The Chaos of Opposites
Xiao Feng had been cultivating for two straight days, his focus unyielding as he absorbed and stabilized the immense amount of qi gained from the Leviathan Wyrm. The dense forest around him, once still and quiet, now seemed to hold its breath, sensing the brewing storm within his meditative state.
A thought struck him amidst his cultivation: What if I could merge light and dark energy?
The idea was tantalizing. Light and dark—two primal forces that opposed each other in every way. Yet, if harnessed together, they could create unimaginable power. Xiao Feng's lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Let's see what happens," he murmured.
The Experiment Begins
Xiao Feng began drawing both energies into his dantian. The pure, radiant energy of light clashed violently with the cold, consuming essence of darkness. The moment the two forces touched, they repelled each other with an intense ferocity, sending shockwaves rippling through his body.
Pain shot through him, but he gritted his teeth and continued. His determination burned brighter than the chaos within.
"I'll make you coexist," he growled.
The energies grew more volatile with each attempt. The surrounding air became charged, and the ground beneath him began to crack.
Su Mei's Alarm
Su Mei, who had fallen asleep after tending to her own wounds, was jolted awake by the sudden burst of energy. Her eyes widened as she saw Xiao Feng sitting cross-legged, his body glowing with alternating pulses of light and dark.
"What are you doing?!" she screamed, running toward him.
The repelling energies were now releasing violent shockwaves that tore through the forest, uprooting trees and sending debris flying. Su Mei barely managed to shield herself from the onslaught.
"Stop it! Are you insane? You'll kill yourself!" she shouted, her voice desperate.
Xiao Feng didn't respond. His silver eyes were closed, his expression one of fierce concentration. Despite the chaos, he seemed utterly determined to succeed.
System Warnings
Inside Xiao Feng's mind, the system's voice rang out, cold and unrelenting:
[Warning: Host's life is in danger. The conflict between light and dark energies is destabilizing your core.]
[Warning: Continued action may result in death. Host, cease immediately.]
Xiao Feng ignored the warnings, his smirk widening. "If I can't handle this, I don't deserve to wield power."
The repulsion grew more intense, the energies now creating visible distortions in the air. The system continued its warnings, but Xiao Feng refused to stop.
The Explosion
The clash of energies reached its peak. Su Mei screamed again, tears streaming down her face, "Xiao Feng, stop! You're going to die!"
But it was too late.
A deafening explosion erupted, sending a shockwave that flattened everything within a hundred-meter radius. Su Mei was thrown back, her body hitting the ground hard.
When the dust settled, the forest was unrecognizable. Trees had been obliterated, the ground was scorched, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and qi.
Su Mei's Horror
Su Mei's vision blurred as she struggled to sit up. Blood trickled down her forehead, her arms and legs covered in cuts and bruises. Ignoring her own pain, she frantically searched for Xiao Feng.
Her heart sank when she finally spotted him.
Xiao Feng lay motionless on the ground, his once-pristine silver hair matted with blood and dirt. His clothes were in tatters, his body covered in deep gashes and burns. Blood pooled around him, staining the earth beneath.
"No… no, no, no!" Su Mei cried, crawling toward him.
Her own injuries screamed for attention, but she didn't care. All she could think about was saving him.
Desperate Measures
Su Mei reached Xiao Feng and immediately began inspecting his injuries. His pulse was faint but still present.
"You idiot," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Why would you do this to yourself?"
She tore pieces of her own clothing to create makeshift bandages, wrapping them tightly around his wounds to stop the bleeding. Her hands shook as she worked, tears blurring her vision.
"Stay with me," she begged. "You're not allowed to die. Not after everything we've been through."
Using what little qi she could muster, Su Mei began channeling her energy into him, hoping to stabilize his condition. Each attempt drained her further, but she refused to stop.
The Emotional Strain
As the hours passed, Su Mei's body grew weaker. Her own injuries throbbed, and her vision wavered, but her focus remained on Xiao Feng.
She glanced at his face, which, despite being battered and bruised, still held an unyielding, almost serene expression.
"You're so stubborn," she said softly, her voice breaking. "You act like you don't care about anything, but I know that's not true."
Tears fell freely as she continued to tend to him. For the first time, she allowed herself to admit what she felt.
"I don't care who you are or what kind of techniques you use. You saved me when I had nothing left. You gave me strength. And now… I'll do whatever it takes to protect you."
The Night's End
By the time she finished treating him, Su Mei was utterly exhausted. Her hands were stained with blood, her body covered in dirt and sweat. She leaned against a tree, her breathing shallow.
She looked at Xiao Feng, who remained unconscious but alive. His chest rose and fell faintly, a sign that her efforts hadn't been in vain.
"I'll protect you," she whispered again, closing her eyes. "No matter what."
As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, the forest began to regain its eerie silence. Su Mei drifted into a restless sleep, her body and heart heavy with exhaustion and worry.