Preparing For The Path Ahead
Here's the expanded and rewritten version of **Chapter 4: Preparing for the Path Ahead**:
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### Chapter 4: Preparing for the Path Ahead
The dim glow of the moon bathed Yohan's room as he leaned back against the door, shutting out the chaos of the estate. His thoughts lingered on the day's events—the fight, the status screen, and the rewards. Everything was happening so fast, yet he had no time to dwell on it. Survival demanded action.
"System," he said, his voice steady. "Open the shop."
A translucent window appeared before him, displaying countless categories:
- **Combat Techniques**
- **Skills**
- **Equipment**
- **Medicinal Pills**
- **Miscellaneous Items**
Each category brimmed with options, their names glowing faintly. Yohan's eyes immediately darted to the glowing number at the top right corner of the screen: **Path Tokens: 10.**
"Ten tokens," he muttered. "Not much to work with."
Curious, he selected the **Combat Techniques** section. A new screen unfolded, showcasing dozens of options ranging from basic strikes to advanced arts. However, most of them were grayed out, their prices far beyond his reach.
"Figures," Yohan muttered. He scrolled down until he found something within his budget.
- **Basic Blade Art – Cost: 5 Path Tokens**
- **Serpent's Fang Strike – Cost: 7 Path Tokens**
- **Shadow Step Enhancement – Cost: 8 Path Tokens**
Yohan tapped on **Shadow Step Enhancement**, and a description appeared:
**"Enhances the speed and fluidity of Shadow Step, allowing the user to move with greater precision and efficiency. Requires mastery of Shadow Step to unlock further advancements."**
He clenched his fists. "I'll come back to this. Let's see what else I can afford."
Switching to the **Equipment** section, he found a few affordable items:
- **Steel-Edge Dagger: A reliable, well-balanced weapon for swift and precise combat. – Cost: 4 Path Tokens**
- **Reinforced Leather Armor: A lightweight yet durable armor crafted from the hide of a Shadowfang Beast. The dark, matte-black leather provides excellent mobility while offering significant protection against physical and elemental attacks. Its enchantments include minor stealth enhancements, making the wearer harder to detect in dimly lit environments.– Cost: 6 Path Tokens**
- **Traveler's Cloak: A durable, dark-gray cloak designed for long journeys. It is lightweight, weather-resistant, and offers basic protection against the elements. Its hood provides additional concealment, making it ideal for stealthy travel. – Cost: 3 Path Tokens**
"Practical," he murmured, eyeing the dagger and armor.
Finally, he navigated to the **Medicinal Pills** section, where options like **Basic Healing Pills: Essential items for recovery and staying alive during dangerous encounters (2 Path Tokens each)**
**Energy Recovery Pills: designed to rapidly replenish a cultivator's energy reserves.(3 Path Tokens each)** caught his attention.
Yohan paused, thinking carefully. "I need to be smart about this. Every token counts."
After a moment of deliberation, he made his purchases:
- **Steel-Edge Dagger (4 Tokens)**
- **Basic Healing Pills x3 (6 Tokens)**
His remaining tokens dropped to zero. The purchased items materialized on the table beside him. The dagger gleamed faintly in the moonlight, its edge sharp enough to cut through leather with ease. The small jade bottles containing the healing pills emitted a faint herbal aroma.
He picked up the dagger, testing its weight in his hand. It wasn't the most impressive weapon, but it was a significant improvement over bare fists. "Good enough for now," he said, tucking it into his belt.
Yohan then opened the **Longshadow Blade Art** manual again, focusing on the glowing Shadow Step technique. He spent the next hour studying its movements, committing them to memory. The manual emphasized balance and fluidity, requiring precise footwork and split-second timing.
"This will take time," he muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "But I'll get it."
As the first light of dawn crept into the sky, Yohan stepped out of his room, dagger strapped to his waist and determination etched across his face. The estate was silent, its inhabitants still lost in sleep. He moved swiftly, heading toward the edge of the clan's territory.
"I'll master Shadow Step," he thought, gripping the hilt of his new dagger. "And I'll prove to myself—and to this world—that I'm not trash anymore."
### **Chapter 4.5: Waiting in the Shadows**
The dim light of the setting sun painted the Long Clan estate in hues of orange and gold. Yohan sat cross-legged on the floor of his small room, staring at the lone window. Beyond it, the sky slowly darkened, the colors fading into the deep blues of twilight.
He had spent the day carefully planning his departure, ensuring that everything he needed was packed and ready. The dagger he had bought was tucked securely into his belt, and his satchel, filled with supplies, lay beside him.
The estate outside was still alive with activity. Servants moved about, carrying out their duties, and the distant murmur of conversations echoed through the halls. Yohan clenched his fists. Leaving now would be suicide; too many eyes, too many ears.
He glanced at the system screen floating faintly in his vision, its presence a silent reminder of the path he had chosen. The words *"Host is advised to exercise patience and caution"* lingered in his mind.
"I know," he muttered under his breath. "I'm not stupid."
Time dragged on, each second feeling like an eternity. The light outside grew dimmer, and the sounds of the estate gradually faded. Servants retired to their quarters, guards settled into their evening posts, and the estate descended into a quiet stillness.
Yohan leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. The weight of his decision pressed heavily on him. This was no simple escape—it was severing ties with the only place he had ever called home, no matter how cold and cruel it had been.
A pang of guilt flickered in his chest as he thought of his mother. She was the only one who had shown him any semblance of care. But staying meant death, and he couldn't afford to hesitate.
As the last vestiges of daylight disappeared and the moon took its place in the sky, Yohan rose to his feet. The estate was now cloaked in darkness, with only the faint glow of lanterns along the main paths breaking the shadows.
Yohan adjusted his satchel and tucked the dagger into an easy-to-reach position at his side. He took a deep breath, steadying his nerves. The moment had arrived.
Glancing once more at the window, he whispered to himself, "Wait until they sleep. Move like a shadow."
And with that, Yohan settled back into the shadows of his room, his ears attuned to the quieting estate, waiting for the perfect moment to leave.