Kyle entertained himself by making up ridiculous scenarios in his head and laughing at them, simply because there was practically nothing else to do.
He had come from a world where entertainment was available at the touch of a button. His phone had provided him with an endless stream of videos, novels, games, and other distractions whenever he felt bored. He had never truly appreciated how much stimulation that little device provided until he found himself in a world without it.
Now, he was practically experiencing a digital detox against his will.
’Fuck, I never realized how much dopamine that little thing provided.’
He could practically imagine himself scrolling through his phone for hours, watching random videos and reading novels without even realizing how much time had passed.
Here, however, there was nothing to scroll through, nobody to message, and no endless stream of content to keep his brain occupied.
There was only him, his thoughts, and the occasional sound of the wind passing through the courtyard.
’How the fuck do people in these cultivation novels spend years meditating in caves without going insane?’
Kyle shook his head, letting out a tired sigh.
"I can’t wait to recover enough to drink a healing potion and speed up my recovery," he muttered.
His injuries were still fresh, and his body needed time to stabilize before he could safely use his remaining Low-Grade Healing Potions to assist the healing process.
The wounds hadn’t closed properly yet. Even minor movements could put pressure on the injured areas, potentially reopening them and worsening his condition. Drinking a potion at the wrong time wouldn’t magically solve everything, either.
He needed to wait until his body had recovered enough to tolerate movement without tearing the wounds apart.
Based on his current condition, he estimated that he would need at least another two days before he could safely accelerate his recovery.
’Two fucking days of doing absolutely nothing.’
Kyle felt as though he had been sentenced to an eternity of boredom.
"I wish Yue’er would come around like a savior again and save me from all this boredom. It’s seriously unbearable to stay like this. How do these motherfuckers in novels manage to avoid getting bored? Even though I’m in a fantastical world, I’m getting bored out of my mind!"
He whined to himself while staring at the darkening sky.
The irony wasn’t lost on him.
He had dreamed of visiting another world, discovering supernatural powers, meeting beautiful women, and embarking on exciting adventures. Yet, after barely surviving his first encounter with a magical beast, he was now sitting in a comfortable courtyard, desperately wishing someone would come and entertain him.
As darkness gradually spread across the village, the visibility around the courtyard decreased. Fortunately, the luminous lamps mounted along the surrounding walls automatically illuminated the area as the evening grew darker.
Their soft light spread across the stone pathway, flowerbeds, and wooden porch, allowing Kyle to see his surroundings without difficulty.
Of course, if he really wanted better visibility, he could always purchase night-vision equipment through the marketplace.
But that would require spending System Points on something he didn’t particularly need.
For now, he decided to conserve his resources.
Besides, the moon would soon provide enough natural illumination to admire the surroundings.
...
With nothing else to occupy his attention, Kyle eventually settled into a rocking chair on the porch.
He sat with his eyes closed, his hands resting on the armrests, while the chair gently rocked back and forth.
From a distance, he probably resembled an old man who had finished reading his newspaper and decided to take an afternoon nap.
The only difference was that Kyle was a young man who had nearly died fighting a magical wolf and was now recovering in an unfamiliar world.
He had also changed into traditional village clothing.
His original clothes had been torn and damaged beyond repair during his battle with the Bloodfang Wolf. Although he still had spare clothes stored in his System inventory, he hadn’t bothered retrieving them.
Instead, he had decided to wear the garments provided for him.
There was little point in walking around dressed like a foreigner when he could easily blend in with the local population.
Besides, the loose traditional clothing was reasonably comfortable, and he didn’t have to worry about ruining his remaining clothes while recovering.
’Now I look like an actual resident of this world.’
Kyle rocked gently in his chair, enjoying the cool evening air.
He was injured, exhausted, and thoroughly bored.
He closed his eyes again, allowing the chair to rock him gently.
Step.
Step.
A faint sound came from the entrance to his courtyard.
Someone had entered the residence.
The footsteps were light and delicate, barely audible against the quiet surroundings. Whoever it was seemed to be walking carefully, perhaps trying not to disturb anyone inside.
Kyle remained still, his eyes closed.
He already knew who had arrived.
There was no mistaking those footsteps. They were light, quick, and graceful, belonging to none other than the beautiful young woman who had rescued him from the forest.
Xi Yue.
She had come to visit him.
Tonight, she wore a different outfit from the one he had seen earlier. The traditional garments were lighter in color, with faded shades that suited the quiet atmosphere of the evening. The fabric moved gently as she walked through the courtyard, and the soft illumination from the lamps made her appearance all the more striking.
Even dressed simply, she possessed a natural beauty that was difficult to ignore.
Xi Yue approached the porch and noticed Kyle sitting in his rocking chair.
His eyes were closed, his posture relaxed, and his breathing appeared steady.
He looked so peaceful that she hesitated to approach any further.
’Perhaps I’ve come at the wrong time...’
She had originally intended to check on his condition and see whether he needed anything. However, seeing him apparently resting so comfortably, she began to wonder whether visiting him had been a mistake.
He was still recovering from serious injuries, after all.
Perhaps he needed some quiet time alone.
Xi Yue stood there for a moment, uncertain whether she should call out to him.
Eventually, she decided against disturbing his rest.
She quietly turned around, intending to leave and return another time.
Unfortunately for her, Kyle had already recognized her footsteps.
’Why are you leaving already, my dear?’
He had been aware of her arrival almost immediately.
Even with his eyes closed, he could recognize the light steps of the woman who had rescued him. He had spent enough time listening to her move around during his earlier visit to Elder Gu’s residence to remember the sound.
’You’re not supposed to leave immediately after coming to visit me. I can recognize your footsteps, you know. After all, I’m the Feetmaster.’
Kyle nearly laughed at his own ridiculous title.
Then, before Xi Yue could take another step toward the entrance, he opened his eyes.
"Lady Xi, what brings you here?"
His voice was gentle and welcoming, carrying none of the shameless thoughts running through his mind.
Xi Yue stopped in her tracks and turned around, looking slightly surprised that he had noticed her afterall.