The world dissolved into a kaleidoscope of swirling colors and distorted light, the familiar forest floor giving way to a dizzying rush of nothingness. Tian Hao felt a sudden lurch in his stomach, his body twisting uncontrollably in the chaotic void. Then, just as abruptly as it began, the disorienting rush ended. He landed with a thud, the impact jarring his still-sore muscles, his breath whooshing from his lungs as he scrambled to his feet, his mind reeling from the sudden transition.
He found himself standing in a forest unlike any he’d ever seen. The air was thick and heavy. The light was dim, as if filtered through a perpetual twilight, casting long, eerie shadows that danced and writhed amongst the towering trees. The trees themselves were ancient, their gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers. Their twisted roots snaked along the uneven ground, forming a labyrinthine network that seemed to trap him in an endless maze. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the soft drip of water from unseen leaves and the occasional rustle of some unseen creature scurrying through the undergrowth.
He was alone. Lin Mei, Wei Lo, even Yu Xian – all of them were gone. He had only the wine and food packed into his spatial ring, and nothing else that could aid him in this strange and unfamiliar place. A knot of unease tightened in his stomach, a cold dread settling in his gut as he realized the gravity of his situation. He was stranded, with no way to return or contact his companions. He was utterly and completely alone.
Just as the silence began to feel oppressive, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, a sly, almost taunting tone that grated on his already frayed nerves. “Congratulations, Little Hao! You’ve just entered the first phase of karmic balance. Isn’t this exciting?” Big Sister System chimed, her voice dripping with amusement.
Tian Hao groaned, the sound echoing slightly through the dense forest. “Big Sister, now’s not the time! I’m alone, lost, and surrounded by creepy trees that look like they’re about to eat me! A little help here would be appreciated.” He fumbled with his spatial ring, his fingers trembling slightly as he summoned a flask of wine, the weight of the cool metal a small comfort in the face of his growing panic.
BSS chuckled, the sound a melodic counterpoint to the unsettling silence of the forest. “Oh, my dear Little Hao, you’re never alone when you have me. Though, I must admit, this situation is… amusing.”
“Amusing?” Tian Hao sputtered, taking a long swig of wine, the warmth spreading through him, a small comfort against the growing chill of the forest. “I’m lost in some strange, creepy forest, with no idea how to get back, and you find it amusing?”
“Well, when you put it that way… yes, it is rather amusing. But don’t worry, little Hao, this is all part of the plan. Or rather, it’s all part of the karmic balance. The Heavens are constantly balancing your indulgences, you see. Your penchant for pleasure, your eagerness to take the easy way out—it all accumulates a karmic ‘debt.’ And guess what? It’s time to pay up.” She paused, then added with a chuckle, “Consider this the heavens cashing in.”
Tian Hao, frustrated, lowered himself onto a nearby rock, his silken robes billowing around him as a misplaced splash of luxury. He took another long swig of wine, the alcohol fueling his annoyance as he tried to argue with BSS.
“How is this even fair?” he protested, his voice echoing slightly through the dense forest. “I thought this whole deal was about getting stronger through indulgence! I’ve been following your guidance, haven’t I? Eating, drinking, enjoying myself – it’s all part of the PINA method! ”
BSS countered sarcastically. “Oh, my dear Little Hao, indulgence does lead to cultivation, at least for you. But indulging without an ounce of responsibility? Receiving techniques in your moment of ‘need’? Well, that leads to karmic retribution.” She sighed theatrically before continuing, “And let me tell you, the Heavens are quite particular about balance. They see your potential for genuine understanding, but they see you rejecting it for cheap comforts.”
“What?!” Tian Hao sputtered, taking another swig of his wine. “How is that even—?! I’m stuck in this desolate, creepy forest, with no idea how to get back, and I’m being lectured on responsibility? This is absurd!”
“Oh, but is it truly absurd?” She let that hang, as if daring him to explore his previous actions. “Perhaps if you were to truly reflect on your intentions… not simply to cultivate, but to connect with the greater world around you, with the lives you touch—then perhaps this ‘karmic balance’ wouldn’t seem so absurd.”
“You are being obtuse Big Sister System. How am I meant to do that in this strange…” he trailed off as if he were only just grasping the sheer improbability of his situation, “pocket dimension? If there even IS some purpose to all this.”
BSS continued, her tone softening slightly. “This detour, little Hao, isn’t entirely random. Perhaps it’s the Heavens giving you a chance to learn something—though, knowing you, I’m not holding my breath. But don’t despair. You still have your unique cultivation method, after all. Just try not to… indulge yourself into oblivion before you figure out how to get back.”
“Heavens this, heavens that,” Tian Hao muttered, rising to his feet, the wine emboldening him despite his apprehension. “Aren’t you the heavens themselves, Big Sister System? Have some mercy!”
BSS remained silent, her amusement evident in the lack of response.
Tian Hao sighed, tucking his flask back into his spatial ring. He knew there was no point arguing with her. He had to find a way out of this mess on his own. But first—he pulled out a roasted duck leg, tearing off a succulent piece, his gaze drifting towards the path ahead, the dim forest seeming to stretch endlessly in all directions.
Even in this desolate realm, the PINA method and Fatty Wu’s culinary genius could help ease the burden, as if he were defying the universe, one delicious bite at a time.
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With his stomach somewhat appeased, Tian Hao began to explore the forest, his steps hesitant at first, then growing more confident as he slowly adjusted to the strange, otherworldly terrain. The gnarled roots caught at his feet, and the thick foliage made every step a struggle. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and unfamiliar flora, the silence broken only by the occasional chirp of an unseen insect or the rustle of leaves in the wind.
Just as he thought things couldn’t get worse, he heard a rustling from the shadows. Emerging from the darkness was a spirit beast—a basic creature of the forest, resembling a large insect with a chitinous carapace that glistened in the dim light. Its multiple eyes, glowing with an eerie luminescence, fixed on him, and its mandibles clicked menacingly as it approached, its segmented legs carrying it with surprising speed across the uneven terrain. It looked a little like a overgrown beetle crossed with a lobster, only more ferocious and with more legs.
Tian Hao’s heart pounded in his chest, his breath catching in his throat. He knew he had to fight. He uncapped his flask, taking a long gulp of wine before tucking it back into his spatial ring. He activated Wine-Fueled Fury, feeling the surge of chaotic energy coursing through him.
He charged forward, surprising even himself with his audacity. His muscles tensed, and he felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, his heartbeat pounding in his ears as each step brought him closer to danger.
For a moment, fear gripped his heart—what if he failed?
The forest floor blurred beneath his feet, and the creature's mandibles clicked in frantic response, its eyes narrowing as it prepared to counter his sudden assault.
His strikes were wild and clumsy, fueled more by desperation and the strange confidence from his alcohol than any actual skill. Somehow, he managed to fend off the creature’s attacks.
He ducked under a swipe of its claws, narrowly avoiding being sliced open by its razor-sharp edges. The wind from the attack rushed past his face.
He stumbled backward, his foot catching on a gnarled root, nearly falling before regaining his balance just in time to avoid another attack.
With a surge of strength, and after getting tangled several times in his silk robe, he flopped into an awkward roll.
The sudden movement, even if clumsy, surprised the creature, creating an opening. Tian Hao, with a shout more of desperation than confidence, lunged forward.
His fist connected with the creature’s head, sending it reeling. He struck again, and again, each blow fueled by adrenaline and alcohol-induced recklessness.
The creature's carapace cracked with each hit, its screeches growing weaker, its legs flailing in a futile attempt to defend itself. Finally, with a desperate blow, Tian Hao brought the creature down, its body collapsing in a lifeless heap.
As he looked down at the fallen beast, its carapace cracked and its multiple eyes now dull and lifeless, exhaustion washed over him, the adrenaline fading, leaving him weak. He had won, but the victory felt hollow, a fleeting triumph against the backdrop of his isolation.
He knew, with a chilling certainty, that this was just the beginning. This realm, this… karmic prison was filled with dangers he was ill-equipped to face. He took a deep, calming breath, his pulse still hammering in his ears as the residual surge of Wine-Fueled Fury slowly dissipated, leaving him trembling and slightly nauseous.
Determined to make the best of his situation, Tian Hao continued to explore the forest. After what felt like hours of wandering, he came across a small patch of spirit herbs. Their leaves glowed faintly in the dim light, a sign that they possessed some form of spiritual energy. He recognized them vaguely from the herb guides he’d glanced at back at the sect—low-level herbs, useful for basic healing and minor Qi replenishment. It wasn’t much, but it was better than nothing.
He crouched down, attempting to harvest the herbs, his movements clumsy and unsure. He'd seen Lin Mei harvest herbs with practiced ease, her movements fluid and precise, but he’d never actually done it himself. He pulled at the plants without care, his fingers fumbling with the delicate stems, his inexperience quickly becoming apparent.
He tugged too hard on one, ripping the plant from the ground, its roots dangling uselessly. He tried to be more gentle with another, but his fingers slipped, crushing the delicate leaves, their faint glow dimming as the plant’s energy dissipated. Frustration mounted as he realized just how little he knew about the intricacies of this world, the practical skills of survival.
By the time he was done, most of the herbs were bruised and nearly useless, their spiritual energy dissipated. He slumped down in defeat, his earlier bravado gone, replaced by a wave of despair. He was not just a spoiled young master; he was also utterly incompetent.
As the day wore on, the perpetual twilight of the forest deepening into an oppressive gloom, Tian Hao focused on finding a place to rest. The forest floor was uneven, the ground covered with sharp rocks and thorny underbrush that scratched at his exposed skin, each step a reminder of his unpreparedness, as if this strange world itself was punishing him for daring to enter without respecting the sanctity of its wild form.
He stumbled on, his body aching, his feet blistered, his robes torn, the image of his carefully cultivated elegance now a distant memory, replaced by the unromantic reality of raw survival, each step a reminder of just how much his usual path lacked any real strength.
Eventually, he came across a small clearing. The ground was relatively level, though far from comfortable. He gathered what dry leaves and moss he could find, trying to create a makeshift bed, but it did little to ease the discomfort.
He spread a thin silk cloth—the last vestige of his former luxury—upon the ground, hoping it would provide some barrier against the damp earth. It barely did anything, offering him no buffer from the cold reality of the ground, but it felt more humiliating somehow, the luxury exposed as wholly inadequate against the wilderness.
As he lay down, the rough ground poking into his back, Tian Hao complained bitterly. "This is ridiculous!" he muttered, his voice echoing slightly through the clearing. “No silk sheets, no pillows, just rocks and dirt. How am I supposed to rest like this?”
BSS’s voice chimed in, her tone laced with mockery. “This, Little Hao, is what karmic balance looks like. The Heavens giveth, and the Heavens taketh away. Consider it a lesson in humility.”
She paused, then added, almost as if to herself, “Not that I expect it to work. Humility and you are hardly acquainted, after all.”
Tian Hao sighed deeply, closing his eyes, trying to block out her words. He knew she was right, but that didn’t make it any easier to accept. He lay there for a long time, staring up at the dim sky above, the gnarled branches of the trees intertwining like a cage, trapping him in this mysterious realm. The exhaustion, the frustration, the isolation—each moment felt like a heavy chain, dragging him down, the reality of his situation sinking in and leaving him feeling utterly exposed and vulnerable. He was alone, vulnerable, and entirely out of his depth.
As Tian Hao lay there, BSS's voice broke through the silence, her mocking tone replaced with something else—almost concern. "Little Hao, sleep while you can. You'll need it for what's coming." Her words echoed in his mind as he drifted into uneasy sleep.