The small town bustled with the energy of early morning, yet something about it felt off. Tianhai could sense it the moment he stepped onto the streets. Despite the usual merchants hawking their wares and the clatter of carts rolling by, there was an unspoken tension that hung in the air. People moved with purpose but avoided lingering in the open for too long. Conversations were hushed, and more than once, he caught wary glances thrown toward the outskirts of town.
Jian Xuan, ever observant, noticed as well. "Something has the people on edge," he murmured as they walked toward an inn.
Tianhai nodded, his gaze following a group of children being hurried inside by an anxious-looking woman. "Do you think it's connected to the mission?"
"Possibly. We should listen before we act."
---
Whispers of the Unknown
After securing a room at the inn, they settled at a corner table in the common area. Jian Xuan, as always, radiated an untouchable aura that kept most from approaching, but Tianhai, still new to the ways of cultivators, was more approachable.
It wasn't long before he overheard a conversation between two elderly men at a nearby table.
"I tell you, something is out there," one of them whispered, his voice shaking slightly. "First it was just animals going missing. Then a hunter vanished—just gone, like he walked into the woods and never came back."
The other man scoffed but not convincingly. "It's probably just bandits. Or maybe he ran off."
"A dozen people don't just 'run off,' Old Wei!" the first man snapped. "And you know what happened to that merchant's son last week—his body was found at the edge of the forest, drained of blood!"
Tianhai's hand tightened around his cup. Something unnatural was happening here.
Jian Xuan glanced at him before turning to the two men. His voice was calm yet commanding. "Where exactly did these disappearances happen?"
The men stiffened, startled by his sudden address, but one eventually swallowed and answered. "Near the Blackwood Forest. If you value your life, sir, you'd do well to stay far from it."
Jian Xuan merely inclined his head in thanks before turning his attention back to Tianhai. "Looks like we found our next destination."
Tianhai nodded. He had no doubt about that.
---
A Growing Bond
Later that evening, as they prepared to leave early the next morning, Tianhai found himself alone with Jian Xuan outside the inn. The town's lanterns flickered in the night breeze, casting long shadows against the stone pathways.
"Master," he began, hesitating for a moment. "I know I still have a long way to go, but… if something happens, I want to be useful."
Jian Xuan studied him for a moment before sighing. "You've already proven yourself, Tianhai. Strength isn't just about power—it's about knowing when to fight and when to step back."
Tianhai lowered his gaze, frustration simmering beneath his skin. "But I don't want to be someone who always has to be protected."
Jian Xuan's expression softened, something rare and fleeting. "You won't be." His hand briefly rested on Tianhai's shoulder, warm and reassuring. "You're already walking your own path. Don't rush it—just keep moving forward."
Tianhai felt his heartbeat quicken at the unexpected touch, the warmth lingering even after Jian Xuan pulled away. He quickly turned his focus back to the journey ahead, ignoring the unfamiliar emotions stirring within him.
---
Into the Blackwood Forest
By dawn, they had left the town behind, their path leading toward the looming silhouette of Blackwood Forest. As they got closer, the air itself seemed to change.
The usual sounds of nature—chirping birds, rustling leaves—had disappeared. An eerie silence settled over the area, broken only by their footsteps. The trees grew unnaturally thick, their twisted branches blocking most of the sunlight, casting the entire forest in a dim, perpetual twilight.
Tianhai felt something stir within him, something unsettling yet familiar. It was the same feeling he had when facing life-or-death moments before—a sense that something unseen was watching, waiting.
Jian Xuan suddenly stopped, his gaze sharp. "Be ready. We're not alone."
Tianhai swallowed hard, tightening his grip on his sword.
A rustling sound came from ahead—subtle at first, but soon growing louder, like something massive shifting through the undergrowth. The trees shuddered, their branches twisting unnaturally as an oppressive aura filled the air.
Then, a low, guttural growl echoed through the clearing.
From the shadows, a figure emerged. At first, it looked human, its form draped in tattered robes. But as it stepped into the dim light, Tianhai saw the truth. Its skin was ashen, its eyes an unnatural shade of red, gleaming with hunger. Its mouth parted slightly, revealing elongated fangs that glistened with something dark.
A chill crawled down Tianhai's spine.
"A blood fiend," Jian Xuan murmured, his expression darkening.
The creature let out an unearthly shriek before lunging toward them with terrifying speed.
Jian Xuan moved first, his sword flashing in the dim light as he intercepted the fiend's attack with practiced ease. The force of the clash sent a shockwave through the forest, rustling the trees and scattering leaves.
Tianhai barely had a moment to react before a second fiend leaped from the shadows. His instincts screamed at him to move, and he dodged just in time, narrowly avoiding the creature's clawed hand as it raked through the space where he had just been standing.
He spun, drawing his blade, his heart hammering in his chest. This was unlike any opponent he had ever faced before. The creature moved unnaturally fast, its body twisting in ways that defied logic, its movements erratic yet calculated.
Jian Xuan dispatched the first fiend in a single, clean stroke, his blade humming with suppressed power. The creature let out a final, gurgling hiss before collapsing into a heap.
"Tianhai," Jian Xuan called, his voice steady despite the chaos. "Focus. Breathe."
Tianhai steadied himself, gripping his sword tighter. He could do this. He had to.
The second fiend lunged again, its claws gleaming. This time, Tianhai met it head-on.
With a deep breath, he sidestepped at the last moment, his blade cutting through the air in a precise arc. The fiend shrieked as the sword sliced through its arm, black ichor spraying onto the forest floor. It stumbled back, but Tianhai didn't give it a chance to recover.
Drawing upon his strength, he surged forward, his sword flashing again. This time, his strike was clean, cutting deep into the creature's chest. It let out one last, bloodcurdling screech before collapsing into the dirt.
Silence followed, the oppressive air of the forest slowly lifting.
Jian Xuan watched him for a moment before nodding approvingly. "Good. You didn't panic."
Tianhai exhaled heavily, his hands still gripping his sword. He looked down at the fallen creature, the reality of what he had just faced sinking in.
Jian Xuan placed a hand on his shoulder. "This won't be the last one."
Tianhai nodded. He had known that from the start.
And as they pressed deeper into the Blackwood Forest, he couldn't shake the feeling that something far worse was waiting ahead.