I maxed out the Scholar talent at the start, but I want to be a Warrior.

The next morning, before dawn, the three of them set off.

Gu Cheng walked at the front, carrying a long sword to clear the way. He didn't bring a gun, because with his novice level, a long sword was far more effective than a gun.

Gu Chang'an walked in the middle, with his iron spear slung over his back, his expression unchanged.

Gu Daliang walked at the back, his bow slung over his back, with some arrows stuck in his quiver.

The three of them followed the path they had taken yesterday, crossed two mountain ridges, and headed north along the stream.

On the way, Gu Cheng was in an unusually good mood, feeling as if the treasure was already in his pocket.

He even started humming a song.

Gu Daliang turned around and looked at him, his face full of surprise.

Gu Cheng is organizing his plans.

The first step is to enter the canyon, pass through the pass, and get to the vicinity of the tiger.

The second step is to make a commotion to lure the tiger over.

The third step is to pass through the pass, create some distance, and wait for your uncle and third uncle to push the boulder.

The fourth step: the tiger is trapped, so it enters the cave to seize the treasure.

simple.

clear.

There are no vulnerabilities.

perfect!

Gu Cheng's lips curled up again.

Gu Chang'an walked behind, watching his nephew's back.

He didn't speak.

He simply took the iron spear off his back and held it in his hand.

We arrived at the Broken Soul Gorge.

As the morning light first touched the top of the rock face, the crevices in the canyon were still dark.

Gu Cheng stood at the entrance and glanced inside.

It was pitch black; you couldn't see anything.

But the fishy smell was stronger than last time.

Gu Cheng pulled out the investigation report—

[Mythical Beast - Tiger] [Status: Blind in left eye, old abdominal wound not yet healed (combat power reduced by 8%)] [Current Action: Resting]

Still sleeping.

Distance: Seventy steps.

Gu Cheng took a deep breath and squeezed into the gap.

The stone wall was cold, pressed against his chest and back. The gap was only three feet wide, and he had to turn sideways to walk through it.

One step. Two steps. Three steps.

The gravel underfoot was making a sound.

He slowed his pace.

Ten steps.

Twenty steps.

Upon investigation, the tiger's red dot remained stationary.

Thirty steps.

It got narrower in front.

He continued walking.

Thirty-five steps.

He saw the pass.

The gap was about two feet wide, with the stone walls on both sides almost completely closed. Above, a huge boulder was wedged between the two walls, its bottom hanging in the air, looking like it could fall at any moment.

Gu Daliang and Gu Chang'an should have already climbed up there.

Gu Cheng continued walking forward.

Passing through the pass.

Forty steps.

Forty-five steps.

Fifty steps.

The reconnaissance showed that the tiger's red dot was getting closer.

Thirty steps.

He could smell the tiger. Not the distant, fishy smell, but a strong, pungent stench of rotting flesh, a stench that hit him right in the head.

His pace slowed down.

Twenty-five steps.

He saw it.

In a slightly open part of the canyon, a huge tiger lay on the ground, its head resting on its front paws, its eyes closed.

It was bigger than he had imagined.

Its shoulder height exceeded the top of an adult's head, and its limbs were as thick as tree trunks. Its body was covered in scars, with only a dented scar remaining where its left eye used to be.

Its belly rose and fell, and its breathing was deep.

Each breath felt like a bellows being pulled.

Gu Cheng stood there, motionless.

His legs were shaking.

It wasn't a slight tremor; my knees were spasming, my calves were cramping, and my feet felt like they were stepping on cotton as I walked on the gravel.

His hands were trembling. His teeth were chattering. A layer of cold sweat covered his back, which felt icy cold in the morning breeze.

He saw tigers in the zoo in his past life.

Separated by glass.

At that time, he thought tigers were quite cute, fluffy, like enlarged orange cats.

Now he knows.

Seeing a tiger through glass is completely different from seeing it from 25 paces away. Moreover, the one in front of me is different from the ones in the zoo; it is much larger.

This is a fear ingrained in our genes.

Humans are food in the face of tigers.

His mind was screaming: Run. Run. Run.

But his legs wouldn't obey him.

He stood there, as if nailed to the ground.

He regretted it.

Why did I come?

Can't we send Uncle San?

Can't we send my uncle?

What am I, a complete noob, doing standing here?

But the way out has been cut off.

You can't run.

It shouldn't make too much noise.

You need to calm down.

Gu Cheng gritted his teeth and forced himself to take a deep breath.

Once. Twice. Three times.

My legs are still shaking.

But my mind gradually cleared up.

He glanced at the probe—

[Mythical Beast - Tiger] [Current Behavior: Resting]

Still sleeping.

it is good.

He bent down and picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground.

My hands are still shaking.

He lifted the stone.

Aim at the rock wall to the right of the tiger—don't smash the tiger directly, smash the side to make a noise.

He threw it out with all his might.

The stone slid through the darkness and struck the stone wall.

"Snapped!"

The sound echoed through the canyon.

The tiger's ears twitched.

Then it raised its head.

The right eye opened.

A pair of eyes, glowing with a faint yellow light, stared directly in Gu Cheng's direction.

Gu Cheng's blood froze.

The tiger stood up.

It grew even larger after standing up. Its shoulder height exceeded the top of Gu Cheng's head, its limbs were as thick as tree trunks, and its claws scraped against the gravel with a harsh sound.

It didn't pounce immediately.

It is watching.

His right eye was fixed on Gu Cheng, and his nose was twitching.

It is recognizing.

Identify what this intruder is.

Gu Cheng didn't wait for it to finish identifying.

He turned and ran.

What reconnaissance, what planning steps—I've forgotten it all.

Only one word remained in my mind.

run.

He ran as fast as he could.

The stone walls rushed past on both sides, sending pebbles flying everywhere. His shoulder slammed against the wall, burning with pain, but he didn't care.

Footsteps sounded behind me.

Heavy, rhythmic footsteps approaching.

The tiger is coming.

Gu Cheng dared not turn around.

He glanced at the probe—

Fifteen steps.

Ten steps.

eight steps.

The pass is just ahead.

Five steps.

He squeezed through the narrow passage.

Three steps.

Two steps.

"push!"

A loud bang came from overhead.

boom--

A giant rock fell.

Rocks flew everywhere, dust filled the air, and the entire canyon shook.

The blast of air pushed Gu Cheng off balance, and he fell face down to the ground, his mouth full of the taste of dirt.

He lay on the ground, panting heavily, his ears ringing, unable to hear anything.

A few seconds later, some of the dust settled.

He looked up and glanced back.

The pass was blocked.

The boulder crashed down and got stuck between the two walls, completely blocking the two-foot-wide gap.

Only some rubble and gaps remained, with the largest gap being only about a foot wide.

A person can squeeze through sideways.

Tigers won't work.

Gu Cheng lay on the ground, listening to the sounds coming from the other side of the pass.

roar.

The sound of claws scratching at a stone.

The dull thud of the boulder being struck.

a bit.

Two times.

Three times.

The tiger is pushing a stone.

It is angry.

Gu Cheng rolled over and lay on his back on the rubble, looking up at the sky above.

The morning light shone down from above the canyon, making him squint.

He's alive, facing a tiger head-on? Easy peasy! It doesn't seem like much.

He wiped his face with the back of his hand.

"Cheng'er."

Gu Chang'an's voice came from above.

Gu Cheng looked up.

"Can you still move?"

"……able."

"Then get up."

Gu Cheng pushed himself up from the ground, his legs still trembling.

Gu Chang'an grabbed Gu Cheng's hand and pulled him up.

Gu Chang'an immediately headed deeper into the canyon.

After walking about thirty steps, we arrived at the place where the tiger usually stayed.

The fishy smell was so strong it was pungent.

"Daliang, you wait here. Call us if anything happens," Gu Chang'an said.

Gu Daliang nodded and stopped at the cave entrance.

Gu Cheng followed his uncle further inside.

After walking another twenty steps, they arrived at the cave.

The entrance to the cave was small, and it was even darker inside.

Gu Chang'an walked in front, and Gu Cheng followed behind.

Bones were scattered on the ground—deer bones, rabbit bones, and human bones.

Gu Cheng didn't look closely; his gaze fell directly on the stone platform at the deepest part of the cave.

A gun.

The gun barrel was entirely silver-white, gleaming faintly in the dim light. The spearhead was shaped like a pear blossom, with five open petals, sharp as five small knives.

The gun barrel is engraved with dense patterns and feels slightly warm to the touch.

Gu Cheng reached out and gripped the gun barrel.

A warm sensation flowed from the gun barrel into my palm, spreading throughout my body along my meridians.

The screen popped up—

[Exceptional Treasure Detected: Pear Blossom Spear] [Quality: Good] [Attribute: Strength +1] [Description: Forged from meteorite iron, the spearhead is shaped like a pear blossom, with significant armor-piercing effect.]

Strength +1.

Gu Cheng held the pear blossom spear, feeling the warmth emanating from his palm.

This gun... is so beautiful.

He tried waving it.

The gun body is light, but the gun head is quite heavy.

With each thrust and flick, a powerful force was unleashed.

[Preferred Weapon: Spear (Beginner 0.3%) → Spear (Beginner 0.5%)]

My proficiency has increased.

Good gun.

Gu Chang'an gestured for him to put the gun away.

"withdraw."