With the last ogre slayed, Xue Laohu exhaled heavily, his breath misting in the cold air as he wiped the sweat from his brow. The battlefield was littered with the grotesque remains of the ogres. Xue Tuzi and Shudu approached, their boots crunching against the blood-soaked ground. Xue Laohu's sharp eyes swept across the carnage, searching for Li Zhameng. But the NPC was nowhere to be found.
A cold dread clawed at his chest, squeezing tighter with every passing second. "Meng Meng," he murmured, his voice unsteady with worry. He turned to Xue Tuzi and Shudu, desperation seeping into his tone. "Have any of you—?"
Before he could finish, Xue Tuzi cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted into the desolate expanse, "Meng Meng!" His voice echoed through the forest, but the only reply was the mournful whisper of the wind. The silence was deafening.
Shudu, ever the pragmatist, sprang into action. With a feline grace, he scaled the tallest tree in sight, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon from the swaying treetop. Yet even with his elevated vantage point, there was no sign of Li Zhameng. Disheartened, Shudu leapt down, landing silently before crossing his arms. "He's a goner," he declared flatly, his words as cold and cutting as the northern winds.
The pronouncement hit Xue Laohu like a blade to the chest. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, the weight of failure crushing him. Xue Tuzi shot Shudu a furious glare before elbowing him sharply in the ribs. Shudu grunted, clutching his side, but the damage was done.
"Shizun," Xue Tuzi said gently, crouching beside his master. His voice was soft yet firm, like a steadying hand in a storm. "He couldn't have gone too far. I'm sure he's still alive." His words were meant to comfort, but they felt hollow against the truth that loomed over them like a shadow.
In the depths of Xue Laohu's heart, he knew Li Zhameng was little more than a footnote in their journey—a character so inconsequential that he, had only spared him out of pity. Yet he had made a vow. He had promised to protect Li Zhameng at all costs. And now, that promise lay shattered at his feet.
"Well," Shudu interjected, his voice breaking the tense silence. "If he were dead, his bloody stench would linger in the air. I don't smell anything." A flicker of hope kindled in Xue Laohu's chest, but it was short-lived. Shudu continued, his tone maddeningly nonchalant, "However, if he was swallowed whole by an ogre—"
"Enough!" Xue Tuzi snapped, cutting Shudu off he glared daggers at him. "Meng Meng is not that weak," Xue Tuzi said firmly, his voice tinged with both defiance and conviction. He turned to Xue Laohu, his eyes pleading. "Surely, Shizun knows this."
But Xue Laohu's face remained clouded with despair. His mind was a chaotic storm of guilt and regret when, suddenly, a sharp, intrusive ping reverberated through the void of his thoughts. His vision blurred as the system's notification materialized in his mind like a beacon in the darkness.
NEW UPDATED FEATURE: GPS TRACKER.
TRY NOW.
The words hovered before him, pulsing faintly. Huh? Yi Ming's thoughts came to a screeching halt as the notification hovered before his eyes. GPS tracker? Why would I need that? He scowled in irritation and swiped at the translucent message, intending to dismiss it. But just before his fingers brushed the ethereal screen, he froze. His breath hitched.
Wait. Could it be… Could I track character locations with this new feature?
The thought planted itself firmly in his mind, taking root like a stubborn weed. His teeth clenched in frustration, but desperation surged through him like a rising tide. Against his better judgment, he reopened the notification, allowing the system to whisk him away to a new interface. The GPS application bloomed to life, its map illuminated by pins marking all the locations he had traversed. Names hovered over these markers, glowing faintly—the characters he had interacted with, cataloged and labeled with unsettling precision.
His fingers moved feverishly, scrolling through the list of names until his eyes locked onto one. Li Zhameng. The icon bearing his name pulsed brightly, zipping across the forest at a speed that defied belief. Yi Ming's breath caught in his throat. The icon darted just 30 li away from their current position.
Relief swept over him like a crashing wave, and he released a long, shaky sigh. His shoulders sagged, the crushing weight of dread momentarily lifting. "He's alive," Xue Laohu whispered. A smile spread across his face, small but genuine, as Xue Tuzi quickly helped him to his feet.
"We have no time to waste. Let's go!" Xue Laohu barked, the authority in his voice rekindled. Without another word, he bolted forward, his steps swift and sure as the GPS tracker guided him through the dense terrain.
Xue Tuzi sprinted close behind, his boots pounding against the earth. "Shizun," he called, his voice barely audible over the wind rushing past them, "how do you know where he is?" He pushed himself harder, matching his Shizun's pace as curiosity flickered in his wide eyes. "Did Shizun use telepathy?"
The question stopped Xue Laohu's thoughts dead in their tracks. Telepathy. The word echoed in his mind like a gong. He faltered for a brief moment, realization dawning on him. Why didn't I think of that sooner?
Without breaking stride, Xue Laohu raised two fingers to his temple, his expression sharpening with concentration. He reached out with his mind, his thoughts piercing the void like an arrow seeking its mark. Meng Meng? Meng Meng, can you hear me? His mental voice was calm yet urgent, each word tinged with unspoken emotion.
On the other side of the forest, Li Zhameng tilted his head. The soft calls of his Shizun echoed in his mind, faint yet unmistakable. His eyes darted around in confusion, scanning his surroundings for a familiar figure. But there was no one. Only the dense shadows of the forest, the towering trees, and the unsettling quiet, as he flew across the terrain in the cloaked man's arms.
I must be hallucinating, Li Zhameng thought to himself, his gaze locked onto the face of the cloaked man who carried him effortlessly in his arms. His breaths were shallow, his body weak, yet his mind raced as he tried to make sense of his situation. The man's identity was a mystery—his face concealed by a thick scarf wrapped snugly around his mouth and nose, while a heavy hood draped over his head, casting shadows across his features. The only hints of his appearance were his piercing, fox-like eyes that glimmered in the faint light and the strands of long silver hair spilling from beneath his hood, shifting with each graceful motion.
The man moved with uncanny speed and agility, climbing the jagged cliffside with ease as if the steep incline posed no challenge. Li Zhameng, cradled in his arms, felt weightless, his body no more than a feather to the cloaked stranger. With one powerful leap, the man disappeared into a narrow crack in the cliff, landing silently inside a hidden cave.
The interior of the cave was nothing like its unassuming exterior. As they entered, the man raised his hand, and flames sprang to life along the walls, illuminating the space. The firelight danced, casting shadows that flickered like specters. Despite its narrow entrance, the cave opened up into a spacious, well-lived-in dwelling. Intricate tapestries lined the ground, their vibrant patterns softened by time, while a large makeshift bed, oval in shape and piled with thick, plush blankets, dominated the center of the room. The air smelled faintly of incense, wood smoke, and something sweetly floral.
The man laid Li Zhameng down gently onto the bed, his touch careful and deliberate, as though handling something fragile. Li Zhameng's heart pounded in his chest, his thoughts scrambling for answers as he watched the stranger pull down his scarf and shrug off his cloak.
Beneath the layers of fabric was a strikingly handsome man, his features almost ethereal in their perfection. His skin was fair, smooth as porcelain, and his bright amber eyes glowed with an otherworldly intensity that seemed to pierce through Li Zhameng's soul. His long silver hair, cascaded to his waist, shimmering in the firelight with an almost liquid quality. But what caught Li Zhameng's attention most were the fox ears perched atop the man's head, their soft fur twitching ever so slightly at the faintest sound. They were a peculiar yet mesmerizing addition, cementing the man's otherworldly aura.
Li Zhameng opened his mouth to speak, to demand answers, but before a single word could escape, the young man leaned down, his movements swift and decisive. His lips crashed onto Li Zhameng's with unexpected fervor, stealing his breath away. The kiss was deep, passionate, and commanding, leaving Li Zhameng stunned.
The man's arms enveloped him, pulling him closer. One hand pressed firmly against the back of Li Zhameng's neck, holding him in place, while the other trailed down his side, wrapping around his waist. Li Zhameng squirmed in protest, weakly struggling against the stranger's firm grasp, but the man only pulled him closer, his lips insistent. The hand on Li Zhameng's waist began to wander, gliding lower until it cupped him—then froze.
The young man's amber eyes flew open, his pupils dilating as he seemed to realize something. His lips broke away abruptly, leaving Li Zhameng gasping for air. The stranger's expression shifted from passion to stunned confusion, his fox ears twitching in agitation as he stared down at Li Zhameng.
"Yunwu?" he murmured, his voice trembling slightly, the name falling from his lips like a ghost from the past.
Xue Laohu ascended the steep hill, his eyes flicking between the uneven terrain ahead and the glowing system screen hovering in his peripheral vision. Li Zhameng's pinned location had come to an abrupt stop, a beacon fixed in the same place. Dread and urgency quickened his pace, the sound of his boots crunching against the gravel sharp in the stillness of the evening. As the golden hues of the sky deepened into twilight, his sharp eyes caught sight of a faint crack in the rocky cliffside. A soft, flickering glow seeped from the crevice, illuminating the shadows of the surrounding trees.
"There," he said, his voice low but firm, pointing toward the glowing fissure. Xue Tuzi, just a few steps behind, gave a curt nod. Together, they moved cautiously toward the crack, their movements silent yet deliberate. Shudu followed closely, his steps soundless as he glided behind them like a shadow.
Inside, the cave widened unexpectedly, its walls aglow with dim firelight. Xue Laohu's gaze swept the space, taking in the intricate tapestries on the ground and the large makeshift bed at the center. The sight of Li Zhameng, backed into a corner, made his heart clench. His disciple was trembling, his wide eyes darting toward the silver-haired figure looming over him.
"How—how do you—" Li Zhameng stammered, his voice quivering as his body pressed against the cold, unyielding stone wall behind him. His words were cut short when the man lunged forward again, seizing Li Zhameng in another forceful kiss. The silver-haired stranger's grip tightened as his hands roamed over Li Zhameng's body, shamelessly groping him as if reacquainting himself with Li Zhameng's body. But his motions faltered as his hand slid downward, pausing abruptly when it reached Li Zhameng's groin. The realization hit him like a slap, and his amber eyes widened in shock.
His grip loosened, but before he could step back, Li Zhameng's knee shot up, delivering a sharp kick to the man's chest. The impact sent the stranger stumbling backward, and he landed unceremoniously on the cave floor.
Xue Laohu, who had witnessed the entire exchange, was frozen for a moment, his expression torn between rage and horror. "Meng Meng!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the cavern as he rushed forward.
"Shizun!" Li Zhameng cried, his voice breaking as he crawled desperately toward Xue Laohu. His disheveled appearance tugged painfully at Xue Laohu's heart—his hair, usually tied neatly in a high bun, had come loose, the silky strands fluttering wildly in the cool night breeze filtering into the cave. Xue Laohu crouched down, wrapping a steadying arm around his disciple to help him stand.
"Well, well, well…" Shudu's voice broke through the tension, his tone dripping with mockery. Arms crossed and a sly smirk curling his lips, he sauntered forward, his sharp eyes locking onto the silver-haired man. "Fox demon Yin Huli," Shudu drawled, his words cutting and deliberate. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Yin Huli, rose slowly to his feet, brushing the dust off his dark robes with an air of disdain. His bright amber eyes flicked to Shudu, narrowing with irritation. "Insect demon Lord Shudu," Yin Huli sneered, his lips curling in disgust. "I would have preferred to avoid meeting filth like you." His fox ears twitched, his long silver hair swaying as he squared his shoulders. His aura crackled with tension, his hair bristling slightly as if preparing for a fight.
Shudu chuckled darkly, turning his face away with a scoff, clearly unbothered by the insult. "You know him?" Xue Laohu asked, his tone sharp and suspicious. His arms remained securely around Li Zhameng, steadying him as the disciple leaned against his Shizun's side for support.
"I've heard stories," Shudu replied nonchalantly, his eyes glinting as he flicked his nails. A sharp dart of poison shot through the air, aimed at Yin Huli. But the fox demon barely flinched, shifting his head just enough for the dart to whizz past harmlessly.
Li Zhameng, regaining some semblance of composure, pushed himself upright. His light eyes glared at Yin Huli, his brows furrowed in anger and confusion. "How do you know my mother's name?" he demanded, his voice steady but laced with fury. The question hung in the air like a dagger poised to strike, its weight pressing down on the cavern as all eyes turned to Yin Huli.
Blah Blah Blah:
Welcome to Li Zhameng's origin story. Originally he was not going to receive any type of back story because I wanted to keep him as my comedic relief gag character. But I met his lovely mother a few nights ago and I really loved her story, I had to share it. Enjoy.