A rustling sound from the nearby bushes cut him off. He shot to his feet, his hand flying to the hilt of a hoe nearby.
"System," he whispered, his voice tense. "Is someone there?"
"Detecting movement. Unknown entity. Exercise caution."
Jianyu's heart pounded as he scanned the shadows under the tree, every muscle in his body tensed. Whatever—or whoever—was coming toward him, it wasn't part of his group.
The rustling grew louder, and Jianyu's grip on the hoe tightened, his palms sweating.
From the shadows burst a creature the size of a baby cow, but it was all wrong.
Its body glistened with oily black scales, jagged and uneven like shards of broken glass. Its head was vaguely bovine, but the glowing red eyes burned like miniature fire pits, and jagged horns jutted out at sharp angles. Worst of all? Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that absolutely did not belong on anything remotely cow-like.
It growled, low and guttural, the sound vibrating in Jianyu's ribcage.
"System!" Jianyu hissed, already clutching the hoe like it was a legendary weapon "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!"
"A juvenile monster. Based on its appearance, it just recently hatched."
"What do you mean hatched?!" Jianyu took a cautious step back.
"This cavern contains a monster nest," the System replied, its tone maddeningly calm. "Likely, there are more eggs scattered throughout the area."
Jianyu cursed under his breath. "You're telling me there's a nest in here, and you never had a single intention to warn me?!"
"The possibility existed. Now it is confirmed. Congratulations on your discovery."
"That's not helpful!"
"Neither is screaming, but here we are," the System quipped, unbothered as the monster took a lumbering step closer, its claws scraping across the soil.
For a moment, Jianyu is a bit worried about the turnip that he just planted hours ago but the thought quickly vanishes as his heart racing as the creature begins to inch closer, its claws scratching against the cavern floor. "Where the hell did these things even come from?!"
"Monsters like this originate from animals that consume Black Bloom plants," the System explained. "The plants' corrupted properties alter the animals, transforming them into aggressive, monstrous forms. These creatures then reproduce, spreading further chaos."
"That's a LOT to drop on me right now!" Jianyu barked, gripping his hoe tighter as the creature crouched, muscles rippling under its scaled hide.
He swung wildly as it lunged, but his aim was… embarrassingly off. The hoe swished through empty air with the grace of someone who did not practice martial arts. The momentum almost sent him tumbling over.
"HEY!" Jianyu screamed, desperation rising like the bile in his throat. "I PLANTED THE GUARDIAN PLANTS! WHY THE HELL IS IT STILL NOT SAFE?!"
The System sighed. "Guardian Plants protect the cavern from external threats. If Black Bloom or monsters are already inside, their effectiveness is, shall we say, minimal."
"You could've TOLD ME THAT!"
"I assumed it was common sense."
"COMMON SENSE?! YOU THINK I KNOW THIS SHIT BY DEFAULT?!"
Another lunge. Jianyu shrieked like a kettle on the verge of boiling, ducking just in time for claws to swipe overhead. He swung the hoe again, this time managing to land a hit on the creature's side.
For a moment, he thought he'd won. Then the monster reared back and roared, its muscles rippling as it doubled in strength.
"You've GOT to be kidding me!" Jianyu groaned, eyes wide in horror as the creature's claws flashed toward him. He dodged—barely—but felt the sting of sharp talons grazing his arm.
"System, DO SOMETHING!" he yelled, his voice cracking as he stumbled back, tripping over a rock.
"I can offer self-help activation," the System said, its tone as calm as ever. "For 5000 points, I will heal your wounds and encase you in a protective cocoon until the threat is neutralized."
"I ONLY HAVE 1000 POINTS!" Jianyu screamed, beads of sweat dripping down his forehead as he narrowly rolled out of the way of another swipe.
"I am aware," the System said, unbothered. "However, I am obligated to provide the option."
"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"
"Harsh, but noted," the System replied, completely unfazed as Jianyu swung the hoe again like his life depended on it.
The blade hits on the spot, sinking into the creature's flank. The monster roared, angrier than ever, and lunged with renewed ferocity. Its claws raked across Jianyu's leg, sending him sprawling to the ground.
Pain exploded up his leg as blood soaked through his pants. He scrambled backward, clutching the hoe like it could somehow save him, but his grip was slippery with sweat.
The monster crouched low, preparing for what Jianyu could tell would be the final strike.
Jianyu's breath hitched. His body screamed in pain, his muscles refusing to move fast enough to dodge. His heart pounded wildly in his chest.
The monster leapt, claws outstretched, its gaping jaws aimed straight at him—
Suddenly, a silver blur cut through the air. A blade sliced clean through the monster's neck mid-leap, and its body crashed to the ground in a lifeless heap. It twitched once, then went still.
Jianyu blinked, his chest heaving as he stared at the dead creature in disbelief. Slowly, he turned his head toward the direction the familiar sword had come from.
There, Zhenfeng stood, his sword still extended, his face pale and eyes wide with panic. "Jianyu!" he yelled, rushing toward him.
Jianyu tried to push himself up but hissed in pain as his injured leg gave out beneath him.
Zhenfeng immediately knelt beside him. His hands hovered over the wound, hesitant to touch it. "Let me see. I need to check how deep it is." His voice was firm as he tore a strip of fabric from his sleeve and pressed it against the wound to slow the bleeding.
Jianyu hissed in pain but forced a grin. "Careful, doc. I'd like to keep that leg, you know."
"Stop talking," Zhenfeng muttered, his brow furrowed.