Chapter 19 – External Threat

The night was dark, a heavy fog settling over the forest, blurring the line between reality and the shadows. Feng Qin moved with a quiet grace, her senses alert to the subtle disturbances in the air. Her Phoenix bloodline stirred uneasily beneath her skin, a quiet hum that told her she was being hunted.

She had always been cautious, knowing that her power could make her a target. Her bloodline was something that others coveted, and it made her vulnerable. Tonight, the danger felt different—darker. The rustling in the trees was unnatural. Assassins.

Before she could react, they emerged from the shadows—cultivators who were skilled in forbidden techniques, their faces hidden behind masks, but their intentions clear. They were after her Phoenix essence. They knew her bloodline would grant them power beyond what they could dream of.

She didn't hesitate. Feng Qin's sword was already in hand as she parried the first attack, a slash aimed at her torso. The force was immense, and though she easily blocked it, she couldn't ignore the familiar weight of danger settling over her. Her senses told her that this wasn't just any group of assassins—these were people with high-level techniques, the kind that could drain her if she wasn't careful.

The assassins attacked in unison, their strikes fast and precise. The forbidden techniques they used were designed to weaken their target, to bind their power and prevent them from escaping. Feng Qin could feel their energy pressing down on her, each blow sapping her strength bit by bit.

Still, she fought back with all the fury of a Phoenix. But she held back. She couldn't risk revealing the full extent of her power—not yet. If she did, they'd know what she was capable of, and that would make her even more of a target. So, she fought with precision, careful to disable her attackers without killing them—just enough to get them to retreat.

Then, a deep voice broke the tension in the air.

"You're not alone."

Xiao Xuan's figure appeared at the edge of her vision, but unlike the typical cultivator who would charge in without thought, he was silent, moving like a shadow among the trees. His intervention was precise and quick, but he kept his strength concealed, ensuring that none of the attackers saw his true power.

Feng Qin's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to be so subtle, yet effective. Xiao Xuan didn't need to reveal his immortality or any divine abilities. He simply moved with the confidence of someone who had seen far too many battles and knew the art of strategic intervention. Efficient, silent, and precise—he had learned the art of protecting without ever exposing the depth of his strength.

The assassins faltered, momentarily thrown off by the unexpected interference. That was all Feng Qin needed. With a sharp strike, she disarmed one of the attackers, her blade flashing in the dim light. A moment later, the group began to retreat, realizing they were no match for someone who struck with purpose, not force.

But as they retreated into the forest, Feng Qin's legs buckled. She could feel her Phoenix energy fighting against the wounds left by the attack. Her body burned with the need to heal, but the fight had drained her more than she'd expected. Xiao Xuan quickly rushed to her side, though he remained careful not to reveal too much. He didn't want to expose anything about his immortal nature.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself as her Phoenix bloodline began to work its magic. The wound on her side closed, but her movements were slow, her energy still too low. Xiao Xuan, sensing her weakness, knelt beside her.

"You're not fully healed yet," he said, his voice calm but with an edge of concern. He had seen the ferocity of the attack, but he still hadn't fully grasped the brutality of the cultivation world she had been living in.

"I'll be fine," Feng Qin said, her voice steady but not without effort. She focused on drawing her strength back. Her Phoenix body was strong—fueled by the energy of rebirth—but even the Phoenix bloodline had its limits.

"You shouldn't have held back," Xiao Xuan continued, watching her with a mixture of concern and respect. He knew she had intentionally controlled her power to avoid revealing too much, but the cost had been clear—she had been injured far more than necessary.

Feng Qin shook her head slowly. "If I had revealed my full strength, they would have come after me again with greater force. In this world, showing too much power makes you a target, not a protector."

Her words hung in the air, and Xiao Xuan felt a sharp pang of realization. The world of cultivation wasn't just about power—it was about survival, strategy, and the cost of showing too much vulnerability. Power was a tool, but so was restraint. The moment you let your guard down, you were exposed.

Feng Qin was no stranger to this. Her life had been spent in the shadows, constantly battling those who saw her as a means to an end. The cultivation world was ruthless—it didn't care about your origins, your desires, or your longing for peace. Only power mattered, and anyone without the means to defend themselves would quickly become prey.

Xiao Xuan's thoughts churned. He had been living in isolation, focused solely on his immortality and training, but seeing the brutality of the world around him was a harsh awakening. He had never been forced to deal with the desperation that came from being hunted for something as simple as your heritage. He had been protected by his immortality, by his isolation. But this? This was different.

"Is this what it's like?" he asked, his voice quieter now. "In the cultivation world? People fighting over bloodlines, over power…"

Feng Qin nodded, her eyes distant. "Yes. It's brutal. It's not about honor or kindness. It's about taking what you can and surviving."

The weight of her words hit Xiao Xuan harder than he expected. The cultivation world wasn't a place for the weak, for those who sought comfort or companionship. It was a world where survival was the ultimate goal, and every move you made could mean the difference between life and death. There was no room for weakness—only power.

Xiao Xuan looked at her, his expression determined. "Then I'll make sure we survive."

Feng Qin looked at him, her gaze softening, though she still carried the weight of her past in her eyes. "Survival isn't enough, Xiao Xuan. Power isn't enough. If you want to make a family in this world, you'll need more than strength—you'll need loyalty, trust, and affection."

The words were simple, but they were a reminder of the reality they faced. The road to building a family in the cultivation world wasn't about beating the enemies. It was about surviving the betrayals, the loneliness, and the cost of power itself.

As the night wore on, the threat of the assassins faded, but the weight of what they had faced lingered in the air. Xiao Xuan, more than ever, knew that his immortality wasn't a shield against the dangers of the world—it was simply a tool to help him build a future, one where the brutality of cultivation could be faced and overcome.