Feng Yun's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the scent of damp earth and the soft rustling of leaves. He lay on the forest floor, the towering trees above swaying gently against the crisp morning air. The sky stretched above him, a brilliant shade of blue, streaked with wispy clouds.
For a moment, he simply breathed, taking in the unfamiliar yet strangely refreshing atmosphere.
"The air here… it's different." His voice was quiet, almost thoughtful. "So clean… so pure."
Yet, as the memories of his past crept in, his expression darkened. "Riyal… Hah. He's nothing to me now." His jaw tightened, his voice laced with cold resolve. "I have only one priority—completing this mission. After that, I move forward."
With that, Feng Yun pushed himself up, brushing stray leaves from his clothing. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings—towering trees, thick foliage, not a single sign of civilization.
"Where the hell am I?" he muttered.
As if responding to his question, a familiar chime echoed in his head.
[Ding… You are currently in the Dark Forest of Alex Kingdom, located on the outskirts of Alex Kingdom.]
Feng Yun's gaze flickered. "Alex Kingdom?" He crossed his arms. "System, do you have a map of this world?"
[Ding… No. The system can only map places you have previously visited.]
Feng Yun scoffed. "Hmph. Useless."
[Ding… But the system can guide you on what is required to begin your mission.]
He exhaled, already expecting some unnecessary obstacle. "Of course. Let me guess—side missions first?"
[Ding… Correct. You must complete three side missions before beginning the main objective.]
A flicker of amusement crossed Feng Yun's face. "Figures. Alright, what's the first one?"
[Ding… Side Mission #1: Register as a citizen at the Alex Kingdom's Guild → Incomplete.]
Feng Yun frowned. "That's it?"
[Ding… More details will be revealed once you complete the first mission.]
He rolled his eyes. "Keeping secrets, huh? Fine."
With no other options, Feng Yun started walking. The deeper he ventured, the taller the trees became, casting long, eerie shadows over the forest floor. Hours passed in silence, the only sounds being the distant calls of birds and the occasional rustling in the underbrush.
His patience wore thin. "System, how big is this damn forest? I've been walking for over an hour, and I haven't seen anything but trees."
[Ding… You have approximately one hour of walking left before reaching the forest's exit.]
Feng Yun's eyes narrowed. "Tch. That's too slow."
Without hesitation, he activated his footwork technique.
Devil Pace.
In an instant, he vanished, becoming nothing more than a flicker among the trees.
Five minutes later, Feng Yun emerged from the treeline, his robes dirtied and his body slick with sweat. He took a deep breath, dropping onto the grass.
"This technique eats too much stamina." He wiped his brow. "I need to improve my endurance if I want to use it efficiently."
A dirt road stretched ahead, leading towards civilization. Carriages rattled by, some adorned with royal crests, while others were far more humble, belonging to merchants and travelers.
Feng Yun's stomach growled.
He exhaled through his nose, annoyed. "Right. I need food."
As he approached the road, a voice called out from a nearby carriage.
"Sir! Do you need a ride to the gate?"
Feng Yun turned, his gaze falling upon a young man with light brown hair, seated atop a wooden cart filled with fruit. He had an easy-going smile, his eyes warm and inviting.
Feng Yun studied him for a moment before responding, "I do, but I don't have any money."
The young man chuckled. "You don't need to pay. I'm heading there myself. Good company makes the journey shorter."
Feng Yun climbed onto the cart without hesitation. "Appreciate it."
As the cart rolled forward, the young man glanced at him. "I'm Andy, by the way. I live in Chinhi, a village near the kingdom. My father is the village chief."
Feng Yun's eyes flickered with mild interest. "A chief's son?" He gestured to the fruit stacked behind them. "Are you here to sell these?"
Andy shook his head. "Nope. These are a gift from my father to the king, as thanks for sending guards to protect our village from the monsters."
Feng Yun's fingers drummed against the wooden seat. "Monsters?"
He hadn't considered the existence of beasts beyond humans in this world. This place was shaping up to be more than just an ordinary kingdom.
Andy nodded. "Yeah, they're a real problem in the outskirts. If not for the royal guards, our village would've been wiped out."
Feng Yun stored the information away for later. "Interesting."
Andy's gaze shifted toward him, curiosity in his expression. "So, what were you doing out there? And without money, too?"
Feng Yun exhaled, leaning back against the cart. "It's a long story."
Andy grinned. "We have time."
Feng Yun's smirk was barely noticeable. He decided to spin a tale.
"I was traveling with a group. We were heading in the same direction—so I thought. Turns out, they were bandits. Took my money, left me for dead." He gestured to his dirtied clothes. "As you can see, they weren't gentle."
Andy's expression turned sympathetic. "That's awful."
Feng Yun shrugged. "It is what it is."
Andy nodded firmly. "Well, you're safe now. Ride with me to the gate, and we'll figure out what to do next."
Feng Yun closed his eyes, listening to the rhythmic creak of the wheels against the dirt road.
A small smirk played on his lips.
"How amusing."