[Scene: Bamboo Grove – Dawn]
The world awoke in a hush of rustling leaves and golden light. Birds chirped cautiously—yet tension hung in the grove like a taut string ready to snap.
Max was already awake. Sitting by the small fire, blade on his lap, senses honed.
Lian Yue stirred beside him, coughing lightly. Her pale cheeks had regained a touch of color.
He handed her a warm flask of boiled root broth. "Drink this. It'll steady your Qi."
She nodded, sipping slowly.
Then—snap.
A bamboo stalk cracked in the distance.
Max's eyes narrowed.
Too heavy to be a fox. Too careful to be a beast.
Another crack.
Then—silence.
Lian Yue's pendant pulsed faintly.
Max stood, muscles coiling.
"They've found us."
⸻
[Scene: Bamboo Forest – Mid-Pursuit]
Blades of Qi sliced through air.
Max darted between trees, Lian Yue close behind him, cloak fluttering, breath shallow. Behind them, masked figures moved like wolves through mist, clad in silver fox masks with glowing eyes.
Arrows thudded into bark.
Explosive talismans ignited behind them, trees falling, smoke rising.
"Left!" Max shouted.
They cut through a narrow path flanked by ancient trees, ducking just as a streak of shadow Qi lanced above their heads.
One masked pursuer leapt ahead to block them.
Max didn't hesitate.
"Flame Lotus—Bursting Bloom!"
His palm erupted with spiraling flame Qi, blasting the figure off his feet and into a tree with a concussive snap. Charred robes fluttered down.
Another appeared—this one stronger, eyes glowing violet under the silver mask.
"The girl belongs to us. Leave now, boy, and we may let you crawl away."
Max stepped in front of Lian Yue.
His purple pupils gleamed.
"I don't crawl."
⸻
[Scene: Mid-Battle – Max Activates His Special Eyes]
The masked figure lunged.
Max's eyes flared, transforming into radiant orbs of swirling violet. The world slowed. Details sharpened.
And then, just as the enemy's blade rose—Max's vision split into layered dimensions.
He turned slightly toward Lian Yue.
He could see through the forest.
Through her skin.
Through her core.
And then… her status unfolded before his eyes.
⸻
#Status Window: Observed (Through Origin Eyes)
⸻
Name: Lian Yue
Race: Human (Possibly Altered)
Gender: Female
Age: 17
Realm: Mortal Realm Category
Major Realm: Qi Initiation
Minor Realm: Minor Realm 3 – Meridian Bonding
Qi Type: Lunar Affinity (Rare)
Spirit Root: Triple Harmonized Root (Ice, Illusion, Moonlight) – Heavily Mutated
Constitution: ??? (Obscured by Blood Seal)
Known Techniques:
• Crescent Pulse Art
• Dream Veil Steps
• Moonlit Mirage Talisman (Damaged)
Status Effects:
• Internal Poison Traces (Diminishing)
• Soul Binding Curse (Dormant)
• Lunar Qi Core Fragmentation – Unstable
⸻
She's far stronger than she lets on… and broken in ways even I can't understand yet.
⸻
[Scene: Escape]
With his enhanced sight, Max weaved through the enemies' formation, dodging blows before they landed, guiding Lian Yue through collapsing trees and poisoned traps.
One masked cultivator unleashed a shadow chain—
Max spun, redirecting it into another tree with a precise strike.
He reached the cliff's edge, grabbing Lian Yue's hand.
"Hold your breath!"
He jumped.
Wind roared past them as they plunged into the river canyon below.
Water engulfed them.
⸻
[Scene: Riverbank – Later That Night]
They emerged hours later, soaked and scraped, but alive. A hidden cave behind the falls became their temporary haven.
Max tended to her wounds.
She watched him, quiet.
"You could've left me," she said.
Max didn't answer immediately. Then: "You said my name was on a map. I don't believe in coincidence."
A pause. Lian Yue looked into the flickering firelight.
"They're not just hunting me because of what I stole. They're hunting me because of what I am."
Max looked at her carefully. "Then tell me."
She hesitated.
"Not yet. If I do… you won't trust me again."
⸻
[End of Chapter 6]