Empowered by the Strength Talisman, Xiao Feng could feel heat rushing through his veins. The pain in his ribs faded, replaced by raw power that made his fingertips tingle.
His staff felt different too, it felt warm and alive in his hands.
"What the..." he whispered, watching as golden light flickered along the ancient markings carved into the black metal.
Somehow, he knew what to do next. His fingers tightened around the staff as energy flowed from his body into the weapon. It felt natural, like he'd been doing it his whole life.
"How am I doing this?" he muttered, eyes wide as the staff's glowed brighter.
The Python King's massive head swayed from side to side, its golden eyes fixed on the glowing staff. Why was there... fear in those reptilian eyes?
"You don't like this, do you?" Xiao Feng grinned, newfound confidence surging through him along with the talisman's power.
With a grunt, he slammed the staff into the ground. The earth cracked beneath it, and a shockwave of golden energy rippled outward, shaking trees and sending dust flying into the air.
The Python King hissed, its massive body coiling backward. Instead of attacking, it reared up, towering over the treetops. For a moment, those hateful golden eyes locked with Xiao Feng's.
"Yeah, that's right! Run away!" Xiao Feng shouted, waving his staff.
With one final, angry hiss, the beast turned and slithered back into the forest, crushing vegetation beneath its massive weight.
"Did I just..." Xiao Feng blinked, lowering his staff as the golden light faded. "Did I just scare off a monster the size of a bus?"
His legs suddenly felt wobbly again, the talisman's power already beginning to fade.
"That was amazing!" The little girl bounced up to him, her earlier tears replaced by a beaming smile. "I knew you could do it!"
Xiao Feng leaned on his staff, catching his breath. "You... you knew? Who are you, anyway?"
The girl's smile widened. She placed her tiny hands on her hips and announced proudly, "I'm Bao'er!"
When Xiao Feng just stared blankly at her, Bao'er's face crumpled. Her bottom lip began to quiver.
"You... you don't recognize me?"
"Should I?" Xiao Feng asked, scratching his head.
Bao'er squinted at him, stepping closer. Her eyes widened suddenly. "Wait! You're Xiao Feng, right? The cripple from the labour disciples!"
Xiao Feng winced. "Wow, thanks for that lovely reminder."
"But you're not a cripple anymore!" Bao'er circled him, poking at his arms. "You fought the Python King! You're strong now!"
"Yeah, well..." Xiao Feng straightened his shoulders, suddenly determined. No more being known as the cripple. "Things have changed."
"That Python was after my treasure," Bao'er said, reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a small cloth pouch and carefully opened it to reveal a shimmering purple herb that seemed to glow from within.
"What is that?" Xiao Feng asked, leaning closer.
"It's a rare Spirit Herb I found in the mountains!" Bao'er announced proudly. "My master says it's worth more than 10,000 gold coins!"
Xiao Feng's jaw dropped. "Ten thousand.....And you're just carrying it around? Who are you, kid? Some kind of tiny treasure hunter?"
Bao'er giggled, closing the pouch. "You saved me, so you deserve a reward." She reached into another pocket and pulled out two smaller herbs, one green, one yellow—and thrust them into Xiao Feng's hands.
"These are for you! The green one will help your injuries, and the yellow one is a low-rank Spirit Herb. Not as good as mine, but still worth lots!"
Xiao Feng stared at the herbs in his palm. "Why would you just give these to me?"
"Because you were brave!" Bao'er said simply. Before he could ask any more questions, she darted forward, gave him a quick hug around the waist, then skipped backward. "I have to go now. My master will be looking for me!"
"Wait, who is your master? How do you know me?" Xiao Feng called after her.
Bao'er just waved, a knowing smile on her face as she disappeared into the forest.
"Great," Xiao Feng muttered, looking down at the herbs in his hand. "Saved by a mysterious little girl who carries around priceless treasures. This world gets weirder by the minute."
---
Back in his tiny hut, Xiao Feng sat cross-legged on his little bed. As he studied the two herbs in his hands. He decided to keep the yellow herb aside.
Now it was time for the green herb first.
"Here goes nothing," he whispered, popping the Spirit Herb into his mouth.
It tasted bitter, like licking a tree bark soaked in medicine. He grimaced but swallowed it down.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then heat erupted in his stomach, spreading through his body like wildfire. Xiao Feng gasped, falling onto his back as energy surged through channels he didn't even know existed in his body.
"Too much!" he groaned, curling into a ball. "Way too much!"
The energy raced through his meridians, strengthening everything it touched. His muscles tightened, his bones felt denser, even his skin seemed tougher.
When the torrent finally subsided, Xiao Feng lay panting on the floor, staring up at the ceiling.
"That... was... intense," he wheezed.
He slowly sat up, flexing his fingers. He felt stronger, faster, better in every way.
His gaze fell on the black staff leaning against the wall. The mysterious engravings seemed to call to him. He picked it up, running his fingers along the ancient markings.
"What are you?" he whispered. "And why did you seem to choose me?"
As if responding to his question, the engravings flickered with golden light for just a split second before going dark again.
Xiao Feng stood, testing his new strength by swinging the staff in a wide arc. It cut through the air with a sharp whistle, feeling perfectly balanced in his hands.
But even as pride swelled in his chest, a sobering thought dampened his excitement. This power, impressive as it felt to him, was nothing compared to what real cultivators possessed.
"I'm still at the bottom of the food chain," he muttered, lowering the staff. "That Python King would've killed me if not for Bao'er's talisman and this staff."
His foundation was too weak. He needed to train, to grow stronger if he wanted to survive in this world of cultivators and monsters.
Before he could think further, a voice called from outside his hut.
"WHO IS THE XIAO FENG THAT BEAT UP MY COUSIN? GET OUT NOW!"
Xiao Feng's heart skipped a beat.
Shit!