The forest lay under a shroud of cold mist. The wind slid through broken treetops, carrying the rancid stench of demon blood that had yet to fade. Beneath Khanh's feet, the earth was damp, as if soaked by a rain as black as ink.
The girl walked straight to the pile of demon corpses. Her sharp gaze swept through the forest, as though searching for something. In her hand, the three-section staff quivered slightly, the chain between its wooden rods letting out a faint metallic chime.
Khanh noticed that whenever the staff's tip touched a demon's body, a stream of deep violet light was drawn out — curling like smoke pulled backward. Within moments, the demon's dried husk crumbled into ash and was carried away by the wind.
He instinctively stepped back, his eyes fixed on the weapon.
Le Vy suddenly turned toward him, her tone calm:
— You'd better stay here. People from Tier 0 like you should stick to the market — far less dangerous.
Khanh froze. Tier 0… how could she know? His gaze sharpened in caution.
As if reading his thoughts, Le Vy smiled and introduced herself:
— I'm Le Vy. On my way up the mountain to find The Heaven's Fracture. A foreign mage sent me here. Just looking at your ragged clothes and the way you speak, I can tell where you're from. I've even seen people like you fleeing to foreign lands on sea trains.
Her voice carried a touch of pride, even boastfulness:
— You're lucky you ran into me here. Otherwise… you might not be breathing now.
Khanh realized she shared his destination. He admitted:
— I'm… also heading to The Heaven's Fracture.
But as soon as he spoke, he remembered Mr. Ly's warning: "It's best not to tell anyone." Before he could explain, Le Vy's eyes flicked to the scroll strapped to his back, and she nodded slightly:
— I see.
After a pause, she decided:
— You should come with me. The road ahead only gets more dangerous, and if you've been invited, you must have something special.
Khanh hesitated:
— I…
— Let's go. Staying here will only get us killed. — Le Vy cut him off, striding ahead without looking back.
He could only follow in silence.
---
Nightfall smothered the desolate forest. The moon had yet to rise. A cold wind whipped through broken branches, lashing against the two weary figures picking their way through a charred field of grass.
Khanh trudged forward, cold sweat running down his nape, his vision swimming in waves. Le Vy stayed close, the three-section staff ready in her hands. She said nothing, but each step carried a heavy wariness.
> "Do you hear that?" — Le Vy whispered suddenly, stopping in her tracks.
Khanh stilled. Nothing.
Until…
"…rot… rot… rot…"
A wet, dragging sound came from the left, then vanished. A low fog began to creep along the ground, curling around their ankles. The air thickened, smothering their senses.
Khanh's sight blurred; the sounds in his ears grew warped. His breathing faltered. Le Vy staggered:
— Khanh… I… I can't sense anything anymore.
He clenched his fists.
— Something's here. We're surrounded.
But the darkness showed nothing, and his own energy wouldn't last long. Mr. Ly's words flashed in his mind: "If you can't guide your qi, make it knock. One pulse of shock-qi can flush out what hides."
Khanh bit down, drawing qi into his dantian. Veins throbbed at his temples, and blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Kich!
A thin wave of qi rippled outward — not strong, not wide — but precise. It cut through the smothering haze, striking two lurking shadows.
Le Vy's staff flared faintly, drawing in the qi Khanh had released, reflecting the enemies' outlines. One crawled low to the ground. One floated like drifting ash.
Le Vy moved without hesitation. A sweeping strike smashed into the crawling shadow's forehead — thunk! — bursting it like stretched drumskin. She spun, smashing the second in midair. It scattered into a swirl of gray dust.
Silence fell again. Khanh collapsed, chest heaving, breath shallow. Le Vy knelt beside him, gripping the staff tightly:
— I don't know what trick you just used… but thanks to you, I could see them.
She asked no questions. She simply hoisted him onto her back and waded through the mist, searching for a way out — toward the place where the moonlight could finally reach them.