Beyond Virtue

The mist swirled faintly around the two figures as their voices carried through the forest.

"You don't need to worry so much, Mei Qing," the boy said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "We'll regroup soon enough."

Mei Qing didn't even glance at him, her voice cold and dismissive. "I don't need your reassurance, Chen Rong. Just focus on staying alive."

Chen Rong's smile faltered for a moment before he quickly recovered, though his tone carried a faint edge of irritation. "Suit yourself. I'm just trying to keep us both out of trouble."

Mei Qing shifted slightly, her breathing uneven as she tried to steady herself against the pain in her side. Her face was pale, and her movements slowed further as the seconds passed. Suddenly, her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, her hand clutching her side as a sharp breath escaped her lips.

Chen Rong's expression changed instantly, his initial concern melting into something far more sinister. A low, cruel laugh escaped him as he looked down at her prone figure.

"That fool Jian Yi," he sneered, shaking his head. "Leaving us with the Scarlet Moon Lotus… he has no idea what he's done."

Xu Yan's eyes narrowed as he shifted slightly in the shadows, his gaze focusing on the faint crimson glow tucked within Chen Rong's robes.

Chen Rong crouched slightly, his tone dripping with malice. "No one will ever know I have the lotus… especially not you, Mei Qing. Today, you die. And maybe, before that, I'll enjoy the company of that cold and aloof attitude of yours one last time."

Mei Qing glared at him, her voice filled with venom despite her weakened state. "You're nothing but a coward, Chen Rong."

Chen Rong's face twisted with anger at her defiance. "You dare insult me, even now?" he hissed, raising his hand to strike her.

Before his hand could descend, the faint sound of footsteps reached his ears. Chen Rong froze, his head snapping toward the sound. Xu Yan emerged from the mist, his steps slow and deliberate, his expression calm and unreadable.

Chen Rong squinted, his hand still raised. "A mere Mortal Foundation disciple of the Blood Fang Sect wants to interfere?" he said mockingly, his tone filled with disbelief.

Xu Yan's gaze didn't waver. "I don't care about your petty schemes. I'm only here for the Scarlet Moon Lotus."

Chen Rong's irritation flared, and he lowered his hand as he straightened, his qi flaring faintly around him. "Looks like I'll have to silence you first, before anything else."

Chen Rong's hand moved swiftly to his sword, drawing it in one fluid motion as a sharp burst of qi enveloped the blade. With a roar, he slashed at Xu Yan, sending a crescent of energy flying through the air. The sheer force caused the mist to part, revealing the malice in his expression.

"How is someone who isn't even in the Qi Awakening stage daring enough to fight me?" Chen Rong shouted, his voice filled with scorn and disbelief.

Xu Yan remained silent, his calm demeanor unshaken. Just as the qi-infused strike was about to reach him, his body blurred, fading into a ghostly afterimage.

Chen Rong's eyes widened in shock, his gaze darting around wildly. "Where—?"

Before he could finish, a fist slammed into his gut with devastating precision. The impact sent Chen Rong stumbling back, his breath leaving him in a sharp gasp as his qi wavered.

Nearby, Mei Qing lay on the ground, her pale face turning toward Xu Yan. Her wide eyes reflected both astonishment and disbelief.

The fight raged on, each clash of fists and qi reverberating through the forest. Chen Rong's attacks grew increasingly frantic as Xu Yan countered every move with precision and calm, his movements eerily efficient.

Chen Rong gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his face as he barely deflected another punch aimed at his chest. His breathing was ragged, his qi faltering with each exchange. His face contorted in frustration and disbelief. "How… how is it possible that I, a Qi Awakening cultivator, am being pushed to the edge by a mere Mortal Foundation weakling?"

Xu Yan's expression remained unchanged, his voice cold and steady. "Qi Awakening is nothing to be proud of."

Chen Rong's anger boiled over, his eyes burning with fury. "You arrogant bastard!" he spat, stumbling back a few steps. His hand darted into his robes, retrieving a small vial containing a pill that glowed with a dark, ominous red light. "I didn't want to have to use this… I was saving it for the wolves. But you've left me no choice!"

Xu Yan's eyebrows rose slightly as he observed the pill. He said nothing, but his stance shifted, his body tensing in preparation for what was to come.

From the ground, Mei Qing's weak voice suddenly rang out, filled with anger. "How dare you, Chen Rong? You actually… you're taking a forbidden pill?"

Chen Rong threw his head back and laughed, the sound bitter and unhinged. "Naive as always, Mei Qing," he said mockingly, turning to glare at her. "In the end, the strongest determine the rules. After this, no one will ever know."

With a sneer, he popped the pill into his mouth, crushing it between his teeth. A surge of dark energy radiated from his body, and the surrounding air grew heavy with a foreboding pressure.