Misty Forest

Ben decided to end training for the day. It would take about 3 to 4 hours to reach the outskirts of the forest on foot, he had decided against borrowing a horse from the family, he didn't want anyone knowing where he was going. He needed some provisions and some camping utilities for which he would need to go into the city. He informed Oram about his plans and set out. Verdant City's market was bustling with people, so getting the items he needed discreetly took sometime. He returned before nightfall. He asked Oram not to disclose where he went to anyone, Oram was to tell anyone enquiring about him, that he was sick and was not taking in any visitors. He intended to set out before sun rise, so as not to alert anyone. He would return 2 days later, again under cover of darkness.

Next morning, he set off as planned, evading any notice. Only few guards were awake at the time, patrolling the compound, who were easy to avoid. Travelling on foot, it took longer than he estimated to reach his destination, a small settlement called Mist Village at the edge of the forest. It consists mostly of small shops and stalls run by vendors selling provisions and equipment and buying their loot from the forest. He didn't spend too much time in the village, continuing towards the forest. Misty Forest was named such due to the thick mist said to be found in the inner most parts of the forest. Beasts of different types and sizes roamed the forest. The beasts found in the forest were called spirit beasts as they were found to have cultivation too, which made them stronger than normal ones. But how the beast managed to achieve cultivation was not understood. The cultivation of the beast usually increased as one ventured deeper into the forest. Outer forest usually had only spirit beasts with cultivation corresponding to that of a cultivator at Body Tempering or Qi Condensation realm. But even they posed a huge threat to Ben, he likely wouldn't survive an encounter with any of them. Thus, he didn't plan on entering the forest, just roaming around the outskirts where one could find normal beast with no cultivation. He was armed with just a sword and carried three bags on his back, one containing his provisions and utilities, the other two for the materials he would collect. His first encounter was a wild boar. As soon as it noticed his presence, it turned and charged, intent on skewering him with it's massive tusks protruding from between it jaws. Ben threw aside his bags and drew his sword, waiting for it to get near. As it got close, he skipped to side and slashed his sword. He turned to see a long tear on the beasts flank, bleeding profusely unfortunately, it didn't seem to bother the beast, but made it more angry. It charged again, but Ben employed the same tactic again. This continued on for a few minutes, the boar's body was covered in wounds and Ben stood some distance away, panting heavily. The beast was tiring, but so was he. As it charged again, he dug in his feet into ground and stabbed forward with as much force as he could muster. His sword struck the boar in the eye, piercing through it, into it's skull as he was thrown back from the force of the impact. As the excitement of the fight wore off, a wave of fatigue struck. He dragged himself to the nearest tree as sat against it. Quarter of an hour passed before he could get up, he slowly moved towards the dead beast, pulled his sword out from it's head. He needed to harvest what he could form the animal. He took out his knife and removed the boar's intact eye. He also harvested the tusks and hide. The day progressed in a similar fashion, by evening he had managed to kill four more boars and two one eyed viper snakes. He then returned to Misty Village to sell off his harvest, after he turned back towards the forest to set up camp. He earned 20 silver coins for the loot harvested, the poison sacs of the vipers and the boar tusks being the main earners. This amount itself was enough for Oram and him to see out the month as it exceeded his monthly allowance which was 10 sivers. Currency of the empire consisted of bronze, silver and gold coins, 100 bronze coins equivalent to 1 silver and 100 silver equating to 1 gold. There were no accommodation facilities like an inn in the village which was why he had to return to forest edge to spend the night. He found a comfortable spot to set make camp and settled down for the night.