Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

The three left the crumbling Icefire Valley and headed towards the nearest village along a rugged mountain path. Along the way, Zhu Feifei discovered that the environment of this world was far harsher than he had imagined.

"This damn place, it's so hot and cold, it's even more fickle than my old pig's belly!" Zhu Feifei complained, sometimes wrapping his clothes tighter around himself, sometimes sweating profusely. "If this keeps up, I, Old Zhu, will be turned into a dumpling filled with 'ice and fire'!"

"You should be content!" The voice of the Ringwraith Little White came from the "Moonlight Ring." "If you weren't still somewhat useful, this fairy wouldn't bother with you, you stupid pig!"

"Hey! Who are you calling a pig with that lousy ring!" Zhu Feifei was furious and was about to argue with Xiaobai when Bihan interrupted her.

"Hanquan Village is just ahead," Pi Han said, pointing ahead. His voice was clear and cold, like a mountain stream, yet it carried a hint of imperceptible weariness.

Zhu Feifei looked in the direction Bi Han was pointing and saw a small village in the distance, located on the edge of Ice and Fire Valley. Half of it was covered by ice and snow, and the other half was surrounded by greenery, making it look very strange.

"This village really knows how to choose a location; it's right in the middle, a perfect balance of yin and yang," Zhu Feifei exclaimed.

"Hmph, what yin-yang harmony? It's nothing but a precarious existence." Bishu sneered. "If it weren't for the struggle between my sister and me, how could there be such suffering in this world?"

"Alright, that's all in the past," Pi Han said. "Let's go to the village and check on the situation."

The three entered the village and found the atmosphere extremely oppressive. The villagers were all pale and emaciated, their expressions haggard, and most of their houses were dilapidated, as if they had just experienced a disaster.

"Excuse me, what happened here?" Zhu Feifei stopped a passing villager and asked.

The villager glanced at Zhu Feifei, then at Bihan and Bishu behind him, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes, but he still answered honestly, "Young master, you don't know this, but our place used to have four distinct seasons and favorable weather. However, since a few years ago, the two goddesses, Han and Shu, have become enemies, and the weather has become strange. One moment it's unbearably hot, and the next it's freezing cold. The crops have failed completely, and we... we really can't survive!"

As he spoke, the villager began to sob.

"Sigh, what a tragedy!" Zhu Feifei sighed. "Why did these two goddesses have to become enemies?"

"Well... we mortals don't know." The villager shook his head. "We only heard that the two goddesses fought over a treasure."

"A treasure? Could it be the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade'?" Zhu Feifei's heart skipped a beat.

“It is indeed the ‘Four Seasons Harmony Jade’!” At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind.

Zhu Feifei turned around and saw an old man leaning on a cane, walking shakily towards her. It was none other than Old Man Li, the village chief she had met near Icefire Valley.

"Uncle Li, what brings you here?" Zhu Feifei asked.

"Alas, I've come to find my granddaughter." Old Li sighed. "This awful weather, it's so hot and cold all the time. My poor granddaughter couldn't stand it and developed a high fever, so I had no choice but to bring her to Hanquan Village to find a doctor."

"Where is your granddaughter? How is she doing?"

"She's over there, the doctor is treating her," Old Man Li said, pointing to a house not far away.

Zhu Feifei and the others followed Old Man Li to the front of the house, where they saw a little girl of about ten years old lying on the bed. She was pale, had chapped lips, and looked very weak.

"Doctor, how is my granddaughter?" Old Li asked anxiously.

"Alas, your granddaughter is experiencing alternating chills and fever, with rising internal heat, coupled with her weak constitution, I'm afraid..." The doctor shook his head and did not continue.

"Doctor, please, please save my granddaughter!" Old Man Li said, about to kneel down before the doctor.

"Uncle, what are you doing!" Zhu Feifei quickly helped Old Man Li up. "Let me take a look."

He walked to the bedside, reached out, and touched the little girl's forehead; it was indeed burning hot.

"Xiaobai, is there any way to save her?" Zhu Feifei asked in her heart.

"The 'Rejuvenation' power in the 'Nine-Bead Bracelet' can cure her illness, but there are too many people around, so it's not convenient to use it," said Little White, the Ring Spirit. "There are also some pills I collected before in the 'Moonlight Treasure Ring,' which should come in handy."

"Okay, take it out quickly!" Zhu Feifei said.

“Wait, you idiot, let me remind you first, these pills aren’t free. You need to exchange them with ‘merit points’,” said Little White Ringwraith.

"Merit points? What are those?" Zhu Feifei asked.

“Every good deed you do, whether it's helping someone or completing a task, you'll earn ‘merit points.’ These ‘merit points’ can be used to exchange for various treasures and supernatural powers, which will greatly benefit your future leveling up,” Little White Spirit explained. “Your current merit points are… zero.”

"Zero?!" Zhu Feifei almost jumped up. "Then how am I supposed to exchange for pills?"

"You can buy on credit first and pay later," came Xiaobai's cunning voice. "But there will be interest!"

"That's usury! Forget it, saving lives is the priority, I'll pay any interest!" Zhu Feifei gritted her teeth, deciding to save the person first. "Quickly exchange a healing pill for me!"

"Ding! 100 merit points deducted, one 'Plague-Clearing Pill' exchanged. Host's current merit points: -100. Friendly reminder: please pay off your debts as soon as possible, otherwise it will affect your credit rating." The voice of the spirit Xiaobai sounded again, and at the same time, a fragrant pill appeared in Zhu Feifei's hand.

Zhu Feifei quickly gave the pill to the little girl and said, "Uncle, don't worry, your granddaughter will get better soon after taking this pill."

"Really? Thank you so much!" Old Li said excitedly. "Doctor, please take a look at me."

The doctor took the little girl's pulse again, a look of surprise on his face: "Strange, really strange! How come this girl's pulse has suddenly become stable? Her body temperature has also gone down! This...this is simply a miracle!"

"Haha, maybe it's the Bodhisattva's blessing!" Zhu Feifei laughed.

"Thank you, young master! Thank you, young master!" Old Man Li pulled his granddaughter to kneel on the ground, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. "You are truly our savior!"

"Uncle, please get up. This is what I should do." Zhu Feifei quickly helped Old Man Li up.

As the little girl's face gradually regained its color, Zhu Feifei felt a great sense of accomplishment.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, for saving the villagers and gaining 100 merit points. Current merit points: 0." The voice of the spirit Xiaobai rang out again.

"Huh? Doing good deeds can earn merit points?" Zhu Feifei was delighted. "This is a great deal!"