Meng Qingshan stood amidst the chaos, his breath steady yet shallow, feeling the familiar dark energy swirling around him like a storm on the edge of breaking. His sword gleamed in his hand, stained with the blood of enemies that had fallen before him. But his gaze was focused solely on Xinyi, the demon he had summoned, who stood before him, grinning maliciously.Xinyi's fiery red hair flickered like flames in the dim light, his eyes glowing with amusement as he toyed with the Wutai sect soldiers around him. "Is this all you've got?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain.Meng clenched his jaw, his grip tightening on his sword. "Stop playing with them. We don't have time for this."Xinyi chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "You summoned me, and now you want to rush? How boring, Qingshan. At least let me have a bit of fun."In an instant, Xinyi disappeared, reappearing in front of a group of soldiers, his claws ripping through them like they were made of paper. Blood splattered across the battlefield, and the screams of dying men filled the air. Meng felt the urge to stop him, but he knew better. Xinyi wasn't just his demon—he was a weapon, one that was designed to destroy without mercy.As Xinyi continued his rampage, Meng moved with precision through the fray. His sword was an extension of his body, cutting down any enemy foolish enough to stand in his path. But even as he fought, something gnawed at the back of his mind. A sense of unease, like something was wrong.A sudden explosion rocked the ground beneath him, sending debris flying into the air. Meng spun around, his eyes narrowing as he saw Xinyi standing amid the wreckage, laughing maniacally. But it wasn't the destruction that bothered him—it was the absence of something. Or someone.Tian. Sua.Where were they?His heart pounded in his chest as panic began to set in. He hadn't seen them since the battle started. He had trusted they would be able to hold their own, but now doubt crept in, gnawing at him like a festering wound."Xinyi!" Meng called, his voice sharp. "Have you seen Sua or Tian?"Xinyi stopped mid-slaughter, turning to face him with a raised brow. "Your little friends? No. But I wouldn't worry too much about them. They're probably off playing hero somewhere."Meng wasn't convinced. His instincts told him something was wrong. His eyes scanned the battlefield, searching desperately for any sign of themThen he saw it—a flash of movement near the center of the field. His blood ran cold as his gaze locked onto a figure standing over two bodies.Liu.Meng's breath caught in his throat as the world around him seemed to slow. His feet moved before his mind could catch up, propelling him toward the scene. His heart pounded louder with each step, the dread growing stronger with every inch he covered.Sua and Tian lay on the ground, motionless. Their bodies were covered in blood, their weapons discarded beside them. It took everything in Meng not to collapse beside them, his legs trembling as he knelt down."No..." Meng whispered, his voice barely audible. "No, no, no..."His fingers curled into fists, blood dripping from where his nails dug into his palms. His mind raced with memories—of the three of them laughing together, training together, fighting side by side. He remembered Sua's bright smile, her quick wit, the way she had always believed in him. He remembered Tian's quiet strength, his loyalty, his fierce determination.They had been his friends. His family.And now they were gone.The rage that had been simmering beneath the surface finally boiled over. His vision blurred, and his body shook as the dark energy within him surged, threatening to consume him whole. His sword felt heavier in his hand, the weight of his fury pressing down on him like a crushing wave.Liu.The man responsible for this.Meng's head snapped up, his eyes burning with hatred as they locked onto Liu, who stood nearby, sword in hand. He didn't seem to notice Meng yet, too focused on the battle raging around them. But that didn't matter. Nothing mattered anymore, except the need for vengeance."You..." Meng's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried with it the full force of his rage.The battle around Meng Qingshan was a symphony of chaos—clashing steel, cries of pain, and the desperate grunts of men fighting for their lives. The acrid scent of blood and smoke hung heavy in the air, but Meng felt none of it. His focus was razor-sharp, locked solely on the figure before him—Liu, the man responsible for the deaths of Sua and Tian.But first, there were obstacles—Wutai sect soldiers standing between him and his target, their swords raised in defense. Meng's eyes burned red, and his sword hummed with dark energy, eager to cut down anything in its path.Without hesitation, Meng moved, his body becoming a blur of speed. The first soldier lunged at him, swinging his sword with all the force of a desperate man. Meng barely registered the attack. His blade flashed through the air, and the man's sword-arm was severed before he could even scream. Blood sprayed in an arc, and the soldier collapsed to the ground, gurgling in pain.Another soldier charged at him, eyes wild with fear. Meng turned swiftly, his blade slicing cleanly through the man's midsection. There was no resistance, just the sickening sound of flesh parting, followed by the thud of the soldier's upper body hitting the dirt. The lower half stood for a brief moment before toppling to the ground in a grotesque display.A third opponent, more skilled than the others, tried to catch Meng off guard, thrusting his spear at Meng's back. Meng sensed it, the cold tip of the spear nearing his spine. With fluid grace, he twisted his body, deflecting the spear with the edge of his sword. He spun, his movements like a shadow. His sword, now coated in the blood of the fallen, whirled upward in a sharp arc, cleaving through the soldier's neck with terrifying ease. The headless body collapsed as Meng stepped over it without a second glance.Blood pooled at his feet, painting the battlefield crimson, but Meng's mind was numb to it all. His steps were automatic, driven by rage and the need for retribution. His sword moved faster than thought, cutting down anyone foolish enough to challenge him. Every slash was a deadly blur, and every scream of the fallen was drowned out by the pounding of his own heartbeat.Four soldiers rushed him at once, thinking their numbers would overwhelm him. Fools. Meng's eyes flashed with dark intent as he channeled the power of his demon. His sword glowed black, charged with the raw, untamed energy of his bond with Xinyi.He leapt forward, his speed unnatural, almost inhuman. In one swift motion, his blade cut through the first two soldiers, splitting them cleanly from shoulder to hip. Their bodies fell apart like broken dolls, collapsing in a heap of blood and entrails. The third soldier tried to retreat, terror written across his face, but Meng was already upon him. He plunged his sword through the man's chest, feeling the tip of the blade pierce through his back. The soldier gasped, blood bubbling from his lips, before Meng ripped the sword free, letting the lifeless body crumple to the ground.The final soldier stood frozen, his hands shaking as he raised his sword in a futile attempt to defend himself. Meng looked into the man's eyes, saw the fear there, and felt a twinge of sorrow for what he had become. But there was no time for hesitation. The man had chosen his side, and now he would pay the price. Meng stepped forward and, with one clean stroke, sliced the man's sword in half before slashing across his throat. Blood sprayed in a fountain, and the man dropped to his knees, clutching at his neck before falling face-first into the dirt.With the path now cleared, Meng's gaze locked on Liu once more.The battlefield seemed to blur around him as he advanced, the remaining soldiers too frightened to approach him. Meng's mind raced with memories of Sua and Tian—their laughter, their unyielding loyalty, the countless moments they had shared. And now they were gone, snatched away from him in the cruelest way possible.He would make Liu pay for that.As Meng closed the distance between them, Liu finally turned, his expression unreadable. For a brief moment, the two stood facing each other—Meng, consumed by a dark, murderous fury, and Liu, unaware of the storm that was about to descend upon him.Without a word, Meng raised his sword, channeling every ounce of his hatred into the swing. The dark energy coursing through his veins flared violently, his demonic bond with Xinyi fueling his strength. His muscles tensed, his body coiling like a predator preparing to strike.And then he swung.The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the air, the sheer speed and power of it leaving a trail of black energy in its wake. Meng's sword sliced downward with deadly precision, aimed directly at Liu's chest. The ground beneath his feet cracked from the intensity, the weight of the attack enough to shatter stone.Time seemed to slow as the blade inched closer to Liu, who still hadn't fully grasped the danger he was in. Meng's eyes blazed with fury, his heart hammering in his chest as the blade neared its target.The memories of Sua and Tian flashed through his mind—how they had fought beside him, how they had believed in him. How they had died because of this man."Sorry..." Meng whispered, his voice barely audible over the roar of the battle around them.And then the sword struck.