Chương 2: A Painful Lesson

Stepping out of Peach Blossom Village's wooden gate, Yang Fan was greeted by an endless sea of blooming peach trees. Layers of pink and white petals stretched across the gentle slopes, thousands of blossoms clustering thickly on every branch. A warm spring breeze drifted by, carrying waves of rich floral fragrance. Looking closely, each plump petal still held morning dew, tiny crystal droplets trembling slightly and catching the early sunlight in tiny sparkles.

Yang Fan turned his head slowly to take in his surroundings, genuinely awed. The game's simulation of environments, sceneries, and physical sensations was absurdly realistic, completely shattering every expectation he had about MMOs. He murmured to himself that he could clearly feel the peach blossom scent, the village chief's breathing patterns, and even the tiny droplets of saliva that flew out when the old man spoke. Recalling that conversation, Yang Fan felt a faint oddness.

The village chief's gaze had carried something strange and unplaceable. Fortunately, he was just an NPC. If he were a real person, Yang Fan would have wondered whether the old man had some unusual habit. Following the dirt path through the peach grove, the view opened up. A small river wound south to north, its clear water gurgling over smooth pebbles. A large yellow dog lay on the riverbank, head lowered, lapping up the cool water. Its thick coat was damp with mist and dotted with bits of grass.

Yang Fan studied it from a distance, unsure if it was a villager's pet or a stray. A slightly mischievous idea popped into his head. Why not use this dog as a warm‑up and test out his so‑called legendary sword at the same time? He quietly gripped the heirloom sword at his waist, moved with light steps, crouched low, and crept toward the dog. The yellow dog remained completely oblivious, tail swaying lazily as it continued drinking, never viewing the approaching, weapon‑wielding Yang Fan as a threat.

When he was close enough, Yang Fan lunged forward and swung his sword hard. A piercing yelp cut through the riverside quiet, and bright red blood sprayed from the wound on the dog's neck, splattering onto the damp soil. But the blow didn't kill it. The badly wounded dog tucked its tail and scrambled away on all fours, disappearing into the distant grass in an instant, leaving Yang Fan standing alone by the river, sword in hand, stunned. He looked down at the blade and sighed.

Of course, it was just a plain gray‑grade weapon, not even strong enough to kill a dog in one hit. He sheathed the sword, set aside the minor incident, and continued toward the shrublands marked by his quest. He picked his way over the river stones and waded through ankle‑deep cold water, emerging onto a vast grassland. The ground was rough and uneven, pitted with holes and mounds. Most of the grass had withered to yellow and brown, looking bleak and desolate.

Only a few patches showed tiny green shoots stubbornly pushing through the cracked, dry earth, and dried stems crunched underfoot. Beyond several high earthen mounds in the distance, he could see a tangled, dense thicket of shrubs, crooked branches weaving together into a dark mass. That was the quest location, where the wolves were active. Yang Fan climbed up one of the taller mounds.

Standing at the top, he was about to survey the shrubland interior when a low, hoarse growl suddenly came from the shadows beside him. His body stiffened, and he whipped his head around. A massive black wolf was crouched not far away, staring straight at him. The beast was nearly the size of a calf, covered in thick, glossy black fur. Muscles bulged beneath the hide. Its legs were thick and powerful, and sharp, gleaming claws extended from its front paws.

A hideous old scar ran across one side of its face, cutting through the eye socket. One eye was completely blind, a sunken empty pit. The other eye burned with savage menace. The entire creature radiated ferocity. A surge of adrenaline flooded Yang Fan's system, and every nerve went taut. On instinct, he drew the heirloom sword and gripped it tight. His mind raced. These wolves were far more alert than he had expected. They had posted this fearsome wolf as a sentry long before he reached the core area.

But no matter how wary it was, it was still just a level 1 mob. Perfect for venting his frustrations. With that thought, he pushed off the ground, lunging forward and thrusting his sword straight at the wolf's soft belly, aiming for big damage. But the one‑eyed wolf's reaction speed far exceeded his expectations. It seemed to have read his attack in advance. It sidestepped gracefully, dodging the blade by a hair. Then its hind legs exploded with power, launching its massive body through the air in a direct pounce.

Yang Fan's face went pale. His mind screamed trouble, but he was too close to evade. The heavy wolf slammed into him, flattening him onto the dry grass. Its sharp claws tore through his flimsy cloth armor, digging deep into his flesh. Hot blood poured from the wounds. The searing pain of torn skin transmitted clearly into his consciousness, so vivid it nearly stopped his breath. Before he could even struggle, the one‑eyed wolf opened its jaws wide, revealing rows of gleaming fangs, and bit down on his neck.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. His vision went black instantly. No system prompt was needed. He knew he was dead.

"This game is messing with me, right? They hand out a junk weapon at the start, and even a level 1 mob is this vicious?" His consciousness floated in the dark death screen, a swirl of emotions- frustration, anger, disbelief, all tangled together, impossible to put into words. If the game designer were standing in front of him right now, he would have ten thousand choice insults ready. But Yang Fan had always been naturally good at games.

He picked up new titles quickly and had earned a decent reputation as a player back in college. Even though this level 1 wolf had humbled him badly, he wasn't about to give up. Persistence was one of his strongest traits. It was the same stubbornness that had kept him afloat for years online as a feared and sharp‑tongued troll. A moment later, white light enveloped him, and he respawned at Peach Blossom Village's respawn point. Standing at the familiar village entrance, Yang Fan didn't rush out again.

Instead, he took a moment to review the fight. He had been careless and had seriously underestimated that one‑eyed wolf. This monster wasn't a static game dummy. It moved like a real lone wolf on the grasslands, agile, cunning, striking precisely at his vital points. But in the end, this was still a game. Every monster had fixed attack patterns and rhythms. Once he learned those patterns and found the openings, he could turn the fight around and win. Fall, get back up.

As an experienced player, he shouldn't fear failure. Time passed. The sun sank slowly westward, spilling warm orange light across the endless yellow grassland, casting a soft glow over the bleak landscape. In the distance, two dark figures faced off against each other. Up close, one was Yang Fan, sword in hand, face set with determination. The other was the same hideous one‑eyed wolf. After countless deaths and lessons, Yang Fan had memorized all of the wolf's attack habits.

He flicked his wrist, swinging his sword in a feint toward the wolf. Just as the blade was about to connect, he pulled it back and sidestepped quickly. The wolf, as expected, leaped forward with a pounce, its claws slicing through empty air where he had just been standing. A smug grin crossed Yang Fan's face. Got you. Think you're the only one who can fake out an opponent? Now for the opening.

During the brief pause after the wolf's missed pounce, Yang Fan stepped in and thrust his sword deep into the wolf's hind leg. Blood sprayed from the wound. He didn't linger, pulling the blade back and retreating just in time to avoid the wolf's retaliatory snap. After several exchanges, Yang Fan had fully decoded the wolf's combat patterns. The wolf had two main moves. Its favorite was the leaping pounce and bite. When that missed, the wolf would pause for a very short moment, the perfect window to strike.

But he couldn't get greedy. Once the wolf recovered, it would spin and bite back immediately. If he overstayed his welcome, he would be one‑shotted just like before. The two circled and clashed on the yellowed grass, back and forth, a dozen rounds passing quickly. The wolf now bore several wounds of varying depths, its coat soaked in blood, movements growing sluggish. In its remaining eye, a mix of fury and unwillingness blazed.

It threw its head back and let out a long, mournful howl, then its massive body wavered and crashed to the ground, motionless. Yang Fan exhaled a long breath, the tension finally draining from his muscles. He had put down the fierce opponent that had nearly broken him. He chuckled to himself and walked over to the wolf's corpse, still stewing over the earlier deaths. He raised the so‑called heirloom sword and stabbed the carcass repeatedly, muttering under his breath. Still showing off, are you?

You're just a level 1 mob. You should accept that you're going to die. After venting his frustrations, Yang Fan crouched down and searched the wolf's body, hoping for decent loot. His fingers probed through fur and flesh, and he pulled out two items. Translucent pale‑blue info panels materialized in his vision. Loot Information Attribute Value Name Black Wolf Hide Quality Gray Special Effect None Note A warm material, used for crafting Black Wolf Leather Armor.

Attribute Value Name Black Wolf Meat Quality Gray Effect Restores 10 HP slowly over time Special Effect None Note Meat from the wolf's thick thigh, chewy but bland in flavor. Yang Fan stared at the panels, speechless.

"This is way too stingy. Not a single piece of equipment drops, just crafting materials." He glanced at the second item and muttered to himself. The meat was somewhat useful, restoring 10 HP, but it probably wouldn't see much use. Every time he got hurt, it was a one‑shot kill. There was no time to eat. But even as he complained, he realized this game was different from ordinary MMOs. Its monsters behaved like real creatures. This black wolf had been clever, quick‑witted, and cunning.

It knew how to dodge attacks and how to strike at a player's weak points.