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Xiang and Wen Shia's Journey
Wen Shia agreed to undertake the journey, and Xiang, as usual, could not refuse. Together, they set off, riding their horses through treacherous terrain. Sometimes they rode, and at other times they walked alongside their steeds. By evening, they reached a small village.
"I'm feeling hungry," Xiang admitted, breaking the silence. The two stopped at a small inn to have dinner and decided to rest for the night. However, Wen Shia suggested otherwise.
"We should leave tonight," he said firmly.
"No," Xiang countered, surprising him. "We'll leave in the morning. Traveling at night is far too dangerous."
Her defiance caught Wen Shia off guard. Xiang had always followed his advice without question. "How dare you refuse me?" he asked, though his pride kept him from showing too much emotion.
"That's exactly why I refused," Xiang replied calmly, not yielding to his authority. Without another word, she went to the innkeeper and rented a room for herself. They spent the night in separate quarters, both silently preparing for what lay ahead.
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At dawn, they resumed their journey after a quick breakfast. Along the way, Wen Shia encouraged Xiang to practice her skills. She trained rigorously with her sword even while resting, pushing herself to the point of exhaustion.
As they traveled, the landscape grew more ominous. The air became heavy, and they eventually reached a forbidding mountain. It was said to be haunted, with ghosts and demons lurking in its shadows.
Without warning, they were ambushed. A horde of ghostly figures attacked, accompanied by a powerful demon. Wen Shia drew his sword swiftly, but the assault was overwhelming. His hands were soon bound by spectral chains. A ghost guard charged at him with a poisoned blade. Wen Shia dodged, but another demon struck him from behind, leaving him vulnerable.
Xiang, meanwhile, was pulled into a terrifying illusion. She found herself trapped in a dark, murky pond, surrounded by shadowy figures accusing her of crimes she hadn't committed. Their voices rose in a deafening chorus.
"It wasn't me! I've done nothing wrong!" Xiang cried, her voice trembling with fear.
From the shadows emerged a dark figure, its voice smooth and sinister. "Come to me, Xiang," it whispered. "Accept me, and I will grant you unimaginable strength. Together, we can rule this world."
Xiang shook her head and stepped back, refusing to yield. But the illusion grew darker. Suddenly, Wen Shia appeared before her, his sword raised high.
"It was all a trap," he said coldly. "I trained you only to destroy you."
Before she could respond, he swung his sword at her. Xiang narrowly escaped the attack and ran, only to encounter her mother standing before her, wielding a glowing spiritual sword.
"I raised you for this moment—to end you," her mother declared, her tone devoid of warmth.
The betrayal shattered Xiang's resolve. She ran blindly, trying to escape the horrors. The dark figure that had tempted her earlier now morphed into a girl who looked exactly like Xiang. The doppelgänger smiled at her, its eyes filled with malice.
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Wen Shia, sensing Xiang's distress, fought with renewed determination. He broke free of the spectral binds and destroyed the demon controlling the illusion. The spell shattered, and Xiang collapsed to the ground, trembling and pale.
Wen Shia rushed to her side. "What happened? What did you see?" he asked gently.
Xiang couldn't bring herself to explain. Instead, she threw her arms around him and sobbed. "Promise me you'll never hurt me. I've done nothing wrong."
Wen Shia's expression softened as he spoke. "It was just an illusion, Xiang. I would never harm you. You are my student."
He picked her up in his arms, her trust in him evident despite her shaken state. As they turned to leave, a surviving demon launched a sudden attack. Wen Shia, quick to react, raised his sword, but the demon fled into the shadows before he could strike.
The journey continued, though the scars of the ordeal lingered in Xiang's mind. Reality and illusion blurred for her, but Wen Shia's steadfast presence became her anchor. Together, they pressed on, knowing greater challenges awaited them.
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