The Art of Shadows

The cold night air stilled as the two cultivators emerged from the trees, their eyes narrowing in on Han Tianlong and his grandmother. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the chirping of crickets and rustling leaves suddenly silenced, as if the world knew a battle was about to begin.

Han Tianlong stood, his body still buzzing from the energy surging through him. It wasn't the same weakness he had always felt when watching stronger cultivators pass through their village. No—this was different. He could feel the power coiling deep within him, ready to be unleashed, though he had no idea how to control it yet.

"Well, well, look who we found," sneered the taller of the two cultivators. His robes bore the insignia of the Red Tiger Sect, a group infamous for its ruthless pursuit of power. His gaze shifted between Tianlong and his grandmother. "I told you, didn't I? We should've killed them both earlier. Now we get to clean up this mess."

The shorter one, a woman with cold eyes and a blade at her hip, nodded. "Let's finish this quickly. We can't let anyone know what happened here."

Tianlong's heart pounded in his chest, but his grandmother stepped in front of him, her back straight, her eyes defiant despite her age and injuries. "If you think you can kill him that easily, you're gravely mistaken."

"Old woman," the taller cultivator scoffed, "you have no idea what you're talking about. We've already killed your entire village. What's one more corpse?"

Without hesitation, he launched forward, his hand blazing with a red aura, crackling with raw energy. In that moment, everything slowed down for Tianlong. His grandmother's words echoed in his mind—you have awakened, Tianlong. The path before you is long and perilous, but you are now ready to walk it.

Something stirred within him. The fragments of knowledge he had glimpsed earlier now flashed vividly in his mind. Instinct took over as he felt the energy within him surge to the surface. The world around him sharpened, and his body moved with a speed and precision he had never known.

Before the cultivator's attack could reach his grandmother, Tianlong stepped forward, his hand raised. A wave of energy rippled out from him, and the red aura of the cultivator's strike dissipated instantly. The taller man staggered back, his face twisted in shock and confusion.

"What…?" the cultivator gasped, staring at Tianlong with wide eyes. "How did you…?"

Even Tianlong was surprised by what had just happened. He didn't know how he had done it, but something inside him had reacted—an instinctive force tied to the strange energy he had inherited. His mind raced, trying to grasp what had just occurred.

The female cultivator narrowed her eyes, taking a step forward. "That wasn't an ordinary technique… there's something strange about this boy."

Tianlong could feel it now—the power wasn't fully his, not yet. It was as though the tablet had unlocked a fragment of his potential, but there was much more hidden within. He wasn't ready to face these opponents head-on, not without understanding more of what he had gained. His heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. He needed to buy time.

His grandmother, her eyes burning with pride, glanced at him. "Tianlong, you are stronger than you know. Trust yourself."

Before he could respond, the female cultivator rushed at them, her blade gleaming in the moonlight as she drew it from her hip. She moved like a phantom, fast and precise, her strikes aimed directly at Tianlong's heart.

Time seemed to slow again, and Tianlong's body reacted. He sidestepped the first strike with surprising agility, his movements fluid and graceful. The blade narrowly missed him, slicing through the air where he had just stood. The female cultivator's eyes widened as she adjusted her stance, preparing for another strike, but Tianlong was already moving.

He didn't know how or why, but his body acted on its own, guided by some hidden force. He dodged the next attack with ease, and with a swift movement, he raised his hand. The energy surged within him again, this time more controlled. A soft, shadowy mist began to form around him, swirling and coiling like smoke.

"What kind of power is this?" the female cultivator hissed, retreating slightly as the mist thickened around Tianlong. "You shouldn't be able to—"

Before she could finish, Tianlong raised his hand and released the energy. The mist exploded outward in a wave of darkness, engulfing the two cultivators. They staggered, their vision obscured by the sudden cloud of shadows, unable to see or sense anything around them.

Tianlong didn't waste the opportunity. Grabbing his grandmother's arm, he pulled her back toward the edge of the clearing. The energy was draining quickly, and he could feel his body weakening. Whatever power he had tapped into, it wasn't something he could sustain for long.

"We need to go, now," he whispered urgently, his voice strained.

His grandmother hesitated, her gaze flickering between Tianlong and the struggling cultivators. "Tianlong, you—"

"There's no time," he insisted, pulling her with him into the forest.

They disappeared into the dense undergrowth just as the mist began to dissipate. The two cultivators coughed, waving their hands to clear the air, but when the darkness faded, Han Tianlong and his grandmother were gone.

"That boy…" the taller cultivator growled, clenching his fists. "What was that technique? I couldn't even sense his energy!"

The female cultivator's expression was cold and calculating. "This isn't over. That child… he's not ordinary. We need to report this to the sect. There's something dangerous about him."

They exchanged a look before vanishing into the night, their forms disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.

As Han Tianlong and his grandmother made their way deeper into the forest, the weight of what had just happened began to sink in. He had tapped into a power he didn't fully understand, a force tied to the tablet's strange energy. It had saved them for now, but he knew it was only the beginning.

When they finally stopped to rest, his grandmother turned to him, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and sadness. "Tianlong… you've inherited something far greater than you realize. That power… it wasn't just chance. It's part of your destiny."

Tianlong looked down at his hands, still trembling slightly from the surge of energy. "But I don't understand it, Grandmother. I don't even know what I did back there."

"You will, in time," she said softly. "But for now, we must stay hidden. The Red Tiger Sect will not give up easily, and there are others who will come for you if they learn of your potential."

Tianlong nodded, his mind racing. He had glimpsed a fraction of what the tablet held, but it was clear there was much more to uncover. His grandmother was right—he had awakened something powerful, but he wasn't ready yet. He needed time to grow, to learn the truth behind the mysterious inheritance he had stumbled upon.

As the night wore on, Han Tianlong stared up at the sky, the stars twinkling above like distant, unreachable realms. His path was uncertain, but one thing was clear: he could no longer live in the shadows of his past. The power within him was vast and dangerous, and the world was already starting to take notice.

But he would remain hidden for now, biding his time, learning, and growing stronger.

The world may not know it yet, but Han Tianlong had begun his journey—a journey that would take him far beyond anything he could have imagined.