The mournful howl from beyond the city walls echoed in Su Lin's ears long after it faded. It wasn't just a sound; it was a reminder. This world wasn't just about dusty streets and petty gangsters. Real danger, tooth and claw danger, lurked right outside. And he needed to face it. Carefully.
He spent the rest of the evening helping Elder Wen clean and sort herbs. The old man moved slower than usual, worry etched deeper into the lines on his face. The Stone Serpent's threat hung heavy in the small clinic.
"Don't you fret about those Serpents, Su," Wen said, trying to sound brave as he ground some bitter-smelling roots. "I've weathered worse storms. They're just loud bullies, looking for easy coins."
Su Lin nodded, keeping his expression blank and slightly worried. Inside, his mind was sharp. *Bullies with clubs and enough strength to hurt an old man. A threat. Needs removal. But not yet.* He needed proof of concept. He needed the System to work.
His eyes drifted again to the jar of Frostpetal leaves. Frosty blue veins ran through their silvery surfaces. Potential. He'd scanned them enough times.
`[Frostpetal Leaf - Low-Grade Natural Treasure]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.1]`
Twelve leaves left. 1.2 Talent Points. Enough for… something. But taking them now would hurt Wen, who'd shown him kindness. Su Lin wasn't heartless. He'd find his own.
Sleep was restless. Dreams mixed the screech of tires with the howl of unseen beasts and the sneering face of Broken Nose. He woke before dawn, the grey light barely touching the sky. Wen was still asleep, breathing raspy and deep.
Su Lin moved silently. He pulled on the oversized sandals and the rough tunic. He took the small, rusty knife Wen used for cutting tough roots – not much of a weapon, but better than nothing. He also grabbed a small, empty leather pouch Wen used for gathering. Finally, he scooped a handful of dried, crushed Glowmoss from a jar. It was harmless, but it had a strong, musky smell Wen sometimes used to repel common insects. Maybe it would mask his own scent. Worth a try.
He slipped out the back door into the chill morning air. The Moss Quarter was quiet, only the occasional cough or snore breaking the silence. Mist clung to the ground, thick and wet. Perfect cover.
He headed towards the West Gate. The guards there were the least alert, often half-asleep or distracted by dice games in the pre-dawn gloom. He kept his head down, shoulders slumped, moving with the slow, tired shuffle he'd perfected. Just another desperate soul heading out early to scavenge herbs or trap small game before the real dangers woke up.
The guards barely glanced at him as he passed through the massive, scarred wooden gate. One yawned hugely. "Back before sundown, or the gates stay shut, herb-picker," he mumbled, not even looking.
"Understood," Su Lin mumbled back, his voice soft and weak.
Outside the walls, the world changed instantly. The muddy track leading from the gate quickly dissolved into a vast, soggy wilderness – the Whispering Marsh. Tall reeds, thick as his wrist, rose like a green-gold wall, their tops swaying gently. Thick mud sucked at his sandals. Strange croaks, clicks, and splashes echoed through the mist. The air smelled thick with rotting plants and something alive, something wild.
*Okay. Step one: Don't die.* His cautious nature screamed at him to turn back. *Rule Three: Only act when victory is assured.* He needed a target he *could* assure victory against.
He moved slowly, carefully placing each foot, testing the ground before putting weight down. The marsh was treacherous; one wrong step could plunge him into deep, sucking mud. He scanned constantly, not just for threats, but for anything useful. The System hummed quietly in his vision.
`[Scanning: Marsh Reed - Common Plant]`
`[Scanning: Slickmud - Environmental Hazard]`
`[Scanning: Glowcap Mushroom - Low-Grade Natural Treasure (Minor)]`
`[Potential Talent Points: 0.05]`
He noted the mushroom's location – a small, pale blue fungus glowing faintly on a rotten log. Low value, but it proved the System worked. He didn't pick it yet. No point carrying extra weight.
He needed something small. Weak. Alone. He remembered Wen mentioning Giant Horned Rabbits and Venomous Moss Snakes as common pests near the marsh edges. Rabbits might be fast. Snakes… snakes could be ambush predators. He needed an advantage.
He found a spot near the base of a large, moss-covered rock jutting out of the mud. It offered some solid ground and a bit of cover. This could work. He scooped some mud near the rock, making a small, shallow depression. Then, he sprinkled the crushed Glowmoss around the depression and on the rock itself, hoping its strong smell would cover his own. He placed a few small, bright red berries he'd found nearby in the mud hole – bait. Finally, he found a sturdy, thick reed about as long as his arm and sharpened one end with the rusty knife into a crude point. A spear. A very poor spear.
He settled down behind the rock, pressing himself into the damp moss and mud, becoming part of the landscape. He slowed his breathing, focusing on being utterly still. *Patience. Wait for the right moment. 100% assured.*
Time crawled. The mist thinned as the sun climbed, turning the sky a pale, watery blue. Insects buzzed. Something large splashed far out in the reeds, making his heart jump. He ignored it. Focus on the trap.
He saw movement. A flicker of brown and green near the reeds. Not a rabbit. Too low to the ground. It slithered slowly, cautiously, towards the rock. A snake. Thick-bodied, about as long as his leg, its scales a muddy green that blended perfectly with the reeds. A triangular head lifted, tasting the air with a flickering black tongue. *Venomous Moss Snake.* Low-Level threat. Exactly what he needed.
`[Target: Venomous Moss Snake]`
`[Threat Level: Low-Level Beast]`
`[Estimated EXP Reward: 25-40]`
The snake moved with slow, deliberate grace towards the depression with the berries. It seemed cautious, head weaving slightly. It paused near the crushed Glowmoss, its tongue flickering rapidly. *Is it working? Is the smell confusing it?*
The snake hesitated, then seemed to decide the berries were worth the strange smell. It lowered its head towards the bait.
*Now!*
Su Lin exploded from behind the rock. Not with a yell, but with a silent, focused burst of speed fueled by adrenaline and the desperate need to survive. He'd practiced the clumsy spear thrust a hundred times in his mind. It wasn't elegant. It wasn't skilled. But it was *fast* and aimed with all his strength and the desperate hope of Rule Three.
The sharpened reed spear shot forward. He wasn't aiming for the tough body. He aimed for the base of the skull, just behind the triangular head – a vulnerable spot he remembered from nature documentaries back on Earth.
The crude point struck true. There was a sickening *thunk* as it punched through scale and bone. The snake convulsed violently, a horrible hiss escaping its jaws. Its body thrashed, whipping mud and reeds. Su Lin held onto the reed spear with all his might, leaning his weight into it, pinning the snake down.
The thrashing was strong, frighteningly strong. Mud splattered his face. The snake twisted, its body coiling around the reed, trying to bite at his hands. He saw the flicker of needle-like fangs. One strike, and it could be over. Panic threatened to freeze him.
*No! Focus! Push!*
He threw his whole weight forward, driving the spear deeper into the mud beneath the snake. He stomped hard on the writhing body just behind the head with his sandaled foot, pinning it down. The snake's movements grew weaker, more frantic, then slowed. Its eyes glazed over. Finally, it lay still.
Su Lin stood there, breathing hard, heart pounding like a drum against his ribs. Mud coated his arms, his face, his clothes. His hands trembled slightly on the reed spear. He'd done it. He'd killed something. Deliberately.
A blue rectangle flashed in his vision, momentarily brighter than the morning sun.
`[Target Eliminated: Venomous Moss Snake]`
`[EXP Gained: 35]`
`[New EXP Total: 35]`
Relief, cold and sharp, washed over him, followed by a strange thrill. It worked. The System worked. He had EXP.
He quickly scanned the area. No other movement. No witnesses. He pulled the reed spear free with a wet sucking sound. The snake's body was heavy. He used the knife to carefully cut off the head, burying it deep in the mud away from his spot. He didn't want other snakes drawn by the smell. The body he stuffed into his leather pouch. Wen might find some use for the venom sacs or the tough hide. Waste not.
He checked his crude trap. The berries were gone. The Glowmoss seemed to have worked, at least enough. He scanned the snake body again.
`[Scanning: Venomous Moss Snake Carcass - Low-Level Beast Material]`
`[Potential Uses: Venom Sac (Low-Grade Poison), Hide (Crude Leather)]`
No Talent Points. He hadn't expected any. He needed proper treasures.
He remembered the Glowcap Mushroom. He retrieved it from the rotten log. It felt cool and slightly spongy in his hand.
`[Item Acquired: Glowcap Mushroom - Low-Grade Natural Treasure (Minor)]`
`[Talent Points Gained: 0.05]`
`[New Talent Points: 0.05]`
Minuscule. But it was proof. He could gain Talent Points too. He tucked the mushroom carefully into a fold of his tunic.
He spent another hour moving cautiously through the marsh edge. He found two more Glowcaps (+0.1 TP) and spotted another Moss Snake, but it was too alert, slithering away quickly into thicker reeds before he could set up an ambush. He didn't chase it. Rule Three. He had EXP now. He could afford to wait for a perfect opportunity next time.
The sun was climbing higher, the mist completely gone, replaced by a damp, clinging heat. Time to head back. He needed to process his gains.
He approached the West Gate cautiously. The guards were more awake now, lounging near the entrance. One, a big man with a thick neck, spotted Su Lin covered in mud, the leather pouch bulging slightly.
"Oi! Mudlark!" the guard called out. "Catch anything besides filth?"
Su Lin kept his head down, shrinking into himself. "Just… just a snake, sir. For Elder Wen. For medicine." He held up the pouch slightly.
The guard peered inside, wrinkling his nose at the smell. "Ugh. Moss Snake. Nasty things. Get on with you, then. And wash off before you stink up the whole quarter!" He waved him through dismissively.
Su Lin mumbled thanks and hurried past, the familiar stink of the Moss Quarter almost welcoming after the wild smells of the marsh. He reached the clinic without further incident. Wen was awake, brewing a pot of bitter-smelling tea.
"Su! You're back. And covered in… well, everything." Wen looked concerned. "You went into the marsh? Alone? That's dangerous, lad!"
"Needed air," Su Lin mumbled, avoiding Wen's eyes. He held out the pouch. "Found this. Thought… might be useful?"
Wen took the pouch and peered inside. His eyes widened slightly. "A Moss Snake? Whole one? Su, that's… that's actually quite useful! The venom sac alone can be distilled into a decent painkiller. The hide… tough, but good for patches." He looked at Su Lin with new respect, mixed with worry. "But you shouldn't risk yourself like that! Those snakes are quick and mean."
"Got lucky," Su Lin said simply. "Stumbled on it. Used a big stick." He gestured vaguely.
Wen shook his head, but a small smile touched his lips. "Well, luck or not, it's a good find. Thank you, Su. This will help." He started carefully extracting the venom sacs. "Now go wash up. You smell like the bottom of the marsh."
Su Lin nodded, heading towards the water barrel in the courtyard. As he washed the mud off his arms and face, cold water sluicing over his skin, he finally let himself focus inward.
`[EXP: 35]`
`[Talent Points: 0.15]`
Not much. But it was a start. He had the means to grow. He thought about the spear form and the stance he'd scanned. Which to master first? The spear form cost 30 EXP. The Iron Mountain Stance cost 50 EXP. The stance was body tempering – defense, toughness. Surviving a hit was crucial. But the spear was offense, the ability to kill at a slight distance. Both were vital.
*Defense first,* his cautious mind decided. *Survive the hit, then strike back.* But he only had 35 EXP. Not enough for the stance yet. He needed more kills. More EXP.
He finished washing. As he turned to go back inside, he froze. Three familiar figures were standing at the clinic's front entrance. Broken Nose, the burly thug, and a third man with greasy hair and a cruel smirk. Elder Wen stood in the doorway, looking pale but trying to stand firm.
"…told you yesterday, Wen," Broken Nose was saying, his voice loud and unpleasant. "Seven copper leaves. Rent's due. Plus the two leaf penalty for wasting our time with your useless cripple."
"I… I only have four leaves right now," Wen said, his voice trembling slightly. He held out a small, worn leather pouch. "Take it. Please. I'll have the rest tomorrow. Business has been slow…"
Broken Nose snatched the pouch, weighed it in his hand, and sneered. "Four? That barely covers the penalty! We said seven!" He shoved Wen hard. The old man stumbled back, catching himself on the doorframe. "Tomorrow, old man. Seven leaves. On time. Or we start breaking things. Maybe starting with that useless herb-picker's legs." He glared past Wen, his eyes locking onto Su Lin standing in the courtyard. "Hear that, cripple? Your walking days are numbered."
The three thugs laughed, a harsh, ugly sound, before turning and swaggering back down the muddy street.
Su Lin stood perfectly still, water dripping from his hair. His face showed nothing. No fear. No anger. Just a blank mask. Inside, his mind was cold and clear as ice.
*Target: Stone Serpent Gang (Broken Nose Unit)*
*Threat Level: Low (Body Tempering Realm - Early)*
*Environment: Urban (Clinic, potential witnesses)*
*Current Capability: Insufficient (No mastered technique, minimal stats)*
*Action Required: Immediate EXP acquisition. Mastery of Iron Mountain Stance (Priority).*
Wen slumped against the doorframe, looking defeated and old. "I'm sorry, Su. I'll… I'll figure something out."
Su Lin walked over, his movements slow and deliberate. He picked up the wooden bucket he'd dropped. "Don't worry, Elder Wen," he said, his voice flat and calm. "I'll go back to the marsh tomorrow. Maybe… maybe I'll find something else useful."
He needed more EXP. Much more. And tomorrow, he wouldn't be stumbling upon snakes. He'd be hunting them. The Cautious Sovereign had found his prey, both in the marsh and in the city. And he would prepare.
( End of Chapter )