Chapter 26: A Pain in the Ass
It's eyes were soon enshrouded in red due to its overflowing blood vessels, it's rage risen to its peak. It shrieked with fury and was about to attack Lin Mu again when a volley of glistening projectiles came flying from the distance.
They streaked through the air, slamming into the creature's flanks, a few bounced of it's hard exoskeleton but some still managed to pierce in-between the gaps in it's carapace, causing the best to cry out in pain.
" Their finally here." Lin Mu said with a bit of relief.
Lin Mu glanced toward the settlement and saw a group of armed humanoids charging toward them on similar looking mounts. Their weapons gleaming menacingly as they reflected the sunlight.
Most of them resembled primitive bows, but the force behind their projectiles was anything but primitive.
The shark-like creature roared again, this time in pain, and began retreating. Its massive form sank back into the sand, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.
" Finally...it's over..." Lin Mu exhaled, his muscles aching from the effort. Before he could even consider his next move, the armed group encircled him in the blink of an eye and turned their weapons toward him, their stances hostile.
«[it appears that you've been surrounded]» the systems mocking voice emerged on schedule.
"....I can see that." Lin Mu muttered underneath his breath while eyeing the Humanoids warily.
The leader of the charge, a tall figure with sharp masculine features while wearing leathery armour, barked something in a harsh, guttural language.
Lin Mu didn't understand a word he said , but the meaning was clear for him to understand.
' They want me to stand down...' He thought to himself, feeling helpless.
' Well... since they aren't outright trying to kill me, I might as well buy some time till the dimensional time limit is over...'
«[I'm afraid that's going to be difficult, After the Brief tutorial period you undertook continuously last time, there's no such grace for you to leave as easily as before again.]»
«[The dimensional time limit now increases with your continuous increase in cultivation]»
«[Current Dimensional time limit: 4days and 23hours 20 minutes.]»
"...."
' Can't I just decide to stop mid way?'
«[You could...but you'll need my permission to do so]»
"..."
' What do you mean...., are you saying you won't let me leave mid way?. For what reason!.' Lin Mu asked inwardly, not amused at all with the systems antic's.
' Hey!, I'm asking you!.' Lin Mu called out to the system but she remained quiet.
' You little..., don't tell me your upset because I didn't listen to you before?!, are you really that petty!!!.' He screamed inwardly yet the system continued to remain silent.
Not bothering to increase his stress by continuing , Lin Mu simply raised his hands slowly, showing he was unarmed, though his eyes darted to Lian and Mei unconsciously since they were the only ones he had an inkling of what their personalities were.
The both of them were unharmed, though Lian still clutched her spear, her expression a mix of confusion and gratitude.
The leader stepped closer, his weapon trained on Lin. He spoke again, his tone and expression seemingly apologetic, like a Knight apologizing for failing to meet his ladies expectations.
' Looks like those two were far more valuable than I imagined...' Gift thought that this might be a little bit more helpful to convince the others that he wasn't a threat.
After conversing with Lian and Mei, the humanoid leader turned towards Lin Mu and began conversing with him.
' Unfortunately, i can't seem to grasp what he's saying..., I can't even understand a thing.' Lin could only shake his head, trying to convey that he didn't understand. Sadly, the leader didn't seem to understand what he was trying to convey.
It was at this moment that Lian stepped forward, her hands raised in what Lin Mu assumed was a gesture of peace while pointing at him.
She said something to the leader, her tone urgent.
' just what is she telling him...., seriously, not understanding a thing their saying is proving to be a serious pain in the arse....'
«[Processing...]»
«[Database inadequate...]»
«[Analyzing...]»
' Huh, are you trying to decipher their language or something?.' Lin Mu thought as a hint of hope flashed in his eyes but like before, the system continued to ignore him, much to his resentment.
Lian suddenly turned towards Lin Mu, he caught her gaze for a brief moment, and though her words were incomprehensible, her gratitude was evident.
' Well at least she doesn't seem like she wants me dead...' he thought, letting out a breath of relief.
Mei suddenly dismounted, her movements slow and deliberate. She gestured toward Lin Mu, then to the injured mount, as if trying to explain his involvement. The leader's sharp gaze shifted between them before finally settling back on Lin Mu.
' So he's the Peak Body Refining Realm the system talked about earlier....' Lin Mu felt on guard the instant the leaders gaze landed on him again, only this time with even more scrutiny. In that moment , his instincts screamed for him to run, but he forced himself to stay still. His muscles coiled, ready to act if the situation worsened.
The leader barked another command, and two guards stepped forward, pointing their weapons at Lin. Their gestures made their intention clear, they wanted him to move.
Lin Mu glanced at Lian, feeling uncertain, only to see her worried expression.
'....I don't like the way this is going...' Lin Mu frowned, his mind racing. He knew that If he resisted, he'd be outnumbered and surrounded. But if he cooperated…
Reluctantly, he allowed the guards to approach. One of them tied his wrists with a rough, fibrous rope that hummed faintly with faint traces of Qi. The sensation was unsettling, like an insect crawling against his skin.
Mei protested, her tone rising as she gestured wildly toward Lin Mu, but the leader silenced her
with a sharp command. Lian looked torn, glancing between Lin and the guards before finally stepping back.