The night was alive with the hum of the wind and the distant howl of wolves. The moon hung high in the sky, its pale light casting a cold, silver glow over the dense bamboo forest. Shadows moved between the trees, flickering and dancing like spirits, and within them, a lone figure stood still, blending into the darkness as if he were part of it.

Li Feng crouched low, his dark eyes fixed on the path ahead. His spear rested lightly in his hands, the blade crackling faintly with dark qi, an energy he had mastered after years of grueling training. Every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. He had learned the hard way that survival depended on being faster, stronger, and smarter than his enemies. And tonight, he would need every skill he had.

The bamboo trees swayed gently in the wind, their leaves rustling softly. Li Feng remained unmoving, his breath shallow and controlled. He had been tracking his target for hours, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His mind was a whirlwind of strategy, calculating every possible outcome, every move he might need to make.

A faint sound—a whisper of movement—caught his attention. His grip on the spear tightened as his gaze flicked toward the source of the noise. There, through the shadows, he saw them.

The White Lotus Clan.

Five warriors, each clad in the unmistakable silver and green robes of the White Lotus Clan, moved silently through the forest. Their leader, a tall man with a sword strapped to his back, led the group with the grace and precision of a seasoned warrior. Li Feng recognized him immediately. General Han, one of the most feared fighters in the White Lotus Clan, and tonight's target.

But it wasn't General Han who captured Li Feng's attention. It was the figure moving beside him.

Lan Yue.

Her presence was unmistakable. The light qi radiating from her was like a beacon in the dark, a stark contrast to the shadowy energy that surrounded Li Feng. She moved with the same grace and skill as the others, but there was something about her—something that made her stand out even among the warriors of her clan. Her sword, a slender blade that glowed faintly with light qi, was a symbol of her mastery, a weapon forged for only the most elite of the White Lotus.

Li Feng had faced her once before, in a skirmish months ago, and he had not forgotten the way she had fought—fierce, unyielding, and dangerously skilled. She was unlike any opponent he had ever faced, and though they had clashed only briefly, he had known in that moment that their paths were destined to cross again.

And now, here she was, moving through the night like a blade of moonlight cutting through the darkness.

Li Feng's heart pounded in his chest, but he forced himself to remain calm. He couldn't let emotions cloud his judgment. This was a mission—nothing more, nothing less. The White Lotus Clan had encroached on Shadow Wolf territory, and it was his duty to stop them. But even as he reminded himself of this, he couldn't shake the feeling that tonight was more than just another battle.

He took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs, and steadied his mind. He had faced worse odds before. He had fought in countless battles, killed more enemies than he could count. He was Li Feng, a warrior of the Shadow Wolf Clan, and he would not be defeated.

His eyes narrowed as he watched the White Lotus warriors draw closer. The time for waiting was over.

With a silent breath, Li Feng stepped out from the shadows, his spear raised and ready. The crackle of dark qi filled the air as the blade of his spear glowed with a faint, ominous light.

The White Lotus warriors froze, their hands flying to their weapons, but Li Feng's gaze was locked on only one person—Lan Yue.

Her eyes widened for the briefest of moments, and in that split second, he saw something flicker in her gaze—recognition, perhaps, or something deeper, something unspoken. But before he could dwell on it, she raised her sword, the blade glowing with light qi, and the battle began.

Li Feng moved first, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision. The White Lotus warriors were skilled, but they were no match for the speed and ferocity of his attacks. His spear was an extension of his body, each strike calculated, each movement designed to bring down his enemies with ruthless efficiency.

But even as he fought, his focus remained on Lan Yue.

She moved with a fluidity that took his breath away, her sword cutting through the air like a blade of light. Every time their weapons clashed, the energy around them crackled with intensity—dark qi meeting light qi in a deadly dance. Her strikes were precise, her movements swift, and though Li Feng had faced countless opponents in his lifetime, none had ever fought with the same grace and power as Lan Yue.

Their blades met again, the clash of metal ringing through the forest. For a moment, they were locked in place, their weapons pressed against each other, the energy of their qi swirling around them like a storm.

"You fight well," Lan Yue said, her voice steady despite the strain of battle.

Li Feng smirked, though his breath was coming in short gasps. "So do you."

They broke apart, each taking a step back to assess the situation. The other White Lotus warriors lay defeated at Li Feng's feet, their bodies still and unmoving. The night was silent now, the only sound the faint rustling of the wind through the trees.

It was just the two of them.

Lan Yue's grip on her sword tightened, her gaze never leaving Li Feng's. She was breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling with each breath, but there was no fear in her eyes—only determination.

"You're not like the others," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the wind.

Li Feng raised an eyebrow, though his mind raced with questions. "What do you mean?"

Lan Yue hesitated, her eyes flickering with something he couldn't quite place. "You don't fight like a Shadow Wolf. You fight like someone who has something to prove."

The words hit him harder than he expected, but he quickly pushed the feeling aside. He had no time for self-reflection, not here, not now. This was a battle, and he couldn't afford to let anything distract him.

"I fight to protect my clan," Li Feng said, his voice cold and sharp. "Nothing more."

Lan Yue didn't respond, but the look in her eyes told him she wasn't convinced. For a moment, they simply stood there, their weapons raised, their eyes locked, and in that moment, Li Feng realized that this battle was far from over.

Without warning, Lan Yue charged, her sword glowing brightly as she swung it toward him. Li Feng raised his spear to block the attack, but the force of her strike sent a shockwave through his body, and for the first time in the fight, he felt himself falter.

Lan Yue pressed her advantage, her strikes coming faster now, each one more powerful than the last. Li Feng gritted his teeth, his muscles burning with the effort of keeping up, but even as he fought to hold her back, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was something different about this battle—something personal.

And then, in a moment of clarity, he realized what it was.

He wasn't just fighting to protect his clan.

He was fighting for something more.