The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The Whispering Forest loomed before Li Feng, Mei Lian, and Zheng Wei, its towering trees casting jagged shadows under the pale moonlight. The air carried an unnatural stillness, broken only by the distant rustling of unseen creatures. The path ahead, winding and narrow, felt more treacherous than any battlefield they had yet faced.

Zheng Wei adjusted his grip on his staff, his expression unreadable. "This place reeks of old spirits," he muttered, his voice hushed. "I don't like it."

Mei Lian crouched beside a moss-covered boulder, tracing the lines of the map they had recovered from the ruined monastery. "If the monk was right, the first relic should be here," she murmured, her fingers skimming the parchment's faded ink. "But I don't like how quiet it is."

Li Feng exhaled slowly, adjusting the Coiled Dragon Ring on his finger. The artifact felt heavier than before, its pulse syncing with his heartbeat. "Neither do I," he admitted. His gaze shifted to the shadows between the trees. "We need to move carefully. If Shen Longwei has caught wind of this location, we won't be alone."

As they advanced deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, the mist thickening with every step. Mei Lian walked lightly, her movements almost silent, while Li Feng kept his senses sharp, scanning for any sign of an ambush. Zheng Wei brought up the rear, his staff held at the ready.

A sudden gust of wind sent a chill down their spines. Mei Lian halted, her ears twitching. "Did you hear that?"

Li Feng nodded. The sound was faint but unmistakable—the shuffle of footsteps, barely discernible through the undergrowth. Zheng Wei narrowed his eyes. "They're not alone."

Without warning, a figure lunged from the shadows, a blur of dark robes and glinting steel. Li Feng barely had time to react before he parried the incoming strike, his blade meeting the assassin's dagger with a sharp clang. The force of the blow sent him staggering back.

More figures emerged from the darkness, encircling them. Scarlet Iron Sect assassins. Mei Lian sprang into action, her twin daggers flashing as she slashed through the first attacker. Li Feng twisted his body, dodging a second strike before delivering a swift counterattack. The forest erupted into a deadly dance of blades and shadows.

One of the assassins lunged at Mei Lian from behind. Zheng Wei moved before she could react, swinging his staff in a brutal arc that sent the attacker sprawling. "Watch your back," he said gruffly, spinning his staff to deflect another strike.

Li Feng saw the glint of a dagger and acted on instinct. He hurled his sword, the blade spinning through the air before embedding itself in an assassin's chest. The man crumpled to the ground, his expression frozen in shock.

Mei Lian gave him a brief nod of gratitude before ducking under another strike. "They're getting desperate," she panted. "Shen Longwei must really want us dead."

Li Feng retrieved his blade, blood slicking its edge. "Then we can't let them succeed."

The remaining assassins hesitated, reassessing their chances. One, taller than the others and carrying an ornate spear, stepped forward. His eyes glowed eerily beneath his hood. "You cannot escape," he rasped. "The Scarlet Iron Sect does not forgive."

Zheng Wei smirked. "Good. Neither do we."

The assassin lunged. Li Feng met him head-on, steel clashing against steel. The Coiled Dragon Ring pulsed, feeding energy into his strikes. He felt his movements grow sharper, his reflexes heightened. He parried the spear's thrust and countered with a sweeping kick that sent the assassin sprawling.

Mei Lian finished the last of her attackers, wiping her daggers clean as she turned to Li Feng. "That was too close."

Li Feng sheathed his sword, breathing heavily. "We need to find the relic before more of them arrive."

Zheng Wei held up the map. "According to this, it should be just ahead."

They pressed forward, leaving behind the bodies of their fallen foes. As they moved deeper into the forest, the mist thickened, and an eerie blue glow illuminated their path. At the heart of the clearing stood an ancient stone pedestal, adorned with carvings of dragons coiling around its base. Resting atop it was a small, ornate box—undeniably the relic they sought.

Li Feng approached cautiously, his pulse quickening. He extended a hand toward the box, but before his fingers could touch it, the ground beneath them trembled. The air crackled with energy. A deep, guttural growl echoed through the trees.

Something was coming.

Mei Lian cursed. "Looks like we woke something up."

Zheng Wei gripped his staff, his stance firm. "Then let's make sure we don't regret it."

Li Feng clenched his fists, readying himself for whatever lay ahead. "Then let's make sure we survive to tell the tale."

The shadows deepened, and from the darkness, a monstrous form began to emerge.