The first rays of dawn, tinged with a delicate gold, pierced through the window of Lu Yuan's room, stirring him from a deep, restorative sleep. He stretched languidly, every muscle in his body feeling revitalized, a testament to the potent effects of his new techniques and the system's mysterious influence. A sense of vibrant energy coursed through him, a refreshing stark contrast to any fatigue he might have felt before. Today was the day he would venture into the Beast Mountain Range with Xiao Yixian, a journey promising both challenge and discovery.
He dressed with an easy grace, opting for a deep blue robe that fell loosely about his frame, layered with a practical black hooded cloak that offered both concealment and protection against the elements of the untamed wilderness. The dark fabric accentuated his youthful features, giving him an air of quiet confidence and understated cool. He secured the hood, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
As he stepped out into the courtyard, the crisp morning air carried the scent of dew-kissed leaves and distant pine. Xiao Yixian was already there, her slender figure clad in her customary light green robes, the fabric rustling softly as she moved. Her hair, not quite long enough to reach her waist, was neatly tied back, framing a face that held both a delicate beauty and a subtle, enduring melancholy. Her eyes, however, held a flicker of excitement for the day's expedition.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice a low, pleasant rumble.
She nodded, her gaze sweeping over the courtyard, a hint of unease crossing her features. "I was thinking," she began, her voice a soft murmur, "perhaps we should hire some mercenaries from Green Mountain Town. The Beast Mountain Range can be... unpredictable." Her concern was palpable, born of years spent navigating its dangers alone. She wasn't entirely sure of Lu Yuan's true strength, despite his calm demeanor. The thought of him facing unforeseen perils, especially with her, was clearly weighing on her.
Lu Yuan, however, shook his head, a confident smile gracing his lips. "Mercenaries? There's no need. Don't you believe in me, Little Doctor Fairy?" His tone was light, teasing, yet underpinned with absolute certainty.
Xiao Yixian's cheeks flushed a faint rose. She lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's just... in case anything happens to you." The genuine concern in her voice touched a chord within him.
He reached out, his fingers gently tilting her chin upwards, his thumb caressing the soft skin. Her eyes, wide and luminous, met his. The world seemed to narrow to just the two of them, the gentle breeze rustling the leaves the only sound. "Unless I'm here," he said, his voice dropping to a low, reassuring register, "there will be no danger. I promise you that."
A wave of profound warmth washed over Xiao Yixian, starting from her chest and spreading outwards, chasing away the lingering chill of her past. Since childhood, the poisonous constitution that coursed through her veins had been a curse, a barrier that kept others at bay. Her parents, victims of its unwitting release, had left her with a deep-seated fear of closeness, a constant distance she maintained from everyone. But with Lu Yuan, that barrier seemed to dissolve. His touch, his gaze, his simple words, resonated with an undeniable security she had never known. For the first time, she felt a profound sense of protection, a quiet conviction that someone would truly look after her.
Without another word, Lu Yuan simply turned and began walking towards the town gates, a silent assumption that she would follow. He had perceived her reaction, the subtle shift in her aura, the deepening warmth. He already knew she harbored feelings for him, and truthfully, he had no objection. Taking care of her, ensuring her safety, felt like a natural, almost instinctual, responsibility.
They soon reached the winding paths that led into the heart of the Beast Mountain Range. The forest enveloped them, a towering canopy of ancient trees filtering the sunlight into dappled patterns on the forest floor. Xiao Yixian, her professional instincts kicking in, immediately began to scan the undergrowth, her sharp eyes seeking out the vibrant hues and subtle textures of medicinal herbs. Her movements were fluid and practiced, born of countless hours foraging in these very woods.
Suddenly, a cold, metallic voice echoed in Lu Yuan's mind, startling him slightly.
DING! Side Mission Released!
Objective: Kill ten beasts comparable to Warlord level.
Reward: 1000 points and one level up in both Spirit Mastery and Warrior Level.
A thrill shot through Lu Yuan. A direct path to power! And a convenient way to test his new abilities.
Just then, Xiao Yixian's voice, laced with excitement, pierced through his thoughts. "Look, Lu Yuan! A Third-Level Medical Herb!" She knelt, her nimble fingers reaching for the delicate plant.
But before she could pluck it, a thunderous roar ripped through the air, shaking the very leaves on the trees. From the shadows of the deeper woods, a monstrous, two-meter tall boar burst forth, its hide the color of dried blood, its eyes burning with a savage, crimson glow. It was a terrifying sight, its tusks long and wickedly sharp. Xiao Yixian froze, stunned by the sudden, overwhelming presence of the beast. The boar lowered its head, its powerful legs churning the earth as it charged, a living battering ram of fury, directly towards her.
It was only three meters away, its guttural snorts filling the air, when something truly extraordinary happened. Behind Xiao Yixian, the very air seemed to tear, and a magnificent, twenty-meter long dragon materialized. It wasn't flesh and blood, but a dazzling construct, its form intricately woven from several, phreaps hundreds, of small, glinting blades. Each blade caught the sunlight, making the spectral dragon appear both real and impossibly majestic.
Xiao Yixian gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. The Red-Eyed Boar, caught completely off guard, could only roar once more before the blade-dragon collided with it. The impact was deafening, a sound of compressed air and shattered bone. The boar, a creature of immense bulk and power, was not just struck; it was smashed. It flew several meters backward, its body a broken heap, landing with a sickening thud and lying utterly motionless.
Both Lu Yuan and Xiao Yixian stared, stunned by the sheer, overwhelming force of the attack. "It was... it was a Level Four Beast!" Xiao Yixian stammered, her voice filled with awe and a touch of lingering fear. "Equivalent to a Battle Spirit Master!"
Lu Yuan, too, felt a jolt of surprise at the sheer destructive power he had just unleashed. He had expected strength, but not this magnitude. He quickly regained his composure, however, and with a thought, the coiled blade-dragon dissolved, the individual blades retracting back into the single, elegant Shifter Blade he held in his hand.
In a surge of relief and sheer elation, Xiao Yixian threw herself at him, her arms wrapping tightly around his waist. "That was so powerful!" she exclaimed, her face buried in his chest.
Lu Yuan, who had maintained a serious demeanor through the brief encounter, felt a genuine smile spread across his face. He gently patted her back. "I told you, Little Doctor Fairy," he murmured, his voice soft but firm. "Unless I'm here, no one will dare to attack you."
Just then, a notification pinged in his mind.
DING! One Warlord level beast killed by host. Mission completed: 1/10.
A wave of joyous exhilaration washed over Lu Yuan. "A Level Four Beast counts?" he thought, elated. If such beasts, seemingly equivalent to the lowest tier of his mission objective, counted towards his goal, then completing the full ten would be far easier than he initially imagined. A sudden, audacious idea sparked in his mind: If his ultimate system mission was to defeat Luo Feng, and the system used "Luo Feng" as a name, perhaps he just needed to find anyone named Luo Feng in this BTTH world? It was a wild, almost absurd thought, but he decided to keep it in the back of his mind for later, after this expedition.
Xiao Yixian, meanwhile, had recovered. She expertly extracted the beast core from the Red-Eyed Boar, its inner essence glowing faintly, before harvesting specific parts of its hide and organs that were valuable for medicinal concoctions.
At lunchtime, they prepared a simple but satisfying meal. Xiao Yixian, with surprising skill, cooked parts of the boar meat over an open flame, the rich aroma of a freshly made barbeque filling the forest air. They ate and talked, the earlier tension replaced by a comfortable intimacy, their shared experience deepening the bond between them.
As evening approached, they ventured deeper, eventually reaching a familiar series of interconnected mountains. This was a legendary place in the Beast Mountain Range, known to him from his knowledge of the original story – the very location where Xiao Yan had first found a hidden treasure with the Little Doctor Fairy.
Lu Yuan led her to a specific, secluded cave, its entrance partially concealed by overgrown vines. Inside, the air was cool and still, hinting at its ancient origins. There were indeed signs of old treasures, and even skeletal remains, confirming his memory. His eyes landed on a sturdy wooden chest. Inside, among other dusty relics, lay a scroll containing a Flying Dou Technique.
Xiao Yixian reached for a different scroll, one less ornate, and unrolled it, her brow furrowing as she read. Her cheerful demeanor slowly faded, replaced by a growing distress. Her hands began to tremble, and with a sudden, jerky movement, she quickly rolled up the scroll and placed it beside her, as if it burned her touch.
Lu Yuan, whose perception was now vastly enhanced, could not miss her sudden shift. Her aura had flickered with distress, and her movements were fraught with an unspoken burden. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentle. "What's in that scroll?"
She stammered, "N-nothing. Just some old notes." But her eyes darted away, betraying her.
Lu Yuan's expression became serious. "Xiao Yixian," he pressed, his voice firm but not unkind. "What are you hiding? I won't judge you, and I won't leave you. Tell me."
Seeing the honesty in his gaze, her resistance crumbled. Her voice was barely a whisper, filled with a deep-seated fear. "This scroll... it spoke of the Poisonous Body. It described its symptoms, its characteristics... and at the very end... it confirmed that I... I have this body."
"So what?" Lu Yuan said immediately, his voice unwavering. He stepped forward, pulling her into a warm, firm embrace. "I already like you, Little Doctor Fairy. This body of yours means nothing. It doesn't change anything."
She leaned into his hug, the warmth of his embrace a stark contrast to the cold fear that had gripped her. "But," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion, "it said... it said one day it will erupt. It will turn thousands of kilometers of land into a desolate wasteland, and everyone within that range... they will die. My parents... it was because of this. It's not just a disease, Lu Yuan. It's a special constitution that brings disaster." Her words were heavy with the trauma of her past.
Lu Yuan held her tighter. "Then we'll find a way," he vowed, his voice resolute. "Don't worry. I will find a way to get rid of this body for you. No matter what."
Hearing those words, a profound sense of relief, warmth, and an overwhelming gratitude enveloped Xiao Yixian. In her childhood, the very knowledge of her condition, a constant reminder of her parents' tragic fate, had forced her into isolation. Now, this man, this truly kind stranger, was not only accepting her but promising to shoulder her burden, to find a cure for something that had defined her existence as a solitary curse. She hugged him back with all her strength, tears blurring her vision. Unbeknownst to her, in that moment, her feelings for Lu Yuan deepened immeasurably. She simply felt safe, cherished, and no longer alone.
Lu Yuan gently rubbed her shoulders. "Let's leave this cave first," he said, his voice practical yet caring. "We still have medicines to collect. Let's go." With a shared glance, they emerged from the cave, stepping back into the vast, ancient forest, their journey now intertwined with a promise.