I never thought Big T would have the talent to learn cultivation. It was basically impossible considering he did not have Qi, different from Big F, who did.
But Big T proved me wrong. He was not the ordinary toad I thought he was, living near the well of my farm.
He was something else, and my connection with him opened up a new perk of my System, Beast Taming!
With it, my pets would have increased chances of cultivating, but could any creature I bond do this? I was pretty sure Big T was different from the start. Not every creature had what it takes to cultivate.
Big T was special, and I wanted to believe that. Our eyes met, and in those green eyes of his I saw intelligence.
"Croak. Croak."
Even his croaks sounded different after his sudden awakening. I was hoping to see some form of martial art coming from Big T, but that did not happen.
He slept right after awakening his Qi. It was too draining for him, and I respected that.
"I will let you rest, my good friend," I said, cuddling him.
The new prospects of my future in the cultivation world were expanding. My system was continuously improving, offering me ways to enhance my creatures through the Beast Taming tab, acquire Spiritual Herbs, and even fish for Spiritual Creatures or other valuable treasures.
However, a significant problem still loomed over me: the lack of a decent cultivation technique and limited means to obtain one. Determined to find a solution, I ventured out of my house and met with Kang Duyi. Suspicion clouded my view, expecting him to provide little assistance. Yet, to my surprise, he had important information to share.
"Tian Li, we have a problem," he began.
"What kind of problem?" I inquired.
"While exploring the woods, I stumbled upon a cabin with a secret room beneath it. It contained an altar and organs. The person residing in that house might be the very killer we've been seeking," he explained urgently.
My skepticism tinged the air. Was Kang Duyi attempting to shift blame onto the lady and save himself, or was he setting a trap for me? Concealing my knowledge, I suggested, "Let's go there immediately and await the owner's return."
Kang Duyi hesitated, reluctantly suggesting, "Let me retrieve my weapons from my house first."
His behavior only heightened my suspicions. Rather than waiting at my farm as he anticipated, I discreetly followed him. He did stop at his house to collect his weapons, but that was not his only destination. I observed him entering the inn through the back door, where he met the red-haired woman, my primary suspect.
They conversed at a distance, their words inaudible to me. However, I surmised that Kang Duyi was forewarning her of my impending arrival. Instead of returning to her duties, she made her way towards the woods.
"She's undoubtedly setting a trap," I muttered to myself as I hurried back to my farm, determined to reach it before Kang Duyi could.
I waited on my farm, maintaining an appearance of normalcy, as if nothing had happened. When Kang Duyi returned with his weapons, his gaze met mine, and he spoke, "I think we should wait a little longer before proceeding."
The reason behind his suggestion was apparent, but I played the role of an innocent boy and inquired, "Why is that?"
"Whoever resides there must be familiar with us. If we both leave the village so early in the day, it will undoubtedly raise suspicions. We could potentially invite trouble upon ourselves," he explained.
It wasn't a bad response, but armed with the knowledge I possessed, I couldn't allow them to set traps that would ensnare me.
"Listen, Kang Duyi, I am a second-layer Qi Condensation Cultivator. That alone should be more than sufficient to confront this murderer, even if they are aware of our presence. Let's go, now!"
I observed Kang Duyi's countenance visibly relaxing upon hearing the words "second layer." This was precisely my intention.
"You're right. Your power surpasses the limits of this place. Let us proceed, then," he acquiesced.
With Kang Duyi's newfound courage, stemming from his belief in my second-layer Qi Condensation power—a lie—we ventured out of my farm and into the woods. He took the lead, speaking incessantly about how we would ultimately apprehend the murderer. Meanwhile, I maintained an air of ignorance, observing the cabin from behind a tree.
"Is this the place?" I inquired.
"Yes, that's right," Kang Duyi replied, accompanied by a malicious smile that he swiftly concealed, though I managed to catch a glimpse of it.
I gazed deeply into his eyes and asked, "Are you certain it's safe for us to go there?"
Kang Duyi nodded and replied, "I visited recently, and it was unoccupied. Whoever resides there will likely return only during the night or some other time."
It was evident that the situation was strange, and I was surprised by Kang Duyi's belief that he could deceive me. Did he consider me that naive? Being aware of the cruelty of the cultivation world, I nodded, fully comprehending the dangers that surrounded us. Together, we silently approached the cabin, cautious not to attract unwanted attention.
With subtle movements, my hand reached the doorknob, and I slowly opened the door. A slight noise escaped, typical of an old cabin, but nothing too attention-grabbing. Kang Duyi whispered in my ear, revealing, "There's a trapdoor beneath the bed. Let's explore it together, and I'll show you the discoveries I made."
The certainty that the young redhead awaited us underground was undeniable, and I prepared myself for a confrontation to the death, if necessary.
He went ahead, moving aside a part of the bed to reveal the old wooden trapdoor, which had a small rusty metal latch and some termite holes.
Judging by the rough way Kang Duyi shoved the bed, it was clear he wasn't concerned about being subtle.
"Obviously, he knows his partner in crime is down there, waiting for us," I thought.
"I'll go first since I know the place," Kang Duyi said, using the wooden ladder to descend into a tunnel.
I remained silent. My mind was focused on one thing: the imminent fight I would have to face in a matter of moments.