[Master Brightflame delivers a warning to you, emphasizing that the forest will be increasingly dangerous and that you should help him with all of your ability if you want to survive.]
Lem’s simulated self swallowed. He had not expected to be greeted with a lecture and a threat as soon as he woke up. It furthered his impression of the martial elder as an erratic and unpredictable person, increasing his unease.
“I-I understand. I will tell you if I sense anything.”
Unfortunately, he could only give empty promises to assuage the martial elder. He did not have a special intuition after all.
“Good, then. I did not know if I was making myself clear yesterday. Let's continue.” Master Brightflame wiped off the remains of the crab on his crimson robes and gestured for Lem’s simulated self to move.
Lem’s simulated self stepped forward with alacrity, setting out towards the river.
Lem could sense that there was a shift in the mood between his simulated self and the martial elder, and there would not be any questions being asked. He began to meditate on the visualization diagram again. If there was danger, the signals from his body would draw his attention.
In lieu of new information, his most important priority was to continue improving his mountain intent. He had seen from the progress of the previous day that it could have a profound influence on his cultivation.
Currently, the mountain in his imagination felt alive, but he was sure that his visualization was far from its ideal state. If he could improve his comprehension, he was sure that he would be close to making the spiritual energy circulate.
As for the progress that could be made in the current simulation…it was sufficient to say that the martial elder’s words had killed the last of his hopes.
It was clear that the road forward was too dangerous for him to hold any expectations.
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[Master Brightflame instructs you to continue leading the way. You are beginning to feel that the martial elder’s moods are unpredictable, which makes you nervous for the future…
Together, you walk back to the riverbank, and continue walking along the river…
Because you are worrying about the martial elder’s suspicions, you tell Master Brightflame that you have a vague feeling of danger. When he asks you for the direction it was coming from, you tell him that you are unable to locate it.
You see the carapace of the death-skull crab that you passed by before…
You pass by a cloud of light flies…
You report another vague feeling to Master Brightflame…
You pass by a fire swan drifting on the river…]
After a few hours passed, Lem brought his attention back to the present situation. He was in a good mood, as he felt that he had made progress in his visualization attempts. With the night-long meditation, he had discovered many new insights that were beginning to crystalize.
He also saw that his simulated self had yet to die, which was reassuring.
The river was even more picturesque than it had been on previous days. There were many more light flies about, zipping across the surface of the water, and the atmosphere felt lively.
However, Lem’s simulated self was not in the right mood to observe it. He was filled with anxiety as he worried over what the martial elder had told him earlier in the day.
Was a real danger about to present itself?
Was the martial elder about to kill him in anger?
Every few moments, he wondered whether he should report another fabricated nearby danger, to maintain consistency.
After a few minutes, he spoke up.
“I feel something vaguely off…” Lem’s simulated self trailed off with uncertainty.
“The third vague feeling of the day,” Master Brightflame said coldly.
“A powerful beast is in the area,” Lem’s simulated self amended.
“Hmm…how powerful?”
“A-almost as strong as you, I think.”
Master Brightflame glanced at him but did not speak. Lem’s simulated self swallowed the rest of his explanation.
His heart pounded in his chest like a drum.
“If you sense anything else, tell me.”