The first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon, illuminating the broken manor in a golden haze. Lin Xuan stood in the courtyard, the cold morning air brushing against his face. Behind him, Li Mei and Shen Jun fidgeted restlessly, their earlier excitement now giving way to nervous energy. In front of them stood a rickety wooden cart hitched to an old spirit ox, its dull gray hide glowing faintly with traces of lingering spiritual qi.
Lin Xuan's sharp eyes scanned the items they had packed for their journey: a few bundles of rations, a jar of spirit water, and the meager treasures scavenged from the manor. It wasn't much, but it would have to do.
[New Quest: Deliver the Encoded Spirit Scroll to the Midnight Shade Forest.]
[Objective: Survive the journey and uncover the scroll's secrets.]
[Reward: Advanced system functionality unlocked.]
"Midnight Shade Forest," Lin Xuan murmured, his gaze drifting toward the distant mountain range where the forest lay hidden. The name alone was enough to stir unease, it was said to be a place shrouded in perpetual darkness, its trees twisted and gnarled by centuries of demonic influence. Many who entered never returned.
But Lin Xuan had no choice. The system's directive was clear, and the scroll in his possession was bound to be important. The Blood Jade Clan wouldn't have assigned this task if it wasn't critical, though Lin Xuan suspected they had also expected him to fail.
"Another test," Lin Xuan thought, his lips curving into a wry smile. "But this time, I have an edge."
"Boss, are we really heading to this Midnight Doom Forest or whatever it's called?" Li Mei asked, her voice breaking the silence. She twirled the cursed dagger she had claimed from the manor, her sharp eyes darting nervously between Lin Xuan and the horizon.
"It's Midnight Shade Forest," Lin Xuan corrected, his tone calm but firm. "And yes, we're going. I trust the two of you are ready?"
Li Mei nodded, though the confidence in her expression was slightly forced. Shen Jun, meanwhile, tightened his grip on his sword and gave a curt nod. "We're with you, boss," he said. "No matter what."
Lin Xuan's gaze softened. Despite their quirks, these warriors had proven themselves dependable in their first training session. If they continued to grow at this rate, they might survive what lay ahead, and, more importantly, so might he.
"Good," Lin Xuan said, climbing into the cart. "Let's move out."
The journey began uneventfully. The spirit ox pulled the cart along the dirt road at a steady pace, its plodding hooves kicking up clouds of dust. The path wound through the outskirts of Silverleaf City, where the signs of war were more visible. Abandoned farms and crumbling watchtowers dotted the landscape, their once-proud structures now little more than skeletons of their former selves.
Li Mei, ever curious, leaned over the side of the cart to peer at the scenery. "This place is a mess," she remarked, her tone equal parts fascination and pity. "What happened here?"
Lin Xuan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "The war," he said simply. "It's been raging for over a decade. The mortal sects and the demonic clans have no regard for the lives of ordinary people. To them, this destruction is... trivial."
Li Mei frowned, her usual playful demeanor replaced by a rare moment of seriousness. Shen Jun remained silent, his grip on his sword tightening as his gaze swept the horizon.
By midday, the group reached the edge of the forest. The air grew cooler, and the once-bright sunlight dimmed as the towering trees loomed overhead. The road ahead was overgrown with weeds, the shadows of the forest stretching out like claws to greet them.
Lin Xuan dismounted the cart, his senses immediately on high alert. The air here was thick with spiritual qi, but it wasn't the pure, invigorating kind found in cultivation sanctuaries. This qi was tainted, dark and heavy, pressing down on the spirit like an oppressive fog.
"Stay close," Lin Xuan said, his voice low. "The forest is alive, and it won't take kindly to intruders."
Li Mei and Shen Jun exchanged uneasy glances but nodded, following Lin Xuan as he led the way. The spirit ox, sensing the ominous atmosphere, refused to go any further. With a sigh, Lin Xuan unhitched it from the cart and let it wander back down the road.
"We're on foot from here," he said. "Keep your weapons ready."
The forest was eerily silent. No birds sang, and no insects chirped. Only the faint rustling of leaves and the occasional creak of tree branches broke the stillness. The deeper they ventured, the darker it became, until the only light came from the faint glow of spiritual energy emanating from Lin Xuan's body.
As they walked, Lin Xuan couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. His sharp eyes darted from shadow to shadow, his spiritual sense scanning for any signs of movement. He could feel it, a presence lurking just beyond the edge of his perception.
"Boss," Li Mei whispered, her voice barely audible. "Something's not right. I feel like we're being followed."
Lin Xuan nodded. "You're not wrong," he said. "But don't panic. Stay calm, and be ready to defend yourselves."
They didn't have to wait long.
A sudden rustling in the underbrush was the only warning they had before a figure lunged at them from the shadows. It was a wolf, no, a demonic beast, its fur matted and its eyes glowing red with malevolent energy. Its fangs gleamed as it snarled, charging straight for Lin Xuan.
"Spread out!" Lin Xuan commanded, drawing his sword in a flash of silver light. The warriors obeyed instantly, Li Mei darting to the left while Shen Jun moved to the right, flanking the beast.
The wolf leapt at Lin Xuan, its claws outstretched. Lin Xuan sidestepped gracefully, his sword slicing through the air to meet its attack. The blade struck true, cutting a shallow gash along the wolf's side. The beast howled in pain, its glowing eyes narrowing as it turned to face him once more.
"Li Mei! Shen Jun! Now!" Lin Xuan shouted.
Li Mei was the first to act, her cursed dagger flashing as she plunged it into the wolf's hind leg. The beast roared, its movements slowing as the dagger's malevolent energy began to seep into its body. Shen Jun followed up with a powerful slash, his sword cutting deep into the wolf's shoulder.
Together, the three of them overwhelmed the beast, their attacks relentless and coordinated. Within moments, the wolf collapsed, its body dissolving into a pool of dark energy that seeped into the ground.
[Administrator Quest 3: First Combat (Completed).]
[Reward: +5 Summoning Tokens. New feature unlocked: Combat Data Analysis.]
Lin Xuan took a deep breath, his grip on his sword relaxing as the system's notification appeared. "Not bad," he said, turning to face Li Mei and Shen Jun. "You handled yourselves well."
Li Mei grinned, wiping the blood off her dagger. "Told you we were ready," she said. "That was... intense. But kind of fun, too."
Shen Jun, ever the stoic, simply nodded.