Mei Yun stepped cautiously into the Forest of Death, her senses heightened. The dense canopy above blotted out most of the light, leaving her in a shifting world of shadows and faint glimmers of sunlight piercing through the leaves. Her heart thudded steadily, but she steeled herself.
"This is nothing," she whispered, gripping the hilt of her sword. "I've prepared for this."
As she ventured deeper, the underbrush thickened, the air growing damp and heavy. Her instincts flared when the sound of snapping branches echoed in the distance.
Then it came.
From the shadows emerged a massive boar, its tusks gleaming like curved daggers. Its eyes burned with a feral red glow, and its skin was marred with jagged black veins that pulsed with unnatural energy. A mutated beast, much more dangerous than any ordinary animal.
Mei Yun's lips curled into a grim smile. "A big pig, huh? You're in my way!"
The boar snorted, steam rising from its nostrils as it pawed the ground, ready to charge. Mei Yun widened her stance, activating her Void Steps. Her figure blurred, leaving faint afterimages as she darted to the side just as the beast lunged forward.
Its tusks gouged deep into the ground where she had been standing moments before.
"Too slow!" Mei Yun taunted, spinning on her heel to face it. She gathered energy in her fist, the Void Lotus within her dantian flaring faintly. Her voice rang out with determination.
"Void Fist!"
Her fist slammed into the side of the boar's head, sending it staggering, but the creature quickly regained its footing, letting out a deafening roar.
Mei Yun leaped backward, panting slightly. "You're tougher than you look, aren't you? Fine, let's try that again!"
The boar charged again, faster this time, its tusks gleaming dangerously. Mei Yun gritted her teeth and sidestepped with Void Steps, narrowly avoiding the attack. She landed behind the beast and slashed at its hind legs with her sword, drawing blackened blood.
The boar howled in fury and spun to face her, its movements frenzied. Mei Yun seized the moment, pouring her remaining energy into a decisive strike.
"I'll kill you with this move! Void Burst Slash!"
Her blade glowed faintly with a dark violet hue as she lunged forward, slashing in a wide arc. The energy from the attack rippled through the air, striking the boar squarely in its chest.
The beast let out one final, guttural scream before collapsing, its massive body kicking up a cloud of dust as it hit the ground.
Mei Yun stood over it, breathing heavily. Her hands trembled slightly, but she grinned. "You big pig, die for me! That'll teach you to mess with me."
---
Dragging the massive carcass wasn't easy, but Mei Yun eventually found a small stream where she set up camp. She cleaned her wounds first, then set to work on the boar, cleaning and preparing the meat.
"This meat looks good," she said to herself, wiping sweat from her brow. "First, I'll rub in some salt and pepper. Thankfully, I found some perilla leaves while walking earlier. Let's wrap it in that it'll smell amazing when it's roasted."
She built a fire and skewered the boar meat, carefully turning it over the flames. The scent of roasting meat soon filled the air, and Mei Yun's stomach growled. She chuckled to herself.
"Who says cultivators can't enjoy good food? A good meal makes a stronger fighter."
When the meat was done, she took a bite and sighed in satisfaction. "Perfect. Maybe I should open a restaurant someday."
---
After her meal, Mei Yun began practicing her techniques, her movements deliberate and precise. She repeated her Void Steps and Void Fist maneuvers, refining the flow of energy through her body.
Hours passed, and the moon rose high above the forest. The shadows deepened, and the air grew colder. Mei Yun wiped her brow and sat cross-legged near the fire, letting its warmth seep into her.
Then she heard it.
Rustling in the bushes nearby.
Her hand instinctively went to her sword, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the darkness. The sound grew closer steady, deliberate footsteps.
Someone or something was coming.