Snow's body trembled as the surge of power stabilized within him. His meridians burned, his dantian pulsed like a second heart, his qi expanding and contracting in perfect rhythm. His breath came in slow, controlled exhales, misting in the frigid night air.
Qi Refining Realm.
He clenched his fist, feeling the raw energy coursing through his veins. The resentment, the pain, the lingering echoes of slain beasts—all had been stripped of impurity, absorbed into his being. His cultivation method was unconventional, dangerous even, but it worked.
A flicker of movement in the darkness caught his eye.
Lian.
She sat up, watching him with wary eyes, the glow of the dying fire casting flickering shadows across her face.
"You broke through again," she said, voice unreadable.
Snow only nodded.She looked at him for a long moment before shaking her head. "This… isn't normal."
A small, knowing smile curled at the edge of his lips. "Then I must be doing something right."
Lian didn't respond. She only pulled her cloak tighter and turned away.
But Snow knew the truth.
She was beginning to fear him.
And perhaps, she was right to.
The Next Morning they continued their journey. The deeper Snow and Lian ventured into the heart of the forest, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. The mists grew heavier, swirling around their legs like something alive, while the smell of blood, ancient and fresh, lingered in the air, thick and unnerving. Every step they took felt as though they were intruding upon a world untouched by human hands.
The trees, twisted and ancient, loomed overhead, their roots like gnarled fingers grasping at the earth. A thick, suffocating energy clung to the land, humming in the air like a warning.
Lian tightened her grip on her cloak, pulling it around her body to ward off the chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow, instinctively searching for any sign of movement. "We need to be careful," she murmured. "We've crossed into the territory of something dangerous. The spirit beasts here… they aren't like anything we've faced before."
Snow didn't respond immediately, his eyes focused ahead. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, an unsettling sense that they were being watched settling over him. The air felt heavy with energy, thick with the residual power of ancient beasts. Something was out there, something alive, and it was not pleased with their intrusion.
They continued walking, undeterred, but Snow felt it too—this was no ordinary forest. Every step they took seemed to deepen the weight of the power that surrounded them.
As the day stretched on, the attacks began.
The first beast that came for them was a wolf, its fur the color of blood, eyes burning with primal hunger. But this wasn't a mindless creature—it moved with purpose, its claws raking through the underbrush with precision. Snow had no time to think. His sword was already in his hand as he met the wolf's charge with a flashing arc of silver. The wolf collided with the blade, the force of the impact sending shockwaves through the air. Sparks flew, and the wolf snarled, trying to tear Snow's sword from his grip.
Lian darted in, her dagger flashing with deadly intent. Together, they fought in synchronized rhythm, cutting down the wolf with brutal efficiency. But as the beast fell, Snow's heart clenched with a growing sense of unease.
They were being tested.
Barely a moment passed before the rustle of leaves heralded more movement. This time, it was not just one beast, but three more wolves, emerging from the mist like shadows. Their eyes gleamed with ferocity and cunning, their movements coordinated, working as a pack. Snow had never seen anything like it—the wolves were strategic. They didn't attack blindly. They waited for the perfect moment to strike.
"They're hunting us," Lian whispered, her voice tense.The wolves moved like shadows in the mist, their crimson eyes burning with intelligence. They didn't attack blindly. They watched. They waited. They hunted.
Snow's grip tightened around his sword. Lian stood beside him, shoulders tense, dagger poised. The air between them felt suffocating, charged with the silent anticipation of violence.
Then—they struck.
Two lunged from the front, their fangs glinting in the dim light. A third flanked Lian from behind, silent as death.
Snow moved first. His blade sang through the air, cutting deep into the first wolf's neck. A strangled yelp, a spray of blood, and the beast collapsed, twitching.
The second wolf was already upon him.
It swiped at his chest, claws ripping through the fabric of his robes. Snow barely avoided the full impact, twisting at the last second. His sword lashed out in response, slicing across the wolf's shoulder. It howled but didn't retreat. It was testing him.
Behind him, Lian grunted as the third wolf drove her back. Its weight bore down on her, fangs snapping dangerously close. She barely managed to shove her dagger into its side, forcing it away.
Snow vanished—a blur of motion too fast for the eye.
In an instant, he was behind Lian's attacker. One precise strike. His blade pierced through the wolf's skull, silencing it instantly.
Lian panted, wiping blood from her cheek. "They're trying to wear us down," she muttered.
Snow's gaze flickered to the treetops, to the shifting mist, to the deep claw marks scarring the bark. He knew.
This wasn't a random encounter.
The wolves weren't hunting for food.
The last surviving wolf let out a piercing howl before vanishing into the mist.
A signal. A warning.
Moments later, more arrived.
The cycle repeated.
Every hour, another wave. Three wolves. Then four. Always attacking in formation. Always vanishing into the mist before reinforcements arrived.
By nightfall, exhaustion gnawed at their limbs. Their movements remained sharp, but their breathing grew heavier. The wolves never let up, never allowed them more than fleeting moments of rest.
Snow's fingers curled around his sword hilt, his jaw tightening.
Lian glanced at him, her expression grim. "This isn't a hunt."
Snow exhaled slowly, scanning the darkness beyond the trees.
His gut twisted with realization.
They weren't just fighting a pack.
They were in its territory.t