The two badger-like creatures, their fur bristling, advanced with a low, menacing growl. Li Xuan, his heart pounding, gripped the hoe tightly. He was still in the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1), his Qi a nascent force, offering little in the way of physical enhancement. Qing'er, barely even in Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1), huddled behind him, her eyes wide with fear.
"Stay back!" Li Xuan shouted, his voice trembling slightly. He tried to project an air of dominance, but he knew it was a bluff. These weren't pixelated monsters with predictable attack patterns; they were wild animals, driven by instinct and territorial aggression.
The larger of the two badgers, its teeth bared, lunged. It was faster than Li Xuan anticipated, a blur of brown fur and sharp claws. He swung the hoe instinctively, a clumsy, desperate arc. The hoe connected with the badger's side, a solid thwack, but it didn't seem to do much damage. The creature snarled, its claws raking against the wooden handle. Li Xuan stumbled backward, losing his grip.
The second badger, seeing its companion engaged, circled around, its eyes fixed on Qing'er. Li Xuan's blood ran cold. He had to protect her. He dropped the hoe and lunged forward, placing himself between the badger and the girl.
"Hey!" he yelled, trying to distract it. "Over here, you overgrown rat!"
The badger, momentarily startled, turned its attention to him. Li Xuan knew he couldn't fight them directly. He was outmatched in strength and speed. He needed to use his wits, his gamer instincts. He scanned the area. The stream was nearby, a shallow, gurgling flow.
"Qing'er, run!" he shouted, his voice desperate. "Towards the stream! Get behind that big rock!"
Qing'er, surprisingly quick, obeyed instantly. She sprinted towards the stream, her small legs pumping, her fear momentarily overridden by the urgency of the situation. The badger, distracted by her movement, hesitated for a moment.
Li Xuan seized the opportunity. He remembered his Falling Leaf Spirit Sword, still stored safely in his Sect Inventory. It was Spirit Grade, a weapon of power, even if he couldn't fully utilize its Qi-enhancing properties yet. He willed it to appear.
The slender sword materialized in his hand, its blade shimmering with an inner light even in the bright sunlight. The sudden appearance of the weapon seemed to startle the badger. It took a step back, its growl turning into a wary snarl.
Li Xuan gripped the hilt, the cool leather surprisingly comforting in his sweaty palm. The sword felt perfectly balanced, an extension of his arm. He might not be a swordsman, but he knew how to hold a weapon. He adopted a defensive stance, keeping the blade pointed towards the badger.
The creature, however, was wary. It circled him, its eyes assessing the new threat. The first badger, recovering from the hoe strike, rejoined its companion. They seemed to confer, a silent communication passing between them.
Li Xuan knew he couldn't win a prolonged fight. He needed to end this quickly. He thought back to the Falling Leaf Sword Arts, the gentle yet deadly style mentioned by the (non-existent) Elder Ming. Unpredictable, inescapable, and ultimately, absolute. He didn't know the techniques, but he had the concept.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. He focused on the sword, on its weight, on its balance. He tried to imagine the flow of Qi, the power that lay dormant within it, waiting for a cultivator to awaken it. He might not be able to use it, but he could feel it.
He took a step forward, a slow, deliberate movement. The badgers tensed, ready to pounce. He feinted to the left, then to the right, trying to confuse them. He was improvising, relying on instinct and a desperate hope that the sword's inherent sharpness would give him an edge.
The larger badger, its patience exhausted, lunged again. Li Xuan reacted, not with brute force, but with a sudden, unexpected movement. He stepped into the attack, using the badger's momentum against it. He twisted his body, bringing the sword around in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's exposed flank.
The blade connected. There was a sickening thud, and a high-pitched squeal. The badger stumbled, its fur parting, revealing a deep gash. It collapsed onto the ground, twitching.
The second badger, seeing its companion fall, hesitated. It seemed to assess the situation, its eyes widening in fear. Li Xuan, his heart still pounding, stood his ground, the sword dripping with crimson. He felt a surge of adrenaline, a strange mix of fear and triumph. He had killed something. For the first time in his life.
The remaining badger, its territorial aggression replaced by primal fear, turned and fled, disappearing into the undergrowth. Li Xuan watched it go, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He lowered the sword, his hand trembling.
He had won. But the victory felt hollow. He had killed a creature, not out of malice, but out of necessity. He looked at the fallen badger, its life extinguished by his hand. It was a harsh lesson in the realities of this world. There were no respawns, no second chances.
Qing'er emerged from behind the rock, her face pale. "Sect Leader Li Xuan," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You... you killed it."
Li Xuan looked at her, his expression grim. "Yes, Qing'er," he said, his voice low. "I did. And it wasn't a game. This world is dangerous. And sometimes, we have to do things we don't want to do, to survive. But we also have to remember what we're fighting for."
He looked back at the small plot of cleared earth, their nascent farm. "We're building something here, Qing'er. A sect. A home. A future. And we won't let anything, or anyone, take it from us."
He sheathed the Falling Leaf Spirit Sword, its power now a stark reminder of the violence he was capable of. He picked up the discarded hoe, its wooden handle stained with his sweat and the creature's blood. He looked at Qing'er, his gaze firm.
"Let's get back to work," he said, his voice resolute. "We have a farm to build."