The morning sun painted the Moss Quarter in pale, watery light, but it couldn't pierce the cold knot in Su Lin's stomach. Broken Nose's threat echoed in his mind – *"Your walking days are numbered."* It wasn't just a threat; it was a deadline. Elder Wen's defeated slump against the doorframe was a stark reminder of the cost of weakness in this world.
Su Lin moved quietly around the clinic. He washed his face with cold water from the barrel, the chill sharpening his focus. He checked the small, rusty knife, testing its edge. It was still dull. He found a worn leather strap and tied the knife securely to a thicker, sturdier reed he'd selected yesterday – a slightly better spear than the last one. Not great, but an improvement.
Wen watched him, worry etched deep in his eyes. "Su… you don't have to go back out there. Especially not for… for *them*. I'll find the coins somehow." His voice was thin, lacking conviction.
Su Lin finished securing the knife. He looked at Wen, his expression carefully blank, hiding the cold calculation beneath. "Need the air," he repeated his excuse, his voice flat. "And maybe find more herbs. Useful ones." He didn't mention the snake carcass Wen was carefully processing, its venom sacs already yielding a few precious drops of milky fluid. Useful indeed. Proof that killing brought resources. Resources meant survival. Survival meant power.
He scooped another handful of the pungent Glowmoss powder into a small scrap of cloth, tying it shut. He also grabbed a few strips of dried, tough meat Wen kept for lean times – potential bait. He needed bigger prey today. More EXP. The Iron Mountain Stance cost 50 EXP. He had 35. He needed at least 15 more. Preferably more. He wouldn't stop at just one kill.
`[EXP: 35]`
`[Talent Points: 0.15]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (0.15 / 10)]`
The numbers were clear. The path was clear. Kill. Gain EXP. Master defense. Then, deal with the Serpents. Deniably.
He slipped out the back door, ignoring Wen's soft sigh. The air outside was cool and damp, the familiar stink of the quarter already rising. He headed straight for the West Gate, keeping his now-familiar shuffle, head down. The same bored guard waved him through with a grunt. "Back by sundown, mudlark. Don't get eaten."
The Whispering Marsh greeted him with its chorus of croaks, buzzes, and distant splashes. The mist was thinner today, burned off faster by the climbing sun. Su Lin moved with more purpose than yesterday. He knew the terrain slightly better now. He avoided the slick patches near the rock where he'd killed the snake, heading slightly deeper, towards an area where the reeds gave way to thicker, gnarled bushes and slightly drier ground. Wen had mentioned Giant Horned Rabbits preferred these edges.
He found a spot near a cluster of thorny bushes. The ground was firmer here, less muddy. He dug another shallow depression, placed a strip of the dried meat inside, and liberally sprinkled the Glowmoss powder around it and on the nearby bushes. He positioned himself downwind, behind a thick bush, his crude reed spear held ready. He slowed his breathing, becoming part of the landscape. *Patience. Perfect moment. 100% assured.*
Time passed. Flies buzzed around the bait. A large, iridescent beetle crawled near the depression, then scuttled away. Su Lin remained still, his muscles starting to ache from the tense position. *Patience.*
Then, a rustle. Not a slither. A soft thumping. He saw movement through the reeds – a flash of brown fur, large and moving quickly. A Giant Horned Rabbit. It was bigger than he expected, easily the size of a large dog back on Earth. Powerful hind legs, thick fur, and two short, sharp-looking horns protruding from its forehead. Its nose twitched constantly as it hopped cautiously towards the drier ground.
`[Target: Giant Horned Rabbit]`
`[Threat Level: Low-Level Beast]`
`[Estimated EXP Reward: 30-50]`
Perfect. More EXP than the snake. Still Low-Level. Still manageable. *If* he got the ambush right.
The rabbit approached the bait spot cautiously. Its nose wrinkled at the strong Glowmoss smell. It hesitated, big ears swiveling, black eyes scanning the bushes. Su Lin held his breath, pressing himself flatter against the ground. *Wait… wait…*
The rabbit's hunger seemed to win out. It took another hop forward, lowering its head towards the dried meat in the depression. Its powerful hind legs were coiled, ready to bolt at the slightest sound.
*Now!*
Su Lin lunged from behind the bush, not straight at the rabbit, but slightly to the side, anticipating its likely escape route. He drove the sharpened reed spear forward with all his strength, aiming not for the thick body, but for the vulnerable spot just behind the shoulder, hoping to pierce deep towards vital organs.
The rabbit reacted with terrifying speed. It didn't bolt straight away. It *kicked* off with those powerful legs, twisting mid-air like a furry acrobat. Su Lin's spear, aimed for the kill zone, scraped along the rabbit's tough flank, drawing a deep gash but not a killing blow.
*"SQUEEEE!"* The rabbit shrieked, a surprisingly loud, panicked sound. It landed awkwardly, stumbled, then bolted straight away from Su Lin, deeper into the bushes.
Panic flared in Su Lin's chest. *No! It's getting away! Noise!* The shriek could attract other things. He couldn't let it escape wounded. It might lead predators back, or worse, survive and be wary next time. He had to finish it. *Rule Three: Victory must be assured. This isn't assured yet!*
He scrambled after it, crashing through the thorny bushes, ignoring the scratches on his arms and face. The rabbit was fast, but it was bleeding, leaving a dark trail on the leaves. Su Lin pushed himself, fueled by adrenaline and the desperate need for those EXP. He saw the rabbit ahead, slowing slightly, favouring its wounded side.
He closed the gap. The rabbit tried to dart left. Su Lin anticipated, cutting it off. He thrust the spear again, not a killing blow, but a hard jab to the rabbit's hindquarters. It stumbled, squealing again. Su Lin was on it instantly. He dropped the spear, threw himself onto the thrashing animal, pinning it down with his weight. It kicked wildly, sharp claws raking his forearm, drawing blood. He ignored the sting, grabbing the rabbit's head with both hands. He wrenched it sharply to the side.
A sickening *crack* echoed in the small clearing.
The rabbit went limp.
Su Lin lay there for a moment, panting heavily, the hot, coppery smell of blood filling his nostrils. His forearm stung where the claws had raked him. Thorns pricked his skin. But he'd done it. Messy. Loud. Not the clean ambush he'd planned. But done.
`[Target Eliminated: Giant Horned Rabbit]`
`[EXP Gained: 42]`
`[New EXP Total: 77]`
Seventy-seven. Relief washed over him, stronger this time. *Enough.* More than enough for the Stance. He quickly scanned the rabbit carcass – no Talent Points, as expected. He dragged the heavy body back towards his initial hiding spot. He needed to get out of here. The noise and blood could attract trouble.
He quickly buried the head and entrails deep, covering the spot with mud and leaves. He stuffed the large carcass into his leather pouch. It was heavy, awkward. Wen would be shocked, but rabbit meat was good eating, and the hide was useful. He grabbed his spear and scanned the area one last time. No movement yet. Time to go.
He moved quickly but cautiously back towards the city. The guards at the West Gate raised eyebrows at the huge, bloodstained pouch.
"Got lucky again, mudlark?" the thick-necked guard grunted. "Rabbit? Big one. Watch out the Stone Serpents don't decide *you're* the easy coin today." He laughed harshly.
Su Lin just ducked his head and mumbled, "For Elder Wen," hurrying past before more questions could be asked. The guard's words were a grim reminder. Time was running out.
Back at the clinic, Wen's eyes nearly popped out of his head when Su Lin dumped the large rabbit carcass on the worktable. "By the Azure Skies, Su! A Giant Horner? How in the…?"
"Stuck it with the spear," Su Lin said shortly, already heading for the water barrel. "It charged me. Got lucky." He washed the blood and mud from his hands and arms, wincing slightly as the water hit the scratches. The claw marks on his forearm were shallow but stung.
Wen bustled over, his worry momentarily replaced by practical energy. "Charged you? Dangerous beasts, those Horners! Lucky indeed! This… this is a feast! Meat for days! The hide… good leather!" He started examining the carcass with professional interest. "You're hurt! Let me see." He noticed the scratches.
"Thorns," Su Lin lied, pulling his arm away slightly. "I'm fine." He needed privacy. He needed the System. "Tired. Need to rest."
Wen looked at him, concern warring with the practical joy of the unexpected bounty. "Alright, Su. Rest. You've earned it. And… thank you. This helps. More than you know." He turned back to the rabbit, already pulling out his skinning knife.
Su Lin retreated to his small pallet in the corner. He pulled the thin curtain Wen had rigged for privacy. He sat down, cross-legged, his back against the rough wall. He closed his eyes, focusing inward. The System interface sprang to life.
`[EXP: 77]`
`[Talent Points: 0.15]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (0.15 / 10)]`
`[Techniques Scanned: Iron Mountain Stance (Low-Grade Body Tempering - Incomplete)]`
`[EXP Cost for Instant Mastery: 50]`
Seventy-seven EXP. More than enough. *Defense first.* He focused on the Iron Mountain Stance entry in the System. He willed it. *Master.*
**[EXP Deducted: 50]**
**[New EXP Total: 27]**
**[Mastering Technique: Iron Mountain Stance (Low-Grade Body Tempering)]**
**[Completion: 100%]**
**[Mastery Level: Perfection]**
It hit him like a physical wave. Knowledge flooded his mind – not just the movements he'd seen the guard perform, but the *entire* technique, complete, perfected. The subtle shifts of weight. The precise tension in every muscle, from his toes to his neck. The way to channel his breath, his focus, to make his body not just hard, but *dense*, rooted, immovable like iron, unyielding like a mountain. It felt as natural as breathing, yet profoundly powerful. He *understood* it, bone-deep.
He opened his eyes. He didn't move, but he felt different. Stronger. Firmer. The slight ache from the morning's exertions faded. He flexed his hand. The muscles felt tighter, more coordinated. He touched his forearm where the rabbit had scratched him. The skin felt tougher, more resilient.
**[Technique: Iron Mountain Stance (Perfection)]**
**[Effect: Lv1 Damage Reduction, Lv1 Impact Resistance, Lv1 Rooted Stability]**
He had a defense. A real one. Against clubs. Against shoves. Maybe even against a clumsy knife thrust. But he needed more. He needed Talent Points to boost his core attributes. He remembered the Glowcaps from yesterday. He pulled them out of the fold in his tunic where he'd kept them safe. Three small, faintly glowing mushrooms.
`[Item: Glowcap Mushroom x3]`
`[Talent Points Gained: 0.15 (0.05 each)]`
`[New Talent Points: 0.3]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (0.3 / 10)]`
Still pitifully low. He needed treasures. Real ones. But for now… he had the Stance. And 27 EXP left. He thought about the spear form. 30 EXP for mastery. Almost there. One more small kill tomorrow, perhaps.
He heard voices outside the curtain. Harsh, familiar voices.
"…told you, old man. Seven leaves. Where are they?"
Su Lin's blood ran cold. Broken Nose. Already. He hadn't expected them back so soon. Wen stammered a reply, his voice tight with fear. "I… I only have the four still! The rabbit… Su just brought it. I haven't had time to sell anything…"
"Rabbit?" Broken Nose's voice held a nasty edge of interest. "Big one, eh? Smelled it from the street. Well, well. Looks like you found a way to pay after all. We'll take the rabbit. Consider it partial payment. Still owe us seven leaves by tomorrow. And the rabbit better be whole and unspoiled, or the cripple pays."
Su Lin heard the sound of the rabbit carcass being dragged off the table. Wen made a small, choked sound of protest but didn't dare stop them.
"Remember, Wen," Broken Nose's voice was close now, right outside the curtain. Su Lin could smell his sour breath. "Tomorrow. Seven leaves. Or your herb-picker learns to crawl." The curtain twitched slightly as if someone had poked it.
Then, footsteps receded, accompanied by the thump of the heavy rabbit carcass being carried away and the low laughter of the thugs.
Su Lin sat perfectly still behind the curtain. His face was a mask of stone. Inside, the cold fury was a living thing, sharp and focused. They'd taken the rabbit. The food. The resource *he* had risked himself for. They'd threatened him again. Directly.
`[EXP: 27]`
`[Talent Points: 0.3]`
`[Talent Level: 1 (0.3 / 10)]`
`[Technique: Iron Mountain Stance (Perfection) - Lv1 Damage Reduction, Lv1 Impact Resistance, Lv1 Rooted Stability]`
He had the Stance. He had a plan forming. He needed three more EXP. Just three. Tomorrow morning, before the Serpents came back, he'd get it. He'd master the spear. And then… then he would be ready. Not to charge in. Not to fight fair. But to act. When victory was 100% assured. Deniably.
He listened to Wen's quiet, despairing sobs from the other side of the curtain. The cold knot in Su Lin's stomach hardened into iron. The Stone Serpents had just made themselves more than an annoyance. They'd made themselves the next target on the path of the Cautious Sovereign. And Su Lin never missed his target.
( End of Chapter )