The Whispering Woods were alive with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant animal calls. Liang Wei followed Xiao Lan through the dense undergrowth, his senses on high alert. She moved with the grace of a predator, her daggers glinting in the moonlight.
"Stay close," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Bandits love to ambush travelers in these parts."
Liang Wei nodded, gripping his dagger tightly. He could feel the Qi in his body stirring, responding to the tension in the air. It was still chaotic, but Xiao Lan's earlier lesson had given him a glimpse of control.
They hadn't gone far when a twig snapped behind them. Xiao Lan froze, her eyes narrowing. "Get ready," she said, her tone serious for the first time since they'd met.
A moment later, a group of bandits emerged from the shadows, their faces masked and weapons drawn. There were five of them, each radiating a faint Qi presence.
"Well, well," the leader sneered. "What do we have here? A couple of kids playing cultivator?"
Xiao Lan smirked. "You're about to find out how serious we are."
The bandits attacked without warning. Liang Wei barely had time to react as one of them lunged at him with a curved sword. He dodged clumsily, his movements unrefined but fueled by raw instinct.
"Focus on your Qi!" Xiao Lan shouted as she engaged two bandits at once. "Let it guide you!"
Liang Wei closed his eyes for a split second, focusing on the energy within him. He felt it surge, flowing through his limbs like a current. When he opened his eyes, the world seemed to slow down. He sidestepped the bandit's next strike and countered with a slash of his dagger, catching the man's arm.
The bandit cried out in pain, but Liang Wei didn't have time to celebrate. Another attacker was already upon him. This one was faster, his movements more precise. Liang Wei struggled to keep up, his lack of training evident.
Just as the bandit was about to land a decisive blow, Xiao Lan appeared beside him. "Need a hand?" she quipped, disarming the bandit with a swift strike.
Together, they made quick work of the remaining attackers. When the last bandit fell, Liang Wei collapsed to his knees, his body trembling with exhaustion.
"Not bad for your first fight," Xiao Lan said, offering him a hand. "But you've got a long way to go."
Liang Wei took her hand, his heart still racing. "Thanks. I couldn't have done it without you."
She grinned. "Don't get used to it. Next time, you're on your own."
As they continued their journey, Liang Wei couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The world was far more dangerous—and far more exciting—than he had ever imagined.