The deeper the disciples marched into the Borderlands, the heavier the air grew. The forest pressed close, its canopy so thick that light filtered down in fractured beams. The smell was sharp — damp earth, rot, and something else.
Li Mei paused, her sword trembling slightly. "Blood," she whispered.
Chen Yu tensed, eyes darting into the undergrowth.
Wu Ming, pale-faced, whispered too loudly, "Blood of what? Please tell me rabbit. Harmless rabbit."
Lin Xuan's hand tightened slightly on his spear. "No. Wolves."
As if summoned, the first growl came from the shadows. Then another. Then a chorus, echoing through the trees.
They came like a storm — lean, gray wolves with eyes glowing faintly with spirit qi, fangs bared. The first lunged from the underbrush, claws tearing soil as it leapt straight for Wu Ming.
Wu Ming screamed and ducked behind Chen Yu. "Senior Brother! It picked me!"
Lin Xuan's spear moved once — not striking to kill, but striking the wolf's snout at just the right angle to divert its jaws. It crashed into the ground instead, snarling.
"Form a triangle," Lin Xuan's voice cut like steel. "Li Mei, left. Chen Yu, right. Wu Ming, center, defend only."
The three scrambled into position, hearts pounding.
The wolves circled, snarling, their eyes flicking to the weakest prey. Then they struck again.
A wolf lunged for Li Mei. Her hands shook for a breath, but Lin Xuan's voice echoed in her mind: Strike with the heart, not just the wrist.
Her blade flashed. Steel cut through fur and bone. Blood sprayed as the beast collapsed at her feet. Her breath trembled — but her stance held.
Gasps rose from watching disciples nearby.
"She… she cut it down!""Wasn't she the timid one?"
Another wolf darted at Chen Yu's flank. His shoulders tensed, but he remembered Lin Xuan's words: Loosen them. A stiff blade shatters.
He exhaled, his movements smoother than before. His blade swept wide, catching the wolf's leap midair. The beast tumbled aside with a bleeding gash, whimpering before staggering back into the dark.
Chen Yu's eyes widened. His hands still shook, but his grip tightened. "I… did it."
Two wolves pounced toward Wu Ming, who shrieked and swung his staff wildly. "Stay back! Stay back! I'm poisonous! You'll get sick if you eat me!"
By pure luck — or perhaps panic-guided instinct — his flailing staff cracked one wolf across the jaw, sending it yelping away. The other lunged, but Lin Xuan's spear intercepted, pinning it to the ground with one clean thrust.
Wu Ming dropped to his knees, panting. "…See? Poisonous. Very poisonous."
The pack regrouped, circling again. Lin Xuan's presence was calm, spear whirling just enough to create a line the wolves would not cross. He didn't unleash the full force of his techniques — he simply moved where the flow demanded, intercepting, redirecting, letting his circle breathe and fight without being overwhelmed.
Nearby disciples watched in awe.
"He… he's not killing them all himself.""He's letting his group grow.""But he still holds the line… not a single wolf gets through."
The wolves howled, their pack leader stepping forward, its fur streaked black, eyes glowing brighter. It leapt high, qi surging through its claws.
Li Mei faltered. Chen Yu tensed. Wu Ming froze.
Lin Xuan stepped forward, his spear arcing once — not flashy, not fierce, but perfectly timed. The butt of the spear cracked the wolf's jaw mid-leap, sending it crashing into the earth. Blood sprayed, and the pack scattered into the trees with frightened howls.
The forest fell silent again.
Li Mei trembled, but she did not drop her blade. Chen Yu's chest heaved, his grip tight. Wu Ming collapsed flat on the ground, wheezing, "Senior Brother… I lived… You saw? I lived!"
Lin Xuan's gaze swept across them. "You stood. You struck. Remember that. This is only the beginning."
The System chimed softly.
[Hidden Quest Complete: Allies survive first beast encounter.][Reward: Ally Synchronization increased. Fusion potential: 12%.]
Lin Xuan exhaled. Step by step, even wolves become stepping stones.
From a short distance away, Zhou Ren leaned against a tree, arms folded, grin sharp. "Not bad, Lin Xuan. But wolves are nothing. Let's see how long your pets last when real beasts arrive."
His lackeys chuckled, their eyes gleaming with malice.
As the disciples regrouped, the forest seemed darker than before. Roars echoed faintly deeper within, louder, heavier.
Wu Ming swallowed hard. "Senior Brother… that didn't sound like wolves."
Lin Xuan lifted his spear, eyes calm. "It wasn't."