Blood Under the Silent Moon
The Black Tortoise Continent, the weakest among the four great continents, lay beneath a cold and indifferent night sky. Mountains stretched endlessly, and the moon cast a pale silver glow over the silent forest.
The stillness did not last.
A young woman burst through the trees, her breathing ragged, blood staining her sleeve. Her spiritual aura flickered unstably — she was severely injured.
Behind her, three dark silhouettes moved like ghosts in the night. Neither hurried nor slow, their steps were steady and precise.
They were hunting.
And she was their prey.
Her speed gradually slowed.
She knew.
Running further was meaningless.
Slowly… she turned around.
The three shadows stopped several meters away.
One of them raised his hand.
Spiritual energy condensed in the air, forming a dark sword.
Without hesitation—
He threw it.
The blade tore through the night like a streak of black lightning.
Before she could fully react—
It pierced into her abdomen.
Blood sprayed across the forest floor as her body was thrown back violently.
The three shadows walked forward calmly and stood before her fallen figure.
No emotion.
No mercy.
She clenched her teeth, gripping her sword tightly.
Slowly… she forced herself to stand.
Her aura flared weakly.
The three assassins attacked at once.
Three blades descended from different angles.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Sparks flew in the darkness as steel clashed.
But it was three against one.
Each strike grew heavier.
Her defense began to crumble.
A sword slashed across her shoulder.
Another cut through her thigh.
The third pierced her side.
Blood soaked her robes.
Her body trembled.
One of the shadows stepped forward to deliver the final strike—
But suddenly—
Her eyes sharpened.
With a desperate roar, she gathered every remaining strand of spiritual energy inside her shattered meridians. Her Nascent Soul trembled violently.
Boom!
A surge of spiritual force erupted outward, forcing the three assassins half a step back.
Ignoring the tearing pain in her body, she leapt into the air.
Her figure shot above the treetops, leaving a trail of blood in the moonlight.
"Chase."
The three shadows followed instantly.
Her vision blurred.
Her strength was fading.
Then—
Through the dense forest, she spotted a hidden cave carved into a rocky cliff.
Using the last of her power, she descended.
She stumbled into the cave, barely managing a few steps before her sword slipped from her fingers.
Her body swayed.
And then—
She collapsed onto the cold stone floor.
Unconscious.
Outside the cave, three dark figures landed silently at the entrance.
They stood there, staring into the darkness within.
The forest grew quiet once more.
Inside the cave, blood slowly spread beneath the unconscious woman.
Silence lingered for several breaths.
Then—
From the deepest part of the cave…
A pair of eyes slowly opened.
Calm.
Indifferent.
Unfathomable.
A faint pressure spread through the darkness.
Subtle.
Yet enough to make the three shadows outside instinctively tense.
Because in that cave—
She was not alone.