The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The night air was thick with tension as Li Feng, Mei Lian, and Zheng Wei sprinted through the temple ruins. The horns of the Scarlet Iron Sect grew louder, their guttural battle cries cutting through the darkness. The ancient trees around them seemed to close in, their gnarled branches casting twisted shadows across the path ahead.

Mei Lian led the way, her movements fluid despite the chaos around them. "We need to reach higher ground!" she called over her shoulder. "They'll fan out and surround us if we stay in the open!"

Zheng Wei glanced up at the jagged cliffside ahead. "There's an abandoned watchtower beyond that ridge," he said. "If we make it there, we might stand a chance."

Li Feng pushed himself harder, ignoring the burning in his legs. Every breath felt like fire, but he knew stopping wasn't an option. His fingers curled tightly around the jade ring, the cool metal pulsing faintly against his skin, almost as if urging him forward.

The first arrow whistled past them, striking a nearby tree with a dull thud.

"They're in range!" Mei Lian shouted, twisting around to deflect another projectile with her dagger.

Zheng Wei grabbed Li Feng by the collar, dragging him behind a fallen tree. "We can't outrun them like this. We need to force them into a disadvantage."

Mei Lian's eyes darted across their surroundings. "We split up. They won't expect it."

"No," Li Feng interjected, his pulse racing. "They'll pick us off one by one."

Mei Lian clenched her jaw, but Zheng Wei nodded. "Then we hold our ground, use the terrain to our advantage. If we make it look like we're retreating toward the watchtower, they might rush in without thinking."

Li Feng exhaled sharply. "Then let's make them believe they have us cornered."

The three moved quickly, positioning themselves along the crumbling steps of an old stone path. The Scarlet Iron Sect soldiers advanced through the trees, their torches flickering against the night sky. The leader, a towering figure clad in dark armor, raised his sword, signaling his men forward.

Mei Lian struck first. She leaped from the shadows, slicing through the air with deadly precision. Her dagger found its mark in the shoulder of the nearest soldier, sending him stumbling backward with a grunt of pain.

Zheng Wei followed, his staff whirling in a blur of motion. A sharp crack echoed through the trees as he knocked an approaching warrior off his feet, his weapon striking with bone-snapping force.

Li Feng, heart pounding, held his ground as two soldiers rushed him. He sidestepped the first, ducking low before driving his knee into the man's stomach. As the second soldier raised his weapon, the jade ring pulsed again—a sudden gust of wind erupted around him, knocking the attacker off balance just long enough for Mei Lian to finish him off.

More soldiers poured in, their sheer numbers threatening to overwhelm them. Mei Lian's breathing was labored, her movements growing slower. Zheng Wei gritted his teeth as he deflected a flurry of attacks, but even he couldn't hold out forever.

Then came a voice, cold and commanding.

"Enough."

Everything stilled. The remaining soldiers stepped back, forming a rigid line as a lone figure stepped into view. Clad in deep crimson robes embroidered with gold, his expression was unreadable beneath the flickering torchlight.

Jiang Ren.

Mei Lian stiffened. "You just don't know when to quit, do you?"

Jiang Ren studied them for a moment before speaking. "You are outnumbered. Surrender, and I will see to it that Shen Longwei shows you mercy."

Zheng Wei scoffed. "And if we refuse?"

Jiang Ren sighed, almost disappointed. "Then I regret that you will not live to see the sunrise."

Li Feng's grip tightened around the ring. He glanced at Mei Lian, then at Zheng Wei. They weren't ready for this fight—not against Jiang Ren and an entire battalion of warriors.

Mei Lian took a slow step forward, her dagger gleaming in the dim light. "I'd rather die on my feet than bow to your master."

Jiang Ren's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then die you shall."

The battle was about to begin anew, but Li Feng felt something stir within him—a force he didn't fully understand yet. The jade ring burned against his skin, and a whisper, ancient and distant, echoed in his mind.

Awaken.

The night braced for the storm that was about to come.