The Caravan of Calamity

Dawn broke over the forest, casting long shadows as the group resumed their journey toward Scarlet Moon Summit. The air was brisk, and the forest seemed unusually quiet, as though the very trees were holding their breath.

Xu Tian lagged behind, rubbing his bleary eyes. "Does anyone else think walking toward a potential trap feels counterintuitive? Like, shouldn't we be running the other way?"

Wei Ling chuckled, flipping his coin. "And miss out on the glory, adventure, and riches? What kind of story would that make?"

"A peaceful one," Xu Tian grumbled. "I'd love a peaceful story."

The forest path widened suddenly, revealing a bustling caravan parked on the roadside. Brightly colored banners flapped in the wind, and merchants hawked their wares with enthusiasm.

"Now this," Wei Ling said, grinning, "is my kind of place."

Yue Lin eyed the caravan suspiciously. "It's strange to see merchants this deep in the wilderness."

Shen Feng nodded. "Be cautious. Appearances can be deceiving."

As they approached, a rotund merchant with an extravagant mustache waved them over. "Greetings, travelers! You look like people of fine taste. Perhaps something here will catch your eye?"

Xu Tian raised an eyebrow. "Do you sell anything that wards off evil spirits, ancient curses, or overly enthusiastic swordswomen?"

Yue Lin shot him a glare.

The merchant laughed heartily. "Oh, you're a funny one! But alas, my wares are more suited to the mundane. Jewelry, potions, talismans…" He paused, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "...and secrets."

"Secrets?" Wei Ling asked, intrigued.

The merchant winked. "For the right price, I might tell you something worth knowing about the path ahead."

Shen Feng placed a hand on the merchant's table. "What kind of secrets?"

The merchant's grin widened. "Let's just say the road to Scarlet Moon Summit is not as empty as it seems. There are…guardians. And they're not fond of uninvited guests."

Xu Tian sighed. "Of course there are guardians. Why wouldn't there be?"

Wei Ling leaned in. "How do we deal with them?"

The merchant held up a talisman shaped like a coiling dragon. "This charm will grant you safe passage—for a modest price."

"How modest?" Yue Lin asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Ten spirit stones," the merchant said casually.

Xu Tian's jaw dropped. "Ten spirit stones? That's highway robbery!"

The merchant shrugged. "Safety doesn't come cheap, my friend."

Shen Feng exchanged a glance with Yue Lin, then nodded. "We'll take it."

Xu Tian threw up his hands. "Great. Let's just hand over all our money to the mysterious merchant in the creepy forest. What could possibly go wrong?"

As they finalized their purchase, another figure approached the merchant's stall. Clad in a tattered cloak, the newcomer exuded an air of quiet menace. His face was obscured by shadows, but the faint glint of sharp eyes was visible beneath his hood.

The merchant stiffened. "Ah…esteemed guest, what can I do for you?"

The cloaked figure's voice was soft but chilling. "Do you still have what I seek?"

The merchant hesitated before reaching beneath his table and producing a small, black box. "Yes, but—"

Before he could finish, the figure snatched the box and tossed a pouch of coins onto the table. Without another word, he turned and disappeared into the forest.

Xu Tian blinked. "Well, that wasn't ominous at all."

"Forget him," Shen Feng said. "We have our own problems to deal with."

As they left the caravan behind, the group fell into a tense silence. The talisman hung around Shen Feng's neck, its faint glow casting eerie shadows on the forest floor.

"So," Xu Tian said, breaking the silence. "Do we actually trust that thing to work?"

"We don't have a choice," Yue Lin replied. "If the merchant was telling the truth, the guardians won't let us pass without it."

Wei Ling grinned. "And if he was lying, we'll just have to fight our way through. Simple."

Xu Tian groaned. "Your definition of simple worries me."

The forest grew darker as they ascended the mountain path. The air became heavy, and strange whispers seemed to echo through the trees.

Shen Feng tightened his grip on his sword. "Stay alert. We're not alone."

A sudden rumble shook the ground, and the group froze. Ahead, the path was blocked by three massive stone statues, their features carved with terrifying precision. As the talisman around Shen Feng's neck glowed brighter, the statues' eyes lit up with an otherworldly fire.

"Halt!" a deep voice boomed. "Who dares trespass on sacred ground?"

Xu Tian stepped back. "We're just passing through! No need to get all fiery-eyed about it!"

The statues turned their gaze toward the talisman. "You carry the seal of passage. Prove your worth, and you may proceed."

Yue Lin drew her sword. "Looks like we'll have to fight after all."

Wei Ling cracked his knuckles. "Finally, some action!"

Xu Tian sighed, holding up the amulet. "Or—and hear me out—we could try reasoning with them?"

The statues roared in unison, their massive limbs beginning to move.

"Reasoning it is!" Xu Tian shouted, diving for cover.