Peril Along the Path

LUO FAN

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The road ahead was silent—too silent. The wind didn't stir the tall grass, and even the birds seemed to have vanished. As our carriage rolled along the narrow dirt path, I felt a cold shiver creep up my spine, though the sun still shone high above. Something was wrong.

"Stop the carriage," I told the coachman, raising a hand.

He obeyed without question, pulling the reins until the horses came to a halt. I stepped down, the soles of my boots crunching on the gravel. The others peeked through the carriage windows, anxiety in their eyes.

I walked ahead slowly, eyes scanning the terrain. The first thing I saw was a boot—just the boot. No leg in it.

Then came the body, or what remained of it. Torn to shreds, barely recognizable as human. Blood soaked the earth beneath it, dark and half-dried under the sun. His arms were missing, ripped from the shoulders as if by some beast with monstrous strength.

"Stay back!" I called to the coachman, then moved forward cautiously.

The deeper I walked into the overgrown bend, the more corpses I found. Some were bandits—I could tell from the tattered uniforms and crude weapons—but others looked like common travelers. A woman's body was draped against a stone, her eyes wide open in terror. Her torso had been split open clean down the middle. Others were missing limbs entirely, torn apart like ragdolls.

This wasn't an ordinary ambush.

It was a massacre.

A sudden growl cut through the air like a blade.

I spun around just in time to see a hulking form burst from the foliage, its limbs unnaturally long and misshapen. Its face resembled a wolf's, but twisted with a lion's fangs and too many eyes—six in total, glowing red with hunger. Its limbs ended in curved claws like a giant raptor's, and the leathery skin along its flanks looked almost reptilian, armored and cracked.

This thing… it wasn't natural. It looked like some twisted experiment—like three beasts had been torn apart and stitched together by some deranged alchemist.

I grabbed my bamboo staff and met the creature head-on.

It moved fast, faster than anything its size should've. I parried its first swipe and struck across its flank, but the blade barely cut through the scales. It roared, lashing at me again with talons that gouged deep into the ground. We danced through bloodstained soil, dodging and striking in a blur of motion.

Then I heard another growl—from behind me.

My head whipped around.

Another beast had emerged. This one smaller, sleeker, with fur like black smoke and fangs like jagged obsidian. It leapt onto the carriage—the very one Lan Feng was inside—and with a horrific screech, it began clawing and tearing at the wood, splinters flying in all directions.

"Lan Feng!" I shouted.

I redoubled my efforts. With a precise, focused strike, I slammed my staff into the first beast's throat, crushing its windpipe. It let out a strangled gurgle before collapsing at my feet, twitching in its death throes.

I didn't wait to breathe.

I ran.

Just as I reached the carriage, I saw Lan Feng jump out, sword in hand—a standard cultivator's blade, likely given to him by the merchant Su Mingzhi. His eyes were blazing with focus, stance defensive but unsure. He had only just begun to swing when the beast lunged.

I jumped in front of him and parried the beast's next attack with my staff. "Fall back!" I ordered.

"I'm fine, Gege!" he called out, but he obeyed, retreating just enough to give me space.

This second creature was faster than the first, striking with whip-like motions of its tail and claws. But its speed was predictable. And soon, a sharp crack echoed through the clearing as my staff connected with its skull. The creature dropped with a wet thud.

I turned immediately and grabbed Lan Feng's face between my hands, inspecting him for wounds. "Are you alright?" I asked, breathless.

He nodded, his voice soft but steady. "I'm fine, Gege."

The caravan was quiet for a moment, then erupted with noise. Merchants and guards poured from the carriages, their relief plain on their faces.

"Priest Luo! Young Master Lan! Thank the heavens you were with us!"

"Those beasts… what in the world were they?"

"They would've torn us all apart if not for you!"

I waved them off. "Help me move the bodies off the road. We can't stay here."

They hurried to obey.

As I wiped the blood from my staff, I glanced at Lan Feng. His hands were trembling just slightly, but his expression remained composed. He was braver than most.

But I knew now that this journey wouldn't be as simple as I thought. The Breeder had caught wind of his scent, and he would send more monsters until he was certain that the Devil of the South was dead—or captured.

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

The moment we spotted the town Feishui in the distance, I made the decision that it was time to part ways with the merchant caravan. Instead of taking coin as payment, I requested food supplies. It was safer that way—I wouldn't have to enter the market and risk being recognized.

As we exchanged farewells, I noticed one of the merchants quietly handing something to Lan Feng, who accepted it with a strangely flustered expression. His ears were pink, and he avoided my gaze like a child caught sneaking sweets before dinner.

I decided not to question it right away.

I looked around, trying to decide which way we're going. Going back the same road was not an option anymore after that encounter with those beasts. More of them might be waiting there, searching for Lan Feng's scent.

There was no other way. We had to go through the woods once again. But perhaps I should treat Lan Feng for a drink and snack before continuing.

Fortunately, there was a small tea house near the town gate. It was probably built there to cater for thirsty and hungry travelers. We should be safe there, as long as we didn't linger too long.

As we continued down the road, I noticed Lan Feng staring at something in his hand, and then he hid it under his sleeve. My curiosity got the better of me. "What did that man give you?" I asked.

Lan Feng flinched, the way one does when caught hiding something under the bed.

"It's nothing, Gege," he said too quickly.

"Lan Feng," I said, narrowing my eyes. "You're a terrible liar. Show me."

He fiddled with the hem of his sleeve. "It's just... an oil."

"For what?" I raised an eyebrow. "Your hair? Or your joints? Or are we pretending it's a culinary ingredient now?"

"It's for massage," he said, clearly panicking. "Just massage. That's all."

My frown deepened. "Massage? Why would a merchant give you massage oil for free?"

He looked away. "Because... I liked the bottle. It's made of jade."

"That's not an answer." I halted and turned to him. "Lan Feng. Show me."

Sighing like he'd just been asked to surrender a family heirloom, he reluctantly pulled a delicate jade flask from under his sleeve and placed it in my palm like he was handing over a forbidden treasure.

I examined it, reading the elegant gold-etched inscription. "'Heavenly Glide Elixir,'" I read aloud. "What kind of massage oil is this supposed to be?"

"It's just an oil, gege," he insisted, voice strained. "For relaxation. Or... slipping."

"Slipping?"

He nodded, dead serious. "Slipping. Like... gliding. That's why it says glide."

Suspicious, I popped the lid and sniffed the contents. It was indeed fragrant—floral and sweet, with a warming undertone that clung to the air. I resealed it and handed it back. "Alright," I said slowly. "You may keep it. Though I fail to see why you'd need such luxurious oil. Who exactly are you planning to massage?"

He flushed immediately. "You."

My hand stopped midair.

"In case gege's back hurts," he added quickly, trying to sound helpful. "Or if you're cold and want to feel warm. It's good for muscle pain. Really."

I narrowed my eyes. "Lan Feng, I will never ask you to massage me."

He looked crestfallen for exactly half a breath before his chin lifted defiantly. "Then I'll wait until you're too tired to say no."

I blinked. "What?"

"Nothing," he said brightly, tucking the jade bottle back into his sleeve like a child hiding a candy stash. "But I'm keeping this. It was a gift. It would be rude to return it."

"I'm sure it would," I muttered.

He beamed. "Thank you, gege!"

He practically skipped beside me, radiating pride like someone who had just secured the ultimate treasure.