The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The forest thinned as Li Feng, Mei Lian, and Master Zheng Wei pressed forward, the shadows of towering trees giving way to the remnants of a ruined temple. The moss-covered structure stood eerily silent beneath the fading light, its stone pillars fractured by time. A strange unease settled over them, the air thick with the remnants of something old and forgotten.

"We should rest here," Zheng Wei murmured, running a hand along the temple's weathered walls. "This place has long been abandoned."

Mei Lian didn't lower her guard. Her grip on her dagger remained firm, her sharp eyes scanning the ruins. "Abandoned doesn't mean safe."

Li Feng stepped forward cautiously, the weight of the jade ring around his neck growing heavier. "What was this place?"

Zheng Wei let out a slow breath. "A temple of the old gods, long before the rise of the warlords. Some say it held a sacred relic tied to the Azure Dragon." His gaze shifted to the ring. "Perhaps that is why we were drawn here."

A sudden rustling in the trees made them all freeze. Mei Lian reacted first, pulling Li Feng behind a crumbling pillar. The faint sound of boots crunching leaves sent a chill down his spine.

"They found us," Mei Lian whispered.

Emerging from the ruins, a lone figure stepped into the open. Dressed in deep crimson robes, his face hidden beneath a dark hood, the man moved with eerie precision. But Mei Lian stiffened, her breath catching.

"You," she hissed, stepping forward with her dagger raised.

The man lifted his hood, revealing a chiseled face, scarred from old battles. His piercing eyes locked onto hers with something between amusement and regret. "Mei Lian," he greeted, his voice deep and knowing. "It has been too long."

Li Feng felt the tension crackle between them. Mei Lian's entire body coiled like a snake ready to strike.

"Who is he?" Li Feng asked cautiously.

"Jiang Ren," Mei Lian spat, venom in her voice. "A ghost from my past."

Jiang Ren smirked. "Harsh words for an old friend."

"You are no friend," Mei Lian snapped. "Why are you here?"

Jiang Ren tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "To warn you. Shen Longwei is already on his way to the next artifact, and if you continue this path, you will not survive."

Zheng Wei remained silent, studying Jiang Ren with the scrutiny of a seasoned warrior. "And why should we trust you?"

Jiang Ren chuckled. "You shouldn't. But ask yourselves this—would I have come alone if I wanted you dead?"

Mei Lian tightened her grip on her dagger. "Then what do you want?"

Jiang Ren sighed. "I owe you a debt, and I pay my debts. Leave this fight, take the ring, and disappear before it's too late."

Li Feng glanced at Mei Lian, his pulse racing. He knew what her answer would be before she even spoke.

"Not a chance," Mei Lian said.

Jiang Ren exhaled sharply. "Then you are all as good as dead."

Before another word could be spoken, the distant echo of horns sounded through the trees. Jiang Ren's expression darkened.

"They're here."

A tense silence settled over them before Mei Lian grabbed Li Feng's arm. "We run. Now."

Zheng Wei nodded, already moving. But Jiang Ren stood unmoving, watching as they fled.

Li Feng glanced back once, catching the look in Jiang Ren's eyes—regret, resolve, and something unspoken.

Then the battle began.