The village was still recovering from the latest building collapse when Yue grabbed my sleeve with the desperation of someone who had seen her lifespan shorten by several centuries in a single afternoon.
"Master, please," she whispered. "Let us leave quietly before anything else falls apart. Or catches fire."
"That last one wasn't my fault," I said. "The crops chose enlightenment."
"That's worse, Master!"
Still, I followed her out of the village square. The moment my foot left the boundary stone, I heard villagers cheering faintly.
"We survived!"
"He's leaving!"
"Hide the wells!"
They're relief.
Humans were emotional creatures indeed.
Yue kept glancing at me, as if expecting me to do something disastrous. "So… where will we go next, Master? You said you want excitement."
"Correct."
"What kind of excitement?"
I frowned.
That was the problem, wasn't it?
"I do not know," I admitted. "In the Divine Realm, everything was already known. Already perfected. I fought celestial beasts. Dueled ancient immortals. Mastered every realm of cultivation. There was nothing left."
"Except boredom," Yue muttered.
"Yes. That was undefeated."
We walked along the dirt path that led deeper into the forest. Birds chirped. Leaves rustled. A peaceful atmosphere… which lasted for approximately seven seconds.
Then a scream echoed from ahead.
A child's scream.
Yue jolted. "Master!"
I moved instantly.
A mortal child stumbled backward as a large boar massive, tusked, and unnaturally aggressive charged toward him.
Yue gasped. "A demonic beast!"
I stepped between them casually.
The boar slammed into me.
Bonk.
It fell unconscious on the spot.
The child stared up at me with wide eyes. "W-wow… mister… you're strong!"
I crouched down. "Thank you."
"No! That wasn't a compliment!" Yue hissed. "You knocked it out with your existence!"
More villagers came running from the forest path, breathless.
"Is the child safe?!"
"Where's the beast?!"
I raised a hand. "I handled it."
Their faces paled.
"Oh heavens, he handled it…"
"Someone check if the mountain is still intact!"
"I'm surprised the forest didn't explode!"
I sighed. "I simply stood there."
"That's the problem!" Yue yelled.
The villagers bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, honored immortal! Please, allow us to repay you!"
"I don't need payment. I only want—"
"For him," Yue interrupted desperately, "to not break anything else. Please."
But the villagers ignored her and started whispering among themselves.
"Maybe… maybe he could help with the forest blockade?"
"Or deal with that strange cave incident?"
"The cave?" I asked, interest sparking.
A man nodded. "Yes. A strange aura comes from it. Our hunters refuse to go near it. Even animals run away."
Yue immediately shook her head. "Master. No. Absolutely not. Forbidden. Denied. Declined."
I ignored her and turned to the villagers. "Where is it?"
Yue grabbed my arm. "Master, listen to me. Excitement does not mean running toward suspicious death caves!"
"Suspicious?" I said. "Perfect. That is the exact level of excitement I seek."
"NO!"
But mortals, naive and hopeful, heard only what they wanted.
"He's willing to help!"
"He's going to investigate the cave!"
"We're saved!"
Yue's soul visibly left her body.
I straightened my robes. "Lead the way."
"MASTER, PLEASE STOP VOLUNTEERING FOR THINGS!"
…
The group escorted us through a deeper part of the forest. The air grew colder. Thicker. Even the trees seemed hesitant to stand too close.
Finally, we reached a large, dark cave opening. A foul aura seeped out heavy, corrupted, ancient.
Yue's voice trembled. "Master… this is no ordinary place. Even I can sense it. Something powerful is inside."
I stepped forward.
"Good."
"MASTER!"
But before I could enter, a sudden wind surged from the cave followed by a voice. A low, rumbling whisper that made even the leaves tremble.
"Who… disturbs my slumber…?"
The villagers shrieked and hid. Yue unbothered
I smiled.
Finally.
Something interesting.
I took another step toward the darkness.
"Master, WAIT!" Yue grabbed my arm. "If you fight something here, the entire forest maybe the entire region could collapse!"
"That sounds mildly exciting."
"NO IT DOES NOT!"
But it was too late.
Something massive stirred in the shadows.
A pair of glowing red eyes opened inside the cave… staring directly at me.
The villagers trembled.
And I
I felt something I hadn't felt in a million years.
A spark.
A tiny flicker.
Excitement.
I smiled wider.
"Come," I whispered. "Show me something you got."