[Boss, why have you run off to this godforsaken place again?]
[Mei, regarding that spiky-scaled beast, does the original author have any specific descriptions?]
The spiky-scaled beast, and the giant bird that Mu Yuan had summoned with a whistle back then, were things Ling Yan was quite concerned about.
Enduring the harsh environmental conditions, food scarcity, and severe climate here was one thing.
But facing the threat of unknown creatures in such dire circumstances was simply too unfriendly.
As expected, Mei provided relatively specific descriptions.
But not about the spiky-scaled beast; it was about the threat facing the entirety of Snowgate Island.
[Snowgate Island is plagued by alien beasts year-round.]
The original author's casual sentence meant that for the hundred-odd Mu family soldiers on the island, even a moment of carelessness could cost them their lives.
The Xingling King's reason for dispatching the Mu family army to guard Snowgate Island, the southernmost part of the Xingling Kingdom, wasn't fear of foreign invasion, but precisely because of the frequent alien beast attacks on the island.
And it happened almost once a month.
Ling Yan had heard bits and pieces of this from the lively monkey-like Hou San.
[The author didn't specifically describe any alien beasts, so we have no idea what kind of creatures we'll be facing. This crazy system might arrange anything to come our way.]
As Mei said this, Ling Yan suddenly recalled that before Mei had severed its connection with the system, the system seemed to have threatened them.
It had said something about taking Mu Yuan's life within fifteen chapters, otherwise they would pay the price.
Ling Yan asked Mei how many chapters they should have progressed through in the original text based on the current plot development.
Mei calculated that exactly fifteen chapters had passed since their last contact with that crazy, obsessive-compulsive system.
Mei's words made Ling Yan fall into deep thought.
As Ling Yan walked into Qing Pine Ridge, following his memory, he walked for about a quarter of an hour and finally arrived at the place where he and Mu Yuan had been dropped by the giant bird a few days ago, which was also where Mu Yuan had been injured.
Strangely enough, although the giant bird summoned by Mu Yuan had almost choked them to death, the "landing" spot it had chosen for them was relatively flat.
However, coincidentally, in the middle of this flat ground, a section of old tree root jutted out.
This was the reason for Mu Yuan's injury.
Returning to the scene also confirmed Ling Yan's guess.
[It seems the system is already starting to act dishonestly.]
[Boss means that this tree root was deliberately arranged by the system?]
Ling Yan's gaze swept around. If his analysis was correct, then it was very likely.
The previous author's goal was to finish the story quickly, so having Mu Yuan, the male protagonist, die made sense.
But why would this intelligent reading system, which should be satisfied as long as the book title, word count, and completed status met its obsessive-compulsive requirements, go to such lengths to kill Mu Yuan?
This was a question worth investigating deeply.
Could it be that Mu Yuan held some secret related to this system?
It seemed that no matter how the plot developed next, Mu Yuan's situation would be extremely dangerous.
Moreover, since the system could manipulate the plot and tamper with their surrounding environment, it wasn't difficult to understand the harsh words it had spoken to Mei back then—
If Mu Yuan didn't die within fifteen chapters, the system would make them pay the price.
Aoowuuu-!
Just as Ling Yan thought of this, a strange cry suddenly came from the depths of Qing Pine Ridge, rapidly approaching him.
Ling Yan's eyes sharpened.
It was here.
The price they would pay!
...
Mu Yuan's injuries were recovering well, thanks of course to the antibiotics and blood-replenishing pills Ling Yan had given him.
With these advanced medications, coupled with General Mu Yuan's strong constitution, his recovery was naturally much faster.
After Qin Wei left, Mu Yuan took his broad-bladed sword and practiced in the training grounds for a while. He worked up a sweat and felt much more refreshed.
At this moment, Li Qiu walked towards him, offering him a towel and water.
Mu Yuan took them and thanked Li Qiu casually, asking, "How's the reinforcement of the southern gate coming along recently? The time is almost here; tell the brothers to be vigilant."
"Rest assured, General. The sudden attack of the spiky-scaled beast a few days ago delayed the work, but the gate should definitely be repaired within another day or two."
Mu Yuan nodded, habitually wiping the sweat from his face with his sleeve again. He sheathed his sword and walked towards his temporary tent. He hadn't taken two steps when a huge sound of seawater crashing against the mountainside suddenly came from the foot of the mountain.
This rumbling sound was mixed with sharp squeaking noises, like the cries of some creature, and the sounds grew louder and louder, rising and falling in succession.
Mu Yuan and Li Qiu's expressions changed.
Li Qiu shouted,
"They've come early too?!"
The "they" Li Qiu was referring to were the alien beasts that constantly plagued Snowgate Island.
In fact, the alien beasts that invaded each month were different.
The Mu family army had been stationed on Snowgate Island for many years and had figured out the pattern. There were three types of alien beasts that lived near Snowgate Island, or rather, would come to the island to cause trouble.
These three types of alien beasts came in rotation at the beginning of different months according to a fixed schedule, so for the Mu family army, the middle of the month could be considered a buffer and adjustment period.
But for some reason, the spiky-scaled beast had suddenly appeared last week, catching everyone off guard.
And this time...
The sentry on the southern watchtower of Snowgate Island blew a rapid horn.
"General! It's the sea rats! Why have they come early?! It's clearly not their time yet!"
The Mu family army quickly formed ranks, each clad in soft armor and wielding long-handled weapons.
They soon gathered on the southern part of Snowgate Island.
Massive waves surged in the southern waters of Snowgate Island. The spray wasn't white; because of the sea rats lurking in the water, the crashing waves were a dense black mass, making onlookers' hearts pound with fear.
The early attack of the sea rats caused some panic among the Mu family army.
"Don't panic!"
Mu Yuan shouted loudly, his voice filled with energy, and the crowd immediately quieted down.
"Li Qiu, go close the gate. Block as much as you can. The rest of you, follow me! We've fought these beasts countless times. They've just come early, that's all! What's there to be afraid of!"
Wooo—!
Just as Mu Yuan finished speaking, the sentry on the eastern watchtower also blew his horn.
The sound was urgent!
The Mu family army in the training grounds erupted in chaos again.
Why was the eastern horn sounding at this time?
Was there also activity in the east?
The group of Mu family soldiers turned their gazes towards the east again.
They saw Hou San, with his long arms and legs, running towards them from the east, moving extremely fast.
His face was red from the cold, and white vapor puffed from his mouth as he shouted, "General! It's the rock-devouring monster! It's coming from the direction of Qing Pine Ridge!"
Hou San's words threw the Mu family army into disarray.
"Rock-devouring monster! How could it attack at the same time as the sea rats?" Li Qiu's voice trembled.
According to the previous pattern, the rock-devouring monster wouldn't come until next month. Unexpectedly, it had arrived early, just like the spiky-scaled beast.
Just then, a dark shadow swept across the sky, and the spiky-scaled beast's unique cry pierced the already tense and suffocating air.
"It's the spiky-scaled beast!"
"Three types of alien beasts have come at once!"