Chapter 4: Enemies on a Narrow Road

Late at night on the sixth day.

The sound of wind and rain outside the window still hadn't ceased. Han Ning figured that if he could get his hands on a wind turbine, he wouldn't have to worry about electricity for the rest of his life.

Having just finished resting, his Spiritual Power was currently at its peak.

[Spiritual Power: 10/10]

He stared intently at an improvised target made of empty mineral water bottles three meters away.

"Vine Technique!" he thought, realizing there was no need to deliberately shout the Skill's name out loud anymore.

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

Eight dark green vines, about the thickness of a finger, shot out of thin air.

Han Ning's fingers twitched slightly. In his hands, these vines were like the invisible strings manipulated by a puppeteer. Two of them wrapped around the bottle like lightning to secure it, four twisted in a cross shape to choke the bottleneck, and the last two whipped flexibly at the bottom of the bottle.

SMACK!

The fragile plastic bottle simply couldn't withstand this concentrated strangling force. It deformed instantly and, with a loud BANG, was forcibly crushed to pieces. Plastic fragments and the bottle cap scattered in all directions.

After repeatedly ravaging the mineral water bottles multiple times...

[Vine Technique Skill Level +7. Current: 95/100]

[Druid Growth Progress +2. Current: 88/100]

"The effect isn't bad at all," Han Ning murmured, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as a sense of rewarding satisfaction welled up in his heart.

If he were to face that small, juvenile Crocodile Lizard again right now, he was confident he could bind it securely with his vines in a single encounter—perhaps even snap its bones. Of course, he still wasn't sure if he could handle an adult Crocodile Lizard.

With his Spiritual Power depleted, he went to the kitchen as usual to check his food inventory and prepare an Energy-replenishing dinner.

After nearly ten days of daily consumption, the water dispenser jug was already completely empty, and only seven bottles remained from the opened pack of mineral water next to it. The noodles were gone, and only a third of the rice was left. He hadn't really touched the compressed biscuits, and there was still half a can of beans. Unfortunately, they were fried broad beans, making them impossible to plant. The potatoes were growing well and should be close to bearing mature tubers soon, but distant water couldn't quench immediate thirst.

"I can hold out for another three or four days at most," he said to himself. "Looks like I have no choice but to go out."

Actually, he still had enough dry rations in stock, but his water supply was extremely scarce. Water was the source of life. Han Ning felt that if he went without water for even a single day, he probably wouldn't even be able to replenish his lost Spiritual Power. The recovery of Spiritual Power was closely related to his physical condition.

Dragging his slightly exhausted body, Han Ning went into the kitchen and prepared a meager meal just to maintain his vital signs.

Fortunately, he had previously bought a cassette stove and six gas canisters on a whim for a hiking trip. However, he had gotten so tired before even reaching the foot of the mountain that he gave up halfway. This gear had been put away to gather dust, but he never expected it to come in so handy now.

He scooped out a bowl of half-cooked rice, about three hundred grams, and poured over a small mixture of soy sauce and cooking oil, along with a bit of chili paste, to supplement his daily fat requirement and enrich the bland taste. A few barbecue-flavored broad beans were also placed on top of the plain white rice. He needed to eat six to seven hundred grams of rice a day, having to ensure at all times that he didn't go too hungry; otherwise, it would affect the recovery of his Spiritual Power.

Han Ning mechanically stuffed mouthfuls of rice into his mouth and chewed. Every now and then, he would pick up a brown broad bean and greedily lick off the barbecue seasoning, as if he were tasting some supreme delicacy.

"I'm not eating rice. I'm eating roast beef, twice-cooked pork, stewed pork knuckles, and spicy crawfish..." he whispered, closing his eyes and entering his fantasy realm.

After dinner, Han Ning lay on his bed, staring blankly ahead and quietly waiting for sleepiness to hit. It had been nearly ten days since he transmigrated here, and the apartment had long since lost power. The bedroom was pitch black. What else could he do besides space out?

An unknown amount of time passed.

Han Ning gradually felt a trace of drowsiness.

Suddenly...

SKREEE!

A bloodcurdling, bizarre screech seemingly exploded right next to his ear. It wasn't thunder; it was the sound of some massive force violently smashing into metal.

Immediately after came the teeth-setting, ear-piercing sound of twisting and tearing metal.

CREAAAK... SNAP!!!

"?!"

Han Ning hastily sat up and listened closely. The source of the noise was shockingly coming from the direction of the small balcony just outside his living room!

Without a second thought, Han Ning rushed toward the living room. At the same time, he spread the five fingers of his right hand, allowing dark green Spiritual Light to slowly gather in his palm.

The balcony door was shut tight.

Relying on the faint green light emitted while his Vine Technique was gathering power, Han Ning could vaguely see the situation outside. On the balcony window sill, the originally intact metal security grilles had now been torn open, leaving a gap the size of a washbasin. A hideous head was squeezing through the hole, its ping-pong ball-sized, yellow-slitted pupils glinting with a savage light in the darkness.

Its gaze locked onto Han Ning inside the house.

Opening its protruding jaws, it used its fine, needle-like teeth to viciously gnaw at the edges of the security grille. CRUNCH CRUNCH. The harsh sound of grinding metal echoed endlessly.

"It's this guy again. Such a grudge-holder." Han Ning felt that the juvenile Crocodile Lizard before him was about the same size as the one he had driven away a few days ago. It seemed to be the exact same one.

HISS-SCREECH!!

Seemingly sensing the threat radiating from Han Ning's palm, the juvenile Crocodile Lizard let out a short, piercing hiss, and its attacks became even more frenzied. Its powerful hind legs pushed against the exterior wall as its entire front half forcefully squeezed inward.

CRACK!

Another support bar was completely bitten clean off.

"You son of a bitch, go to hell!" Han Ning yelled. A fierce glint flashed through his eyes as he violently thrust his readied right palm forward.

SWISH SWISH SWISH.

Dark green Spiritual Light surged out of his palm as if it possessed physical substance. A full eight dark green vines whipped and cracked like long whips. Their color was a deep green, their surfaces were covered in rough bumps, and each one was comparable to the thickness of a grown man's index finger.

Two vines wrapped around one of the Crocodile Lizard's forelimbs clutching the edge of the balcony with lightning speed. Another two choked the neck it had just poked inside. The remaining four entangled its torso and hind legs.

"ROAR!"

The eight vines continuously tightened their lock. Caught off guard, the juvenile Crocodile Lizard was bound solidly. Its scale-covered skin constantly rubbed against the tough vines, producing a teeth-setting CREAKING sound.

[Vine Technique Skill Level +3. Current: 98/100!]

Han Ning let out a muffled groan, his face turning pale. Controlling the vines granted him a certain degree of sensory perception, and the terrifying, immense strength from the Crocodile Lizard's struggles was transferred back to him without reservation. It felt as if ten wild bulls were tearing at his arms simultaneously, causing his entire body to tremble uncontrollably.

"This monster has such terrifying strength!" he thought in horror. And this was merely a juvenile.

When he had encountered a few Crocodile Lizards before, he had only tried to throw them away. He had never engaged in a one-on-one contest of strength like this.

He didn't dare slack off in the slightest, putting his all into maintaining the vines' binding.

"Contract! Choke it tight!"

Under the control of his mind, the vines began to rapidly constrict. Deep green light circulated along the surface of the vines, elevating their toughness to an unprecedented level.