Life Always Has Its Ups and Downs

Of course, Gu Mo was happy to get his first loot drop, but he also knew that you couldn't expect good gear from trash mobs, so it might just be a consolation prize.

He reached out lightly to grab it. The moment his fingertips touched the glowing item, it vanished, as if it had been absorbed into his skin... At the same time, Gu Mo stole a glance behind him at Hidechiyo, noticing that the black-haired girl didn't seem to have any particular expression on her face.

More than anything, she seemed a bit distracted by what had just happened.

Sure enough, besides himself, others couldn't see the phenomena presented by these game mechanics. Otherwise, it would be too strange.

Huh? Wait, where's my loot? Where did it go?

Pulling his hand back and examining his palm and fingers, Gu Mo's eyebrows furrowed together. Did it melt or something? Even if he knew it wasn't going to be some big prize, and probably just a symbolic consolation reward, maybe some material or Soul Core from the Hungry Ghost...

But it was still his stuff! How could it just be swallowed up so inexplicably?

Besides, if this could happen once, it could happen a second or third time. If it was always like this from now on, how would his loot be counted?

Calming down and thinking about it, maybe there was another explanation. For instance, maybe these kinds of items were directly stored in a special space similar to a "backpack" or "Inventory"? But how would he use that function? He didn't see any options for it.

Gu Mo thought, subconsciously reaching into his pocket, and then his expression slightly froze.

No way, this went so smoothly?

As soon as his hand reached into his pocket, he "felt" the existence of a strange space. With a non-visual form of sight, he saw an interface, with rows and columns of grids neatly arranged, just like a warehouse interface in a game. But it was empty, without anything in it.

Only the first grid was occupied by an icon, with the number '1' displayed in the bottom left corner.

Probably the glowing item he just picked up?

"Hmm?"

At this moment, Hidechiyo also quickly walked over to his side. She first looked down at the Lesser Hungry Ghost's corpse on the ground, then looked at him and let out a syllable of confusion, as if she didn't understand why he had suddenly stopped and had such a complicated expression on his face.

"Sorry, I just suddenly remembered something. When I left the house, I didn't turn off the gas. I need to hurry back and check..."

Gu Mo looked at her, blinked, and said this in explanation after coming back to his senses. He also wanted to give a reasonable excuse for his plan to "run away with the bucket" later.

Of course, that was just what he thought was reasonable.

Axiu couldn't understand what he was making up. Her rose-red eyes were still full of confusion... What is turning off the gas?

This showed that even though the language barrier didn't prevent communication due to a mysterious instant translation mechanism that provided smooth conversion and understanding – making both sides feel like the other was speaking their most familiar language – some things were still impossible. Limited by worldview, knowledge, etc., even if they understood the pronunciation, it was difficult to understand a made-up word they had never heard before. The mysterious translation mechanism of the Idiot System wouldn't ensure that both parties understood concepts they hadn't encountered.

That wouldn't just be a simple translation concept; this part might be the most excessive and outrageous...

"Yeah, maybe the water and electricity aren't turned off either. I need to hurry back and check later..." Gu Mo nodded repeatedly and continued walking towards the mountain path ahead.

At the same time, he also diverted a thread of attention to the special space that had suddenly appeared, or rather, his Inventory.

It didn't seem to exist within the pockets of his clothes, but was linked to this function through the concept of pockets themselves being meant for holding things. The pockets themselves just provided an intermediary medium... He tried taking his hand out of that pocket and then casually putting his other hand into the pocket on the other side.

After a brief loss of connection, he successfully "felt" the presence of that special space again.

Moreover, from before until now, his phone, wallet, etc., were also inside, but they weren't in the current situation; they were just sitting properly in his pockets and didn't enter that special space... So he could now feel the existence of two completely different "pocket spaces."

One was normal, the other was abnormal.

Regarding this, he tried to make a reasonable conjecture. It should be because this Inventory had special restrictions, and only items recognized by the System could be stored in it, not just anything... So, he didn't realize he had an Inventory until now, when he killed a monster and got his first loot drop, which was stored inside?

Hmm, it's a bit hard to evaluate. He had considered before how much more convenient it would be if he had a game backpack function, at least so he could get some weapons for self-defense right away...

Now it seemed it was indeed convenient, but only a little bit.

Because reality-based items not recognized by the System still couldn't be put in. If he wanted to carry them, he might still have to carry them on his person. And putting aside convenience, carrying controlled items around in the real world isn't very realistic.

Feeling quite disappointed, he paid attention to the road ahead while continuing to examine the item he had just obtained.

It was a small, prismatic crystal, emitting a faint golden-yellow glow like fireflies. According to the description, it was a small fragment of high-density Essence called a "Lesser Spirit Stone." According to the System's notes, it could be used to restore a certain amount of health or energy, or simply used as a material for certain special purposes.

Sure enough, it's this. Gu Mo pursed his lips.

Spirit Stones were a unique product of this world and this era. In the West, they were called "Essence." Alchemists believed they were miraculous stones containing immense power, but they could only be harvested in the Bloodshed Land. And coincidentally, during this time, the island nation was in an unprecedented era of war for the next few decades.

That's why the story happens here...

Getting this as the first loot drop from killing a monster was indeed understandable, but it truly was pure consolation.

Gu Mo sighed, and at this moment, he also saw a solitary building on a flat area halfway up the mountain ahead. It should be the Ancestral Hall of Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village. However, this important place was currently polluted by Perpetual Darkness, appearing eerie and ominous in the dim, almost black-and-white world.

Further up the mountain path, the end was blocked by a sturdy, locked gate. He could vaguely see a short path in front of the gate, and above it seemed to be a temple or some other building, but its gate was also tightly shut. He could only see the wall built around the hillside.

From this, it could also be seen that Thirteen Cherry Blossom Village was indeed a prosperous and wealthy village before. Not only did it provide cattle, horses, and a post station, but it also likely had water transport business. An ordinary village couldn't accumulate this kind of wealth.

With a clang, the black-haired girl drew her Uchigatana, stepped forward, and reached out to block Gu Mo's path, motioning for him to step behind her. At the same time, her eyes sharpened, locking onto a target within the Ancestral Hall.

In the courtyard of the Ancestral Hall, there were many Yokai lurking. Even the Hungry Ghosts weren't the Lesser Hungry Ghosts from before, but were larger than adult humans, with heads the size of basketballs...

And in the deepest part of the black-and-white domain where Spider Lilies bloomed and withered continuously, there was a large, burly Ape Fiend, standing upright, holding a wooden spear that looked like a staff. It seemed to be a weapon simply made from hard wood from the mountains, with vines, branches, and flowers adorning the spear...

An Ape Fiend that had surpassed its ordinary counterparts so much that it could unleash a Perpetual Darkness domain.

Finding the source, Hidechiyo felt the Yokai Bloodline within her stirring, knowing it was not advisable to delay any longer. She needed to quickly deal with this Ape Fiend and dispel the Perpetual Darkness. She turned back and used her eyes to signal the person behind her to stay away from here.

"Does she have to be so protective..."

Gu Mo muttered softly, but still followed the girl's instructions, backing up a bit and not approaching the Ancestral Hall.

The Yokai inside were indeed nothing to Hidechiyo; perhaps they would just be a one-slice affair even if they all attacked together. But it was different for him. Even the Hungry Ghosts inside were Greater Hungry Ghosts. He had no idea how much their combat power had increased compared to the Lesser Hungry Ghosts. It was better not to go up and be a burden.

I'll just be a war correspondent from the back, taking some pictures...

Watching the determined black-haired girl walk into the Ancestral Hall courtyard alone with just her sword, Gu Mo was about to pull out his phone but stopped. Forget it, he thought, that doesn't seem like a good idea. The lighting was bad, the colors too dark; he wouldn't be able to capture anything without flash.

And if he used flash, he might just end up drawing aggro...

So, he decided against it. If he couldn't help, he shouldn't be a liability. Gu Mo was well aware of this, though he felt a bit regretful that he wouldn't be able to take more pictures to bring back. Still, he restrained the urge to take out his phone.

Roars, wails, shrieks, and panicked cries...

All of it erupted the moment the first flashing arc of light tore through the gloomy black and white world, like a grand chorus playing inside the Ancestral Hall. There were the fierce howls of the Hungry Ghosts, the enraged roars of the Yokai just before their heads were severed, and the sharp, monkey-like screams of the Ape Fiend!

The exquisite, golden, noble demon horns on her forehead emerged. The girl's figure advanced through the Ancestral Hall courtyard like a phantom. Her beautiful black hair flew, as if she were dancing, easily evading the fierce encirclement of the Yokai. In the chaotic melee, the Uchigatana in her hand reflected a chilling glint, carving out one dazzling silver arc after another.

With a low whistle as they cut through the air, they struck down the heads and arms of those Yokai like lightning.

Dismembered limbs flew high. Heads, still showing the ferocity of their last moments, flew out with blood, their expressions frozen, then rolled a few times on the ground after falling.

A lightning-fast horizontal slash.

A thunderous stab with the sword tip.

It wasn't necessarily flashy or visually stunning, but it was clean, swift, and incredibly fast. This was the girl's own style. Her swordsmanship was about leveraging her strength and speed advantage, preying on the weak, attacking the enemy's weaknesses with her strengths, and resolving the fight in the fastest and most efficient way possible.

It was also quite pleasing to the eye, a stark contrast to Gu Mo's current clumsy, terrible, over-the-top fighting style.

The sharp monkey cries grew more urgent. The Ape Fiend, which had unleashed the Perpetual Darkness, watched the girl with anger and fear. While directing the Yokai under its command to surround and attack, it also brandished the crudely made but highly lethal javelin, attempting to injure the girl.

Perhaps it was due to habit, something that couldn't be changed even after becoming a fiend. This giant ape's attack method was to leap high and hurl the javelin in its hand at the enemy.

It didn't actually throw its only weapon, but rather materialized an attack in the form of a javelin made of Yokai power, which was relatively more powerful and vicious.

However, it had no effect. The javelins the Ape Fiend threw during every opening failed to hit... No, there were times they hit, for example, when the girl's afterimage had just vanished, and another Yokai happened to pounce fiercely on that spot, only to be pinned to the ground by the Ape Fiend's Yokai power javelin.

With the tacit cooperation between friend and foe, the ordinary Yokai were being slaughtered one after another. The hulking, headless corpses fell one by one, while the girl's phantom-like figure moved back and forth in the courtyard. Her lightning-fast drawing attacks were guaranteed to heavily injure or even kill a Yokai with every strike.

"Tsk tsk..."

At the edge of the mountain forest where it met the mountain path outside, Gu Mo watched the scenes unfolding inside the Ancestral Hall, nodding repeatedly, feeling a sense of longing. He wondered when he would be able to reach this level.

However, Axiu at this point didn't seem to have transformed into the mystical level she would reach later. This level of combat power didn't seem too outrageous. If he were to estimate optimistically, perhaps when he invested his Strength, Agility, Constitution, etc., up to fourteen or fifteen points, he might be able to approach this level to some extent?

Gu Mo was thinking this when suddenly, a roar came from behind him.

His heart tightened, and he quickly turned around, intending to swing the weapon in his hand. But just as he turned his head, a black shadow slammed into him with tremendous force, knocking him to the ground... leaving him seeing stars, his chest churning with surging blood. Everything happened so suddenly!

Gu Mo's thoughts momentarily stalled, but his body instinctively struggled. The instant he hit the ground, he subconsciously crossed his arms in front of him. The next moment, a thick, reddish arm, as stout as an adult's thigh, reached out to grab his head.

The immense force made his arms instantly numb, as if his arm bones were about to crack. His arms were also torn open by sharp claws, and blood spurted out!

But Gu Mo gritted his teeth and held on, ultimately preventing his head from being crushed immediately. In the midst of the chaos, he struggled to calm down. He saw a hideous-faced Yokai pinning him down.

Fortunately, it's just an ordinary Yokai...

This thought arose in his mind and flashed by so quickly that even he didn't notice it.

At this moment, the suddenly appearing Yokai roared and raised its other thick arm, about to swing down with another fierce claw. They didn't have any special abilities; their limb strength was simply immense, likely far exceeding that of ordinary people. With that previous claw strike, Gu Mo's two arms had almost failed to block it.

"...!!"

His pupils sharply contracted. Without a second thought, Gu Mo used all his strength to push up with one arm, resisting the demon's pressing claw. He quickly released his other hand, grabbed the Uchigatana that had just fallen nearby, gathered all his strength, and thrust it forcefully ahead of time towards the Yokai's horns on its head!

Something in his chest was pounding violently, like a drum. At this moment, his heart struggled, almost leaping out of his body.

He was about to clear the stage by relying entirely on someone else's strength. He absolutely would not capsize in the final stretch!