The forest grew quiet in the aftermath of the battle, the air heavy with the tension of what had just transpired. Xu Tian trudged forward, his movements stiff and deliberate, his mind a storm of conflicting emotions. The echoes of the star’s power still lingered in his veins, whispering promises of greater strength, urging him to take the next step.

  But the fear in Yan Mei’s eyes haunted him.

  She hadn’t said much since the Wraithborn fell, and her companion—pale and clutching his bandaged chest—limped along silently, his expression caught between pain and unease. The clearing where they had fought the Wraithborn felt miles away, yet its shadow lingered in Xu Tian’s thoughts, as vivid as the blood on his hands.

  The star’s voice stirred once more, its tone quieter now but no less persistent.

  “You spared it. A mistake you will regret.”

  Xu Tian gritted his teeth, forcing the voice back into the recesses of his mind. He wouldn’t let it control him—not yet.

  By dusk, the group reached the edge of the forest, where the trees thinned out and the land opened into rolling hills. They set up camp beneath a rocky outcrop, the sky above streaked with deep reds and purples as the sun dipped below the horizon.

  Xu Tian sat apart from the others, his back against the rocks, while Yan Mei tended to her companion a short distance away. She worked with practiced efficiency, her hands glowing faintly with golden light as she checked his wounds.

  “You’re lucky it wasn’t worse,” she murmured, her tone soft but firm.

  The young man winced, his expression tight. “I’ll manage. Just... don’t ask me to fight one of those things again.”

  Yan Mei didn’t respond, her gaze flickering briefly toward Xu Tian before returning to her patient.

  Later, as the fire crackled and the others drifted off into uneasy rest, Yan Mei approached Xu Tian. She moved quietly, her footsteps barely audible on the grass, but he still noticed her before she spoke.

  “What do you want?” he asked without looking up.

  “To talk,” she replied simply, settling down across from him. The firelight illuminated her face, casting soft shadows across her features.

  Xu Tian sighed. “About what?”

  Yan Mei studied him for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “That thing we fought. The Wraithborn. How much do you know about them?”

  Xu Tian’s jaw tightened. “Enough.”

  “They’re rare,” Yan Mei continued, ignoring his curt tone. “Most people go their entire lives without seeing one. The fact that one appeared here, now...” She trailed off, her eyes narrowing. “It’s not a coincidence, is it?”

  Xu Tian met her gaze, his expression unreadable. “What are you getting at?”

  “I think it was drawn to you,” Yan Mei said quietly.

  For a moment, Xu Tian didn’t respond. Then he let out a bitter laugh, his shadows flickering faintly at his feet. “What gave it away? The way it tried to kill me, or the part where it said I was just like it?”

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  Yan Mei frowned. “You’re not like it.”

  “Aren’t I?” Xu Tian shot back, his voice rising. “I’m walking a forbidden path. I’ve bonded with something no one in their right mind would touch. I can feel it, every second of every day, pulling me closer to... to whatever that thing was. Tell me, healer, what’s the difference between me and it?”

  “The difference,” Yan Mei said firmly, “is that you still have a choice.”

  Her words cut through the air like a blade, silencing Xu Tian’s retort.

  She leaned forward, her expression intense. “I’ve seen people fall to darkness before. They didn’t start out as monsters—they became monsters because they gave up. They stopped fighting. But you? You’re still fighting, even if you don’t realize it.”

  Xu Tian looked away, his jaw tightening. “What if I lose?”

  “Then you lose,” Yan Mei said simply. “But if you don’t try, you’ll never know.”

  For a long moment, they sat in silence, the crackling fire the only sound between them.

  Finally, Xu Tian spoke, his voice low. “You’re awfully optimistic for someone who barely knows me.”

  Yan Mei smiled faintly. “Maybe. Or maybe I just see potential where others see failure.”

  Xu Tian snorted, shaking his head. “You’re either brave or stupid.”

  “Maybe both,” she said, her smile widening slightly.

  The next morning, the group resumed their journey. Yan Mei’s companion—who finally introduced himself as Li Wei—was still weak but determined to keep moving. Xu Tian found himself grudgingly respecting the young man’s stubbornness, though he didn’t say as much.

  As they traveled, Yan Mei began to share more about the world beyond the forest. She spoke of the Celestial Sects, the powerful factions that ruled the cultivation world, and the growing tensions between them.

  “The Scarlet Peak Sect isn’t the only one with blood on its hands,” she said. “There are rumors of unrest—sects clashing over territory, ancient relics going missing. And now, with Wraithborn appearing...” She shook her head. “Something is changing.”

  Xu Tian frowned. “You think the Wraithborn are connected to the sects?”

  “I don’t know,” Yan Mei admitted. “But I do know that forbidden paths like yours aren’t as rare as people think. There are others out there, hiding in the shadows, walking the same line you are.”

  “Others?” Xu Tian repeated, his tone skeptical.

  Yan Mei nodded. “Some fall. Some don’t. But if the Wraithborn are any indication, the balance is tipping—and not in our favor.”

  By midday, the group reached a small village nestled at the edge of a wide river. The air was filled with the sound of rushing water and the distant hum of voices as villagers went about their daily routines.

  Xu Tian felt a pang of unease as they entered the village. He had avoided places like this for years, knowing that his presence tended to attract trouble. But Yan Mei insisted they needed supplies, and for once, he didn’t argue.

  As they made their way through the narrow streets, Xu Tian kept his head low, his senses on high alert. The villagers paid them little attention, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

  His unease was justified when, as they passed a small tavern, a figure stepped out to block their path.

  The man was tall and lean, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat that cast a shadow over his sharp features. A long blade hung at his hip, and his presence radiated quiet menace.

  “Well, well,” the man said, his voice smooth and cold. “What do we have here?”

  Xu Tian’s shadows stirred instinctively, responding to the danger. “Who’s asking?”

  The man tilted his head, his hat shifting just enough to reveal a sly smile. “Just someone with an interest in... unusual talents.”

  Yan Mei stepped forward, her expression cautious. “We don’t want any trouble.”

  The man chuckled. “Oh, I’m not here to cause trouble, healer. But your friend...” His gaze shifted to Xu Tian, his smile widening. “He’s another story.”

  Xu Tian’s fists clenched, the shadows coiling tighter around his feet. “What do you want?”

  The man’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, calculating look. “I want you to come quietly. There’s a bounty on your head, and I intend to collect it.”

  The villagers scattered, sensing the tension in the air. Xu Tian stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as the shadows rose around him.

  “You’ve made a mistake,” he said, his voice low and dangerous.

  The man drew his blade, its edge glinting in the sunlight. “Funny,” he said. “I was about to say the same thing.”

  The fight was about to begin.