The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The cold night air hit Li Feng's face as he stumbled out of the underground ruins, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The sigil still burned against his skin, unseen but felt, a lingering presence seared into his very being. Mei Lian supported Zheng Wei, his injuries slowing them down, but they had escaped—barely.

Li Feng cast a glance over his shoulder. The entrance to the ruins had sealed behind them, trapping Jiang Ren within. For how long, he didn't know. But that look of pure rage in Jiang Ren's eyes before the stone had slammed shut told him one thing: he would find a way out—and he would be coming for them.

"We need to keep moving," Mei Lian urged, scanning the horizon. The night was thick with mist, and the distant sound of rustling in the forest put them all on edge.

"The sigil…" Zheng Wei murmured, wincing as he clutched his wounded side. "It marked us. They will know where we are."

Li Feng flexed his fingers, the sensation crawling through his veins like molten fire. "Then we have no choice but to find out what it means before they do."

A sudden gust of wind swept through the trees, and the sigil on Li Feng's skin flared with pain. He gritted his teeth, doubling over as visions flooded his mind—images of something vast, coiled in shadow, watching.

"Li Feng!" Mei Lian's voice was distant, but strong. Her hands gripped his shoulders, grounding him back to reality.

He straightened, swallowing the nausea. "We have to move. Now."

Mei Lian's gaze was resolute. "We need answers. The Temple of the Phoenix—legend says it holds a relic that can cleanse any curse. If anything can remove this mark, it's there."

Li Feng nodded, clenching his fists. "Then that's where we go."

They pushed forward into the thick underbrush, navigating the rocky terrain as fast as they could manage. Every step felt like a countdown, a race against whatever force had marked them.

But they were not alone.

From the shadows, unseen eyes watched. The sigil's glow had left a trail, and someone—or something—was already following in their wake.