Thunder Fist Spirit Art

A sudden flurry of whispers drifted through the canopy, sibilant as snakes.

"What's he doing now?"

"Is he really gonna fight that monster barehanded?"

"He might be crazy. Or just that confident. Maybe he's got a powerful clan behind him."

"Relax. After tangling with a berserk Metal Bear, he'll be half-dead—or just plain dead. Then we step in. And those ladies? Probably just his servants, with no real power."

"Heh… what about having fun with 'em first, then taking whatever we want?"

"Exactly. Kill the guy, snatch the bear's Spirit Artifact, and enjoy ourselves." Their voices turned low and oily, thick with lecherous glee.

Hidden in the dense foliage, two men in black cloaks surveyed the battle, eyes gleaming with greed. When they heard the roars and the clash of steel, they'd crept forward, drawn by the promise of loot and easy prey. One or two well-placed strikes after the fight, and they could clean up like vultures.

***

Meanwhile, out on the battlefield, Ling's voice hummed inside Xuefeng's head.

We don't have much Lightning Qi left, so you've only got one shot at this. We'll need to save the rest for your cultivation. Use Thunder Fist—it requires the least Qi. When the bear charges and leaps, drive your lightning straight through its heart.

It was a precise, deadly plan. Xuefeng replayed the technique in his mind, recalling how it felt—like a coil of white-hot sparks gathering in his palm. Ahead of him, the Metal Bear gave a furious roar, its injuries fully healed. Rivulets of black blood clung to its matted fur, but the creature's eyes blazed with savage intent. It hated being forced into Berserk Mode—an ability that could only be used once a month, with severe aftereffects to boot.

But in its maddened rage, it no longer cared. It pounded the earth, rearing up. Then it hurled itself forward in a massive leap, muscles straining as it aimed to crush Xuefeng beneath its bulk and tear him limb from limb.

At that same instant, Xuefeng's right hand crackled with small white arcs of lightning, dancing in the air like living serpents. His body blurred, accelerating beneath the bear's descending form. He drew his fist back, adjusting ever so slightly to strike deeper than just the front legs. That's where the heart should be, he reminded himself. Do or die.

He drove his lightning-charged fist upward. There was a wet, ripping sound as electricity tore through steel-like fur and sinew. And then—

Thump.

The Metal Bear's massive corpse slammed the earth, momentum sending it skidding a few meters before it stopped. The gaping wound through its chest still crackled with lightning. Xuefeng's upper body emerged from the ragged hole in the creature's back, bathed in blood and gore.

He pushed himself free, dripping with viscera, chest heaving from the exertion. God, he thought, stomach lurching at the sight. It was only the adrenaline—and Ling's unwavering support in his mind—that kept him from retching.

Well done, Ling said, her mental tone warm with approval. Now, collect the Spirit Artifact.

A glowing red crystal hovered above the beast's head, pulsing weakly. Xuefeng reached out and scooped it into his palm. The stone felt warm, almost alive, and he instinctively channeled it into his dantian.

That's a Berserk Crystal, Ling explained, as the gem sank into Xuefeng's core. Activate it to multiply your strength and regenerate injuries without relying on my Fate Qi. The effect only lasts a few minutes, and you'll feel nasty backlash afterward. But I can patch you up. It recharges in about a week. Not a bad prize.

My first real loot, Xuefeng mused, lips curving into a weary smile. He couldn't help but feel a burst of pride.

"Hey!" Xiao Wen's voice called from the lakeside, a teasing lilt to it. "Go rinse off. You reek of bear innards." Wuying, still flushed with residual worry, nodded in agreement, wrinkling her nose.

"Right… sure," Xuefeng managed, glancing down at the congealing gore slathered across his clothes—what remained of them. He hurried to the water's edge, already peeling off the shredded fabric.

As he dove into the lake, the two women exchanged glances. Each question in their eyes was obvious: Should we go hunt the other threats that might be lurking around? Or handle the bear's remains first?

Xiao Wen gave a casual shrug. "I'll take the rats," she said, her voice dropping to a dark, almost playful tone. Without another word, she vanished from view, her speed frighteningly swift.

Not far off, hidden amid the trunk of a towering oak, the two cloaked men trembled in indecision.

"Brother, let's get the hell out of here," whispered the shorter one, eyes wide with fear. The image of Xuefeng tearing right through the bear's chest was seared into his mind.

"Forget the plan," the other spat, equally rattled. "That guy… He's not normal. We need a weaker target."

They nodded to each other, turning to run—only to freeze when a slender figure materialized in front of them like a phantom.

"Leaving so soon?" Xiao Wen asked, her devilish smile refracting in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the leaves.

The pair exchanged a frantic look, then bolted in opposite directions. "Disperse!"

Xiao Wen gave an exaggerated sigh. "I hate it when prey runs." Her eyes narrowed, the edges of her lips curling. "Guess I'll do some hunting after all."

The first brother didn't get far; moments later, a blood-curdling scream rang out. The second brother, the shorter one, pushed his body to the limit, stumbling through the underbrush. Can't outrun her… Gotta hide, his mind chanted. Just as he spotted a hollow in a fallen tree, he heard soft footsteps behind him—unnaturally close.

"If you don't want to die," came Xiao Wen's voice, cold as a midnight wind, "you'd better fight."

He spun to see her standing a few paces away, her gaze flicking down to the blood on her fist. Recognition hit him—his brother's blood.

"Please—don't—I'll—" The man broke into panicked sobs, dropping to his knees.

Xiao Wen's expression was unreadable. "Such a disappointment," she murmured. "I hate killing cowards, but you leave me no choice." She lifted her hand; a black fireball coalesced in her palm, sizzling with lethal heat. With a thunderous crack, it consumed the man, incinerating him before he could even scream.

When the flames dissipated, swirling like living shadows, there was nothing left but charred earth. Xiao Wen glanced at the smoking crater, then turned and walked away. They had nothing of value, she reasoned. No point scavenging. The black flames rippled once, then slithered back into her sleeve with eerie grace.

She returned to the lakeshore, where Wuying was examining the fallen Metal Bear. A hush settled over the clearing, broken only by the soft lapping of water against stone.