I AM A MAGE BUT WITH MILF SYSTEM

By the time the meal ended, evening had already washed over the city, its orange light painting the wooden interior of the inn.

Julian stood up quietly, pressing his palms together and bowed with a calm smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, young miss. The sun is setting—I must find a forest to rest under tonight.”

Mei shot up from her seat. “Brother Monk, why don’t you come with us to our sect?” she offered eagerly, her eyes bright in anticipation.

But before Julian could answer, Luoshi’s calm yet firm voice cut in. “No.” She rose gracefully to her feet. “Not just anyone can walk into the sect. There are rules, Mei’er.”

Feng joined in quickly, clearly on Luoshi’s side now that he noticed Mei’s growing interest on the monk. “She’s right, Mei’er. The elders would punish us if we brought someone unknown.”

Mei pouted and crossed her arms. “But it’s just for one night…”

Julian smiled faintly. “Thank you, young miss, for your kind words. But I will be fine out in the wilderness.” He turned toward the door, his monk robe fluttering slightly with each step.

Luoshi watched him leave, a strange unease stirring in her chest. There was something about that monk…

“Wait,” she called out immediately, her voice more awkward than she intended.

Julian paused just at the edge of the doorway.

“I… think Mei’er is right,” she said, hesitantly at first.

Something about the monk unsettled her. Either he was a secluded cultivator who had long severed worldly ties… or someone far more dangerous.

Enemy perhaps, or worse, someone from the other great sects sent to spy. But then again, his composure, the way he spoke with layers of meaning—he could even be a saint in disguise.

If he was truly dangerous, the safest place was within the walls of her own sect. After all, she wasn’t just any disciple—she was the direct disciple of the Sect Leader of Heavenly Moon Sect, one of the Ten Saints.

No man, no matter how bold, wouldn’t dare act recklessly under the watch of her master. And if he was a threat, then it was even better to keep him close than let him roam unchecked.

Julian turned back slowly, his hands once again folding into a peaceful gesture. “I would not wish to burden you, young miss. You have already offered me more kindness than I deserve.”

Luoshi’s lips curved into a faint, polite smile. “It’s no burden. You may stay for the night at our sect. Just rest. You can leave early in the morning.”

Julian nodded once, deeply. “Then I shall gratefully accept your hospitality, just for tonight.”

Mei beamed in joy while Feng rolled his eyes silently.

Exiting the inn, the four strolled into the lively night market. Julian’s calm gaze swept the crowd, ears picking up the familiar banters of merchants as they fought for attention.

“One hundred-year-old ginseng! Opens your meridians and strengthens your foundation!”

“Bah! Mine’s one-hundred-and-one! Don’t let amateurs cheat you!”

Julian chuckled softly to himself, watching them bicker like children. Greed, envy, and pride—it didn’t matter which world you looked at. Humans always danced to the same flawed tune.

As they walked, Julian’s mind drifted elsewhere. Though it had been less than a year since he had created Arenvath, the world within it had already matured beyond that of the mother world, Arenvath.

Time and space flowed differently. This world they were walking in—the world of Qi and sects—was roughly five hundred years old. The Dragon World, which he had visited earlier, was already past a thousand.

Compared to them, Arenvath was a child…

He smiled faintly.

As they walked through the glowing streets under hanging lanterns, Mei crept closer to Julian, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Brother monk,” she whispered, “what martial path do you train in?”

Julian glanced down at her with a warm smile. “Young miss, I walk the path of nature.”

Mei blinked, puzzled. “Path of nature? What kind of path is that?”

Julian looked ahead, as if peering through the mask of the world itself.

“A path to transcendence. Young Mei’er, if one truly seeks to abandon the shackles of mortality and grasp at immortality, they must learn to walk in harmony with nature. Not just the trees and rivers, but the nature of the self…”

Behind them, Luoshi silently listened, her brows furrowed in thought. She had never heard of such a path—it sounded like nonsense, yet the monk’s voice was strangely confident.

Her thoughts were broken by Feng, who wandered off and was already arguing with a talisman seller over a price. She shook her head walking after him.

Meanwhile, Mei continued pressing. “Immortality? That’s above Saint, right?”

Julian nodded gently. “Yes. Immortality is above everything. It is the freedom from desire, from death.”

Mei’s eyes widened, her heart beating faster. “How… how does one achieve that, Brother Monk?”

Julian smiled faintly, though a flicker of amusement passed through his eyes before it vanished quickly.

“When you leave behind mortal desires… mortal ambitions… and purify your mind and body to stand above all things, then—perhaps—you might catch a glimpse of that state.”

For a moment, the market’s noise felt distant. Mei was spellbound. Even Luoshi, despite her suspicions, found her steps slowing as the monk’s words echoed in her mind.

And Julian… he simply walked, hands behind back, a smirk on his face.

Mei rushed after him, almost stumbling in her steps. “Brother Monk!” she called. “How… how does one control their mind and body?”

Julian stopped walking, his eyes drifting up to the darkening sky. The faint glow of stars began to twinkle, as if waiting for his answer.

“To control the mind,” he said softly, “one must first control their thoughts. The mind follows where the thoughts lead.”

He paused for a breath, and when he spoke again, his voice lowered.

“But the body… the body is more complex. It is not just flesh. It is a vessel. To control the body, one must first connect it to the world around them… and then—”

He turned slightly, his gaze locking on Mei.

“—interconnect it with another. Not as an object of lust or fleeting desire… but as an law of nature itself. A sacred union…only then can the body be truly understood… and transcended.”

Mei stood frozen, her cheeks lightly flushed, unsure whether to feel enlightened or embarrassed. Even Luoshi felt her cheeks flushing, her eyes lowered.

Interconnect…? Mei’s young mind raced. Does he mean to have… The thought made her flush deepen, and she turned her face away in a panic.

Just then, Feng dashed off toward a vendor who was selling what looked like spirit-infused candy, shouting something about “this being good for core strengthening.”

Luoshi sighed, and hurried after him to prevent another scene. That left only Mei and Julian behind, standing together under the glowing lanterns of the market.

Julian turned his gaze to Mei, noting her embarrassed expression. Her fingers moved nervously, playing with her dress and her eyes dared not meet his.

He grinned faintly but said nothing, choosing instead to enjoy the silence… waiting. Waiting for her to break it.

And she did.

“Brother Monk…” Mei finally asked, her voice barely louder than a whisper, “have you ever… had that connection before?”

Julian blinked, slightly caught off guard. He hadn’t expected the girl to be so bold, especially not after turning into a tomato seconds ago.

But she was looking at him now, her large eyes searching his face for truth.

He smiled gently. “Yes,” he said, voice calm. “I have.”

Mei’s eyes widened slightly, a flutter of emotions passing through them.

“To me,” Julian continued, “an interconnection… it’s not just physical. It’s the blessing of heaven itself. The world was born from union—sky and earth, water and flame. And for us… such a moment is not shameful. It is the path to move forward. To grow.”

His words didn’t sound lustful or inappropriate. In fact, they sounded almost divine. Mei’s racing heart calmed just a bit, but her face remained flushed. She looked down, unsure what to say.

Julian, meanwhile, turned his gaze back to the stars.

“Like I said previously, human desires and lust… they’re what make the sacred union shameful.”

“Young Mei’er,” he said, turning his gaze to her now, “you are destined for greatness. I can see it in your aura, in your spirit. Do not let thoughts like these—clouded by mortal shame—linger in your heart.”

Mei looked up at him, wide-eyed, caught between confusion and admiration.

“A true connection,” Julian went on, “should not be born of lust, nor curiosity. It should arise from understanding.”

Mei’s fingers tightened on her sleeve. She didn’t completely understand, but the way he said it… it made her heart flutter.

And with that, he stepped ahead, letting the words settle in the buzzing night air. Mei followed in silence, her thoughts spinning.

Power was everything to a young martial artist, and Mei had seen the way with which Julian carried himself. He spoke of desires and lust as if they were fleeting illusions, things that would only hold her back on her path to greatness.

The idea of reaching a realm where such things no longer swayed her… where she could live free from the weight of temptation… it was intoxicating.