Chapter 6: Shadows in the Wind
Xiao Lian stood at the peak of the floating temple, the Windblade resting in his grasp. The air around him had changed—it no longer felt like something external, but a part of him, woven into his very essence.
Yun Mei approached from the entrance, watching him in silence. Finally, she spoke. "You succeeded."
Xiao Lian turned, still feeling the hum of the sword in his hand. "The wind… I can feel it like never before."
Yun Mei nodded. "The temple has accepted you, but your path is only beginning. Now that you have awakened the Windblade, others will seek you—some to follow, others to kill."
A chill ran through Xiao Lian's spine. He had already faced assassins. But this was different.
"The Aetherbound warriors were hunted to extinction," Yun Mei continued. "The power you now wield is a threat to many. The world does not take kindly to those who challenge its balance."
Xiao Lian tightened his grip on his sword. "Then I will fight if I must."
Yun Mei studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Good. Then let's leave before the enemy finds us first."
She turned toward the temple entrance. But before they could take another step—
A whisper on the wind.
Xiao Lian's instincts flared. He spun just in time to parry an incoming blade.
The clash of metal rang through the temple.
A figure stood before him, clad in black robes, their face hidden behind a silver mask. Their sword gleamed with cold killing intent.
Yun Mei's expression darkened. "The Shadow Sect."
Assassin in the Storm
The masked warrior moved without hesitation, their strikes precise, ruthless, and silent. Xiao Lian barely had time to react before another flurry of blows came his way.
His arms burned from the force of the impact. This assassin was faster than the one he had faced before.
They were waiting for me.
The realization sent a surge of fury through him. He had barely passed the trial, and already his enemies were closing in.
The assassin struck again, their blade a blur. Xiao Lian ducked, feeling the wind shift around him.
This time, he did not fight back with strength alone.
Instead, he let the wind guide him.
Dance of the Aetherwind
Xiao Lian moved without resistance. The assassin's blade missed by a hair's breadth as he flowed around the attack like drifting mist.
Then, in a heartbeat, he countered.
A single strike.
The Windblade howled as it met steel. The force of the impact sent the assassin skidding backward.
For the first time, they hesitated.
"Impossible…" the assassin whispered. "You… control the wind itself."
Xiao Lian did not answer. He was still adjusting to this power—but it was his now.
The assassin tensed, preparing to strike again.
Then, from the shadows, a low voice echoed:
"Enough."
Another figure emerged—a tall man, his presence sending a ripple through the air. His face remained obscured, but his very presence carried the weight of a storm waiting to break.
Yun Mei's expression hardened. "Lei Feng."
Xiao Lian glanced at her. "You know him?"
"He is the Tempest Fang—the highest-ranking enforcer of the Shadow Sect." Yun Mei's voice was sharp. "And if he's here, it means they won't let you leave alive."
Lei Feng stepped forward, his golden eyes gleaming beneath his hood. "Xiao Lian," he said, his voice smooth like a whispering breeze before a storm. "You are an anomaly. The last of the Aetherbound… and now the wielder of the Windblade."
His gaze sharpened. "You should not exist."
Xiao Lian's pulse quickened. "Then I suppose you've come to correct that mistake?"
Lei Feng smiled faintly. "Not yet. Killing you now would be a waste."
His fingers traced the hilt of his sheathed sword. "The Windblade is powerful… but it is incomplete. Your connection to it is still fragile. I could kill you now, but where would be the honor in that?"
Xiao Lian clenched his jaw. "Then why are you here?"
Lei Feng's smile did not fade. "To deliver a warning."
He raised a single finger. "The Shadow Sect does not tolerate threats. Your existence disrupts the balance of power. The next time we meet, I will end you."
Then, without another word, he turned. The masked assassin followed him, and before Xiao Lian could react, they both vanished into the wind.
Silence filled the temple once more.
A Storm on the Horizon
Xiao Lian exhaled, his grip on the Windblade still tight.
Yun Mei placed a hand on his shoulder. "He gave you a warning. That means you have time."
"Not much," Xiao Lian said, his mind still racing. Lei Feng's power was beyond anything he had faced. If they fought now, he wasn't sure if he could win.
Yun Mei nodded. "Then we will prepare. The Shadow Sect won't wait forever."
Xiao Lian looked down at the Windblade. He had passed the trial, but it was not enough. The sword's power was only beginning to awaken—and so was his own.
If he wanted to survive, he had to become stronger.
He turned to Yun Mei. "Where do we go next?"
She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "To the heart of the storm."
Xiao Lian took one last look at the temple before stepping forward.
His battle had only just begun.
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