A Song For The Ages

The scent of heat and metal still clung to Feiyin's sleeves as he stepped away from his workbench, the faint shimmer of essence-infused alloys cooling on neatly arranged trays. Each strip and segment, each small pill bottle and polished product, had been forged with care, his strength poured into every vibration, every layer of oscillation, fine-tuning them to harmonize with elemental qi. This was his sanctuary, a place where the world outside could be forgotten in the methodical rhythm of creation.

But peace never lasted long.

A sharp pulse ran down his spine as one of the red-marked talismans on the far wall burst into flame. The scroll cracked open as though ignited from within, curling to ash as a Red Lotus insignia shimmered in its dying embers.

A summon.

Feiyin didn't hesitate. With Baiyu coiling around his shoulders and the scent of forge smoke still clinging to his robes, he made his way swiftly through the winding paths of the Red Lotus compound until he reached the main gathering hall.

The room buzzed with restrained energy. Only a few were present, those trusted with sensitive matters. Ba Shanyue, Ruan Lianhua, and Jue Qingling stood at the forefront, joined by Feiyin and a few specialized disciples.

At the center stood two figures that immediately drew the eye.

Elves.

The male was tall and elegant, his features fine-boned, skin like pale bark, and long green hair woven with golden thread. His robes, simple yet striking, bore motifs of winding vines and flowering branches. Next to him stood a woman with warm amber eyes and skin like polished walnut wood. Her clothing was embroidered in vibrant leaf patterns, catching the light as if dew-kissed. Their very presence carried the breath of the forest; rich, ancient, and subtly magical.

Ba Shanyue, always direct, broke the silence. "You've come a long way, so let us not waste words. Speak your names and your purpose."

The male elf bowed with practiced grace. "I am Calenvar, emissary of the Greenwood Kingdom. This is Maelis, a fellow voice of the council. We bring a request from our queen."

Jue Qingling's expression barely shifted. "We're listening."

Calenvar's tone remained courteous, but there was tension beneath it. "Our homeland, nestled deep within the Verdant Spirit Forest, is under siege. Not from men or invaders, but from the creatures we once coexisted with: the Killer Bears."

Maelis stepped forward, her voice clearer, sharper. "These are not ordinary beasts. They are a fusion of bear and bee, each the size of a wagon, wings strong enough to send a man tumbling, stingers sharper than steel. They gather nectar and live in colonies. They are usually peaceful if left undisturbed. But something has changed."

Calenvar continued, "They've grown in number, exponentially. Scouts report sightings of multiple queens. That should be impossible. Each queen controls a single hive. Multiple queens mean multiple colonies acting in unison. Our warriors cannot be everywhere at once."

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Feiyin leaned slightly forward, intrigued. This wasn't a matter of brute force. This was biology, ecosystems breaking balance, something deeper at work. He imagined massive colonies buzzing through the trees, branches bowing under their weight, the droning hum of thousands moving as one. And at the heart of it: the queens. Eliminate them, and the swarms would scatter.

Are they part of the hive? No, they wouldn't have lived peacefully for so long then.

"What are you asking of us?" Jue Qingling asked.

Maelis met her gaze evenly. "Help us strike the queens. We'll maintain the defenses around our sacred groves, but we need agile, precise forces to enter their territories, locate the queens, and eliminate them."

Ba Shanyue frowned. "That's not a small ask. Our hands are already full."

Calenvar raised his chin slightly. "Then let us speak of what Greenwood offers. We are not a hidden kingdom, but we are cautious. Trade is limited. Foreigners are seldom allowed to walk our paths. But if the Red Lotus aids us, we will open our borders to your group. Spirit wood, sunleaf bark, elder nectar, and access to the Greenwood essence pools. The very forest breathes essence in our land."

Feiyin felt a pull in his chest. Wood-aspected essence, unfiltered and concentrated? And if ley pools were involved, the spiritual density might rival some of the Saint Spirit Sect's own cultivation grounds. This wasn't just a mission, it was an opportunity.

He'd intended to infuse water into his Essence Qi next, following the Creation Cycle; Earth to Water, then Wood, but understanding Wood earlier would not hinder his path, and would instead allow him to better plan ahead. If he could study Greenwood's terrain and feel the breath of living wood all around him, it could refine his understanding in ways books never could.

Jue Qingling folded her arms. "We'll need two days to prepare."

Calenvar nodded. "Our envoys will wait." He inclined his head again, and Maelis did the same. With a final look toward the gathered disciples, the two elves were led away to the guest quarters prepared for them.

As the door closed behind them, Ba Shanyue cracked his neck. "Stretching my legs in a giant bee-bear nest? Sounds like fun. Count me in."

Jue Qingling gave him a flat look. "You're not going. Someone needs to stay behind and manage our other affairs."

Ba Shanyue blinked. "Why me?"

"Because you'll scare the elves," she said dryly, then pointed to herself and Ruan. "The forest is more our element. I have beast companions that move quietly and track scents. Ruan has worked with me before. We know how to handle terrain like this. But more importantly, we can't all leave our newest headquarters, so it will be better that you manage things here."

Ruan said nothing, but her gaze drifted toward Feiyin for the briefest moment.

He caught it, and offered her a faint, quiet smile. She didn't smile back, but gave a slow nod.

Ba Shanyue sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll stay and watch the fort. You all go swim in honey and dodge stingers."

With the decision made, the other disciples left one by one to start their preparations, since the mission could be a long one.

As Feiyin walked back toward his quarters, his mind whirled. This wasn't just another assignment. The Greenwood Kingdom was a mystery to most of the region, and its wealth of natural resources had always been spoken of in whispers. If they truly opened their borders, even briefly, it could improve the standing of the Red Lotus Mercenaries in the area.

More importantly, it could help him improve further.

Back in his chamber, he began setting aside what he would bring; pills to aid in elemental infusion, talisman, salves, and his crafting tools. His water and wood element infusion pills were complete, tuned to guide and ease the merging of those elements into his essence. But fire… fire remained unfinished since it would have been the last on his list.

He sat at his desk and pulled out the half-formed recipe, fingers already sorting through vials of salamander ashes and sun-scorched lotus powder.

Two days. That's what he had to make it, and it would be more than enough.