With a sense of excitement and determination, Daniel approached Old Man Li's home.
"Grandpa Li, I'm here! Is there anything I can assist you with?" he called after knocking on the door, his voice warm and inviting. While the village chief addressed the pharmacist as "Old Man Li," Daniel felt a deep respect and opted for a more formal address.
"It's you! I've heard about you from Aunt Wang; she mentioned that you're a kind-hearted young man," Pharmacist Li greeted him with a smile. "As it happens, I need some assistance with a task."
It seemed that good deeds truly did not go unnoticed. Just the day before, Daniel had worked hard to catch chickens for Aunt Wang. Although his reward had been merely a bowl of chicken, his reputation had grown, and the villagers now regarded him more favorably. This newfound respect felt far more valuable than any material reward.
"Just tell me what you need; I'm ready to help!" Daniel replied confidently, patting his chest.
After all, this was a novice village, and he was certain the tasks would not be too difficult. Daniel felt reassured that he could handle whatever was asked of him.
"Well," Old Man Li began, "I've been researching a new kind of hemostatic medicine, but I'm short on a few medicinal herbs. My age makes it difficult for me to collect them myself, so I need someone to gather them from the forest nearby."
Without hesitation, Daniel responded, "I'll take care of it. Just let me know what I need to find."
"Thank you! You truly are a good-hearted child, just as Aunt Wang said." The pharmacist looked at Daniel with relief. "However, I should mention that I'll need to teach you how to identify the medicinal herbs, as they aren't particularly rare, but you need to know what to look for."
The prospect of acquiring another skill filled Daniel with joy. While it was just the Identification of Medicinal Herbs Technique, any additional knowledge could prove beneficial down the line.
After the lesson, Daniel prepared to set off. Pharmacist Li provided him with a special medicine shovel, a tool he had used during his early years as an apprentice.
The forest was close to the village, but it was filled with wild beasts. The emergence of demonic energy had transformed many creatures into aggressive demonic beasts. Before Daniel left, Pharmacist Li cautioned him repeatedly to be careful and to avoid confrontations with any demonic beasts he might encounter. If he found himself in danger, he was to retreat.
Daniel hoped he wouldn't come across any of those beasts. The encounter with the demonic rabbit had left a lasting impression, a stark reminder of the risks he faced as a level 2 newbie who hadn't yet gained any experience.
"My luck can't be that bad. Surely I won't run into trouble," he reassured himself.
However, his fears were soon realized. Shortly after entering the forest, he spotted two fox-like creatures blocking his path. As soon as they noticed him, they moved with startling speed.
Instinctively, Daniel activated the Identification Technique, revealing the attributes of the creatures before him.
Demonic Fox: Level 2.
- Aggressive monster.
- High agility, weak defense.
- No skills.
The information was less detailed than Daniel had hoped, leaving him uncertain whether that was due to the foxes' nature or because his own level was too low.
Before he could ponder further, the two demonic foxes lunged toward him. Their high agility became immediately apparent as they nimbly navigated the underbrush, reaching Daniel in an instant.
Reacting quickly, he brandished the medicine shovel as a weapon. To his surprise, this seemingly rusty shovel was classified as bronze-level equipment, boasting an attack power of 3 and an agility boost of 1.
With no time to hesitate, Daniel swung the shovel just as one of the demonic foxes leapt toward him. He struck it squarely, sending the creature flying backward with a clang, a trace of blood staining his shovel from the impact.
"Ah!" Daniel shouted as he felt the sharp pain of claws tearing through his pants. One of the foxes had managed to reach his leg, inflicting three deep wounds.
"Get away, you beast!" Anger surged within him, and he instinctively kicked the fox away. When it charged again, he swung the shovel, striking the creature's head. It collapsed, struggling briefly before lying still.
Daniel felt a rush of adrenaline; although he was only level 2 with modest stats, the medicine shovel's added attack power had proven effective against the demonic fox.
This realization deepened his understanding of the world he inhabited. Even though it resembled a game, the consequences felt very real. Striking vital areas could lead to significant damage or even instant death for creatures, mirroring reality more closely than he had expected.
"Wait a minute, the corpse of this demonic fox hasn't respawned?" Daniel wondered aloud, glancing at the still form of the fallen beast on the ground.
This intriguing development piqued his curiosity, and he felt a sense of accomplishment as he realized he had successfully defended himself against the formidable creatures of the forest.