The wind whispered through the trees, carrying the faint scent of lotus blossoms from the nearby river. Lin Yu stood at the edge of the water, his fingers brushing against the cool surface. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an ethereal glow on the landscape. His eyes traced the silver ripples as they extended across the dark water, vanishing into the distance. This place, the Nine Cursed Rivers, had always been forbidden, but something had drawn him here tonight.
He clenched his fist, feeling a pulse deep within his blood. His master had warned him countless times about coming near the river, about the dark power sealed within its depths. But the whispers in his dreams had grown louder, calling him by name, revealing secrets of a power long forgotten.
"Lin Yu, you must be cautious," his master's voice echoed in his mind, a gentle reminder of the dangers that lay in wait. "The serpent Xiangliu may be defeated, but its curse lingers."
Lin Yu closed his eyes, feeling the weight of his bloodline, the legacy he had always tried to avoid. His father had died protecting their village from a rival sect, and his mother had never spoken of their family's past. But now, with every passing day, the truth unraveled before him. He could no longer deny it—his blood was tied to something ancient, something dangerous. He could feel it pulsing within him, like a serpent coiled around his heart, squeezing ever so slightly as if reminding him of its presence.
The legends of Xiangliu, the nine-headed serpent, were known to all cultivators. It was said that when the great beast was finally defeated by the immortals, its body was divided into nine parts and sealed within nine rivers, each cursed to ensure it would never rise again. The price for sealing such a monstrosity had been steep—many great cultivators had lost their lives. And yet, even now, centuries later, the cursed rivers still radiated a malevolent energy that even the bravest cultivators dared not challenge.
Lin Yu had always been told that his family's history was tied to the protection of these rivers, but never in any detail. The elders had spoken in hushed tones about his father's sacrifice, his role in the protection of the ancient seals. But what they hadn't told him was the part of the story that involved him. The whispers in his dreams, the voice that beckoned him to the river, all made sense now. He had been chosen—whether he liked it or not.
A rustle in the bushes pulled him from his thoughts. Instinctively, Lin Yu reached for his sword, his body tense and ready. From the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman, cloaked in black robes, her face hidden beneath a veil.
"You shouldn't be here," she said, her voice cold but calm. "The sects are watching this place closely."
Lin Yu tightened his grip on his sword but didn't draw it. "Who are you?"
The woman stepped closer, her movements fluid like water. "That's not important. What matters is that you're walking a dangerous path, Lin Yu. You've been chosen by the serpent, and the sects will stop at nothing to either destroy you or use you."
His heart raced. How did she know? "Chosen? I don't know what you're talking about."
The woman let out a soft laugh, though there was no humor in it. "Lies don't suit you. You've felt it, haven't you? The power stirring in your blood. The whispers in the night."
Lin Yu's breath caught in his throat. He had never spoken of the dreams, the voice that called to him in the darkness. "Who sent you?"
"I came of my own accord," she said, her gaze piercing through the veil. "The question is, do you understand what's happening? Or are you still clinging to the lies your master told you?"
A chill ran down Lin Yu's spine. He had always trusted his master, but the secrets he had been keeping were too great to ignore. He had felt the pull, the awakening within him, and now a stranger was confirming everything.
"I don't know what I am," Lin Yu admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I'm the one to carry this burden."
"You have no choice," the woman said, her tone sharp. "The serpent's legacy is yours, whether you embrace it or not. And soon, the sects will come for you. You must be ready."
Lin Yu stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. The legacy of Xiangliu, the nine-headed serpent, was a power beyond his understanding, but if the sects were involved, there was no time for hesitation. He had been taught about the rivalries between the great sects, the delicate balance of power that existed within the cultivation world. A power like Xiangliu's, should it be unleashed, could destroy that balance forever.
Before he could ask anything else, the woman vanished into the shadows as quickly as she had appeared, leaving Lin Yu alone by the river, his heart pounding in his chest.
The wind picked up, stirring the waters of the cursed river, and for a brief moment, Lin Yu swore he saw something move beneath the surface—a shadow, long and serpentine.
His blood thrummed in his veins, and the whispers returned, louder this time. The legacy of Xiangliu was awakening, and there was no turning back.
Lin Yu took a step closer to the river, his eyes narrowing as he peered into the water. What had he seen? Was it his imagination, or was there truly something stirring beneath the surface? The stories of the Nine Cursed Rivers had always been shrouded in mystery, but if Xiangliu's power was sealed here, then perhaps the serpent was not as dormant as the elders had believed.
He felt a strange pull, a beckoning force drawing him closer. His hand, almost without thinking, reached toward the water once more. The surface of the river seemed to ripple in response, as if recognizing him, acknowledging his presence.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his arm, and Lin Yu gasped, pulling his hand back. He looked down to see a faint mark glowing on his wrist—a symbol he had never seen before. It was faint, barely visible, but it pulsed with the same energy he had felt in his blood. The serpent's mark.
"What… what is this?" Lin Yu whispered to himself, his heart racing.
The mark seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, a steady rhythm that filled him with both dread and curiosity. He had been warned his entire life to stay away from the cursed rivers, but now it seemed that fate had other plans. The serpent's legacy was in his blood, and it was awakening.
"Master… why didn't you tell me?" Lin Yu muttered under his breath. His master had always been cryptic, never revealing too much about the past or the true nature of Lin Yu's heritage. Now, standing at the edge of the cursed river with the serpent's mark on his wrist, Lin Yu felt more alone than ever.
The air around him seemed to grow heavier, as if the very atmosphere was responding to the presence of the mark. Lin Yu felt the weight of the serpent's legacy pressing down on him, a burden he had never asked for but could no longer escape.
For a moment, he considered turning back, returning to his village and pretending none of this had happened. But deep down, he knew it was too late for that. The moment he had stepped foot near the cursed river, his fate had been sealed. The serpent's power had already begun to stir, and now it was only a matter of time before the sects came for him.
The thought of the sects—powerful, merciless organizations that had dominated the cultivation world for centuries—sent a shiver down his spine. If they knew about his connection to Xiangliu, they would stop at nothing to claim him, to use him as a weapon in their endless struggles for power.
Lin Yu clenched his fists, the serpent's mark still pulsing on his wrist. He couldn't let that happen. Whatever power he had inherited, he would have to learn to control it—before it controlled him.
As he stood by the river, lost in thought, a faint rustling sound caught his attention once more. Lin Yu turned, expecting to see the mysterious woman again, but this time, the source of the sound was different.
A group of figures emerged from the shadows—three men, dressed in the dark robes of the Black Lotus Sect. Their eyes gleamed in the moonlight, and the leader, a tall man with a scar across his face, stepped forward.
"You're a hard man to find, Lin Yu," the leader said, his voice dripping with malice. "But it seems the rumors were true. The serpent's blood flows in your veins."
Lin Yu's hand instinctively moved to his sword, but he didn't draw it. He could feel the tension in the air, the weight of the Black Lotus Sect's presence pressing down on him.
"What do you want?" Lin Yu asked, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart.
The leader grinned, his scar stretching across his face like a twisted smile. "We want what you have, Lin Yu. The power of Xiangliu. And if you're wise, you'll come with us willingly."
Lin Yu's grip on his sword tightened. "And if I refuse?"
The leader's grin faded, replaced by a cold, predatory look. "Then we'll take you by force."
Lin Yu's pulse quickened, the serpent's mark burning on his wrist. He had no intention of being used as a pawn but he was outnumbered and the Black Lotus Sect was known for their ruthlessness.