I pull back my makeshift wooden bow and shoot a wooden arrow into a bunny.
----------------
One rabbit killed
+10 exp
Loot:
-1 Rabbit Hide
-1 Rabbit Fresh Meat
----------------
"Phew..."
This would be my lunch.
It's been two weeks since I set off to the nearest town, my next goal is to earn money and grow my abilities.
During the journey, I've constantly hunted normal animals like rabbits and boars while not venturing too deep into forests. I don't want to meet a beast.
--------------------
Level up!
3->4
+2 free stats
---------------------
Status.
---------------------
Player "Hong Xie Mo"
Title: none
level: 4
Hp: 100 [+]
Qi: 0
Qinggong: 10 [+]
Strength: 7 [+]
Intelligence: 10 [+]
Skills:
-Farming
-Knife Handling lvl 1
You have four free stats!
---------------------
My stamina relates to strength but I could get there faster when I increase my Qinggong.
Hm...
I decided to put three of the stats into strength and one into hp. It doesn't matter how fast I go when I'm dead.
"UCK..."
I close my eyes and grit my teeth as I bear with the pain, sitting on the floor.
----------------
Player "Hong Xie Mo"
Title: none
level: 4 (0/500)
Hp: 200
Qi: 0
Qinggong: 10
Strength: 10
Intelligence: 10
Skills:
-Farming
-Knife Handling lvl 1
---------------
"Hah... Let's see..." I mumble. I take a shot at the tree again.
*BOOOOM!*
My fist managed to create a large fracture in the tree, causing it to collapse onto another.
In addition to that, I have a sort of spatial storage provided by the system.
Inventory.
----------------------
Money:
-25 Silver Ingots
Equipment:
-1 Silver Sword
Food:
-3 rabbit fresh meat
-2 Fish fresh meat
Materials:
-4 rabbit hide
----------------------
Everything inside the inventory is preserved as well, even such a phenomenon isn't possible with a storage ring.
I gather some leaves as tinder and twigs as kindling before setting up a small campfire beside the river.
"That should do it..." I mumble as I hang my rabbit meat on a stick overhead the fire.
While waiting, I walk to the river and wash myself as well as gather water. The river is going downstream like my path down this mountain, I probably shouldn't drink this but I don't have any pot to boil the water.
I drink the water reluctantly.
The reflection shows a teenager with a slim build. I pull my long black hair aside to reveal my ember eyes and tie it up into a ponytail.
After my meal, I continue on my journey until I reach a paved gravel road. A merchant has stopped beside to inspect her carriage. Above her is a floating yellow exclamation mark.
What is that?
--------------------
The player is near a quest giver for the first time. Any people with an exclamation mark above have a chance of giving the player a quest!
Keep your eyes peeled, quests give a generous amount of rewards!
--------------------
I see.
"Hello!" I call out to the person. She jolts and turns around. She looks like a young and slim woman with brown hair and eyes, on her hair is a single clip holding her fringes to the side.
"O-Oh! Hello." She says, glancing at me from head to toe.
---------------------
1-(You must be the lady of the Prosperity Merchant. What's wrong?)
2-(Is there something wrong with the carriage?)
----------------------
The prosperity merchant? Isn't that a prestigious group? The carriage is in bad shape, many parts of it are worn out, I don't think a lady of that group would be travelling in this.
It could be possible if she's hiding her identity...
Let's go with the second option, I don't want to alert her.
"Is there something wrong with the carriage?" I ask.
!
My body moved by itself again and talk that sentence.
"Yes...The wheel is stuck in a slit on the road."
------------------------
New Quest Received.
Help the lady of the Prosperity Merchant move the carriage out of the slit.
Rewards:
+600 exp
-------------------------
"I can help you," I say.
I grip the carriage firmly and lift the entire mass out, pushing the transport out of the hole.
!
"Wow, thank you." She says with her eyes wide open. I don't think this should be that shocking?
-------------------
Level up!
4->5
+2 free stats
-------------------
"Are you going anywhere? From that direction, are you heading to Tie Guang?" She asks.
I nod.
"I see. As thanks, I can give you a ride. I'm...Jia Xi."
Any hostile enemies near will erect a "health bar" that is even visible through an object. Since there isn't anything, I take up her offer.
"I'm Xie Mo," I reply.
=====================
A few crates are in the back of the carriage, I can smell spices in them.
"I apologise for my startled behaviour just now. I didn't think a mortal as young as you could do that." Says the lady after her analysis. Practitioners who embarked on the path of cultivation can usually be perceived by a mortal, she judged my strength based on my appearance and cultivation base alone.
---------------------
"Jia Xi"
level: 11
Hp: 400
Qi: 32
Qinggong: 7
Strength: 6
Intelligence: 21
----------------------
"It's alright."
The world of Jianghu is wide and big... There are many martial factions, sects, and families that roam the land. Anything can happen.
As I stare out of the carriage, the orange array of light shines into my eyes. Sunset is here.
"Why are you going to Tie Guang?" Jia Xi asks.
...
"To earn some money," I reply.
"Ah, do you need any help? I can recommend you a position. Are there any particular skills you have?"
---------------------------
A chain quest has been activated.
+1 life
The player's progress has been auto-saved.
Choose a path:
1. Mercenary
2. Construction Worker
3. Merchant assistant
-------------------------
I have a bad feeling about the given free life.
...
I need to play safe.
Option 3.
"I can carry things and manage stuff well," I say.
"Really? Great. I have one acquaintance who is just looking for an assistant right now, you can help me. He pays pretty well." Says Jia Xi.
"Thank you," I say.
Despite that, I still can't shake off this weird eerie feeling...