— THE BEAST DRAWS NEAR
Dusk settled over Willowmist Village like a veil of deepening blue. The wind was uneasy tonight—sharp, restless, carrying with it the scent of pine and distant smoke. Even the animals sensed it; dogs whimpered, chickens refused to leave their coops, and the village's horses paced in their stalls with eyes full of fear.
Li Wei stood outside his home, staring toward the shadowy tree line.
The forest was too quiet.
His father, Li Shan, stepped beside him, holding a hunting bow.
"Wei'er," he said softly, "go inside. Today… today doesn't feel right."
Li Wei hesitated.
"But father—"
"No arguments."
Li Shan's tone was firm, sharper than usual. Li Wei swallowed and nodded.
As he turned to leave, though, he felt a prickling sensation spread across his spine—like invisible fingers tracing his skin.
Something was watching the village.
Something big.
---
A Whirlwind of Panicked Voices
Inside, the house was dimly lit by a single oil lamp. His mother, Mei Lan, moved back and forth anxiously, packing dried herbs and water into small pouches.
Li Wei blinked.
"Mother… are we leaving?"
She paused, sadness clouding her eyes.
"Just being prepared. The elder told everyone to stay ready in case the beast reaches the village."
Li Wei felt his stomach twist.
His grandfather, Li Rong, was sitting cross-legged in a corner, polishing a long, old spear. Its blade gleamed faintly—like a weapon that had tasted battle before.
Li Rong spoke without looking up:
"Do not fear, Wei'er. The creature may simply pass through."
"But Elder Yun said it was searching for something," Li Wei whispered.
Li Shan entered then, hearing his son's words.
"That old man's senses are sharp," he muttered, uneasily. "Too sharp sometimes."
Mei Lan gave her husband a quick glare.
"His warnings have saved the village before. We should trust him."
Li Wei stayed silent.
But inside his chest, the fragment of Riyam pulsed faintly—one slow, heavy beat.
Like a warning.
Like an ancient heartbeat echoing in a child's fragile body.
---
Night Falls Too Quickly
Darkness spread unnaturally fast, swallowing the light before the lamps were even lit.
Villagers gathered in small clusters, whispering anxiously near their doors. A few hunters kept watch along the perimeter of the fields, torches flickering in the wind.
Elder Yun hobbled through the village with urgency, tapping his staff on the ground.
"Stay indoors! Lock your doors! Tonight, the forest stirs with killing intent!"
His voice was old, but it boomed like thunder.
Li Wei peeked outside the window.
The wind suddenly died.
And from deep within the forest—
THUD
THUD
THUD
Heavy steps. Slow. Measured.
Growing closer.
Li Wei's heart pounded.
"What is… that sound?" he whispered.
His grandfather's eyes snapped open.
His father grabbed his bow.
Only Mei Lan whispered trembling, "Heavens protect us…"
---
The First Glimpse
From the edge of the forest, a glow appeared.
Not fire.
Not torchlight.
But a silver-blue aura, pulsing gently—like breathing light.
Li Shan cursed under his breath.
"That's… a spirit beast. A strong one."
Li Wei pressed his face closer to the window, mesmerized.
A hulking shadow stepped into the moonlight.
It was a Silverflame Dire Wolf.
A beast spoken of only in legends.
A predator that could burn forests and tear through armored cultivators.
Its fur shimmered like chains of liquid silver.
Its eyes glowed molten blue.
Heat radiated off its body in waves.
Even from a distance, Li Wei felt his skin prickle.
Villagers gasped.
"Is that… a sacred beast!?"
"Why is it here!?"
"Hide! Hide your children!"
Li Wei was frozen.
The beast's head lifted.
It sniffed the air.
And then—
Its gaze locked onto Li Wei's house.
Directly toward him.
As if it had found what it was searching for.
---
Inside the House
Li Wei stumbled backward.
"M-Mother… it's looking this way!"
Li Shan pulled him behind him.
"Stay behind me, Wei'er. Don't move."
Li Rong gripped his spear tightly, knuckles whitening.
"That beast is too strong… Even the mountain sects struggle with these monsters. Why would it come to a small place like Willowmist?" the old man muttered.
Mei Lan's voice trembled.
"We… we must flee to Elder Yun's shelter!"
But Li Shan shook his head.
"No. Running will draw attention. We stay hidden."
BOOM.
The ground trembled as the wolf took a step closer.
CRACK.
A tree snapped like a twig.
Li Wei's heart hammered so hard he felt dizzy.
Inside his chest—
The fragment awakened slightly.
A soft warmth enveloped him.
A whisper echoed through his mind, rough yet ancient:
"Do not fear, child… The world has found you sooner than expected…"
Li Wei's breath froze.
"Y-you again! Who are you!?"
But the voice faded.
---
A Beast Too Strong
Outside, Elder Yun shouted desperately:
"Everyone, do not provoke the beast! Stay inside! If it passes peacefully, do nothing!"
The wolf growled.
A low, thunderous vibration.
Its breath steamed like smoke.
Its claws dug into the soil, glowing faintly with silver flames.
Li Shan whispered urgently,
"It's agitated… That's a territory challenge posture…"
Li Wei felt faint.
"It's… coming… for us…"
Mei Lan hugged him tight.
Li Rong stepped forward.
"If it enters this home… I will distract it. Shan, take Wei'er and run."
"Father—!"
"No arguments."
Li Wei's heart squeezed painfully.
"Grandfather, you can't fight that!"
Li Rong smiled sadly.
"This old body lived long enough. But you—you have many years ahead."
Li Wei trembled.
He wanted to scream No!
But no sound came out.
---
The Beast Approaches
The wolf took another step.
Then another.
Closer.
Closer.
The ground shook with every movement.
Li Wei's heartbeat synced with its steps—
THUD
THUD
THUD
His chest burned.
Warmth surged violently inside him.
The fragment was reacting.
Protective impulse. Ancient instinct.
Inside Li Wei's mind, a voice echoed like distant thunder:
"I awaken… if he dies."
A tremor ran through his entire body.
He gasped, gripping his shirt.
"S-someone… help…"
Outside—
The Silverflame Dire Wolf raised its head—
And howled.
A roar powerful enough to shake the village roofs.
Dogs collapsed.
Windows shattered.
The air itself vibrated violently.
The beast's killing intent swept over Willowmist like a storm.
Li Wei nearly fainted.
His vision blurred.
His knees buckled.
Inside him, the fragment pulsed—
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Until—
A spark of golden light flickered deep in his chest.
Not visible to others.
But ancient.
Awakening.
Just a little.
---
The Sky Responds
At that exact moment—
A streak of blue lightning tore across the distant sky.
Li Shan gasped.
"That's… spiritual lightning! Someone powerful is approaching!"
Elder Yun shouted from afar:
"Everyone! Brace yourselves! A cultivator is coming!"
The wolf turned its head sharply, sensing danger from above.
Li Wei collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed by the storm inside him.
The cultivator's aura descended like a crashing wave.
And the wolf—
Snarled in rage.
The storm of fate had finally reached Willowmist.
Li Wei's peaceful life was about to end forever.