Shadow Cultivator

Li Yuan sat under a sprawling tree, gazing into the dense foliage through which scattered rays of sunlight pierced. A faint breeze stirred the grass tips, carrying with it the subtle scent of damp earth and wild mint. Around him, the voices of nature created a serene symphony—the rustle of leaves, the soft chirping of unseen birds, and the barely audible shuffle of insects in the grass. Closing his eyes, he tried to feel a connection to the world around him: the warmth of sunlight on his skin, the cool embrace of the wind, and the faint vibrations in the earth as if it breathed in unison with him. Silence surrounded him, but within, a storm raged.

He inhaled deeply, trying to focus as the herbalist had instructed. Closing his eyes, he began to meditate, seeking the hidden energy of the world around him. But instead of harmony, his thoughts kept returning to memories of his past.

The image of his boss reprimanding him for unfinished work flickered before his eyes. Then he recalled the day his manager publicly humiliated him in front of his colleagues over the smallest mistake. That helpless feeling, as though the whole world was against him, lingered in his memory. Another memory surfaced—a quiet evening at an old café where friends he had trusted mocked his ideas, dismissing them before he could explain. He remembered moments from his childhood, when even those closest to him doubted him, labeling him a dreamer without potential. These flashes of the past surged like waves, dragging with them a storm of conflicting emotions. Faces of friends who had abandoned him when he needed them most came to mind. His thoughts spiraled back to his lonely apartment, where evenings were filled with solitary musings. Glimpses of joy from his youth faded into the disappointments of adulthood.

Li Yuan clenched his fists, trying to push the memories aside. "Why me? Why did this happen to me?" The question had haunted him since the moment he was transported to this world.

He exhaled deeply, attempting to return to his meditation. The cool breeze enveloped him, forcing him to focus on the present moment. In the distance, he thought he heard a faint rhythm—like the heartbeat of the earth itself.

Suddenly, a message from the system flashed before his eyes:

You seek answers, but for now, you see only questions.

Li Yuan opened his eyes, his breathing uneven. "More riddles," he thought, staring at the shimmering words before they faded away. The tree he sat under seemed to watch him, its branches intertwining like paths. He reached out to touch the trunk, feeling its rough bark beneath his fingers. "Maybe the system is telling me I'm not ready to understand yet. Or perhaps I'm looking for answers where none exist?"

His meditation was interrupted by a loud noise from the direction of the village. Li Yuan jumped to his feet, alarmed, and hurried toward the square where the shouts originated. Approaching, he saw a gathering of villagers, their anxious voices mingling with the soft sobbing of women.

In the center of the crowd stood a hunter, his clothes torn and chest marked with deep scratches, blood oozing from the wounds. The man was breathing heavily, his hands trembling, and his eyes glimmered with fear. Every word he spoke in a hoarse voice carried tension.

"It attacked so fast I couldn't even see it!" he rasped, leaning on a companion's shoulder. "Red eyes... massive claws... it looked at me like I was prey."

Women gasped, clutching their children, while men exchanged grim looks. The crowd began murmuring among themselves:

"What could it be? An animal?"

"No, it's a spirit. My grandfather told me about it. He said those who met its gaze vanished without a trace."

"That's nonsense," someone shouted. "We can't let fear control us!"

Elder Hou-Zi climbed onto a small platform by the communal hearth, raising a hand to silence the crowd. His stern gaze swept across the villagers.

"This is no mere beast," he began. "We've known it would return sooner or later. This valley spirit is an ancient creature guarding its territory. If we do nothing, it will attack again, and next time it won't just be the hunter."

The crowd buzzed with conversation. Some suggested reinforcing the walls, while others proposed hunting the creature. Hou-Zi sighed, waiting for the noise to subside.

"We cannot sit idly by. At dawn tomorrow, we'll form a scouting party. We need to locate its lair and determine how best to deal with it."

His gaze suddenly fell on Li Yuan, standing on the outskirts of the crowd. For a moment, it felt like time had frozen. The villagers turned their heads, their eyes shifting between the elder and the outsider.

"Stranger," Hou-Zi addressed him, "do you wish to become part of our community? Then prove it. Join the scouting party. Show us that you're worthy of trust."

The crowd murmured. One of the men, broad-shouldered with a stern expression, stepped forward.

"Why should we trust him?" the man said, pointing at Li Yuan. "He's new here. Who knows, maybe he'll bring us even more trouble."

"That's enough, Chang," Hou-Zi interrupted him. "If you're so confident in your abilities, you can take his place."

The man fell silent, glaring at Li Yuan. Some in the crowd murmured in support of the elder's decision, and the tension began to ease.

Li Yuan felt all eyes turn to him. His heart raced. He knew this was an opportunity to draw closer to the villagers and strengthen his connection to this world. But the thought of facing the mysterious creature filled him with dread. The elder's words seemed to wrap around him like a thick, sticky web, pulling him toward the inevitable.

The system's earlier words flashed through his mind: "Only choices determine fate." Li Yuan took a deep breath, feeling a mix of fear and resolve.

"I'm ready," he said firmly, trying to hide the tremor in his voice.

Hou-Zi nodded, and the crowd buzzed with discussion about the outsider's decision. Li Yuan had no way of knowing what awaited him, but one thing was certain: this choice would change everything. As he left, he noticed the hunter, tended to by the herbalist, watching him with weary eyes. The hunter's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something but decided against it. Li Yuan paused for a moment, unsettled by the look.

That night, the village's silence felt ominous. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying their rustling voices. Li Yuan couldn't shake the feeling that something in the shadows was watching him. In the distance, he heard a faint, almost imperceptible howl, a sound that seemed to seep into his very bones. Tomorrow would be a long day.

Sitting by the window of his shelter, he gazed at the starry sky. His thoughts returned to the system's words, which now felt like a warning: "Only choices determine fate." He remembered a moment from his past—how he once ignored his intuition, and it cost him his job. "This time, I can't afford to make a mistake," he thought, closing his eyes. Tomorrow, he would be ready.