Chapter 92: System is a...
I waited for hours, watching as the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon ascended to take its place. The Readsack Woodland became eerier under the cover of darkness.
"There's no time limit on the mission slip."
I took out the task slip and reread it from start to finish. Nowhere did it mention a deadline. That meant I could afford to take another day to complete the task without consequence.
From my perch on a sturdy tree branch, I glanced down. To most, this would be the darkest night they had ever experienced, a void of shadows and uncertainty. But for me, it was different—I could see the flow of Qi, faint glimmers that illuminated the world in a way ordinary eyes could not.
I thrived at night. If anything—or anyone—intended to move under the veil of darkness, this would be their time. That was why I remained vigilant.
Having already concealed my presence, I was confident that unless someone was specifically looking for me, they wouldn't be able to detect my hiding spot.
Then, a low growl echoed through the valley.
From the shadows of the cliffs, a Steelspine Wolf emerged, its metallic fur catching the moonlight like tempered steel. I recalled reading about them in the Hidden Dragon Sect Encyclopedia. One fact stood out: these creatures rarely hunted alone.
Instinctively, I held my breath. I was well-hidden, and the wolf didn't seem to have come for me. Yet, I remained still.
Then—snap.
A twig broke somewhere below.
Another wolf appeared. Then a third.
Soon, more wolves stepped into view, forming a loose circle around the first. The Steelspine Wolf stood at the center, its massive paws crushing the fragile herbs scattered beneath it.
Is this some kind of crowning ceremony? I mused inwardly.
One by one, the ordinary-looking wolves approached the Steelspine Wolf. Each engaged in a brief staring contest before lowering their heads and averting their eyes. Submission. A silent acknowledgment of its dominance.
It was their new Alpha.
I only hoped they wouldn't trample any more herbs. If they destroyed everything, I'd have nothing left to collect for the sect tomorrow.
The next morning, I was surprised to find the area completely cleared. Some herbs still remained, untouched.
I wasn't sure what had transpired in the depths of the night. At some point, drowsiness had crept over me, and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.
I stretched and instinctively roamed my hand to my waist belt where I had tied my sack.
Huh?!
Nothing? I thought my hands were playing tricks on me. But when my eyes fell on my waist, I saw that there was really nothing there.
Before I could start to panic, I tried asking it.
System!
I shouted and called out to the system inside me. Only that guy would be able to tell me what had happened and why I had fallen asleep.
[Yes, Host? What happened?]
"Don't you dare act like you know nothing. Tell me what happened when I was asleep?" I no longer used any formal speech with the system—I was that agitated. My sack had many essentials, but the most important thing was the disciple token of the Hidden Dragon Sect.
I wanted to cry out loud, but I wasn't sure if Shadow Sentinel was watching me or not. Though I hadn't seen him since yesterday morning, who knew?
"Shadow Sentinel?" The system went silent, so I could only ask my protector, who might have followed me out of the sect.
Standing on the branch of one of the tallest trees in Readsack Woodland, the morning breeze blew my hair backward. But there was no sign of my guard—the one the Ancestor had assigned to protect me.
Tch—I will have to complain to the Ancestor that this guy is not reliable enough.
I clicked my tongue and jumped down, landing with nimble movement onto the uneven ground. My wrinkled robe fluttered in the wind created by my descent.
[Host, if what you're asking about is where your sack is, then I know.]
My expression brightened—for the second time, this system seemed useful.
"Quick, tell me," I said eagerly.
[The compass feature you used yesterday...]
I had a bad feeling. And it finally came true when the system continued, [Host, because you haven't invested in anyone till now, you have not accumulated the points required to use the basic features of the system. The compass function also works on points, depending on how long the activation duration is. That's why the system had to absorb something from the host.]
A tick mark appeared at the corner of my forehead. Then another.
[As a responsible system, I couldn't absorb the host's clothes or cultivation—that would put the host's life or reputation at risk. So, the system chose the second-best option and absorbed the sack containing essentials to compensate for the use of the compass feature.]
Boom!
I wanted to punch a hole through the system screen, but unfortunately, my hand passed right through it, striking the tree trunk behind it. The impact nearly uprooted the tree, shaking the ground violently. Birds and animals fled in panic—those that disliked disturbances. But the curious ones now knew that someone was here.
Before the leaves from the struck tree could even touch the ground, I vanished and reappeared on another tree, continuing to climb higher.
A deep, reverberating cadence of galloping hooves and clawed paws tore through the silence, growing louder with every heartbeat.
I used whatever the initial stage of the Dao of Silence could offer me to try and conceal my presence to the extreme. Just praying that there aren't any overly powerful beasts among the ones rushing here...
"And why didn't you tell me this before offering to help?!" I hissed, my grinding teeth barely making a sound beyond a few centimeters.
[Host, you never asked.]
"Okay, okay, okay." I said okay three times, wanting to punch myself too. I didn't even know when I had let my guard down.
One more reason to avoid this fraudulent system.
Roar!!!
I looked down and saw that there were already dozens of strange beasts roaming the ground, searching for the cause of the slightly tilted tree.
And judging by their snarling, they were not happy.
The wolves I had seen last night were nowhere to be found.
"And was it also you who caused me to doze off suddenly and wake up only in the morning?" I asked in a hushed voice to the system.
[No.]
The system's response was clear-cut. And strangely, that made me believe it. The system had no reason to lie to me—I couldn't even trace its location with my own body. How could it possibly feel threatened by someone like me, enough to lie?