“Argh!”

The man was hurled backward, crashing with others. Dust exploded around them as they were sent tumbling to the ground.

Groaning as they struggled to rise and their movements were a bit sluggish.

“Hanyu’er, quick!” Xu Lian urged as she landed beside the unconscious lady, shielding her.

Xu Hanyu moved to lift her onto his back with Xu Lian’s help and carefully placed her on his back.

"She’s safe now," Xu Lian whispered softly.

With a firm command, she instructed, “Let’s go!” and they set off, moving swiftly.

One of the men, roughly roared after them, “Who are you?! Do you think you can just run away!?”

But the siblings were already gone, their steps fading into the wilderness as they carried the injured lady. The sounds of pursuit quickly followed.

“After them!” another barked up.

…

Xu Lian and Xu Hanyu dashed through the wilderness, the young lady's unconscious form slung over their backs. Her eyes briefly opened, but all she sensed was the rough jolt of their movement.

“Are we still far from the bottom of the mountain?”

“Yes… I don’t think we’ll get there in time.”

“What should we do now?”

Suddenly, Xu Lian’s instincts kicked in as she sensed the men approaching.

“We need to hide,” she whispered urgently.

“They’re almost here!”

“Okay!” Xu Hanyu said as he quickened his running.

A few moments later, Xu Lian spotted a small cave nearby, barely noticeable against the rocks. “There!” she said, pointing ahead.

Without hesitation, they dashed into the cave. Inside, it was obvious that it wasn’t a secure place to stay longer. It felt dim and cold.

“Let’s stay here for now. We can’t stay much longer here, though…”

He softly said “Hm,” nodding as he laid the injured woman against the cold stone wall, trying to make her comfortable. Xu Lian crouched down to examine her injury, frowning.

“We’ve been out too long. This isn’t safe.”

“I know but, sis, do you think she’ll be okay?” Xu Hanyu asked, worried in his voice.

Xu Lian sighed, studying the lady’s wounds. “I’m not sure… the injuries look pretty serious.”

“Um.. Why don’t we take her back to the clan for help?”

“Absolutely not.”

“But—” Xu Hanyu started, but Xu Lian cut him off.

“If we take her back, the Elders will find out we’ve been out. We don’t even know who she is. If she brings trouble, it could be disastrous for the clan.”

Xu Hanyu was left speechless as he heard his sister’s reason. He knew she was right and it was the safest option.

“… Then what should we do?”

“It’s best to wait here until the men outside are gone. So stay here and keep quiet. I’ll check the situation outside.”

Xu Hanyu gave a nod, though he wasn’t pleased with their situation.

“Alright,” he said quietly.

With that, Xu Lian left to assess the situation, leaving him alone in the stifling cave with the unconscious young lady.

Sitting beside the young lady, he found himself growing bored. He began studying her features, but an odd fluttering in his chest made him uneasy. Perhaps he was anxious that she might awaken.

In the dim light, her face looked still yet fragile. She seemed only seventeen or eighteen, looking very mature and even her fierce energy demanded respect, even in this vulnerable state.

He moved closer, feeling a pull as he traced her features. Even unconscious, her strength was still there. Her tangled black hair framed her face like a halo, and despite her battered body, she radiates beauty.

Without realizing it, his hand reached out, fingers hovering just above her cheek. The warmth of her skin felt magnetic, and for a moment, he forgot everything else.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

But just as his fingertips touched her skin, her eyes shot open, fierce and alert. She jerked upright, breath ragged. Xu Hanyu also got startled.

She’s awake?!

The movement was so quick that Xu Hanyu barely had time to react. Before he could sense properly what was happening; a young woman with her sword aimed at his throat.

He stepped back with his eyes wide with fear. “Wait! I’m not here to hurt you!” He raised his hands.

“Who are you!?” she demanded, sounding suspicious against him.

He remained frozen in his spot as the sword was only inches away from him. “I mean no h-harm…”

Yet, she looked unchanged, she examined him closely before gasping and clutching her chest in agony.

"Hrk!" Blood spilled from her mouth as her sword clattered to the ground, struggling to stay upright.

Concerned, Xu Hanyu stepped closer. “Hey…! You need to rest…”

She tried to lift her sword again, but her grip faltered. Seeing her pain deepened his worry. “Just rest for a moment, you’re too stubborn.” he urged, moving closer to support her.

With a pained expression, she let the sword fall. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned against him as exhaustion took over. He gently lowered her to the ground, whispering, “Don’t worry, just go back to rest…”

Straining to keep her eyes open, the young lady looked at Xu Hanyu's figure in front of her, her weary sight barely focused.

No wuqi aura..?

…

The forest was unnaturally quiet, the night already falling, and the air still. Xu Lian crouched behind a large rock, heart racing as she tried to listen for any sounds. Rash footsteps. Voices.

“They’re here…” she whispered under her breath.

And the voices grew clearer.

“We lost them! Split up and search the area!”

“We can’t let her get away! The young lady must be captured!”

Xu Lian’s fists clenched. I need to act fast!

She shifted slightly, but suddenly—crunch. A dry leaf snapped beneath her foot.

“Who’s there?” a man barked, suspicion thick in his voice.

I’m dead…

Her heart skipped a beat. No time to think, only to act. In one fluid motion, she darted into the nearest tree, her body moving like a streak of shadow. Behind her, the men shouted, their footsteps crashing against the wilderness ground.

She swung from branch to branch, making distance quickly. Spotting the hidden cave entrance where the two are, she descended and dashed inside, breathing heavily.

Inside, Xu Hanyu knelt beside the unconscious girl, adjusting her cloak.

“Hanyu’er!” Xu Lian’s voice echoed faintly in the cave.

“Sis? What happened?” Hanyu’s head snapped up as he stood.

“They’re here. We need to leave. Now.”

“What? Already?” Xu Hanyu frowned, carefully securing the girl onto his back.

“They'll be here sooner or later…!” Xu Lian said, her tone urgent. “We need a plan..”

They both paused, looking around before leaving the cave. Xu Lian noticed the cloak the unconscious girl wore. An idea came to her. Without saying anything, she pulled it off the girl and put it on herself.

“What are you doing?” Xu Hanyu asked, confused.

“I’ll wear it,” Xu Lian said, “If they see me, they’ll think I’m the young lady.”

“That’s too dangerous!” Xu Hanyu protested.

“We don’t have a choice. You have to take her down to the mountain immediately! I’ll lead them away, so we’ll meet at the foot.”

He was hesitating as he felt a concern but it was true that there was no other way.

“Alright. Just… be careful, Sis.”

“Don’t worry about me. Just protect her.”

With those last words, she ran out quickly from the cave. Then Xu Hanyu adjusted the girl on his back and looked around. His eyes widened as he saw four men jumping after Xu Lian.

I have to take this chance to escape! Without hesitation, he sprinted, staying out of sight as the enemies remained focused on his sister.

…

With the hood of her cloak pulled low, Xu Lian sprinted through the forest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as her pursuers closed in. The sound of pounding footsteps grew louder, but something felt off.

“Where’s the other one?” she wondered, glancing back slightly to see only three men in hot pursuit.

“Stop the young lady!” a voice commanded.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted; she sensed the man’s energy behind her, a higher realm’s presence encasing her.

Then a Celestial Wheel manifested behind the leader, its luminescence heralding summoned golden blades that cleaved through the atmosphere. Xu Lian evaded with remarkable agility, leaping from branch to branch as the deadly projectiles whistled past.

Da Sheng, 4-star…!

We’re only three stars apart, but I can’t beat that level yet. I must lead them away quickly!

Then another blade hurtled toward her…

Dodge—!

Yet they relentlessly continued their assault on her.

Panic starts to crept in.

“There are too many of them…I must draw them further away…!”

She landed hard and scanned for escape, only to have her heart sink at a dead end—a sheer rock wall barred her path.

This is...

Before she could react, one of the men’s voices rang out from behind her landing all together.

“You’re nowhere to go, young lady…”

The three men edged closer, their eyes burning with a fierce intent to capture the lady. Their weapons shimmered as they moved in a deadly rhythm. Xu Lian’s fingers twitched, and in a split second, the two men lunged, blades cutting through the air. But she had already slipped away.

Thump!

Her boot slammed into the forehead of the man who’d been waiting in the open, “Argh!” sending him crashing backward.

In that moment, the other two hesitated, pausing for just a heartbeat, before converging with blinding speed.

Xu Lian also shivered, but her eyes stayed focused, her body coiled like a spring. The world around her began to twist and warp as they circled her.

The first man attacked, but she dodged, the blade narrowly missing her. The second man lunged, but Xu Lian leaped, her feet gliding past him as her kick sent him staggering back.

She shaped a tear, summoning her Celestial Wheel, glowing with light blue energy. As she twirled, a bright pearl formed in her hand, its intricate designs shimmering, her eyes reflecting the ocean.

As the men circled at lightning speed, one faltered, realization crossing his face.

“Da Sheng 1 star?!” One gasped as he noticed Xu Lian’s Celestial Wheel.

Then he thought. But I remember the young lady was not Da Sheng…!

“Where did she even learn this technique…?” The leader on the side faltered as his confusion turned to unease. Then Xu Lian thrust forward, the glowing pearl in her hand.

“Arghh!”

A shockwave exploded outward, slamming both men into the ground with the force of a landslide. The ground shook beneath them as they crashed, their weapons flying from their hands.

She stood tall in the spot, forgetting her cloak slipping off to reveal her face.

Suddenly, a burst of light erupted overhead—a signal flare, like fireworks in the sky.

The men froze, eyes wide.

“A signal? That’s our men’s signal!”

“This is bad…” Xu Lian said quietly while looking at the sky with the light that had erupted.

They turned back to Xu Lian, and they realized that they were being fooled.

“This isn’t her!”