Gathering Storm
The forest was eerily quiet as Luo and Meilin dashed through the shadows, their breathing steady but their senses on high alert. Behind them, the muffled sounds of Lei family guards grew fainter as they distanced themselves from the compound.
"We got the information," Meilin whispered, her voice low. "Now we just need to make it back."
Luo nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. The fragments of conversation they had overheard replayed in his head. The Wu family wasn't just using rogue cultivators—they were trafficking Spirit Beasts to strengthen their forces.
"This is bigger than we thought," Luo murmured, glancing at Meilin. "If the Wu family's plan works, they won't just be a threat to us. They'll dominate the entire state."
Meilin's expression hardened. "Then we'll stop them before that happens."
---
**A Sudden Ambush**
Their escape was interrupted by a sharp whistle cutting through the night air. Luo stopped abruptly, his instincts screaming danger.
"They found us," he muttered, stepping in front of Meilin.
From the treetops, masked figures descended, their movements swift and precise. Each carried a weapon, and their auras revealed them to be skilled cultivators—likely the rogue cultivators the Lei family was sheltering.
"Well, well," one of them said, his voice dripping with malice. "Spies from the Sun family, I presume? Did you think you'd leave here alive?"
Luo smirked, his fists clenching. "I'm more surprised you're brave enough to show your faces."
The system chimed softly in his mind.
**"New Quest: Survive the ambush. Rewards: 10 Attitude Points."**
---
**The Battle Begins**
The masked cultivators charged without warning. Luo stepped forward, his body moving instinctively as he blocked an incoming strike with his arm. The impact sent a jolt through his body, but he stood firm, countering with a powerful punch that sent his attacker sprawling.
Meilin moved with deadly precision, her daggers gleaming in the moonlight as she weaved between her opponents. Each slash and stab was deliberate, leaving her enemies disoriented and wounded.
Despite their skill, the sheer number of attackers began to overwhelm them. Luo gritted his teeth, the system's soft hum urging him forward.
**"Bravery in the face of danger: +2 Attitude Points."**
**"Defeated an enemy: +3 Attitude Points."**
"Meilin, fall back!" Luo shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We can't take them all on."
"But—"
"Now!"
Reluctantly, Meilin disengaged, leaping back to Luo's side. Together, they moved toward a clearing, their movements synchronized as they fought off their pursuers.
---
**Reinforcements Arrive**
Just as the fight seemed unwinnable, a loud whistle echoed through the forest. From the shadows, Sun Qing and a group of Sun family guards emerged, their weapons drawn.
"Luo! Meilin!" Sun Qing shouted, his voice filled with authority. "Get behind us!"
The sight of reinforcements caused the rogue cultivators to hesitate, their confidence wavering. Sun Qing wasted no time, leading his men into battle with fierce determination.
Luo and Meilin took the opportunity to catch their breath, watching as the tide of the battle shifted.
"Looks like we owe him one," Meilin muttered, wiping blood from her dagger.
Luo chuckled. "Don't tell him that. He'll never let us forget it."
---
**Aftermath**
With the rogue cultivators either captured or fleeing into the night, the forest fell silent once more. Sun Qing approached Luo and Meilin, his expression stern.
"You two could've been killed," he scolded, though there was a hint of relief in his tone.
"But we weren't," Luo replied, his smirk returning. "And we found out what we needed to know."
Sun Qing's eyes narrowed. "The Lei family's involvement?"
Luo nodded. "They're not just harboring rogue cultivators. They're trafficking Spirit Beasts under the Wu family's orders. This isn't just about us anymore—it's a state-wide threat."
Sun Qing's jaw tightened. "Then we need to act quickly. The longer we wait, the stronger they'll become."
---
**A Grim Resolution**
Back at the Sun family estate, Luo sat in his room, replaying the events of the night in his mind. The system chimed softly, breaking his thoughts.
**"Quest Complete: Survive the ambush. Rewards: 10 Attitude Points."**
**Current Attitude Points: 88/2000 (Level 2 System Locked).**
"Still so far to go," he muttered, clenching his fists.
But he couldn't dwell on the numbers. The Wu family was growing bolder, their schemes threatening not just the Sun family but the entire balance of power in the state.
As the moonlight streamed through his window, Luo's resolve solidified. The path ahead was dangerous, but he would face it head-on.
"This is just the beginning," he said to himself, his voice steady. "I'll make them regret underestimating me."
The hunt was far from over.