The Salted Fish Cultivator: My Pet System Awakens

The sky above the academy was a mix of pale blue and streaks of pink, the last remnants of daylight slowly fading into twilight. Lu Tian leaned against the trunk of a large tree near the dormitories, the fox curled up on his lap, dozing peacefully.

"I swear, you've mastered the art of doing nothing," Lu Tian muttered, scratching behind the fox's ears.

The creature twitched but didn't stir, its fur glowing faintly under the soft light of the setting sun.

"Brother Lu!" Zhang Wei's booming voice shattered the calm, followed by his heavy footsteps crunching over the grass.

Lu Tian groaned. "Why do you always have to ruin my peace?"

Zhang Wei ignored him, stopping a few paces away and waving a scroll in his hand. "We've been summoned."

"Summoned?" Lu Tian repeated, raising an eyebrow.

Wei Jingyi appeared a moment later, her expression unusually tense. "Elder Zhao is organizing a team to investigate the disturbances near the eastern forest."

Lu Tian sighed, gently lifting the fox off his lap and standing. "Let me guess… they want us to go."

"You're not wrong," Zhang Wei said, handing him the scroll.

Lu Tian scanned the contents briefly, his brow furrowing. "Why us? Don't they have better candidates?"

"Apparently, the instructors think our performance in the ruins trial was impressive enough to earn us this assignment," Wei Jingyi said, though her tone suggested she wasn't entirely convinced.

Lu Tian smirked. "Well, they're not wrong about me being impressive."

The fox hopped onto his shoulder, letting out a soft yip, as though disagreeing.

---

By the time they reached the gathering point near the academy gates, the team had assembled. In addition to Lu Tian, Zhang Wei, and Wei Jingyi, Yu Chen stood silently at the edge of the group, his dark robes blending with the shadows.

Elder Zhao stood at the center, his stern gaze scanning each of them. "Listen carefully. Your task is to investigate the source of the disturbances reported near the eastern forest. Strange sightings, corrupted beasts, and shifts in spiritual energy have been detected. Do not underestimate the danger."

The group nodded, though Lu Tian crossed his arms, his expression indifferent.

"Report back immediately if you encounter anything unusual," Elder Zhao continued. "And remember, your safety is the priority."

Lu Tian raised a hand lazily. "What if we just don't go?"

Elder Zhao's glare was colder than ice. "You will go, Lu Tian."

"Worth a try," he muttered, earning a chuckle from Zhang Wei.

---

The forest loomed like a dark sentinel as the team approached, its towering trees casting long shadows over the ground. The air grew colder the deeper they ventured, and a strange stillness settled around them, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.

Zhang Wei broke the silence, his voice a nervous whisper. "Does anyone else feel like we're being watched?"

"It's just your imagination," Wei Jingyi said, though her hand hovered near the hilt of her blade.

The fox, perched on Lu Tian's shoulder, growled softly, its ears twitching.

"See? Even Freeloader agrees with me," Zhang Wei said.

Lu Tian's eyes scanned the area lazily. "If something's watching us, it's probably more scared of you than you are of it."

Before Zhang Wei could retort, a low growl echoed through the trees.

The group froze, their hands instinctively going to their weapons.

"What was that?" Wei Jingyi whispered, her voice barely audible.

Yu Chen stepped forward, his blade already drawn. "Stay alert."

The growl grew louder, accompanied by the rustling of leaves. Moments later, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, followed by the hulking form of a corrupted beast.

Its body was twisted and unnatural, patches of its fur missing to reveal sinewy muscles that pulsed with dark energy. Its jaws dripped with a black, viscous liquid that sizzled as it hit the ground.

Zhang Wei took a step back. "Okay, I take it back. I don't want to know what's watching us."

The beast lunged.

Yu Chen met it head-on, his blade flashing in the dim light as he slashed at the creature's side. The beast howled but didn't stop, its claws swiping toward him with deadly precision.

"Spread out!" Yu Chen shouted.

The group scattered, each taking a position as the beast turned its attention toward Wei Jingyi. Her deer-like beast charged forward, its antlers glowing faintly as it rammed into the corrupted creature, forcing it back a step.

Lu Tian stood at the edge of the fray, watching with his arms crossed. "Looks like you've got this handled."

The fox nipped at his ear, letting out a sharp yip before leaping from his shoulder. It landed gracefully on the beast's back, its claws digging into the corrupted flesh.

The beast roared, twisting and snapping at the fox, but the nimble creature dodged each attack with ease.

"Guess I don't have a choice," Lu Tian muttered, drawing a small blade from his belt.

As the beast swiped at Zhang Wei, Lu Tian lunged forward, slashing at its exposed side. The blade cut deep, eliciting another howl of pain from the creature.

"Finally decided to help?" Zhang Wei called, grinning.

"Don't get used to it," Lu Tian replied.

The corrupted beast staggered, its movements slowing as dark energy leaked from its wounds. Yu Chen moved in for the finishing blow, his blade piercing through the creature's heart.

The beast collapsed with a heavy thud, the air around it shimmering briefly before settling.

The group stood in silence, their breaths heavy as they stared at the lifeless creature.

"What… was that?" Wei Jingyi asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Yu Chen wiped his blade clean, his expression grim. "A sign that the disturbance is spreading."

The fox returned to Lu Tian's shoulder, its fur bristling as it let out a low growl.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Lu Tian said, scratching its head. "We're in trouble."

---

As they continued deeper into the forest, the tension grew. The group encountered more corrupted beasts, each one more twisted and aggressive than the last.

Lu Tian fought reluctantly, his movements efficient but lacking the intensity of his teammates. The fox, however, proved invaluable, darting through the chaos and delivering precise attacks that often turned the tide of battle.

By the time they reached the heart of the forest, the group was exhausted, their clothes torn and bloodied. Before them stood an ancient shrine, its surface covered in cracks that pulsed with dark energy.

"This… must be the source," Wei Jingyi said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yu Chen nodded. "Be prepared. Whatever lies within won't go down easily."

The fox leapt down from Lu Tian's shoulder, its eyes fixed on the shrine as it growled softly.

Lu Tian sighed. "Why do I feel like this is going to be a lot of work?"

With weapons drawn and tension thick in the air, the group stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited them inside.