The inn was quiet except for the faint hum of conversation from the common room below. Xu Tian sat cross-legged on the creaky wooden floor of his rented room, the single candle on the bedside table casting flickering shadows across the walls. His thoughts were focused, his breathing slow and deliberate as he tried to center himself.
But the whispers of the star wouldn’t let him.
“They are closing in,” the star murmured, its voice a cold, relentless pressure in his mind. “You cannot escape. They will take what is ours unless you act.”
Xu Tian’s hands curled into fists. He didn’t need the star to tell him what he already knew. The Scarlet Peak disciples were here, and they wouldn’t stop until they had his head—or worse.
A faint knock on the door broke his concentration.
“Xu Tian,” Qiao Rui’s voice called softly from the other side. “It’s time.”
Xu Tian stood, the shadows at his feet rippling faintly as he moved. He opened the door to find Qiao Rui leaning casually against the frame, his expression calm but serious.
“They’re moving,” Qiao Rui said, stepping inside and shutting the door behind him. “Three of them. Two men, one woman. They’ve been asking questions about a traveler matching your description.”
Xu Tian frowned. “And you’re sure they’re from Scarlet Peak?”
Qiao Rui smirked. “Crimson robes, smug expressions, and a thirst for blood? They couldn’t be anyone else.”
Xu Tian’s jaw tightened. “What’s the plan?”
Qiao Rui unfolded a crude map of the town, pointing to a narrow alley that ran parallel to the market square. “They’ll pass through here soon. It’s a chokepoint—tight, confined, and easy to control. We’ll set the ambush there.”
Xu Tian studied the map, his mind racing. “You’re assuming they’ll walk into the trap.”
“They will,” Qiao Rui said confidently. “Scarlet Peak disciples are arrogant. They’ll think they’re hunting prey, not walking into danger.”
“And if they don’t?”
Qiao Rui shrugged. “Then we adapt. But I’d bet my last coin they won’t be expecting someone like you.”
Xu Tian’s shadows stirred, responding to the tension in the air. “What about Yan Mei and Li Wei? If things go wrong—”
“I’ve already spoken to them,” Qiao Rui interrupted. “They’ll stay at the healer’s shop until this is over.”
Xu Tian nodded, though a part of him still felt uneasy. He didn’t like leaving loose ends, and Yan Mei’s presence complicated things. But there wasn’t time to dwell on it.
“Fine,” he said. “Let’s end this.”
The alley was dark and narrow, the faint glow of lanterns barely illuminating the cracked stone walls. Xu Tian stood in the shadows, his body tense, his eyes fixed on the entrance where the Scarlet Peak disciples would appear.
Qiao Rui crouched on a nearby rooftop, his silhouette barely visible against the night sky. He had promised to handle the element of surprise, but Xu Tian wasn’t entirely sure what that meant.
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before the sound of footsteps echoed down the alley. Xu Tian’s heart quickened as three figures emerged from the darkness, their crimson robes unmistakable.
If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Zhao Feng led the group, his sharp features twisted into a smug grin as he scanned the alley. Liu Qing and the other disciple flanked him, their movements precise and coordinated.
“They’re here,” Zhao Feng said, his voice echoing in the narrow space. “Spread out. He’s close—I can feel it.”
Xu Tian stepped forward, his shadows coiling at his feet. “Looking for me?”
The disciples turned sharply, their eyes narrowing as they spotted him.
“Well, well,” Zhao Feng said, his grin widening. “The prodigal cripple returns. You’ve caused quite a stir, Xu Tian.”
Xu Tian’s expression remained cold. “And yet here I am, still standing.”
“Not for long,” Zhao Feng replied. He drew his blade, its edge glowing faintly with crimson energy. “The elders were clear. You’re to be brought back alive, but they didn’t say in what condition.”
Xu Tian’s shadows flared, rising around him like a living storm. “Come and try.”
Zhao Feng didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Xu Tian’s shadows surged to meet the attack, forming a barrier that absorbed the blow. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the alley, cracks spidering across the stone walls.
Liu Qing flanked Xu Tian, her hands weaving intricate sigils that summoned bursts of fiery energy. The flames roared toward him, but he moved with practiced ease, his shadows forming tendrils that swatted the fireballs aside.
The third disciple came from behind, his spear thrusting toward Xu Tian’s back. But before the weapon could land, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
An arrow struck the spear mid-thrust, knocking it off course. Qiao Rui stood on the rooftop above, his bowstring taut as he fired another shot. The arrow grazed Liu Qing’s shoulder, drawing blood and forcing her to retreat.
“Keep them busy!” Qiao Rui called. “I’ll handle the rest.”
Xu Tian didn’t respond. He was too focused on Zhao Feng, whose relentless strikes were growing faster, more aggressive. The shadows at Xu Tian’s feet writhed, lashing out in quick, controlled bursts to counter each attack.
“Impressive,” Zhao Feng said, his blade clashing against Xu Tian’s defenses. “But it won’t save you.”
Xu Tian’s eyes narrowed. “We’ll see about that.”
The fight escalated, the narrow alley filled with flashes of light and bursts of shadow. Xu Tian could feel the star’s power rising within him, its whispers growing louder as the battle dragged on.
“Unleash us,” the star urged. “Let us show them true power.”
“No,” Xu Tian muttered, his voice strained. “Not yet.”
But he was losing ground. Zhao Feng’s strikes were relentless, and Liu Qing’s fire magic was forcing him to split his attention. Qiao Rui was doing his best to cover him, but the third disciple had climbed onto the rooftop, engaging him in close combat.
Xu Tian needed to end this—and fast.
He took a deep breath, focusing on the shadows around him. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a wave of darkness surging toward Liu Qing, forcing her to dodge. At the same time, he stepped into Zhao Feng’s next strike, letting his shadows absorb the brunt of the blow as he countered with a tendril that wrapped around the man’s wrist.
Zhao Feng’s eyes widened as the shadows tightened, forcing him to drop his blade.
“Got you,” Xu Tian said coldly.
But before he could strike, Liu Qing screamed a warning.
“Zhao, move!”
Zhao Feng twisted his body, breaking free of the shadows just as an explosion of fire erupted behind Xu Tian. The force of the blast sent him sprawling, his vision swimming as he hit the ground.
When he looked up, Zhao Feng was standing over him, his blade back in hand.
“This is the end,” Zhao Feng said, raising his sword.
Time seemed to slow as the blade descended. Xu Tian could feel the star’s power surging within him, the whispers rising to a deafening crescendo.
“Let us take control,” the star hissed. “Unleash us, and no one will stand in your way.”
Xu Tian’s fists clenched. He didn’t want to give in—but he didn’t have a choice.
“Fine,” he growled. “Do it.”
The shadows erupted around him, a storm of black tendrils that lashed out in every direction. Zhao Feng’s blade was caught mid-swing, the shadows wrapping around it and tearing it from his grasp.
Xu Tian rose to his feet, his eyes glowing faintly with dark energy as the star’s power coursed through him. The whispers were no longer faint—they filled the air around him, a chorus of voices that seemed to shake the very ground.
“You wanted to see power?” Xu Tian said, his voice cold and inhuman. “Here it is.”
The Scarlet Peak disciples recoiled, their confidence shattered as Xu Tian advanced. The shadows around him writhed like living things, their presence suffocating and terrible.
Far above, on a distant mountaintop, a figure watched the unfolding scene through a glowing mirror.
“He’s awakening,” the figure murmured. “Soon, the heavens themselves will tremble.”
