Stone Creek no longer felt like the simple, backwater village it once was. Fear hung heavy in the air, weaved into daily life. The villagers crossed to the other side of the street whenever Lin Feng's hut was around, even the ones that used to bully him wouldn't dare near him. They looked at him with fear in their eyes.
Lin Feng fed off their fear; the feeling was real and nurtured the dark qi in his body, accelerating his cultivation. Yet this is not enough. To be able to leave this rotten place, he needed more power—and that means resources.
---
The forest outside Stone Creek was thick and forbidding with its twisting paths overgrown by thorny vines. Lin Feng strode down the paths, a small pouch slung over his shoulder; it was said that there was an extremely rare herb that grew in depth which greatly helped in a cultivator's recovery and was meant to amplify the qi circulation.
It wasn’t long before he found the herb: Shadowmoss, its black-veined leaves glistening under the faint sunlight that filtered through the canopy. Lin Feng crouched, carefully plucking the herb and storing it in his pouch.
“You’ve got sharp eyes for someone so young,” a voice called out, shattering the forest’s silence.
Lin Feng sprang to his feet, hand closing instinctively on the jagged dagger he carried. A woman stepped from behind a tree; her presence was a surprise, and somehow instantly unsettling. She was tall, lean, in a tattered grey cloak that did little to conceal twin daggers strapped to thighs. Her hair was short, untidy; her sharp eyes gleaming with private amusement.
"Relax, boy," the woman said, raising her hands in mock surrender. "If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have heard me coming."
Lin Feng didn't lower his guard. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
"Yu Qian," she said succinctly. "As for what I want… let's just say I'm curious. You've been making quite the stir back in Stone Creek. The kind of stir that attracts attention."
Lin Feng examined her carefully. She was not from the village-that much was obvious. Her weapons and bearing spoke of a cultivator, and no novice at that. "And what does my 'stir' have to do with you?"
Yu Qian grinned. "I have a talent for finding talent. And you, Lin Feng, reek of it. That dark energy you're using-it's rare, dangerous, and probably going to get you killed."
Lin Feng didn't change expressions, but she knew that cut deep. She was indeed capable of perceiving the nature of his cultivation. She was, therefore, a threat.
"What do you want, Yu Qian?" he repeated, cold as ice.
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"An alliance," she said, shrugging. "You have potential, but you're like a cub playing with fire. Stick with me, and I'll make sure you don't burn yourself alive. In return, you'll help me… acquire a few things."
Lin Feng's instincts were screaming at him to refuse her. He didn't trust her-she was too calm, too confident. Yet he knew a good opportunity when it was presented to him. Yu Qian was stronger than him, and learning from her could give him an edge.
"Fine," he said finally. "But cross me, and you'll regret it."
Her grin grew wider. "Oh, I like you already."
---
Yu Qian wasted no time. Within hours after their agreement, she brought Lin Feng deeper into the woods-to the remains of an ancient sect outpost. It was hardly a building, its walls that once stood grand now crumbling to the pressure of time and neglect.
"Inside," Yu Qian said, pointing at the entrance. "There is a treasure hidden in the lower levels. An old Spirit Core, filled with the essence of a fallen cultivator. I need it."
"And you want me to get it for you," Lin Feng said, narrowing his eyes.
"I'd do it myself, but the place is crawling with traps," Yu Qian replied. "Think of it as a test. If you survive, you'll prove you're worth my time."
Lin Feng snorted. "Generous of you."
Without waiting for a response, he stepped into the ruins.
---
Heavy inside, the air was thick with the smell of dust and decaying things. Lin Feng's feet crunched on the broken tiles of the main hall as his senses went into high alert. It wasn't long before he stumbled upon the first trap-a series of pressure plates under the debris.
Carefully, Lin Feng sidled around them, making use of his knowledge about formations to avoid the various mechanisms. Deeper inside, the traps were more complex: hidden spikes, collapsing ceilings, and even a few very basic spirit arrays that would stop intruders in their tracks.
Finally, he entered the chamber Yu Qian had described. In the center of it was a stone pedestal, and on top of that rested the Spirit Core in a pale blue shining orb. The air around it buzzed with energy, a testament to its potency.
Lin Feng approached cautiously and carefully; his eyes scanned the room for traps. Indeed, on the pedestal, there lay a faintly glowing circle-a spirit-lock formation which was to be triggered when one removed the core in an improper way.
He smirked. Whoever had placed this formation clearly didn't expect someone with his level of expertise. Carefully, he channeled a thread of black qi into the formation, disrupting its balance. The glow flickered and died, leaving the pedestal unguarded.
As Lin Feng reached out to claim the Spirit Core, a low growl echoed through the chamber. His hand froze.
From the darkness came an animal that he had never seen: a Shadowfang Beast, his body black as water, muscles razing. The eyes were red, and its fangs brimmed with venom.
Lin Feng swore. Of course it wouldn't be so easy.
---
The Shadowfang leapt, his movements incomprehensibly fast. Lin Feng dodged, the beast's claws tearing through the air where his head had been a moment before.
He wasted no time. Tapping the black qi within him, he siphoned it into his palm and released a surge of energy. The attack sliced into the beast's side; it let out a blood-curdling yowl and limped but didn't fall.
The beast counterattacked with its claws, and Lin Feng had to back away. He winced. His cultivation wasn't strong enough for prolonged battles, and the cursed energy drained him fast.
But Lin Feng wasn't fighting to win—he was fighting to survive.
The beast lunged again, and this time Lin Feng sidestepped and slammed his dagger into its exposed flank. The creature roared, its venomous blood spraying across the floor.
Lin Feng pressed his advantage, channeling his anger and frustration into his attacks. The cursed qi responded eagerly, wrapping around the dagger and corroding the beast's flesh.
Finally, with one last, anguished howl, the Shadowfang collapsed, its body dissolving into shadows.
Lin Feng stumbled, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Without wasting another moment, he snatched the Spirit Core and fled the chamber.
---
Outside, Yu Qian waited, leaning casually against a tree. When she saw the Spirit Core clutched in Lin Feng's hand, she raised an eyebrow.
"Well, color me impressed," she said. "I didn't think you'd actually make it out alive."
Lin Feng tossed her the core, his expression unreadable. "I held up my end of the deal. Now it's your turn."
Yu Qian caught the orb and grinned. "Oh, don't worry. I always keep my promises. Stick with me, and I'll show you a world far bigger than this backwater village."
Lin Feng's eyes turned cold. "I don't need you to show me the world, I just need the tools to conquer it."
Yu Qian laughed, the sound echoing far into the woods. "Alright, little dragon. Alright."