"AHHHH!"
"RUN!"
A man's arm was sliced off as he attempts to escape, forcing him to trip and wiggle on the floor in agony.
Fire ignites in every house as the smoke fills the air.
One moment it was a peaceful night, and the next moment, all hell broke loose.
My village is being attacked. Even when there are cultivators to guard us, they were instantly beheaded by the mysterious attacker in full black.
"Please go! Xie Mo!" My mother pleads.
Right in front of my eyes, an arrow pierces through my mother from behind.
The blood was splattered on my face.
"No..." I mumble.
She falls limp to the ground instantly.
I grit my teeth and take my mother's necklace around her neck for a keepsake, making a run for it. Death of people is common. I've seen many already. But my mother's death...
I couldn't bear it. The overwhelming pain and regret of the inability to protect those I love...and the agony of being left alone in this world.
One of the attackers notices me and goes in for a slash.
!!
To my right is a panicking adult trying to escape, I pull the man and push him toward the attacker.
"ACK!!"
He was stabbed in my place as I quickly run in the opposite direction.
Cowardly tactics are the only way someone like me can survive. I don't have a choice.
Among the chaos, I managed to escape into the forest beside my village. I kept running even when my leg goes numb or when the pain in my chest immensely spiked. Because if I do stop, my life will too.
"Huff Huff Huff..."
*Thud*
...
I collapsed my body into the soft mud. It's dark, I can't see anything.
...
I can't run anymore.
My body feels...sore...
I need to move...
I thought that was my death yet fate had other plans for me.
------------------------
"Hah!"
"Huff huff huff..."
I wake up in the middle of the forest breathless.
The sound of chirping, water flowing, and the heat that radiates on my skin from the bright sun.
...
I survived.
...
Albeit curious about my current village status, I decided not to satiate the curiosity.
Walking further into the forest, I reach a cliff. The forest beyond extends infinitely into the horizon, tall and powerful mountains stand firm from afar.
I clench my fist. If only I could cultivate if only I was born with meridians and dantian.
I could control my fate.
The cliff is tall, not even a low cultivator can survive this fall. A sudden impulse to jump befalls me.
Yeah, this is a good idea.
My family are gone and my village is dead. I can't cultivate so revenge will be impossible.
It's best to face reality.
One step by another to the edge, it's heavy. Two more steps and my life will be forfeited.
...
"If I had the strength..." I mumble.
The murim is a world full of evil, an unjust world. No, it's human nature.
If I had the strength...
This kind of life isn't worth living for...
----------------------------------
Player "Hong Xie Mo" has logged in.
level: 1
Hp: 100
Qi: 0
Qinggong: 10
Strength: 5
Intelligence: 10
Skills:
-Farming
-Knife Handling lvl 1
Warning:
The player does not have a meridian or a dantian.
-------------------------------
An abrupt panel pops in.
?!
"...What..."
Trying to touch the mysterious sheet floating in the air, my hand went through it.
Is this an artifact? I've never heard of an artifact without a physical vessel.
-------------------------
Emergency Quest!
Kill the Blood Sect's Outer disciple.
(0/1)
--------------------------
Blood sect disciple?!
There's one coming?
I quickly hide in a bush and hold my breath.
"Hm..."
Someone walks to the cliff and looks around.
Suddenly, everything turns grey as another panel pops up.
-----------------
Welcome new player!
This tutorial will cover the basics of the Martial RPG system!
Fret not, the User Interface is an easy tool to master.
(Next)
-----------------
I can't move! Everything is frozen in place!
This panel... What's RPG? No that doesn't matter.
How do I move on? Do I just think of it-
------------------
To use the system's interface, simply think of what options you want to access.
Let's start with viewing the first enemy's status.
-------------------
A giant red arrow is pointing at the disciple.
-------------------
Blood Sect Disciple
Lvl: 2
Hp: 100
Qi: 10
(Status)
---------------------
...Status.
---------------------
Blood sect disciple
level: 2
Hp: 100
Qi: 10
Qinggong: 15
Strength: 15
Intelligence: 5
----------------------
----------------------
Great! As you can see, your first enemy is a mere mob. For now, all you can see are the stats of characters in the Murim.
Now, go in for the kill.
----------------------
The system wants me to kill him but...
"There isn't anyone here." He says.
Judging by his footsteps and breathing, he shouldn't be an expert. Probably someone who entered the Jianghu 1 or 2 years ago.
...
He seems to be using sound transmission...
"Alright." He says and turns around.
How am I supposed to kill him? I don't even have any weapons!
At that moment, I spot a dagger sheathed at the side of his hip.
No... He is standing at the cliff...Maybe... I have a chance.
-------------------
A weak point is spotted!
What would you do?
1-Ambush and steal the dagger, plunging it into the disciple's throat.
2-Create a distraction to steal the dagger and plunge it into the disciple's throat.
3-Leap in and push the disciple off the cliff.
Time remaining:5
----------------------
Everything freezes again as another panel slides out.
There's a timer!
-----------------------
Time remaining: 4
-----------------------
If I try to push him off the cliff, I will less likely to succeed since he will have better reflexes than me.
-----------------------
Time remaining: 3
-----------------------
From the fact that he couldn't detect me, an ambush is more reasonable.
-----------------------
Time remaining: 2
-----------------------
However, what if he is faking it to let my guard down?
-----------------------
Time remaining: 1
-----------------------
Tch.
Option 1!
-----------------------
The Player has chosen option 1.
Commencing battle.
-----------------------
!!!
I can't move?
My body is being controlled by something...
Like a puppet, I was forced to move to another bush near the disciple's path.