The scroll room was dim, lit only by a single lantern suspended in a glass orb etched with phoenix feathers. Qi Longwei stood at the head of the table, arms folded, gaze sharp.
Ming Yue sat across from him, flanked by two of the estate's senior tutors—Master Wen, a scholar of spiritual beasts, and Lady Huo, a former combat strategist from the Vermilion Guard. A map of the Bloodmoon Forest was unfurled before them, its inked lines pulsing faintly with residual aura.
"You'll be stationed at the Qi family's cabin on the southern edge," Longwei said. "It's shielded, warded, and stocked with everything you'll need—scrolls, chants, survival guides. You'll study by day, train by dusk, and remain indoors after nightfall. Understood?"
Ming Yue nodded. "And the forest?"
Master Wen leaned forward, tapping the map. "The Bloodmoon Forest is not a place of logic. It's a wound. A consequence of four divine beings descending in one place during the Age of Chaos. Their power fractured the veil between realms. Since then, the forest has… moods."
"Moods?" she echoed.
"Sometimes it sleeps. Sometimes it stirs. And sometimes, it watches."
Lady Huo's voice was low. "You'll be accompanied by me for combat training. And a trusted helper—Mei Lin. She'll manage your meals, baths, and ensure you don't forget to sleep."
Qi Longwei's gaze lingered on Ming Yue. "This is not a test. It's a crucible. You're not just learning to fight. You're learning to survive what you are."
The Cabin at the Edge
The Qi family's forest cabin was carved from darkwood and veined with silver wards. It stood at the edge of the Veiled Path, where the trees grew tall but not yet hostile. Inside, the air smelled of old paper and pine resin.
Ming Yue ran her fingers along the spines of the books stacked on the central shelf:
Common Beasts of the Spirit RealmSurvival Chants for Aura DisruptionFighting Forms of the Four BloodlinesThe Howl and the Hollow: A Study of Forest Echoes
A scroll case near her bed bore the Qi family crest. Inside were hand-drawn maps, sigil diagrams, and a folded letter from Shen Fei:
"Don't die. I haven't taught you how to cheat yet."
Mei Lin, her helper, bustled in with a tray of tea and dried lotus buns. "The bath's drawn, Lady Ming Yue. And Lady Huo says your first lesson begins at dusk."
The First Lesson
The clearing behind the cabin was ringed with spirit wards. Lady Huo stood barefoot on the moss, her crimson training robes fluttering in the wind. Her aura was sharp—like a blade unsheathed.
"You've learned theory. Now show me instinct."
Ming Yue stepped into stance, twin daggers glinting in her hands. The air between them thickened.
"Begin."
Swoosh. In one swift movement, Ming Yue lunged forward, hurling both daggers low—aimed at Lady Huo's heels.
But before they could land, Lady Huo's fingers flicked through a chant sigil. A translucent shield flared around her boots—clang! The daggers ricocheted backward, spinning through the air like silver sparks.
Ming Yue's eyes widened. She raised her palm and shouted, "Jing zhen!" A shield chant bloomed just in time.
Boom. The reversed force slammed into her barrier. It held—but the backlash dragged her feet through the moss, and she stumbled, landing hard on one knee.
"Too slow," Lady Huo said, already moving.
She struck with her palm—not at Ming Yue's body, but at her aura. The impact sent a ripple through Ming Yue's chest, like a bell struck too deep.
Ming Yue gritted her teeth, rolled sideways, and kicked upward. Her foot grazed Huo's sleeve—but the older woman twisted midair, landing behind her.
"Again."
They moved like fire and shadow. Chant sigils flared. Aura clashed. Sweat beaded on Ming Yue's brow, but her eyes never left her opponent.
"You're distracted," Huo said at last, stepping back. "Why?"
Ming Yue's breath came shallow. She looked toward the trees. The forest was still—but the air had shifted.
"Because something's watching."
Lady Huo followed her gaze. The trees stood silent, but the moss beneath their feet felt colder.
"Then let it watch," she said. "We don't flinch for shadows."
That Night
Ming Yue lay in bed, the red stone bird warm beneath her collarbone. The cabin was quiet. Mei Lin slept in the adjoining room. Lady Huo's aura pulsed faintly from the warded porch.
But something tugged at her.
A whisper. A flicker of light. A scent—plum blossom and smoke.
She rose, barefoot, and stepped to the window.
The forest shimmered.
And somewhere beyond the trees, something stirred.