The air grew colder as they ventured deeper into the Borderlands, the wind carrying whispers of unseen dangers. The rocky terrain beneath their feet turned jagged, and faint traces of qi lingered in the air like an unspoken warning. Li Feng's muscles ached from the relentless pace Yan Wei had set, but he didn't dare complain. The memory of the bandit attack was still fresh in his mind, and the weight of their journey loomed heavy over him.

"Stay sharp," Yan Wei said, her voice low. She moved like a shadow, her hand resting on the hilt of her blade. "This place reeks of trouble."

Li Feng followed closely, his staff gripped tightly in his hand. He had come to trust Yan Wei's instincts—if she sensed danger, it was never far away.

They reached a narrow gorge by midday, its steep walls casting long shadows across the path. Yan Wei paused, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the area.

"This is too quiet," she muttered. "We're being watched."

Li Feng's grip on his staff tightened. "By who?"

Before she could answer, a sharp whistle echoed through the gorge. Figures emerged from the shadows, their silver-embroidered robes unmistakable. At their center stood a tall man with cold, calculating eyes and a faint smirk on his lips.

"Fan Xian," Yan Wei said, her voice like steel. "Of course it's you."

The man's smirk widened. "Yan Wei. It's been a while. I see you've picked up a stray."

Li Feng bristled at the insult but said nothing, his focus on the group surrounding them. There were six disciples in total, each one radiating a dangerous aura. He could feel their qi pressing down on him like an invisible weight.

"You've caused quite a stir," Fan Xian continued, his gaze shifting to Li Feng. "That mark on your hand—it's made you very popular. The sect would like it back."

Yan Wei stepped between them, her blade flashing as she drew it. "You're not laying a finger on him."

Fan Xian chuckled. "Still playing the hero, I see. Tell me, how long do you think you can keep running? You know the sect doesn't tolerate traitors."

Yan Wei's eyes burned with fury. "You'll have to kill me first."

Fan Xian's smirk faded. "So be it."

The disciples attacked in unison, their movements precise and deadly. Yan Wei met them head-on, her blade a blur of silver light as she deflected their strikes. Li Feng hesitated for a heartbeat before charging into the fray, his staff clashing against the swords of his enemies.

The gorge erupted into chaos. The sound of steel on steel echoed off the walls, mingling with the crackle of qi techniques. Yan Wei fought like a tempest, her every movement calculated and efficient. She parried one strike, countered another, and unleashed a surge of qi that sent two disciples flying.

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Li Feng, meanwhile, struggled to hold his own. The disciples were faster and more skilled than the bandits he had faced before. Each clash left his arms aching, and he narrowly avoided a blade that came dangerously close to his neck.

"Focus, Feng!" Yan Wei shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Use your qi!"

He gritted his teeth, channeling energy into his limbs. His next strike hit with greater force, catching his opponent off guard and knocking them back. For a brief moment, he felt a surge of confidence—but it was short-lived.

Fan Xian entered the fight.

The sect leader moved with an elegance that belied his ruthless intent. In an instant, he closed the distance between himself and Yan Wei, their blades meeting with a deafening clash. The sheer force of his strikes drove her back, and Li Feng could see the strain on her face.

"You've improved," Fan Xian said, his tone almost mocking. "But you're still no match for me."

Yan Wei didn't respond, her focus unwavering as she parried his next attack. Sparks flew as their weapons collided, the air around them crackling with energy.

Li Feng knew he had to do something. Summoning every ounce of courage, he charged toward Fan Xian, his staff glowing with qi. The sect leader turned at the last second, deflecting the strike with a casual flick of his wrist.

"Brave," Fan Xian said, his eyes cold. "But foolish."

Before Li Feng could react, Fan Xian's palm slammed into his chest, a burst of qi sending him sprawling. Pain shot through his body as he hit the ground, gasping for air.

"Feng!" Yan Wei shouted, her voice filled with alarm.

Fan Xian advanced toward him, his blade glinting in the dim light. "The mark doesn't belong to you, boy. Hand it over, and I might let you live."

Li Feng struggled to his feet, his vision swimming. The mark on his palm began to glow, its pulse quickening. He could feel its energy building, wild and uncontrollable.

"No," he said, his voice trembling but firm. "You can't have it."

Fan Xian's smirk returned. "Then you've chosen death."

The mark flared to life, its light blinding as a surge of power erupted from Li Feng's palm. The energy shot outward in a wave, forcing everyone back. Fan Xian stumbled, his smirk replaced by a look of surprise.

"What is this?" he muttered, shielding his eyes.

Li Feng didn't have time to think. The mark guided his movements, his body acting on instinct as he unleashed another wave of energy. It struck the sect leader, sending him skidding across the ground.

But the power came at a cost. Li Feng's body felt like it was on fire, the energy tearing through him with every pulse. He fell to his knees, his vision darkening as the mark dimmed.

"Feng!" Yan Wei rushed to his side, her blade still raised as she kept an eye on the remaining disciples. Fan Xian rose slowly, his expression unreadable.

"This isn't over," he said, his voice cold. "You can't run forever."

With a sharp whistle, he signaled his disciples to retreat. They vanished into the shadows, leaving Yan Wei and Li Feng alone in the gorge.

The silence that followed was deafening. Yan Wei knelt beside Li Feng, checking his pulse and examining the mark on his hand. Her expression was a mixture of relief and frustration.

"You're an idiot," she said, her voice trembling. "You could've killed yourself."

Li Feng managed a weak smile. "But I didn't."

Yan Wei shook her head. "You can't keep using the mark like this. It's too dangerous."

"I didn't have a choice," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I had to protect us."

Her gaze softened, and she helped him to his feet. "You did well, Feng. But next time, don't rely on the mark unless it's absolutely necessary. We need to figure out how to control it before it destroys you."

Li Feng nodded, leaning heavily on his staff as they made their way out of the gorge. The confrontation had left him shaken, but it also ignited a newfound determination. He had stood his ground against the Silver Shadow Sect, and though he still had much to learn, he knew he couldn't afford to stop now.