Chapter 31: Pondering
Lin Mu scowled. "Oh, sure. Easy for you to say. You're not the one they'll be skewering tomorrow if things go south."
«[Perhaps you should focus on strategizing instead of complaining.]»the system replied, her tone almost smug.
Lin Mu opened his mouth to retort but froze as he rounded a corner. His eyes landed on a small clearing where Lian and Mei stood, their postures tense. Blocking their path were two male humanoids, both tall and broad-shouldered, with expressions of disdain etched across their faces.
Lin Mu instinctively ducked behind a nearby tree, peering out cautiously. The scene before him was charged with hostility.
"You've both become far too close to that outsider," one of the males sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "It's disgraceful."
"We're simply showing gratitude for someone who saved our lives," Lian replied coolly, though her voice carried an edge of irritation. Mei, standing slightly behind her sister, shifted uncomfortably, clearly uneasy.
The second male scoffed. "Gratitude?, Is that what you call it?. Running to his side at every opportunity?, You're bringing shame to the tribe."
Lin Mu's jaw tightened as he watched the interaction. His instincts screamed at him to intervene, but he hesitated, unsure of how to deal with the situation without making it worse.
Then, as if sensing his presence, Mei glanced around and spotted him. Relief washed over her face as she tugged on Lian's arm and whispered something. Both sisters turned and hurried toward Lin Mu, their movements swift and determined.
The two males' expressions darkened further as they followed the sisters' gaze, their eyes landing on Lin Mu.
"And there he is," the first male growled, his fists clenching.
The sisters reached Lin Mu's side, Mei clutching his arm as if seeking protection, while Lian stood tall and defiant. "We have nothing more to discuss," Lian said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
But the males weren't deterred. The second one stepped forward, glaring at Lin Mu with thinly veiled hostility. "You think you can just waltz in here, steal what doesn't belong to you, and walk away unscathed?" he spat.
Lin Mu raised his hands in mock surrender, his expression weary. "Look, I didn't steal anything. I don't even know what you're talking about."
The system's translation must have conveyed his tone accurately because the first male sneered. "You think you can just lie to our faces?. We'll surely teach you a lesson tomorrow that you won't forget, outsider."
With that, the two males turned and stalked away, their anger palpable in the air.
Lin Mu let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping. "Great. Just what I needed, more enemies."
Lian crossed her arms, her sharp gaze lingering on the retreating figures. "Don't let them intimidate you," she said, her voice steady but with a hint of concern.
Mei, still clinging to Lin Mu's arm, nodded. "Yeah...You'll do fine tomorrow. We believe in you."
Lin Mu forced a weak smile, though his chest felt heavy. As the sisters led him back toward the center of the settlement, his mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming contest.
---
Later on, Lin Mu sat alone on the outskirts of the village, staring up at the sky. The blood red sky above was unfamiliar, yet it offered a strange sense of solace.
The dessert air though scorching was a perfect example of how Lin Mu's mind was right now, Which was anything but calm.
He sat, lay'd back on a sandy dune at the edge of the settlement, his face buried in his hands, A few meters behind him where a few Serinerian warriors tasked with watching him but Lin Mu didn't even pay them any head, instead He could feel his pulse pounding as tomorrow's trial loomed over him like a storm cloud.
Finally, unable to hold it in anymore, he muttered, "System… we need to talk."
The system's voice chimed in, her usual calm and collected tone carrying a hint of amusement. «[What is it, Lin Mu?. Nervous about the contest?]»
Lin Mu scoffed, sitting up and glaring at the empty space before him as if the system had a physical form to face. "Nervous?, That's an understatement!. I've been dragged into a ridiculous situation, forced into an engagement I didn't want, and now my life's on the line in some barbaric competition. I've had enough. Just… just let me leave this dimension early!"
The system's voice turned sweet—too sweet. [«Oh, Lin Mu, you know I'd love to help, but… no.]»
" You...., your starting to enjoy this aren't you!!." Lin Mu's jaw dropped. "What do you mean 'no'? You're my system!, You're supposed to help me!"
«[That I am.]»
«[You should be grateful that I'm actually coming out of my comfort zone to help you.]»
"You call this helping?!" Lin Mu gestured wildly at the settlement behind him, though no one was around to witness his frustration. "I'm one step away from getting killed by angry suitors or tribespeople, and you're sitting there like it's a joke!"
The system sighed dramatically, the sound exaggerated as if she were mocking him. «[Oh, poor Lin Mu. Always wanting the easy way out. Do you think growth comes from running away the moment things get tough?]»
"This isn't 'tough,' it's insanity!" Lin Mu snapped. "I don't even know these people!, Why do I have to risk my life for some tribal politics that have nothing to do with me?, Just take me out of here!"
«[And where would you go?]» the system asked, her tone suddenly sharp.
«[Back to wandering aimlessly?, Back to being weak and directionless?. You're finally being challenged. This is what you need.]»
"What I need," Lin Mu growled throug
h gritted teeth, "is to not get speared to death by a bunch of angry bachelors!"