The three paths stretched before them like a riddle. Lin Xi felt the weight of her next move—it wasn't just about choosing the right path but about trusting the instincts of a Guardian, instincts she hadn't fully embraced.
Su Qinghe crouched by the ground, running his hand over the uneven dirt, his brow furrowed. "These paths… they lead to different trials," he murmured. "The Lost Valley was said to test those who seek its power. Each path presents a unique challenge."
Shēng Lóng stepped forward, his spear firmly in hand. "So we choose one and face whatever lies ahead. The sooner we get through, the closer we are to stopping Hēilóng Dì."
Lin Xi studied each path, her heart racing. Her mind wandered to the stories her grandmother once told her—tales of Guardians who passed through the trials of the Lost Valley to prove their worth. None of those stories had prepared her for this.
"I have to be the one to lead us," Lin Xi said quietly, stepping forward. She could feel the pull of the valley, a whispering force that seemed to beckon her toward one of the paths.
"Are you sure?" Su Qinghe asked, his eyes searching hers.
She nodded, though uncertainty still churned within her. "If I am to fully accept my role as a Guardian, I have to trust in the valley's tests. It's not just about fighting—it's about understanding."
The others didn't argue. They had faced enough together to know that Lin Xi's instincts had saved them more than once. With a deep breath, Lin Xi walked toward the center path.
The moment her foot touched the ground, the air shifted. A cold wind blew through the trees, carrying with it faint whispers. The path ahead shimmered, as though it was shifting in and out of existence.
Su Qinghe adjusted his satchel and followed behind her, with Shēng Lóng bringing up the rear. They moved carefully, the forest closing in around them as the path narrowed. The deeper they went, the more the world around them felt… wrong. Shadows twisted unnaturally, and the trees seemed to watch them with unseen eyes.
After what felt like hours, they reached a clearing. At its center stood an ancient stone altar, covered in faded runes. Above it, a large tree loomed, its twisted branches reaching out like skeletal hands. The air around the tree buzzed with energy, crackling with power.
"This is it," Su Qinghe whispered. "One of the trials."
Lin Xi approached the altar cautiously, her eyes scanning the runes. "It's a test of knowledge," she said after a moment. "The Guardians left these riddles behind to ensure that only those worthy of their power could proceed."
Shēng Lóng paced behind them, his hand never straying far from his weapon. "We don't have time for riddles. Hēilóng Dì could be closing in on us."
Lin Xi shook her head. "If we fail this test, we'll never make it to the valley. We have to do this right."
She knelt by the altar, running her fingers over the worn symbols. As her touch connected with the stone, the runes began to glow faintly, their meanings slowly unraveling in her mind.
"There's a pattern here," she muttered, more to herself than to the others. "The Guardians are asking for a choice—sacrifice or salvation."
Su Qinghe's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Lin Xi's eyes darkened. "The Guardians believed in balance. The power of the valley cannot be taken without giving something in return. We must make a choice—sacrifice something important to us, or abandon the pursuit of power entirely."
Shēng Lóng scowled. "We don't have time for philosophy, Lin Xi. What do we have to sacrifice?"
Lin Xi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stood and looked at the tree, its twisted branches almost vibrating with the energy of the valley. The weight of her role pressed down on her more heavily than ever.
"I don't know yet," she finally said. "But we'll have to figure it out quickly."
As if in response to her words, the ground beneath the tree began to shift. From the roots, dark shadows rose, coalescing into a familiar form. Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat as the figure solidified—it was a mirror image of herself, but her eyes were cold, filled with malice.
"A reflection," Su Qinghe whispered. "A test of the self."
The shadow-Lin Xi smiled, a cold, cruel grin that sent a chill down Lin Xi's spine. "Do you think you can outrun the darkness inside you?" the shadow taunted, its voice a twisted echo of her own. "You may carry the blood of the Guardians, but you are no hero. You are as flawed as the rest of them."
Lin Xi's hands tightened into fists. "I don't need to be perfect," she said through gritted teeth. "I only need to do what's right."
The shadow laughed. "Right? Is that what you told yourself when you let them die? When you failed to protect those who needed you most?"
Lin Xi froze, the shadow's words cutting deep. Memories she had buried long ago surged to the surface—her family, the village she had failed to save, the people who had trusted her, only to fall to the curse she couldn't control.
The shadow stepped closer, its voice a whisper. "You can't escape the truth, Lin Xi. You are weak. And no amount of power will change that."
Lin Xi's heart pounded in her chest, her vision blurring. For a moment, doubt clawed at her, threatening to drown her in guilt. But then, she felt a hand on her shoulder—Su Qinghe's steady presence grounding her.
"You are stronger than you know," he said softly. "Don't let the past define you."
Lin Xi took a deep breath, centering herself. The shadow was right—she had made mistakes. But those mistakes didn't define who she was now. She had grown, and she wasn't the same person who had failed all those years ago.
"I won't run from my past," Lin Xi said, her voice steady. "But I won't let it control me, either."
With a determined step, she faced the shadow head-on. The air around them crackled with tension, but Lin Xi didn't waver. She reached out, and as her hand connected with the shadow, it shattered like glass, dissolving into the wind.
The tree groaned, its branches shaking as the power of the valley pulsed around them. The runes on the altar glowed brightly, and the path ahead cleared, revealing the next step in their journey.
Lin Xi let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "We did it," she whispered.
But even as they moved forward, she knew this was only the beginning. The tests of the valley weren't just about power—they were about facing the darkness within. And the further they went, the more they would be forced to confront the truths they had buried deep inside.