Linyue wanted to laugh but it hurt too much to even breathe. The air scorched her lungs. Her skin felt like it was bubbling. Space itself seemed to warp and stretch in the suffocating heat. Her hands trembled as she forced them upward. Sparks sputtered and danced between her fingers.
No. Not enough.
She clenched her eyes shut, teeth biting down on the pain, and tried to pull more power into herself. A faint blue light flickered around her palms. The cracked ground beneath her shivered. Tiny arcs of lightning crawled across the earth, hesitant but alive. Slowly, painfully, the blue spark grew stronger.
The Bloodfire King's molten wings flared again, doubling the pressure. A wave of flame rushed outward, tearing through what little remained of the landscape. Shen Zhenyu's sword screamed against the force as he struggled to hold his footing, eyes wide with strain.
Linyue exhaled sharply. Her arms shook violently, but she didn't lower them. The air itself seemed to tremble. Tiny blue sparks lifted from her skin, hovering like impatient fireflies. The ground groaned and cracked—not from the Bloodfire King's flames, but from the raw power surging beneath her feet.
A sharp crack! echoed as a single bolt of pure lightning shot straight into the sky. Then the entire area lit up. Blue lightning exploded around Linyue in wild, chaotic arcs. Her hair whipped around her face as she pulled the energy inward, condensing it into a dense, swirling storm that wrapped her body like a living, crackling cloak. The oppressive heat faltered slightly as the electric charge in the air pushed back against the fire.
Shen Zhenyu blinked at the surge of crackling light. "Oh… that's new."
The Bloodfire King didn't give them time to admire it. Its hollow black eyes turned toward Linyue, unblinking and unfeeling. Then it moved. Faster than anything they had ever seen. A streak of molten claws and blazing tails tore through the scorched earth, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat.
Before it could reach her, everything changed. The air stilled. The heat snapped into eerie, cold silence. Then—CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.
A barrage of white-blue lightning struck the demon in rapid succession. Sparks danced wildly across its molten skin as it screeched and stumbled, its massive frame thrown off balance.
Linyue's eyes widened. That familiar energy…
She turned sharply.
The masked man was there. Standing in the wreckage. His sword rested loosely in his grip. White-blue lightning coiled around him in restless arcs, crackling so violently it split the ground under his feet.
The Bloodfire King roared, claws flashing, and lunged at him.
The masked man didn't move. Not even a step. He raised his sword, and the air seemed to ripple as more lightning arced down from the sky, slamming into the demon's chest.
Linyue let out a sharp exhale. Relief first. Then a flicker of annoyance. But mostly relief. She pulled back her own energy and spun on her heel. There was no time to waste.
She grabbed Shen Zhenyu's arm. "Let's run."
Shen Zhenyu didn't argue. He was already moving, boots skidding over the cracked earth as he kept pace beside her. Even limping, he managed to smirk, the corner of his mouth lifting. "Good plan. Best plan."
Linyue risked one last glance over her shoulder.
The Bloodfire King struck again and again, its claws tearing through air like burning scythes. The masked man didn't flinch. He met the attack with a flick of his wrist, lightning flashing bright and sharp. One strike deflected. Another sent spinning aside. Then the demon's tails came crashing down like fiery whips, only to be blasted back in a burst of white-blue light. The Bloodfire King reeled, crashing against the ground in a spray of scorched dirt and smoke.
Yeah. He would be fine.
Linyue snapped her head forward and pushed her legs harder. Her lungs burned, her body ached, but she didn't slow. She couldn't. Every step hammered into the ground like a promise. They had to get out alive. No matter what.
They didn't stop. Not when the searing heat faded behind them. Not when the crushing weight of the Bloodfire King's spiritual pressure finally vanished into the distance. The world was silent except for their ragged breaths and the relentless rhythm of their boots striking the broken ground. Still, they ran.
Then came hoofbeats.
Faint at first. Then louder.
A familiar voice carried on the wind. "Sister Linyue! Brother Zhenyu! You made it!"
Song Meiyu.
Two horses burst into view, hooves kicking up clouds of dust. Song Meiyu waved both arms wildly from one. Behind her, He Yuying trailed on his horse at a lazy pace, posture so relaxed it looked like he was heading to a tea house instead of a wasteland.
"Not even medium rare." He Yuying called out, voice perfectly calm despite everything.
Song Meiyu didn't even wait for her horse to stop. She leapt off mid-gallop and bolted toward them, skirts flying. The moment her eyes landed on Linyue, her face went pale. "Sister Linyue! You're hurt!"
Linyue slowed, lifting a hand to brush away the thin line of blood at her lip. "Just a bit. It's fine."
Song Meiyu wasn't buying it. But before she could launch into a full lecture, she noticed Shen Zhenyu limping slightly behind. Her gasp echoed across the empty wasteland. "Brother Zhenyu! Your neck—!"
Shen Zhenyu wiped a streak of sweat and ash from his face, his expression flat. "Still attached."
Song Meiyu's eyes shimmered with the beginnings of tears. "What are you two doing?? Fighting level nine demon??"
Linyue gave a small shrug, her tone maddeningly calm. "It was good experience."
Shen Zhenyu tilted his head toward her, gaze sharp, then shifted it back to Song Meiyu. "And what are you doing here? I told you to run."
He Yuying chose that moment to trot past them without dismounting. His posture was loose, almost bored. "We waited. She even fell asleep twice."
Song Meiyu spun so fast her braids nearly whipped her in the face. Her eyes blazed brighter than demon fire. "I was meditating!"
He Yuying raised a brow. "Snoring meditation?"
A long exhale slipped from Linyue, her lips curving into the faintest smile. Somehow, against all odds, they were all still standing. Still bickering. Still alive.
Before the conversation could descend into a heated debate about the revolutionary cultivation technique known as snoring meditation, Shen Zhenyu cut in firmly. "Let's leave."
Song Meiyu blinked, horrified. "Wait… did you kill that demon?"
Linyue shook her head. "Nope."
Song Meiyu's eyes went wide. "Then…?"
Shen Zhenyu answered flatly, voice as dry as the cracked ground beneath them. "That man with the white mask showed up. He distracted the demon."
"Yeah," Linyue added with a casual shrug. "We retreated strategically."
He Yuying gave a slow nod from atop his horse. "Good decision."
For once, no one argued. They mounted quickly and galloped toward the spring, the thunder of hooves pounding against the wasteland. The ride was silent for a while, broken only by wind and breathing.
Then, inevitably, Song Meiyu leaned forward, curiosity spilling out of her in a rush. "So… what happened back there? Who's that masked man? Did he actually help you two?"
Linyue adjusted her grip on the reins. "Maybe."
Song Meiyu frowned but, for once, didn't press further. Instead, she dug into her pouch and pulled out a small glass vial. She pressed it into Linyue's hand. "Here. Healing elixir. You're pale. Drink this first."
Linyue managed a tired smile as she took it. "Alright."
She uncorked the vial and drank. The cool liquid slid down her throat, easing the deep ache in her bones. But she wasn't finished. From inside her robes, she pulled out a heating paper bundle and unwrapped it carefully. A faint aroma of sweetness filled the air. Moon dumplings. She bit into one happily, eyes softening at the familiar taste.
Song Meiyu didn't comment. She was too busy snapping her bowstring. Behind them, low-level demons had started to creep out of the woods again.
Pew. Pew.
Her arrows glowed faintly as they hit their marks. "Honestly, can't you two give me less exciting stories next time?" she complained, loosing another shot without missing a beat.
Shen Zhenyu gave a long-suffering sigh. "You should've joined us for round one."
He Yuying leaned back lazily in his saddle. "Don't invite her. She'd throw snacks to the demon instead."
Song Meiyu narrowed her eyes. "I would not…" She hesitated, then muttered, "…well, maybe."
Linyue stayed quiet, chewing her dumpling. She didn't say it aloud, but in her head she agreed. Snacks sounded very reasonable for peace offering.