The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

A heavy silence blanketed the crimson forest as Li Feng, Mei Lian, and Zheng Wei moved cautiously through the dense undergrowth. The towering trees, their bark stained red as if soaked in old blood, loomed ominously overhead, casting long, wavering shadows that flickered like restless spirits. The air was thick with moisture, yet there was an unnatural chill seeping into their bones.

Li Feng felt it first—the weight of unseen eyes pressing against his back. He shot a glance toward Mei Lian, who nodded almost imperceptibly, confirming his unease. Even Zheng Wei, whose injuries had slowed his steps, furrowed his brow in concentration as he traced his fingers along the beads of his prayer bracelet.

"We're being watched," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "They're closing in."

Mei Lian drew her twin daggers, their silver edges glinting even in the muted forest light. "Lady Yuexiang must have sent them," she said. "Phantom assassins. She wouldn't risk an outright battle. This is meant to exhaust us."

A sudden gust of wind cut through the forest, carrying with it the faint rustle of movement. Then, without warning, figures emerged from the shadows—phantom-like warriors, their faces obscured by wisps of curling smoke. They moved with unnatural grace, their feet never truly touching the ground. Their eyes, dark as the abyss, locked onto the group with predatory intent.

Zheng Wei raised a trembling hand and began chanting under his breath. His voice, though weakened, resonated with an ancient authority. Golden runes flared to life in the air around him, forming a protective barrier just as the first assassin struck. A blade passed through the shimmering light, its form dissolving into mist before reforming again.

"They're not real," Zheng Wei gasped. "They're illusions."

Li Feng clenched his fists. "Illusions or not, they're still dangerous."

The battle erupted in a flurry of movement. Mei Lian's daggers danced through the air, cutting through the phantoms only for them to reform seconds later. Zheng Wei's protective chants wove barriers that blocked their attacks, but each incantation drained more of his dwindling strength.

Li Feng, gritting his teeth, reached for the Coiled Dragon Ring. He could feel its power coiling beneath his skin, waiting—hungering—to be unleashed. With a deep breath, he allowed a fraction of it to flow through him.

A wave of force exploded outward, shattering several phantoms instantly. But the cost was immediate. Agony rippled through Li Feng's body, his veins burning as though liquid fire coursed through them. He stumbled, barely catching himself before hitting the ground. His breath came in ragged gasps.

"Li Feng!" Mei Lian cried, darting toward him.

He shook his head, forcing himself upright. "I'm fine," he lied. The truth was evident—each time he used the ring, it took more from him.

The phantoms regrouped, their forms shifting into grotesque reflections of their greatest fears. Mei Lian froze as one of them took shape before her—an all-too-familiar face. A woman with piercing blue eyes and a cruel, knowing smile.

"No..." Mei Lian's voice wavered, her grip on her daggers slackening. Memories flooded her—shackles biting into her wrists, whispered taunts in the darkness, the cold laughter of someone who had once held absolute power over her fate.

"Mei Lian, snap out of it!" Li Feng shouted, slashing through the illusion before it could reach her.

The spell shattered, and Mei Lian gasped as if surfacing from deep water. She blinked rapidly, gripping her daggers tighter. "I'm... I'm fine." But Li Feng could see the tremor in her hands.

With one final surge, Zheng Wei's chants intensified, golden energy bursting outward in a wave that disrupted the remaining illusions. The phantoms flickered, twisted, and finally dissolved into nothingness.

Silence returned to the forest, but the battle had left its mark. Mei Lian stood rigid, staring at the empty space where the illusion had been. Li Feng placed a hand on her shoulder, steady but firm. "We don't have time to linger."

She exhaled shakily, nodding. "Let's keep moving."

Zheng Wei leaned against a tree, exhaustion evident in his posture. "We need to get to the Temple of the Phoenix. If Lady Yuexiang marked us, the sigil won't fade until we break it ourselves."

Li Feng nodded, his eyes hardening. "Then we move fast. Because if she sent those illusions, she knows exactly where we are."

As they pressed forward, the shadows in the forest seemed to watch them with newfound hunger. The hunt had begun.