The Morning Anomaly
Lin Yuan awoke to sunlight piercing through the gaps in the wooden window shutters. A crisp system notification chime echoed in his consciousness as a pale blue interface materialized before his eyes:
[Daily Missions Updated]
◆ Morning Training (0/1)
◆ Village Exploration (0/3 Key Locations)
◆ Spar with Eileen (Optional)
▷ Reward: 50 EXP + Random Item×1
"The system really is punctual," Lin Yuan muttered while massaging his temples. The fatigue from last night's wolf battle still lingered in his muscles. His status bar now displayed a new debuff icon:
[Minor Bone Fracture]
Remaining Duration: 4h 28m
Effect: STR -2
Source: Rock-Armored Demon Bear Claw Attack
"No wonder my whole body aches..." Lin Yuan whispered to himself as he reached for the coarse linen shirt Eileen had lent him. Though rough against his skin, it provided far more warmth than his tattered T-shirt.
#### Village Morning Scenery
When he pushed open the creaky wooden door, the sight before him stole his breath away.
Breeze Village was waking under the golden morning light. Wisps of smoke curled upward from stone chimneys across the settlement. The cobblestone pathways were already alive with activity - women in homespun dresses carried woven baskets toward the central marketplace, their cheerful chatter filling the crisp morning air.
"Done daydreaming?" Eileen's voice came from behind. She wore fitted brown leather armor today, her signature dagger at her waist, holding two steaming wooden bowls.
Lin Yuan accepted the offered bowl. The oatmeal inside looked ordinary but released an enticing herbal aroma. When he took his first spoonful, his eyes widened at the unexpectedly rich flavor - a perfect balance of sweetness and earthy tones. Just then, the system flashed a notification:
[Consumed Basic Recovery Food]
Effect: Stamina Recovery Rate +15%
Detected Special Ingredient: Moonlight Grass (★Rarity)
Side Effects: None
"Cough...cough..." Lin Yuan choked on his food, caught off guard by the sudden alert.
Eileen's sharp gaze immediately locked onto him, her fingers unconsciously brushing the hilt of her dagger. "Something wrong? Doesn't suit your taste?"
"No, it's delicious...I just ate too fast," Lin Yuan hurried to explain while remaining wary. He couldn't shake the feeling that Eileen noticed something unusual.
#### Stroll Through the Village
After breakfast, they followed the main path toward the village center. Breeze Village was larger than Lin Yuan expected - a harmonious mix of wooden and stone houses nestled into the landscape, interspersed with vegetable gardens and fruit trees. Children playing along the roadside stopped to bow respectfully when they spotted Eileen.
"They seem afraid of you?" Lin Yuan asked curiously.
A faint smile touched Eileen's lips. "Respect, not fear. I'm the village guard captain. These brats are my trainees."
As they rounded a bend, the village square opened before them - a spacious area paved with smooth bluestone. To the east stood a well where women drew water, while the western side hosted a bustling morning market with over a dozen stalls displaying farm produce and handicrafts.
"Market day is Wednesday," Eileen explained. "Farmers from nearby settlements come to trade."
Lin Yuan studied the stalls with interest. An elderly woman sold bundles of dried herbs, while her neighbor displayed vibrantly glazed pottery. Further down, the rhythmic clang of hammer on anvil announced the blacksmith's workshop, its forge glowing red-hot.
[Key Location Discovered: Breeze Village Marketplace]
Exploration Progress: 1/3
The system's prompt energized Lin Yuan. He was about to move closer when Eileen's firm grip on his arm stopped him.
"Old Charlie first," she said in a tone that brooked no argument. "The market isn't going anywhere."
#### The Mysterious Elder
Old Charlie's residence was a stone cottage in the village's western quarter, its walls darkened with age and nearly hidden beneath thick ivy. The bronze door knocker took the form of a wolf's head with ruby-eyed gaze that seemed to follow them.
Eileen knocked using a specific pattern - three long raps followed by two short ones. After a moment, a gravelly voice responded: "Enter."
The interior defied logic - though bright sunlight streamed through the windows outside, the room swallowed illumination whole, leaving only dim shadows. Lin Yuan's system suddenly issued a warning:
[Warning! High-Level Magic Barrier Detected]
Threat Level: B
Recommendation: Remain Alert
"Don't be nervous, boy." A rocking chair creaked in the darkness as a white-haired figure gradually became visible. The elder's face was a roadmap of wrinkles, but his eyes - especially the right one, clouded nearly opaque - gleamed with unsettling intensity.
When Old Charlie's gaze landed on Lin Yuan, the system interface flickered violently as if experiencing interference.
"Interesting..." The elder moved with surprising speed for his age, his gnarled fingers seizing Lin Yuan's wrist. "Your soul carries... an unusual scent."
An icy sensation spread from the contact point as the system flooded Lin Yuan's vision with red alerts:
[Critical Warning: Legendary-Tier Detection Spell]
[Emergency Defense Protocol Activated]
[Consumed: Low-Grade Magic Core×1]
Old Charlie suddenly released him, confusion flashing across his weathered features. "Strange... it was just..."
"He's a traveler I rescued in the woods," Eileen interjected, positioning herself between them. "Needs temporary residency."
The elder's milky eye narrowed. He retrieved a crystal ball from his desk and passed his hand over its surface. Images formed within - Lin Yuan battling the demon wolf. When the playback reached his level-up moment, the crystal emitted an audible crack, a hairline fracture appearing across its surface.
The silence that followed was absolute.
"Return tomorrow at this time," Old Charlie finally said, tossing a copper badge toward Lin Yuan. "Now get out, and take your secrets with you."
#### Market Discoveries
Emerging into sunlight, Lin Yuan exhaled heavily. The noonday warmth quickly dispelled the chill from the elder's dwelling.
"Don't take it personally," Eileen offered uncharacteristically. "He's like that with everyone. Let's get some food."
The village square had transformed into a lively marketplace. The air buzzed with merchants hawking wares, housewives bargaining fiercely, and children weaving through the crowd. Lin Yuan's system chose that moment to display new options:
[New Skills Available]
• Basic Potion Making (Requires Instructor)
• Trap Construction (Learn from Eileen)
• Esoteric Knowledge (Access Elder's Library)
"Here." Eileen returned from a stall with two skewers of sizzling meat. "Try this - local rock-goat with mountain spices."
The first bite sent fireworks across Lin Yuan's tongue - perfectly charred exterior giving way to juicy tenderness, with an intriguing numbing aftertaste from the seasoning. He was halfway through devouring it when he noticed Eileen's amused expression.
"Slow down. It's not running away," she said, offering a leather waterskin. "Drink some honeyed water."
As Lin Yuan tilted his head back to drink, Eileen suddenly drew a plain iron sword from her belt and tossed it toward him. "Catch!"
The moment his fingers closed around the hilt, a strange warmth surged through his veins, channeling into the blade. Azure patterns flickered across the metal like living things before vanishing.
[Hidden Mechanism Triggered!]
✦ Blood Pact Enchantment Activated
▷ +5 Ice Damage
▷ Duration: 30 minutes
Eileen's hand flew to her dagger, her eyes wide with recognition. "That's the Augustus imperial family's..."
A piercing alarm bell shattered the moment.
#### Sudden Crisis
"Monster wave! From the northern woods!"
Chaos erupted. Stalls overturned as vendors scrambled to secure their goods. Mothers called frantically for children. The entire marketplace became a swirling mass of panicked villagers fleeing southward.
Lin Yuan followed Eileen at a sprint toward the palisade walls. From the watchtower, the sight stole his breath - the northern horizon had become a living, churning mass of creatures. Steel-tusked boars formed the vanguard, their razor-sharp tusks glinting maliciously. Among them moved shadowy wolf-like shapes and hulking reptilian forms. And at the very rear...
[??? Lv8 (Elite)]
HP: ???
ATK: ???
SKILLS: ???
WARNING: EXTREME DANGER
"That's no ordinary beast tide," Eileen breathed, her face pale. "That's the mate of yesterday's demon bear. But it shouldn't be this close to civilization... and it definitely shouldn't be leading an organized attack."
Old Charlie materialized beside them as if by magic. His gnarled hands moved through complex gestures while he chanted in an ancient tongue. With a final thunderous slam of his amethyst-topped staff against the ramparts, a translucent violet dome shimmered into existence around the entire village.
The first wave of boars crashed against the barrier with earth-shaking force. The magical shield held, but visible ripples spread across its surface.
"Boy." The elder thrust his staff into Lin Yuan's unprepared hands. "You attracted this trouble. You deal with it."
[Emergency Quest Triggered!]
Mission: Defend Breeze Village
Success Condition: Survive Until Dawn
Special Reward: Hidden Class Unlock Based on Contribution
WARNING: REAL DEATH MODE ACTIVATED
A bone-deep chill ran through Lin Yuan as the system delivered its final horrifying alert:
[Death Mark Detected]
Note: Fatal damage in this quest will result in permanent death
Below the walls, the purple barrier began developing spiderweb cracks. From the distant tree line, twin crimson lights ignited - unblinking eyes fixed unerringly on Lin Yuan's position...