The Journey

The dense forest was alive with sounds—the rustling of leaves, the occasional distant howl, and the soft crunch of Xu Qianqian's boots against the undergrowth.

She gripped her weapon tightly, her eyes scanning the shadows as she followed the faint golden trail the system had conjured. The quest had been vague, cryptic even, but its urgency had been unmistakable.

Echo's voice rang out in her mind, calm yet curious. "Do you feel that? The air here is... different. There's power lingering in this place."

Qianqian nodded, her heart pounding. She didn't reply, saving her energy for whatever lay ahead. The forest suddenly grew quieter, as though holding its breath. Then, in the distance, she heard it—a guttural growl followed by the piercing yelp of a struggle. Her pace quickened, the golden trail brightening as she approached the source of the noise.

Breaking through the underbrush, she froze. In a clearing, a majestic tiger was locked in battle with a pack of wild hyenas. The mother tiger was enormous, her stripes shimmering faintly as if laced with gold, but it was clear she was losing the fight. Her movements were slowing, her flank heaving with exhaustion as she protected three tiny cubs huddled behind her.

Qianqian's breath hitched. "She's outnumbered," she murmured.

"And out of time," Echo added grimly. "You'll have to help her."

Without hesitation, Qianqian charged into the fray. The hyenas turned, their gleaming eyes narrowing at the new threat. She swung her weapon, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she fought alongside the tiger.

The battle was brutal—hyenas snapping and clawing, Qianqian dodging and striking with precision.

Finally, with a final swing, the last hyena fell. Qianqian stood panting, her arms aching, as the surviving cubs whimpered softly. She turned to the mother tiger, who had collapsed onto her side. Blood matted her shimmering fur, and her breaths came in shallow, uneven gasps.

Qianqian knelt beside her, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, placing a gentle hand on the tiger's massive head.

The tiger's golden eyes locked onto hers, filled with an intelligence and gratitude that startled her. For a moment, it seemed as if the tiger was trying to communicate. Then, with a shuddering breath, the great beast closed her eyes and grew still.

"She's gone," Echo said quietly.

Qianqian swallowed hard, her throat tight. "I'll take care of them," she promised, glancing at the cubs. She gently buried the mother tiger in the clearing, her hands trembling as she carved a marker into the soil with a sharp stone. "Rest well," she murmured.

As she stood, the system chimed in her mind, startling her.

[Quest Completed: Rescuing the Legacy]

When she returned to the clearing where her base was located, she stopped in her tracks. Her small house had transformed. The once modest structure now stood taller, its walls reinforced and an additional wing extending to the side. A system notification appeared.

[Base Upgrade Complete: Level 2 Base Achieved]

When the glow faded, a new structure stood at the edge of the clearing—a larger, sturdier house, complete with a small garden plot and a storage shed.

Her phone buzzed again, and the system interface displayed a new notification:

"Level Up! House upgraded to Level 2."

Qianqian stared at the new house, a slow smile spreading across her face.

She quickly opened her interface

___

Name: Xu Qianqian

Level: 4 (200/4000)

Status: Alive

Health: 100

Energy:85/100

Stamina:35/40

Strength:25/40

Agility:30/40

Endurance:26/40

Perception:25/40

Intelligence:30/40

Dexterity:35/40

Luck:30/40

Current survival points:20,000

___

Qianqian was not really suprised. Ever since she received the system she had been training and excersing to increase her stats.

She was pretty close to being a superhuman at this point. She set the cub she was holding down and let them wander around for a bit and focused on the upgraded house.

The newly upgraded house was a sight to behold compared to the small shack she had started with. It was still modest, but it now had two rooms—a bedroom and a small storage area. The garden plot at the side was an unexpected boon, though it would take time to plant and grow anything worthwhile.

Qianqian explored the house with a mixture of relief and excitement. The walls were solid, the roof was well-built, and the air inside was fresh and clean. The storage shed behind the house was spacious enough to hold essential supplies, freeing up the clutter in her warehouses.

"This is better than I imagined," she murmured, running her fingers along the sturdy wooden walls.

Echo's voice chimed in. "It's functional for now, but it's not a fortress. Don't get complacent. This is a foundation, not the final product."

"I know," she replied, determination hardening her voice. "This is just the start. But having a stable shelter like this—it's a game changer."

She wasted no time settling in. Over the next few days, she transferred some supplies from her warehouses to the house, carefully categorizing everything. The garden plot was tilled and prepared for planting, though she was still figuring out what to grow.

"Focus on utility," Echo advised. "Medicinal herbs, hardy crops. Things you can't always rely on finding once the chaos begins."

Qianqian nodded, jotting down notes in a small journal. She had so much to do, and the clock was ticking.

Despite her focus, the outside world was closing in on her.

Her roommate, Lin Mei, had grown more persistent in her questioning. "Why are you skipping so many classes, Qianqian? It's not like you. And what are you even doing all day?"

Qianqian kept her responses vague, but Lin Mei wasn't satisfied. One evening, she cornered Qianqian in their dorm room.

"Are you in some kind of trouble?" Lin Mei asked, her tone a mix of worry and frustration. "You've been acting so weird lately. You barely talk to me anymore, and you're always sneaking out."

"I'm fine, Lin Mei," Qianqian said, forcing a smile. "I just have… personal things to take care of. It's nothing serious."

Lin Mei frowned, clearly unconvinced, but she eventually let it go.

More concerning was the school's involvement. Her frequent absences had prompted the administration to contact her family. Her brother, Xu Jinhai, had called her multiple times, but she had dodged his calls, unwilling to explain herself.

Finally, one evening, her phone buzzed with a text message from him:

"Qianqian, call me back. Now. Mom and Dad are worried,They are back."

She stared at the message, anxiety clawing at her chest. She was also surprised, she had no idea that they had cut their holiday short because of her.

She was somewhat relieved,at least now she wouldn't have to think about how to make them come back.

"You can't ignore them forever," Echo said.

"I know," she whispered. "But I can't tell them. Not yet."

By late march,the strain was becoming unbearable. Her money was nearly gone, her school was growing more insistent, and her family was demanding answers. Even Echo, usually calm and encouraging, had grown sharper in his warnings.

"You're running out of time and resources. You need to consolidate your efforts. The system gave you this house for a reason—use it."

"I am using it," she snapped. "But there's only so much I can do with what I have left."

"Then focus. Prioritize."

He was right, of course, but that didn't make it easier.

One morning, as she stood in the clearing outside her house, staring at the surrounding forest, she made a decision. She couldn't keep juggling everything on her own. It was time to bring her brother, Jinhai, into the fold.

"He's practical," she told Echo later that evening. "And he's good under pressure. If anyone can help me without asking too many questions, it's him."

"He's also stubborn," Echo pointed out. "You'll have to convince him that this isn't just another one of your wild schemes."

"I know," she said grimly. "But I don't have a choice. If I keep this up alone, I'll burn out before the apocalypse even starts."