Pain.
Again.
Lu Chunhe barely had time to think before his body moved on its own. He turned around and ran.
His legs screamed in agony. His broken arm dangled lifelessly at his side, blood gushing from his wounds like a leaking bucket. His vision blurred. His soaked robes clung to his body, heavy with blood. Droplets splattered onto the ground, leaving a red trail behind him.
"Stop!" the disciple roared.
Lu Chunhe didn't stop. He ran faster.
The disciple lunged forward, reaching for him. Lu Chunhe did the only thing he could—he jumped off the side of the mountain.
Wind howled past his ears. His stomach lurched.
Then he hit the ground.
He bounced. Once. Twice. Then rolled. His body slammed against rocks, tree roots, and bushes, tumbling violently down the steep mountain slope. Every bump sent fresh agony tearing through his broken ribs.
Crack.
Another rib gone.
Snap.
Something twisted in his ankle.
His world spun as he rolled, dirt and leaves filling his mouth. He couldn't even scream.
Then—
BANG!
His body slammed into a massive tree.
The impact knocked all the air out of his lungs. A sickening crunch echoed in his ears. He slid down the bark like a ragdoll, his limbs twitching.
Silence.
He stopped moving.
Everything hurt. He was sure he was going to die.
And then—
Ding!
A mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[System Activation... Error. System Unstable. Rebooting...]
[Reboot Failed... Attempting Manual Repair...]
Sparks of golden light flickered around him. Energy crackled in the air, hissing and popping like fireworks. Then—
BZZZT!
A surge of electricity burst from his chest, zapping him like a thunderbolt.
"AAAAAARGHHH!!!"
Lu Chunhe's entire body convulsed.
The system was electrocuting him.
And then he passed out.
Lu Chunhe drifted between consciousness and darkness. His body felt like it had been stomped on by a thousand horses. His ribs ached with every shallow breath, and his broken arm throbbed with pain so intense it made his vision blur. His clothes were soaked in blood and mud, clinging to his frail body like a second skin.
Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the faint rustling of leaves, the chirping of insects, and the slow gurgle of a stream nearby. His body was half-submerged in the cold water, his fingers twitching as weak currents ran over them. He wanted to move—he needed to move—but even lifting a finger felt impossible.
Then, the voice in his head rang out again.
[System recalibrating... Vital signs critical. Auto-healing initiating.]
A warm energy surged through his veins, spreading from his chest to every corner of his broken body. His torn muscles twitched, his shattered bones tingled, and his skin burned like it was being stitched back together with molten iron. The pain was unbearable. It felt like his body was being reforged in a furnace.
Lu Chunhe groaned, his teeth clenching so hard they nearly cracked.
[Healing in progress... Estimated recovery time: 3 hours.]
Three hours?!
He didn't have three hours!
What if that insane disciple came looking for him? What if a wild beast smelled his blood? What if—
His thoughts were cut off as a sharp pang ran through his body, forcing him to curl up in agony. He had no choice but to endure. Survival came first.
The system continued its work. The warm energy seeped into his broken ribs, knitting them back together. The bruises faded, his torn skin mended, and his shattered arm slowly realigned itself with sickening cracks.
Time passed.
The stars above twinkled in the dark sky, and the moon cast a pale glow over the forest. The night air was cold, but his body no longer shivered. He was healing—faster than any normal human should.
After what felt like an eternity, the pain dulled to a faint ache. Lu Chunhe took a deep breath and slowly sat up.
He looked down at his hands, turning them over. His skin was still pale and sickly, but the wounds were gone. His arm, though stiff, could move again. His ribs still hurt, but now he could breathe without feeling like he was being stabbed.
He survived.
He had really survived.
A shiver ran down his spine. If he hadn't been bound to this system... if it hadn't healed him in time... he would've been nothing more than a corpse in the dirt by now.
The system had saved his life.
But—
[System Repaired. Binding Successful.]
[Congratulations, Host! You have awakened the System!]
[Mission: Defeat the Disciple Who Chased You! Reward: 10,000 EXP!]
Lu Chunhe's face turned pale. His body twitched, smoke rising from his skin. His mouth trembled.
"...You motherf—"