C5 A Hypocrite Gentleman
He immersed his consciousness deep within his body, attempting to sense the inner aura.
Indeed, Lin Yuan detected a mere hair-sized wisp of aura within him.
It took several tries before he managed to exert a tentative control over it. Following the pathways outlined by the Golden Body Technique, he began to circulate the energy.
With the Golden Body Technique in motion, a wave of warmth flooded Lin Yuan's body.
Yet, before he could fully savor the sensation, the aura vanished without a trace.
Lin Yuan was taken aback as he quickly pinpointed the issue.
The hair-thin strand of aura within him had dissipated.
In just a fleeting moment, his physical form had completely absorbed the aura!
An intense hunger panged through him.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel disheartened.
He had only just consumed three demon beasts, and now he was ravenous again!
Distracted for a brief moment, Lin Yuan's consciousness abruptly withdrew from that realm.
When he next opened his eyes, he found himself back atop the treetops.
What puzzled Lin Yuan was the timing.
He had been reviewing the martial arts technique at sunset, yet now the sun was climbing the sky once more.
"Could it be that a whole night has passed in that brief interval?" he wondered, alarmed.
Lin Yuan was astounded. He didn't understand the nature of the space where he had accessed the technique, but it was clear it wasn't meant for ordinary encounters.
Driven by the gnawing hunger, Lin Yuan abandoned his quest for answers and instead contemplated what he could eat to satisfy his appetite.
He certainly couldn't afford to die of starvation just as he was beginning his journey in cultivation. That would be the ultimate injustice!
Scanning his surroundings, he noted that despite the passage of a night, no dangers had emerged nearby.
Even now, there were no signs of demon beasts or other creatures, thwarting Lin Yuan's plans for an easy hunt.
After a moment's hesitation, he finally made his decision. He swiftly descended the tree and, with the rising sun at his back, stealthily made his escape through the underbrush.
A careful observer would have noticed that Lin Yuan was not only now over five feet tall but also bore a faint golden line on his back. Without the sun's glare, that subtle mark might have gone completely unnoticed.
Lin Yuan continued to roam the Demon Beast Forest.
After crawling for several hundred meters, Lin Yuan at last spotted a new target!
There before him was a red-eyed grey rabbit, a full two feet tall, nestled in a thicket, contentedly nibbling on blades of grass.
Yet, despite its seemingly innocuous appearance, Lin Yuan maintained his guard.
The system had alerted him that this was no ordinary rabbit, but a bona fide level one demon beast!
Staying low, Lin Yuan crept closer to the unsuspecting rabbit.
But then!
Just as Lin Yuan closed in to about three meters, the rabbit abruptly lifted its head, scanning its surroundings.
In an instant, it bounded away, vanishing after a few leaps, leaving no trace behind.
"Damn it, there goes my breakfast!"
Lin Yuan inwardly raged, frustration welling up as he fought back tears of disappointment.
He had been so close to executing a perfect ambush!
"How did it detect me?" Lin Yuan pondered, searching for a misstep.
But it wasn't long before he realized the fault wasn't his.
The system's alert chimed once more!
"Two level 1 wild monsters are rapidly approaching from 1,000 meters out!"
"Wild monsters?"
Lin Yuan paused, taken aback. This was his first encounter with "wild monsters" as described by the system.
Unfamiliar with these creatures and unwilling to take any chances, Lin Yuan swiftly scaled the nearest large tree, concealing himself amid the foliage.
From this vantage point, his view was unobstructed.
As the figures drew nearer, Lin Yuan's eyes widened in realization. The system's "wild monsters" were actually humans!
Two individuals, clad in traditional garb, very much alive!
Truth be told, since arriving in this world, Lin Yuan hadn't yet seen another living soul, and his excitement was palpable. He nearly lost control and dashed out to greet them.
But common sense prevailed; Lin Yuan knew that in his current state, a hasty approach would likely end with him being cooked for their meal. So, he held back, continuing his observation.
This was his first encounter with inhabitants of this world, and he intended to learn as much as possible.
A young man and woman emerged, both bearing the marks of a recent skirmish. They had apparently just fled from the depths of the Demon Beast Forest. While both were injured, the young man's wounds were notably less severe.
The pair moved cautiously, ever alert to the dangers that surrounded them.
At last, they reached the large tree where Lin Yuan was hiding. Gasping for breath, the young man said, "Let's take a break here. We're on the outskirts of the Demon Beast Forest now. The creatures inside probably won't follow us out here. We should be safe for the moment!"
"Okay!"
His cousin agreed, settling herself against the tree.
But in that instant, everything changed.
As the woman let down her guard, her cousin launched a sudden attack on her!
She tensed up, frozen in place, unable to move at all.
"Cousin, what are you doing? Why have you sealed my acupoints?"
Her voice was laced with panic as she tried to struggle, but it was too late.
Seeing her immobilized, the young man sneered, "Did you know I've desired you for quite some time? And that century-old purple ginseng? It's only enough for one person's breakthrough, and there are two of us. The family head favors you, so if we return, the ginseng would surely be yours. I had no choice but to act!"
"Just take the purple ginseng and let me go. I promise I won't hold it against you!" she pleaded in desperation.
"Too bad, it's already too late. Do you really think I'd let you go now?" He laughed darkly, reaching for the front of her clothing.
Lin Yuan inwardly seethed, "This man is utterly corrupt, driven by greed for the purple ginseng and lustful intent!" He was appalled by the depravity of the people in this world.
