Chapter 46 – The Crimson Shadow Over the Trees

The forest was quiet, save for the birdsong and crunch of leaves underfoot.

Qingsai walked beside Fengrui Yuwen, a bow slung across his back, both of them enjoying a rare, peaceful outing without guards or servants. It was Yuwen's idea—"to hunt like men and not lords," as he put it.

> "You've got too much power in your hands," Yuwen muttered. "You need callouses too. Soulkindled or not."

Qingsai chuckled. "I didn't think you were the roughing-it type."

> "Oh, I'm not," Yuwen smirked. "But I make a fantastic observer while you do all the work."

They had just caught two river hares when a gust of wind blew through the trees. But this wasn't natural wind—it came down from above.

Leaves scattered. Branches snapped. Animals fled.

Then, a roar shattered the forest's calm—a deep, resonant call that echoed like a war drum across the land.

They looked up.

Something enormous moved among the trees.

Scales the color of molten ruby. A serpentine body longer than six warships. Wings like tattered banners of blood. Eyes, molten gold—ancient and watching.

> "Spirits…" Yuwen whispered. "Is that a…?"

> "A Sky Coil Dragon," Qingsai said breathlessly. "They were thought extinct."