Chapter 5: Danger in the Darkness

Lin Weifeng, player number 953. Before entering the game, he had attended a martial arts school, learned a few forms of hand-to-hand combat, and practiced swordsmanship. He had been in fights, spent time in detention, and possessed a ruthless streak. Today, while searching for supply crates, he was fortunate enough to open one containing a common-quality longsword. This success inflated his confidence; he killed two rabbits and even located their den. Barring any surprises, he wouldn't have to worry about food for the next few days. However, he hadn't found a cooking pot and didn't know how to start a fire, and the thought of eating raw rabbit meat made him shudder.

When night fell and he heard the roaring of beasts, he was not afraid but rather excited. Since this was a game, surely killing beasts would yield drops? Perhaps one of them would be the pot he needed? Therefore, while other players stayed safely inside their cabins, he insisted on venturing out to make his mark. Lin Weifeng wasn't stupid; he emptied his backpack, took his sword, and prepared for a big haul.

But the moment he stepped out of the cabin, he realized—it was dark. It was pitch black. The temperature was drastically lower than during the day, and in his thin sportswear, he felt a biting chill. Regret set in immediately. But then he remembered the boastful claims he had already posted in the chat channel; if he turned back now, wouldn't he be the laughingstock of everyone? Saving face was more important than anything! With that thought in mind, he zipped his jacket to the top, hunched his shoulders, and trudged forward.

After a few steps, his eyes seemed to gradually adjust to the darkness, and he could vaguely see the silhouettes of trees. Yet, he was unaware that behind him, in the absolute, impenetrable darkness, a shadow was writhing, subtle yet palpable, exerting an overwhelming sense of pressure. A whistling wind blew past, stirring a few withered leaves, the sound piercingly sharp in the silence. A rustling noise came from the corner, followed by a pair of ghostly green eyes flashing in the gloom. Lin Weifeng, seemingly oblivious, continued to walk forward.

A blurred figure, strangely distorted and flickering in and out of view—some indescribable creature—moved with incredible speed, gliding silently through the darkness until it closed in on Lin Weifeng. Suddenly, he swung his sword backward. He could distinctly feel the blade meet resistance; he had struck the monster!

"Ha, I knew you'd try to ambush me," a smug smile spread across Lin Weifeng's face. Although he still couldn't see the creature's features, he didn't give it a chance to counterattack. He yanked the sword free and slashed with all his might! He had expected the injured monster to slow down, but to his surprise, the pain only agitated it further.

"Roar!"

The screech nearly pierced his eardrums, causing his body to stiffen, frozen in place. Oh no! The hair on Lin Weifeng’s body stood on end, his heart threatening to burst from his chest. The monster lunged forward, baring its gaping maw, and bit his neck clean off!

"Aaaah!" His harrowing scream shattered the silence. His health bar dropped to zero instantly. In the darkness, there was only the sickening sound of the creature feeding.

Lin Weifeng was not the only one out on this restless night. Elsewhere, a tall man ignored the system's warnings, opened his door, and merged into the night. Unlike Lin Weifeng, the tall man did not carry a sword, but a long blade that was blood-red from hilt to tip. The red was so vivid it looked as if it had just been soaked in blood, and the edge was incredibly sharp, shimmering with a cold light even in the dark. Anyone with an eye for quality could tell this blade was far from common.

The tall man was luckier than Lin Weifeng; he wasn't wearing thin sportswear, but a windbreaker capable of shielding him from the biting cold. Even in the pitch black, he moved as if he could see clearly, deftly avoiding pits and trees. As the wind howled, the monster hid within the gusts, its movements masked by the sound. The creature clearly didn't consider the man a threat, opening its massive jaws to devour him in one bite!

Suddenly! A flash of red light cut through the darkness. With a single "swish," the blade struck the monster's neck, dealing 1,000 points of damage! With a roar of frustration, the creature vanished instantly, leaving behind several glowing items on the ground.

The man’s expression remained indifferent, his eyes harboring a deep, piercing coldness. He seemed well-acquainted with this monster, killing it with a single strike to its vital point. He bent down to pick up the spoils. A system notification soon appeared in the chat channel: [Congratulations on obtaining 5 packs of compressed biscuits, 2 boxes of windproof matches, 1 pair of durable gloves, and 1 set of kitchen utensils.]

The most precious of these was the kitchen set, which included pots, bowls, and ladles; as long as he had ingredients, he could cook for himself. The man didn't give them a second glance and immediately set off to find his next target. The monster that could easily kill an average adult man seemed even weaker than a rabbit when faced with him. From the moment night fell at 6:00 PM, the man had eaten only one meal, spending the rest of his time hunting in the dark. He couldn't even count how many he had killed; he only knew that system notifications were constantly flooding the chat channel.

His twenty inventory slots were quickly filled. He discarded the common-quality equipment and only kept items of bronze rank or higher. There was one exception: a bracelet made of gemstones. If he were back on Blue Star, it would be priceless. But here in the game, it was merely a common-quality piece of equipment with a simple attribute: [HP +20]. Yet, the man carefully placed it in the very first slot of his backpack, terrified of accidentally losing it.

The fighting continued until past 11:00 PM. The night, previously filled with countless terrifying sounds, had now become eerily silent, save for the faint roars of beasts in the far distance, barely audible unless one listened closely. The man finally stopped and returned to his cabin. He tossed the food, water, and daily necessities—items other players would consider precious—casually onto the floor. Only the bracelet remained in his hand, which he rubbed incessantly.

His gaze was distant, as if lost in his own thoughts. Suddenly, a smile slowly bloomed on his face. His formerly stern features softened, adding a touch of warmth to the silent night. "It's a pity the trading system isn't open yet, otherwise..." He felt a hint of regret, but his thoughts quickly shifted. "Yunjun would probably like this."

He remembered that when Yunjun was a child, she loved these shiny things most of all. But after all these years apart, would this gift be too shabby? Perhaps he should reconsider. He tucked the bracelet away. In his previous life, he hadn't participated in the closed beta; all the information he had came from Ning Yunjun. This time, he wanted to try a different path.

...

Having not slept all night, Ning Yunjun initially thought she wouldn't be able to rest on her first night in the game. Perhaps she had been too exhausted; she had fallen asleep the moment she hit the bed, and her sleep quality was excellent. It was now just past 8:00 AM. She rose, stretched, ate a brown sugar steamed bun, drank some water, and finished an apple. Only after being well-fed did she have the energy to head out and look for crates. She had already planned her day: search for crates in the morning and chop wood in the afternoon. She was determined to upgrade her thatched cabin within the next two days!