The wind howled through the forest as Li Feng braced himself for Lan Yue's next attack. His chest heaved, sweat beading on his brow, but he refused to show weakness. Not to her. The intensity of the battle had already pushed both of them to their limits, yet neither seemed willing to back down. The moonlight filtered through the bamboo trees, casting long, eerie shadows that flickered in time with their movements.
Lan Yue's sword glowed faintly with the energy of light qi, the blade thrumming in her hand as she advanced on him, her expression unreadable. Her stance was perfect, her movements fluid and precise—an embodiment of discipline and skill. Every step she took was measured, every swing of her sword aimed with deadly intent.
Li Feng's muscles burned from exertion, but the dark qi that coursed through him gave him strength, pushing him past the point of fatigue. His spear, crackling with energy, felt like an extension of his body, moving in tandem with his thoughts. He had fought countless warriors, defeated enemies that most would tremble before, but Lan Yue was different. She was a mirror of his own strength, his own determination.
She attacked again, her sword cutting through the air in a flash of light. Li Feng blocked the strike with his spear, but the impact sent a shockwave through his body. The force of her qi was greater than he had anticipated. With a grunt, he pushed back, his spear deflecting her blade as they broke apart once more.
"You've grown stronger since our last encounter," Lan Yue said, her voice calm despite the intensity of the fight.
Li Feng smirked, though his breath came in heavy gasps. "I could say the same about you."
They circled each other, the tension between them palpable. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the sounds of the night fading into the background as their focus narrowed on each other. Li Feng's mind raced, calculating his next move. He couldn't afford to underestimate her, not again. But even as his instincts screamed at him to focus on the fight, his thoughts kept drifting to the way her eyes flashed with determination, the way her qi pulsed in perfect harmony with her movements.
There was something about her—something that made her different from the others. He had fought the warriors of the White Lotus Clan before, and while they were skilled, they lacked the fire, the drive that burned within Lan Yue. She wasn't just fighting for her clan; there was something personal in every strike, every swing of her blade.
Li Feng twirled his spear, the dark qi surrounding it growing thicker, more concentrated. He could feel the power of the shadows at his command, the energy pulsing through his veins like a living thing. The dark qi had always been a part of him, ever since his earliest days of training. It was what set him apart from the other warriors of the Shadow Wolf Clan—his ability to wield the shadows, to bend them to his will.
But with that power came a price.
The dark qi was unpredictable, dangerous. It thrived on chaos and destruction, and Li Feng had spent years learning how to control it, how to keep it from consuming him. There were moments, like now, when the line between mastery and madness blurred, when the power threatened to overwhelm him.
And yet, he needed it. Without it, he was nothing.
Lan Yue's eyes narrowed, and Li Feng could sense the shift in her energy. She was preparing for another attack, gathering her qi for a powerful strike. He braced himself, his muscles tensing as he watched her every move, waiting for the moment when she would strike.
And then, in an instant, she was upon him.
Her sword flashed in the moonlight, the blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Li Feng moved to block the attack, his spear meeting her sword with a resounding clash of metal. The force of her qi surged through him, and for a moment, he felt his control slipping. The dark qi within him roared, threatening to break free, to consume him in its chaotic embrace.
But Li Feng gritted his teeth, forcing the darkness back. He couldn't lose control. Not here, not now.
With a fierce growl, he pushed back, his spear driving Lan Yue's sword away. She staggered slightly, caught off guard by the sudden burst of strength, but she recovered quickly, her sword flashing again as she pressed the attack.
Li Feng dodged her next strike, his movements swift and fluid. He spun his spear in a wide arc, the dark qi trailing behind it like a shadowy veil. His mind raced, calculating the angles, the timing of each strike. He had to stay ahead of her, to outthink her. One mistake, one misstep, and it would all be over.
Their weapons clashed again and again, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the forest. Each strike was met with a counter, each attack with a block. The energy of their qi crackled in the air around them, filling the night with a palpable tension.
But even as they fought, Li Feng could feel something shifting within him.
For the first time in years, he wasn't just fighting to win. He wasn't fighting for his clan, or for power, or even for survival. He was fighting because he wanted to, because he needed to prove something—to himself, to her.
With a sudden burst of speed, Lan Yue lunged forward, her sword aimed directly at his heart. Li Feng's instincts kicked in, his spear moving to block the attack, but she was faster than he had anticipated. Her blade grazed his side, cutting through his robe and drawing a thin line of blood.
Li Feng hissed in pain, but he didn't let it slow him down. He spun away from her, his spear swinging in a wide arc as he put distance between them. His side throbbed with pain, but he ignored it, focusing instead on the fire that burned within him.
Lan Yue paused, her eyes flickering to the wound she had inflicted. For a brief moment, her expression softened, as if she hadn't meant to strike so deeply. But the moment passed quickly, and her focus returned, her stance shifting as she prepared for the next attack.
Li Feng wiped the blood from his side, his fingers trembling slightly. The wound wasn't deep, but it was enough to remind him that this battle wasn't just a test of skill—it was a fight for survival. And Lan Yue wasn't holding back.
Neither would he.
With a low growl, Li Feng charged forward, his spear moving with blinding speed. His movements were precise, calculated, each strike aimed at her weak points. He could feel the dark qi surging within him, growing stronger with every attack. The shadows around him seemed to pulse with life, feeding off the energy of the battle.
Lan Yue blocked his strikes, her sword moving in perfect synchronization with his spear. But Li Feng could see the strain in her movements, the slight hesitation in her blocks. She was tiring, just as he was. The battle had taken its toll on both of them.
And yet, neither of them stopped.
As their weapons clashed once more, the force of their qi sent shockwaves through the ground beneath them. The forest around them seemed to tremble, the trees swaying as if in response to the power they wielded.
Li Feng's breath came in short gasps, his muscles burning with exertion. His mind raced, calculating his next move, searching for an opening. He could feel the dark qi pushing him, urging him to let go, to unleash the full force of his power. But he couldn't. Not yet.
Lan Yue's eyes met his, and in that moment, something passed between them. A silent understanding, a recognition of the power they both held—the power to destroy, but also the power to choose.
"You're holding back," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.
Li Feng's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't respond. She was right. He was holding back. But he wasn't sure why.
With a sudden burst of energy, Lan Yue charged at him again, her sword glowing with the full force of her qi. Li Feng raised his spear to block the attack, but at the last second, he hesitated. The dark qi roared within him, but he held it back, refusing to let it take control.
The force of her strike sent him stumbling backward, his feet skidding across the ground. His chest heaved with exhaustion, his mind racing. He couldn't keep this up. He couldn't fight her like this.
Not when he wasn't sure what he was fighting for.