Murong

The white-haired man, now freshly washed and dressed in a plain gray robe, stood before Xuefeng and the others in a clearing beyond the Nightmare's lair. Although he still looked a bit shaken from his ordeal inside the monstrous spider, the gleam in his eyes suggested he'd lost none of his easy confidence.

"So, tell us how you ended up in the Nightmare's stomach," Xuefeng said, voice edged with curiosity. "And while you're at it, introduce yourself."

A faint breeze stirred the forest around them, carrying with it the ever-present scent of damp earth and pine. Overhead, tree branches formed a living canopy that filtered sunlight in shifting, speckled patterns. The man took a moment to glance at each person present: Xuefeng—tall and composed, Wuying—eyes keen yet warm, and Xiao Wen—staring at him with something between boredom and disdain.

He cleared his throat and gave a slight bow. "My name is Murong. I hail from the Darkstone Kingdom." He paused, running a slender hand through his white hair. "I don't belong to any clan or family—guess you could say I'm an orphan. For years, I've roamed the continent in search of the most beautiful woman in the world. And now, I think my search is finally at an end." His gaze flicked boldly to Xiao Wen. "Miss, do me the honor of sharing your name?"

Xiao Wen's lips curved into a scornful smile. She folded her arms and stared him down with icy detachment. "I'm not interested in men with tiny weapons."

A spike of awkward silence hung in the air. Murong recovered swiftly, forcing a cocky grin. "It's not the size of the sword, but how you use it." He punctuated the statement with a teasing wink, as if that alone might win her over.

An exasperated sigh escaped Xiao Wen's mouth. "I'm starting to regret saving you. Maybe I should just toss you back into the spider's guts?"

At her threatening tone, Lulu growled low. The rumble in her throat was enough to make Murong backpedal a few steps, hands raised in surrender.

Xuefeng stepped in, clearing his throat. "All right, everyone, relax. This is Wuying, and I'm Liu Xuefeng. The woman you're trying so hard to seduce is Xiao Wen." He cast a pointed look at Murong, who flashed a contrite smile. "But enough about that. How did you end up as the spider's dinner in the first place?"

Easing his stance, Murong shrugged. "Well, I've got a… certain ability that usually keeps me safe—Perfect Defense, you might say. Usually, I can roam anywhere unhindered. Then I ran into that damned Nightmare spider." His shoulders tightened slightly, as if recalling the horror. "It couldn't harm me, so it swallowed me whole. I ended up inside its belly for days. And… well, if not for Goddess Wen, I'd still be in there." He shot a hopeful look at Xiao Wen, who curled her lip in disgust.

Xuefeng felt a soft nudge in his mind—Ling's presence.

He's telling the truth. I'm monitoring his heartbeat, and it lines up. Unless he's a masterful liar, we have no reason to doubt him.

Satisfied, Xuefeng nodded. "I see. Just your bad luck, then. Well, we're done here, so I guess we'll be on our way." He paused, casting a careful glance over Murong's slender form. After all, this man was also a Fate Fragment Holder. Sometimes that alone was enough reason for betrayal in these lands. Better we steer clear.

Murong's eyes widened at the dismissal. "Wait—you're leaving me behind? Goddess, please!" He clutched at his chest dramatically. "Don't abandon me now, not after you've saved my life!"

Xuefeng exchanged a look with Wuying. Both seemed unsure, but it was Wuying who responded first, a whisper of sympathy softening her gaze. "Maybe we let him travel with us for a while. At least until he's back on his feet."

Murong brightened visibly at her words, though a flicker of calculation danced behind his eyes. He pivoted, addressing her with practiced charm. "Miss Wuying, you and Xuefeng are truly a divine match. Anyone can see that at a glance."

Wuying blushed faintly, but raised a skeptical brow. Murong's compliments were a bit too well-timed to be sincere.

"Ugh," Xiao Wen groaned, rolling her eyes. "I can already tell he's going to be unbearable."

Yet, despite her protest, she made no further move to toss him back into the cavern. Instead, she scowled as Lulu let out a soft chuff of annoyance.

Xuefeng ran a hand through his hair. "Fine. Just remember, you're following us on your own. We're not responsible for what might happen." Truth be told, Murong's Perfect Defense made him a tricky enemy. If the man wanted to stick around, forcing him away might be more trouble than it was worth.

Murong flashed a dazzling smile. "Thank you! You won't regret it."

Xiao Wen shot him an icy glare. "I already do."

Wuying merely offered a small shrug, then bent down to stroke Lulu's fur. "It's almost sunset," she noted, nodding toward the reddening sky visible between the branches. "Should we head back to the city? We're only an hour away."

"Nah," Xuefeng said, glancing at the rugged surroundings. Overhead, the sky shifted into a warm orange and pink gradient, and the forest's dim light thickened into dusk. "We spent a lot of time dealing with that Nightmare. I'd like to stay here a few more days to train. It'd be a waste going back and forth."

Murong's eyes gleamed at the mention of training, but he kept his mouth shut for once.

"All right," Wuying agreed. She glanced around, noticing the litter of spider webs and torn body parts. "We should at least move away from this area. The stench will attract other beasts."

As if on cue, Murong fished out a small token from his pouch. It shimmered briefly, and a round black creature no bigger than a melon appeared at his feet. It was all fur and big eyes—kind of a roly-poly fluffball with a quivering nose and a tiny, pink tongue.

"This is Momo, my Black Burrower," Murong explained, scooping the critter up. "He can dig us a cozy hideout in the mountain if we find a good spot."

The adorable creature peeped once, big black eyes blinking shyly. It then leapt onto Wuying's shoulder, nuzzling against her neck. She let out a delighted laugh, stroking its velvety fur. "Aww, it's so cute," she cooed, her earlier wariness replaced by girlish excitement. Momo purred, clearly reveling in the attention.

Murong's smug smile faltered. "He usually… well, never mind." He exhaled, conceding that Momo seemed happier with Wuying.

Xuefeng grinned. "Looks like you just got replaced." Ignoring Murong's groan, he tilted his head. "Let's find a spot near water. There's a good chance we'll need to wash off later."

They walked along the steep mountain wall, leaving the spider's foul nest behind. The air slowly filled with the sound of rushing water, growing louder with every step. Finally, they emerged near a waterfall plummeting from a rocky ledge high above. Mist shimmered in the fading sunset, the cascading torrent forming a deep, cold pool at its base.

"This looks perfect," Xuefeng remarked, stepping closer to the pool's edge. Icy droplets peppered his arms, refreshing after the day's carnage.

"All right, let's see how deep it is," he murmured. Kneeling, he leaned forward to dip a hand into the water. The chill seeped into his bones in seconds, but it was invigorating.

Suddenly, multiple warnings overlapped in his head and ears:

Get away from the water! Ling's mental voice crackled with alarm.

"Xuefeng, watch out!" Xiao Wen shouted, eyes going wide.

Before he could react, a shape blurred beneath the glassy surface. Something lashed out and coiled around Xuefeng's waist, yanking him into the freezing depths with a tremendous splash. Water churned, hurling up foam and spray.

For a heartbeat, a hush descended—Xuefeng was simply gone, vanished beneath the swirling current.