A Not-So-Welcome Invitation

The forest canopy thickened as the group ventured deeper into the wilderness, their banter gradually giving way to cautious silence. The recent encounter with the fog creatures had left an uneasy tension lingering in the air.

Xu Tian walked at the rear, constantly glancing over his shoulder. "So…we're just not going to talk about how that amulet lit up like a festival lantern on steroids?"

"It's probably safer not to dwell on it," Yue Lin said, her gaze scanning the dense undergrowth. "Dwelling leads to questions. Questions lead to answers. And answers are never comforting."

Wei Ling flipped his coin and caught it deftly. "Exactly. Ignorance is bliss, Xu Tian. Embrace it."

"I would," Xu Tian muttered, "if ignorance didn't keep trying to eat me."

As they rounded a bend in the forest path, an unfamiliar figure emerged from the shadows ahead. Clad in flowing crimson robes embroidered with golden serpents, the man looked more like a performer than a threat. His wide-brimmed hat obscured most of his face, but a sharp, unsettling grin was clearly visible beneath it.

"Travelers!" the man called, his voice dripping with honeyed charm. "What a delightful coincidence. Might I trouble you for a moment of your time?"

Xu Tian immediately moved behind Shen Feng. "I vote no. This guy looks like bad news."

Yue Lin gripped the hilt of her sword. "State your business."

The man bowed extravagantly, his hat dipping low. "Oh, I assure you, I mean no harm. I am merely an emissary, here to extend an invitation to a most…prestigious event."

Wei Ling raised an eyebrow. "Prestigious? We don't exactly run in high society."

The man chuckled, his grin widening. "Ah, but you are precisely the type of guests our host seeks. Brave, resourceful, and with a knack for attracting trouble."

Xu Tian peeked out from behind Shen Feng. "Why does that sound like a veiled insult?"

The man produced a scroll from within his robes and unfurled it with a flourish. Ornate characters danced across the parchment, glowing faintly in the dim light.

"You are cordially invited to the Grand Celestial Gathering," the man announced. "A rare opportunity for cultivators from all walks of life to showcase their talents, forge alliances, and, perhaps, claim treasures beyond imagination."

Xu Tian's eyes narrowed. "Treasure, you say?"

"Careful," Yue Lin warned. "Things that sound too good to be true usually are."

The man continued, unperturbed. "Our host is most generous and has taken a special interest in your exploits. The Gathering will be held in three days' time, at the peak of the Scarlet Moon Summit."

Shen Feng frowned. "Why us? There are surely more renowned cultivators you could invite."

The man's grin took on a predatory edge. "Ah, but none as…unique as you."

Xu Tian's face twisted in suspicion. "Unique how? Is that another insult?"

Wei Ling shrugged. "It's probably the way you scream during battles. Very memorable."

"Hey!"

The man rolled up the scroll and offered it to Shen Feng. "Consider this a chance to prove yourselves and perhaps rewrite your fates. But beware—the Gathering is not for the faint of heart. Many will compete, and few will emerge unscathed."

Shen Feng hesitated before taking the scroll. "We'll think about it."

"Excellent," the man said, stepping back into the shadows. "I shall eagerly await your arrival. Oh, and one more thing—do try to survive the journey. The road to Scarlet Moon Summit is…treacherous."

With that, he vanished, leaving only the faint echo of his laughter.

As they continued along the path, the group fell into a heated discussion.

Wei Ling grinned. "I say we go. It sounds like a perfect opportunity to stir up some chaos and maybe get rich in the process."

Yue Lin shook her head. "It's obviously a trap. That man practically screamed 'sinister intentions.'"

Xu Tian rubbed his temples. "Do we even have a choice? Every time we try to avoid trouble, it finds us anyway. At least this way, we'll know what we're walking into."

Shen Feng unrolled the scroll and studied it carefully. "The invitation is genuine, but the danger is real. If we go, we must be prepared for anything."

"Great," Xu Tian said with a sigh. "Prepared for anything. My favorite kind of preparation."

As night fell, the group set up camp by a small stream. Xu Tian held the amulet in his hand, turning it over thoughtfully.

"You know," he said, "I'm starting to think this thing is more trouble than it's worth."

Yue Lin glanced at him. "What makes you say that?"

"Call it a hunch," Xu Tian replied. "Or maybe it's the fact that everyone we meet either wants to steal it, destroy it, or use it to summon something terrifying."

Shen Feng looked up from the scroll. "The amulet may be the key to something far greater than we understand. For now, we keep it safe."

Xu Tian groaned. "Safe? With us? That's like hiding a chicken in a fox den."

Wei Ling chuckled. "Relax, Xu Tian. What's the worst that could happen?"

As if in response, the amulet pulsed faintly, its light casting eerie shadows on the surrounding trees.

Xu Tian stared at it, his face pale. "Why do you always have to ask that?"