SWDnovel Chapter 2 yielded considerable gains.
Chapter 2 yielded considerable gains.
Luo Xu successfully returned to the ground.
He didn't ignore the mechanical sound he'd just heard and brought up the control panel.
"【Reconnaissance】1, distance to next level: 0/32."
Below is a line of smaller print that reads: "Each level increases your vision, allowing you to spot more details."
Looking at the description of the reconnaissance skill, Luo Xu was somewhat surprised.
Unlike increasing the field of view in games, here reconnaissance directly increases vision, and the upgrade method is more concrete.
It seems that this Mount & Blade panel system is not entirely consistent with the one in the game.
Luo Xu carefully reviewed all the skills.
"【Running】7, distance to next level: 10/86."
Each level increases movement speed and physique.
……
Luo Xu looked around and found that apart from a few different skills, the other skills were roughly the same.
A ray of setting sun shone through the gaps in the leaves and fell on Luo Xu's face.
The sun is about to set, we need to hurry.
Luo Xu retrieved the panel and continued his search in the forest.
The sun slowly descended, and the light gradually dimmed.
They searched almost the entire forest, but still couldn't find any other food.
Luo Xu leaned against a tree in disappointment and glanced at the sky.
We have to go back soon, otherwise it's easy to get lost after dark.
"How about we go deeper into the woods and take a look?"
A bold idea popped into Luo Xu's mind.
Alina once said that there are many wild animals deep in the forest, and you should never go in alone.
But the two dove eggs in his pocket weren't enough; most importantly, he wanted to gather some food to repay Alina.
Luo Xu hesitated for a moment, but finally walked deeper into the area.
Luo Xu hadn't walked far when he suddenly spotted a hidden chestnut tree.
"Ding! Your reconnaissance skill experience +15, next level: 15/32."
After confirming that he hadn't misread it, Luo Xu hurriedly ran over.
This place is secluded and rarely visited; perhaps there are still chestnuts on this chestnut tree.
Before he even got close, Luo Xu saw many cracked spiky balls on the ground, with several plump, dark brown chestnuts exposed.
"Ha ha."
Luo Xu was immediately filled with joy and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He quickly took off his shirt and began collecting the spiky balls containing chestnuts and the scattered chestnuts from the ground.
Luo Xu reluctantly stopped when he could no longer fit any more.
There were still quite a few chestnuts on the tree. Luo Xu noted down the location, planning to come back again tomorrow.
Suddenly, Luo Xu noticed something unusual in the bushes ahead; he vaguely saw a pair of cold, eerie green eyes.
"Ding! Scouting skill experience +20. Scouting skill is now 2. Next level: 3/36."
Luo Xu stared at it for a moment, and his scalp tingled instantly.
The owner of those eyes was actually a gray wolf!
It lurked silently in the bushes, its grayish-brown fur almost blending into its surroundings.
Without enhanced reconnaissance skills, Luo Xu probably wouldn't have discovered it at all.
When their eyes met, Luo Xu felt his heart skip a beat.
"Whoosh!" He took off running with the chestnuts on his back.
Gray wolves are social animals, and there are definitely other gray wolves nearby. Hesitating for even a second could make you their dinner.
The gray wolf in the bushes paused for a moment, thinking that its prey had not noticed it. By the time it took a step, Luo Xu had already run more than ten meters away.
At this moment, Luo Xu no longer felt tired; all his muscles were in a state of extreme excitement due to fear.
Logically speaking, it's impossible for a normal person to outrun a gray wolf, and Luo Xu's running skills are not high, so it's impossible for him to do so.
But after running for a while, they didn't hear the howling of the wolves behind them.
Luo Xu turned around in surprise and found only a gray wolf about twenty meters behind him, not much faster than himself.
The gray wolf had sunken shoulders and back, messy fur, and a piece missing from its ear.
It turns out this was a lone old wolf; no wonder it couldn't catch up with me.
However, Luo Xu was not careless and ran all the way back to the village.
Luo Xu gasped for breath, looking back with lingering fear.
The gray wolf has disappeared.
He was lucky this time; he was just a lone old wolf. If he had encountered a pack, he would have been dead today.
Without weapons and with a low skill level, it's best to avoid venturing deep into the forest for now.
Luo Xu sighed and stepped onto the muddy road with chestnuts on his back.
……
Alina's house.
"Mom, I'm still a little hungry."
"Marcus, go to sleep. You won't be hungry if you're asleep."
Alina hummed a nursery rhyme, hoping the two children would fall asleep quickly.
She wore a gentle smile, but her eyes betrayed her anxiety.
The family's food supplies are running low, and after paying off debts with her husband's enlistment fees, there's not much left. Now, all the family's hopes are pinned on the soon-to-be-ripe wheat field.
Tomorrow I'll go dig up some wild vegetables myself, and if all else fails, I'll cut some wheat ears and cook them into porridge to get through these next few days.
An old man sat by the door, weaving straw sandals in the still-lingering sunlight, sighing from time to time.
"Father, take a rest, or your eyes will be ruined," Alina said.
The old man didn't reply, but continued to sigh to himself.
Before delivering the thick soup to Rossus, her husband's father was discussing the autumn harvest with her. He's been like this ever since he returned.
Alina knew he was sulking, so she didn't say anything more.
The silence lasted for a while before being broken by a male voice.
"Uncle Tom."
Alina recognized Luo Xu's voice and quickly turned her head to look.
A familiar figure stood at the door, greeting the old man weaving straw sandals.
The old man didn't even look up, but simply called out into the house, "Alina."
Alina had already gotten up. Seeing Roxus shirtless, she asked in confusion, "Roxus, you...?"
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Xu poured half a chestnut out from the back of his shirt.
"Sister Alina, I found a lot of chestnuts in the woods to the west, and this too." Luo Xu took a dove egg out of his pants pocket and put it in Alina's hand.
Alina was somewhat surprised; the villagers had gathered almost everything edible from the woods to the west.
Where did you find these things?
"Did you go to the forest in the south?!" Alina grabbed Luo Xu, her voice trembling slightly.
"No." Luo Xu recounted his experiences deep in the forest and how he was chased by an old wolf.
"I'm so glad you're alright." After hearing Luo Xu's words, Alina breathed a sigh of relief. "Don't go into the deep woods alone again."
She hesitated for a moment, but still accepted Luo Xu's kindness.
The two children in bed had already gotten up when they heard the noise, and were now drooling over the bird eggs in Alina's hand.
The chickens at home had long been sold to buy feed, and they hadn't eaten meat for a month.
"Elina, I'll head back now."
"Wait a minute, let me show you my specialty chestnut soup."
Luo Xu wanted to refuse, but he couldn't resist Alina's insistence, so he had no choice but to stay.
Luo Xu took out another bird egg from his pocket, wanting to cook it with Alina.
"Keep this egg for yourself." Alina insisted on not taking it and forcefully stuffed the bird egg from Luo Xu's hand back into his pocket.
After saying that, she turned around and went to prepare the ingredients for making the thick soup.
Uncle Tom was processing chestnuts at the door, and the two children were helping him out.
Luo Xu's gaze swept over the shriveled grain sacks in the corner, paused for a moment, and then walked over.
Uncle Tom seemed to have calmed down, and he took the initiative to strike up a conversation: "The old wolf you encountered was probably driven out of the pack..."
As the two talked, a rich aroma of chestnuts filled the room.
"Father, Rossus, the chestnut soup is ready," Alina called out.
"Let's go."
Uncle Tom got up and led the two children toward the dining table.
While everyone was distracted, Luo Xu poured out some more plump and tempting chestnuts from his shirt.
The dinner table.
A layer of egg floats on top of the chestnut soup, and the added thyme and parsley give the soup an enticing aroma.
The texture was smooth and sweet, and after finishing a bowl, Luo Xu felt warm all over.
The two little ones, Leah and Marcus, had their eyes shining and buried their heads in their food, wolfing it down.
Alina looked at the group with a smile on her lips.
"Rossi, thank you so much for tonight!"
"Sister Alina, you've helped me so much before, this is what I should do," Luo Xu replied with a smile.
After finishing the chestnut soup, Luo Xu bid farewell to Alina and returned to his hut.
Tonight was the only time he had eaten his fill since he transmigrated, and a wave of intense fatigue washed over him.
Luo Xu quickly washed his body with water and then collapsed onto the floor.
However, Luo Xu didn't sleep well that night; the village dogs barked all night for some reason.