Fang Mu gritted his teeth, clamping his mouth tightly around the herb. The strange herb had a green and violet hue, resembling a cabbage, but its scent was unlike anything he had ever experienced. It was intoxicating, energizing—each breath filled his lungs with vitality, each leap propelling him farther and faster than before.
His legs coiled and released, sending him soaring through the dense forest. The explosions and beastly growls behind him were fading, but he knew it wasn’t enough. Whoever won that battle would come looking for him.
His heart pounded like a war drum as he clutched the herb in his mouth, snatching it from the jaws of death. A thrill surged through him—excitement and fear intertwined after the ordeal he had just escaped.
He had survived. He had stolen something valuable. But at what cost?
Then—rustling of bush. Fang Mu’s body tensed as a figure emerged from the undergrowth, its sharp eyes locked onto him. A fox-like creature with sleek orange-red fur and a long, pointed snout.
"Fuck… son of sheep," he cursed under his breath as he looked behind him. He knew the herb’s scent had attracted more than just humans—other beasts were coming for it too.
He had underestimated this damn herb.
If he didn’t find shelter soon, more predators would come. And then, no matter how fast he ran, he’d be finished.
Fang Mu's limbs burned with exertion, but he couldn’t stop now. The fox-like beast was gaining on him, its sharp claws tearing through the muddy ground with ease. Each second that passed, the gap between them shrank.
The fox-like creature nearly caught Fang Mu, its deafening growl echoing through the forest as its sharp claws swiped at him.
Fang Mu tumbled, rolling across the ground from the force of the attack. Dirt and leaves scattered around him, but he gritted his teeth and braced himself.
Without wasting a second, he pushed off the ground and vaulted forward, refusing to slow down. 
The fox-like creature roared and lunged after Fang Mu, its powerful legs propelling it forward with terrifying speed.
Fang Mu’s heart pounded as he leaped through the undergrowth, weaving between trees in a desperate attempt to escape. But the beast was relentless, closing the distance with every stride.
His mind raced. Think! He need to think, He needed a way out—somewhere to hide, something to throw the beast off his trail.
The undergrowth thickened ahead, twisted roots and low-hanging branches blocking his path. He had two choices: keep running and hope for a miracle, or find a way to turn the tables.
His instincts screamed at him—running wouldn’t be enough.
With a sudden burst of determination, Fang Mu tightened his grip on the herb and veered sharply to the right, heading toward a cluster of towering trees. If he could lose the fox in the dense foliage, he might just have a chance.
Suddenly, from behind a tree, a another beast emerged a leopard-like creature emerged, snarling at him.
"Fuck… another shitty maggot," Fang Mu muttered.
Now two beasts were chasing him. He had no plan, no strategy—just run. And so he did, as fast as his legs could carry him.
The fox-like creature and the leopard snarled and snapped at each other, their fangs bared in warning. But instead of fighting to the death, they turned their focus back to Fang Mu, both driven by the same instinct—to claim the prize he carried.
Fang Mu gritted his teeth. "Damn bastards," he muttered under his breath.
He pushed himself harder, leaping from one patch of uneven ground to another, his webbed feet barely touching the earth before propelling him forward again. But no matter how fast he moved, the beasts weren’t giving up. They chased him with single-minded determination, their growls echoing through the trees.
Fang Mu tried to outrun them, weaving in a zigzag pattern through the dense forest. It slowed the beasts down slightly, forcing them to adjust their course, but it wasn’t enough. They were still closing in.
His muscles burned, his lungs ached, and the weight of the herb in his mouth only made it harder to breathe. He needed a better plan—something to shake them off for good.
Up ahead, he spotted a cluster of tangled roots and thick undergrowth. An idea formed in his mind. If he couldn’t outrun them, maybe he could outmaneuver them.
Dashing between trees and leaping over roots, but it still wasn’t enough. The fox-like creature and the leopard were relentless, their snarls growing louder as they closed in.
Then, in the distance, he heard another roar—deeper, more menacing.
His throat tightened.
If he couldn’t escape soon, the commotion would draw even more beasts to the chase. And when that happened, slipping away would become nearly impossible.
He needed to act fast.
Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a bird chirping atop a tree. An idea sparked in his mind. Gritting his teeth, he flexed his slimy, sticky feet and leaped toward the tree trunk, climbing up with all his strength.
Below, both beasts snarled. The fox-like creature barked furiously, unable to climb. But the leopard-like beast? It wasn’t giving up so easily. With a low growl, it dug its claws into the bark and started climbing after him.
"Fuck," he cursed under his breath, pushing himself higher. He climbed until he reached the sturdy branch where the bird had perched earlier.
The leopard-like beast reached for him, its sharp claws barely missing his leg. But it was too heavy—each movement made the branch creak under its weight. It growled in frustration, unable to go any higher.
Fang Mu took a deep breath, his eyes darting between the predator below and the one waiting on the ground. This wasn’t a safe shelter, but he had no choice.
And worse… he had no idea what might be lurking in the nest above.
He braced himself. With his strong legs, he leaped to another tree.
The leopard-like creature froze, stunned as its prey slipped from its grasp.
"Bye, stupid cat," Fang Mu thought as he leaped midair.
But before he could land safely, a bird dove straight at him, its talons aiming for his body.
"Fuc-c-c-ck!" Fang Mu panicked, twisting his body sideways to evade the attack. The bird screeched as it missed him, flapping wildly to regain control.
Fang Mu leaped from branch to branch, his small but powerful legs propelling him forward with incredible speed. The bird screeched behind him, its sharp talons slicing through the air as it dove toward him again.
He zigzagged through the dense canopy, weaving between thick leaves and twisting branches. Each time the bird got close, he shifted direction at the last second, using the countless branches to block its path.
The bird shrieked in frustration, crashing through leaves and twigs, struggling to keep up. 
Fang Mu smirked. "Too slow, feather-brain!"
But his confidence was short-lived. Ahead, the branches thinned, leaving a massive gap between trees. If he miss his next jump, he’d plummet straight down—where the fox and leopard still waited.
His heart pounded. No time to hesitate.
Summoning every ounce of strength, he sprang forward, aiming for the last sturdy branch within reach.
Fang Mu darted through the dense canopy, weaving between a maze of branches. The bird screeched above, its sharp eyes scanning for any glimpse of him. But the thick foliage worked in his favor.
He moved swiftly, leaping from branch to branch, using the cover of leaves to stay hidden. The bird circled overhead, its frustrated cries echoing through the forest. It dove a few times, trying to snatch him, but each time, he slipped away just in time, vanishing into the shadows of the towering trees.
Fang Mu paused, catching his breath. He smirked. "Catch if you can shit?"
The more he moved, the harder it became for the bird to track him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, its cries faded slowly. Before the bird could strike again, a thick branch covered in countless leaves suddenly blocked its vision. With no time to react, the bird crashed into the dense foliage, tumbling through the branches in a flurry of feathers and broken twigs.
Fang Mu landed safely on another branch, gripping tightly with his sticky feet. He let out a breathless chuckle.
"That was close," he muttered, shaking his head.
He couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the encounter. The madness of it all was almost comical. Catching his breath, he glanced around, searching for shelter. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings until they landed on a hollow burrow nestled within the trunk of a towering tree.
Relief flooded him. Without wasting a second, he crawled toward it, his movements swift but cautious. Peering inside, he took in the sight—a nest, carefully woven, cradling a clutch of eggs.
A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at Fang Mu’s lips. “Finally, luck is on my side.”
Without hesitation, he placed the precious herb he had been carrying onto the ground and grabbed one of the eggs. He swallowed it whole, feeling the smooth shell crack under the pressure of his jaw. Almost instantly, warmth spread through his body, filling his stomach with a comforting heat. The rich, nourishing taste was unlike anything he had savored in a long time.
After everything—the relentless chase, the suffocating exhaustion, the sheer insanity of his escape—this was his prize. His reward for surviving against the odds.
A deep sense of satisfaction washed over him. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, despite all the dangers, the hunger, and the brushes with death, he had carved out a brief moment of peace.