The cave trembled with each roar outside. The guttural cries of the Berserk Clan rolled across the mountains like war drums, growing closer, heavier, unstoppable.
Xiao Yueli held her sword so tightly her knuckles whitened. Though she forced her stance tall, the trembling of her blade betrayed her. Behind her, the disciples she had sworn to protect cowered against the damp stone, their eyes wide, their breaths shallow. The air reeked of smoke and iron, every inhale like swallowing blood.
"Hold on," Yueli whispered, voice hushed yet firm. "Help will come. It has to."
A girl at the back clutched her sleeve, face pale as ash. "Elder Sister… what if no one comes? What if this is where we die?"
The words cut deep, but Yueli managed a small, steady smile. "Then I'll make sure you live, even if I don't."
The silence that followed was heavier than the mountain above them.
"No," one disciple sobbed, shaking her head. "You can't if-if we going die we die together". "Yueli's smile" it ok every think going to be ok.
"I will be the bait." Yueli's voice trembled but did not break.
The protests came at once, shrill with desperation:"You'll die!""The Demon Clan are monsters!""We haven't even warned the sect elders!"
"Enough." Her voice struck like a blade. The fire in her eyes steadied them, I'm they target if only for a moment I stay I will bring more Danger. "What they is me. If I draw them away, you can escape. If I stay, we all die together. Do you understand?" I have to take the risk.
"But Elder Sister you can die "
"No more words." Her sword gleamed faintly in the torchlight. "If fate demands my life, I'll give it. Gladly. But I won't give up without fighting.
Her guardian staggered forward, one hand pressed against his bleeding side. His expression twisted with pain and conflict. "My lady… where are you stop hiding I can see you my lady."
Yueli's gaze softened, her tone almost tender. "I'm not asking. I'm commanding. Take them, protect them, and survive. Only then if I die. My death mean something."
Before more could be said, she turned. Each step toward the cave mouth felt like a nail driven into her disciples' hearts. Beyond the shadows, the entrance writhed with monstrous shapes tusks, claws, and eyes glowing red like coals in the dark.
"My lady, stop!" her guardian so there you are, voice hoarse.
"Yueli whispered without looking back. Why...why are you do this this to me have I do something bad to you os why...why you betrayal me. she say with anger with in her voice.
But his tone changed—calm, too calm. you need to know why it nothing I just do what I was order to. "So no need to run, my lady. I don't want to hurt you."
Yueli froze. Slowly, she turned.
Her guardian's hands moved, weaving seals with practiced ease. A sphere of fire flared to life in his palm, casting his face in cruel light.
"What… what are you doing?"
"There is no escape," he said softly, lips curling into a twisted smile. "Not from them… and not from me."
The fireball erupted forward.
Yueli's breath caught as she raised her sword too slow, too late
The scene cut.
Night swallowed the ridges of the Azure Mountains.
The Azure Dragon squad moved silently beneath jagged peaks, shadows stretched long under the flicker of distant stars. At their head strode Han Xing, crimson lightning sparking faintly at his boots. Each step he took was sharp, precise like the beat of a war drum.
Behind him, silence pressed heavy until Tian Di muttered, "We're really trusting a kid with this?"
"Quiet," Captain Lu said. His tone carried no anger, only weight. "These mountains are vast. If we waste time bickering, they'll all be corpses before we find them. We split here. Vice-Captain, take three east. I'll move with Han Xing."
Han Xing's eyes narrowed. "Captain… let me go solo."
The words struck like thunder. The squad stopped in their tracks, every gaze snapping toward him.
"You're insane," the vice-captain barked. "These ridges crawl with demons. Alone, you won't last an hour!"
Han Xing turned slightly, crimson sparks dancing across his cheek. "My technique cloaks me in lightning. At full speed, I'm a flash in the dark. Alone, I can cover more ground without slowing you down. If I find the survivors, I'll give a signal."
The vice-captain's jaw tightened. "And what if you die before that?"
"If I then I die nothing more nothing less," Han Xing said evenly. "And I like to do think alone I'm not use to work with a team so it best I go solo ."
Unease rippled through the squad, but no one spoke. Only Captain Lu met his eyes, the silence between them taut as a drawn bow.
"Are you that confident?" the captain asked.
A faint smirk touched Han Xing's lips. "Confidence I'm don't do something I'm not confidence."
Captain Lu exhaled, then nodded. "Very well. You go alone. If you find them, signal us. The rest of us will comb the eastern ridge."
"Late split up!" captain Lu barked.
"Yes, sir!" came the chorus, though unease lingered in every word.
Captain Lu's expression softened for just a moment. "Don't die, kid."
Han Xing lifted two fingers in a casual salute. Lightning surged around his frame, crimson arcs snapping in the dark. "Relax. Lady Luck's always on my side so no need for to much concern."
And then he was gone. A crack of thunder split the night, sparks scattering across the stones. In an instant, he vanished into the mountains, nothing left but the scorch of his passing.
Far ahead, faint but piercing, a scream tore through the darkness.
Xiao Yueli's voice.
Han Xing's chest tightened. Crimson lightning flared hotter at his heels. He pushed forward, vanishing into the dark.
Moments later, a squad of demon soldiers marched along a ridge, their guttural voices echoing in harsh laughter.
They never saw the flash.
A crimson blur ripped through their line—one soldier's head snapped back, another's chest split open in a spray of sparks and blood. By the time the third realized what was happening, a dagger of lightning was pressed to his throat.
The others lay twitching on the ground, lifeless.
Han Xing's eyes burned like twin embers. "Where is the fairy maiden?"
The demon spat, snarling. "You'll die before you ever reach her." The demon general will kill you.
Lightning flared. The dagger bit into his flesh, just enough to scorch. The soldier screamed.
"Speak." Han Xing's voice was cold, absolute.
Panting, the demon rasped, "Hahahahaha... you can't save her. Her own guardian stands with us now. She cannot escape." Han xing slit his throat the demon die.
Han Xing's jaw tightened. So it's true.
The soldier sneered through his pain. "You're already too late. She's as good as dead."
A sharp crack split the night. The smell of burned flesh rose.
Han Xing withdrew his blade, the soldier collapsing, lifeless. He stood in silence for a moment, lightning crawling across his arms.
If it's just her guardian… then I might have a chance to kill him.
He turned, eyes fixed on the distant ridge where a faint, eerie glow pulsed against the horizon. His steps quickened.
Inside the cave, Xiao Yueli stumbled, her body torn and bleeding. She leaned heavily against the stone, each breath ragged.
Her guardian's shadow stretched across the ground as he stepped forward, his face twisted with cruel intent.
"Stop struggling, my lady," he said softly, flames dancing between his fingers. "This ends now."
The fire surged.
And the cave filled with light.