Curse of the Supreme Blood

The dense forest was eerily silent, as if even the creatures within had learned to fear the presence of those who treaded its shadowed paths. Lu Heng's eyes, cold and unwavering, scanned the surroundings as Bei Fu stumbled behind him, still struggling to keep pace. Lu Heng had been searching for Li's group in vain since the previous evening after the shadowfang's attack and he was growing frustrated. His aim of coming on the sect mission was not to collect any herbs but to grow stronger by absorbing Li's power. It was all seeing an impossible task as the day wore on.

The two moved swiftly through the undergrowth, their steps light and deliberate. Sweat ran down Bei Su's face, but he dared not complain. The memory of Xiao Chang's lifeless form lingered like a bitter taste in his mouth, and the guilt gnawed at his gut, but he swallowed it down. There was no time for weakness.

"You're slow," Lu Heng muttered without looking back, his voice cold as ever. His gaze remained fixed ahead, scanning the shadows, trying to pierce the secret of Li's whereabouts from the deadly forest.

Bei Fu clenched his fists but said nothing. His anger was a quiet storm brewing beneath the surface, but he held it in check. Lu Heng's indifference to Xiao Chang's death only deepened his disgust, yet there was no escape from this senior brother. Lu Cheng was alert and getting angrier by the minute over not locating Zhang Wei's group. Bei Fu wondered what it was that Lu Cheng wanted with the other group. But he was too afraid to ask.

They moved through the woods with practiced ease, the quiet rustling of the leaves and the distant chirps of the forest creatures their only company. It wasn't long before a sudden, sharp noise broke the silence—a deep growl that seemed to vibrate through the ground. Both of them froze, instinctively slipping into the shadows of the trees.

Lu Heng's eyes narrowed as his fingers twitched near the hilt of his sword. He could feel it—a presence that wasn't just the typical predator of the forest. It was something larger, something more menacing.

"It's close," Bei Fu whispered, his voice barely audible. His heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He hated the way his body reacted to fear, but there was no mistaking the danger that was drawing nearer.

Suddenly, the bushes parted, and a massive creature emerged—a beast unlike anything they had encountered before. Its fur was matted and dark, its eyes glowing a sickly yellow as it sniffed the air, searching for its prey. A low, guttural growl rumbled from its throat as it prowled through the underbrush, oblivious to their presence.

Bei Su's hand went instinctively to his weapon, but Lu Heng's sharp gaze stopped him.

"Stay quiet," Lu Heng hissed, his eyes fixed on the creature. "We don't engage unless we have to."

The beast's movements were slow and deliberate, its head swiveling side to side as it scanned the area. Lu Heng's expression was unreadable, his body still as a stone, waiting for the right moment to strike—or flee. The creature's growl echoed through the forest, but soon it moved off, sensing no immediate threat.

Bei Fu let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

"That was too close," Bei Su muttered, lowering his hand from his weapon.

"Focus," Lu Heng snapped. "We continue."

Meanwhile, further along the forest path, a second group from the mission—led by Senior Brother Gao and accompanied by several junior members—was making its way through the dense foliage. Their goal was to collect rare herbs, but unlike the previous group, their journey had been uneventful, at least for now.

Gao's face was set in a permanent scowl as he trudged along, scanning the forest with his sharp eyes. His companions, mostly junior cultivators, were focused on their tasks, collecting any ordinary herbs they could find. There was nothing extraordinary in their haul thus far—just simple plants that would barely be of interest to most cultivators. Still, it was something. But they needed their luck to improve.

"Anything of note?" Gao asked, his voice gruff.

One of the junior cultivators, a lanky youth with short-cropped hair, stepped forward and handed Gao a handful of green leaves. "These are good for minor healing potions, Senior Brother."

Gao nodded, inspecting the herbs with a professional eye. "Nothing spectacular, but it'll do. Keep looking. We might find something better further in else we wont earn much sect points. Remember the rarer the plant, the more valuable and the more abundant the sect points"

But as the group continued through the woods, there was nothing remarkable to be found. Simple healing herbs, some that might help with energy recovery, but nothing of real value. The deeper they went, the more desolate the forest seemed. The usual vibrant energy of the plants had begun to fade, replaced by an eerie, unnatural quiet.

Gao furrowed his brow. Something felt off, though he couldn't place it. "Keep your guard up. There's something wrong about this place."

The cultivators nodded, moving closer together as they continued their search. They had no idea that just beyond their path, a far darker force was beginning to stir, something far more dangerous than the ordinary herbs they had been gathering.

As Bei Su and Lu Heng continued their journey deeper into the forest, both feeling the oppressive weight of the unknown pressing down on them. As they walked, they began to hear faint sounds—a strange, rhythmic pulsing echoing through the trees. It was something beyond the usual forest noise.

"That… that's not natural," Bei Fu said quietly, his voice tinged with fear.

Lu Heng's eyes narrowed. "No, it's not. Stay alert."

Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and the trees shook as if some great force was approaching. From the shadows, another creature emerged, its enormous, sinewy form slithering toward them with terrifying speed. Its body was like a serpent, but its head was that of a massive, horned wolf, its eyes glowing red as it locked onto the two men.

Lu Heng didn't hesitate. In one fluid motion, he drew his sword, its blade gleaming with deadly intent.

"Stay close, Bei Su," he ordered, his tone a sharp command. "This will be a fight."

The creature lunged, its jaws snapping, but Lu Heng was faster. He sidestepped with ease, slashing the beast across the side with his sword. It let out a deafening roar, rearing back before charging again. The clash of steel and claws filled the air, the forest trembling with the force of the battle.

Bei Fu stood back, watching, his body tense as he waited for the right moment to intervene. His heart raced, but he knew better than to act without command.

Lu Heng's movements were fluid, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. Each strike seemed to make the beast falter, but it wasn't enough to bring it down. With a final, powerful slash, Lu Heng severed the creature's head, sending it crashing to the ground in a heap of blood and fur.

The forest fell silent again, the only sound now the heavy breathing of the two men.

"That was close," Bei Fu muttered, stepping forward, his face pale from the adrenaline.

Lu Heng wiped the blood from his blade, sheathing it with a calm, practiced motion. "We're not out of danger yet. Let's keep moving."

Lu Heng and Bei Su moved deeper into the dark forest, the smell of damp earth and blood lingering in the air. Their encounter with the beast had only confirmed what Lu Heng already suspected—their mission was far more dangerous than they'd been led to believe. The dense foliage cast deep shadows that danced menacingly as the wind rustled the leaves.

Bei Fu, still shaken, kept glancing back, convinced that something might lunge from the darkness at any moment. Lu Heng, however, walked ahead with cold precision, his grip steady on his sheathed sword.

"We can't keep pushing like this," Bei Fu finally said, breathing heavily. "We need to regroup with others."

Lu Heng stopped abruptly and turned, his expression harsh. "We're not running back like cowards. This is our chance to prove our strength."

"But what if—" Bei Fu's words died on his lips as a distant, echoing roar shattered the stillness of the forest. Both boys tensed, their eyes locking. This wasn't just another beast; the sound was deeper, more primal.

"We move faster," Lu Heng commanded, breaking into a jog. Bei Fu followed, fear gnawing at his insides but unwilling to be left behind.

Meanwhile, senior Brother Gao and his team continued gathering herbs in a relatively peaceful section of the forest. They hadn't encountered any beasts, though the ominous quiet had begun to wear on their nerves. The usual chirps of birds and rustling of small creatures were absent. Only the wind whispered faintly through the trees.

One of the junior cultivators, Mei Lin, knelt by a cluster of luminescent blue herbs growing near a moss-covered boulder. Her hands worked deftly, carefully plucking the valuable plants. "These will fetch a high sect points," she said, forcing a smile.

Gao barely acknowledged her, his eyes scanning the surrounding forest. His instincts told him something wasn't right. He gripped the hilt of his sword, every muscle in his body taut.

Suddenly, the underbrush ahead shifted. Something massive moved silently through the foliage—too quiet for its size. Gao raised his hand, signaling the others to stay still.

The shadows parted just enough for him to see it—a hulking, feline-like beast with jet-black fur and glowing amber eyes. Its body rippled with muscle, and its claws gleamed like polished obsidian. But it didn't attack. It only stared, as if weighing its options.

"Don't move," Gao whispered, his voice steady. He slowly drew his sword, the metallic sound barely audible. His eyes never left the beast.

Seconds stretched into agonizing minutes. Then, just as silently as it had appeared, the creature melted back into the darkness, vanishing without a sound. Gao didn't relax until he was sure it was gone.

"Let's move," he ordered sharply. "Stay close, and don't wander off."

His team followed in tense silence, realizing that the forest was far more dangerous than they had anticipated.

The group led by Senior Sister Yan Zhi, had been fortunate—or so they thought. They had faced no beasts, only gathering simple herbs and plants of low value. Their journey felt more like a peaceful stroll than a dangerous mission.

Yan Zhi, a composed and disciplined leader, walked ahead, cataloging their findings. "We'll head back after this area. The elders will be disappointed, but at least we'll return unharmed."

One of the younger cultivators, Wen Shu, grinned. "Maybe the forest likes us. No monsters, no trouble—just herbs."

Yan Zhi frowned. "Stay alert. Luck doesn't last forever."

As if on cue, a sudden gust of wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. Yan Zhi's sharp eyes scanned the horizon, but she saw nothing unusual. Still, unease prickled her skin.

"We leave now," she commanded. "Hurry up."

The group obeyed, their earlier lightheartedness gone. The forest's mood had shifted, and even the wind seemed to whisper warnings they couldn't understand.

 Lu Heng and Bei Fu continued their hurried pace, senses on high alert as they traversed through the forest. The distant roars grew more frequent, vibrating through the ground like distant thunder. Something massive was on the move—and getting closer.

Without warning, Lu Heng stopped and drew his sword, his gaze fixed ahead. Bei Fu followed his line of sight and went pale.

Emerging from the shadows was a monstrous creature—a grotesque fusion of wolf and serpent, with scales that shimmered darkly and fangs dripping with venom. Its twisted, horned head turned toward them, its red eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence.

Lu Heng wasted no time. "Prepare yourself," he ordered. "We fight."

The beast lunged, a blur of muscle and teeth. Lu Heng met it head-on, his blade flashing as he deflected its snapping jaws. Bei Su circled to its side, launching a blast of flame from his palm. The fire struck the beast's flank, searing its scaled hide, but it only enraged the monster further.

Snarling, the creature whipped its powerful tail, sending Bei Su crashing into a tree. He gasped in pain but forced himself to stand, his fists glowing with fiery energy.

Unfazed, Lu Heng pressed the attack. His sword struck with deadly precision, cutting through the creature's thick scales with calculated strikes, leaving a small wound behind. The beast roared in agony but retaliated with equal ferocity, its claws raking at him with terrifying speed.

Bei Fu joined the fray again, unleashing another blast of flame. This time, the combined assault forced the beast to retreat, wounded but still dangerous.

Breathing heavily, Lu Heng wiped blood from a cut on his cheek. His eyes burned with determination. "It's not done yet."

The beast snarled, its breath steaming in the cold air as it prepared for a final, desperate charge.

Lu Heng raised his blade, ready. This time, he would make sure it didn't survive.