The morning was gray and quiet, a thick fog rolling over the landscape like an unbroken sea of mist. Liang tightened his grip on the Eye of Eternity, its faint glow piercing the haze. The map projected by the orb showed a winding path through the hills, leading them toward what the Azure Bloom labeled as a "spirit well."
They'd been traveling for hours since leaving the grove, but the tension in the air hadn't lifted. The victory over the guardians had been hard-earned, but it only reminded them of the escalating danger.
Mei walked beside him, her bow slung over her shoulder. She kept her eyes scanning the terrain, her sharp instincts on high alert. Yuan led the way, his hand never far from the hilt of his sword.
"This fog is unnatural," Yuan muttered, his voice cutting through the oppressive silence. "It wasn't like this when we passed through here last night."
"Could it be Chen Yan's men?" Liang asked, clutching the Eye tighter.
"Unlikely," Yuan replied. "They're skilled fighters, but they don't use techniques like this. This is something else."
The Azure Bloom's interface flickered in Liang's vision, displaying faint energy signatures moving through the mist.
"Hostile presence detected. Numbers unknown. Recommend heightened vigilance."
"Something's out there," Liang said, stopping in his tracks. "The Bloom's picking up movement."
Yuan raised a hand, signaling for them to halt. Mei nocked an arrow, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the fog.
"What are we dealing with?" Yuan asked.
"Not sure," Liang admitted. "The energy signatures are faint, but there are definitely multiple targets."
Before anyone could say more, a low growl echoed through the mist. It was deep and guttural, a sound that sent a shiver down Liang's spine.
Then came another growl. And another.
"Great," Mei muttered. "We're surrounded, aren't we?"
The first attacker emerged from the fog—a hulking creature with mottled gray skin and glowing red eyes. It was vaguely humanoid, but its limbs were unnaturally long, and its claws gleamed like polished steel.
"Spirit beasts," Yuan said grimly, drawing his sword. "Corrupted ones."
The creature lunged at Yuan with surprising speed, its claws swiping through the air. Yuan parried the attack, his blade sparking as it clashed with the beast's claws.
Two more creatures appeared, their growls growing louder as they closed in on Mei and Liang. Mei loosed an arrow, the projectile striking one of the beasts in the shoulder. It staggered but didn't fall, its crimson eyes locking onto her with renewed fury.
"Liang!" Mei shouted. "Do something!"
Liang's heart raced as he activated the Azure Bloom's combat analysis. The creatures' weak points lit up in his vision—a cluster of energy at the base of their necks.
"Go for the neck!" Liang called, channeling spirit energy into his dagger.
The beast closest to him lunged, its claws slicing through the air. Liang ducked and rolled to the side, coming up behind the creature. With a burst of speed, he drove his dagger into the glowing weak point.
The beast let out an ear-piercing screech before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into a cloud of dark energy.
"One down," Liang muttered, his confidence growing.
Mei's arrows flew in rapid succession, each one striking its target with deadly precision. But the corrupted beasts were relentless, shrugging off wounds that would have felled lesser foes.
"Yuan!" Mei called, her voice strained. "These things don't die easily!"
Yuan dispatched his opponent with a powerful slash, his blade glowing with spirit energy. "Focus your energy on their cores!" he shouted. "It's the only way to destroy them completely!"
Mei nodded, adjusting her aim. Her next arrow struck the core of a charging beast, and it dissolved into a dark mist, its snarls silenced.
Liang scanned the battlefield, the Azure Bloom highlighting two more creatures lurking in the fog. They seemed to be waiting, watching for an opportunity to strike.
"Behind you!" Liang shouted, rushing toward Mei as one of the creatures leaped from the mist.
Mei spun around, but the beast was too close. Liang tackled her out of the way, the creature's claws narrowly missing her as they both hit the ground.
"Thanks," Mei said, quickly regaining her footing.
"Don't mention it," Liang replied, his dagger at the ready.
The final two beasts attacked in unison, their movements eerily coordinated. Yuan engaged one while Mei and Liang took on the other.
Liang darted in and out of range, using the Azure Bloom's guidance to predict the creature's attacks. Mei provided cover fire, her arrows keeping the beast off balance.
"Now!" Mei shouted, loosing an arrow that struck the beast in the leg.
Liang seized the opportunity, driving his dagger into the creature's core. It dissolved into mist, leaving only one remaining.
Yuan dispatched the final beast with a powerful overhead strike, his blade cleaving through its core. The fog around them began to lift, the oppressive atmosphere dissipating.
The group regrouped, their breaths coming in heavy gasps. Liang wiped the sweat from his brow, his heart still pounding.
"What were those things?" he asked.
"Corrupted spirit beasts," Yuan said, sheathing his sword. "Creatures twisted by dark energy. They're rare, but they're becoming more common in recent years. A sign that something is deeply wrong with the world."
"Great," Mei said, brushing dirt off her clothes. "As if Chen Yan wasn't enough, now we have to deal with this, too."
Liang glanced at the Eye of Eternity, its glow steady once more. "At least we're still on the right path. The spirit well isn't far."
Yuan nodded. "We'll rest once we reach it. But we need to stay vigilant. If there are corrupted beasts in the area, there could be more nearby."
The group pressed on, the landscape gradually shifting from dense forest to rocky hills. The air grew colder, and the sound of rushing water reached their ears.
Finally, they arrived at the spirit well—a natural spring surrounded by jagged rocks and glowing with a faint blue light. The energy emanating from the spring was palpable, filling the air with a soothing warmth.
"We'll rest here," Yuan said, lowering himself onto a flat rock. "The spirit well's energy should help us recover."
Liang knelt by the water's edge, his reflection shimmering in the glowing surface. He dipped his hands into the spring, the cool water rejuvenating his tired body.
Mei sat nearby, inspecting her arrows for damage. "So, what's the plan once we're rested?" she asked.
Yuan's expression darkened. "We'll use the Eye of Eternity to scout the next leg of our journey. But we need to be ready for anything. Chen Yan's men won't stop until they've tracked us down."
Liang nodded, the weight of their mission settling heavily on his shoulders. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but he was determined to see it through.
As the group settled in for the night, the soft glow of the spirit well cast long shadows across the rocky terrain. Liang closed his eyes, letting the Azure Bloom's calming presence wash over him.
The journey was far from over, but for the first time in days, he allowed himself a moment of peace.