Chapter 9: Discovering the Legacy’s Secrets
"How much farther?" he asked, his voice strained.
Mei Lian glanced back at him, her expression unreadable. "Not far. Just try to keep up."
He bit back a retort, focusing instead on placing one foot in front of the other. The forest around them began to thin, the dense underbrush giving way to a clearing. At its center stood a crumbling shrine, its stone walls covered in moss and ivy. The air seemed to hum with an unseen energy, sending a shiver down Li Feng's spine.
"This is it," Mei Lian said, stopping just outside the clearing. Her gaze swept over the shrine, sharp and assessing. "Your ring brought us here."
Li Feng stepped forward, his eyes wide as he took in the ancient structure. The carvings on the stone walls were faint but unmistakable: dragons coiling around celestial symbols, their eyes seeming to follow him as he moved closer. He reached out, his fingers brushing the cool surface of the stone. A pulse of energy shot through him, and he stumbled back, his heart racing.
"What was that?" Mei Lian demanded, her dagger already in hand.
"I… I don't know," Li Feng said, clutching the ring. "It's like it's connected to this place."
She frowned, her grip on the dagger tightening. "Be careful. Ancient doesn't always mean safe."
Ignoring her warning, Li Feng stepped closer to the shrine, drawn by an invisible force. The carvings seemed to glow faintly, their light growing stronger as he approached. He placed his hand on the central pillar, and the world around him seemed to shift.
Suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of rushing water, though there was no river in sight. The ground beneath him felt unsteady, as if the very earth was shifting. Mei Lian called his name, but her voice sounded distant, muffled.
Images flashed before his eyes: a great dragon soaring through the skies, its scales shimmering like molten gold; a battlefield strewn with the bodies of warriors, their weapons broken and bloodied; a temple illuminated by the light of a thousand stars, its gates guarded by shadowy figures. The visions were overwhelming, each one more vivid than the last.
"Li Feng," a voice echoed, deep and resonant. It was the same voice he had heard in the cave, the voice of the Azure Dragon. "You have found the first key."
"Key?" he whispered, his voice trembling. "What key?"
The dragon's image appeared before him, its golden eyes filled with an ancient wisdom. "The artifacts of our legacy are scattered, hidden from those who would misuse their power. This shrine holds one of those artifacts. You must claim it."
Before Li Feng could respond, the vision faded, and he was back in the clearing. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Mei Lian was at his side in an instant, her dagger still drawn.
"What happened?" she demanded. "What did you see?"
He struggled to find the words, his mind still reeling from the intensity of the vision. "The dragon… it spoke to me again. It said there's something here, something I have to find."
Mei Lian's eyes narrowed. "And what happens if you find it?"
"I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I have to try."
She hesitated, her gaze flicking to the shrine. "Fine. But if this place decides to collapse on us, don't say I didn't warn you."
With her help, Li Feng rose to his feet and approached the shrine once more. The carvings glowed brighter as he placed his hand on the central pillar, and a section of the wall slid open with a low rumble. Beyond it was a small chamber, its walls lined with more intricate carvings. At its center rested a pedestal, and atop it was a small, ornate box.
"That's it," Li Feng said, his voice filled with awe. He stepped forward, his movements cautious. The air inside the chamber was heavy, charged with an energy that made his skin tingle.
"Wait," Mei Lian said, grabbing his arm. "Are you sure about this?"
He met her gaze, his determination unwavering. "I don't have a choice."
She released him reluctantly, her dagger still at the ready. Li Feng approached the pedestal and reached for the box. The moment his fingers touched it, the carvings on the walls flared with light, and a low, guttural roar echoed through the chamber.
"What was that?" Mei Lian asked, her voice tense.
Before he could answer, the ground beneath them began to shake, and the light from the carvings grew blinding. The roar grew louder, and a shadowy figure appeared at the entrance of the chamber, its form shifting and indistinct.
"We need to go," Mei Lian said, her voice urgent. She grabbed Li Feng's arm, pulling him toward the exit.
The shadow lunged at them, its movements swift and predatory. Mei Lian slashed at it with her dagger, but her blade passed through it harmlessly. "Run!" she shouted, shoving Li Feng ahead of her.
They sprinted out of the chamber and into the clearing, the shadow hot on their heels. The shrine trembled, its walls beginning to crumble. Li Feng clutched the box tightly, the jade ring pulsing against his chest as if urging him to keep moving.
As they reached the edge of the clearing, the shrine collapsed behind them, the shadow vanishing into the debris. Li Feng and Mei Lian stopped, their breaths ragged as they looked back at the ruins.
"That was too close," Mei Lian said, her voice shaky.
Li Feng nodded, his grip on the box tightening. "But we have it. Whatever it is, we have it."
Mei Lian's eyes narrowed. "Let's hope it was worth it."
Above them, the sky darkened, the first stars beginning to appear. The air was still heavy with tension, and Li Feng couldn't shake the feeling that their journey had only just begun.