Chapter 14: A Demon’s Disguise (Continued)
The dense forest throbbed with an uneasy stillness as Ling Hao and Ren Kai landed. The Wang Family Mansion loomed ahead, its crumbling exterior bathed in the pale light of dusk. A faint chill ran through the air, and the whisper of wind through the trees carried something... unnatural.
Ren Kai adjusted the strap of his sword, his usual cheer dimmed by the foreboding atmosphere. "Well, that's... inviting," he muttered, his voice losing some of its bravado.
Ling Hao's gaze narrowed, scanning their surroundings with measured precision. "Stay focused. Demons thrive on distractions."
They crossed the threshold, stepping into a courtyard littered with fallen leaves and traces of abandoned belongings. Every corner felt like a shadowed threat, and a sinister presence seemed to seep into the very stone of the mansion.
---
A Family's Nightmare
Inside the mansion, remnants of the Wang family's life were scattered haphazardly—broken furniture, torn scrolls, and shattered porcelain littered the floor. The air hung thick with the stench of decay and something far worse: despair.
Ren Kai knelt by a broken chair, his fingers brushing faint claw marks etched into the wood. "Classic demonic calling card. But where's the family?"
Ling Hao didn't respond immediately. His fingers traced the grooves on the ground—patterns of strange symbols that reeked of malicious intent. "These are summoning runes," he said finally, his voice edged with tension. "Someone called the demon here."
Ren Kai straightened, his easy demeanor replaced by unease. "You're saying this was on purpose? By the family?"
"Perhaps." Ling Hao's expression was grim. "Or someone used them as a sacrifice."
---
The First Encounter
The creaking of floorboards interrupted their inspection. Both turned sharply, their hands instinctively gripping their swords.
From the shadows, a figure emerged—a young girl, no older than eight. Her dress was torn, and her eyes were vacant, her steps slow and deliberate.
"Help… me," she whispered, her voice hollow, lips trembling as though speaking took every ounce of strength.
Ren Kai took a cautious step forward. "Hey, are you hurt? Can you tell us what happened—"
Ling Hao's arm shot out, stopping him.
The girl's eyes flicked toward them, and in an instant, her face twisted unnaturally. Her mouth stretched impossibly wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth as black mist poured from her body.
Ren Kai leapt back, unsheathing his sword in a fluid motion. "Demon spawn! Of course, it couldn't just be simple answers!"
Ling Hao moved faster than thought, his sword cutting a precise arc as the girl lunged. His blade hummed with Qi, slicing through the black mist as her form dissolved into writhing shadows.
"That wasn't the main demon," Ling Hao said, eyes scanning the darkness. "Just a fragment. It's testing us."
Ren Kai exhaled sharply, gripping his weapon tighter. "Testing? Great. I was hoping this mission wouldn't get too exciting."
---
The Demon Revealed
They pressed deeper into the mansion, the air growing heavier with each step. The summoning runes grew more frequent, forming a twisted web that radiated corruption. The scent of iron and decay led them to the heart of the estate—a cavernous hall.
At its center stood a figure cloaked in shifting shadows. Two burning, crimson eyes locked onto them, brimming with malice.
"More lambs to the slaughter," it hissed, its voice resonating like nails dragged across glass.
Ren Kai muttered under his breath, "Why do demons always have to monologue?"
Ignoring him, Ling Hao stepped forward, his sword angled low but poised. "Why were the Wang family targeted?"
The demon chuckled, a sound that dripped with disdain. "Questions are futile, mortal. They opened the door; I merely walked through."
"So it was them," Ren Kai said, gripping his sword. "What did they hope to gain? Power? Wealth?"
"The usual," the demon replied casually, its clawed hand gesturing lazily. "But enough talk. Let's see if your lives will amuse me more than theirs did."
It surged forward, a tide of dark energy that filled the room.
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A Dance with Shadows
Ling Hao's sword flickered like lightning, slicing clean arcs through the encroaching darkness. His Qi flared, sharp and refined, countering the demon's oppressive aura. Beside him, Ren Kai wove his strikes with a chaotic precision, the pair moving in tandem despite their differing styles.
The demon lashed out, its claws raking through the air. Ling Hao sidestepped, the edge of its attack grazing his sleeve, before countering with a thrust aimed at its core.
But the demon dissolved into smoke, reforming a moment later with a mocking laugh. "Pitiful."
"Keep it busy," Ling Hao called to Ren Kai, his gaze flicking to the runes lining the room.
"Busy?!" Ren Kai dodged a shadowy tendril with a yelp. "I'll be lucky to stay alive!"
Ling Hao ignored his complaints, his focus on unraveling the runes' connection to the demon. One by one, his strikes disrupted the intricate web, each severed link weakening the demon's form.
---
The Final Blow
The demon's movements grew erratic as its power waned, its attacks desperate and unfocused.
"Now!" Ling Hao shouted, his sword alight with Qi as he charged.
Ren Kai matched his momentum, their blades striking simultaneously—one slashing through the demon's neck, the other piercing its heart.
A deafening screech filled the hall as the demon's body disintegrated into black mist. The oppressive aura lifted, leaving only silence in its wake.
Ren Kai collapsed onto a broken beam, panting. "Remind me to pick the easy missions next time."
Ling Hao sheathed his sword, his gaze steady. "Strength comes from challenge."
Ren Kai groaned, rubbing his temples. "Spare me the Peach Blossom wisdom."
Ling Hao allowed himself a faint smile before turning toward the exit. "Let's report back."
Behind them, the mansion crumbled, the cursed ground purged. But in the distant shadows of the forest, something unseen stirred—an ominous reminder that not all darkness could be so easily defeated.