The forest hummed with life, its vast green canopy filtering the sunlight into shimmering patches that danced across the forest floor. The scent of damp earth and fresh leaves filled the air, thick and vibrant—an intoxicating contrast to the sterile cold of the Frost Ridge they had left behind.
Kai slumped heavily onto a fallen log nestled in a small clearing, the wooden surface rough beneath him. His hovering shield clattered noisily as it fell to the ground, the sudden quietness around them making his pounding head feel even worse. His meridians throbbed with lingering pain from the brutal fight with Lu, every pulse a reminder of how close he'd come to collapse. The ancient road that had led them here was nearly swallowed by moss and forest debris, its stones disappearing into the earth like forgotten memories. Rest was long overdue, but Kai remained wary, his senses alert to any hint of danger.
Fen hopped off his shoulder with a sudden flutter, the shimmering dome of her aura-shield flickering out.
"Watch it!" she squawked indignantly, ruffling her feathers. "You almost knocked me off. So, who exactly are we hiding from now? Spill it, Kai."
Kai avoided her probing gaze, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Just being careful," he said cautiously. "No specific threat, really."
"Careful?" Fen snorted, hopping closer with an accusatory gleam in her eyes. "You said this place wasn't dangerous. Then why did you make me hide us? Pick a side, Kai! Are we safe or not?"
His cheeks flushed with sudden embarrassment, his paranoia laid bare in front of Fen's sharp eyes. The Shen Clan couldn't follow them here—he knew that—but the nagging fear of pursuit lingered like a shadow he couldn't shake. The warmth of the sun, the cheerful birdsong—it felt almost too good to be true, like a fragile dream on the verge of shattering.
"It's not dangerous," he assured her quickly, "but that doesn't mean we should draw attention. Not yet."
Fen tilted her head, a teasing smile curling at the edge of her beak.
"Where's your famous fire cultivator spirit? No recklessness? No wild adventures? What happened to the Kai who'd jump headfirst into danger?"
Kai smirked, reaching into his ring to pull out his sword and a folded letter.
"These," he said, "are farewell gifts from the masters."
Fen's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she fluttered closer.
"Gifts? What kind of gifts? What's in that letter?"
Kai unfolded the letter carefully.
"A message from So Yun," he said quietly. "I'm about to find out."
"Hmph," Fen muttered, hopping up onto a nearby branch. "Acting all mysterious, huh? I'm perfectly positioned to spy on you."
Kai ignored her teasing, his fingers brushing over the letter's surface. The protective formation was gone, its intricate runes dissolved, allowing him to read the words hidden inside. His heart quickened. Would So Yun mention Aina? Was it a farewell, a warning, or something else entirely?
Before he could break the seal, a subtle ripple of spiritual energy caught his attention—a disturbance triggered by Fen's movement. Instinct screamed danger.
Kai's hand flashed to Steel Claw. The sword ignited in white flames, its blade glowing fiercely in the dappled sunlight. Fen gasped, startled by the sudden blaze, but Kai's focus was already locked on a grassy mound nearby.
He struck the ground, channeling his Qi deep into the earth. The mound trembled and hissed, its illusion shattered in a spray of dirt and leaves. From beneath rose a massive snake, its green scales blending perfectly with the forest foliage. Towering as tall as a tree, its eyes burned with malice, venom dripping menacingly from its fangs.
The snake spat a glob of venom toward Kai. He sliced through it midair, the liquid bursting into corrosive droplets that hissed on his clothes. A foul Qi, twisted with earth and water elements, radiated from the toxin. Activating Flame of Heaven, Kai summoned purifying fire that burned away the poison's sting.
The serpent was Meridian-stage, its scales nearly impervious. His strike had only left a shallow scratch.
"Not dangerous, huh?" Fen called down from the branch, a smirk in her voice.
The snake lunged with terrifying speed. Kai barely dodged, raising his shield to block a powerful tail swipe. The impact sent him sliding, dirt flying beneath his feet. He recovered quickly, slashing at the serpent's flank. Sparks flew as blade met scale, the strike barely breaking through.
Fen darted forward, wings flaring with Qi, blasting a burst of blinding light toward the snake's head, distracting it.
Kai seized the moment, aiming a deadly strike for the snake's eyes. But the creature twisted violently, snapping its massive jaws at him.
"Keep it busy!" Kai shouted, circling wide, searching for a weak spot.
"On it!" Fen chirped, weaving through the air to draw the serpent's focus.
Using the forest to his advantage, Kai leapt up onto a thick tree branch, gaining height. Channeling Requiem of Heavenly Flame, he coated Steel Claw in pure white fire. The scales were tough, but the underbelly looked softer, vulnerable.
He dove, sword aimed for the opening — but the snake coiled suddenly, its powerful tail whipping toward him in a blur.
Was it alone? Or were there more hidden in the shadows, waiting to strike?