Ten days. That was how long the mission scroll predicted for the journey: five to reach the territory of the *Mountain-Fang Beast*, five to return.
But Shadow knew better.
Time meant little in the wild.
The beast he hunted was no ordinary prey—it was a **Fifth-Level Foundation Realm monster**, infamous for shredding small sect patrols and vanishing before counter-hunters arrived. And now, it was his target.
Shadow's body still ached from the battle with Duan Xie. His Thunder Slash had stabilized within him, but not without leaving scars. His left shoulder throbbed in cold weather. His ribs, barely mended, sang when he twisted too sharply.
But his steps were steady.
His mind sharper than ever.
---
By the fourth day of travel, he had entered the beast's hunting ground—marked by uprooted trees, claw-gouged stone, and silence. Not even birds chirped here.
Shadow knelt by a crushed bush, brushing aside leaves to reveal massive pawprints, each nearly half the size of his chest.
> "Still fresh."
He stood, hand on the hilt of his reforged sword.
But then—
> *Crack!*
The sharp snap of a branch underfoot. Not beast. Too light.
Shadow turned slowly.
From between the trees stepped a figure in emerald green robes embroidered with silver threading in the shape of coiling spears.
The young man's features were sharp, refined—his posture straight as a drawn arrow. A slender green spear rested over his shoulder like a staff.
> "I thought I sensed someone ahead," the youth said with a faint smile. "Didn't expect a shadow from Verdant Moon."
Shadow remained silent.
> "You must be tracking the Mountain-Fang," the stranger continued. "You're two hours behind."
> "That's my mission," Shadow replied.
> "Then I suppose we're in conflict." The man tilted his head. "I'm **Wei Liang**, Green Spear Sect—ranked **seventh among outer disciples**."
He smiled without warmth.
> "Tell you what. Let's make it fair. Whoever kills the beast first, claims the mission. Deal?"
> "No," Shadow said coldly. "You already crossed my path. I've been tracking it for two days."
Wei Liang's eyes narrowed slightly.
> "Pride from the shadows, huh? I've seen your kind before. Fast, sneaky… but weak when it matters."
He spun his spear once, aura blooming around him.
> "So let's test that."
---
### **The Duel**
Wei Liang's cultivation surged—**Fourth Level of Foundation**, as expected. His stance was flawless. Balanced. Refined.
Shadow drew his sword in silence.
Their Qi stirred the forest.
Then they moved.
Wei Liang struck first, his spear a blur of silver. His opening move—**Starlit Spiral**, a twisting flurry designed to mislead the eye.
Shadow barely avoided the first arc.
The second came high—he ducked, countered with a flick of his blade.
Wei stepped back, parried with the spear shaft, spun into a wide sweeping kick—**barely dodged**.
> "Fast reflexes," Wei noted, smirking. "But I'm just warming up."
He surged forward, spear stabbing three times in quick succession—one to the heart, one to the throat, one to the leg.
Shadow twisted his torso, letting the thrusts graze past, then retaliated with **Sword Flash Art: Pulse One**.
The light strike lashed across Wei's thigh, cutting fabric and skin.
> "Tch!" Wei's smile faded.
He leapt back, activating **Green Spear Sect's technique: Windroot Step**, granting sudden acceleration and reach.
His next thrust—**Windpiercer Fang**—came almost faster than Shadow could react.
Almost.
He raised his blade at the last moment, the spear skidding off his steel with a burst of sparks.
> *CLANG!*
Still, the shockwave **shattered a rib**.
Shadow grunted, stumbled two steps back.
Wei pressed harder now—raining strikes, cutting through branches and trees as he chased.
> "No more running!"
Shadow let him close.
Then spun low, **Sword Flash Pulse Two**, a brutal side-angled counterstrike.
Wei's left arm jerked back, blood spraying. The spear trembled.
Still standing. Still pressing.
> "Not… bad," Wei panted. "But I'm still ahead."
He raised his weapon again—but Shadow's blade was already there.
**CLANG. CLANG. SHRRIP.**
Steel kissed skin. Sparks kissed blood.
Both fighters backed away, bleeding, gasping.
Their robes were torn. Arms quivering.
Wei took one final gamble, roaring as he channeled all his Qi into a single point—the tip of his spear turned a blazing white-green.
> "**Verdant Lance—Thorn Bloom!**"
A thrust that spiraled like a hurricane, crashing toward Shadow's chest.
But Shadow wasn't running.
His foot stepped **slightly left**, just enough.
His blade turned horizontally.
**Thunder Slash—without thunder.**
Not a full technique.
Just refined, compressed **intent**.
The blade struck just under Wei's ribs.
**CRACK.**
Wei gasped and dropped his spear.
He collapsed to one knee, blood rushing from his side.
Shadow pressed his sword to Wei's throat.
Both men wheezed. Their Qi flickered.
> "Your storage ring," Shadow said quietly.
Wei hesitated—then tossed it.
Shadow caught it, flicked his Qi through it quickly.
- **30 lower-grade spirit stones**
- 2 minor healing pills
- One scroll wrapped in tattered black silk, bound with thin silver threads
The scroll pulsed faintly.
Shadow froze.
The text didn't shimmer like normal martial manuals—it **shifted**, like it was alive.
> "Where did you get this?"
Wei wiped blood from his lip.
> "A… bandit. Dead, already. Near Whispering Hills."
> "I tried to study it. Nothing made sense. My elders said it was trash."
> "So why keep it?"
Wei glared.
> "Because it doesn't look like trash. It feels like… something."
Shadow didn't respond.
He rolled the scroll back up.
Then turned and walked three steps away.
Wei stared at his back.
> "You're… sparing me?"
Shadow paused.
> "You fight for pride. Not for cruelty."
He turned his head slightly.
> "But next time you interfere in my hunt… you won't walk away."
Then, like mist, he disappeared between the trees.
---