The clearing was silent in the wake of the Abyssal Wolf's defeat. The faint light of the pendant faded as Lin Xi took in the scene around her. The sheer force of the energy she had unleashed left her breathless, her body trembling from the aftershock.
What just happened? she wondered, staring at her hands. She had never felt anything like that before. The pendant had always been a link to her past lives, but this... this was something far greater.
The young man stirred, groaning as he pushed himself up from the ground. His eyes were still wide with shock as he looked at Lin Xi. "That power... I've never seen anything like it."
Lin Xi didn't respond immediately. She was still processing the strange surge of energy herself. "It wasn't supposed to happen," she said quietly. "I didn't even know I could do that."
The man finally stood, brushing dirt off his armor, though his gaze remained locked on her. "Who are you?"
She hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. There were too many unknowns, and trust was a rare commodity in this dangerous world. "My name is Lin Xi," she said finally, keeping her tone guarded. "And you?"
The man wiped some blood from a cut on his forehead before answering. "Xu Jian. I'm from the eastern regions." He paused, his expression growing more serious. "You're not like anyone I've met before. That kind of power... it's dangerous."
Lin Xi raised an eyebrow. "You're one to talk. You attacked me first."Xu Jian had the decency to look sheepish. "I thought you were one of them," he muttered. "There's been rumors of someone with immense power disturbing the balance of the realms. When I saw you near the obelisk, I thought..."
"You thought wrong," Lin Xi interrupted, folding her arms. "I'm not here to destroy anything. I'm trying to find answers, just like everyone else."
Xu Jian gave her a long, considering look. "Then why are you here? That obelisk... it's not a place most people would wander into without a reason."
Lin Xi glanced at the pendant around her neck. The obelisk had triggered something within her, connected her to memories she still couldn't fully grasp. But explaining that to a stranger? She wasn't ready for that. "Let's just say I have my reasons."
Xu Jian seemed unsatisfied with her answer, but he didn't press the issue. Instead, he nodded toward the forest. "We should leave this area. The Abyssal Wolf wasn't the only one in these woods. There are more creatures like it, and they won't take kindly to us being here."
Lin Xi agreed. The last thing she needed was another battle when she had barely recovered from the last one. She motioned for Xu Jian to lead the way, and together, they headed deeper into the forest, moving cautiously through the underbrush.
As they walked, Lin Xi found herself wondering about Xu Jian's intentions. He had shown skill in combat, but there was a wariness to him that made her think he wasn't just an ordinary fighter. His knowledge of the obelisk and the balance of the realms suggested he was involved in something bigger. But what?
Xu Jian interrupted her thoughts. "That pendant... it reacted to the obelisk, didn't it? That's how you summoned that power."
Lin Xi's hand instinctively went to the pendant. She didn't answer right away, debating how much to reveal. But Xu Jian had seen enough to know something was different about her, so lying wouldn't help. "Yes. It's connected to my past," she admitted, though she kept the details vague. "I don't fully understand it yet."
Xu Jian nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. "There are ancient forces at play here, forces tied to the history of this land. The Guardians used to protect the balance, but they've been scattered for centuries. If your pendant is connected to that, you might be in more danger than you realize."
Lin Xi glanced at him, intrigued despite herself. "You know about the Guardians?"
Xu Jian's expression darkened. "I've heard stories. The Guardians were said to have unmatched power, but they disappeared long ago. Some say they're still out there, waiting for the right time to return. Others say they're all dead."
Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat. Su Qinghe had mentioned the Guardians, too, though in much vaguer terms. If her pendant was connected to them, then perhaps that was part of the mystery of her past lives.
"You seem to know a lot about things most people don't," Lin Xi said, giving Xu Jian a sidelong glance.
He shrugged. "I've traveled a lot. Learned a few things along the way. It helps when you're hunting monsters and dealing with... people like you."
Lin Xi's lips twitched into a faint smile. "People like me?"
Xu Jian chuckled lightly. "You're not exactly subtle. Power like yours doesn't stay hidden for long."
Before Lin Xi could respond, a rustling sound from the trees ahead made them both stop in their tracks. Instantly, they dropped into defensive stances, their eyes scanning the shadows for any signs of movement.
From the darkness emerged a familiar figure.
Su Qinghe.
He stepped out of the shadows, his eyes immediately locking onto Lin Xi's. There was no surprise in his gaze, just an intense focus, as if he had been expecting her. His sword remained sheathed at his side, but his posture was tense.
"Su Qinghe," Lin Xi said, her voice barely hiding her irritation. "Following me again?"
Su Qinghe's expression remained unreadable. "I told you I'd be watching."
Xu Jian frowned, glancing between the two of them. "You know him?"
Lin Xi sighed, crossing her arms. "Unfortunately."
Su Qinghe stepped closer, his gaze shifting briefly to Xu Jian before returning to Lin Xi. "You used the pendant's power, didn't you?"
Lin Xi's jaw tightened. "I didn't have much of a choice."
Su Qinghe's eyes narrowed slightly. "That power is dangerous. You're not ready to control it."
Lin Xi bristled at his words. "I can handle myself."
"You don't understand what you're dealing with," Su Qinghe countered, his tone firm. "The power of the pendant isn't something you can just use on a whim. It will consume you if you're not careful."
Lin Xi felt a surge of frustration. "Then why don't you explain what's really going on instead of constantly telling me I'm not ready?"
Su Qinghe hesitated, his gaze flickering with something unreadable. For a moment, it seemed as though he was about to reveal something important, but then his expression hardened again. "You'll learn in time."
Lin Xi's temper flared. "I'm tired of waiting for answers, Su Qinghe. If you know something, tell me. Otherwise, stay out of my way."
Xu Jian watched the exchange silently, his gaze moving between them with growing curiosity. "Seems like there's more going on here than I realized," he said quietly, though Lin Xi could hear the suspicion in his voice.
Su Qinghe ignored Xu Jian, his attention fully on Lin Xi. "I can't stay out of this, Lin Xi. You're tied to this fight whether you want to be or not. The balance of the realms is shifting, and you're at the center of it."
Lin Xi clenched her fists, her frustration mounting. "What balance? What fight? You keep talking in riddles, but you never give me real answers."
Su Qinghe's gaze softened, just slightly. "There are things you're not meant to remember yet. The obelisk—what you felt there—it's just the beginning."
Before Lin Xi could respond, Xu Jian cut in. "If she's at the center of this, then she deserves to know what's going on."
Su Qinghe glanced at Xu Jian, his expression unreadable. "This isn't your concern."
Xu Jian raised an eyebrow. "I think it is now. Especially since I was dragged into a fight with an Abyssal Wolf because of her."
Lin Xi couldn't help but smirk at Xu Jian's boldness, but her gaze remained on Su Qinghe. "You don't get to decide what I can or can't handle," she said, her voice firm. "I'll figure this out with or without your help."
Su Qinghe's eyes darkened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he took a step back, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer. "Just be careful, Lin Xi. The power of the pendant isn't something you can control alone."
With that, he turned and disappeared back into the shadows, leaving Lin Xi and Xu Jian standing in the clearing, the tension between them heavy in the air.
Xu Jian let out a low whistle. "He's an interesting one."
Lin Xi shook her head, her mind still racing with everything Su Qinghe had said. "Interesting isn't the word I'd use."
Xu Jian glanced at her. "So what now? Do we keep moving, or are you going to go after him?"
Lin Xi exhaled slowly. She had a feeling she would cross paths with Su Qinghe again soon enough. For now, she needed to focus on understanding the pendant's power—and what it meant for the battles to come."We keep moving,"