“It’s a foraging quest for Twilight Roots, we need about a 100. There should be more than enough available on the outskirts.”

“A servant could easily do this, why are we needed?”

“They need to be purified immediately, I saw you purifying the beast skins that’s why we thought you might have some experience.” He hadn’t noticed them at all. He hadn’t noticed Autumn Peace as well. Speaking of her, where was she? He was expecting some sort of retaliation or provocation by now.

“How much is the reward?” Musnuf asked.

“350 spirit stones.”

The tidier version spoke, “We’ll split it three ways up to 300 and if someone contributes more they’ll get the 50 on top.”

“Sure, that sounds good.”

“There is one thing. There might be beasts loitering around that area. That’s why we wanted to get another person.”

He started chewing his lower lip. On the one hand he needed the stone but on the other there was a threat that he would get injured. He had to do it. He couldn’t survive here without combat experience. He sure as hell couldn’t stop the MC from robbing this sect if he didn’t have any combat experience.

“Let’s go, I’m sure the three of us can handle it.” They gathered some supplies and were on their way. It was about one-third of the way down from the outer disciple abodes.

The forest was thick and luscious around here. The cacophony of sounds was ear-deafening. He’d always expected forests to be very quiet but this was…strange.

“They say even forests can cultivate.” He smiled at that, that was entirely possible in the world he’d crafted. It was thousands of years for such a vast body and most cultivator’s enslaved them long before that but it was not impossible.

“I don’t believe that, maybe a tree could but the entire forest…it’s just so vast. What do you think?”

“Me? I think both of those are valid hypotheses. Maybe one day we’ll see.” It wasn’t that hard to tell which one was which. He decided to ask for their names.

“What are your names?”

The unkempt twin said, “I’m Tiger Flower.”

“And I’m Dragon Flower.”

“How am I supposed to tell you guys apart?”

“Just look here.” Both of them said it at the same time. He’d forgotten who was who already.

Tiger Flower had a brooch clasped onto her robe it was tiger head. “She’s got one right here.” She pointed at her sister and she had a similar brooch tying up her hair but it was a dragon.

“It was gift from our mother.” Dragon Flower stared at her sister, telling her to shut up without saying so.

Tiger Flower stuck out her tongue and dropped the subject. They started talking about other things. Tiger Flower was a consummate chatter head.

“I think this is far enough.” Dragon Flower said. She crouched down on the ground and pointed at a flower growing out of a tree bark. “These are the ones we’re looking for. Remember the look.”

It was a flower with a black stamen with dots of white sprinkled all over it. So much was left out of his webnovel, it filled him with awe. “Use the spatula to dig it out. Snow Gem, get ready.”

He didn’t respond. The twin beside him shook his arm, “She’s calling for you.” Snow Gem, that’s my name! His entire life people had referred to him as Musnuf, the transition was going to take some time.

He sparked his flame and held it steady. She used the spatula to loosen the dirt, grabbed it by its leaves and yanked it out in one fluid motion. He moved his hands closer and similar to the beast skin, let the flame flow out. This time there was resistance and he had to pour out a lot more of the flame.

Once he was sure it wouldn’t die out he pulled away his hand. “Let’s split up, Tiger. Let’s do five at a time.”

They dropped into a routine. Tiger and Dragon would locate 5 at a time and Musnuf would purify them. Once he’d exhausted his reserves, Tiger Flower started purifying them, she burned the first one but the rest was smooth sailing.

They gathered all of the roots into a bag. It was an easy 300. There was an ear-piercing screech all of a sudden and he dropped to his knees. His eyes were watering up. There was a thump and he was launched away.

Yes, it just had to happen.

He gritted his teeth and tried to open his eyes. There was a strange monkey-like creature hovering over him. It grinned and hundreds of thin razor-sharp teeth appeared. Something was stuck in there. Get a toothbrush. On top of it was a wide singular eye staring at him.

He grabbed its foot and summoned his flame. It came into contact with it and blazed up. That was it, he’d exhausted his essence. He got up and took out his dagger. He was much taller than this dwarf-like creature. He kicked it across its face but there more.

Three more. Dragon Flower was behind her sister and Tiger Flower was holding off three at the same time. She had a short curved sword about two and a half feet long. How had she resisted that screech in the beginning?

The monkey underneath him was screaming and crying. One of the monkeys split off and came down for him.

Why were they grinning? He felt something hitting him in the back and he turned to find a taller, stronger monkey with double the teeth. Oh…that’s why.

He felt a fist smacking into his side and the wind got knocked out of him. His eyes were starting to tear up. Then they screeched again. That awful, ear-rending scream it burrowed into his brain. He covered his ears up and the giant monkey planted a fist on his face. He felt a crack.

Fuck…Am I going to die?