The night, draped in its ethereal silence, bore witness to Kuan's unwavering resolve and Danwu's unexpected encounter with a formidable beast. The symphony of their destinies intertwined in the tapestry of this enigmatic realm unfolded, each thread weaving tales of courage and unexpected turns.
In the ethereal expanse of the celestial canvas, Kuan, amidst her contemplative resolve, had embarked on a journey surpassing the mere boundaries of victory and defeat. Her silent vow amidst the stars echoed the resilience that thrived within her, casting the night sky with the resplendence of her indomitable spirit.
As Danwu traversed the serpentine alleyways, he stumbled upon the fabled Fodowing Street, a boundary marking his residence and the outskirts of Fodowing city. But tonight, the path home veiled in the shadows of the bustling street held an unwelcome reputation—one that shrouded him in disdain.
The infamy garnered along Fodowing Street, a testament to the bitter judgements faced, urged Danwu to take the less trodden path through Fodowing Three Street. For the churning gazes and biting words that often adorned Fodowing One Street were the bitter fruits of his notoriety.
Amidst the pulsating streets, a sudden clamor ripped through the night's tranquility. Several figures dashed past him, their frantic shouts echoing tales of a fearsome beast on the prowl.
"Beast! Beast!"
Kuan's eyes lit up with a fervent excitement, her heart pulsating with an adrenaline rush. The desire to confront these brazen beasts, seeking retribution for the past, surged through her.
Having recently attained the status of a fourth-tier martial artist, her mastery of two new martial techniques bolstered her confidence. Her eagerness to test her newfound prowess surged, urging her toward the commotion.
However, the denizens of Fodowing Three Street, recognizing Kuan, began to jest and taunt.
"It's that guy, the one who lives off others, Danwu's sister!"
The words echoed, a chorus of mockery that followed her.
"Why's he heading towards the beasts?"
"A savage beast roams there, at least a second-tier martial artist is needed to confront it. Isn't this wastrel afraid of death?"
"Who cares? This area is safe. Let's watch from above and see how he meets her end!"
"Ha, once he's gone, let's go and console Danwu's beautiful sister."
Their words pierced the air, laden with ridicule and voyeuristic curiosity, as some raced to the rooftop of a nearby building for a better view.
The looming threat of the wild beasts seemed improbable given the fortified defenses that encased Fodowing city. Moreover, experts had attested that creatures like the sawtooth wolf-beast were terrestrial, incapable of traversing water bodies.
Yet, here stood Kuan, face to face with the beast.
A creature, akin to a young calf in size, wreaked havoc on Fodowing Three Street, smashing windows and causing havoc. Fortunately, the sparse populace scattered swiftly, preventing potential casualties.
Kuan, having spent three years in the Fire Element Academy, possessed a wealth of knowledge about the world revived by Qi and creatures that inhabited it. Her mind swiftly recognized the beast—an emblem of danger classified as a soldier-tier entity. Dealing with it required the prowess of at least a second-tier martial artist.
Flexing her muscles, Kuan whispered to herself, "I'm now a fourth-tier martial artist. Handling this sawtooth wolf-beast should be within my capabilities!"
Despite her confidence, the nerve-racking confrontation with the beast as her first real combat encounter left her unsettled. The deserted street, now empty except for her and the creature, amplified her nervousness.
Unknowingly, the sawtooth wolf-beast singled her out, abandoning its assault on the buildings, perceiving Kuan as prey. It crouched, eyes gleaming with malice, snarling in preparation for an attack.
Though prepared, Kuan regretted not carrying a weapon. Her empty hands seemed inadequate, stirring doubt within.
Before the imminent attack, a figure leaped out from a nearby alleyway, halting abruptly in front of the creature—a grizzled old man clad in ashen attire.
Was this recklessness or a suicidal act?
Witnessing the beast's approach, about to lunge at the elderly man, Kuan dashed forward, yelling, "Old man, watch out!"
Her shout accompanied a powerful punch aimed at the charging beast.
Boom!
A muffled thud echoed as the creature's head jolted, hurtling aside and colliding with a nearby flower stand. It stumbled, blood spurting from its snout and mouth, before collapsing motionless on the ground, tongue lolling out, silent and still.
"Ding! Host has slain a sawtooth wolf-beast, system progress increased by 0.378%!"
A single punch, a soldier-tier sawtooth wolf-beast, slain!
Witnessing Kuan's feat from afar, onlookers were astounded, unable to believe what they had just seen.
"The sawtooth wolf... dead?"
"That girl who lives off others... one punch... killed a sawtooth wolf-beast?"
"Am I seeing things?"
"Is this real?"
Bystanders, numbering in disbelief, were confronted with a reality that they could scarcely accept. Even Kuan herself was grappling with the incredulity of her own feat.
He marveled at her fist, the very tool that had vanquished a soldier-tier beast, akin to a prized artifact in her hands.
Simultaneously, her mind raced, revisiting the moment he had felled the creature and the resonating notification from the system.
"Could it be? Does slaying beasts enhance the system's progress?"
Considering the system's current phase, a realm he perceived to have infinite stages for progression, he surmised that the critical hit's effectiveness would augment with each level.
It was as if he had unearthed a hidden treasure—a surprising revelation to boost the system's progress.
In her moment of astonishment, the enigmatic old man who had stood beside her patted her shoulder, remarking, "Young lady, a single punch to fell a beast. Impressive!"
Turning to the elder, Kuan modestly replied, "Old sir, beasts are known to be ruthless. Never stand in their path; they don't respect age or wisdom!"
The elderly man chuckled, his wisdom resonating through the night. "Youngsters like you will be the guardians of peace in the future. I won't stand in your way!"
He smiled cryptically, almost appearing like a profound sage who had ventured not to exploit but to confront the beasts.
After these cryptic words, the elderly man inquired, "Young lady, there's a guy named Danwu here. Do you know where he lives?"
Upon hearing the inquiry about Danwu, Kuan felt momentarily startled. Within Fodowing Street, there existed only one Danwu—her esteemed elder brother. Why would this stranger seek knowledge about him?
The cunning grin etched across the elderly man's face sparked a twinge of suspicion in Kuan's thoughts. He conjectured that this individual bore ill intentions toward her brother. Given the multitude of admirers who sought Danwu, he remained wary of the stranger's motives.
Thus, when the elderly man inquired about Danwu, Kuan sensed an air of deceit.
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