That night, after the villagers had finally left him alone and the wild celebrations in his honor had started to die down, Ye Shengtao found himself ushered into a small, humble inn. The inn itself was little more than a wooden shack, nestled between two larger buildings at the edge of the village square. Its sign—a weathered board depicting a faded image of a mug of ale—creaked in the gentle night breeze.
Inside, the air smelled faintly of old straw, damp wood, and something Ye Shengtao couldn't quite place, but didn't want to investigate.
The innkeeper, a plump woman with graying hair and an apron smeared with flour, had stared at him in awe when he entered. She didn't even seem to know what to say. Instead, she simply bowed deeply and led him to a back room on the ground floor, where she had hastily prepared a bed of hay.
"Forgive me, noble one," she said, her voice quivering with reverence. "I didn't have much time, but I hope this will suffice for someone of your... divine stature."
"It's fine," Ye Shengtao grumbled, too tired to care. "Really."
The woman bowed again, so low it looked like she might fall over, and quickly shuffled out, leaving him alone in the dimly lit room. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows against the rough wooden walls, and outside, the muffled sounds of villagers continuing to celebrate in the square could still be heard.
Ye Shengtao flopped down onto the bed of hay, his large cow body making an ungainly thump as he settled in. Despite the uncomfortable makeshift accommodations, his exhaustion began to catch up with him.
But as he lay there, his mind racing, the system's voice popped up again.
"So, this is where you're going to sleep now?" it teased, materializing in the air beside him. The system's avatar, a floating, ethereal figure with an impish smile, hovered just above his head. "Very regal. I'm sure all the great heroes of history spent their nights in hay piles like this."
Ye Shengtao let out a long, weary sigh. "Shut up."
The system floated lazily in circles, her translucent body shimmering in the candlelight. "Honestly, I can't believe you've managed to turn this entire storyline upside down. You were supposed to be a humble guide for the real hero, Fergio, remember? But now look at you! A holy cow, revered by an entire village. It's... well, it's hilarious, actually."
Ye Shengtao turned his head toward the system, glaring at her with his large, dark eyes. "This wasn't my idea. And you're the one who's supposed to keep me on track, aren't you? How did it come to this?"
The system giggled, twirling in the air as if she found the whole thing delightful. "Well, you weren't exactly cooperative from the start, were you? You're not the easiest person to manage, you know. The original storyline had Fergio going through a few simple trials before he faced the real threats. You know, the classic hero's journey. But nooooo, you just had to go and headbutt bandits, save children, and become a legend!"
"I didn't ask for any of that," Ye Shengtao grumbled. "It's not like I had much choice in the matter. Fergio's too busy posing like an idiot to actually notice half the dangers around him."
The system leaned in closer, her playful smile widening. "Well, you did save him a few times. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're starting to get into this whole 'heroic cow' thing."
Ye Shengtao snorted. "If I didn't step in, he would've gotten himself killed. It's not about being heroic; it's about basic survival."
"Sure, sure," the system said, waving a hand dismissively. "And speaking of survival, what do you think about that dark sect the elder mentioned?"
Ye Shengtao frowned, his ears twitching. "That's what bothers me. This whole prophecy business... it wasn't part of the original storyline, was it?"
The system crossed her arms and floated upside down, her hair swaying in the air. "Nope! The dark sect was supposed to be Fergio's big discovery in a later chapter—something that spurs him on to become a true hero. But now..." She paused, grinning mischievously. "Well, now you're the center of attention. And that dark sect? If you ask me, it's going to be your problem now."
Ye Shengtao groaned, rolling onto his side. "Great. Just what I needed. Instead of quietly disappearing, I'm stuck with a village of people who think I'm some divine creature."
The system floated lower until she was level with him, peering at him with a mock-serious expression. "Hey, I get it. You're not into being the holy cow. But let's be honest—those udders of yours do kinda scream 'divine protector.' I mean, look at them!"
Ye Shengtao's eyes narrowed, a hint of dangerous intent flickering in them. "If you don't shut up right now, I swear I'll—"
"What?" the system interrupted, smirking. "Smack me with one of your mighty, holy hooves?" She giggled again, drifting away and twirling in mid-air. "You're a cow! You can't even reach me properly."
Ye Shengtao made a half-hearted attempt to swat at her with his tail. "I will smack you if you keep going."
"Oh noooo," the system mock-wailed, spinning around him in playful circles. "The divine bovine is angry! Whatever shall I do?"
She burst into another fit of laughter and darted out of his reach, twirling through the room. Her playful movements caused her chest to bounce in exaggerated fashion, as if the laws of gravity applied differently to her.
"Look at me!" she said between giggles. "I'm so bouncy! Just like you, noble one!"
Ye Shengtao, thoroughly unimpressed, watched the spectacle with a deadpan expression. "You're an idiot."
The system winked at him, clearly enjoying herself. "Maybe! But I'm your idiot. And, hey, at least I make this whole dark prophecy thing a little more entertaining, right?"
Ye Shengtao groaned, rubbing his snout against the hay in frustration. "I don't need entertainment. I need a way out of this mess."
"Well, the only way out is through," the system said, her tone shifting slightly as she floated back down to hover near his head. "You can't run from the dark sect, Ye Shengtao. If they really are as powerful as the elder says, they'll come after you sooner or later. And whether you like it or not, you've been dragged into this. So, you might as well start preparing."
"Preparing for what?" Ye Shengtao asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Well, for starters, the dark sect isn't just some run-of-the-mill group of bandits or villains. They deal in forbidden magic—dangerous stuff. They could raise entire armies of the dead or summon creatures from beyond the mortal plane. And their leader? He's got plans, big ones, and I'm pretty sure you're part of those plans now."
Ye Shengtao snorted. "Great. And here I thought being a cow was the worst thing that could happen to me."
"Hey," the system said, her playful grin returning. "You could do worse. At least you've got a tail to swat flies with!"
He rolled his eyes, flopping down on the hay with a final, resigned huff. "I hate you."
The system giggled, drifting closer until she was sitting cross-legged in the air beside him. "You love me. And don't worry, we'll figure this out. After all, you're not just any cow. You're Ye Shengtao, the divine protector!"
Ye Shengtao glared at her, but she simply giggled again and floated away, leaving him alone with his thoughts and the weight of the prophecy that now loomed over him.
As the candle flickered and dimmed, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore the impending doom—and the fact that his so-called "guide" was completely out of her mind.