CHAPTER 13 — "A STEP INTO THE WIDER WORLD"
The morning sunlight crept softly through the Long family home, laying warm gold across the wooden floor. Long Hao stood in the center of the living room, backpack slung over one shoulder, his expression calm yet resolute.
His family gathered in front of him—his mother Long Mei, father Long Wei, and little sister Xiyan—each wearing expressions they tried hard to mask.
His mother broke first. She rushed forward, cupping his cheeks.
"Hao'er… must you leave so soon?"
Long Hao placed his hands gently over hers. "Mom, I need to grow stronger. The world is changing, and I can't stay in this city forever."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Strong or not, you're my son."
He smiled softly. "I'll come back stronger. I promise."
Long Wei approached next. He wasn't a man who cried easily, but his tightened jaw revealed everything his words didn't.
"Son," he said quietly, "a man who bears a powerful talent must walk the world. If you believe this is your path, then walk it proudly."
Long Hao bowed slightly. "Thank you, Dad."
His father patted his shoulder. "And remember… even dragons return home."
Xiyan stood apart, biting her lip so hard it turned white. When Long Hao turned to her, she burst into tears and crashed into him.
"Gege!! Don't go!! Take me with you!! I'll cook! I'll clean! I'll scream at monsters!! I'll—"
Long Hao flicked her forehead gently. "I can't take you into danger, silly."
She sniffed hard. "Th-then you promise you'll come back?"
"I promise," he said, hugging her.
"You promise you won't die?"
Long Hao stiffened. The words struck deeper than she knew.
Finally, he smiled and nodded. "I won't."
She wiped her tears and forced a shaky grin. "Okay… okay! Then go and become the strongest! And when you get famous, don't forget me!"
He flicked her nose. "Never."
The family walked him to the gate. Long Mei clutched her apron, Long Wei stood tall despite the tremor in his breath, and Xiyan waved both arms wildly.
Long Hao stepped out into the road.
"Take care!""Write often!""Return safe, Hao'er!""GEGE!! BRING ME COOL GIFTS!!"
He waved once, then turned.
The sun stood before him.The open world awaited.And Long Hao began walking.
THE JOURNEY BEGINS
Ravenwood dissolved behind him as he ventured into the outskirts—a mix of cracked roads, wild grass, and old abandoned farmlands reclaimed by nature. The horizon stretched endlessly, humming with unseen dangers.
Long Hao breathed in deeply.
Silence.
Freedom.
A world far wider than the city cages.
The system stirred.
[New Environment: Low-Risk Wild Zone][Monsters Present: Grade F–D][Opportunity for training detected.]
"Good," Long Hao murmured. "Let's stretch a bit."
A low growl answered him.
Three wolf-like creatures slinked from the bushes, their fur dark blue, eyes glowing faintly. Azure Ridge Wolves — low-tier monsters known for their speed.
A real threat for ordinary travelers.
Long Hao cracked his neck.
"For me… a warm-up."
The first wolf lunged.
Long Hao stepped aside casually, palm striking its throat. It collapsed instantly.
The second leapt for his arm.
Long Hao spun, the motion fluid, and drove his knee upward — snapping the creature's jaw with a sickening crack.
The third tried to retreat.
Long Hao flicked a pebble with his fingers.
Whip—!The stone pierced the wolf's skull like a bullet.
Silence returned.
The system chimed.
[Azure Ridge Wolves defeated x3][Essence absorbed][Core Fragment: +0.4%][Current Unsealing: 13.4%]
Long Hao wiped his hand on the grass.
"Barely worth the effort."
He continued walking, passing old stone fences and rusting tractor shells half-buried in vines. Birds scattered overhead. The wind carried scents of earth and distant rain.
Hours passed.
The land dipped into rolling hills. A faint trail wound toward an old, half-forgotten village long overtaken by wilderness. Stone wells and broken rooftops littered the area like bones of an ancient beast.
That was when he heard it.
A faint cry.
Soft.Panicked.Straining.
Long Hao's eyes sharpened instantly.
He followed the sound, moving lightly over roots and rubble, until he reached a narrow clearing…
And froze.
There, kneeling beside the old stone rim of a well-like opening, was a girl.
Not just any girl.
The most beautiful girl he had ever seen in either lifetime.
Her long silver-black hair draped down her back like silk spun from moonlight. Her skin was pale and luminous, almost glowing in the dim forest shade. Her figure was slender, delicate—yet carried a poised elegance that suggested noble blood or celestial lineage.
Her eyes—He had never seen eyes like those.
A shimmering shade of violet-gold, deep and bright, like amethyst touched with sunlight. They trembled as she struggled, reaching down into the dark hole.
Her lips were soft and rosy, parted in worry. A faint flush colored her cheeks. She wore a simple white dress, light fabric hugging her curves, stained slightly with dirt from the ground. Her presence alone made the ruin around her feel like a sacred shrine.
And she had no idea someone was watching.
Her voice cracked slightly.
"Hello? Is anyone down there? Please hold on…!"
Long Hao blinked once.
Twice.
Even his assassin-trained mind paused.
She was breathtaking.
Too breathtaking.
Almost unreal.
The system flickered.
[Warning: Encountered unknown individual. Energy readings… abnormal.]
Long Hao ignored it.
His eyes narrowed.
He stepped forward silently, his voice deep and calm.
"What's going on here?"
The girl gasped, spinning around—
Her violet-gold eyes widened when she saw him, shimmering with shock and hope.
"Oh! You—!" she breathed."Please help! Someone is trapped inside this well!"
Long Hao stepped closer, the shadows shifting behind him.
Beautiful or not…
Something about this moment felt fated.
He stared into her eyes, expression unreadable.
And the chapter closed on the moment their worlds collided.
[CHAPTER ENDS]