Curse of the Supreme Blood

The cave's interior loomed dark and vast, its entrance partially sealed by rocks piled hastily by Zhang Wei and the Lei brothers. Li and the others leaned against the cool, rugged walls, their breathing still ragged from their escape. The air was damp but free of the forest's oppressive decay, offering a strange sense of safety.

"That thing… it almost had us," Yu Ling whispered, her voice still trembling.

Zhang Wei, ever watchful, nodded sharply. "But it didn't. We're alive, and we need to stay that way."

The air inside the cave was damp and stale, carrying the scent of moss and ancient stone. Faint droplets echoed from unseen crevices, creating an eerie rhythm that heightened the oppressive silence. Li, Zhang Wei, Yu Ling, and the Lei brothers sat in tense stillness, their breaths still heavy from the desperate escape.

Li rested his back against the cold rock, heart pounding like a war drum. His hands trembled slightly as the memory of the Shadowfang Reaper's glowing red eyes lingered in his mind. Despite the narrow escape, he couldn't shake the feeling that the beast was still hunting them—relentless, calculating.

"We can't stay here long," Zhang Wei said, breaking the tense silence. His eyes remained fixed on the sealed entrance. "The beast might circle back."

"The barrier should hold for a while," Yu Ling added, though uncertainty tinged her voice. "But if it gets desperate…"

A grim understanding passed between them. If the Shadowfang Reaper wanted in, no pile of rocks would stop it.

"We need to explore deeper," Zhang Wei decided. "We can't risk being trapped at the entrance."

The group nodded reluctantly, rising with renewed determination. Zhang Wei took the lead, blade in hand, his stance alert and ready. Li followed closely, the faint pulsing of his mysterious power still humming in his core. He didn't fully understand it, but he knew he might need it again soon.

The cave narrowed into a twisting passage, the darkness thick and almost tangible. Their only light came from glowing crystals embedded sporadically along the jagged walls, casting a dim, ghostly illumination.

"I've read about caves like this," Yu Ling whispered, running her fingers over a strange etching carved into the stone. "Old places... forgotten by time."

"Do you think this was built by cultivators?" Li asked.

"Maybe," she replied thoughtfully. "Or something older."

Suddenly, the ground shuddered beneath them, sending dust cascading from the ceiling. A deep, resonant growl echoed through the cavern, distant but unmistakable.

"Another beast?" Lei Chen muttered, drawing his weapon.

"Stay sharp," Zhang Wei ordered. "Move quietly."

They pressed forward, hearts pounding, the air growing colder with each step. An oppressive energy seemed to seep from the walls, clawing at their senses. Li felt it more acutely than the others, a sharp pulse against his mind—as if the cave itself was aware of their presence.

After what felt like an eternity, the passage opened into a vast underground chamber bathed in a pale, shimmering light. Enormous stalactites hung like the fangs of a colossal beast, and the ground was littered with cracked stone and ancient, shattered bones.

"What... is this place?" Lei Yun whispered, awe and fear blending in his voice

Li's gaze wandered deeper into the cave, drawn by a faint, shimmering glow reflecting off the jagged walls. His eyes widened as he recognized clusters of luminous herbs sprouting from cracks in the rocky floor. Their ethereal glow bathed the chamber in soft, otherworldly light.

"These are... Moonshade Blossoms!" Yu Ling gasped, kneeling near the radiant plants. "They're incredibly rare and valuable."

"Not just them." Li pointed toward a cluster of deep crimson flowers with sharp, blade-like leaves. "Bloodroot Sage. It can boost spiritual energy when brewed correctly."

The group exchanged astonished glances. The cave was a natural treasure trove of rare herbs and medicinal plants. The litter of broken roots and discarded petals hinted that this place had been untouched for years—or perhaps abandoned.

Zhang Wei's expression darkened. "We can't get careless. If these herbs thrive here, something might be guarding them."

As if on cue, the cave's silence was shattered by a distant, faint echo—a scrape of something sharp against stone.

Back in the cave, Li's group moved cautiously, collecting herbs while keeping their senses sharp. Zhang Wei posted himself near the entrance, sword in hand, eyes never leaving the narrow, rocky passage leading deeper into the cave.

"We'll rest in shifts," he ordered. "This cave might be a safe haven—for now."

Li gently placed a glowing Moonshade Blossom into his satchel, its light dimming at his touch. As he secured the strap, that strange, ancient feeling stirred again—deep in his chest, a primal awareness of something lurking just beyond his reach.

The group huddled in the cool, dimly lit cave, surrounded by jagged stone walls that radiated an ancient stillness. After collecting all of the precious herbs in sight, thereby reducing the glow of the cave, they lit a small, smokeless fire with Yu Ling's fire talisman. The soft, flickering glow eased the oppressive darkness but did little to calm their nerves.

Li sat close to the fire, resting his back against the uneven wall, his mind still replaying the harrowing escape of earlier on. He glanced around and found Yu Ling quietly sharpening her dagger, Zhang Wei staring at the depth of the cave, and the Lei twins sharing a wordless glance. The crackling fire pushed the oppressive darkness away, but the uneasy silence still hung over them like a heavy fog.

Lei Yun finally broke the silence with a sigh. "We made it… barely."

"Don't remind me," Lei Chen grumbled, stretching his arms. "I can still feel that beast's breath on my neck."

Yu Ling smirked. "Maybe it liked how you smell."

Lei Chen snorted. "Lucky for it, I don't intend to be anyone's dinner."

Li smiled faintly. "Have you… always lived like this? Fighting, running… surviving?"

The twins exchanged a look. Lei Yun spoke first. "Not always." He poked at the fire thoughtfully. "We weren't born into a sect like some lucky cultivators."

Lei Chen nodded. "Our family were wanderers, simple merchants. We traveled from town to town selling herbs and trinkets."

"Until bandits attacked our caravan," Lei Yun added grimly. "We were just kids. Barely ten."

Li's expression darkened. "What happened?"

"We ran," Lei Chen said quietly. "Hid in the woods for days. No food… no shelter. We thought we were done for."

Lei Yun chuckled bitterly. "Then, out of nowhere, a wandering cultivator saved us. Senior Zhang Wei."

Li's eyes widened. "Zhang Wei saved you?"

Lei Chen nodded. "He was younger then but still strong. He brought us to the sect. Elder Han took us for testing and we became sect members. He said we had potential."

Lei Yun grinned. "Well, I had potential. Chen just tagged along."

Lei Chen scoffed. "Keep telling yourself that."

Zhang Wei, still standing by the entrance, spoke without turning. "You were both stubborn, reckless, and mouthy. But you learned fast."

The twins exchanged a sheepish glance.

Li smiled faintly. "You were lucky to find someone like him."

Lei Yun nodded. "Luck doesn't begin to cover it." He looked at Li thoughtfully. "What about you? How'd you end up in that forest?"

Li hesitated, the memory of his fragmented past swirling in his mind like distant shadows. "I… don't remember. Just flashes. Faces… voices…" He shook his head. "Everything before waking up there is… gone."

The group fell silent again, the crackling fire filling the void. After a while, Yu Ling spoke softly.

"Maybe you were meant to survive," she said. "Like us."

Li met her gaze and saw understanding there—a shared resilience born from loss and survival.

For the first time in a while, he felt less alone.

"We should rest," Zhang Wei ordered, breaking the reflective mood. "We move at dawn."

As the group settled in, Li lay back, staring at the cave's ceiling. The darkness didn't seem as heavy anymore. It felt good to have someone he could share himself with. Although he couldn't tell anyone yet about what was going on in his blood or the various dreams of dragons and mighty beings he was having, sharing a part of him with others seemed ok.

Another shudder passed through the ground beneath their feet, and the air seemed to thicken, as if the very stone around them was holding its breath. Something was waiting in the depths. Something worse than they had yet encountered.

Outside of the cave where Li's group were, Bei Su stumbled through the undergrowth, sweat soaking his clothes despite the forest's cold grip. His legs burned, but he didn't dare stop. Behind him, Lu Heng moved with calculated ease, his expression as hard as stone.

Xiao Chang's blood still stained Lu Heng's sleeve, but he didn't seem to care. Bei Su, however, couldn't shake the memory of his fallen companion's desperate, pleading eyes—or how coldly Lu Heng had sacrificed him.

"You're slowing down," Lu Heng snapped, not even glancing back.

Bei Su's jaw clenched in barely suppressed rage. "You killed him," he hissed.

Lu Heng finally turned, his gaze piercing and devoid of remorse. "He was dead the moment that beast set its eyes on us. I merely chose who it would take."

Bei Su's fists trembled, but he swallowed his fury. Now wasn't the time. He would play along—for now.

A sudden rustling nearby made both boys tense. They exchanged wary glances before melting into the shadows of the trees, ready for whatever horror the forest might unleash next.