Boom!
Su Yan arrived, her eyes scanning the ravaged sect, taking in the scars of battle that marked the once-proud hall. She was searching for someone, and when her gaze fell upon her daughter, it softened despite the violence surrounding them.
"What happened here?" She demanded, her voice steady yet filled with concern.
"The Savage Marquis attacked with his men," an elder replied, his voice laced with fatigue.
"Min'er, are you alright?" said Su Yan, worry etched on her face.
"Yes, Mother. They were just cannon fodder. The true army is yet to come," Huang Min responded resolutely.
"Indeed, but we need to regroup and strengthen our forces," Su Yan urged.
"Yes, but we don't have much time. Even if we regroup, we'll be too few to face an army," Long Huang interjected, stepping toward the mother-daughter duo.
"We can't fight this war alone, we need an ally," Huang Min murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
Long Huang met her gaze, a storm of exhaustion and determination swirling within his eyes.
"The Southern Xuan Kingdom has clashed with the Savage Marquis before and is at war with the Northern Jain Kingdom. We can ally with."
"We must go and seek an alliance and urge them to bring an army," Su Yan asserted.
"Maybe they'll bring snacks too! A full belly might help us fight better, right?"
Long Huang attempted to lighten the tension, flashing a smile.
"Now isn't the time for your jokes," Huang Min replied, a frown creasing her brow.
His smile faltered, but he pressed on,
"You know, they say laughter is the best weapon. Maybe we should start a comedy troupe instead, take the battle to the stage!"
But Huang Min shot him a cold smile, her eyes sharp as shards of ice.
"I'd take my sword over jokes any day."
"You mean you'd rather have a belly full of snacks, you big back," He rolled his eyes, trying to shift the atmosphere despite her steely demeanor.
For a fleeting moment, her defenses softened, and a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes, only to be swiftly overshadowed by overwhelming determination.
"But who will journey to the Southern Kingdom to propose an alliance?" Huang Min said with the thought of changing the subject.
"We should consult the elders and let them decide," Long Huang suggested.
They then went to the elders, and Su Yan spoke with a tone that was grave yet resolute.
"We plan to gather allies and return with the strength needed to protect what is rightfully ours from those Northern Jian bastards."
Su Yan then added how they would go about even getting the Southern Kingdom to ally with them, all the political outcomes and whatever trouble that may follow from this alliance.
After conveying their plan, a voice emerged from the group of elders.
"Since you two devised the plan, you should go."
"I agree," another elder chimed in.
Huang Min turned to her mother, and Su Yan gave a reassuring nod, silently granting her approval.
Determination sparked in both Long Huang and Huang Min's eyes.
Their path ahead was fraught with peril, but united in purpose, they steeled themselves for the approaching storm.
They traveled under the cover of night, on high alert for the threat of ambush. The Fourth prince's influence stretched far, and his spies were everywhere, so it was best to be cautious.
After running for a few hours, the two finally stopped to take a break.
"We should camp here," Long Huang stated, glancing at the darkening sky.
"The mountain paths can be treacherous at night."
Huang Min nodded, her sharp eyes surveying the surroundings before settling back on Long Huang.
"Agreed."
Long Huang then started setting up the camp and made a fire. As he sat at the fire he turned to Huang Min and asked.
"Do you think they'll help us?"
While poking the fire with a stick. The flames cast flickering shadows on his sharp features.
"They will. The Marquis is a threat to them as well," Huang Min replied.
He hesitated. "What if they also set their sights on Blossom City? What's stopping them from betraying us afterward?"
"One enemy at a time," she interrupted, her voice steady.
"And if they dare to betray us, I'll slay them all."
Long Huang trembled slightly at her words. There was an iciness in Huang Min's voice, filled with a killing intent that far exceeded his own by hundreds of times.
The morning sun glinted off the jagged peaks of the Archdevil Mountain Range, casting long shadows over the narrow trail they followed. The air had grown thin, with stunted trees twisted by harsh winds, their leaves a sickly yellow.
We should assess your cultivation progress. You've been pushing too hard without guidance." said Huang Min.
"Why would I need guidance? I think I've been doing great. I'm the strongest in Blossom City, of course, after you," he replied with a hint of pride.
"Hmmm, true, but with proper guidance you could..." Huang Min began, her words trailing off as her gaze sharpened.
The trail ahead narrowed into a crevice, the wind howling like a wounded beast. She raised a hand, freezing mid-step.
"What is it?"
"Listen."
A low, guttural growl echoed through the pass.
"Stay alert!"
Huang Min warned, her eyes narrowing. A pack of wolves, their eyes gleaming like shards of ice, emerged from the underbrush, circling them with a predatory grace.
"Giant Blood Wolves... a pack of five. There's probably more since they in large numbers," said Huang Min as her eyes focused
"Perfect," Long Huang grinned, unsheathing his Frostbite Serpent Sword. The blade hummed, ice crystals forming along its edge.
"Be careful, they know to target weak points."
"Shit! There's too many!" he said, glancing at the encroaching pack as more than 20 wolves appeared.
The wolves' ravenous eyes locking onto them with a chilling intensity.
"Trust your instincts!" she commanded.
Stepping forward with confidence. The first wolf lunged, teeth bared, and Long Huang responded in an instant, his sword darting forward.
A burst of wind erupted, sending the wolf flying crashing into a nearby tree. Seeing this, the other wolves tensed up, causing them to hesitate for a second .
"An opening," His eyes filled with battle intent as he rushed forward.
Ahhh!!!!
With a fierce roar, he charged. He felt the surge of power filling every inch of his body, amplifying his speed as he weaved through the rushing wolves.
One wolf lunged at his side, teeth snapping inches from his neck, but Long Huang struck out with his left arm, his fist connecting with its snout. The wolf yelped and staggered back.
His footwork was fluid as he dispatched another wolf with a swift kick that sent it crashing to the ground. This was no easy feat as all of these wolves were at the late stage of the Blood Tempering Realm.
"These are the first beast to not die as soon as the fight began," Thinking this, his battle intent soared. And he rushed forward this time using his combat arts.
Swish!!
Heart pounding, as Long Huang used the Wind Deer Steps, he found himself face-to-face with the pack leader, a massive wolf with fur as dark as night and eyes like burning coals. It lunged with a snarl, and he barely had time to react.
He sidestepped just in time, his instincts sharp; he could feel his meridians working in unison, channeling the qi like a raging river.
He countered with a sweeping kick, connecting with the leader's ribs. The beast staggered, but it quickly recovered, snapping its powerful jaws in retaliation.
Long Huang leaped back, feeling the rush of wind from its near-miss.
"Now!" Huang Min shouted, and with a swift motion, she directed a wave of qi towards the pack leader, distracting it momentarily.
Seizing the opportunity, Long Huang charged again, summoning energy into his fist.
Ocean Wave Fist Art Fourth Move: Eternal Tatsumi
BOOM!!
As the punch landed, the impact sent shockwaves through the air, resonating with the will of his spirit as he felt his energy manifest into a visible burst of vibrant power. The wolf staggered back, its mouth mangled. Seeing this, the rest of the pack faltered.
The moment of uncertainty gave Huang Min the opening she needed. She unleashed a series of quick strikes, her precision impeccable, killing the remaining wolves in fluid movements.
The wolf leader howled in rage at the sight.
Long Huang spared a quick glance at her, a mix of admiration and urgency sparking in his chest.
"Let's finish this!"
Long Huang then delivered a series of devastating punches to the leader using the Ocean Wave Fist Art, fourth move. The air crackled with their combined energy.
BOOM!!! BOOM!!! BOOM!!
Each blow as strong as the last, the force of the impact reverberating in the valley. His struck the leader's head. The alpha wolf collapsed, its growls fading as the rest of the pack instinctively retreated, their spirits crushed under the weight of their leader's defeat.
Breathing heavily, Long Huang and Huang Min stood side by side, the adrenaline coursing through them. The mist swirled around as they surveyed the scattered pack retreating into the shadows.
"Nicely done," Huang Min said, a proud smile breaking across her face as she took Long Huang sword and plunged it into the wolf leader's head.
Hearing Long Huang felt a surge of exhilaration radiate through his chest.
"But we can't let our guard down just yet."