The air grew colder as the night deepened, the moon casting an eerie glow over the secluded valley. Tianwu stood by the campfire, the warmth of the flames doing little to alleviate the gnawing sense of foreboding that had settled in his chest. The distant rustling in the trees had put everyone on edge, and it was clear that something—someone—was approaching.
Xianglu had already risen to his feet, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His movements were precise, betraying no sign of hesitation. Yuren, ever vigilant, stood beside him, his eyes scanning the perimeter with the sharpness of a hawk. Tianwu, on the other hand, remained still, his thoughts consumed by the unsettling weight of what was coming.
What is Nian planning?
The question echoed in his mind like a drumbeat, growing louder with each passing second. The presence in the trees was unmistakable—it wasn't just one person, but a group. A very well-coordinated group, moving in perfect unison. Whoever they were, they were no strangers to this terrain.
Tianwu clenched his fists, the remnants of his divine power stirring deep within him. He could feel the tension building, the anticipation of a battle that was inevitable. The knowledge that Nian's influence was close, that the path they were walking would soon lead them to a confrontation, tightened his chest.
A sharp crack of a twig broke the silence, and the group tensed. In the shadows, figures began to emerge, their forms illuminated by the faint glow of the campfire.
Tianwu's heart skipped a beat as he recognized the leader of the group—dark robes billowing behind him, silver hair gleaming in the moonlight. It was Nian.
He had arrived.
"Did you think you could escape me, Tianwu?" Nian's voice, low and smooth, cut through the night like a blade. His eyes, cold and calculating, fixed on Tianwu with an intensity that seemed to pierce through him.
Tianwu's pulse quickened. I should have known he would come for me here.
"I never intended to escape," Tianwu replied, his voice steady despite the surge of emotion rising within him. "But you won't get away with whatever it is you're planning, Nian."
Nian chuckled softly, a sound that was both mocking and darkly amused. "Planning? No, Tianwu. You misunderstand. I'm not planning anything... I'm merely here to finish what we started."
The words sent a chill down Tianwu's spine. Finish what we started?
Before he could respond, Xianglu stepped forward, his stance protective. "Stay back, Master Tianwu. We'll handle this."
But Nian waved a hand dismissively, his gaze never leaving Tianwu's. "Your loyalty is admirable, Xianglu, but it's misplaced."
Tianwu's eyes narrowed. "Don't mistake me for someone who's weak. I'm not the same person I was when we first met, Nian."
Nian's lips curled into a sly smile, his gaze flickering briefly to the ground before returning to Tianwu. "Oh, I know. That's why I've come. To remind you of what you truly are."
The words struck Tianwu like a blow, but he didn't flinch. He knew Nian was trying to provoke him, to pull him into a battle of wills. But Tianwu wasn't the naive god he once was. He had learned to control his emotions, to wield his power with purpose. He wasn't going to let Nian bait him.
"You're wasting your time, Nian," Tianwu said, his voice cold and unwavering. "Whatever you're planning, it ends here."
Nian's eyes sparkled with amusement, but there was a darkness to them now, a hunger that made Tianwu uneasy. "Perhaps you're right. But before I leave, let me remind you of something you've forgotten."
In an instant, the air around them seemed to crackle with energy, as if the very fabric of reality was bending under the weight of an unseen force. Tianwu felt the temperature drop, and for a moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped. The atmosphere was charged, thick with anticipation. Whatever Nian had planned, it was about to unfold.
But just as quickly, the tension was broken by a burst of light. Yuren had moved, drawing his sword in a fluid motion, the blade flashing as it caught the light of the fire. "We won't let you control him anymore, Nian," he declared, his voice unwavering.
For a brief moment, it felt as though the world held its breath. The confrontation was inevitable—both sides were ready to fight, but neither wanted to make the first move.
Nian's lips parted into a cruel smile, his eyes flickering with something far darker than before. "Very well. If it's a fight you want, then it's a fight you'll get."
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The battle erupted in a blur of movement, each strike and parry echoing through the valley. Xianglu and Yuren fought side by side, their swords clashing against Nian's dark energy with a sound that reverberated through the air. But Nian was more than just a skilled fighter—he was a master of manipulation, his every move a calculated strike meant to destabilize them.
Tianwu could feel the pull of his own power, the godlike strength that had once ruled over the heavens, but it was buried beneath layers of self-doubt, of the life he had lived since his fall. The energy inside him flickered like a dying flame, struggling to ignite.
As the fight continued, Tianwu's focus shifted. There was a pulse in the air, a faint vibration that seemed to draw him toward something—something ancient, something tied to Nian's power. The ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble, as though the very earth was reacting to the energy Nian was unleashing.
In the chaos of the battle, Tianwu's eyes locked with Nian's once again. It was then that he saw it—a flicker of something in Nian's gaze, something that made his heart lurch. It was the same hunger, the same twisted desire that had always existed between them, but now it was mixed with something darker. There was no love left in Nian's eyes—only the cold, unrelenting pull of power.
Tianwu's mind raced. He had to act now—before Nian's power could fully awaken, before whatever he was planning could come to fruition.
"Yuren," Tianwu whispered, his voice barely audible over the clash of steel and the crackle of energy in the air.
Yuren's eyes flicked toward him, catching the desperation in Tianwu's gaze.
Tianwu's heart pounded in his chest. "I need to—"
Before he could finish, Nian's voice rang out, low and menacing. "You think you can stop me? You are nothing without me, Tianwu. You will always be mine."
The words hit Tianwu like a physical blow. It wasn't just an attack on his pride—it was a wound to his very soul, a reminder of the unholy bond they had once shared.
But Tianwu refused to be controlled any longer. This time, he wasn't going to let Nian manipulate him.
With a fierce cry, Tianwu unleashed his power—his divine essence surging through him in a blaze of light and fury. The ground cracked beneath him, the earth itself trembling as he tapped into the depths of his forgotten strength.
In that moment, the true battle began.
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To be continued...
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