Chapter Nine: Flames in the Forest
The silence between Li Yan and Shen Cai hung heavy, each man weighing the other with careful scrutiny. For Li Yan, Shen Cai represented the authority of the Kunlun Sect, and from his posture and the quiet menace in his eyes, he could tell that this was no ordinary encounter. Shen Cai's strength was apparent, the weight of his Qi pressing against the surrounding air like a sharpened blade. But for Shen Cai, Li Yan was an enigma—an unknown whose aura held a warmth far beyond the reach of a simple villager.
Shen Cai's fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing as he continued to study Li Yan. He could sense something unusual about this "village boy"—a faint but unmistakable power that didn't fit his unassuming appearance. And that warmth… it was too controlled, too potent. If Li Yan did have a treasure that enhanced his strength, Shen Cai thought, then he had no right to keep it.
"Perhaps he's hiding something worth taking," Shen Cai mused to himself, a glimmer of greed sparking within him. He wasn't one to let go of an opportunity to gain an advantage, especially not against someone he assumed would be beneath him in strength.
"Well, Li Yan," Shen Cai said, his voice carrying a hint of a challenge, "you talk as if you think yourself my equal. Allow me to test that assumption." He raised his sword, a ripple of wind swirling around the blade as his Qi flared, preparing for a real fight.
Before Li Yan could respond, Shen Cai moved with sudden speed, his sword slicing through the air as he closed the distance between them. His blade was infused with the wind element, each strike carrying a deadly precision that made him a dangerous opponent for most cultivators. Li Yan barely managed to dodge the first swing, the blade slicing past his shoulder with a force that left a gust in its wake.
Li Yan gritted his teeth, his senses heightened as he blocked the next strike, feeling the weight of Shen Cai's strength. The power behind each attack was unlike anything he'd encountered in his year of training; this was the strength of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, honed and focused. Each clash of their Qi sent reverberations through the air, and for the first time, Li Yan felt himself struggling to keep up.
Shen Cai smirked as he pressed his advantage, his movements fluid and relentless. "Is this all your training has taught you?" he taunted, his strikes growing faster, forcing Li Yan to step back. "For someone who claims to be strong, you don't seem to be holding up very well."
Li Yan's breath came quicker as he blocked another attack, his arms straining under the force. Shen Cai's aura was pressing down on him, a controlled storm of Qi that threatened to overwhelm. He could sense the gap in their cultivation, and despite his best efforts, he felt the strain of each strike. The weight of Shen Cai's attacks was relentless, each blow pushing him back, bit by bit.
"So, this is what it's like to face a real cultivator," Li Yan thought, his mind racing as he searched for a way to counter. He'd fought countless beasts in the forest, but this was different. Shen Cai's Qi was disciplined, sharp, wielded with the precision of someone trained by one of the most powerful sects on the continent.
But as Shen Cai closed in for another strike, Li Yan felt a familiar warmth stirring within him—a faint, steady pulse that grounded him, calming his mind. Feiyan's presence surged in his core, her energy rising in response to the threat. Her voice echoed in his mind, a quiet, confident whisper.
"Are you going to let him push you around like this?" she murmured, her tone laced with amusement. "Perhaps it's time to show him what true strength feels like."
With a steadying breath, Li Yan shifted his stance, drawing on Feiyan's fire. He channeled a sliver of her energy, feeling the warmth flow into his Qi, intensifying until it simmered just beneath his skin. As Shen Cai's next strike approached, Li Yan focused, letting the flame within him ignite.
As Shen Cai's sword came down, Li Yan raised his hand, meeting the attack with a burst of heat that radiated outward in a controlled but intense wave. The flame surged from his palm, clashing against Shen Cai's blade with a force that startled even Li Yan. The area around them erupted with warmth as the fire expanded, transforming the air into a burning vortex.
Shen Cai stumbled back, his eyes wide with shock as he felt the wave of heat wash over him, the intensity searing even through his Qi defenses. He watched, stunned, as flames flickered to life around them, spreading across the forest floor and licking at the trees. It wasn't just a simple flame—this was something far more potent, a fire that burned with an energy he had never encountered.
"What… what is this?" Shen Cai breathed, disbelief tightening his voice as he took in the devastation around them. The air was thick, searingly hot, making it nearly unlivable. The ground lay charred, trees reduced to smoldering husks, all transformed by a flame that felt alive, almost sentient. No Qi Condensation cultivator should wield power like this.
Li Yan stood amidst the charred remains, his expression calm as the fire flickered in his gaze, reflecting the power within. The flame surrounding him crackled with an intensity that left Shen Cai visibly unnerved, his confidence shaken by the sheer force of the energy he had witnessed.
"It's just the result of training," Li Yan replied quietly, his voice steady despite the power he held.
The silence after Li Yan's display of power was filled with a simmering heat, the surrounding area scorched by the intense flames he had summoned. Shen Cai's eyes darted to the charred ground, taking in the full extent of the fire that had erupted in the wake of Li Yan's attack. This wasn't just a simple flame technique—this was something altogether different, something far more dangerous.
Shen Cai took a step back, his grip on his sword tight as he struggled to comprehend what he had just seen. This was no ordinary fire technique; the heat still radiated in waves, a lingering presence that seemed to fill the air. His mind raced, grappling with the implications. If this was truly Li Yan's power, then he wasn't just some rogue with a treasure—he was a cultivator harboring a force far beyond his level.
The shock in Shen Cai's eyes gave way to frustration, his pride refusing to accept the reality before him. He had come here expecting to assert his dominance, to bring a wayward "villager" under control. Yet this… this was something he could neither explain nor ignore.
"Kunlun does not permit unknown powers within its lands," Shen Cai said, his voice strained but laced with defiance. "You will face consequences for harboring such strength."
Li Yan held his gaze steady, the last embers of Feiyan's fire flickering within him. He could see the hesitation in Shen Cai's stance, a mix of fear and frustrated ambition flickering across his face. Though Shen Cai's pride bristled, the Kunlun disciple's cautious nature was warring with his greed, making him second-guess any rash move.
"What… are you?" Shen Cai's voice held a note of disbelief as he took in Li Yan's calm expression. For the first time, Shen Cai questioned the wisdom of pressing further. While his pride screamed at him to assert Kunlun's authority, his instincts warned him that this was a fight he might not survive.
Li Yan's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't answer. The flicker of flame at his fingertips was subtle yet potent, a quiet warning that he still had more strength to unleash if necessary.
Fine, he thought bitterly, forcing himself to mask his frustration with a semblance of calm. If I can't take him down now, then I'll let Elder Lu Fan handle it. This… rogue will be dealt with in due time.
His eyes flickered with a final look of hostility, a silent vow that this encounter was far from over. With a tight nod, he turned, the motion controlled and almost reluctant, though every nerve in his body was still alert, ready to react if Li Yan made a move. He wouldn't risk a full confrontation here, but he wasn't conceding defeat, either.
With a reluctant glare, Shen Cai turned, though his thoughts were already racing. Elder Lu Fan would hear of this—the elder would know how to handle a rogue cultivator with such power, and perhaps, how to take it under Kunlun's control. Shen Cai's pride was wounded, but his ambition remained, and he knew that this encounter would not be the last.
As Shen Cai disappeared into the shadows of the forest, Li Yan exhaled, feeling Feiyan's energy settle within him once more. Her presence pulsed with satisfaction, a quiet warmth that filled him with resolve.
As the tension of the encounter faded, Li Yan exhaled, feeling Feiyan's presence settle within him. But instead of the quiet satisfaction he had sensed before, her energy carried an undercurrent of irritation.
"Reckless," she murmured sharply, her voice echoing with clear discontent. "You wielded my flame like a child with a torch, letting it flare without purpose or control. That was raw power, unshaped and undisciplined."
Li Yan blinked, her criticism cutting through the thrill of victory. "I thought… you wanted me to use it," he replied, uncertain, his voice quieter.
"Use it, yes," she retorted, her tone edged with impatience. "But wielding fire requires more than strength. Strength without control is chaos—it burns aimlessly. If you hope to master my flame, then you must learn to focus, to ignite with intent and precision, not wild bursts of energy."
Her words stung, leaving him humbled as he processed the lesson. He had felt the thrill of her fire, the rush of its heat, but he hadn't considered its purpose beyond overpowering his opponent.
"Remember this," Feiyan continued, her tone softening but still firm. "The flame within you is more than brute force. Treat it carelessly again, and it may be your undoing."
Li Yan nodded, a newfound resolve settling within him. He understood now that wielding Feiyan's flame required more than strength—it required discipline, restraint. The encounter with Shen Cai had shown him the risks of revealing his power, but Feiyan's words reminded him that mastery over her flame would demand far more from him than he had shown today.
As he continued toward the village, his steps were steady, but his mind was focused, the fire within him now a quiet, smoldering reminder of the path he would have to walk. He knew there would be consequences from this encounter, but he also knew that he would face them with the focus and control that Feiyan's flame demanded.