The Midnight Hunt
The city was quieter than usual as Lin Yue and Shen Wei stepped out of the elder's chamber. Shadows stretched long across the cobblestones, and the crimson moon cast an eerie glow that seemed to make the darkness pulse.
"Tonight, you will see the hunters for yourself," Shen Wei said, his voice low but firm. "They do not wait—they strike, and they strike without mercy."
Lin Yue's heart pounded. "I… I don't know if I'm ready."
"You are," Shen Wei replied. "Your blood has awakened. Trust it. Trust yourself."
They moved silently through the winding alleys, keeping to the shadows. Lin Yue could feel every heartbeat of the city—the whispers of hidden creatures, the shift of air as something large passed above, the glint of eyes watching them from rooftops.
Suddenly, a group of cloaked figures appeared ahead, blocking their path. Golden eyes gleamed beneath their hoods. The hunters.
Shen Wei's stance shifted, protective and alert. "Stay behind me," he warned.
The leader of the hunters stepped forward, raising a silver talisman that caught the moonlight. A low growl resonated from him, unnatural, like a creature lurking within.
"You've awakened her blood," he said, voice edged with both curiosity and threat. "We cannot allow it to grow unchecked."
Lin Yue felt her pulse quicken, sensing the talisman's pull against her own bloodline. Her senses flared—sight sharper, hearing acute, instincts rushing. She realized she could feel the hunters' movements before they even acted.
Shen Wei moved with fluid precision, drawing a hidden blade from his sleeve. "We don't need to fight unless we must," he said, his eyes never leaving the hunters.
A tense silence filled the street, broken only by the soft hiss of wind. Then, a distant howl echoed across the rooftops, and the hunters stiffened. They had sensed something more—something ancient—stirring in the city.
Lin Yue felt it too. The blood of Xiangcheng whispered through her veins, warning, guiding, awakening. She stepped slightly forward, her presence asserting itself. The hunters paused, uncertain.
Shen Wei's hand brushed hers. "Control it," he whispered. "Do not let fear rule you."
Lin Yue nodded, taking a steadying breath. The crimson moon illuminated her face, and for the first time, she felt the balance of power within her. The hunters hesitated, sensing the strength of her bloodline, and slowly, they retreated into the shadows, leaving only their eyes glowing faintly as a warning.
Shen Wei exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders. "Good," he said softly. "You felt it—the connection, the power. That is only the beginning, Lin Yue. The city will test you, again and again."
Lin Yue's heart still raced, but her resolve had strengthened. Xiangcheng was alive, filled with secrets, hunters, and bloodlines—but she was awake now. She would face it all.
The crimson moon shone overhead, watching, judging, and waiting for the next step.