Chapter 7: Into the Wild
The forest was a realm of shadows and whispers, its canopy thick enough to obscure the moonlight. Adam moved cautiously, his steps muffled by the Stealth Cloak as he navigated the dense undergrowth.
His escape from the Lu estate had been successful, but he wasn't naive enough to think he was safe. Lu Mei was not the type to let humiliation go unanswered, and the guards would no doubt be scouring the countryside by morning.
"First priority: distance," Adam muttered to himself.
He pushed deeper into the forest, his senses on high alert. The occasional rustle of leaves or snap of a twig made him pause, his hand instinctively reaching for the small dagger he had stolen from the estate.
Reward: [Beginner Survival Kit].
Adam's lips curled into a grin. "You're really throwing me into the deep end, aren't you?"
The system didn't respond—its silence as enigmatic as ever. Adam shrugged and refocused on his surroundings.
The forest wasn't just a refuge; it was a danger in itself. Wild beasts, venomous insects, and rogue cultivators could all spell his end if he wasn't careful.
Hours passed as Adam trekked through the forest. His body ached, and hunger gnawed at his stomach. The stolen bread he had tucked into his pouch was long gone, and the thought of facing the night without food or shelter made him uneasy.
Finally, he stumbled upon a small clearing, its center dominated by a cluster of jagged rocks. The area was sheltered enough to provide some protection from the elements, and the rocks formed a natural barrier against potential predators.
"This'll have to do," Adam muttered, dropping his pack onto the ground.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Adam said, rolling his eyes.
He scoured the nearby area for anything edible, his knowledge limited but bolstered by the system's occasional prompts. After some searching, he found a patch of wild berries growing near a fallen tree.
Adam frowned, plucking one of the berries and examining it closely. It was small and red, its surface smooth and unblemished.
"Only one way to find out," he said, popping the berry into his mouth.
He waited, his tongue tingling slightly as the berry's juice spread across his palate. The taste was tart but not unpleasant, and after a few minutes with no adverse effects, Adam deemed them safe to eat.
He gathered as many as he could carry, stashing them in his pouch before returning to the clearing.
As the night deepened, Adam built a small fire using dry twigs and leaves he had collected. The flames flickered weakly at first but soon grew into a steady blaze, casting dancing shadows across the rocks.
Adam sat cross-legged near the fire, chewing on the berries and listening to the forest's nocturnal symphony.
It was a strange feeling—being free for the first time since his transmigration. The Lu estate had been a cage, but out here, he was the master of his fate.
"Step one complete," Adam muttered. "Now for step two: get stronger."
Reward: [Beginner Survival Kit].
The system's notification was accompanied by the appearance of a small satchel in Adam's inventory. He retrieved it immediately, inspecting its contents with interest.
[Beginner Survival Kit]
A basic set of tools for wilderness survival, including: Flint and steel for fire-starting. A small, collapsible pot for cooking. A water purification talisman (single use). A map of the surrounding area (basic coverage).
Adam's eyes lit up as he unfolded the map. It was rudimentary, but it showed key landmarks such as rivers, caves, and nearby villages.
"This'll save me a lot of trouble," he said, tracing a path with his finger.
A river lay to the north, not far from his current location. It was an obvious next destination—water was essential, and the area might also provide opportunities for hunting or foraging.
The fire crackled softly, and Adam leaned back against one of the rocks, his mind racing with possibilities.
The system's rewards had already proven invaluable, but Adam knew they came with a cost. Every prank, every mission, pushed him further down a path of chaos and conflict.
And yet, he couldn't deny the thrill of it all—the power, the cunning, the constant battle to stay one step ahead.
"I'll need to be careful," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames. "The stronger I get, the bigger the stakes."
The night air grew colder, the forest alive with the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Adam pulled the Stealth Cloak tighter around himself and closed his eyes, letting the forest's natural sounds lull him into a light, restless sleep.
Morning would bring new challenges, and Adam was ready to face them head-on.
End of Chapter 7