“Beep. No. The menu isn’t physically in front of you, Tom. It exists only in your mind.”
Status, he thought.
Status Menu:
Name: Tom Riddle / “Liang Shen”
Rank: 0 Acolyte
Mana Coins: 10
HP: 20/20 (Regen: 5/day)
Mana: 20/20 (Regen: 0.1/min)
- STR: 1.0 (≈70 lbs lifting power; affects defense)
- AGI: 1.0 (~15 mph run speed; affects body control)
- VIT: 1.0 (+20 HP) (every point is +20 HP)
- INT: 2.0 (+10 Mana) (every point is +10 mana)
Spells:
- Mana Hand (Lv. 0)
- Cut (Lv. 0)
User Bag / Equipment:
- (4)Gold coins
- (78)Silver coins
- (185)Copper coins
- Basic Acolyte Robes(Chap.1)
- Basic Wooden Wand(Chap.1)
- (x2) Weak Mana Potions(Chap.1)
- (x2) Weak Health Potions(Chap.1)
- Completed Quests:
? Learn Your Second Spell
? Sell Your Shop - Current Quests:
? Find a Place for a Magic Tower(Chap. 1)
- Mana Store: Locked
As Tom stepped away, the storekeeper muttered aloud, though no one else seemed to be around, “Follow him and watch him for a day. If he’s just a mortal, leave him be. If not… You know what to do.”
There was no answer, but the storekeeper nodded as if there had been one and returned to his reading.
Tom made his way to the Jade Flask. The tavern looked the same as the night before, except for the bartender, a younger man with a short beard and tired eyes.
“I’ll take a pitcher of water and a seat upstairs,” Tom said, placing a stack of copper coins on the bar. “Can you bring it to my table?”
“Fifty coppers. It’ll be up in a minute,” the bartender replied.
Soon after, Tom settled into a quiet table tucked in the farthest corner of the second floor. A waitress brought over the water and a plain ceramic cup.
“Thank you, Miss,” he said.
She nodded and left without a word.
Tom took a deep breath and pulled out the first book: Follower of an Immortal.
I should read this one first. If this world has cultivation, I need to be sure. He flipped the cover open and started to read.
It read like a worn travel log from an unnamed traveler on a quest for a mysterious treasure.
“Our group was nearly attacked by strange beasts today. But Master, with his sword, flew out and cut them all down in a flash. We kept running. He said the blood would draw more spirit beasts.
When someone asked what a spirit beast was, Master explained: they’re ordinary creatures transformed by absorbing spiritual qi and forming a beast core—stronger, smarter, and deadlier to mortals.
When asked if he was a cultivator, Master just nodded. I asked what that meant. He said people with ‘spiritual roots’ can absorb spiritual qi using special techniques. Cultivation strengthens the body… and extends life. He claimed to be over eighty but looked thirty. Said he’d reached Foundation Establishment.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The rest of the pages were either torn or soaked in blood.
Tom sat back and let out a slow breath.
If this were Earth, I’d say that bookstore scammed me. But ten silver for info that might save my life? Bargain.
He tapped the cover and opened the second book: A Guide to the Whispering Pine.
So that’s where the name comes from. The trees grow with natural holes that catch the wind. Sounds like whispers. Like the dead are talking.
He flipped ahead until he found the section he needed.
Beasts of the Whispering Pine
Whisper-Tail Squirrel – An elusive rodent whose tail rustles like whispered voices. Harmless, but distracts archers.
“Creepy tree rats that whisper? Yep. Not Earth.”
Stone-Shell Beetle – Armored beetle near rocky roots. Prized by alchemists.
“Rock bug? I dig it.”
Crimson-Wing Cicada – Its cry disrupts meditation. Considered unlucky.
“So... regular cicada, but cursed. Got it.”
Rain-Footed Gecko – A tiny lizard that taps before storms. Used as living weather predictors.
“Little weatherman lizard. Kinda cute.”
Predatory Beasts & Lesser Threats
Duskwolf – Solitary hunter. Glowing eyes. Packs suggest spiritual corruption.
“Classic wolf threat. Add creepy eyes. Check.”
Pine-Spike Boar – Bristled back like pine needles. Charges camps.
“Porcupine boar? No thanks.”
Ash-Pelt Fox – Furs darken with age. Rumored to speak near graves.
“If a fox speaks English, I’m torching the forest.”
Iron-Antler Deer – Territorial with metallic antlers. Avoid.
“Even Bambi’s metal now. Awesome.”
Known Spirit Beasts
Veil Serpent – Nearly invisible in fog. Omen of spirit vein shifts.
“Great. Stealth snake. Because I wasn’t paranoid enough.”
Thunderhoof Elk – Sparks from hooves. Antlers sought by lightning cultivators.
“Electric moose. Terrifying.”
Moon-Crest Owlbear – Cries cause nightmares. Shimmer in moonlight.
“Straight out of a horror game.”
Pine Howler Ape – Mimics speech and laughter. Cunning ambusher.
“Ape that mocks you before killing you? Hate it here.”
Note: Avoid the deeper grooves without proper cultivation, spiritual tools, or protection. Spirit beasts are not to be underestimated.
Tom closed the book, drumming his fingers on the cup.
“Yup… I am so not ready for this forest.”
“Beep, can I talk to Toto without bringing her out?”
“Beep. Yes. Just call her in your mind and talk.”
Toto, can you hear me?
“Loud and clear, Tom. Need something?”
“Yes, it worked. Sorry, just testing. Beep, how do I give her mana to make and hatch a soldier or two?”
Toto: “Just call when you need me. I’ll be resting till then.”
Beep: “Summon her, place your hand on her, and focus. She’s part of your soul—she’ll do the rest.”
“That’s a tomorrow problem. First, supplies.”
Tom wandered the city for a few hours, picking up two sets of robes, a short sword, and a month’s worth of dry rations, costing him 10 copper, then 5 silver for the rest.
Ten minutes later, at the Resting Gourd…
“Hello, Brother Liang Shen! How was your day?”
“It was great, Bao Li. And yours? Is dinner ready?”
“It was good! Bao Mei! Bring Brother Liang Shen some food!”
“Coming, LiLi! For you, Big Brother Liang Shen,” Bao Mei said, setting down a plate.
He smiled and finished his meal. “Good night, you two.”
“Good night, Brother Liang Shen!”
“Good night, Big Brother!” they replied in turn.
Tom locked the door to his room and got into bed, but the uneasy feeling of being watched since leaving the Jade Flask lingered. It gnawed at him.
“I can’t stay here. Not another day.”
He didn’t know what was waiting in the Pines—but he knew he couldn’t stay.
Back at Willow Gate Press, the storekeeper closed his book.
“He’s just a mortal? Bar, shops, inn? Hmph. Just a curious ant who doesn’t know how to spell death.”
He nodded once and walked out of the store.