When Zhen Huan finally reached the source of the disturbance, the scene before him was utter devastation.
The earth was shattered—deep cracks split across the ground, smoke curled from scorched soil, and many trees lay broken or burned, their trunks snapped like twigs. Even the surrounding mountains bore signs of destruction, their slopes torn open by overwhelming force.
Above the battlefield, two figures clashed in the sky.
On the left soared a beast cloaked in menace—a massive white tiger with streaks of dark shadows veining its fur. Its wings beat heavily, keeping its enormous body suspended. Its aura surged with raw power, a Rank 3 High-Tier magical beast, a force terrifying enough to shake entire villages.
Across from it hovered a slender figure: a young girl dressed in flowing white and pink robes, her form lithe but defiant. A long pink sword gleamed in her right hand. Her black eyes were fixed on the beast. Her hair fluttered behind her like strands of ink brushed across the sky.
She was at the Body Tempering – Third Layer.
Her name was Yun Sha.
Hidden behind a thick crimson-leafed tree, Zhen Huan peered out carefully, heart pounding.
Who is this girl? She's actually standing against that beast…
The sight filled him with both awe and dread. Cold sweat beaded on his brow. Just imagining the beast turning its attention toward him sent shivers through his spine.
Suddenly, the tiger roared, a thunderous sound that rippled through the forest, and lunged toward Yun Sha, claws slashing through the air like blades of iron.
Yun Sha met the attack with her sword, holding it across her body.
The impact sent her flying back.
Her robes tore, and blood sprayed from her lips, painting the air red.
Zhen Huan's eyes widened.
She blocked it… she actually blocked that thing's attack…
But the beast didn't stop.
A low growl rumbled from its chest as a dark flame enveloped its claws. Its killing intent spiked as it used its innate technique—Burning Claw.
Fire in the shape of a claw wrapped around its limb as it accelerated, closing the distance in a flash.
Yun Sha couldn't react in time.
The claws tore through her chest and stomach, her sword slipping from her grasp as she let out a soft gasp. Blood bloomed from the deep wounds as she plummeted downward.
The pink sword clattered onto a rocky slope, skidding to a stop in front of a cave.
With a dull thud, Yun Sha's limp body followed, landing just outside the cave's mouth.
Her robes were shredded, soaked in blood. Long strands of silver-black hair clung to her pale cheeks, unmoving.
The beast hovered above her, eyes gleaming with hunger. Its wings flapped once, and it began to descend, heading straight for her broken body.
But then it paused.
It turned sharply, gazing toward another mountain in the distance.
It growled lowly—sensing something powerful—and then, without hesitation, turned and flew toward the distant peak, vanishing behind the ridges with a deafening roar.
Zhen Huan slowly stepped out from his hiding spot, eyes flicking between the cave and the receding beast.
What just happened? Why did that thing suddenly retreat?
Cautiously, he approached.
With a few agile leaps, he landed near the cave's edge. The girl's body lay motionless, crumpled just outside the entrance.
He knelt beside her and gently took her wrist, closing his eyes to sense the faint pulse of life.
She was still alive.
But barely.
Her breathing was shallow, her body trembling from blood loss, and her robes were soaked with crimson.
Zhen Huan clenched his jaw.
She's in bad shape. If I don't help her now… she'll die.
Zhen Huan looked down at the black sword in his hand. Its dark blade pulsed faintly, as if alive.
"Store," he said.
A small purple portal shimmered into existence before him. The black sword was gently pulled from his grip and vanished into the swirling space. A second later, the portal faded, leaving behind a glowing storage window in the air.
Item Stored:
• Bed Sheet – 1
• Blanket – 1
• Normal Clothes Set – 1
• Fire Fang Wolves Corpse – 4
• Cooked Beast Meats – 6
• Unknown Sword – 1
Zhen Huan raised an eyebrow as he stared at the list.
Unknown sword? I thought this sword's name was Seven Ruthless Sword…
As if on cue, the system responded to his thoughts.
The storage window vanished, and a new system message appeared in glowing white text.
System Message:
Host, this sword currently has no name. "Seven Ruthless Sword" is merely its title. Would you like to give it a name? Y/N
Zhen Huan glanced at the message, smirking slightly.
So it's nameless, huh? Heh, fine. Then I'll be the one to name it…
He turned his gaze back to the injured girl lying near the cave's mouth.
But first—I have to save her.
He stepped forward, knelt down, and gently lifted her into his arms. Her body was cold, her breathing weak. Blood had soaked through the tattered remains of her robes. Still, there was life in her yet.
Without wasting time, he carried her into the cave.
Behind him, the system window continued to float, following quietly like a ghost.
With a thought, Zhen Huan reached out with his spiritual energy, grabbing Yun Sha's fallen pink sword from outside the cave. It floated in after him and landed softly on the ground nearby.
Deeper inside, the cave opened into a wide chamber. Dim light filtered in from above, casting faint shadows on the rocky walls. At the center of the space was a flat stone platform.
Zhen Huan carefully laid Yun Sha atop the cold slab, brushing her blood-matted hair away from her face.
His eyes swept across her wounds.
She took the beast's claw head-on… slashed across the chest and stomach. And so many cuts… her body's barely hanging on…
He paused.
Then his eyes widened slightly as realization struck.
A weak, awkward chuckle escaped his lips.
"…I don't have anything to heal her with."
He scratched the back of his head, his face tense.
I've got cooked meat, a blanket, and four wolf corpses… What the hell am I supposed to do with that?
Zhen Huan paced beside the stone slab, his mind racing. The girl's breathing was shallow, and blood still oozed from her wounds.
He clenched his fists.
"System," he called, "do you have anything that can heal her?"
Suddenly from behind him, the system window continued to float, following quietly like a ghost disappeared.
Then a purple window blinked into existence beside him, glowing with white text.
System Prompt:
Host, your shop window is currently unavailable. However, we can offer a Healing Cream at double the XP point cost. Do you accept? Y/N
Zhen Huan's brow twitched.
Double the points? That's basically robbery!
His voice rose in frustration. "How much?"
The prompt vanished, only to be replaced by a new one.
System Prompt:
Base cost: 50 XP points. With penalty, final cost: 100 XP points. Confirm purchase? Y/N
Zhen Huan let out a sharp breath through his nose, muttering under it.
"Scam system…"
But still, he tapped Y on the window.
Let's see what I'm paying for.
With a soft hum, a small, round, blue metal tin appeared in his left hand.
System Prompt:
100 XP Points deducted.
Current XP: 200
Zhen Huan ignored the floating text. He opened the tin, revealing a smooth, jade-colored cream inside. A soft herbal fragrance escaped.
So this is the healing cream…
He dipped two fingers into the tin and knelt beside Yun Sha. Carefully, he began applying the cream to the shallow cuts on her arms and legs, each wound closing slightly as the balm sank into her skin.
Then he paused, his hand hovering over the more serious gashes across her midsection. The torn fabric was soaked in blood.
A faint red spread across his cheeks.
This part…
He hesitated, then let out a breath and set the tin aside.
"I'm sorry, miss," he muttered, closing his eyes.
He carefully removed the bloodied robe covering her upper body, leaving only the inner layer clinging to her skin. He folded the robe neatly and placed it over her chest for modesty, then opened his eyes.
Focusing only on her wounds, Zhen Huan took a bit more cream and gently applied it to the deep gash along her side, his hands trembling slightly. He didn't let himself linger. His gaze stayed fixed only on the injuries.
I have to help her. That's all this is.
He worked in silence, the faint sounds of the forest wind echoing outside the cave, until all her wounds were treated.
Zhen Huan let out a long breath and sat back, wiping sweat from his brow. Her breathing had stabilized, the color slowly returning to her cheeks.
"…She'll live."
He looked down at the tin in his hand, then at Yun Sha's sleeping form.
I hope that was worth it.