Wang Yifan gripped the key tightly, feeling his palm grow damp with sweat. The chill in the air deepened, wrapping around him like invisible chains. He could hear the pounding of his own heartbeat, louder with each passing second.
"What's coming?" he whispered to Li Yin, his eyes darting toward the shifting shadows in the corners of the room.
Li Yin didn't answer immediately. She raised a finger to her lips, signaling him to stay silent. Her gaze was fixed, cold and calculating, on the darkness creeping along the edges of the walls.
Suddenly, the light in the room flickered erratically, as though struggling against an unseen force. The shadows twisted and stretched unnaturally, taking on grotesque shapes that seemed to watch them with malicious intent.
"Don't be afraid," Li Yin said in a low, steady voice, stepping forward slightly. "It's testing us."
"It?" Yifan's throat felt dry as he tried to swallow his fear. "What is 'it'?"
"A spirit hunter," Li Yin replied, her eyes narrowing. "It's a rogue entity from the realm of the dead. They aren't bound by any rules, and they specialize in hunting people like you—keyholders."
"What does it want? The key?"
"Not just the key," she said, her voice tinged with grim finality. "It wants your soul too. To creatures like this, keyholders are more than prey—we're a feast."
Yifan staggered back a step, his breathing quickening. But before he could retreat further, Li Yin grabbed his arm firmly.
"Don't move," she said sharply, her gaze locked on the corner of the room where a dark, writhing mass was beginning to form. "The moment you show weakness, it will strike."
"Then what do we do?" Yifan whispered, his voice trembling.
"We wait for it to make the first move." A dangerous glint flashed in Li Yin's eyes. "It thinks we're the prey. It's time to show it otherwise."
Despite her calm demeanor, Yifan felt a cold knot of fear tightening in his stomach. He watched as the shadow in the corner grew larger, darker, and more defined. Slowly, it began to coalesce into a vaguely humanoid shape.
The creature's face was a shifting, grotesque mask of features, as though it couldn't decide what form to take. A low, grating voice emerged from the depths of the shadow.
"Give me… the key…" it hissed, the sound like rusty metal scraping together.
Yifan froze, his instincts screaming at him to run. But Li Yin stood her ground, her expression icy and unyielding.
"You want the key?" she said, her voice cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade. "Then come and take it."
The shadow let out a furious roar, the sound reverberating through the small room. Without warning, it lunged toward them, moving faster than Yifan's eyes could follow.
"Look out!" Yifan shouted, but Li Yin didn't flinch.
Just as the shadow reached her, Li Yin raised her hand. Her fingers sliced through the air, leaving a trail of shimmering silver light. The light expanded rapidly, forming a glowing web that ensnared the creature mid-lunge.
The spirit hunter thrashed violently, its shadowy form writhing against the glowing strands. A hissing, burning sound filled the room as the silver light seared into its dark essence.
"Still think we're prey?" Li Yin's voice was calm but laced with venom.
The creature let out a guttural growl, its voice dripping with malice and desperation. "Who… are you?"
"Li Yin," she replied coldly, stepping closer to the struggling entity. "And you just made the worst mistake of your existence."
With a flick of her wrist, the silver web tightened, glowing brighter and brighter. The spirit hunter let out a final, ear-piercing shriek before its form dissolved into a wisp of dark smoke, vanishing into nothingness.
The room fell silent once more, the oppressive atmosphere lifting like a dissipating storm.
Yifan stared at the spot where the creature had disappeared, his mind reeling. "It's… gone?"
"For now," Li Yin said, lowering her hand. Her calm demeanor had returned, though there was a trace of weariness in her eyes. "That was just the weakest type of spirit hunter. Stronger ones will come."
The knot in Yifan's stomach tightened. He had barely survived this encounter, and now he was being told it was just the beginning.
"Stronger ones? What am I supposed to do?" he asked, his voice rising with panic.
"Calm down," Li Yin said, her tone firm but not unkind. "I told you—I'll teach you how to protect yourself. But you need to take this seriously. If you don't, you won't live long enough to regret it."
Yifan took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Fine. But what if I can't learn? I'm not like you—I'm just an ordinary guy."
"No one is 'ordinary,'" Li Yin said, her gaze piercing. "You've been chosen by the key. That means you already have the potential. You just need to unlock it."
Her eyes shifted to the key in his hand. "This key is the source of your power. The stronger your connection to it, the more it will reveal to you. But remember—it also draws danger to you like a beacon."
Yifan stared down at the ancient key, its crimson ribbon still wrapped neatly around it. His feelings toward the object were a jumble of awe, fear, and resentment.
"Alright," he said finally, looking up at her. "I'll learn. But you have to promise me something in return."
Li Yin raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Help me protect the people I care about. They shouldn't have to suffer because of me," Yifan said, his voice firm.
Li Yin studied him for a moment before nodding. "That's a reasonable request. I'll help you."
Her agreement brought Yifan a small measure of relief, though the weight of his situation still bore heavily on him.
"The battle is over for now," Li Yin said, glancing at the window where the first rays of dawn were breaking through. "Rest while you can. Tomorrow, we have much to do."
As she turned to leave, Yifan called after her. "Where are you going?"
Li Yin glanced back with a faint smile. "I won't go far. You're still too weak to manage without my protection."
With that, she disappeared through the door, leaving Yifan alone in the quiet room.
He sank onto the couch, his fingers curling around the key. His life had changed irrevocably, and there was no turning back now.
"Li Yin… who are you, really?" he murmured, staring at the crimson ribbon as the morning light slowly filled the room.
(To Be Continued)