~ Chapter 9 ~

The whispered words lingered in the air, faint but sharp as the edge of a blade.

Lin Yue's heart tightened, the pendant on her chest burning with a searing heat that felt almost accusatory.

The beast at her side growled low, a deep rumble that vibrated through the ground.

Wei Han and Lady Zhen exchanged a glance.

Both of them were seasoned warriors, but even they couldn't hide the unease shadowing their expressions.

"We're being watched," Wei Han said grimly, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Lady Zhen scanned the tree line, her dagger gleaming faintly in the moonlight. "Watched? No. Stalked."

Lin Yue instinctively stepped closer to the beast, her trembling fingers brushing its fur.

It responded by pressing against her side, its warmth both protective and grounding.

"What do they want?" Lin Yue asked, her voice a thin thread of sound.

Lady Zhen's gaze was razor-sharp. "Not 'what.' Who. Whoever whispers such things doesn't care for the beast or the blade—they care for you."

Before Lin Yue could reply, the whisper returned, louder this time, and accompanied by a cold gust of wind.

"Power comes with a price, child of the Jade Throne. Will you pay it willingly... or will it be taken?"

The beast snarled, its golden eyes narrowing as it turned its head toward the forest.

The air grew dense, the wind stilling as though the world itself waited for Lin Yue's answer.

"I didn't ask for this," Lin Yue said, her voice rising.

She clutched the jade blade in her hand, its faint glow offering little comfort. "I didn't ask for any of it!"

The whisper carried a mocking lilt. "And yet, here you are. Wielding the blade. Commanding the beast. You cannot run from what you are."

Lady Zhen stepped forward, her tone sharp and unyielding. "Reveal yourself, coward. If you want her, come and take her. Or are you afraid of the very power you claim to seek?"

The whisper faded, replaced by silence so profound that it felt suffocating.

The only sound was Lin Yue's rapid breathing and the faint crackle of the jade blade's energy.

Wei Han's voice broke the tension. "We need to move. Now."

Lady Zhen didn't argue, and Lin Yue nodded, her legs shaky but determined.

The beast stayed close, its watchful presence a constant reminder of the dangers that surrounded them.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, their gnarled branches reaching like claws.

The moonlight barely penetrated the thick canopy, casting the world in an eerie half-light.

Lin Yue's thoughts swirled like a storm, questions battering her from every angle.

What price was the whisper talking about?

What did it mean to be the heir of the Jade Throne?

And why did this beast, this ancient guardian, choose her?

"Focus," Wei Han said, his voice low but firm.

He must have seen the turmoil in her expression. "Doubt will only slow you down. You're stronger than you think."

She wanted to believe him, but the weight of the blade in her hand and the heat of the pendant against her skin told her otherwise.

They reached a small clearing, where Wei Han signaled for a brief rest.

Lady Zhen scouted the perimeter while the beast lay at Lin Yue's feet, its golden eyes scanning the shadows.

Wei Han crouched beside her. "This isn't over. Whoever—or whatever—was whispering to you will try again. You need to be ready."

"How?" Lin Yue asked, her voice trembling. "I don't even know what I'm doing."

"You survived the shadows," he said. "You wielded the jade blade. That's more than most could hope for."

"Surviving isn't the same as understanding," Lin Yue replied, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "What happens if I can't control this power? What if it controls me?"

Wei Han's expression softened, but his tone remained steady. "Then you'll have to decide what kind of person you want to be. Power doesn't define you—your choices do."

Lin Yue opened her mouth to respond, but the beast suddenly rose, its ears flattening as it let out a low growl.

"What is it?" Lady Zhen asked, returning to the clearing with her daggers drawn.

The beast's growl deepened, and then Lin Yue heard it too—a faint, rhythmic thumping that grew louder with each passing second.

"Footsteps," Wei Han said, his eyes narrowing. "And not just one or two."

The sound grew into a thunderous cacophony, the ground trembling beneath their feet.

Lin Yue's pulse quickened as figures emerged from the shadows—dozens of them, cloaked in black and armed with an array of weapons.

The leader from before stepped forward, their hood still obscuring their face.

But this time, their presence was accompanied by a palpable sense of menace.

"You should have surrendered when you had the chance," the leader said, their voice cold and venomous.

Lin Yue raised the jade blade, its light flaring to life once more.

The beast snarled, its massive form tensing as it prepared to strike.

"We won't run," Lin Yue said, surprising even herself with the steel in her voice.

The leader laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "You misunderstand. Running isn't an option anymore."

They raised a hand, and the forest seemed to come alive.

Shadows poured from every direction, their forms twisting and writhing as they closed in.

Wei Han and Lady Zhen moved to intercept, their blades flashing in the dim light.

The beast lunged, its claws tearing through the darkness with a ferocity that sent shivers down Lin Yue's spine.

But no matter how many shadows they fought off, more kept coming.

"Lin Yue!" Wei Han shouted over the chaos. "You need to do something!"

"I don't know what to do!" She cried, her voice breaking.

The pendant burned hotter, its heat almost unbearable.

The jade blade pulsed in her hand, its light growing brighter with each beat of her heart.

"Trust the blade," Lady Zhen said, her voice urgent. "It chose you for a reason. Let it guide you."

Lin Yue closed her eyes, focusing on the blade's energy.

She felt it hum in her hand, its power coursing through her veins.

The whispers returned, but this time, they weren't mocking.

They were clear, steady, and commanding.

Unleash me.

Lin Yue opened her eyes, and the world seemed to slow.

She raised the blade high, its light blazing like a second sun.

The shadows hesitated, their forms faltering as if sensing what was to come.

With a cry that echoed through the forest, Lin Yue brought the blade down.

A wave of jade light erupted from its edge, sweeping through the clearing like a tidal wave.

The shadows screamed as they were consumed, their forms dissolving into nothingness.

When the light faded, the clearing was silent once more.

The cloaked leader was gone, along with their army of shadows.

Lin Yue fell to her knees, the blade slipping from her hand as exhaustion overwhelmed her.

Wei Han and Lady Zhen rushed to her side, their expressions a mixture of relief and concern.

"You did it," Wei Han said, his voice soft.

But Lin Yue could only stare at the pendant, its glow now faint but persistent.

She knew this was far from over.

In the distance, a figure watched from the shadows, their eyes glinting with a dangerous light.

"She's stronger than I expected," the figure murmured, their lips curling into a sinister smile. "But strength alone won't save her from what's coming next."

To Be Continued...