The mountain wind howled that morning, carrying with it the scent of rain and steel. Clouds gathered overhead, heavy and restless, as though the heavens themselves anticipated what was to come. Elder Yun's usually calm eyes were sharpened by unease. He had felt the tremors in the qi for days the ripple of hostile intent, the whisper of killing aura drawing nearer.
"They have found us," Yun said gravely, his staff planted firmly in the earth. "The hunters are here."
Madam Chen stiffened, her hand instinctively moving to shield Li Wei. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced her fear aside. She had already lost her husband, her neighbors, her peace she would not lose her son.
Li Wei clenched his fists. His days of training, though few, had changed him. He was no longer the trembling boy who clung to his mother's robes. The fire within him burned steady now, tempered by Elder Yun's guidance. "Then I will fight," he said firmly.
Elder Yun's gaze lingered on him. "Good. But remember fighting is not about rage. It is about clarity. Hold to your breath, hold to your intent. Do not let fear steer you."
They did not wait long. From the shadows of the trees, armored men emerged, their blades gleaming with cold light. At their head stood a man in crimson armor, the sigil of a serpent emblazoned across his chest. His eyes glowed faintly red, his aura thick with killing intent.
"So it is true," the man sneered. "The child born under the star lives. Hand him over, and perhaps we will let you die swiftly."
Elder Yun raised his staff, his stance rooted like an ancient pine. "If you wish to take him, you must step over my corpse first."
The leader laughed harshly. "So be it. Kill them all!"
The air erupted with motion. Crimson-robed disciples charged forward, blades flashing, qi swirling around them like storm clouds.
Elder Yun moved first. His staff swept in a wide arc, releasing a shockwave that sent the first three attackers sprawling. "Li Wei!" he barked. "Breathe, anchor yourself!"
Li Wei inhaled sharply, his chest filling with heat. He remembered the lessons: invite the qi, do not force it. His fear threatened to overwhelm him, but he steadied his mind. As a disciple lunged, Li Wei exhaled, releasing a burst of invisible force. The ground quivered beneath the man's feet, knocking him off balance.
For the first time, Li Wei saw his training turn into power.
Another attacker came from the side. Madam Chen grabbed a fallen branch, striking wildly, desperation fueling her strength. She was no cultivator, but her love gave her courage. She swung again and again, shielding her son until Elder Yun's staff cracked against the enemy's chest, sending him flying.
"Stay close!" Yun commanded. "Do not scatter!"
But the Crimson Serpent leader was no ordinary foe. With a single motion, he unleashed a wave of crimson qi that split trees and scorched earth. Elder Yun raised his staff to block, the impact shaking the ground.
"You cannot stand against me, old man," the leader growled. "Your death will be swift."
Yun's teeth clenched, his knuckles whitening around the staff. He could feel the gap between their strengths. He was a hermit who had long abandoned the pursuit of power for peace, while this man was a sect cultivator honed by countless battles. Alone, Yun could not win. But he was not alone.
"Li Wei!" Yun shouted. "Now is the time. Remember your intent!"
Li Wei's heart thundered. The enemy's aura pressed on him like a mountain, threatening to crush him. Fear clawed at his chest, but then he remembered Zhao's last stand, his mother's sacrifices, Elder Yun's guidance. He could not falter, not now.
He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and let the qi flow. It surged through him, fiery and unyielding, his body trembling under its weight. He opened his eyes glowing faintly with light and stepped forward.
The Serpent leader sneered. "A child dares challenge me? Foolish."
With a roar, the man swung his blade, crimson energy crashing toward Li Wei like a tidal wave.
Li Wei planted his feet. He remembered Yun's words: Anchor yourself. Flow with the river. He raised his arms, exhaled sharply, and released the gathered qi. The air rippled. The incoming attack met his energy and for a heartbeat, the two forces clashed.
A blinding flash split the clearing.
The ground cracked. The trees shuddered.
The wave of power threw men off their feet, dust exploding into the air.
When the light faded, Li Wei stood in the center, panting, his small body trembling. His clothes were torn, his face streaked with dirt, but his eyes burned with defiance. Around him, enemies lay groaning, scattered like leaves in a storm.
The Serpent leader staggered, disbelief etched into his face. "Impossible… a child…!"
Elder Yun's voice rang out, firm and steady. "He is no ordinary child. He is the one the heavens marked. Remember this day for it is only the beginning."
The leader snarled, blood trickling from his mouth. "This isn't over. The sects will not rest until he is crushed." With that, he retreated into the forest, his surviving men limping after him.
Silence fell, broken only by the whisper of the wind.
Madam Chen rushed forward, pulling Li Wei into her arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. "My son… you did it. You truly did it."
Li Wei's chest heaved with exhaustion, but his voice was steady. "I will never let them take me. Never."
Elder Yun looked upon him with quiet pride. Yet his heart was heavy. He knew this victory was but a spark, a flicker against the storm that loomed on the horizon. The sects would not forget this humiliation. They would come again stronger, fiercer, relentless.
But as he gazed at the boy, he also knew something else: Li Wei was no longer running from destiny. He was walking toward it.
That night, as the rain finally broke and washed the blood from the earth, Li Wei sat beneath the dripping eaves, staring into the dark forest. The fight had left him shaken, but also awakened. For the first time, he understood the path ahead: it would be drenched in danger, but also in purpose.
He whispered to himself, a vow carried by the storm: "I will rise. No matter who stands against me, I will rise."
And far beyond the mountains, in the halls of distant sects, elders stirred uneasily in their sleep dreaming of a fire yet to come.