Tall and silent, old trees cast long shadows in the deepening of the forest. Fang, his loyal dog, walks alongside him, its powerful nose sensing the air as they push their way through thick bushes. Today Bai Cheng had one aim: find a spiritual beast to be both a friend and helper for the approaching exams.
"You ready for this, Fang?" Bai Cheng muttered, ruffling the dog's fur as it trotted beside him.
Fang made a low growl as their ears flexed at every rustle in leaves. She couldn't even speak, yet their relationship remained that strong.
Fang was the same as a brother or friend.
The sun broke through the thick leaves above, making light spots on the path. Bai Cheng felt the usual thrill of the hunt rise in him, his senses tuned to every sound in the forest. He was not only looking for animals today but also for a challenge—something stronger that could push him past his limits.
As he stepped ahead, Bai Cheng could sense the shift in the air. The mighty vibration of spiritual energy pulsed right beneath the forest floor.
He smiled to himself.
This is it.
The First Encounter
Bai Cheng quickly found his first target. He heard the rustling of the bush, and then something big started to move. Bai Cheng signaled to Fang, who dropped to the ground, his tail straight and focused.
A wild pig-like thing came out from the bushes, its tusks shining like knives in the sunlight. He was a minor spirit animal and only some three hundred years old—not that remarkable but an okay start.
It snorted its head upon seeing Bai Cheng and Fang, without saying any war cry, charging and thudding the ground in rhythmic hooves.
Come back, Fang!"
Bai Cheng shouted, jumping aside for the attack of the pig.
Fang slid fast to the left, barely out of the way of the snapping tusk. Bai Cheng gripped his staff, spinning it with a smooth motion. He didn't waste any time either. When the boar charged again, he stepped to the side and let the force carry him into the beast, hitting it hard in the shoulder.
CRACK!
The breaking of a bone shook the air as the boar swayed, stunned. Bai Cheng waited not. He ran off, striking precisely, staff plunging deep into the animal's chest.
The boar let out one last squeal before it went flying to the ground and its life was extinguished in an instant.
Bai Cheng towered over the beast, breathing shallowly. "Not bad for a warm-up."
He knelt, pulling out a sharp knife at his belt and slashing across the flesh of the boar. When he reached in to take out a spiritual stone from the creature's core, a soft weird light shines from his body. Bai Cheng thrust it into his pocket with a happy smile.
"One down. Let's go on, Fang.".
The Quest for Something Better
Time passed with Bai Cheng and Fang venturing into the distorted forest. The dense foliage thins out, and Bai Cheng is energized with their move to a relatively clearer place. That was the heart of the forest, where even stronger spiritual animals were visible roaming about there.
"That is where the real challenge is," Bai Cheng muttered to himself.
Fang stopped his movement; his nose twitched and something snapped into being, causing a low growl to roll up from the depths of his throat, as he retreated, his senses reaching for every sound that seemed to have appeared with the snap of his nose.
It came from out of the shadows like some massive creature - a giant two-headed wolf, its fur silvery, but shining bright with spiritual energy; its eyes burned strong with a hunting look.
That was no beast to be handled carelessly.
The two-headed wolf growled in unison, and the air around it seemed powerful. Bai Cheng's heart was beating fast. It was the kind of spiritual beast he had been looking for.
"Fang, keep close," Bai Cheng cautioned to himself as he held his staff tightly.
The wolf continued ahead, making no noise as it went due to its big paws. Bai Cheng raised his staff, took a deep breath, and knew he couldn't hurry this battle. It would take all of his skill and cunning to beat this animal.
The wolf sprang forward, baring his sharp teeth, and Bai Cheng barely had time to get out of the way. He swung his staff in a big circle, trying to hit one of the wolf's heads.
The wolf dodged the hit, but Bai Cheng's swing still touched its side, making sparks fly from the fur.
"Not bad," Bai Cheng said, sweat running down his forehead. "But I'm not finished yet."
The wolf growled, and the second head turned fast toward him. Bai Cheng just managed to stop the attack, the force making his bones shake. He was beginning to understand that this fight was not only about strength but also about staying power and planning.
Focus. Think.
Bai Cheng took a step forward quickly and used Shadow Step to close in on the wolf's side. He struck the wolf hard but that didn't knock the animal over. The creature let out a loud howl of rage and swung both of its heads at him simultaneously.
He scrambled to his left in time, but the wolf's claws cut through his arm and into his skin, opening a deep gash. Bai Cheng hissed in pain but quickly got back into position.
"This is getting interesting," he whispered.
An Unexpected Visitor
Just when Bai Cheng prepared to launch another attack, he saw something moving in the distance.
Fang's fur stood, the dog growing quietly softly his body tight as his heart went a little off.
Now that the air felt strange not this hollow quietness it seems as though the forest awaits.
Bai Cheng turned his head, squinting. Far, on the other side of the trees, figures shifted—in and out of shadows, their bodies indistinguishable behind the thick ground fog.
They were inching closer.
Bai Cheng stopped, the grip on his staff tightening. The two-headed wolf stopped too, now its attention turned to the two figures in the distance.
What are they…?", Bai Cheng mumbled to himself.
But the wolf was growling loudly and menacingly. He could not fight both the wolf and the strange figures at one time.
Who were they? What did they want?
Even those shapes were out of clear view, making Bai Cheng feel an abnormal chill. His heart was racing with the decision-making: the wolf was a risk, but the real danger was in front of him.
He knew. The danger wasn't hiding in the woods; it was walking closer.
He heard footsteps coming from far away. The figures were moving closer. Bai Cheng heartily ran faster. Realizing that he was no longer alone in the forest, and it was certainly no friendly talk for whatever they were.
The forest was eerily silent, as Bai Cheng stood with his hand near his staff, ready for whatever that was going to happen.