Chapter 3: Into the Mist

Xishan Wu's gaze swept over the low shrubs outside the old temple. The moonlight cast long, eerie shadows across the withered branches and leaves. He took a slow, deep breath, listening intently to the wind around him, ensuring no one was following. Only then did he gently push open the temple door and step into the darkness within.

The hall was coated in a thick layer of dust. Several ancient statues stood in the center, covered in cobwebs and grime. The air was stale, filled with the musty scent of decay. Moving with careful steps, Xishan Wu made sure not to disturb the silence. Faintly, he sensed a lingering trace of spiritual energy, a faint pulse of dark power left behind. He stopped, closed his eyes, and extended his spiritual awareness, attempting to trace the origin of this residual energy.

After a few moments, he opened his eyes and cautiously turned toward a large statue ahead. Unlike the others, this one was grander, with a cold, commanding presence, as if it were watching the intruder. Xishan Wu approached, reaching out to touch the base of the statue. A weak warmth suddenly surged through his palm, spreading throughout his body. Startled, he pulled his hand back, casting a glance around to ensure no one else was nearby. Satisfied, he carefully resumed his inspection of the statue, his hand running over the intricate carvings at its base.

There, etched into the stone, were complex symbols—an array often used by the Shadow Gate. The faint glow of these symbols flickered in the moonlight, pulsing with a cold energy. Xishan Wu frowned slightly and whispered a few incantations from his family's ancient texts. As he did, the glow of the symbols began to fade, blending into the stone. He realized that the Shadow Gate hadn't placed this formation here by chance; they were likely drawing on the lingering spiritual energy of the temple for some larger scheme.

Just as he pondered this, he heard the soft sound of footsteps outside. Quickly, Xishan Wu slipped behind a stone pillar, holding his breath and watching the entrance carefully. A woman in a gray robe stepped inside, her eyes cold and calculating. She moved gracefully, scanning the hall as if searching for something.

Xishan Wu observed her closely, noting that she carried no trace of malice. Instead, there was a refined, almost elegant flow of spiritual energy surrounding her. He speculated about her identity but remained hidden, unwilling to reveal himself too hastily. After a brief look around, the woman approached the statue, lightly touching the formation's symbols. Her brow furrowed, and she muttered softly, "So, the Shadow Gate's barrier is here after all."

Hearing this, Xishan Wu was surprised but stayed calm. He moved quietly from behind the pillar, stepping into the open. In a low voice, he asked, "Who are you, and how do you know about the Shadow Gate?"

The woman turned sharply, her eyes flashing as her spiritual energy surged, ready to attack. Xishan Wu raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "I mean you no harm. I came here by chance to investigate, and when I heard you mention the Shadow Gate, I was curious. That's why I revealed myself."

Her gaze softened slightly, though she remained cautious, scrutinizing him. After a moment, she withdrew her spiritual energy and replied quietly, "My name is Lin Qingyu. I've been tracking the Shadow Gate for some time. I learned a few days ago that they set up a formation here, so I came to investigate." She glanced around before continuing, "If you're here, I assume you're also after the Shadow Gate. Why don't you tell me who you are, and we can see if there's room for cooperation?"

Xishan Wu nodded and replied, "I'm Xishan Wu. I've been looking into the Shadow Gate's activities. There have been a number of disappearances in town lately, and I suspect they're related to the Shadow Gate." He pointed to the faintly glowing symbols on the statue. "This formation is well hidden. If I hadn't come across it by accident, no one in town would ever have noticed."

Lin Qingyu eyed him warily, then glanced at the formation. "The Shadow Gate is likely collecting life energy here. The recent disappearances might be part of their efforts to speed up the process." She reached out to touch the formation, and the black mist swirling around the symbols responded immediately, rippling as though awakened by her touch.

Suddenly, the mist gathered into a solid mass, forming a vague shadow that let out a deep growl. Lin Qingyu quickly stepped back, her hands moving swiftly as she chanted a spell. A barrier of spiritual energy flickered into existence, shielding her from the dark entity's attack.

Xishan Wu didn't hesitate. With a flick of his hands, he summoned streams of sword energy, sending them slicing through the air toward the center of the shadow. The black mist recoiled but quickly reformed, as if endless. Xishan Wu frowned. "The core of this formation isn't just the mist. We need to find the source to destroy it completely."

Lin Qingyu nodded and knelt by the edge of the formation, pressing her fingers to the ground as she focused. After a few moments, she pointed to a stone tile beneath the statue. "The core should be beneath here. If we break through, we can dispel the formation."

Without hesitation, Xishan Wu leaped to the statue, gathering energy in his palm and striking the ground with a sharp blow. The stone shattered, revealing a hidden underground chamber that emitted a foul stench.

The two cautiously descended into the chamber, discovering a sealed room lined with eerie symbols. Piled on the floor were old relics and several skeletal remains, each emanating a faint black mist. "It seems the Shadow Gate drained the life energy from these people," Xishan Wu said quietly. His eyes scanned the chamber, stopping at the large symbol on the wall, which radiated dark energy. "That must be the core."

Lin Qingyu approached the symbol, tracing its outline with her fingers as she chanted softly. Gradually, her spiritual energy flowed into the symbol, and its glow began to fade. The black mist weakened, slowly dissipating as its power was absorbed. But just as she was about to complete the spell, a low, menacing laugh echoed through the chamber, seeming to come from all directions at once.

Xishan Wu's eyes darted around the room, and then he saw it—a shadowy figure materializing in the corner, its eyes cold and mocking. "Fools, trespassing in the Shadow Gate's domain. You have no idea what you're up against." The figure raised its hand, summoning a blade of dark energy that hurtled toward them.

Lin Qingyu swiftly raised a barrier of spiritual energy, but the force of the dark blade shattered it almost immediately. Xishan Wu quickly stepped forward, channeling his energy into his palms to deflect the attack. The collision sent a deafening boom through the chamber, shaking the walls as debris rained down.

The shadowed figure laughed darkly, advancing with swirling black mist surrounding it like a cloak. "Tell me your name, boy. I'd like to know who dares trespass in the Shadow Gate's stronghold."

Xishan Wu met the figure's gaze, his voice steady. "My name is of no importance. But know this: if the Shadow Gate continues to harm the people of this town, I will not stand idly by." Without waiting for a response, he formed a quick set of hand seals, unleashing a barrage of sword energy that sliced through the air, aiming directly at the figure.

The figure sneered, black mist surging to engulf the sword energy, dissolving it into nothingness. Xishan Wu's expression darkened, but before he could act, Lin Qingyu stepped forward, her hands weaving a spell. A flame talisman appeared in her palm, igniting in a blaze of fire that scorched through the mist, turning it to ash.

The shadow figure let out a furious roar as the mist evaporated. Xishan Wu and Lin Qingyu exchanged a glance and retreated, knowing they needed to leave quickly. But the figure wasn't done. It gathered the remaining mist into chains of dark energy, lashing out at them.

Xishan Wu deftly severed the chains with a sweep of his hand, preparing for another attack. Lin Qingyu whispered urgently, "The energy here is too strong. We need to leave, now." He nodded, and together they dashed for the exit, escaping the temple just as the dark energy surged behind them, disappearing into the safety of the night.