The morning mist curled around the temple ruins, clinging to the stone like an old memory refusing to fade. Li Xueyan sat on the cold steps, staring at the faint mark glowing on her palm.
The wolf—Hei Yue—was now a part of her.
It felt strange, knowing that a legendary creature had chosen her. She could still sense its presence inside her, like a shadow lurking just beyond reach.
She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes.
"Are you still there?" she murmured.
A deep chuckle echoed in her mind. "I do not sleep, girl."
Her fingers twitched. The voice was calm, powerful, and filled with something ancient.
She opened her eyes, looking at the ruins around her. This place had once belonged to a warrior—someone who had made an oath strong enough to bind a spirit beast to it. But that warrior was long gone.
And now, Hei Yue was hers.
For better or worse.
---
The days passed in training.
Xueyan pushed herself harder than ever. Every morning, she woke before dawn, practicing Cloud Shadow Fist until her limbs felt like lead.
Hei Yue didn't make things easy for her.
"Your stance is weak."
"You're too slow."
"That attack was sloppy. Do it again."
At first, she bristled at his constant criticism. But as the days stretched on, she realized something.
He was teaching her.
Not just pushing her to work harder—guiding her.
And slowly, her movements became sharper, her footwork lighter. She learned how to sense the shifts in the wind, how to move without wasted energy.
By the end of the week, she could dodge falling leaves without touching them.
She was getting stronger.
But it wasn't enough.
She needed a weapon.
And she knew exactly where to find one.
---
The forest loomed around her, dark and ancient.
Xueyan moved silently through the undergrowth, her eyes scanning the trees for familiar landmarks.
She was looking for something—a hidden cave buried deep in the mountains.
It had once belonged to her grandfather, a powerful martial artist who had wielded a legendary sword: the Moonshadow Blade.
In the memories of the original Li Xueyan, the sword had been left behind when her grandfather disappeared.
If it was still there, it would be hers.
Hei Yue's voice echoed in her mind. "You are walking into danger."
She smirked. "Isn't that what life is?"
The wolf huffed, unimpressed.
After hours of searching, she finally found it—a narrow opening hidden behind a waterfall, just as the memories had shown.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped inside.
---
The cave was dark and silent.
Water dripped from the ceiling, echoing in the still air. The scent of damp stone filled her lungs as she moved carefully forward, torchlight flickering against the walls.
She could feel something.
A presence.
Then, she saw it.
A stone altar stood in the center of the cave, covered in dust and vines. Resting upon it was a sword.
The Moonshadow Blade.
Xueyan's heart pounded as she stepped closer.
The blade was beautiful—its hilt wrapped in silver threads, its sheath carved with ancient runes. A faint blue glow pulsed from within, as if the sword itself was alive.
She reached out, fingers trembling.
But the moment she touched it—
The cave came alive.
A cold wind rushed through the darkness. The torch flickered violently. And then—
A voice.
"WHO DARES DISTURB MY REST?"
Xueyan's breath caught in her throat.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a tall, ghostly being with glowing red eyes, its body flickering like mist.
A guardian spirit.
It floated above the ground, silent and imposing. When it finally spoke, its voice was like the whisper of a blade slicing through the air.
"Only one worthy may wield the Moonshadow Blade. You are not worthy."
Xueyan tightened her grip on the hilt.
"Then I'll prove you wrong."
---
The battle was unlike anything she had ever faced.
The guardian moved like smoke, shifting and reforming with every strike. No matter how fast she attacked, her blows passed through empty air.
Her dagger sliced through the mist, but it was useless.
She gritted her teeth. How do you fight something you can't touch?
Then—
"Stop fighting like a human."
Hei Yue's voice cut through her frustration.
"Your strength is not in brute force. Use your instincts."
Instincts.
She took a slow breath, steadying herself.
Then, instead of attacking—
She waited.
The moment the spirit lunged at her, she didn't react immediately. She focused on the movement, the shift in the air—
And then, at the last second, she moved.
Her body twisted, dodging by the smallest margin. The spirit's attack missed, its form momentarily solidifying in confusion.
That was her chance.
Xueyan didn't hesitate. She pivoted on her heel, shifting her weight—and with all her strength, she drove her dagger straight into the spirit's core.
A piercing wail filled the cave.
The shadowy figure shattered, dissolving into mist.
Then—silence.
Xueyan staggered, gasping for breath.
Slowly, she turned back to the altar—
The Moonshadow Blade pulsed softly, as if acknowledging her victory.
This time, when she reached for it, there was no resistance.
The moment her fingers wrapped around the hilt, a powerful energy surged through her, spreading through her veins like fire.
The sword had accepted her.
A new weapon. A new power.
She was one step closer to her revenge.
---
As she stepped out of the cave, the first rays of dawn painted the sky in gold.
Hei Yue's voice was quiet but amused. "Perhaps you are not as weak as I thought."
Xueyan smirked, twirling the sword in her hand.
"Just wait. I'm only getting started."