~ Chapter 15 ~

The weight of Lin Yue's vision lingered as they left the clearing, the haunting melody of the warding song fading behind them. The world beyond the stone archway seemed somehow different—darker, colder, as if the shadows carried secrets waiting to unfold.

Wei Han led the way, his sword ready, while Lady Zhen trailed behind, her calculating eyes scanning the path. Lin Yue walked in silence, her mind swirling with fragments of the woman's words: "Confront the truth of who you are."

But what truth? What was it about her past, her bloodline, that she couldn't remember?

The Jade Blade pulsed faintly at her side, its rhythmic hum almost comforting. The beast stayed close, its golden eyes watchful as if sensing an unseen danger.

"We're being followed," Wei Han said abruptly, his voice cutting through the silence.

Lady Zhen didn't slow her pace. "I know. Let them follow."

Lin Yue's breath hitched. "Who's following us?"

"The forest holds many eyes," Lady Zhen replied cryptically. "Some are curious. Others… are not so harmless."

Wei Han stopped abruptly, holding up a hand. "Quiet."

Lin Yue froze, her heart pounding as she strained to listen. The forest was eerily silent, save for the faint rustle of leaves. But there was something else—a sound so faint it could barely be called a whisper, like footsteps muffled by the earth.

"They're getting closer," Wei Han murmured, unsheathing his sword.

Lady Zhen drew her daggers, the glint of steel catching what little light filtered through the trees. "Stay close, girl," she said to Lin Yue. "And don't hesitate to use the blade if you must."

The shadows between the trees seemed to deepen, shifting unnaturally. Lin Yue felt the air grow heavier, and the warmth of the Jade Blade intensified. Her pulse quickened as she unsheathed it, the weapon's light piercing through the gloom.

From the darkness emerged figures cloaked in black, their movements unnaturally fluid. Their faces were obscured, but their glowing red eyes marked them as no ordinary enemies.

"More of the shadow's creations," Wei Han said, his voice steady but grim.

"Shadespawn," Lady Zhen corrected, her tone laced with disdain. "Persistent, but not invincible."

The Shadespawn moved as one, their silent approach unnerving. Lin Yue felt the beast at her side tense, a low growl rumbling from its chest.

"They want me," Lin Yue said, her voice trembling.

Wei Han glanced at her. "Then don't let them take you."

The Shadespawn lunged without warning, their speed unnatural and feral. Wei Han met the first with a precise strike, his blade cutting through its dark form. Lady Zhen moved with lethal grace, her daggers flashing as she intercepted two more.

Lin Yue stood frozen for a heartbeat, her eyes wide as the chaos erupted around her. The beast charged forward, slamming into a group of Shadespawn and tearing through them with raw fury.

"Lin Yue, focus!" Wei Han's shout snapped her out of her daze.

She gripped the Jade Blade tightly, its hum vibrating through her arm. As a Shadespawn lunged at her, she swung the weapon instinctively. The blade's light flared, slicing through the creature and reducing it to ash.

The others hesitated, their glowing eyes flickering as if recalibrating their strategy. Lin Yue's breath came in short gasps, but she tightened her grip, stepping into the fray.

The battle was relentless. For every Shadespawn they felled, another seemed to rise from the shadows. Lin Yue's arms burned, her movements growing slower, but the Jade Blade's light never faltered. It guided her strikes, its energy flowing through her like a second heartbeat.

"We can't keep this up!" Wei Han called out, his voice strained as he parried another attack.

Lady Zhen slashed through a Shadespawn, her movements still sharp but slower than before. "They're testing us. This isn't their full strength."

Lin Yue's chest tightened at the implication. If this was only a test, what would the real battle look like?

The Shadespawn began to circle them, their glowing eyes locked on Lin Yue. The air grew colder, and a deep, guttural laugh echoed through the forest.

"So, this is the Jade Heir," a voice said, low and mocking.

The Shadespawn parted, and from the shadows emerged a tall figure cloaked in black. Their face was obscured by a mask, but their presence was suffocating, radiating malice and power.

Wei Han stepped forward, his sword raised. "Who are you?"

The figure ignored him, their attention fixed on Lin Yue. "You carry the blade, but you wield it like a child. Tell me, girl, do you even know the weight of what you hold?"

Lin Yue's grip on the Jade Blade tightened. "Who are you?" she demanded, her voice shaking but defiant.

The figure chuckled. "A servant of the shadow, as you will be—eventually."

Before Lin Yue could respond, the figure raised a hand, and the Shadespawn surged forward again. The beast roared, charging to intercept them, but the figure's focus remained on Lin Yue.

"Your strength is wasted on them," the figure said, stepping closer. "The blade's power is wasted on you."

Lin Yue swung the Jade Blade, its light flaring as it connected with the figure's outstretched hand. But instead of recoiling, the figure caught the blade, their grip burning black against its glow.

"You have no idea what you've awakened," the figure said, their voice like a hiss of steam. "But soon, you will."

A surge of energy rippled through the blade, knocking Lin Yue backward. She hit the ground hard, the air knocked from her lungs.

"Lin Yue!" Wei Han shouted, rushing to her side.

The figure laughed again, their form beginning to dissolve into shadow. "This is only the beginning, Jade Heir. You cannot escape what's coming."

The Shadespawn retreated into the shadows, following their master. The forest grew silent once more, but the tension lingered like a heavy fog.

Lin Yue struggled to her feet, her body trembling. "Who was that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lady Zhen's expression was grim. "A herald. A messenger of the shadow itself. And if they're here, then the shadow is growing stronger."

Wei Han helped steady Lin Yue, his gaze dark. "We need to keep moving. Whatever they're planning, we can't let them catch us off guard again."

Lin Yue nodded, though her mind raced with questions. The figure's words echoed in her ears: "You cannot escape what's coming."

As they continued their journey, Lin Yue couldn't shake the feeling that the shadows weren't retreating—they were waiting.

And far beyond the forest, a pair of molten eyes watched her every step.

To be continued…