Chapter 19: Echoes of the Past

The road ahead was long and quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of gravel underfoot and the occasional rustle of leaves as the wind danced through the trees. Lin Yun kept his eyes forward, his mind replaying everything Yu Xian had told him. The factions, the relics, the chaos of the Murim world—it was a web of intrigue he hadn't asked to be part of, yet here he was.

Yu Xian walked a few steps behind, her posture relaxed but her eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. She seemed at ease, but Lin Yun wasn't fooled. She was as wary as he was, perhaps more.

"You've been awfully quiet," she said, breaking the silence. "What's on your mind?"

"Just trying to figure out where this is all heading," Lin Yun replied without turning around.

Yu Xian smirked. "That's the thing about the Murim world. You don't get to decide where it takes you. You just survive."

"Comforting," Lin Yun muttered.

---

By midday, the two arrived at another village. Unlike the bustling settlement they had left behind, this one was eerily silent. Homes stood abandoned, doors left ajar, and the faint smell of burnt wood lingered in the air.

"What happened here?" Lin Yun asked, his voice low.

Yu Xian's expression darkened. "Looks like a raid. Likely bandits—or worse."

As they walked through the village, the signs of struggle became more evident. Bloodstains marred the dirt paths, and broken weapons lay scattered like forgotten memories.

"Who would do this?" Lin Yun asked, anger bubbling in his chest.

"Anyone with the power to," Yu Xian replied grimly. "Weak villages like this are easy targets. If they had anything of value, it's gone now."

Lin Yun clenched his fists. His mind flashed back to his own village in his previous life, to the helplessness he had felt when he couldn't protect his sister.

---

As they passed the remnants of what had once been the village square, a faint sound caught Lin Yun's attention—a muffled cry, coming from beneath a collapsed cart. He rushed over, lifting the wooden debris with Yu Xian's help.

Beneath the cart was a boy, no older than ten, clutching a bloodied cloth to his chest. His face was pale, but his eyes were filled with fear and defiance.

"Easy," Lin Yun said gently. "We're not here to hurt you."

The boy didn't respond immediately, his gaze darting between Lin Yun and Yu Xian. Finally, he whispered, "Are they gone?"

"Who?" Yu Xian asked.

"The men in black," the boy replied, his voice trembling. "They took everyone… my father, my brother… I hid, but they'll come back."

Lin Yun's jaw tightened. "Men in black? Did they say who they were?"

The boy shook his head. "They had a flag… red, with a claw on it."

Yu Xian's face darkened. "The **Obsidian Claw Alliance**."

---

Lin Yun helped the boy to his feet. "We'll make sure you're safe," he promised.

Yu Xian raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

"Do you have somewhere to go?" Lin Yun asked the boy.

The boy hesitated, then nodded. "There's an uncle… in the next town over. He'll take me in."

"We'll take you there," Lin Yun said firmly.

Yu Xian sighed. "You're going to drag us into trouble, you know that?"

"Maybe," Lin Yun replied. "But I'm not leaving him here."

Yu Xian shook her head but didn't argue.

---

The journey to the next town was tense. Lin Yun and Yu Xian stayed on high alert, expecting an ambush at any moment. The boy, who introduced himself as Jin, clung to Lin Yun like a lifeline.

As the sun began to set, the sound of hoofbeats broke the uneasy silence. Lin Yun pulled Jin behind him, his hand on his dagger as a group of riders emerged from the trees.

The riders wore black robes, their faces obscured by masks. The emblem of the Obsidian Claw Alliance was emblazoned on their sleeves.

"Well, what do we have here?" one of the riders sneered. "A stray cub and his guardians?"

"Step aside," Lin Yun said coldly.

The rider laughed. "Or what? You'll fight us? You don't even have a weapon worth mentioning."

Lin Yun's eyes narrowed. "Try me."

---

The riders dismounted, drawing curved blades that gleamed in the fading light. Lin Yun took a deep breath, focusing his Qi. He wasn't as strong as these men, but he was smarter—and desperate.

Yu Xian stepped forward, her own blade flashing into her hand. "You're lucky I'm in a bad mood," she muttered.

The first rider lunged, his strike aimed at Lin Yun's chest. Lin Yun sidestepped, slashing at the man's wrist and disarming him in one fluid motion.

Yu Xian moved like a storm, her blade cutting through her opponents with precision. She fought with the grace of someone who had trained for years, each strike perfectly calculated.

Lin Yun, meanwhile, relied on his instincts and quick thinking, using the terrain to his advantage. He baited one rider into overextending, then slammed the hilt of his dagger into the man's temple.

Within minutes, the remaining riders retreated, dragging their wounded comrades with them.

---

As the dust settled, Jin stared at Lin Yun and Yu Xian with wide eyes. "You're… amazing," he whispered.

Lin Yun knelt down, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You'll be safe now."

Yu Xian sheathed her blade, her expression unreadable. "You're making enemies faster than you can count them."

"I'll deal with it," Lin Yun replied.

Yu Xian shook her head. "You're going to get yourself killed one day."

Lin Yun glanced at Jin, then back at Yu Xian. "Maybe. But not today."