16

"I can absorb this too?" Lin Kai's eyes widened in surprise the moment he saw the message. Until now, he thought he could only absorb plants and that treasured axe. But who would have thought that this wasn't the limit? The seemingly ordinary pill in his hand could be absorbed too.

"Does this mean I can absorb everything? Animals, ores, and even... humans?" As this thought crossed his mind, Lin Kai's breath hitched, and for a moment, he almost forgot about the excruciating pain wracking his body. A shiver ran down his spine, leaving him cold despite the fever burning inside him. If this were true, it would be terrifying beyond measure. If word ever got out, he would be hunted down like a wild beast.

"Calm down, stay calm." He muttered to himself, squeezing his eyes shut as he tried to collect his thoughts. His heart was racing, but he had to remain composed.

"But how does this even work? Why can I absorb some things and not others?" He held the silver coin in his palm, staring at it with furrowed brows, hoping it would trigger the same window. But nothing happened. His excitement dampened slightly, and he sighed, wondering why only certain items could be absorbed.

After thinking deeply for a moment, a possible explanation dawned on him. "Is it because they are extraordinary items?" His voice was soft as he tested the theory in his mind. It made sense—every item had displayed the option so far, like the Iron Bamboo, the heavy axe, the Moonlight Grass, and now this healing pill, was no ordinary thing. The more he thought about it, the more confident he became that this was the reason.

"Hisss..." A sharp wave of pain snapped him out of his thoughts, making him grit his teeth as his body protested his every movement. He glanced at the pill again, hesitating. He wasn't sure if eating it would be more effective than absorbing it, but he needed to heal badly.

"Screw it." His jaw tightened, frustration creeping into his voice. Eating it might help in the short term, but absorbing it could bring greater long-term benefits. Opportunities to absorb something this rare didn't come often, and he didn't want to let this one slip by.

"Absorb." After a brief pause, he made his decision and selected [Yes].

Almost immediately, the pill was enveloped by a thin, dark layer before disappearing completely from his hand. At the same time, a warm, soothing sensation spread through his body. Unlike the painful experience of absorbing the Iron Bamboo, this time it felt as if he were submerged in a warm bath, gentle hands massaging every aching muscle.

The relief was overwhelming. His eyelids grew heavier, and despite the pain still lingering in his body, Lin Kai couldn't help but drift off into a deep sleep, his breathing soft and steady.

While he slept, subtle changes began to take place in his body. Though not as dramatic as before, the healing process had begun. The wounds on his back and legs, which had seemed so severe, started to slowly heal. The cuts and bruises across his body were already beginning to heal at a pace visible to the naked eye.

------------------

*Knock...Knock...Knock...

A knock at the door woke Lin Kai the next morning.

"Ugh..." Half-asleep, he sat up quickly. But the sudden movement sent a wave of sharp pain coursing through his body.

"Shit..." He cursed under his breath, gritting his teeth as the pain brought him fully awake. Groaning, he moved slowly, his body still aching, but the pain this time was less than before he fell asleep.

*Knock...Knock...Knock...

The knocking grew louder, and from the small crack beneath the door, he could see a shadow pacing back and forth, clearly impatient.

Gritting his teeth, Lin Kai forced himself to stand, enduring the discomfort. He limped to the door and opened it, only to be greeted by Bo Qin's worried face.

"Thank god, you're alive!" Bo Qin let out a sigh of relief, patting his chest. His eyes scanned Lin Kai from head to toe, taking in his pitiful appearance. His hair, already messy, was now even worse, tangled with dirt and dried leaves. His clothes were still tattered, and his pale face, marked by the struggle he had endured, made him look pitiful. The only striking thing amid this beggar-like appearance was the dark blue eyes and despite his frail state, they held a wisdom far beyond his age.

"Is it evening already?" Lin Kai asked, rubbing his eyes as he glanced outside at the dark sky. He wasn't sure how long he had been asleep, but he felt better than he had the day before.

"Evening?" Bo Qin exclaimed in surprise before shaking his head. "It's morning! You've been asleep for an entire day. I thought you were dead in there!"

Lin Kai blinked, stunned. But after a moment, he shook his head. Given how severe his injuries had been, it was a miracle he could even move at all after just one day of rest.

"I spoke with the steward," Bo Qin continued, his voice was much softer now compared to before. "You can take a few days off to rest."

With some hesitation, he spoke further, "I know you're trying to earn money, but is it really worth risking your life?"

Bo Qin's words left Lin Kai silent. He had been so desperate to earn money and prove himself that he had thrown caution to the wind. But after the ordeal he had gone through, he now realized how close he had come to death. He had been reckless.

"I..." Lin Kai opened his mouth to respond, but he sighed instead. "It was my mistake. I shouldn't have been this anxious." His words were quiet, it was as if he was speaking to himself rather than Bo Qin. He could still feel the lingering fear from the encounter in the forest. If not for his bone refinement, he would have died multiple times over. His legs trembled at the memory, still unable to fully grasp how he had survived.

At first Bo Qin wanted to scold him further, but after seeing Lin Kai acknowledging his mistake, he sighed heavily. "Forget it. I've spoken with some people, and by next week, we'll have some safer ways to make money."

"Take care. I'll check on you this evening." After patting Lin Kai on the shoulder, Bo Qin turned and walked away, leaving Lin Kai standing by the door, deep in thought.

---------

After Bo Qin left, Lin Kai returned to his bed, sitting down carefully to avoid aggravating his injuries. The last remnants of sleep had vanished from his mind, replaced by thoughts of the conversation. For a moment, he felt a warm sense of gratitude towards Bo Qin. Since arriving in this world, few people had shown him any real kindness. But Bo Qin had. And for that, Lin Kai was truly thankful.

"The pill." His eyes widened as he suddenly remembered the healing pill. In all the commotion, he had almost forgotten to check the changes.

Without wasting any time, he opened the panel, and sure enough, there was something new.

[Name: Lin Kai]

[Realm: 8th Step (False)]

[Skills: Exploration, Passive Heal]

[Passive Heal: Slowly heal any injury or ailment over time.]

The description was simple, but to Lin Kai, it was nothing short of a miracle. This was his second skill, and he alone knew the struggle he had gone through to obtain it. While it wasn't as powerful as he had hoped, it was still a lifesaver. At least now, he didn't have to worry about injuries or sickness in the future.

He checked the injury on his leg and saw the flesh slowly squirming as it healed. Normally, the sight would have made his skin crawl, but now he only felt relief. Letting out a long breath, he lay back on the bed and closed his eyes, drifting into a peaceful sleep. This time, no knocking or morning bells disturbed his rest.

----------

While Lin Kai slept soundly, elsewhere in the Ji family estate, a different scene was unfolding.

A man in his thirties stood silently in one of the small, exquisite buildings. He waited patiently, his posture respectful. If Lin Kai had been present, he would have recognized him as the guard who had taken the Moonlight Grass from him.

The guard stood there for what seemed like an eternity until, at last, a deep voice called from inside.

"Enter."

The guard knelt before the elderly man inside, bowing his head respectfully. "Head Steward."

"What is it?" The old man's tone was sharp, his face a mask of irritation.

The guard began to explain the events of the previous day, from Lin Kai's entry into the forest to his bloody return.

When the guard finished, the Head Steward was silent for a long moment before he finally spoke. "Did you really waste my time with this nonsense?" His voice was cold with disbelief. He wondered if the guard had lost his mind. Why else would he come to report such trivial matters?

"Head Steward," the guard persisted. "The Elders instructed us to report any changes related to the Herb Mountain. I believe the boy might have encountered one of the beasts, and if so, the risk of it entering the family grounds is high."

The old man clenched his teeth, barely holding back his anger. "If the boy managed to escape, it means the beast is only at the Muscle Refining level. Are you telling me your guards are so incompetent that you can't handle that?"

The guard hesitated but tried again. "We're not warriors, and the Elders told us—"

"LEAVE." Finally, unable to take it anymore, the old man waved his hand, signaling for the guard to leave.

The guard hurriedly bowed and backed out of the room, his face pale with fear. It wasn't until the door clicked shut behind him that the Head Steward sighed, rubbing his forehead with frustration.

"Just like they say... the more remote the area, the stupider the people you hire there are." He muttered under his breath, his voice laced with disdain. His gaze drifted toward the window, staring at the sprawling estate outside, though his eyes seemed to look beyond it, lost in thought.

With a reluctant expression, he muttered, "What a fall from grace for such an illustrious family." The words were barely audible, yet they carried a deep sense of disappointment. Once, the Ji family had been a force to be reckoned with, but now they were struggling to maintain their place in this new territory. The people they could hire here were nothing compared to those back in the heart of their power.

Heaving a heavy sigh, the old man shook his head, his weariness evident. His attention slowly returned to the pile of papers on his desk. After all, there were still many matters that needed to be handled, and he couldn't afford to be distracted. 

"Still so much to do…" His voice was barely a whisper as he leaned back in his chair, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him as his eyes gazed into the distance outside the window into the distance as if reminiscing about the past...