Rong Yuexi (voice high and sharp, sword slashing wildly at the snarling wolf beast lunging from the underbrush) "Back! You filthy mutt! I am Rong Yuexi of the Moon Tide Empire! You dare touch me?!"
The wolf beast – massive, fur matted with blood, eyes glowing red – dodges her strike easily. It snaps at her leg, teeth grazing her silk robe. She stumbles back, heart pounding, breath coming in gasps. Behind her, more howls rise. The forest is alive with them. A tide. Dozens. Hundreds maybe. And she's alone.
Rong Yuexi (swinging again, blade whistling through air) "Come on! Fight fair! One at a time! You cowards!"
Another beast circles left. A third leaps from the right. Her sword catches it mid-air, slicing fur, but the impact jars her arms. Blood sprays. Hot. Sticky. She wipes sweat from her brow, eyes darting. The path to the empire border is blocked. The valley mist hides everything. No guards. No allies. Just her and the pack.
Lead Wolf Beast (growl rumbling deep, almost words in the vibration) "Princess meat... fresh... empire blood... ours..."
Rong Yuexi freezes. Did it... speak? No. Impossible. Beasts don't talk. But the sound echoes in her mind. Mocking. Hungry.
Rong Yuexi (whispering fierce, gripping sword tighter) "Hold on. Someone will come. They always do. Father sent escorts. They can't all be dead."
A shadow moves in the mist. Not beast. Human? Hope flares.
Qiu Yan (stepping out calm from the fog, voice casual like he's commenting on weather) "Looks like a party. And I wasn't invited? Rude."
Rong Yuexi spins. A young man. Black and crimson robes flowing loose. Face sharp, eyes glowing faint orange-red like banked coals. He carries no sword. Just walks forward like the beasts are stray dogs.
Rong Yuexi (voice urgent, blade pointed at him) "You! Who are you? Run! It's a tide! They'll tear you apart!"
Qiu Yan (smirking, not breaking stride) "Tear me apart? These overgrown mutts? Nah. They look more like they need a bath and a nap. Hey, fleabag! You the leader?"
The lead wolf turns. Snarls. Saliva drips from fangs. The pack circles tighter, eyes locking on the intruder.
Lead Wolf (growl vibrating the air, words forming rough in echo) "Human... fresh kill... join the princess... in bellies..."
Qiu Yan (laughing low, stopping ten paces away) "Bellies? That's your big line? I've heard better from sect dogs. At least they have manners."
The wolf lunges. Massive jaws wide. Claws raking air.
Qiu Yan doesn't move. Doesn't blink. Just raises one palm. Orange-red flame coils around his fingers. Then he strikes forward – not touching. Air between palm and beast ripples like water hit by stone.
Qiu Yan "Resonate."
A boom. Not sound. Vibration. The flame doesn't burn. It echoes. Waves slam into the wolf mid-leap. Its body seizes. Fur stands on end. Then it explodes inward – not gore. Just crumples, bones vibrating to dust, flesh folding like paper in fire.
The pack freezes. Howls cut off.
Rong Yuexi (eyes wide, sword lowering) "What... what was that? You didn't even touch it! How?!"
Qiu Yan (flexing his hand, casual shrug) "Old trick. Their growls have echoes. I just... turned them up. Now, princess? You gonna stand there gawking or help me with the rest? Or are you the type who waits for rescue like it's tea time?"
The pack recovers. Three wolves charge at once. Fangs bared. Claws extended.
Rong Yuexi (snapping back, swinging her sword in a arc) "Rescue? I don't need rescuing! I was handling it! Watch!"
Her blade slices the first wolf's flank. Blood sprays. It yelps, retreats. But the second slams into her side. She rolls, comes up coughing, robe torn at the shoulder.
Qiu Yan (sighing, stepping between her and the third) "Handling it. Sure. Like a kitten handles a storm."
He waves his hand lazy. Blue-green waves ripple out. The third wolf freezes mid-pounce. Its own growl echoes back at it – amplified, twisted.
Wolf's Echo (its growl, now screaming in its mind) "Pack... strong... tear flesh... but weak... coward... run..."
The beast whimpers. Turns. Flees into mist.
Rong Yuexi (standing, wiping blood from lip, voice breathless but fierce) "Kitten? I'll show you kitten! That was my best Moon Tide Slash! You think you're so special with your... whatever that was?"
Qiu Yan (glancing back, smirk widening) "Moon Tide Slash? Cute name. Did about as much as a splash in a puddle. But hey, points for effort. Now duck."
She ducks. Another wolf leaps over her head. Straight at Qiu Yan.
He catches its throat mid-air. No squeeze. Just holds. Vibration hums from his palm. The beast thrashes. Then stills. Its growl echoes inward.
Beast's Echo (internal, breaking) "Hunt... kill... but fear... the quiet one... echoes end us..."
It drops limp. Dead before hitting ground.
The pack circles wider. Howls rise again. But hesitant. Leaderless.
Rong Yuexi (standing beside him now, sword ready, voice lower) "You're no ordinary wanderer. That power... it's not flame arts. Not sword intent. What are you?"
Qiu Yan (watching the pack, tone light) "Me? Just a guy who listens too well. Name's Qiu Yan. Ex-disciple of Jade Whisper Sect. Currently... echo collector. You?"
Rong Yuexi (hesitating, then straight) "Rong Yuexi. Third princess of Moon Tide Empire. Out here scouting borders. These beasts... they weren't normal. Something stirred them up."
Qiu Yan (nodding) "Stirred up. Yeah. Echoes do that. Old grudges. Unfinished fights. They wake up hungry."
A massive roar shakes the trees. The pack parts. A alpha beast emerges – twice the size, fur black as night, eyes burning green. Horns curl from skull. Not wolf. Direhorn Stagwolf. King of the tide.
Alpha Beast (roar vibrating ground, words forming clear in echo) "Human... princess... both die... claim echoes... for the pack eternal..."
Rong Yuexi (gripping sword white-knuckled) "Eternal? It's talking! Like the legends! Qiu Yan, we need to run! That thing's Resonance Forge level! It'll crush us!"
Qiu Yan (chuckling, cracking knuckles) "Run? From a overgrown deer with anger issues? Nah. Let's see what its echo sounds like."
The alpha charges. Ground trembles. Horns lowered like spears.
Rong Yuexi (shouting) "You're insane! Dodge!"
Qiu Yan doesn't dodge. He steps forward. Palm out. Flame coils brighter.
Qiu Yan "Resonate. Full."
Boom. The vibration hits like thunderclap. Air warps. The alpha's charge falters. Its roar echoes back – tenfold. Hundredfold.
Alpha's Echo (its roar, now a cacophony of pain) "King... strong... but broken... echoes betray... pack falls... eternal? Lie! Coward! Die alone!!!"
The beast rears. Horns crack against invisible waves. Body vibrates apart. Fur shreds. Bones snap like dry twigs. It collapses in a heap, green eyes dimming.
The pack scatters. Howls turning to whimpers. Forest empties in seconds.
Silence falls. Only heavy breathing.
Rong Yuexi (staring at the corpse, sword dropping from numb fingers) "You... you killed a Resonance Forge beast. With a palm wave. No qi burst. No artifact. Just... sound? Vibration? What ARE you?!"
Qiu Yan (shaking out his hand, casual) "Told you. Echo collector. It talked big. Echoed bigger. Now it's quiet."
Rong Yuexi (stepping closer, eyes searching his face, voice awed) "Echo collector? That's not a cultivation path. That's... myth. Dao of Echoes? From the forbidden scrolls? You're... you're the one the sect whispers about. The expelled trash who came back and broke Huo Lie and Elder Bi with words alone!"
Qiu Yan (raising eyebrow, smirking) "Whispers travel fast. Yeah, that's me. Trash turned echo. You heard the story already? Flattering."
Rong Yuexi (blushing faint under the moonlight, but holding gaze) "Flattering? It's terrifying! And... impressive. No one's ever stood up to my father's court like that. All talk, no bite. You? You bite with silence."
Qiu Yan (picking up her sword, handing it back hilt-first) "Silence bites hardest. Here. You'll need this if more show up. Though... you swing pretty good for a princess. Moon Tide Slash? Not bad. Just needs more... resonance."
Rong Yuexi (taking sword, fingers brushing his, lingering a second too long) "Resonance? Teach me. If you're collecting echoes... let me join. My empire's borders are full of beasts like this. Stirred by something big. Help me scout. In return... resources. Secrets. Whatever you want."
Qiu Yan (pausing, eyes narrowing playful) "Join? A princess tagging along with an ex-trash? Your father would love that. 'Daughter runs off with valley wanderer.' Sounds like a bad opera."
Rong Yuexi (laughing soft, first real smile) "Bad opera? Maybe. But better than dying alone to mutts. And... you're not trash. Not anymore. Prove it. Teach me one move. Right now."
Qiu Yan (considering, then nodding) "One move. Flame Resonance Palm. Basic. Watch."
He demonstrates slow. Palm out. Flame coils. Vibration hums.
Qiu Yan "Feel the echo in your core. Not qi. The vibration. Push it out."
Rong Yuexi (mimicking, palm glowing faint blue) "Like this? It's... tingling. Like whispers in my meridians."
A small wave ripples. A nearby bush shakes. Leaves rustle.
Qiu Yan (impressed, stepping closer) "Not bad for first try. You've got talent. Hidden echoes."
Rong Yuexi (flushing deeper, voice teasing) "Talent? From the princess who almost became wolf chow? Flattery now? Careful, echo collector. I might think you like me."
Qiu Yan (grinning savage) "Like? Nah. But you're entertaining. Better than sect snobs. Stick around. Might learn to slap faces with sound too."
[System]
Ding!!!
System [Event resonance detected:Beast tide quelled. Bonus sign-in available. Proceed?
[Y / N]
Qiu Yan (inner, quick) [Y.]
System [Bonus successful! Reward: Echo Dominion expansion – Claim beast alpha echo for mount/taming.
Reward: 5 years echo qi. Reward: Rong Yuexi affinity +1 (Harem potential unlocked).
Cultivation: Resonance Forge Early Layer 1 → Mid Layer 2. Dao of Echoes – Harmony deepened.]
The alpha's corpse stirs. Not revives. Transforms. Fur smooths. Horns gleam. A spectral chain links to Qiu Yan's palm.
Qiu Yan (tugging chain light, alpha rising obedient) "See? Echoes tame too."
Rong Yuexi (staring, then laughing full) "A mount? From a king beast? You're full of surprises. Fine. I'm in. But if we're partners... call me Yuexi. No more 'princess.' Deal?"
Qiu Yan (mounting the alpha, offering hand) "Deal, Yuexi. Hop on. Next stop: wherever the echoes lead. And they lead loud."
She takes his hand. Mounts behind. Arms around waist tentative.
Rong Yuexi (whisper close to ear) "Loud suits you. And... thanks. For the save. And the lesson."
Qiu Yan (spurring alpha forward, voice over wind) "Thanks? Save it. Just don't faint if the next tide's bigger."
Rong Yuexi (laughing again, grip tightening) "Faint? Never. But if I do... catch me. Echo collector."
The alpha bounds into mist. Forest swallows them. Whispers follow – excited now. Promising more.
(Inner voice – Qiu Yan, riding swift) Princess joins the hunt. Echoes multiply. And the thorns ahead? They'll hear us coming.