The chamber was silent except for the group's ragged breaths. Dust and the lingering echoes of Shen's disappearance filled the cavern, but the oppressive aura had lifted. The mysterious figure stood at the centre, bathed in the faint glow of golden runes embroidered on their robes. Though their face was hidden beneath a hood, their commanding presence demanded attention.
Zhang Wei pushed himself to his feet, his sword trembling in his hand. He was battered and weak, but his instincts refused to let him relax. This stranger—no matter how powerful or benevolent they appeared—was still an unknown. And after Shen's betrayal, he wasn't about to take any chances.
"Who are you?" he asked, his voice low and edged with suspicion.
The hooded figure turned slowly to face him. Their voice, smooth and calm, resonated like a quiet storm. "You may call me Yao Shen. I am a keeper of balance and a hunter of those who disrupt it."
"Balance?" Mei Ming's voice was laced with skepticism as she stepped forward, her talisman still glowing faintly in her hand. "If you're here to help, where were you when we were fighting for our lives? When Lei Yun was about to—"
"Mei Ming," Zhang Wei interrupted sharply, his gaze still fixed on Yao Shen. He didn't trust anyone who claimed to be a saviour after their brush with Shen. "Explain yourself. If you knew we were in danger, why wait until now?"
Yao Shen tilted their head slightly, as though amused by the questions. "Patience, young ones," they said. "Had I intervened too soon, you would have learned nothing from your struggles. Every trial sharpens your resolve, every failure tempers your spirit. But Shen's interference threatened to tip the scales, and that I could not allow."
Zhang Wei scowled. "And what about Shen? Who is he? What does he want?"
Yao Shen's voice turned grave. "Shen is a rogue cultivator who has abandoned the principles of balance in pursuit of power. He is an agent of chaos, a disruptor who aligns himself with forces that should not be meddled with."
"And you?" Mei Ming asked, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want from us?"
Yao Shen regarded her for a moment before answering. "I seek to maintain balance in this world. And in doing so, I occasionally… guide those who stand against its disruption. Like you."
"Guide us?" Mei Ming echoed, her tone skeptical. "Forgive me if I'm not so quick to trust strangers in robes after what we just went through."
Yao Shen chuckled softly. "A wise instinct. Trust is not something I expect from you—only your cooperation. You are entangled in forces far greater than yourselves, and if you wish to survive, you will need my help."
Before anyone could respond, Lei Yun stirred, his groan cutting through the tense exchange. He was still weak, his face pale and lined with pain. "Chen…" he murmured faintly, clutching at his brother's sword even in his semi-conscious state.
Mei Ming dropped to her knees beside him, her concern overriding her wariness of Yao Shen. "Yun! You're awake!"
Lei Yun's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, his gaze seemed unfocused. Then he winced, his hand tightening around the sword's hilt. "What… happened?"
"We were trapped," Zhang Wei explained, stepping closer but keeping his sword at the ready. "This… Yao Shen helped us escape after Shen betrayed us."
At the mention of Shen, Lei Yun's expression darkened. He struggled to sit up, but his body was too weak. "That bastard… where is he?"
"Gone," Yao Shen answered simply. "But not for long."
Lei Yun's eyes snapped to the hooded figure. "Who are you? Why would you help us?"
"As I told your companions," Yao Shen replied, "I am a keeper of balance. And you, Lei Yun, are vital to preserving it."
Lei Yun's brow furrowed in confusion. "Me? Why?"
Yao Shen didn't answer immediately. Instead, they gestured toward the carvings on the chamber walls, the intricate designs still faintly glowing with residual dark energy. "This place is a nexus of power—one Shen sought to corrupt for his own ends. But his goals are tied to something much larger, something that threatens not just you, but the entire balance of this realm."
Zhang Wei's grip on his sword tightened. "You keep talking about balance, but you're still being vague. What does any of this have to do with us?"
Yao Shen turned to face him, their glowing runes casting eerie patterns on the stone floor. "Everything. The masked man you encountered—the one who killed your companion—is part of a greater plan. He serves a master who seeks to disrupt the flow of spiritual energy across the land, plunging the world into chaos. And for reasons not yet clear, you and your companions are central to stopping him."
The air grew heavy with the weight of Yao Shen's words. Mei Ming exchanged a worried glance with Zhang Wei, while Lei Yun's grip on his brother's sword only tightened.
"What are you talking about?" Mei Ming asked quietly. "We're only trying to find our friend Li who is lost in the Abyss, we are not heroes. What could we possibly do against forces like that?"
"You underestimate yourselves," Yao Shen said. "It is precisely because of your relationship with Li that you were chosen. Li is at the centre of it all. To the faction after Li like the Black Mist, you are pawns in the game to subdue Li. Your journey is far from over, and your trials will only grow more difficult as more people like Black Mist will come after you to leverage against Li. If you accept my guidance, I will help you harness the strength needed to face what lies ahead."
Zhang Wei's eyes narrowed. "And what's in it for you?"
Yao Shen's smile was faint, almost wistful. "Preserving balance is its own reward. That is all you need to know."
The group fell silent, the weight of the decision hanging over them. Finally, Lei Yun broke the silence, his voice hoarse but determined. "If it means avenging Chen… I'm in."
"Yun," Mei Ming said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure?"
Lei Yun nodded, his gaze hard. "I won't let his sacrifice be in vain. If this Yao Shen can help us to grow stronger and find Li, we have to take the chance."
Zhang Wei hesitated, his instincts still screaming at him to be cautious. But with no other options and them not being able to locate Li, he finally relented. "Fine. We'll accept your help—for now. But if we sense anything suspicious, we're done."
"Wise," Yao Shen said with a nod. "Now, let us leave this place. There is much to do, and time is not on our side."
They followed Yao Shen out of the chamber, the oppressive energy gradually fading as they moved farther from the dark nexus. The tunnels grew brighter, the air fresher, until finally they emerged into the open air. The sight of the forest canopy above them brought a collective sigh of relief.
But their respite was short-lived.
As they stepped into the clearing, a low growl echoed through the trees. Zhang Wei immediately drew his sword, Mei Ming raised spear, and Lei Yun, despite his injuries, gripped his brother's blade tightly.
"What now?" Mei Ming muttered, her eyes scanning the shadows.
Yao Shen raised a hand, his glowing staff illuminating the forest around them. "It seems Shen's allies are more persistent than I anticipated."
From the shadows emerged a pack of Spirit Beasts—massive, wolf-like creatures with glowing red eyes and black, smoke-like fur that writhed unnaturally. They surrounded the group, their growls reverberating through the air.
"Shadow Wargs," Yao Shen said calmly, though there was a hint of irritation in his tone. "Shen must have sent them to ensure you didn't leave the hollow alive."
Zhang Wei stepped forward, his sword gleaming in the moonlight. "We've fought these things before. We can handle them."
"Perhaps," Yao Shen replied, raising his staff. "But this time, you're not alone."
The battle erupted in a blur of chaos and ferocity. Zhang Wei and Lei Yun fought side by side, their blades flashing as they fended off the relentless Wargs. Mei Ming's talismans exploded with bursts of light, temporarily blinding the creatures and giving her companions room to strike.
Meanwhile, Yao Shen moved with a grace and precision that was almost otherworldly. His staff pulsed with energy, each strike sending shockwaves that tore through the Wargs like a storm. Yet despite his power, the beasts kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.
"We can't hold them off forever!" Mei Ming shouted, her voice strained as she threw another talisman.
"You must," Yao Shen commanded, his voice unwavering. "Else you perish here and do not find or rescue your friend, Li."
Zhang Wei gritted his teeth, his body screaming in protest as he swung his sword. "They are just too many!"
"So fight!" snarled Yao Shen
The battle raged on, the group pushed to their limits. But just as their strength began to wane, Yao Shen unleashed a final, devastating wave of energy. The Wargs dissolved into shadows, their howls fading into the night.
The clearing fell silent, the group collapsing to the ground in exhaustion. Yao Shen stood over them, His expression unreadable beneath the hood.
"This is only the beginning," he said. "Many more beasts and even humans will come after you to get to Li. You need to be prepared."
And with that, He turned and began walking into the forest, leaving the group to wonder whether they had found an ally—or something far more dangerous