As Long Tian walked back to the village with careful steps, he couldn't stop looking back at the scene of the fierce battle.
He thought about the wolf's body, still warm, and the valuable materials he could surely get from it if only he were stronger. Its claws, teeth, even its skin... in another time, it could have been his first real reward in this world.
But he wasn't stupid. The smell of blood saturated the air, thick like an invisible fog creeping between the trees. And the echoes of growls and roars that had shaken the forest still rumbled in the distance. That place wouldn't take long to attract more beasts, maybe even more dangerous than the bear or the wolf pack.
"It's not worth the risk," he said to himself, tightening the pouch with the moon herbs. "Surviving now is more important."
The system hadn't issued any notifications since he picked the herbs, but Long Tian was sure the mission was close to completion. He just needed to get back to the village alive.
The sky was beginning to lighten in the horizon. He had spent the whole night in the forest, and although his body was covered with scratches and bruises, his will remained strong. Every step was slow and calculated, his senses alert for any abnormal noise.
"When I'm stronger," he thought, "I'll return to this forest, and I won't have to run in fear."
A silent promise was etched in his heart as he descended the slope of the forest toward the small path that would lead him back to the village.
Upon returning to the village, Long Tian felt relief from being safe, although his wounds still hurt. The cold morning wind hit his face, refreshing his tired body, but it didn't offer him full comfort. He needed to get to the village, deliver the herbs to Old Yao, and rest.
But as he crossed the edge of the forest, he encountered a group of villagers tasked with guarding during the nights. They were strong men, armed with machetes and spears, used to protecting the village from wild beasts and other threats. Seeing Long Tian emerge from the forest, one of them stepped forward and asked:
What are you doing here, boy? It's dangerous to be out alone in the forest at this hour. Were you looking for something?
Long Tian, without hesitation, took out the moon herbs he had gathered and lifted them, showing them to the villagers.
I was looking for some plants for Old Yao he responded, trying to sound as natural as possible. Grandpa asked me to collect these herbs.
The villagers looked at him for a moment, observing his tired expression, the wounds on his face and body, but they said nothing more. There was something in their gaze that made them a little suspicious, but it wasn't enough to raise any serious concerns.
Is that all? The same man asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yes Long Tian answered, trying to sound as confident as possible. Grandpa Yao told me these herbs are very useful for health. I didn't want to waste more time, so I hurried.
The villager nodded slowly, then took a step back and pointed towards the path to the village.
Don't forget that the safety of the village depends on all of us he said in a serious, but not threatening tone. Next time, don't go out so late. The forest is dangerous, especially at night.
Long Tian nodded, relieved that he hadn't caused further suspicion. He quickly walked towards the village, aware of the watchful eyes of the villagers who followed him from a distance.
As he walked, he couldn't stop thinking about how close he had come to dying in that forest. The bear, the wolves, and the wounds… everything seemed so distant now, but at the same time, the sense of danger still lingered in his mind.
He had to be more careful. In this world full of powerful and strange beings, survival would be a difficult game. But something inside him, an inexplicable force, told him he wouldn't give up so easily.
With the herbs in hand and the thought of completing his mission, Long Tian entered the village, ready to face whatever came next.
Upon returning to the small place where he had been sleeping in the village, Long Tian went to his makeshift bed and began taking out the plants he had gathered. There were four in total, glowing with the light of the moon that filtered through the window. Each one had its own particular glow, as if the very essence of the moon had been trapped in their leaves.
When he laid them on the ground, a soft light emerged from his body, and a peculiar sound echoed in his mind.
[Mission Completed: "Gather Lunar Herb"]
Immediately, the system activated the reward. Long Tian frowned, still unsure of how the system worked, but the thought of earning rewards kept him intrinsically motivated. As if it were an automatic process, without him being able to prevent it, one of the herbs disappeared from his hand and a small glow appeared before his eyes.
[Reward: 5 Spiritual Energy Points]
The glow quickly dissipated, and Long Tian felt a slight tingling inside him. The spiritual energy seemed to be flowing within his body, though it wasn't enough to notice a significant change. However, he knew that such advances would accumulate over time.
He decided to store the remaining three herbs for the future, and with a sigh of exhaustion, lay down on his bed. The mission hadn't been easy, but the risk had been worth it. Now, he needed to rest, but deep down, Long Tian knew this was just the beginning. Without knowing what would come next, he prepared to face whatever the future held in this strange world.