The Mystery of the Forest

Chapter 3: The Mystery of the Forest

Li Yun spent weeks training with the old man, learning the basics of cultivation. He discovered that spiritual energy was like a muscle, which needed to be exercised and strengthened. He learned how to channel the energy, how to use it to increase his strength and speed, and even how to heal injuries.

"You're progressing well, young man," the old man said one day, watching Li Yun practice his moves. "But cultivation isn't just about strength. You need to learn to use your mind as well."

Li Yun nodded, still remembering his desire to become a detective.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Cultivation is a path of self-discovery," the old man explained. "You need to learn to control your thoughts, your emotions, your mind. This is essential to reaching the Immortal Realm."

Li Yun thought about the old man's words. He had always been an observer, a lover of mysteries.

"But how can I use my mind to become a detective?" he asked.

The old man smiled, a gleam in his eyes.

"Cultivation is a path of intuition," he said. "You must learn to sense the energy of the world around you, to read the clues left by others. This is the true art of investigation."

Li Yun felt a chill run down his spine. The old man was talking about a form of investigation he had never imagined before.

"But how can I do that?" he asked.

"The forest is your first case," the old man replied, pointing to the door of the hut. "There is a mystery here, and you must solve it."

Li Yun stepped out of the hut, looking at the forest with new eyes. He took a deep breath, focusing his mind on the energy around him.

He felt the energy of the trees, the energy of the animals, the energy of the wind. And he felt something else, a strange energy, a presence that disturbed him.

"What is this?" he thought, following the strange energy, growing stronger and stronger, deeper into the forest.

He found a small lake, with deep, dark waters. A strange energy emanated from the lake, and he felt a shiver run down his spine.

"There's something wrong here," he thought, looking at the lake cautiously.

He approached the water, feeling the strange energy intensify. He saw a dark shadow at the bottom of the lake, moving slowly.

"What is that?" he muttered, trying to get a better look.

The shadow moved faster, and he saw a strange figure, with glowing red eyes.

"A monster?" he thought, moving away from the lake.

He felt the monster's energy, an evil and powerful energy. He knew he was no match for this creature.

"I need to run away," he thought, running towards the cabin.

He heard a loud roar behind him, and he felt the ground shake.

"The monster is chasing me!" he thought, running as fast as he could.

He reached the cabin, running inside.

"What happened?" the old man asked, looking at Li Yun with concern.

Li Yun took a deep breath, trying to control his breathing.

"There's a monster in the forest," he said, "and it's chasing me."

The old man smiled, a glint in his eyes.

"I knew you'd find a case," he said. "Now, let's solve it."

Li Yun was ready for his first case as a detective in the Heaven Kingdom.

But what did the monster want? And what was the mystery of the forest?