012 Wild Boar

No matter how the Emerald Forest came to bear the name "Emerald," the word forest was never misleading.

At first, only a few scattered trees of varying sizes lined the paths where the girl and Duan Qing walked, arranged without any particular order. But as they ventured deeper, the surrounding trees grew taller and clustered more tightly. Their trunks thickened, and after hiking several miles, some trees became towering giants, their girths wide enough for several people to embrace. Occasionally glancing upward, the sky became increasingly obscured by tender green leaves, which gradually darkened to a deep emerald—so dense that hardly any light could penetrate. If one were skilled at climbing, scaling one of these great trees might offer a breathtaking view of an endless sea of green.

It was truly a sea of trees.

At the forest’s edge, they might encounter a few other players traveling the same way, but this far in, others were seldom seen. Yet, in this desolate wilderness, the girl moved forward with a cheerful spirit, like a fawn returning to nature.

Her steps were light and brisk as she glanced left and right. A bamboo basket was slung over her back, atop which bounced a golden ponytail. At this moment, she wore no hood despite the cloak she carried, wandering freely amidst the dense woods.

Then, suddenly, she tripped over something and fell with a thud.

After traveling this stretch, Duan Qing noted the girl's swift pace. Judging by her familiar movements and smooth progress, it clearly was not her first time here. This made following her quite exhausting for Duan Qing, as it was his first venture into this forest, and he was still a novice player. Witnessing the skilled “expert” take such a tumble, he couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. The phrase “joy turns to sorrow” seemed fitting for the girl’s misstep, and Duan Qing, indulging in a bit of schadenfreude, responded with a sly grin.

The bamboo basket behind her rolled away with a soft rumble. The girl bent her knees and slowly sat up, rubbing her forehead while letting out a pained whimper. Sitting on the ground, she looked around a few times before locking eyes with the giggling Duan Qing behind her.

“What are you laughing at?”

Perhaps she had long noticed this player trailing behind her but had assumed he was just another passerby in the forest and paid him no mind. Now, seeing him mock her, she naturally retorted.

“You don’t look like a good person! You’ve been following me all along—you must have some scheme against me..."

Near noon, golden sunlight sprinkled over the emerald sea of trees, filtering through the canopy and casting mottled shadows on trunks, shrubs, fallen leaves, and even on Duan Qing and the girl. A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, causing the dappled patterns to sway and rustle above, as if the forest itself were chuckling at the two travelers.

Up close, the girl was indeed quite beautiful, though the slight redness and swelling on her forehead from the fall detracted somewhat from her appearance. Watching her pinch her brows and purse her lips adorably, Duan Qing quickly wiped the smile from his face and stepped forward, extending a hand.

“I’m sorry... can you stand up?”

“Hmph... I’m not that weak...” The girl was still pouting angrily. Duan Qing recalled she often appeared vexed whenever he saw her—an odd coincidence. But, truth be told, her sulky expression was rather endearing.

Yet, she refused his hand and rose on her own.

“Since you still have some conscience, I’ll let you off this time, Uncle Qingshan,” she said, wrinkling her nose, likely wincing from the injury. Duan Qing shot her a look of disbelief.

“Uncle? I’m only twenty-five...” he protested.

“Do I look that old to you? Little Dream Bamboo?” he asked.

“You’re definitely older than me... calling you uncle isn’t wrong...” She picked up the bamboo basket she had dropped and slung it back over her shoulder, then turned and shook her arm at him.

“Well then, goodbye, Uncle! And don’t follow me anymore...”

Seeing her pout as she left, Duan Qing hesitated but called out, “Hey, where did you gather those mushrooms?”

“What do you want to ask for?” The girl glanced back, her eyes flickering with a strange emotion.

Duan Qing approached again, adopting a friendly demeanor, though his words were blunt: “You seem very wary... Did you notice me following you all along? Were you so concerned about me that you pretended not to see and then deliberately fell?”

His voice softened until it was almost a murmur. Dream Bamboo’s face grew serious as she asked, “Who exactly are you?”

“Hey, do I look that bad? I just wanted to... find some clues for quests...” he replied.

“Are you the Illusion God of Infinity?” The girl suddenly shouted, staring at him fiercely, which startled Duan Qing.

“Tch, so you really are just some passerby...” she muttered, vexed again. Turning away with a scowl, she ignored him and tried to leave.

“Wait, I haven’t finished talking...” Duan Qing called after her.

“Jungle mushrooms are everywhere in the Emerald Forest. It’s just that players have picked so many that you have to go deeper to find some now...” Her voice trailed off as she walked on, growing more distant. “So your questions are ridiculous. No wonder you seem suspicious...”

Only now did Duan Qing understand where the problem lay. Aside from a touch of helplessness, he wasn’t bothered. He continued following her, raising his voice but keeping a casual tone.

“How can I be blamed? I’ve only played this game a few days, and I’m only level six...”

“Level six?” The girl stopped and turned back, genuinely surprised. “You ventured into the Emerald Forest at level six?”

Tilting her head, she regarded him for a moment before sighing and offering advice. “The outside world is very dangerous, Uncle. You should turn back.”

“You seem so innocent; you probably haven’t played much yourself...” he teased.

“Why? Looking down on me?” Duan Qing smiled.

“Do you even know about the Emerald Forest? The monsters here are...” Dream Bamboo’s voice gradually faded.

Suddenly, the forest grew quiet. From the bushes ahead came a rustling sound. Through gaps in the trees, a dark silhouette began to take shape, accompanied by heavy breathing that grew louder as the figure approached.

“No, no, no... it can’t be...” Dream Bamboo stuttered nervously.

Clearly sensing danger, Duan Qing stayed silent, though neither his instincts nor his self-awareness allowed panic. “What’s wrong?”

“I felt something was off all along... no monsters have appeared...” Her muttering steadied.

The girl eyed Duan Qing for a moment, then bit her lip as if resolving something. She spun around, dropped the bamboo basket, and relaxed her body as if taking a deep breath. Facing the shadowy figure, she crouched slightly, drew a dagger from her waist, and assumed a fighting stance.

“You... run quickly.”

“Huh?” After a pause, Duan Qing pointed to himself, though Dream Bamboo couldn’t see the gesture.

“That should be a wild boar. We can’t beat it.”

“Wild boar? Why...?”

“How should I know!” The girl cut off his endless questions with a sharp tone tinged with anxiety and despair. Duan Qing could even feel her trembling behind him. “Unless someone deliberately lured it here, there’s no way a monster this powerful would be in this area...”

“Run! You’re still a newbie—don’t hold us back here...”

“Hey, do I look that weak?”

“Run!” Dream Bamboo’s voice grew frantic and rapid. “I can hold it off for a while. You run first, then I’ll pick a direction. That should work...”

“If I recall correctly, I saw you dragging a dead boar in the village once...”

“That wasn’t just me... Are you here to cause trouble, Uncle? You really don’t know, or you do...” Dream Bamboo raised her voice, missing the hint in Duan Qing’s words, then sighed and lowered her head helplessly. “Of course you don’t know—you’re still a newbie...” She shrugged and pulled herself together.

Ahead, the shadow’s shape became clearer as it neared. It was the same giant wild boar Duan Qing had seen when he first logged into the game.

Any creature enlarged to such a scale was formidable, especially this boar with its stiff bristles and towering tusks, now radiating palpable menace.

As the boar made its formal appearance, Dream Bamboo calmed slightly. Without turning, she spoke toward the beast.

“This monster has a lot of health. I don’t have the right weapons or preparation... Normally, you wouldn’t find it here, so someone must have brought it.”

The boar snorted, signaling its attack, then began trotting toward them. Dream Bamboo’s gritted teeth were drowned out by the growing thuds of its hooves.

“This is the trouble I brought... I’m sorry.”

Before the words finished, a purple figure dashed forward, so fast that the golden ponytail streamed like a line in the air. The petite figure swiftly shrank in Duan Qing’s sight, leaving only her last two words ringing out: “Run!”

Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows as the two figures—a large and a small one—closed in. Perhaps briefly blocked by clouds or foliage, Duan Qing’s vision darkened just as the small figure suddenly halted.

Just as the boar was about to collide, the girl deftly veered to the side, narrowly escaping.

The massive beast struggled to stop, looking around confused, momentarily thrown off by the lost target. Just out of its sight to the left rear, the small figure twisted several times and leapt beside the boar. In the dim light, she swung her right hand, the flash of metal glinting briefly.

Blood splattered as the boar howled in pain, its eyes bloodshot. Suddenly it thrust its injured right hind leg backward, then without concern for hitting the agile prey, swung around in a wide arc.

Its tusks traced nearly a full circle, the massive body stirring the air and whipping up a fierce wind. The girl jumped back, distancing herself, then cautiously moved in one direction. From Duan Qing’s view, she seemed to need a moment to catch her breath, recovering her waning strength.

The boar’s repeated attacks failed to strike the small figure, fueling its fury. The earth trembled as it stomped, then let out a furious roar.

The air exploded with pressure, catching the girl off guard and forcing her back several steps. As the gap widened, the boar launched a second attack.

It charged forward.

Dream Bamboo retreated but could not match the boar’s speed. Forced to accelerate, she tried to change direction, but the beast adjusted its course while gaining speed.

Bushes flattened under its hooves, leaves swirling as the two figures traced arcs through the forest, converging on a giant tree the girl had chosen.

Bang!

The entire forest seemed to shake. With a deafening crash, the massive tree swayed violently, shards of wood and leaves flying through the dappled light like golden sparks. The tree groaned as the boar tore its tusks from the bark, then reared up, its thick forelegs pausing in midair before crashing down heavily.

The golden ponytail spun wildly among the shrubs as Dream Bamboo, who had just regained her footing, staggered backward from the shock, falling to the ground. Her plan to strike the boar’s head was thwarted. Clutching her dagger tightly, she struggled to rise again, intending to find another tree for cover. Before her eyes, the wild beast’s figure suddenly loomed larger.

The giant boar leapt.

Dust swirled near the big tree as the boar moved with surprising agility for its bulk, descending upon Dream Bamboo. She hastily raised her dagger across her chest, attempting to block the crushing blow—like trying to stop a boulder with a twig.

The twig broke as expected, but it shielded its owner just enough; the tusks did not pierce her, though the immense force sent her flying. She tumbled several times before slamming into a tree, finally coming to a halt.

Pain radiated through her body, especially her back where she had collided with the tree, feeling as though her bones might shatter. Lying on the ground, she tried to get up but could barely move a finger—after such a powerful strike, her body felt alien. Though it was a valuable experience in a virtual game, the girl felt no gratitude at that moment.

It seemed... she really couldn’t win. Oh well, if it’s death, then so be it...

Her vision spun, blurred, then cleared. Dream Bamboo blinked hard, finally steadying her gaze on the surreal scene before her—dappled tree shadows, leaves swirling in the air, a towering tree to one side, and the figure of the “uncle” standing on the other.

“Good reflexes, knowing to jump and reduce the impact. Otherwise, that little dagger wouldn’t have saved you...” Duan Qing squatted beside her.

Eyes filled with disbelief, Dream Bamboo gasped, “You... cough cough... you’re still here...”

“I figured it out. This boar’s tough with thick skin and lots of health. Normal attacks barely faze it. Why didn’t I run? Can you still stand?”

“Cough... if we don’t leave soon... be careful behind us...”

“Alright, alright, I get it. Save your strength.” Duan Qing shook his head as a shadow stretched behind him—signaling the boar’s approach.

“Since you’re so kind to look out for me, I’ll reluctantly believe you’re a good person. So there’s no way I’d just leave you to run off like a coward...”

“Trying to play hero and save the girl! What do you think this is, a romance drama? Cough cough...” The girl spat out the words, then slumped again. Clearly, she saw no hope in their situation. “Hero? Do you think you can beat it...?”

“Of course not,” Duan Qing replied. “What I mean is... we can run together.”

He scooped Dream Bamboo into his arms and, amidst the furious roars of the beast, broke into a desperate sprint.