My Journey to Immortality Begins with Hunting

The man and woman were the famed wandering heroes of Cloudpeak Province, the Black and White Swords—Meng Nan the Black Sword and Jiang Shu the White Sword.

The land lay in ruins; most folk could only flee or submit. Yet a few stubborn souls still chose to hurl themselves against the impossible. Jiang Shu was one of them; she had slipped in alone to assassinate one of the chieftains, hoping to console the restless spirits of the common folk. She had tricked her partner and taken the risk alone.

But Meng Nan had guessed her intent and waited in secret. Now, cradling her broken body, he turned and bolted.

Above, the tribe chieftains watched with amused interest rather than anger.

"Tsk, tsk…" Kundar smacked his lips.

At his feet, a huge direwolf rose from its corner.

Kundar tossed it Jiang Shu's severed arm, patted the beast's head, and ordered, "Go. Fetch me supper."

The direwolf swallowed the arm in two chomps, leapt over the railing like a white whirlwind, and hurtled after the fleeing pair.

"Drink, drink!" Kundar chuckled, raising his cup.

Meng Nan raced through the twisted lanes, Jiang Shu fading in his arms.

His footwork was legendary, light as a crane skimming clouds. Yet the direwolf was swifter still, the gap shrinking with every heartbeat.

"Meng Nan, put me down… They only want me," Jiang Shu sobbed, clothing half torn, tears streaking her face.

Meng Nan said nothing, only running harder.

Suddenly, a red mist of life‑essence shimmered around him and his speed surged. It was clearly a forbidden secret art, deadly to himself yet the only way to buy time.

"Meng Nan!" Jiang Shu cried.

For the first time a grin touched his honest face. "Together we live, together we die."

"You big, stupid oaf…!" She clung to him tightly, sobbing quietly.

Even so, he could at most gain some distance from the direwolf, not escape it.

Man and beast hurtled down the moon‑lit alley, the scent of blood and icy wind mingling in their wake.

As the wolf lunged past a side‑street, a ragged giant burst from the darkness, swinging a heavy executioner's blade.

"Meng Nan, Miss Jiang, I have come to repay my debts today!"

KLANG!The blade bounced off the direwolf's hide harmlessly.

A single swipe smashed the big man prone, his head splattering into greymatter and viscera from a single crunch of the direwolf's jaws.

"Old Zhao…" Meng Nan and Jiang Shu swallowed their grief.

That man was a wandering martial artist whose life they had saved in the past. Even in these dire circumstances, he had rushed in without any regard for his life, buying them a heartbeat.

Who dared to claim humanity was cold? Who dared to claim the jianghu lacked honor!?

"We can die without regret," Jiang Shu whispered, "It's just a shame that the poison failed."

Meng Nan grunted, eyes dimming with exhaustion.

The direwolf closed in again.

Just then three figures stepped from the trees ahead, longbows already drawn.

The steadiest of the trio called out, "Black and White Swords, pass quickly!"

Jiang Shu stared. "You three…"

Another archer grinned. "Did you think Cloudrise holds only one soul willing to die? We're the same."

Strings thrummed. The bows bent to full draw, then arrows flew like a storm.

The direwolf swiped at the shafts, slowed by another fraction.

Meng Nan blasted past the archers with Jiang Shu in his arms.

"Our thanks—" he rasped.

"Road's long, heroes! no need for thanks!" The leader laughed, then fixed a baleful glare on the beast. "So what if we couldn't take down your chieftain! At least we'll killyou, mongrel. Die!"

The alley rang with twanging bowstrings and defiant shouts as three lone archers faced the charging direwolf, buying the fleeing swords another sliver of hope.

Meng Nan's eyes squeezed shut, tears glimmering in their corners, yet his legs never stopped. He had no idea how long he ran before fresh, rapid footfalls closed in behind him.

Night had swallowed the last of the sunset; the full moon hung cold overhead.

Death was gaining.

Blindly he veered toward the main gate.

The direwolf had torn through every soul who tried to hinder it and was still on his heels.

"Jiang Shu, go on ahead without me!"

In a sudden move, Meng Nan thrust the crippled Jiang Shu forward.

"Don't waste my life!" he shouted, wheeling with a deep breath and bringing up his greatsword to meet the beast.

Moonlight etched the wolf as it leapt, a living mountain of fur and muscle.

"Hahhh!" Meng Nan's war‑cry shook the street as he swung, intent on splitting the mountain.

KLANGOne paw slapped the sword aside; he was flung spinning, crashing at Jiang Shu's feet and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

She knelt, cradling his face with her single arm, voice gentle. "Silly oaf. Didn't you say so? Together we live, together we die."

He squeezed her hand, blood on his lips and a weary grin there too. "Together."

The direwolf padded forward.

Death drew near—

But just then, from around the corner echoed the rumble of marching feet.

The predator hesitated, ears flattening. Something in that sound chilled even its savage heart. It shuffled back two steps, wavered…then lunged anyway, jaws wide.

Tksss!

A sharp, teasing click, like someone calling a dog, cut through the air.

The wolf froze, backed again, undecided It gathered itself once more.

Tksss!

That single syllable cracked like a spell. The wolf quivered, unable to advance.

Curiosity overrode fear; the Black And White Swords turned.

Out of the moon‑drenched darkness strode a dark robed youth astride a steel‑grey direwolf. An azure long blade was strapped to his back, and a river of torch‑bearing tribal warriors flooded the street behind him. The pressure he radiated made breathing hard.

Tksss!

The youth clicked his tongue again.

The direwolf whimpered, dropped to its belly, paws tucked like a chastened hound.

Riding past, the young man looked down at the bleeding pair. "You won't die. Get to a healer." His tone was as matter‑of‑fact as if he were discussing the weather.

The two were almost too stunned to hear.

"Blacktooth!"

At the youth's call, a hulking tribesmen bounced forward, beaming. "Here, Khagan!"

Jen'gal Blacktooth  all but glowed with pride. The Khagan had called for him specifically!

Li Yuan spoke calmly, "They're mine now; this city isminenow. Escort them to the infirmary. If anyone so much as scratches what's mine, deal with them."

"Yes, Khagan!" Blacktooth turned to the swordsmen. "Up, up, quick to the physician! The Khagans forbids your deaths, so dying is not allowed!"

Meng Nan managed a bloody laugh of defiance. "We serve no master!"

"Kill us, if you must," Jiang Shu added.

Li Yuan only repeated, "Blacktooth, take them."

The Trueflame Tribe warrior hustled the bewildered pair away, fussing like a nursemaid.

Only then did Meng Nan and Jiang Shu grasp the absurdity. The dreadedKhaganwas…rescuing them?

Behind them, the monstrous direwolf trotted at Li Yuan's heel, reduced to a meek lapdog.

The stars glittered, and moonlight flowed like silver.

Ahead loomed The Starcatcher.

Li Yuan tugged his mount's ruff; the direwolf halted. He stepped onto thin air, flames billowing around him until he hung above the rooftops like a newborn sun, drenching Cloudrise in blinding radiance.

His voice—part thunder, part beast roar—rolled over the revelers in the ten-story pagoda below.

"You have met the Khagan. Why have you not knelt?"