Accidentally Reincarnated in Cultivation World-Chapter 90: Getting Robbed

Yu Xuan stepped out of the strange fortune telling stall, still a bit dazed from the crystal ball’s bizarre prediction. A golden dollar sign? That was a divine prophecy... the dream of poor disciples.

’If she’s right, he thought, then something’s about to happen that’ll make me rich... But what exactly could that be?’ Excitement buzzed in his chest at the thought.

Maybe he’d stumble upon a hidden treasure cave. Maybe someone would accidentally transfer him a fortune in sect points. In a world like this, even absurd things had precedent.

As he walked further toward the forested outskirts, two figures trailed him from a safe distance. Another disciple had joined the one who’d been shadowing him since he left the teleportation formation.

According to his medallion, Yu Xuan was getting close to his destination. He’d expected Zhou to be a notable figure — perhaps a respected older disciple living in a private courtyard or even a small mansion. But apparently, this "Zhou" was a reclusive type, tucked away in the woods for isolated cultivation.

Soon, he arrived in front of a small hut hidden among the trees. The roof was slightly sagged, and moss crept up the stone path like it had no intention of leaving.

Despite the silence, Yu Xuan had sensed the presence of his followers the moment he left town. Their concealment techniques were... ordinary. Of course he was not saying he was extra-ordinary, definitely.

Still, he didn’t acknowledge them. Not yet. He wanted to see where this was going.

Standing in front of the hut, he called out casually, "Is anyone with the surname Zhou living here?"

The door creaked open a moment later, and what happened next might as well have come from a villain’s handbook.

A man in red sect robes stepped out — three thin lines on his sleeve denoting his cultivation realm. He had an average face, average build, but what stood out most was his unfortunate hairline, clearly he was suffering from hair loss.

He smiled in the most villainous way an average man could muster. "Well, new disciple, I’m Zhou. And you are...?"

"Senior Zhou," Yu Xuan replied politely, "I’m Yu Xuan. I came to deliver a scroll to you."

He retrieved the scroll from his personal space ring — the one not issued by the sect, subtly flexing his resources.

Zhou’s eyes flicked to the ring, and his grin widened. "Oh ho? A personal space ring? Junior brother must be from a rich family."

Yu Xuan smiled, playing along. "Of course. My parents are very wealthy."

"Let me see the scroll," Zhou said, reaching out.

Yu Xuan handed it over.

Zhou unrolled it and, to Yu Xuan’s amusement, it revealed a highly detailed painting of a fairy wielding a sword — elegant, ethereal, and possibly slightly seductive.

"Top quality," Zhou muttered, admiring the artwork. Then he rolled it up, his expression shifting.

"Now then, junior brother..." Zhou said slowly, "hand over your space ring."

"...What?" Yu Xuan appeared confused.

Zhou smiled wider. "I’m robbing you, junior Yu. But don’t worry, if you cooperate, I promise not to break any bones."

Yu Xuan stepped back slightly, face contorting into a perfect performance of mild panic. "I—I’ll report this to the sect!"

Right on cue, two more disciples emerged from the trees behind him — one was the same man from the teleportation platform, and the other was a broad-shouldered cultivator with a muscular frame and matching red robes. Two stripes each.

They flanked him lazily, clearly confident.

’Their robes look authentic... but maybe they’re forged,’ Yu Xuan thought. ’Or maybe they just look stupid enough to try this in uniform.’

The muscular one grunted, "He’s not even in sect-issued robes. I knew he was that guy."

"Hehe, I recognized him right away," the other disciple said, smug.

"Who else walks around in outer sect territory with ordinary robes?" the muscular one added, trying to sound intelligent but failing spectacularly.

Yu Xuan widened his eyes and decided now was the time to play his next card — the ultimate defense a young master could muster.

"You... You don’t know who my father is! Do you know which noble clan I’m from?!"

It was a cheap move, and he knew it. But, by going all out, he might as well enjoy the performance.

Predictably, the response came quickly.

"Does it matter what clan you’re from?" Zhou scoffed, his grin now openly mocking.

"That pretty face of yours makes me want to punch it," the muscular one growled, cracking his knuckles. "And nothing beats robbing the rich."

"Can we start already?" the third one added, hands visibly itching.

Yu Xuan sighed inwardly, a slow smile spreading across his lips.

’So... this is today’s fortune, huh?’ he thought, recalling the golden dollars sign from the crystal ball.

He looked at Zhou and asked, "So this was all planned...? The mission itself was a trap?"

Zhou chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "Well, yes. Obviously. Only greenhorns like you fall for something this sloppy. But damn, I didn’t think you’d look this punchable in person."

He sneered and added, "Also, that guy who set you up said you weren’t even that rich. Honestly, I’m just hoping you’ve got something in that ring."

So the person who handed him the mission whose eyebrows changed colors was in it too.

’So the plot runs deeper than expected’, he thought.

He took a step back, still playing the part of the panicked newbie. "B-But why are you doing this? Don’t you know this could ruin you? You’ll be hunted down by the sect!"

The muscular guy scoffed, clearly itching for a reason to speak. "Hunted down? Please. You think you’re someone important enough for the sect to care?"

There and there he raised a flag. A massive one at that.

He then crossed his arms, trying to look wise and composed. "We can always swap towns, change our names, dye our hair. It’s a big world out there. And besides — what’s it got to do with you?"

There was a slight pause.

Then he added with great effort, "You... you’re just a small variable in an opportunistic equation."

Zhou turned to look at him, puzzled. "...What?"

"I read it in some texts once," the muscular guy muttered defensively.

Yu Xuan blinked.

’Yep. Definitely trying to look smart. Too bad the brain’s still lagging behind the biceps.’

But behind his smile, Yu Xuan’s mind was calm. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He casually rested his hand behind his back.