Chapter Twenty-Five: Bound by Flame, Marked by Feud
The forest was silent once more, the stillness settling in the wake of Shen Cai's anguished cry. Li Yan stood alone amidst the scorched earth, his flame casting a steady glow, illuminating the scene of battle. Before him lay Shen Cai, broken and motionless, while Liu Min and Zhao Rong watched, their gazes tense, filled with a simmering anger that seemed to echo the smoldering ashes around them.
Li Yan took a steady breath, each inhale and exhale guided by the Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance, though now his mind was a torrent of thoughts. The realization struck him with the weight of a falling boulder—there was no going back. The path he had chosen, the flames he had wielded against Kunlun, had set him on a course from which there was no retreat.
He cast a glance at the wounded Shen Cai, the burn on his leg a searing reminder of the line he had crossed. A faint tremor ran through him as he acknowledged the truth: Kunlun would not forgive this. He had broken one of their own, left a disciple crippled in both body and spirit, and now Liu Min and Zhao Rong, and perhaps all of Kunlun, would never rest until he paid for it.
The thought weighed on him, pressing against the fire in his core. Yet, even as he felt the gravity of the situation, another resolve began to harden within him. Perhaps it wasn't too late. If he struck now—if he ended this here—maybe, just maybe, he could eliminate the roots of this enmity before they could spread. Liu Min, Zhao Rong, even Shen Cai… if none of them left this forest alive, then perhaps he could walk away with a slim chance at escaping Kunlun's wrath.
He took a steadying breath, feeling his flame flare brighter, responding to the intensity of his thoughts. The notion of crushing his foes, of silencing their hatred at its source, was a dark one. Yet it held a dangerous appeal, a path that might free him from the consequences of a feud that could last lifetimes.
Liu Min's voice cut through his thoughts, cold and resolute. "You may have beaten Shen Cai, but Kunlun will never let this stand. You've made yourself a permanent enemy."
Li Yan's gaze hardened, his flame flaring as he met Liu Min's eyes. Then perhaps I should leave nothing to chance.
He clenched his fists, his Qi gathering as he prepared himself, his resolve firm. "If that's the price of standing my ground, then so be it." His voice was steady, but there was a glint of finality in his eyes, a quiet decision that pulsed beneath his words.
Zhao Rong's expression shifted, his Core Formation aura pressing heavily against Li Yan's senses, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Li Yan was on the edge of something dangerous, something that threatened to engulf them all. "You think a lone flame can burn against Kunlun's legacy? You're outmatched, Li Yan. Whatever fight you bring to us today, know that Kunlun's reach is vast, and we do not forgive."
Li Yan felt the weight of Zhao Rong's words, the warning that echoed in his voice. But his flame only burned brighter, fueled by his resolve. If he was to face Kunlun's wrath one day, he would face it as a cultivator with no regrets. If he was to bear the consequences of this feud, he would do so on his own terms.
With a final surge of determination, he prepared himself. If I must be Kunlun's enemy, then I will be one they will never forget. And it starts here.
Li Yan's flame surged as he prepared to strike. His choice was made; there would be no retreat, no hesitation. He took a step forward, the ground beneath him scorched by his energy, his gaze locked onto Liu Min and Zhao Rong. If they were to be his enemies, then he would end this here, on his terms.
With a flick of his wrist, he channeled his Qi into a concentrated flame that coiled around his hand, igniting with a fierce intensity. Without warning, he launched himself at Liu Min, his flame arcing toward the disciple in a fierce, sweeping strike. Liu Min barely managed to raise his spear, his frost Qi forming a shield just in time to block the searing heat, but the impact forced him back, his stance faltering.
Li Yan's attack didn't relent. He moved fluidly, each motion fueled by a fierce resolve. His flame flared as he unleashed Ember Stream Flow, a jet of fire that surged toward Zhao Rong. The Core Formation disciple countered swiftly, slamming his staff into the ground, raising an earthen wall to absorb the flames. But the force of Li Yan's attack sent cracks through the wall, the fire pressing forward, relentless.
Zhao Rong's gaze darkened as he braced himself. "You're forcing your own destruction, Li Yan!" he growled, his Core Formation aura flaring as he readied his staff.
Li Yan didn't flinch, his own aura blazing brighter. "Destruction? Or freedom?" With a powerful leap, he closed the gap between them, his flame-infused fists aimed directly at Zhao Rong's defenses. Each strike landed with unrelenting power, his Qi honed by the Breath of the Phoenix Ascendance, his every move aimed to push the Kunlun disciples to their limits.
But just as Li Yan prepared to launch another strike, a sudden, blinding light filled the clearing. He shielded his eyes instinctively, his flame dimming as the brilliant glow illuminated the forest, casting long shadows around them. From the light emerged a figure—graceful, poised, her movements carrying an elegance that seemed almost unreal.
Li Yan's gaze sharpened as he took in her presence. The newcomer was strikingly beautiful, her features delicate yet strong, framed by an ethereal glow that seemed to radiate from her very being. She was dressed in robes that shimmered faintly, adorned with the insignia of the Emei Sect—a faction known for its alliance with Kunlun and its mastery of light Qi.
In her hand, she held a long, slender bow, its surface glinting with the same radiance that surrounded her. She notched an arrow, her gaze fixed on Li Yan with a mixture of intensity and caution. Her voice, clear and commanding, cut through the silence. "Stand down, or you'll face Emei's wrath as well."
Zhao Rong and Liu Min exchanged glances, their expressions shifting as they recognized her. Relief flashed across their faces, but there was also a hint of tension—they hadn't expected the presence of Emei's disciples here, let alone one of her caliber.
Li Yan's jaw clenched as he weighed the situation, his flame flickering as he steadied himself. This new arrival held herself with a quiet authority, and her light Qi was unmistakably potent, radiating an aura of purity that clashed against the intensity of his fire.
"You're interfering in a fight that doesn't concern you," Li Yan replied, his tone unyielding as he met her gaze.
Her expression remained impassive, though her eyes held a spark of disdain. "I intervene where righteousness is needed. An outlaw challenging Kunlun disciples in the depths of the forest speaks only of trouble," she replied, her bow drawn, the arrow glowing with a brilliant light that illuminated the clearing.
"An outlaw?" Li Yan's eyes narrowed, his flame flaring. "You know nothing of my reasons."
"Nor do I care to know them," she replied, her voice calm but firm. "Emei stands with Kunlun, and if you fight them, then you fight me."
Li Yan felt a flicker of frustration, yet he steeled himself, his gaze hardening. The addition of another formidable opponent changed the balance once more. But he could not afford to hesitate; if he was to face Kunlun's enmity, then he would face it fully, without reservation.
As the glow from her arrow grew brighter, Li Yan shifted his stance, his flame blazing to life around him. He could feel the resolve within him intensify, the determination to break through, no matter the cost. His next moves would be swift and decisive. He would not let Emei or Kunlun dictate his fate.
The clearing was silent, the air thick with tension, each side poised for a confrontation that would decide the battle's fate. Both cultivators stood ready, their resolve unshakable, each understanding that this battle would push them to their limits.