The morning sun was a filter through the dense canopy of trees as the carriage rumbled over the forest path. Hei An was inside the carriage, next to Wei Ren, who kept telling him about the life within the Blackfeather Sect. He listened halfheartedly, steel whittling against stone as he carefully sharpened the blade. He found comfort in the sound of metal against stone, a distraction from the uncertainty of what lay ahead.
The air was so peaceful, except for the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds. That peace was shattered when the carriage jolted to an abrupt stop.
"What now?" Wei Ren muttered, pushing the curtain aside to look. Hei An followed, stepping out cautiously with his hand resting on his dagger.
Five men with their arms glistening with sunlight stood in front of them. The leader, a mountain-like figure with a scar that had cut his cheek, stepped forward and stood proudly at the center. His eyes sparkled with malice as he rested his hand on the hilt of a chipped sword. Each exuded the faint but unmistakable aura of a Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator, his presence heavy and oppressive.
The leader's gaze fell on Wei Ren, and a smirk stretched across his face. "Blackfeather Sect robes, eh? Looks like we've found a rich haul."
One of the bandits hesitated, glancing at Wei Ren. "Boss, are you sure about this? He's from the Blackfeather Sect. They don't take kindly to their disciples being harmed."
The leader scowled, snapping at him. "And what's an outer disciple doing here? Even if we kill him, who's going to care? No one will know it was us. Now stop whining and get ready!"
Wei Ren's face turned dark. He stepped forward and said sternly, "You're making a mistake. Turn back now, and I'll let you leave unharmed."
The bandits laughed, their merriment echoing through the forest. The leader took a step closer, pointing his blade at Wei Ren. "The only mistake here is you thinking you're in charge, boy."
Hei An sighed quietly, stepping beside Wei Ren. "They don't seem interested in listening," he said, unsheathing his blade. "Guess there's no choice."
The leader grinned. "Get them!"
The bandits charged, weapons flashing in the dappled sunlight. Hei An moved nimbly, his dagger flashing as he sidestepped an incoming attack. With a sharp swing, he disarmed one of the bandits, and the man stumbled back, losing his footing. Another lunged at him; Hei An ducked low and delivered a calculated strike, sending the attacker sprawling.
Wei Ren stayed back, commanding his Scarlet Wolf. "Flank right! Now!" The wolf obeyed, its claws raking across an incoming bandit, knocking him off his feet. Hei An noticed Wei Ren's fighting style: precise commands to his beast but no direct involvement in the fight himself.
'He's just standing there,' Hei An thought, dodging another swing. 'Is that how they train in the sect? Or is he just avoiding getting his hands dirty?'
Another bandit ran for Wei Ren, but Xue Ying, who had hung silently on a tree bough, moved like an apparition. The raven dropped with macabre elegance, his wings noiseless in the air. Before the bandit could close the distance, Xue Ying's talons raked across his throat. The man stumbled, clutching at his neck as he went down, blood pooling below him.
Hei An gazed at Xue Ying and saw the flicker of surprise. "He is more brutal than I imagined."
The leader barked orders, motioning for the rest of his bandits to charge again. One of them launched himself at Hei An with a club that seemed too heavy to wield. Hei An dodged with ease, running his dagger into the side of the man. The bandit's eyes went wide in horror as he fell.
Hei An looked upon the lifeless body. His hand tightened around his dagger. Faint unease rose from within him, but not what he had anticipated to feel. There was no overwhelming remorse, only some mild discomfort, as though one had crossed a threshold yet found it less daunting than he had imagined.
'Is this normal?' he questioned himself. He pushed away the thought and returned his focus to the fight at hand.
Unknown to him, the mark of the Shadow Raven was affecting him. Marking his first ever bond with a nocturnal, bloodthirsty creature like Shadow raven, subtly sharpened his instincts and dulled his emotional response to violence, nudging his personality toward calculated ruthlessness.
Wei Ren stepped back, giving his Scarlet Wolf sharp commands. "Flank him! Go for the legs!" The wolf did so, jumping at one of the remaining bandits and knocking him to the ground with a vicious bite.
The bandit leader barked orders, growing frustrated as his men faltered. He spotted Wei Ren at a distance, who was watching the fight unfold. A malicious grin spread across his face as he adjusted his grip on his blade and charged toward the seemingly unprotected cultivator.
Hei An saw the movement out of the corner of his eye. His gaze darkened, and he called out sharply, "Xue Ying."
The raven, silent on a branch, let out an ear-piercing caw and took flight. She swooped down, her wings spread wide, and locked her gaze onto the charging bandit leader. The air seemed to grow heavier, an invisible force pressing down on the man.
He stood frozen in mid-step, his eyes wide with horror. He dropped his weapon, which was now slippery with cold sweat dripping down his face. His knees buckled and he fell to the ground, shaking.
Hei An watched the whole thing with a detached, thinking mind. "This is the second time Xue Ying has done this. and it's just as effective."
The leader's collapse snapped the remaining bandit out of his shock. He turned to flee, but Xue Ying's piercing gaze fell on him, stopping him in his tracks. The bandit whimpered, stumbling backward as his courage evaporated.
The forest fell silent, save for the ragged breaths of the fallen bandits. The leader knelt on the ground, his body trembling as he muttered incoherently. Wei Ren approached cautiously, his Scarlet Wolf growling low as it circled the subdued man.
"What did you just do?" Wei Ren asked, glancing at Hei An.
"It was Xue Ying," Hei An said matter-of-factly, stroking the raven's feathers as he sat on his shoulder. He turned to the leader. "Leave. And don't make me regret letting you live."
The bandits scrambled to their feet, dragging their injured comrades as they disappeared into the forest. The leader hesitated, casting one last hateful glare at Hei An before fleeing.
Wei Ren exhaled in relief, patting his Scarlet Wolf's head. "That was. intense. I didn't think you would deal with them so effortlessly."
Hei An did not say a word. He stared into the distance as he cleaned his blade. The faint unease remained, but it was dwarfed by the cold efficiency of his actions. He climbed back into the carriage, lost in thought as the journey resumed.
Wei Ren followed, mouthing to himself, "Remind me never to get on your bad side."