Hell Forest — Crimson Leaf Region
As Zhen Huan moved deeper through the twisted paths of the Hell Forest, he noticed the sun slowly dipping behind the horizon. The golden light bled across the sky, casting long shadows between the trees. Crimson leaves shimmered beneath the fading sunlight, while the air grew cooler and heavier with the coming night.
He paused on a sturdy branch, then leapt down gracefully, landing on the soft forest floor.
All around him, the trees bore only red leaves now. The few with green seemed distant, scattered like remnants of a gentler place.
Finding a large crimson-leafed tree, he sat down with his back against the trunk and took a long breath. The forest was still, too still. He shut his eyes and released a faint wave of spiritual sense.
It didn't travel far—his cultivation was still low—but just enough to check his surroundings.
When nothing stirred, no beast nor threat responded, he sighed in relief.
Good. I'm alone, at least for now.
But peace didn't last long.
His stomach growled loudly, a hollow reminder of something he had forgotten.
I'm starving.
He clutched his abdomen, grimacing.
Wait... what about those beasts?
His eyes lit up with a sudden idea.
"System, can I eat fire fang wolve beast meat?"
The question lingered for only a moment before the answer came.
Ding!
Yes. Host can safely consume fire fang wolve beast meat. It is not poisonous.
Zhen Huan rose to his feet immediately, face lighting up.
Hah! Just as I thought.
He glanced around once more to be sure, then opened his storage window with a thought.
Now, it was time to eat.
A faint shimmer pulsed in the air as the system window opened before Zhen Huan, listing the contents of his storage:
---
Item Stored:
• Bed Sheet – 1
• Blanket – 1
• Normal Clothes Set – 1
• Fire Fang Wolves Corpse – 5
---
Zhen Huan switched his sword to his left hand and extended his right index finger. With a tap on the listed entry, one of the wolf bodies began to glow. A second later, it materialized on the ground before him in full size, limp and heavy.
Without wasting time, he grabbed the sword back into his right hand and crouched beside the beast.
The blade moved swiftly.
Five minutes later, the work was done. The wolf's hide had been stripped clean, its meat cut into thick, hearty chunks. The air around him carried a faint metallic scent from the blood, but to Zhen Huan, it smelled like survival.
He placed the cleaned slabs of meat neatly on a smooth, flat stone.
His eyes gleamed with anticipation. His stomach let out a low, angry growl, the kind that felt like a wild beast had awakened inside his belly.
"Now to cook it…"
He summoned the system window again and peered into the storage.
---
Item Stored:
• Bed Sheet – 1
• Blanket – 1
• Normal Clothes Set – 1
• Fire Fang Wolves Corpse – 4
---
Nothing else.
He blinked.
Then leaned closer.
Still nothing.
He furrowed his brows, eyes scanning every line of the list.
No fire stones.
No flint.
Not even a bundle of dry twigs.
His face froze.
Slowly, he tilted his head upward and stared at the sky in silence.
Not a word came from his mouth. Just the sound of crickets somewhere in the distance, oblivious to his suffering.
The expression on his face was hollow. A sigh escaped him—long, hopeless, and full of defeated hunger. It drifted into the air like the final breath of a man betrayed by fate.
The meat remained raw.
The stomach kept growling.
Zhen Huan sat in silence, stomach rumbling, eyes glazed with the pain of raw hunger and raw meat. The cold truth hit him harder than the beasts had—he couldn't cook. No fire, no tools, no dry twigs. Just meat and misery.
Beside him, his sword leaned quietly against the tree.
Then, without warning, a system window flashed before his eyes.
---
System Prompt:
Host, we know you are in trouble. We can help you, but it will cost 200 XP Points.
Do you accept? Y/N
---
Zhen Huan's eyes lit up as he stared at the message. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and tapped Yes.
Let's see what kind of miracle you can pull off now.
The system window vanished.
---
System Prompt:
200 XP Points have been deducted.
Current XP Points: 0
---
Suddenly, his body moved.
Not just his limbs—his entire body stood up, as if yanked by invisible strings.
Zhen Huan's eyes widened.
What… what's going on?
His legs stepped forward without command, carrying him toward the flat stone where the slabs of meat lay neatly arranged. He tried to resist, but his muscles wouldn't respond. His arms, his hands—everything was out of his control.
Why is my body moving on its own?!
He stopped in front of the stone, his face full of alarm. Then his right palm rose steadily into the air.
Zhen Huan stared at it, frozen in disbelief.
Is this… possession? Am I being controlled by a ghost?!
A moment later, something even more bizarre happened.
From the center of his palm, a soft blue flame emerged—ordinary in appearance, but impossibly unnatural. It danced gently without consuming anything, flickering like a candle against the dusk.
His body crouched low, guiding the flame beneath the meat. Slowly and steadily, it began to cook.
Zhen Huan could only watch, a prisoner inside his own flesh.
This is insane. I can't even blink by myself!
The scent of sizzling meat filled the air, rich and savory, laced with the faint sweetness of cooked beast fat. It filled the quiet forest with a hunger-inducing aroma.
Four minutes passed in eerie silence.
Then, the flame vanished, and so did the stiffness in his limbs.
His body returned to his control.
Zhen Huan staggered slightly, staring at the steaming, perfectly cooked meat in front of him.
Still stunned.
Still trying to process.
As the night deepened, casting long shadows beneath the crimson canopy, a gentle chime echoed once again in Zhen Huan's mind. A purple window shimmered into existence before him, its white text glowing faintly.
---
Ding!
"Host, we have completed your task."
---
Zhen Huan glanced at the floating window, brows slightly raised.
So it really was all the system's doing…
He didn't dwell on it. His eyes shifted to the steaming meat in front of him, and instantly, his thoughts of suspicion vanished.
He reached down, picked up a thick, juicy slab, and brought it close. The aroma hit him immediately—rich, slightly smoky, and mouth-watering. His eyes lit up with hunger.
He took a bite.
The flavor exploded across his tongue. Tender, perfectly cooked, with just the right amount of natural oils.
He devoured the rest quickly, tearing through each piece like a man who hadn't eaten in days.
One bite. Then another. And another.
Within moments, his hunger was gone. His belly full, his body warm.
Leaning back against the crimson tree, he let out a loud, satisfied burp.
That hit the spot.
He glanced at the flat stone. A few pieces of meat were still left, untouched.
Can't waste that. I'll store them.
Lifting his hand, he pointed toward the remaining pieces.
"Store them."
A faint hum filled the air as a purple portal opened beneath the meat. The pieces vanished into the glow in an instant.
A new window appeared beside him.
---
Item Stored:
• Bed Sheet – 1
• Blanket – 1
• Normal Clothes Set – 1
• Fire Fang Wolves Corpse – 4
• Cooked Beast Meats – 6
---
Zhen Huan gave a small nod, pleased.
He turned toward his sword, which leaned silently against the base of the tree. Its edge caught the moonlight, reflecting faint silver under the forest canopy.
It's still night. No telling how many beasts are roaming in the dark, waiting for prey. Better not wander now.
The storage window faded away.
Zhen Huan walked over, sat beside his sword, and closed his eyes.
I'll sleep like this. No way I'm pulling out my bed sheet or blanket in this dirt…
With the blade resting at his side, he let the forest lull him into slumber. The sounds of distant roars and rustling leaves became the night's lullaby.