who looked out of place the moment he stepped into the Azure Crane Restaurant.
Sure, he was strong — stronger than he had ever been on Earth. He had defeated a Grade 2 Ironblood Bear and casually flung around one of Blackstone City’s so-called top family young masters. But those were isolated events. In the grand scheme of things, he was still nothing.
And Liam knew himself.
He wasn’t someone who would simply let things slide. Yes, he didn’t care what people thought of him, but he would never tolerate anyone trampling on him.
He remembered how, even in high school, he had never once been bullied. Not because he was strong or popular — he had been neither. But because anyone who tried to mess with him found themselves shut down, exposed, or humiliated in ways they couldn’t predict.
It wasn’t that he was fearless. It was that he couldn’t stomach injustice directed at him.
And that was the problem.
Because in this world, provocations were constant. Families, clans, sect disciples — someone would always try to test him, to step on him, to size him up.
Of course, this was only related to people his age. He can’t exactly be fighting adults. Besides, there was no reason for an adult to come at him, unless whoever it is was utterly shameless, lacked all sense, and had nothing better to do with their pathetic life than pick on someone younger.
But even at that, he could already see himself replaying the same pattern as the protagonists of those cultivation novels he used to read: wandering into a new place, standing out because of his strangeness, and inevitably attracting conflict.
And unlike the novels, he wasn’t ready to commit himself fully to that path. Not yet.
Liam let out a slow breath, rubbing his temples. "If I keep wandering here aimlessly, I’ll become a trouble magnet. And sooner or later, that trouble will come from someone I can’t afford to provoke."
No. Wandering here wasn’t just risky, it’s suicidal.
For now, he had to return to Earth.
Earth was boring compared to this place, yes. It has no towering sects, no immortal emperors, and no beasts that shook the ground with their roars. But it was safe, predictable and also interesting in its own way. And he had left too many loose ends there.
His wealth had skyrocketed, but he hadn’t truly grown as a person. What good was being the richest man alive if he was still the same boy who had spent weeks cooped up in his room?
He remembered Geneva — the penthouse suite overlooking the city, the bustling streets filled with languages and faces from all over the world.
He had told himself he would explore, enjoy, live. But he hadn’t. He had locked himself in, coding, building Lucy, and working like a machine.
He had been productive, yes. He had created an AGI that should have taken corporations decades and billions to achieve. But was it enjoyable? Not really.
He had missed the point of life. Again.
And that was actually nobody’s fault but his. The truth was that Liam is someone who have serious issue communicating and interacting with people. It wasn’t that he was scared of talking or interacting, but he can’t help but see the worst in people whenever he do.
It’s not that he can really be blamed especially after what happened with his parents.
One would find it unbelievable that he was already crippled with debt when he was a minor.
The reason was because after his father left and his mom also took off and went off the grid, he lived by himself in the house for weeks.
During that period, the bills they left behind started piling up and lots of people came, wanting to collect their money.
The bills piled up to the extent that the house utilities was cut and he was thrown out of the house when the bank came to foreclose the property.
After the bank got their money from the foreclosure, there was still other debts. And Liam made a decision to take on the debt.
It wasn’t because he wanted to be generous. No, the reason why he decided to take on the debt was because he wanted to cleanly cut ties with his parents.
Also, society didn’t treat him to kindly. He was cheated and used by a lot of his employers and he struggled to make ends meet daily.
Li sighed deeply, as he pinched the bridge of his nose, forcing himself to let go of the bitterness. That was the past. And the past couldn’t be changed.
But the future? That was still his to decide.
He would return to Earth to develop himself as a person, and not just as a powerhouse with money with a system backing him.
As for his plans for the cultivation world while he develops himself on Earth, he will visiting from time to time, to sign-in and keep up with the progress of things. With the time difference between it and Earth, a lot can actually happen in a day.
With his decision made, Liam stood up from the bed, gathering the books from the table with telekinesis and slipping them into the Dimensional Space. Then he left the suite and descended the jade-carved stairs to the lobby.
The attendant from before greeted him with a warm smile. Liam returned it and asked, "Can I reserve my room for a month?"
"Of course, honored guest," the man replied, "You may reserve it for as long as you like, provided payment is made upfront. For one month, the cost is 185 silver coins — a discount from the nightly rate."
Liam nodded, appreciating the straightforwardness. He retrieved a gold coin and a stack of silver coins, an equivalent of $18,500, from his pouch, placing them neatly on the counter.
The attendant’s smile widened as he collected the payment. "Excellent, honored guest. Please hold onto your key. You may return at any time during your stay."
"Good," Liam said simply, before turning and making his way back upstairs.
In his room once more, he cast a final glance around.
Satisfied, he closed his eyes and returned to Earth.
The next moment, his surroundings shifted, the jade suite dissolving into nothingness.
When his vision cleared, he was back in the familiar comfort of his bedroom in Bellemere Mansion. He collapsed onto the mattress with a long exhale, staring at the ceiling.
The day had been fruitful. More than fruitful. He had gained knowledge, perspective, and a clearer sense of direction. And it was barely noon.
He chuckled to himself. Time dilation was a cheat. An absolute cheat.
He allowed his eyes to drift shut, thinking he would finally rest but fate had other ideas.
His phone buzzed violently against the nightstand.
Liam groaned, taking it out of his pocket. He glanced at the screen and smiled. The caller ID displayed was an unknown number, but Liam can already guess who it is. And he had been expecting it.