The sight was jarring. Her calm, loving demeanor had completely shifted, replaced by an unyielding sternness. As Wei's body hit the ground with a heavy thud, Lin gasped, stunned by the abrupt change in her mother’s attitude. The air between them grew tense and oppressive as Li Mei stepped out onto the field, her eyes blazing with a mixture of frustration and anger.
"What have you done!?" she shouted, her voice sharp and cutting like a blade through the still air. The severity in her tone echoed across the training field, sending nearby servants scrambling away in fear, not daring to witness what was unfolding.
Wei, lying on the ground, struggled to find words, but none came. His body ached with every movement, yet he managed to rise without the aid of his hands, as if some unseen force were pulling him up like a marionette on strings. The sight sent a chill down Lin's spine, terrifying her to the core.
Suddenly, a surge of energy burst forth from Wei, more defined and ominous now. Dark Qi. Li Mei's expression twisted in horror as she realized the nature of the energy emanating from her son. Without hesitation, she surged forward using the Blazing Rose Steps technique, closing the distance in an instant. She delivered a powerful kick aimed directly at him.
Wei dodged it effortlessly, a feat that should have been impossible given his martial level. Whatever malevolent force was within him was controlling his actions, granting him unnatural reflexes. Li Mei launched another attack, a kick that barely missed Wei by an inch, but the sheer force of it cracked the ground where it landed.
Watching in growing horror, Han turned to Lin and said firmly, "Don't move. I'll help your mother." He was just about to spring into action when two arrows, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms, whistled through the air toward Wei. Li Mei sensed the arrows and quickly moved aside. The arrows struck the ground in front of Wei, emitting a scent that made him wince and scream like a beast, retreating a few steps.
Li Mei recognized the arrows immediately and turned to see their source. Standing atop the entrance gate of the Mu Mansion was Qin Cha Ling, Lu Shun’s mother, her bow still drawn and another arrow ready. Her eyes were locked onto Wei as she shouted, "Li Mei! What the hell is happening here?!"
Qin Cha Ling, hailing from Mount Hua, was well-versed in the rituals and practices of their enemy demonic sect, more so than anyone in the Blazing Dawn Sect. Having recently received troubling news about her son's condition during his stay at Mount Hua, she had been in seclusion, praying for his safety. But the moment she sensed the presence of demonic Qi within the Mu Mansion, she rushed over, her concern turning into alarm.
Li Mei, still struggling to comprehend what was happening to her son, shouted back, "I don’t know, Qin! But I’m certain this is some kind of demonic sect’s medicine!"
Li Mei’s eyes narrowed as she met Qin Cha Ling’s determined gaze. She knew that Qin’s arrival could tip the balance in their favor, but she also knew they had to act swiftly. Wei was no longer in control of his actions, and the Dark Qi coursing through him made him a danger to everyone around him.
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"We need to subdue him before he loses himself completely!" Li Mei shouted, her voice laced with urgency.
Qin Cha Ling nodded, her focus unwavering. She swiftly nocked another arrow, this one imbued with a purifying essence, a technique taught at Mount Hua specifically to counteract demonic energies. With precision and speed, she released the arrow, aiming directly at Wei's chest.
Wei, moving with the unnatural agility granted by the Dark Qi, twisted his body to evade the arrow. But Han was ready for him. Anticipating Wei's movement, Han dashed forward, his fists glowing with a golden aura, a manifestation of his Qi. He struck at Wei's side, aiming to destabilize him, but Wei reacted instantly, blocking the blow with a sharp, fluid motion.
The impact sent shockwaves through the air, and Han grimaced as he felt the force of the demonic energy resisting his own. "He's stronger than I thought," Han muttered through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation.
"We can’t afford to hold back!" Li Mei shouted, her hands already weaving intricate patterns in the air. Flames burst from her fingertips, forming a blazing rose that spiraled towards Wei. The attack was both beautiful and deadly, its heat searing the air as it closed in on him.
Wei leaped back, narrowly avoiding the flaming rose, but it wasn’t just the flames he had to worry about. Qin had already released another arrow, this one aimed at his legs to slow him down. It grazed his calf, the purifying energy burning away a tendril of Dark Qi that had wrapped around his limb. Wei let out a guttural snarl, the pain momentarily breaking his concentration.
Seeing the opening, Han charged forward again, this time with a sweeping kick aimed at Wei's legs. Wei jumped, but Han was expecting this. As Wei was mid-air, Han shifted his stance and struck upward with his fist, catching Wei in the chest and sending him crashing to the ground.
"Now!" Han roared.
Li Mei was already in motion. Using the Blazing Rose Steps technique, she closed the distance in a flash and pressed her palm against Wei's forehead, pouring her Qi into him. The force of her Qi clashed with the Dark Qi, and for a moment, it seemed as if the two energies would tear Wei apart.
But Li Mei persisted, channeling more of her energy, her expression one of fierce determination. "I won't let you be consumed by this, Wei!"
As Li Mei continued to channel her Qi, Qin took aim one last time. This arrow was different; it glowed with a soft, ethereal light—a purification arrow, a last-resort technique. She released it with a steady hand, and the arrow flew straight and true, striking Wei’s shoulder. The purifying essence spread through his body, dimming the Dark Qi’s influence.
Wei’s movements became sluggish, his snarls turning into pained groans. He tried to rise, but his legs buckled beneath him. Han moved swiftly, catching him before he could fall. With a gentle but firm grip, he laid Wei down on the ground, his body now limp and unresponsive.
Li Mei withdrew her hand, breathing heavily. Sweat trickled down her brow as she watched her son’s face, which had returned to a more peaceful expression, though he was unconscious. The dark aura around him had faded, replaced by the faint glow of Qin’s purifying arrows.
"We did it," Han said, his voice filled with relief, though his eyes remained vigilant.
Qin Cha Ling lowered her bow, her stance relaxing as she took in the scene. "For now," she replied, her tone cautious. "But this is far from over. We need to find out what caused this."
Just as the three were catching their breath, the sound of hurried footsteps reached their ears. Sect Leader Liang Feng, accompanied by several elders of the Blazing Dawn Sect, arrived on the scene. His eyes immediately took in the devastation—the cracked ground, the lingering dark aura, and Wei’s unconscious form.
"What happened here?" Liang Feng demanded, his voice calm but with an undercurrent of authority that made it clear he expected answers.
Li Mei stood, her legs slightly unsteady, but her resolve firm. "Wei... he was overtaken by some kind of demonic energy. We managed to subdue him, but it was close."
Liang Feng’s eyes narrowed as he looked down at Wei, then at the others. "Demonic energy? In the Mu Mansion? This is a grave matter."