Li Shen and Qin Feng sprinted through the forest, their footsteps leaving trails of purple mist that curled around the trees. Three Iron Talon soldiers leapt from the branches above, their beast-scale armor glinting in the moonlight.
"Behind you!" Qin Feng spun around, her hands weaving patterns in the air. Purple vapor sprayed around the first soldier's helmet joints. He clutched his throat, stumbling.
Li Shen flew past the second warrior, his Shadow Step enhanced by Qin Feng's poison. The toxic cloud clung to his movement, seeping into the gaps of the soldier's armor. "Your sister will come for you."
"She always does." Qin Feng kicks the third soldier back, her movements graceful despite the lingering exhaustion from their bonding. "But she's predictable when she's angry."
The remaining soldiers collapsed, overcame by the poisonous fog. Li Shen pulled Qin Feng close, studying the path ahead. "We'll use that. The White Crane Pavilion has hidden chambers beneath it."
"Perfect for an ambush." Qin Feng's eyes gleamed with understanding. "She will track my poison mist."
More armored figures emerged from the treeline. Li Shen channeled his qi, combining Mei Ling's Ghost Lotus technique with Qin Feng's poison. The soldiers charged through his afterimages, choking on toxic fumes.
"The pavilion is just ahead." Li Shen gestured toward the white stone structure rising above the canopy. "Your presence should be obvious enough to draw her in."
"But not so obvious it seems like a trap." Qin Feng nodded, already spreading her poison in a distinctive pattern. "She knows my techniques better than anyone."
They dashed through another group of Iron Talons, leaving bodies writhing in clouds of purple death. Li Shen's mind raced with possibilities. The system pulsed with approval at his plan to add Qin Ru to his collection of vassals.
"Remember," Li Shen said as they approach the pavilion steps. "Make it look like you're helping me unwillingly. She needs to believe you're still resisting."
Qin Feng adjusted her torn robes, messing her hair. "I know how to play a captured sister." Her eyes lowered submissively. "She won't be able to resist trying to save me."
System Notification: New enemies detected. Iron Talon captains and Silver Talon on the march. Target: White Crane Pavilion.
Li Shen and Qin Feng arrive at the pavilion, only to find it already surrounded by the Iron Talon army. The soldiers already formed a tight perimeter around the structure. Li Shen's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation.
"Looks like they've beaten us here," Qin Feng muttered, her voice tense.
"We need a new plan." Li Shen scanned the area, noting the strategic positions of the Iron Talon captains and their men. "We can't engage them all at once."
"Then we defend the perimeter," Qin Feng suggested. "Hold them off until we can lure Qin Ru here."
Li Shen nodded. "We have the White Cranes for that." He turned to Mei Lan and Mei Ling, who had just arrived with a small group of White Crane warriors.
"Lan, Ling," he called out, his voice carrying authority. "We need to set up a defensive line around the pavilion. Keep them at bay."
Mei Lan's eyes meet his with determination. "Understood."
Mei Ling placed a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder before they both sprang into action, directing their warriors to strategic positions around the pavilion.
Li Shen drew his blade. "Qin Feng," he said, turning to her. "Lay your trap here. Lead your sister here while we hold off their forces."
Qin Feng nodded, her face became fully serious as she began to weave her poison mist through the air. The purple vapor snaked its way towards the edges of the Iron Talon formation, creating pockets of noxious gas that slow their advance.
The Iron Talon soldiers hesitated as they encounter the toxic fog, their movements becoming sluggish and disoriented. Li Shen used this moment to strike, his blade slicing through armor and flesh with precision.
Mei Lan and Mei Ling darted in and out of the fray, their techniques allowed them to evade attacks while striking back with deadly accuracy. The White Crane warriors followed suit, their movements a blur of white and silver as they defended the pavilion.
As Li Shen fought alongside them, he could feel the bond with his vassals strengthening, their combined abilities had made them a formidable force. The Iron Talon army pushed forward but was met with fierce resistance at every turn.
Qin Feng's poison mist continued to spread, creating an eerie barrier around the pavilion that kept more of their enemies at bay. She glanced back at Li Shen, her eyes meeting his briefly before she focused on perfecting her trap.
The battle raged on as Li Shen and his allies defended the pavilion with relentless determination.
Qin Ru moved swiftly through the dense forest, her breaths ragged and shallow. Desperation clung to her like the sweat on her skin. Her mind raced, calculating every possible escape route from the Iron Talon perimeter that now trapped her. Unable to save her sister, unable to escape.
As she came to a clearing, she heard mocking laughter. Two figures emerged from the shadows—The Talon Twins, notorious for their cruelty and skill in combat.
"Look who it is," one of them jeered, a wicked grin spreading across her face. "The little Viper lost in the woods."
"Shouldn't you be slithering away by now? Your Viper troops are dead. And now we caught you, the leader, trying to flee the battlefield. The Talons have made a mistake allying with a bunch of coward reptiles," the other twin added, brandishing her blade menacingly.
Qin Ru glared at them, her hand tightening around the hilt of her poisoned dagger. "Out of my way."
The twins laughed, ignoring her command. "You Vipers think you're so clever, poisoning our food during the tournament," one twin said, stepping closer. "Made us sluggish, but we still almost took down your precious Viper King."
"Yeah," the other twin chimed in. "If it wasn't for that bell ending the fight, he'd be nothing but snake meat now."
Their words fueled Qin Ru's anger. She had no care for history, but she would not accept insult to her leader, either. She lunged at them with all her might, but the twins were ready. They deflected her strikes effortlessly, toying with her like a cat with a mouse.
"Come on, Viper," one of them taunted. "Is that all you've got?"
Qin Ru's movements became frantic as she tried to land a hit. But for every strike she attempted, they countered with twice the force and precision. It's clear they're using her as a living target for their amusement.
Blood dripped from multiple cuts on Qin Ru's body as she struggled to stay on her feet. Her vision blurred from the pain and exhaustion. Just when she thought all hope is lost, a familiar scent reaches her nostrils—her sister's poison.
Qin Feng's distinctive toxic aroma filled the air around her, cutting through the chaos of battle like a beacon in the night. Qin Ru's eyes widened as she inhaled deeply, recognizing the scent immediately. Her sister was nearby. She had been given another chance to save her, after all.
Desperation turned into determination as Qin Ru began to strategize. She needed to get past the twins and return to her sister's side.
Using the last of her strength and wits, Qin Ru feinted left before darting right, hoping to slip through their defenses just long enough to make a break for it. She could feel all her wounds tearing up, protesting against her sudden movement. She pushed forward regardless. One of the twins caught her ruse, but before her reckless gamble concluded, another figure emerged onto the scene.
Elder Tian Wei.
The elder had brought calm amidst the storm. His long white beard swayed slightly in the wind, his expression unreadable but focused. He stood between Qin Ru and the Talon Twins. He had saved her.
Elder Tian Wei's qi surged through the clearing, exerting more pressure. The Talon Twins fixed their stance to prepare against this new threat.
"Elder Wei." Lei Mao, the more aggressive twin, plants her feet. "Step aside. This doesn't concern you."
Tian Wei's hands moved in circular motions, gathering energy. "Betrayal after betrayal. Some things do not change with time."
Lei Mao charged forward, her giant hammer crackling with tiger-force qi. Tian Wei deflected the strike with his palm, sending shockwaves through the trees. Her sister followed with a flanking attack, but Tian Wei's defense proved impenetrable. Experience spoke for itself.
Qin Ru saw her chance. Blood drips from her wounds as she backed away from the fight. The scent of her sister's poison grew stronger, pulling her toward the pavilion. Her legs shook with each step, but determination drove her forward.
"The snake escapes!" Lei Mao tried to pursue, but Tian Wei's qi barrier blocked her path.
"Your fight is with me now." The elder's voice carried steel beneath its calm surface.
Qin Ru did not look back. She pushed through the underbrush, following the toxic trail her sister left behind. Her breathing came in ragged gasps, but at least her escape was a success.
The white stone of the pavilion emerged through the trees. Purple mist curled around its base - her sister's signature technique. Qin Ru gripped her poisoned daggers tighter. Ignoring the pain of her injuries, she raced forward, hoping for her sister's safety.
Purple mist swirled around Li Shen's feet as he faced the Silver Talon commander. The elite warrior's beast-scale armor gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, each plate crafted from rare metals that repelled most qi attacks. Behind him, his chosen soldiers formed a wall of steel.
Li Shen's qi flowed through his body, mixing with the powers gained from his vassals. Mei Lan's agility coursed through his muscles, while Mei Ling's ethereal energy built in his arms. Qin Feng's poison seeped into his blade, turning its edge a deadly violet.
"The White Crane Sect killed Mo Gan." The Silver Talon's voice boomed across the courtyard. "His death demands retribution. His blood for all of Cranes'"
Li Shen shifts his stance, channeling more qi into his weapon. The Hollow Crane Slash technique required perfect timing - too early and it would lose power, too late and the enemy's defenses would be ready. His blade began to glow with spectral energy, taking on the shape of a crane's wing.
"Mo Gan chose his path." Li Shen's eyes tracked every minute movement of his opponent. "As you have chosen yours."
The ghostly energy surrounding his sword intensified, creating an ethereal afterimage that trails behind each slight adjustment. Li Shen could feel the technique building to its peak, ready to unleash devastating force against the Silver Talon's legendary armor.
His muscles tensed up. The strike that had once felled Mo Gan were ready to claim another victim. The newly combined power of his vassals had enhanced the technique, making it deadlier than ever before.