The morning sun filtered through the trees, casting long shadows on the ground as Lin Xi and Su Qinghe prepared to leave the clearing. Liú Jùn, still weak from his journey, leaned against a nearby tree, watching them with a solemn expression. His story weighed heavily on all of them, the knowledge that the Black Dragon Emperor's followers were already moving, already claiming the relics that could unseal him from his prison.
"We need to move quickly," Su Qinghe said, tightening the strap of his pack. His sword was secured to his back, its polished hilt glinting in the morning light. "If they already have the first relic, they won't stop. They'll go after the rest."
Lin Xi nodded, her own thoughts racing. They were heading north, toward the mountains where Liú Jùn had said the second relic was hidden. It was a treacherous path, and time was not on their side. She glanced at Liú Jùn, who was still recovering from the attack on his temple.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Lin Xi asked, her voice soft but concerned.
Liú Jùn gave her a weak smile, his eyes filled with determination. "I may not be as strong as I once was, but I can still fight. I won't let them destroy what's left of our world."
With their supplies packed and weapons at the ready, the three of them set out into the forest, their footsteps quiet on the soft earth. The air was crisp, but there was an unnatural stillness to it, as if the world was waiting for something to happen. Lin Xi couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, but every time she glanced over her shoulder, there was nothing but the dense trees and underbrush.
As they walked, Liú Jùn filled the silence with stories of the temple where he had trained. It was one of the few remaining places dedicated to the Guardians—warriors who had once fought against the Black Dragon Emperor and his minions. They had been tasked with protecting the relics, ensuring that the seal on Hēilóng Dì would never be broken. But now, with his brothers dead and the first relic stolen, that task had fallen to them.
"The Guardians sacrificed everything to stop him," Liú Jùn said, his voice tinged with sadness. "They knew that even one mistake could doom the world. Now, it feels like we're living that mistake."
"We'll stop them," Lin Xi said, her voice steady. "We have to."
Su Qinghe, who had been silent for most of the journey, finally spoke. "The Black Dragon Emperor isn't just a threat to the relics. His followers will stop at nothing to bring him back. We're going to see more attacks, more chaos. We need to be ready."
Lin Xi could feel the tension in his voice, the weight of the responsibility they carried. It wasn't just her curse anymore. They were fighting for the survival of everything they knew. And the enemy they faced was beyond anything they had encountered before.
They traveled in silence for the rest of the day, the forest gradually giving way to rocky terrain as they moved closer to the mountains. By late afternoon, the towering peaks loomed ahead of them, their snow-capped summits piercing the sky. Lin Xi's legs ached from the climb, but she pushed on, knowing that they couldn't afford to slow down.
As they approached a narrow pass between two cliffs, Su Qinghe suddenly stopped, his hand raised in warning. Lin Xi and Liú Jùn halted behind him, their eyes scanning the landscape for any sign of danger.
"There," Su Qinghe whispered, pointing toward a cluster of rocks ahead. "Do you see them?"
Lin Xi squinted, her gaze following his finger. At first, she saw nothing but the jagged stones and patches of snow, but then movement caught her eye. Dark shapes, moving slowly through the pass. She counted at least a dozen of them, their figures hunched and cloaked in shadows.
"Followers of Hēilóng Dì," Su Qinghe said grimly. "They're already here."
Liú Jùn's face hardened. "They're heading for the second relic."
Lin Xi's heart raced. They were close—so close—but so were the Black Dragon Emperor's minions. If they didn't act quickly, the second relic would fall into their hands, just like the first.
"We can't let them reach it," Lin Xi said, her voice filled with urgency. "We have to stop them."
Su Qinghe nodded, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. "We'll have to be careful. They outnumber us, and we don't know how many more are waiting ahead."
Liú Jùn stepped forward, his eyes filled with resolve. "I'll take the left flank. I may be weakened, but I can still fight. We can't let them get that relic."
Lin Xi drew her own sword, feeling the familiar weight of it in her hand. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she pushed her fear aside. They had no choice. This was their fight now.
The three of them moved swiftly, using the rocks and boulders for cover as they approached the dark figures. The closer they got, the more Lin Xi could see the details of the enemy. Their faces were twisted, almost inhuman, with pale skin stretched tightly over gaunt features. Their eyes glowed with an unnatural light, and they moved with an eerie, silent grace.
Su Qinghe signaled for them to stop, his eyes scanning the enemy's movements. "We strike quickly and quietly," he whispered. "Don't let them see us coming."
With that, they moved into position, each of them readying their weapons for the attack. Lin Xi crouched behind a large boulder, her heart racing as she waited for Su Qinghe's signal. The dark figures moved closer, their footsteps barely audible on the rocky ground.
Suddenly, Su Qinghe sprang from his hiding place, his sword flashing in the fading light. He moved with deadly precision, cutting down the first enemy before they even had a chance to react. Lin Xi followed his lead, her blade slicing through the air as she struck down the nearest figure. Liú Jùn attacked from the left, his staff whirling in a blur of motion as he knocked two of the enemies to the ground.
The battle was quick and brutal. The dark figures were fast, but Lin Xi and Su Qinghe were faster. They fought with a silent, deadly efficiency, cutting through the enemy with practiced skill. Within minutes, the remaining figures lay dead on the ground, their bodies crumpled in the snow.
Breathing heavily, Lin Xi wiped the sweat from her brow and glanced at Su Qinghe, who was already scanning the area for any sign of more enemies.
"Did we get them all?" she asked, her voice breathless.
Su Qinghe nodded, his gaze still wary. "For now."
Liú Jùn approached, leaning on his staff as he caught his breath. "That was just the first wave," he said grimly. "There will be more."
Lin Xi sheathed her sword, her heart still racing. The battle had been won, but the war was far from over. The second relic was close, and the followers of the Black Dragon Emperor wouldn't stop until they had it. But neither would they.
"We need to keep moving," Su Qinghe said, his voice firm. "The relic is near, and we can't let them reach it before us."
Lin Xi nodded, her resolve hardening. They had come too far to turn back now. Together, they would stop the Black Dragon Emperor's return—no matter the cost.