Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

The bloodstains in the courtyard were still wet, and the morning mist had not yet dissipated when Qin Cang rushed over with Qin Hu and Qin Yuling, followed by a group of guards armed with weapons. Their faces were so grim they seemed to drip water. The gunshots last night had not only alarmed the entire Qin Family Fortress, but had also given Qin Cang a cold sweat—if Huang Yiming had been assassinated inside the fortress, he would not only lose an ally who possessed a rare treasure, but might also attract retaliation from the mysterious force behind Huang Yiming, and Qin Family Fortress would be doomed.

"Mr. Huang, it was my negligence in protecting you that allowed the villains to take advantage of the situation, almost putting you in danger. I apologize to you!" As soon as Qin Cang entered the courtyard, he bowed deeply to Huang Yiming, his posture extremely humble, completely lacking the majesty of a fortress lord. Qin Hu behind him also hurriedly followed suit, his honest face full of guilt; Qin Yuling stood to the side, her cool gaze falling on Huang Yiming, carrying a hint of inquiry and a trace of barely perceptible apology.

Huang Yiming sat upright on the stone bench, gently patting the still frightened Yang Xiu with his left hand, while toying with a lighter he had brought from modern times in his right. His expression was indifferent, as if last night's assassination attempt was merely a trivial matter. He glanced at Qin Cang, his tone flat and unwavering: "Lord of the Fortress, there's no need for such formalities. In the martial world, making enemies is inevitable. I have indeed troubled Qin Family Fortress and caused such a disturbance; I feel ashamed."

These words, seemingly self-reproaching, actually concealed a hidden meaning: they left himself room to maneuver while also implying the presence of powerful forces behind him, making Qin Cang even more wary. Yang Xiu clung tightly to his side, her small face still a little pale, yet she still stood tall, protecting Huang Yiming—her fearless actions during the assassins' attack last night had intensified Huang Yiming's protective instincts.

[Ding! Host's act of showing off is spot on, the aloof persona is secure! Qin Cang's guilt level is maxed out, he's taking the opportunity to ask for benefits, don't get scared for nothing!] The system's cheeky voice rang in Huang Yiming's mind, breaking his composure.

Huang Yiming's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He cursed the system's insatiable greed in his heart, but on the surface, he remained calm and composed. Qin Cang quickly waved his hand, his tone becoming even more sincere: "What are you saying, sir! It was a lapse in the defenses of Qin Family Fortress. I have already ordered the entire city to be sealed off and every household to search for the assassin. If there is even the slightest clue, we will not tolerate it!" He turned to the guards behind him and gave them a stern order, his eyes fierce, clearly showing his genuine anger.

Qin Yuling stepped forward, bowed with her sword in hand, and said in a cold voice, "Mr. Huang, it was my negligence last night that allowed the assassin to infiltrate the inner fortress. If you trust me, please let me investigate this matter and I will surely find the mastermind behind it." She looked at the location where Huang Yiming had concealed the pistol at his waist, her eyes filled with curiosity—the loud noise and the strange way the person was injured last night made her even more interested in this "magical artifact".

Huang Yiming looked up at Qin Yuling, his gaze lingering on her delicate face for a moment, and said calmly, "Thank you for your trouble, Miss Qin. However, there's no need to rush the investigation, lest we alert the enemy." He deliberately kept her in suspense; the more mysterious he was, the more wary Qin Cang and his daughter would be, and the more secure his safety would be.

Qin Yuling frowned slightly, wanting to say something more, but Qin Cang stopped her. Qin Cang smiled and looked at Huang Yiming, his tone ingratiating: "Sir, please don't worry. To make up for the mistake, I have ordered the number of guards around the courtyard to be doubled, with them on duty day and night, ensuring that no assassin gets any closer! Also, please feel free to take the medicinal herbs and silver from the fortress's storeroom, sir, there's no need to be polite."

Huang Yiming was secretly delighted, but he remained outwardly calm and nodded slightly: "Then thank you very much, Lord of the Fortress."

Just then, Qin Yuling stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Huang Yiming's waist, and said bluntly, "Mr. Huang, the magical artifact you used last night was incredibly powerful. Would you be so kind as to let me see it? I have studied weapons since I was a child and have never seen such a wondrous treasure."

Huang Yiming's heart tightened, and his fingers gripping the lighter tightened slightly, but a distant smile appeared on his face: "Miss Qin, please forgive me, this is a treasure of our sect, kept secret and not shown to others. I hope you will understand." His tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation. After speaking, he lowered his head to comfort Yang Xiu and ignored Qin Yuling.

Qin Yuling's face stiffened slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes, but she dared not insist and could only reluctantly give up. Qin Cang quickly smoothed things over, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then led everyone away, specifically instructing the guards to be on high alert before leaving.

After everyone left, Yang Xiucai whispered, "Young master, that Miss Qin seems very curious about your magic weapon. Is there any danger?" Her face was full of worry, fearing that Huang Yiming's secret would be exposed.

Huang Yiming gently patted her head, soothingly saying, "Don't be afraid, I'm here. She won't dare to do anything reckless." Just as he finished speaking, the system notification sounded again: [Ding! Main quest triggered: [Gain the complete trust of Qin Family Fortress], quest reward: Spirit Root Activation Fragment x1, Storage Space expanded by 5 cubic meters, failure penalty: Loss of Qin Family Fortress's protection, plunging into crisis]

Huang Yiming's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that gaining a foothold in Qin Family Fortress would not be easy; this game of trust had only just begun. He looked out of the courtyard, a cold glint in his eyes—whoever sent the assassins last night, he would settle the score sooner or later.

Seeing his solemn expression, Yang Xiu silently brought him a bowl of warm spiritual spring water, holding the porcelain bowl in her small hands and presenting it to him, her eyelashes trembling slightly: "Young Master, don't worry, Xiu Xiu is here with you." The pure dependence in the girl's eyes instantly eased Huang Yiming's tension. He took the bowl of water and took a sip, his fingertips inadvertently touching the back of her hand. Yang Xiu's cheeks flushed red, and she quickly lowered her head and withdrew her hand, even her earlobes turning pink.

[Ding! Immortal Servant's Favorability +15, triggering a heartwarming buff, host's mental state is maxed out! It is recommended that the host strike while the iron is hot and extract more resources from Qin Family Fortress, and not waste the guilt points.] The system's cheeky notification sounded again, and Huang Yiming's lips twitched, his carefully cultivated aloof aura almost crumbling. He cleared his throat, pacing back and forth with feigned profundity, but in his mind he was already calculating the spiritual herbs in Qin Family Fortress's warehouse—after all, in this fantasy world, strength and resources are the foundation for survival, and for now he could only continue to play the profound and play this role to the end.