The Gashadokuro pursues him with its imposing stature.
The gigantic threat catches up with him inexorably.
However, in an unexpected miracle, the skeleton suddenly stops in its tracks, its empty gaze fixed on the mountain peak with icy intensity. A piercing scream echoes once more.
Shoi-Ming takes advantage of this moment of respite to desperately fight his way through the bamboo forest and lose the creature.
Finally, after a frantic run, he manages to reach the boundaries of the Ethereal Clouds Sect, breathless and exhausted. With one last effort, he crosses the threshold of the sect.
[ You are entering: Peak of the Ethereal Clouds Sect - safe zone ]
Arriving on the scene, trembling and panting, he feels his legs give way as the adrenaline rush finally subsides. He is soon surrounded by young members of the sect who help him up and check on his condition.
Here, he is safe, even though he didn't want to come back.
Zi Xuan will certainly be inquiring about his condition soon.
Still panting, he swallows before speaking in a voice that is more tremulous than he would have liked, the words mostly stuck in his throat:
"A gashadokuro... escaped... the ritual failed... the villagers are in danger... we... we must seal it away again. The bamboo forest, it's... it's over there."
His throat is on fire, he has trouble speaking and has to swallow his saliva every time he wants to speak again, it's so unpleasant. His heart hurts from beating so fast, his cheeks are red from the effort, yet he feels so pale, having seen death so closely.
He just wants to curl up into a ball, he's just a useless NPC—even blind mice have better stats than him. A normal human shouldn't have to deal with this kind of situation. Trying to get up, he nods slightly to thank them for their help, but he doesn't forget that he has to leave.
"Don't... don't worry about me, warn Zi Xuan shixiong as soon as possible, I... I'll warn the villagers to evacuate until the problem is resolved."
Yes, and above all, flee quickly with them. Well done Shoi-Ming, a very good excuse to let him leave haha, you're such a genius!
His words provoke a strong reaction among those around him, but before he can take further action, Jun Hie arrives, looking ironically impressed by his feat. He praises Shoi-Ming's courage for confronting the monster during his 'days of disappearance' and tells him that he needed to talk to him.
"Oh no, you can't go back to that village in this condition—the monster might catch you and devour you. You've already done so much. I'll take over and shixiong will be notified. Don't worry, you can rest from now on."
Jun Hie picks him up and drags him back to the pavilion, recognizing that it might be better this way—away from danger.
"He also has something to tell you... but it might be better if you see him yourself."
Let Jun Hie take care of it? No way! He might turn it into a pet and use it to attack other sects, or even their own. Oh no, no, no! His face says, 'I plan to backstab you at the first opportunity.' He's not going to give him that opportunity, is he?
The problem is that he already almost died, and opposing him too much would be considered OOC. He's supposed to be Shoi-Ming's best friend. But he's supposed to be the right-hand man, and he has to sit back while someone lower in the hierarchy does the work? Shoi-Ming grabs his sleeve and opens his mouth slightly.
"It's dangerous, be careful...warn the villagers first. I haven't even been able to take care of these disappearances for them. We'll go together and deal with this creature."
He's not worried about Jun Hie, he's more concerned about the villagers.
In this kind of story, those at the top don't care about those at the bottom, they're just bumps in the road, this man might even say 'they shouldn't have been in the way.'
However, Jun Hie interrupts him with firmness disguised as kindness. He insists that he must not return to the village in his current state, fearing that the monster will catch up with him and put him in danger once again. Jun Hie's words, though tinged with a certain concern, leave a bitter taste. He strips him of his role and responsibility, relegating him to rest while he takes the reins of action.
As soon as they arrive at the pavilion, they don't have to wait long before Zi Xuan suddenly appears, having been informed of the situation. The sect master rushes towards him, grabbing his hand to check his condition and the proper circulation of his Qi. He sighs, reassured, and stares at Shoi-Ming with a mixture of concern and relief.
"Shoi-Ming, you're back... I feared the worst when I heard about your sudden departure." He briefly squeezes his hand, as if to reassure himself of his physical reality after the trials he has endured.
"We were all worried about you. Your disappearance caused quite a stir among us," He paused, then, after a brief moment of silence, he added in a firmer voice, "But now that you're back, it's time we had a serious talk about your future here. You've shown exceptional courage and determination in your quest to help the villagers, but it's also my duty to ensure your safety and well-being."
He inhaled, his thoughts weighing heavily on his shoulders like a burden.
"I have decided to grant you some well-deserved rest and temporarily remove you from field missions. You will remain here, under my supervision, until you are fully recovered. We need you in top form, Shoi-Ming."
The word "future" makes him grimace.
He wanted to leave the sect, but now he's the one who's going to get kicked out.
He should be happy and jumping for joy, fully embracing his role as an NPC, but it hurts, as if he'd been slapped hard across the face. He tried to make himself more important than he is, to train himself.
What would Shoi-Ming think? Something tells him, from the little he has learned about him, that he would be bitter, that it would be a way of bringing him back down to earth and reminding him that he is just an ordinary guy who will never be able to escape the environment he comes from.
With a blank stare, he simply listens, a taste of disappointment lingering in his mouth. He is not disappointed in his master's decision or even in Jun Hie—but deeply disappointed in himself.
In this world, there are people with talent and those for whom, no matter how hard they try, nothing will change their status as incompetent. When you rub shoulders with exceptional people, you realize this, and it hurts. Is Shoi-Ming just a masochist, or does it not affect him to be an impostor?
Rest.
It's the equivalent of being benched, it's the first step before finding a replacement. Obviously, we're not going to tell him until everything has been properly organized, but it's as good as done.
Come on, let's keep up appearances, let's remain dignified, at least until the end, so that we can at least maintain the image of a man who doesn't see the problem, who has nothing to reproach himself for.
Looking up to meet his gaze, he realizes that there's no point in objecting. Fine.
"Because I'm too weak," mumble Shoi-Ming.
He'd rather hear it from himself than from him or anyone else.
He knows it, it's no big deal, but he doesn't see how being in shape would change anything. Stop beating around the bush, damn it! Gritting his teeth, he feels like he's going to explode with anger. He knows he's useless. It's not his fault the GM is stingy and wants to make his life miserable!
Zi Xuan stares at him with compassionate intensity, though his voice is calm and resolute.
"No, it's not because you're too weak. It's because I trust you. You've accomplished remarkable things despite the challenges you've faced." His gaze expresses deep sincerity as he continues.
"I have seen your potential, even in the darkest moments. You are far from being a useless man. You have an inner strength and resilience that few people possess."
Then, turning to the young people waiting outside, he motions for them to come in. One disciple is carrying a child on his back.
"That is why this child will now be your shidi, under your tutelage."
The child is strikingly young, almost too young to join a sect. He is dressed in modest clothes, his jet-black hair framing a face with innocent features, but marked by a certain shyness.
His gaze, although curious, betrays a hint of nervousness, as if he were overwhelmed by the situation that has just presented itself to him.
Suddenly :
[ Congratulations! You have just completed the tutorial quest! +200 S-Points! ]
What?! It's true that the monster is part of a side quest, but—what's that light behind the GM's screen?
Three sparkling golden question marks appear above the child's head. These shining symbols can only mean one thing...
The young boy is now designated as the protagonist.