Chapter Twenty-One: Night Owl

The woman left, thanking him profusely as she went. Though she only had a bit of water and bread, the joy of regaining her freedom was written clearly on her face.

The supplies Zhang Feng had collected did not make Fang Tang any richer; he simply had more iron, copper, silver, and wood than before, and three additional elemental stones. Water and bread meant little to him, but to the woman, they were life-saving provisions, so he left them for her. Perhaps it was a way of thanking her for shouting that she didn’t want them earlier. Maybe so.

Having taken a life, Fang Tang felt a weight in his heart. Yet he quickly adjusted; this was the cavern world, where the order of human society no longer existed and many had unleashed their true natures. Some had turned to evil, like Zhang Feng. Killing him was simply ridding the world of a menace. The woman was pitiable—giving her a chance at survival was also a redemption for Fang Tang himself.

He gathered the supplies from the iron box, dismantled the box, and then made his way toward Cavern 55.

It was worth noting that, for the first time, Fang Tang saw a cavern with openings in all four directions.

Cavern 55 was empty, but below were three bats and a blue water stone.

Fang Tang jumped straight into Cavern 56. Illuminated by the fire spirit stone, the three bats were clearly visible.

A sudden burst of fire engulfed one bat; the other two became agitated. Fortunately, Fang Tang had experience dealing with them. Before they could draw near, he raised his gun and dealt with another.

The last bat darted frantically around the cramped cavern, moving too swiftly for Fang Tang to aim. He kept his patience, tracking it with the barrel of his gun, and finally seized the moment when it reversed direction to shoot and finish it off.

“Is this helping me practice prediction?” Fang Tang chuckled, picked up his dismantling hammer, obtained three beads with red threads, and pocketed the blue water stone.

[There’s a bronze chest ahead.]

His eyes provided a helpful prompt, and Fang Tang strolled into Cavern 57.

Bronze chests—once vital resource caches for Fang Tang—were now merely embellishments to his already considerable wealth. Still, the stock of fiber and cotton would let him craft a new short-sleeved shirt.

The one he wore was stained with bat blood; the stench had long dissipated, leaving only clotted scabs.

“If only I had a blueprint for pants,” he mused as he changed into his new shirt, noticing how his filthy pants clashed with the fresh garment.

[Ha! Is your mouth enchanted? Everything you say comes true.]

The subtitles appeared. Fang Tang paused, then smiled broadly.

“Is there a pants blueprint in that direction?”

[To the right.]

“Alright!” Fang Tang eagerly entered Cavern 58, finding the blueprint for pants on the table.

Trousers: Fabric ×3.

“Three pieces of fabric—acceptable.” He nodded lightly, muttering to himself, “If my words really are magic, can I wish for a cavern shop?”

[Foolish. Ahead is a carnivorous plant and a wooden box containing fiber and cotton.]

“….” Fang Tang pursed his lips and proceeded to Cavern 59.

The carnivorous plant was an old acquaintance. The first time he faced three of them, he’d been flustered. Now…

One shot.

Bang!

The plant’s core erupted in flames. Its barbed vines lashed out wildly but failed to touch Fang Tang. At last, another shot struck the root, ending its wicked existence.

He collected the acidic sap from the root and opened the wooden box.

Fiber ×4, cotton ×4.

Just one more piece and he could make pants.

“Last chance today—what treasures await in Cavern 60?” Fang Tang gazed expectantly at the wall.

[As you wish, there really is something good. Do you want a Night Owl?]

“Night Owl? What’s that?” Fang Tang asked curiously.

[Cavern creature, strength on par with the Sand Serpent. Prefers to act at night, immensely powerful, with a hideous voice, capable of flight, and can become optically invisible when fatally wounded.]

“….” Fang Tang glanced at his new clothes and asked, “Is there anything good in the Night Owl’s cavern?”

[Blueprints, perhaps. Though you might have no use for this one.]

“If I can’t use the blueprint, what’s the point? It sounds dangerous,” Fang Tang replied, abandoning the idea—but his curiosity about the blueprint remained.

“Can you tell me what kind of blueprint it is?”

[Rice cooker.]

“A rice cooker? Of course I can use that! Why would I not? You nearly made me miss such a great blueprint,” Fang Tang complained, then swung his pickaxe, digging his way to a happier life.

Once the path was clear, Fang Tang tossed in a fire spirit stone, then a lightning stone.

You like the dark, do you? Let’s see if you can withstand the brilliant light of a lightning stone.

As soon as the lightning stone was thrown in, Fang Tang rushed forward.

The intense light temporarily blinded him, but he quickly recovered. Squinting, he spotted a creature like a little demon, restlessly flying about.

Fang Tang smirked, drew his bow, and aimed at the Night Owl.

Whoosh!

The arrow flew fast; with Fang Tang’s newfound skill in prediction, the first shot hit its mark.

An electric net exploded, the Night Owl let out a piercing scream, and its figure vanished—along with the arrow embedded in it.

“Invisibility works like this?” Fang Tang was astonished, then recalled his eyes had said the Night Owl used optical camouflage. Careful observation should reveal its location.

Invisible, the Night Owl calmed down, finally noticing Fang Tang. Its shriek echoed through the cavern.

Fang Tang felt a splitting headache, forcing his eyes open as he searched for anything out of place.

“If you know where it is, give me a hint!” he grumbled at his eyes, which hadn’t given him a prompt.

[…So obvious and you still can’t see it? Blind—uh, it’s slumped on the left front side, staring at us.]

Understanding dawned, and Fang Tang caught a strange glint out the corner of his eye. He quickly drew an arrow, nocked it to his explosive bow, and shot at that spot.

Whoosh!

The arrow missed, but it drew blood, revealing the Night Owl’s shape.

Fang Tang moved swiftly, drawing and aiming again.

The Night Owl let out a long howl, hurling a fork at Fang Tang.

At the same moment, Fang Tang released the arrow and rolled aside.

“Screech!!”

The Night Owl was struck in the head; the powerful current from the electric net failed to finish it, merely immobilizing it.

[The Night Owl’s fatal weakness is its heart, located between its shoulders. Its heart is very small; aim carefully before shooting.]

His eyes provided the tip, and Fang Tang understood.

Cautiously, he stepped forward, arrowhead trained on the Night Owl’s heart.

Whoosh!

The arrow pierced through, and at last the Night Owl ceased its movements.