The Coiled Dragon’s Legacy

The first scream cut through the air like a jagged blade, shattering the fragile calm of the village. Li Feng bolted upright from where he sat by the window, his heart thudding in his chest. He pushed the pane open, and the acrid scent of smoke hit him hard. Firelight flickered in the distance, casting eerie shadows against the mountainside.

A second scream followed, then the chaotic clamor of running footsteps. Li Feng didn't think—he grabbed the jade ring and tucked it securely into his sash before racing outside.

The village, normally so tranquil, was now alive with chaos. Flames licked at rooftops, and villagers ran in every direction, their faces masks of terror. Through the haze of smoke, Li Feng caught sight of his father standing in the center of the square, his sword drawn. His commanding presence seemed to halt the panic around him, if only for a moment.

"Feng!" Li Tian barked, his voice sharp and urgent. "Get back inside!"

"What's happening?" Li Feng demanded, his voice shaky but insistent.

"The Scarlet Iron Sect," Li Tian said grimly, his eyes scanning the shadows for movement. "They've come for the ring. You must keep it safe."

Li Feng opened his mouth to argue, but the words caught in his throat as a group of armed soldiers emerged from the edge of the forest. Clad in dark armor and moving with military precision, they were a stark contrast to the disorganized villagers. At their head was a man whose presence seemed to darken the very air around him. Shen Longwei. Even from a distance, Li Feng could feel the weight of his gaze.

"There you are," Shen said, his deep voice carrying easily over the din. His crimson eyes locked onto Li Tian. "The last defender of the Azure Dragon Clan. I had hoped for more."

Li Tian stepped forward, his grip tightening on his blade. "You've overstepped, Longwei. The secrets you seek are not yours to take."

Shen chuckled, the sound low and menacing. "Spare me the lectures, old man. Hand over the ring, and I might let this pathetic village survive."

"You and I both know that's a lie," Li Tian said coldly. Without waiting for a reply, he lunged, his blade flashing in the firelight.

The clash was instantaneous. Li Feng watched, frozen, as his father and Shen met in a storm of steel. Sparks flew with each strike, and the ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet. Around them, the soldiers surged forward, their attention divided between the villagers and the man they had come to kill.

"Li Feng!" his father shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Run!"

Li Feng hesitated, his feet rooted to the ground. The jade ring burned against his chest, as though urging him to move. But his eyes were locked on the battle, on the way his father moved with deadly precision, every strike filled with purpose.

A sharp cry snapped him out of his trance. One of the villagers, an elderly man, had fallen, a soldier towering over him with his sword raised. Instinct took over, and Li Feng darted forward, grabbing a fallen staff from the ground. He swung with all his strength, catching the soldier off guard and knocking him to the ground.

"Feng, go!" his father yelled again, his tone more desperate now. Shen had forced him back several steps, his strikes growing heavier and faster.

This time, Li Feng obeyed. He turned and ran, his feet pounding against the dirt as he wove through the chaos. Soldiers shouted behind him, and he could hear their pursuit. His heart raced as he sprinted toward the edge of the village, the ring a constant weight against his chest.

As he reached the tree line, he glanced back. Shen Longwei stood in the center of the square, his blade raised high, and Li Tian—his father, his mentor, his last remaining family—was still holding his ground. Their eyes met, and in that fleeting moment, Li Feng saw the silent message in his father's gaze.

Live. Protect the legacy.

A soldier's shout brought Li Feng back to the present, and he disappeared into the forest, the shadows swallowing him whole. Behind him, the village burned, and the sound of steel against steel echoed in his ears. Somewhere in the distance, a low, guttural roar rumbled through the night, sending a chill down his spine.

He didn't stop running.