The next day, just as the first rays of sunlight touched the horizon, Long Tian was already awake. His body still felt the fatigue of the previous day, but his determination kept him going. After completing the daily chores assigned by Aunt Lin watering the small garden, helping carry some sacks, and sweeping the warehouse courtyard he got ready for a new quest.
He clearly remembered Grandpa Yao's words from the night before: one key ingredient was still missing to complete the potion he wanted to prepare. That herb, the "mountain lily petal," was rare and not easy to reach. However, thanks to the map the old herbalist had entrusted him with, Long Tian knew exactly where to begin.
With his axe firmly strapped to his back, a small backpack with supplies, and the map carefully tucked in his inner pocket, he left the village with a steady pace. The weather was cool, perfect for a long walk. The path led him through a wooded area, with tall trees filtering the sunlight in golden beams, and birds singing among the branches, unaware of his purpose.
After several hours of walking along narrow trails and climbing small hills, he reached a mountainous area that matched the point marked on the map. The air became more humid and dense, and the vegetation wilder. Although everything indicated he was close, the lily was nowhere to be found.
Long Tian searched the area for a long time, patiently inspecting every corner: bushes, cracks between rocks, moss-covered roots. The sun was already high when he noticed something odd a wall of rock partially covered in ivy. Among the vegetation, he felt something strange: a gentle stream of air coming from the base of the mountain, as if it were breathing.
With his heart pounding, Long Tian pushed the vines aside and discovered a hidden entrance: a small cave. The opening was narrow, but wide enough for him to crouch and go in. It wasn't on the map, which only added to his curiosity.
"Could it be here?" he whispered to himself, recalling Grandpa Yao's words: "Mountain lilies grow in damp places, shielded from the wind and exposed only to morning light."
Without much hesitation, he took out a torch from his backpack, lit it with his flintstone, and carefully entered the cave. The air inside was cool and damp. The ground was covered in a thin layer of moss, and small drops of water dripped from the ceiling.
As he walked further, the faint torchlight revealed walls streaked with mineral veins and dangling roots. After several minutes of exploration, he turned a tight corner and was met with a breathtaking sight: a beam of natural light poured in through a crack in the cave's ceiling, and right beneath it, three small plants bloomed, their bluish-white petals glowing softly.
It was the mountain lily.
His heart raced with excitement as Long Tian approached cautiously. He knelt beside the flowers and, very carefully, used his knife to cut only the necessary petals, leaving the roots untouched. He placed the petals inside a small cloth pouch Grandpa Yao had given him to keep them fresh.
But just as he stood up to leave, a deep growl echoed behind him.
Growl.
Long Tian quickly turned around, raising his torch and gripping his axe tightly with the other hand. From the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes appeared. A creature the size of a large dog, resembling a giant weasel, emerged from the deepest part of the cave. Its fur was grayish, and its fangs jutted from a long snout. It was guarding its territory.
The growl echoed through the cave like thunder trapped in stone. Long Tian barely had time to turn fully before the creature lunged at him with impressive speed. It looked like a giant badger, with muscular limbs, massive jaws, and eyes that burned with savage fury. The torch in Long Tian's hand shook, casting wild shadows on the cave walls.
With quick reflexes, he spun on his heel and dodged the first charge. The beast landed beside him, kicking up dust and moss, but recovered instantly and lunged again. This time, Long Tian raised his woodcutting axe and slammed it into the beast's side. The blade bit into its thick hide, drawing a growl more of rage than pain.
The creature twisted and kicked Long Tian in the chest with a powerful hind leg. He fell backward, hitting a rock, and dropped the torch. The cave dimmed, lit only by faint daylight filtering in through a crack above, giving the scene a ghostly blue hue. Gasping for air, he got back to his feet, gripping the axe with both hands.
The beast crouched a few steps away, circling him, eyes locked on his every movement. Long Tian could feel his heartbeat hammering in his ears. There was no escape if he ran, it would catch him within seconds. He had to fight.
"Come on..." he muttered, tightening his grip.
The next clash was brutal. The beast charged again, and Long Tian rolled to the side, slashing with his axe. This time, he struck one of its front legs. The beast cried out in pain, but its rage was undiminished. It spun and raked his left arm with its claws, tearing through his sleeve and skin.
He screamed as pain exploded in his arm. He staggered back, blood pouring from the wound, but didn't let go of the weapon. The creature went in for the kill, but he kicked it in the snout, forcing it to recoil just enough to buy a few precious seconds.
Leaning against the cave wall, Long Tian took a deep breath and raised the axe above his head. He knew this next move had to count. The creature leapt at him once more, and this time, he didn't dodge. Shouting with all his strength, he brought the axe down in a deadly arc.
The blade struck the beast's skull with a sickening thud. The force of the blow knocked it sideways, trembling. Long Tian stumbled back, his arm bleeding and breath ragged. The creature tried to rise again, but its body failed it. With one final twitch, it collapsed.
Silence returned to the cave, broken only by Long Tian's gasps.
He leaned against the wall, then slid to the ground. His injured arm throbbed, but the wound wasn't fatal. Gritting his teeth, he tore part of his tunic and wrapped it around the gash. His mother had once taught him how to stop bleeding during their days in the village her lessons now saved him.
The pain was sharp, but a warm sense of victory filled his chest. He had faced a wild beast on its own ground and survived. It hadn't been a clean or glorious win, but it was his.
After resting for a few minutes and ensuring there were no other threats, he approached the lilies once more. With respect, he gathered the rest of the petals and placed them carefully in his pouch. He glanced at the fallen creature and gave a small bow.
"Thank you," he whispered not for the attack, but for the lesson.
Wounded and weary, Long Tian stepped out of the cave, following the faint light of noon that filtered in from the outside. He had found what he came for.