chapter 5: The Aftermath

The faint glow of dawn crept over the horizon, casting pale light through the trees as Li Feng and Mei Lian emerged from the forest. They stopped on a ridge overlooking the village below. Or rather, what was left of it.

Smoke curled into the sky from the charred remains of houses. The temple, once a proud symbol of the Azure Dragon Clan, was reduced to rubble. Silence hung over the scene, broken only by the occasional crackle of smoldering wood. Li Feng's heart twisted as he stared at the destruction.

"This was your home?" Mei Lian asked, her voice quiet.

He nodded; his throat too tight to speak. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, and the jade ring pressed hard against his chest, its weight heavier than ever. Memories of laughter, warmth, and peace flooded his mind, only to be replaced by the image of flames and his father's final stand.

Mei Lian watched him for a moment, her sharp eyes softening. "I've seen what men like Shen Longwei leave behind," she said. "It's never just about power. They destroy everything that stands in their way."

"My father…" Li Feng's voice cracked. He swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue. "He gave his life to protect this." He touched the ring, its surface cool beneath his fingertips. "And now it's up to me."

Mei Lian raised an eyebrow. "Do you even know what it is?"

"Not entirely," he admitted. "But my father believed in it. He said it was tied to our clan's legacy, to something greater than ourselves."

"That's a lot to carry on your own," she said, leaning against a tree. "You sure you're ready for it?"

Li Feng met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "I don't have a choice."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Good answer. But if you're planning to take on Shen Longwei, you'll need more than determination."

"I don't need your help," he said, more sharply than he intended. Immediately, he regretted it. "I mean… I appreciate what you've done, but this is my fight."

Mei Lian shrugged. "Suit yourself. But you're going to need someone watching your back. And lucky for you, I'm good at staying alive."

Li Feng hesitated. She had a point. He'd barely escaped the forest, and that was with her help. Still, trusting someone he'd just met didn't come easily.

Before he could respond, the sound of distant voices reached their ears. Soldiers. Mei Lian stiffened, her hand drifting to the dagger at her waist.

"They're persistent," she muttered. "We should keep moving."

Li Feng nodded, but his eyes lingered on the village one last time. "I'll come back," he whispered under his breath. "I swear I'll make this right."

They descended the ridge, sticking to the shadows as the voices grew louder. Mei Lian led the way, her movements quick and deliberate. She navigated the terrain with ease, clearly accustomed to evading pursuit.

"How do you know so much about staying hidden?" Li Feng asked as they paused to catch their breath.

She smirked, a flicker of mischief in her expression. "Let's just say I've had practice. People like me don't survive by being easy to find."

"People like you?"

Her smile faded, replaced by something more guarded. "Outcasts. Thieves. Survivors. Take your pick."

Li Feng frowned but didn't press further. He had enough questions of his own to wrestle with. They continued in silence, the forest growing lighter as the sun rose higher.

As they reached a clearing, Mei Lian held up a hand, signaling for him to stop. She crouched low, scanning the area. "Something's not right," she murmured.

Before Li Feng could ask what she meant, a shout rang out. Soldiers burst into the clearing; their weapons drawn. They'd been waiting.

"Run!" Mei Lian yelled, drawing her dagger and launching herself at the nearest soldier. Her movements were quick and precise, a blur of steel and determination.

Li Feng hesitated, torn between fleeing and fighting. The jade ring pulsed against his chest, as if urging him to act. With a deep breath, he grabbed a fallen branch and swung it at an advancing soldier, knocking the man off balance.

"Don't just stand there!" Mei Lian shouted, blocking another attack. "Keep moving!"

He nodded, adrenaline surging through him as he ducked and weaved between attackers. The clearing was chaos, the clash of steel and the shouts of soldiers filling the air. Mei Lian fought with fierce precision, her dagger flashing in the sunlight.

But they were outnumbered. For every soldier they evaded or took down, two more seemed to appear. Li Feng's breaths came in ragged gasps as he searched for an escape route.

Then, in the chaos, he felt it. A surge of energy radiating from the ring. His vision blurred, and for a moment, he was somewhere else. A vast, endless expanse of blue light, swirling and alive. The faint outline of a dragon coiled in the distance.

"Feng!" Mei Lian's voice snapped him back to reality. She was bleeding, cornered by two soldiers. Without thinking, he charged forward, the ring's energy surging through him. His strike was clumsy but powerful, knocking both soldiers away.

Mei Lian stared at him, wide-eyed. "What was that?"

"I don't know," he admitted, his chest heaving. "But we need to go. Now."

Together, they broke through the line of soldiers, disappearing into the forest once more. The shouts of pursuit faded as they ran, the trees swallowing them whole.

When they finally stopped, both of them collapsed against a fallen log, their breaths ragged. Mei Lian looked at him, her expression a mix of curiosity and caution. "Whatever that ring is," she said, "it's more dangerous than you realize."

Li Feng didn't respond. He couldn't. The image of the coiled dragon lingered in his mind, its presence both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

The journey had only just begun.