Just as Lu Shun was about to comment on the serene scenery, a sudden, eerie silence fell over the group. The air grew cold, and an unsettling presence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He sensed danger, a different kind of energy—a dark, malevolent qi that sent shivers down his spine.
“Watch out!” Mei Lin shouted, her keen senses picking up the threat.
From the shadows, figures cloaked in black robes emerged, their faces hidden by dark masks. The demonic sect members moved swiftly and silently, their eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Lu Shun and his companions instinctively fell into defensive stances, their earlier camaraderie replaced by a fierce determination to protect each other.
The first wave of attackers lunged at them, weapons gleaming in the fading light. Lu Shun parried a sword strike aimed at his chest, countering with a swift kick that sent his assailant sprawling. The clang of steel echoed through the night as the battle intensified. Han Feng used his silk-wrapping technique to ensnare an attacker’s arm, yanking him off balance and delivering a powerful punch to the face. His movements were fluid and precise, honed by years of dealing with the delicate threads of silk.
Li Wei moved with the grace of a dancer, dodging and weaving between her opponents. Her strikes were precise and deadly, each one landing with pinpoint accuracy. She delivered a swift kick to an attacker’s knee, followed by a chop to the neck, sending him crumpling to the ground. Mei Lin, drawing on her knowledge of pressure points, incapacitated several attackers with well-placed blows, leaving them writhing in pain on the ground. Her hands moved like lightning, striking critical points that rendered her enemies helpless.
Despite their skill, the group was outnumbered. The demonic sect members fought with a savage ferocity, their dark qi enhancing their strength and speed. They moved like shadows, their attacks relentless and ruthless. Lu Shun could feel his energy waning, each clash of steel draining more of his stamina. He deflected a thrust aimed at his heart, barely managing to keep his footing.
“We can’t keep this up forever,” he panted, blocking another strike. “We need to find a way to turn the tide.”
Suddenly, a cloaked figure lunged at Lu Shun with blinding speed, a dagger gleaming in the dim light. Lu Shun tried to dodge, but the assailant was too fast. He felt a sharp pain in his side as the blade pierced his flesh. The world seemed to slow down as he looked down, seeing the dagger embedded in his torso. A burning sensation spread from the wound, searing through his body like wildfire. He gasped, his vision blurring.
“Lu Shun!” Mei Lin screamed, her voice filled with panic.
Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Lu Shun stumbled, his strength ebbing away. He tried to pull the dagger out, but his hands were shaking too much. The pain was excruciating, every movement sending waves of agony through him. He fell to his knees, the world around him spinning.
Li Wei, seeing Lu Shun fall, rushed to his side, her face pale with fear. But her distraction cost her; an attacker took advantage of the opening and slashed at her back. She cried out, collapsing beside Lu Shun, her life force ebbing away as blood pooled beneath her.
Han Feng and Mei Lin fought valiantly, but the overwhelming numbers took their toll. Han Feng was surrounded, his silk wraps proving ineffective against the sheer ferocity of the attackers. A sword pierced his chest, and he fell with a choked gasp, his eyes wide with shock.
Mei Lin, witnessing her friend’s demise, fought with a desperate fury. She took down several more attackers, but was eventually overpowered. A blade struck her side, and she crumpled to the ground, her vision darkening as her strength faded.
Lu Shun looked to his side, clutching the wound in his torso. Beside him, Li Wei lay motionless in a pool of blood, her lifeless eyes staring blankly at the sky. The sight jolted him, a sudden rush of emotions flooding his mind. He thought of his parents.
Qin Cha Ling, his mother—the gentle woman who had fought her parents at Mount Hua to marry his father in Blazing Dawn Sect. She always told him not to take the idea of proving himself to his grandparents at Mount Hua seriously, always to take care of himself first. Her warm smile and soothing voice echoed in his mind, a beacon of love and comfort.
Lu Mingfe, his father—always the bubbly guy trying to keep his family peaceful and together. Lu Shun recalled the look of disappointment on his father’s face when he told him about his plan to prove himself in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. His father had said he had nothing to prove to anyone. The memory of his father’s words weighed heavily on his heart.
His elder sister, the weirdo always making trouble for him. The last he heard from her was that they were expecting a child soon. The idea of not being able to see his niece or nephew was a bitter pill to swallow, a tingling sensation forming in his throat as he gasped for air.
As his vision blurred, slowly turning dark, he thought of Edina, his cousin. He had promised himself that he would protect her from Aunt Li Mei’s tormenting. The thought of failing her added to the weight pressing down on his chest.
Suddenly, he sensed a unique energy—a different kind of power than the usual qi. It was mana. A thunderous light flashed, and a barrier formed around them, halting the advance of the demonic sect invaders. The energy was familiar and comforting.
Without thinking, Lu Shun mustered all the strength he had left and yelled out, his voice raw and desperate. “Help my friends! Mister Rin!” His words echoed in the night air as his vision finally faded into darkness.
At the same time, on zunzon road
Senior Edina, looking at the full moon night, thought to herself, Brother Shun must have already reached Mount Hua and will get the title Blazing Blade in the tournament next week. I should have Junior Edina plan for a bigger party on his return than the normal one she is trying to do.