As they made their way deeper into the mountains, the air grew colder, the trees more twisted, as if the land itself had been scarred by something ancient and dark. The sounds of the forest—birds chirping, animals scurrying—had faded, replaced by an eerie silence.
They had been traveling for days, and exhaustion was beginning to set in. Li Yuan's steps were slower, his eyes heavy with fatigue. Jiang Yan, too, was feeling the strain, but his mind was sharp, always alert. Moria, however, seemed untouched by the journey. She moved with a grace and confidence that was almost otherworldly, her golden eyes glowing softly in the dim light.
It was then that they encountered him—the Fox Demon.
He appeared out of nowhere, his form emerging from the shadows like a wraith. His features were sharp and elegant, his long fox ears twitching slightly as he assessed the group before him. His eyes, red as blood, glowed with a predatory gleam.
"Tia," he spoke her name with an unmistakable tone of familiarity. His voice was smooth, like silk, but there was something dark beneath it.
Moria's eyes narrowed, and for a brief moment, her mask of calm faltered. "Shen," she said quietly, almost as if she were speaking to herself. "What do you want?"
Shen, the Fox Demon, smiled, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. "I want what was promised to me. The Flame Lotus—and more."
Li Yuan tensed, stepping forward instinctively. Jiang Yan's hand went to his blade, but Moria raised her hand, halting them both.
"This is Shen," she explained. "Once a king, but his family was... removed for their treasonous actions. He seeks power, as always."
Shen chuckled, the sound low and amused. "A king, yes. But now, I am more than that. And I will not be denied what is mine."
Jiang Yan eyed the Fox Demon warily, sensing the danger in his words. "What do you want from us?"
Shen's smile widened, but his eyes remained cold. "Simple. The Flame Lotus is mine. And Tia—well, she will return to me. Power, it seems, is always easier to claim when it is in my grasp."
Moria's eyes darkened, and the temperature around them seemed to drop. She took a step toward Shen, her voice icy. "You will not take what is mine."
Shen tilted his head, his red eyes gleaming with amusement. "We shall see."
The tension was palpable, and Jiang Yan knew that this was just the beginning. Shen was no ordinary demon—he was a force to be reckoned with, and his connection to Moria was more complicated than he realized.
As the standoff continued, the world around them seemed to hold its breath, the balance between light and dark teetering on the edge of oblivion.