I was so scared that I put all my points into health.

At dawn, as the first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce the thick morning mist, a powerful and resounding horn suddenly rang out, its sound like a surging tide, instantly engulfing the entire city. The residents, awakened by this sudden noise, emerged from their homes and gathered towards the square.

Wang Xiaoyi and his group were also among the crowd. They quickly ate some simple food at a street stall, including freshly baked bread with an enticing aroma of wheat and steaming meat soup. After barely filling their stomachs, they headed towards the square.

The square was bustling with people, a cacophony of voices rising and falling. A middle-aged man clad in heavy armor walked to a high platform in the center of the square, holding a megaphone magic orb that emitted a blue glow. The orb began to shimmer under his magical infusion. The man cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice:

"Fellow citizens, we have recently received news that a large number of monsters are attacking our city. These monsters are numerous and extremely ferocious. To protect everyone's safety, the city gates will be closed, and no one is allowed to enter or leave during the monster attack. Everything must be done under the command of the Kingdom's army."

His words were like a bombshell, and the crowd erupted in a cacophony of voices. Many whispered among themselves, "Monsters are coming to attack? How is that possible?" "I've never heard of monsters attacking our area." Panic began to spread through the crowd, and many faces showed expressions of terror.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man in heavy armor raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said, "Don't panic. According to our reconnaissance, the monster will take about another day to reach the city. At that time, our kingdom's army will stand guard and protect everyone's safety. In addition, the Adventurers' Guild has already issued a mission to hunt down the monster, and adventurers from all walks of life in the city will actively participate in the battle."

However, the middle-aged man in heavy armor suddenly became serious. He continued, "Because there are so many monsters this time, a slight mistake could lead to the massacre of the city. Therefore, I must emphasize the stakes. All adventurers must participate in the battle; it is your responsibility and obligation. You need to go to the Adventurers' Guild and follow their orders. Form teams of five, with the highest-ranking member serving as the team leader, and coordinate to repel the monsters. Of course, you will also receive corresponding rewards and compensation."

That day, the entire city was shrouded in an atmosphere of oppression and tension. The streets were deserted, with only a few people hurrying by, all seemingly afraid of being suddenly attacked by some danger. Wang Xiaoyi muttered to himself, "My mentor said he was clearing out the insects (monsters), but now there's been no news at all. Could it be..."

Wang Xiaoyi didn't think too much about it. He turned to look at Alpha and Allen beside him, both of whom had worried expressions on their faces. Wang Xiaoyi reached out and gently patted their shoulders, comforting them, "Don't worry too much, we can handle it."

Just then, news came from the Adventurers' Guild that Wang Xiaoyi's team had gained two more adventurers. One was a dark-skinned, muscular male berserker wielding a giant axe, exuding power and wildness; the other was a stunningly beautiful and incredibly sexy mage, whose every move radiated captivating charm.

At this stage, the city needs to reinforce its walls, set up various roadblocks and traps, and manufacture a large number of weapons. Therefore, the staff and adventurers in every shop throughout the city are busy preparing for the upcoming battle.

Wang Xiaoyi and his team were temporarily assigned as the city's guard, responsible for patrolling the city. However, since no monsters have invaded yet, their patrol duties are temporarily suspended. This means they can move freely for a period of time.

The berserker loved to drink in bars; whenever he had free time, he would rush to the city's liveliest bar, drinking heavily and laughing loudly, as if using this method to release his inner pressure. Meanwhile, the beautiful sorceress liked to use a magic orb to tell fortunes in a tent; her mysterious and unpredictable demeanor attracted a lot of attention.

Looking at the berserker and the beautiful mage, Wang Xiaoyi couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. In this tense and oppressive moment when the entire city was on alert, they maintained their relaxed and carefree demeanor, as if the outside world's turmoil was irrelevant to them. This composed attitude filled Wang Xiaoyi with both envy and respect.

He took a deep breath to calm his turmoil. He knew that although there were no monsters invading for the time being, danger still lurked everywhere and could erupt at any moment. Therefore, he decided to make good use of this free time with his squad to prepare more thoroughly for the battle to come.

He turned to Alpha and Allen and said, "We can't just sit around. Let's go for a walk in the city and see if we can find any useful supplies or intelligence."

Alpha and Allen nodded solemnly in agreement. Wang Xiaoyi's eyes shone with determination and anticipation as he took the first step, followed closely by Alpha and Allen, and the three of them left the Adventurer's Guild together.

They arrived at the quiet library. The library exuded an ancient and mysterious aura; its tall bookshelves were filled with all sorts of books, from ancient magical texts to atlases depicting the world's geography. They carefully moved among the shelves, gently turning the pages of books that might contain crucial information.

During this process, they also took on some daily tasks to gather intelligence. One of these tasks was to find a long-lost book about ancient defensive fortifications. It was said that the book contained unique defensive magic and ingenious methods for constructing fortifications, which could be extremely valuable knowledge for a city about to face a monster attack.

Another task is to investigate some unusual phenomena that have recently appeared in the city. Residents have reported hearing strange, low growls coming from the direction of the abandoned mines outside the city at certain times at night. They need to go to the vicinity of the mines to investigate whether there are any unusual monsters or other dangers present, and to collect as much relevant evidence or clues as possible.

In a corner of the library, they found a dusty journal recording patterns in the activity of monsters around the city. Although some details were blurred, they managed to glean some useful information through careful reading and deduction. For example, the journal mentioned that under certain lunar phases, a specific type of monster was more likely to appear in the forest area east of the city, and that these monsters were particularly sensitive to certain magical elements.

As night fell, the entire city was enveloped in silence. Wang Xiaoyi and his companions found a small inn and each did what they wanted in their rooms.

Originally, I thought this was just a short trip away from home, and I could easily return in a day or two to resume my familiar and cozy life. However, fate seemed to be playing a cruel trick on me; the sudden monster siege disrupted all my plans. The monsters surged in like a tidal wave, plunging the entire city into chaos and crisis. To fight off the monsters, everyone worked together, and I was caught up in the effort. In the midst of this busyness, several precious days were unknowingly wasted.

He had only been away from home for a few days, yet the longing for his parents was spreading like wildfire through Wang Xiaoyi's heart. He began to miss them. Although these were now Raine's parents, they were genuinely good to him, causing his thoughts to drift back to the real world. His mother was also a master chef. She made eggplant fritters, the filling a perfect blend of carefully prepared chives and pork belly. The crisp, refreshing chives and the perfectly balanced lean and fatty pork belly created a fragrant and delicious flavor, adding layers of complexity and enriching the overall taste. After being carefully wrapped, the fritters were deep-fried in hot oil until the outer skin turned golden and crispy, while the filling remained tender and juicy. Every bite of the fritters was a delightful experience—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavor, leaving a lingering aftertaste. There are also radish balls. My mom chops the radish into very fine pieces, like strands of silver thread, and mixes them with carefully seasoned minced meat. The perfect ratio makes the fried balls golden and fragrant. With one bite, the sweetness of the radish and the aroma of the meat blend together, dancing joyfully on the taste buds. Soft-fried pork is another of my mom's specialties. Selected pork is cut into thin, even slices, coated with a thin layer of batter, and then fried in hot oil. It sizzles and is fried to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Every bite is like savoring the finest flavors.

Looking at my dad, he's usually a quiet person, always silently doing his own thing and rarely initiating conversations. But if you observe him closely, you'll discover an astonishing perseverance within him. Every day, he watches live streams intently, learning to paint bamboo. He's completely absorbed in the screen, his eyes unblinking, his brush seemingly alive, constantly tracing strokes on the rice paper. From the variations in the thickness of the bamboo stalks to the density of the leaves, he meticulously studies every detail, striving for precision. His focus is so intense, it's as if the entire world has shrunk to just him and the bamboo painting technique before him. And what's more, Dad even asked me to buy him a printer, saying it would be convenient to print out pictures of bamboo for study and reference. Now, he's even learned to print using his phone. Thinking about this, a wave of homesickness surges through my heart like a burst dam; I really miss home.