The masked man looked at the blood spreading across Xu Yang's hand."You should not have moved."Xu Yang slowly rose to his feet."Neither should you.""I knew what I was doing.""So did I."The masked man's gaze met his."Then why are you bleeding?"Xu Yang's expression tightened. "Because I chose to step in.""That choice nearly cost you your life.""And standing there doing nothing would have cost you yours."
Xu Yang's expression remained calm."My life is mine to decide."The man's eyes grew slightly colder."You would throw it away for a stranger?""Whether I throw it away or keep it,is not for another to decide."The masked man was silent for a moment."You speak too lightly of death."Xu Yang gave a faint smile."And you speak as though you have the right to command me.""I am telling you what should have been done.""Then keep your counsel."The man's gaze sharpened. "You are stubborn.""And you are too accustomed to having others obey."
Masked man's expression shifted slightly.Xu Yang wiped the blood from his palm and continued,"You may choose how you face danger.That is your affair.I will choose how I face mine."The masked man watched him quietly."One day,your choices may leave you with nothing."Xu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly."Perhaps."He looked toward the soldiers gathering ahead."But that day has not come yet."
Before anyone could say,a soldier charged toward them.The masked man moved instantly and silver ring appeared before him,catching the blade with a violent impact.Xu Yang stepped forward at the same moment,golden energy gathering around his hand."Your wound is still bleeding."the masked man said without looking at him."I know.""Then don't force yourself into the front."
Xu Yang's gaze remained fixed on the approaching soldiers."If I retreat now,they will break through."The masked man was silent for a moment."You are willing to risk your life for that?"Xu Yang tightened his grip."I'm willing to risk it if there's no other choice."Masked man's eyes shifted toward him."There is always another choice."Xu Yang finally looked at him."Then show me one."
Masked man held his gaze for a moment before turning back toward the enemy."Stay close."Xu Yang's expression tightened slightly,but he nodded."I will."The next soldier rushed forward.The masked man's rings began to rotate around his arm as Xu Yang's golden energy surged beside him. They moved together.Yan Luo moved through the formation with his flaming sword,while Qing Li's wind tore through the advancing soldiers.Chen Yu raised his staff, and green energy spread across the ground beneath them.Hei Long's petals swept through the air like sharp blades.The battle became increasingly violent.The soldiers were not retreating.They were closing in.Xu Yang noticed it immediately."They're trying to separate us."
Xu Yang's gaze hardened,but before he could respond,a soldier appeared behind the masked man.The blade came down.The masked man turned,but not quickly enough. The strike caught the side of his mask and sharp crack echoed through the battlefield. He stepped back as the soldier pressed forward.Xu Yang moved without hesitation. His golden energy struck the blade aside. "Behind you."Masked man glanced at him,but said nothing.He raised his arm and violet ring appeared and caught the next strike,redirecting the blade to the side.
Xu Yang followed with a golden strike that sent the soldier stumbling backward. Masked man moved in and struck him again.The soldier fell to the ground.The broken mask shifted slightly.The masked man reached up,but another soldier rushed toward them.He had no time to adjust it.The blade struck the damaged mask again,and it finally shattered and it's pieces fell to the ground.
The masked man stood still for a moment before turning toward the remaining soldiers.Xu Yang's attention settled on his uncovered face.His dark hair had become slightly disordered from the fight,with a few strands falling across his forehead.His features were sharp but natural,and his dark eyes remained.Qing Li's eyes widened slightly."His mask..."Chen Yu glanced at the broken pieces on the ground."It finally broke."Yan Luo looked at the stranger for a moment,then shifted his attention back toward the soldiers."Leave it.Their formation is moving again."The young demon said nothing.He only glanced at the man's face before quietly looking away.
Xu Yang stared at him for another moment. "Handsome..."The man's eyes shifted toward him.Xu Yang realized what he had said and cleared his throat."I mean...why did you hide your face?""That is not your concern."Xu Yang's expression darkened slightly.He looked at him for a moment,then turned his attention back to the battlefield. He didn't ask again.Demon had watched the entire exchange in silence.His gaze remained on Xu Yang for a moment before shifting toward the soldiers ahead.The remaining soldiers had gathered together at the edge of the forest.They were injured,but none of them had fled.
One of them slowly raised his sword.Black demonic energy began to gather around the blade.Another soldier stepped beside him, and the same dark energy spread across his body."They're gathering their power,"Chen Yu said,his expression becoming serious. "They're preparing one final attack."Yan Luo tightened his grip around his sword. "Then we end this before they release it."Qing Li stepped forward and wind began to move around his feet."I'll break their formation."
Hei Long raised one hand and petals appeared around him and began circling through the air."I'll cover you."Chen Yu planted his staff firmly against the ground. Green energy spread outward,forming a steady field beneath them."Do not separate. We only need to withstand the first impact." Xu Yang looked toward the masked man. The man's expression remained calm as the colored rings slowly appeared around his arms."Can you move?"the man asked.
Xu Yang glanced at him but said nothing.He simply raised his weapon.The soldiers lifted their blades at the same time.The black energy above them grew heavier,spreading through the trees like a dark cloud.The ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Qing Li suddenly thrust both hands forward. A strong gust of wind tore through the forest and struck the soldiers' formation.Yan Luo followed immediately,his flaming sword cutting through the disturbed energy.
Hei Long's petals scattered into the air, forcing the soldiers to shield their faces. Chen Yu's staff struck the ground.Green energy surged forward and struck the earth beneath the soldiers,breaking their footing. "Now!"Yan Luo shouted.Xu Yang and the masked man moved at the same time.Xu Yang's golden energy burst forward while silver,blue,violet,and red rings formed around the masked man's body.
The soldiers released their attack.The black demonic energy crashed toward them like a wave.Xu Yang raised his weapon.Golden light collided with the dark force.The masked man stepped beside him and raised both hands.Silver rings formed a barrier in front of them while violet rings redirected the force spreading from the sides.The impact came with a deafening roar.The entire forest shook and trees bent under the pressure,and leaves were thrown into the air.
Qing Li struggled to keep his wind from breaking."They're stronger than before!" Chen Yu gritted his teeth and pushed more green energy into the ground."Hold your position!"Yan Luo drove his flaming sword into the earth.The flames spread outward, forming a line between the group and the soldiers."Do not let the force reach them!" Hei Long sent a storm of petals through the black energy,cutting open a path."Xu Yang!" Xu Yang looked toward him.Hei Long's voice came through the roar."The center!"Xu Yang saw it.
The soldiers had gathered almost all of their power into one point.Their formation had become unstable.Xu Yang's eyes sharpened.They moved forward.The masked man's blue ring accelerated his body.He crossed the distance in an instant, then a gold ring formed around his fist.The strike broke through the outer layer of black energy.
Xu Yang followed directly behind him. Golden energy gathered around his weapon and burned brighter with every step."Now!" Xu Yang struck.The two attacks landed at the same moment.The black energy shattered.The shockwave exploded outward,and the remaining soldiers were thrown across the forest floor.One soldier tried to rise,but Qing Li's wind swept him back down.
Yan Luo's flaming sword struck the ground beside him,forcing him to stop.Hei Long's petals surrounded the last remaining soldier. Chen Yu's green energy tightened around his legs.The soldier struggled,but his strength was gone.The masked man lowered his hand and final ring disappeared. The forest slowly became quiet.The soldiers lay scattered across the ground.None of them moved.
Xu Yang lowered his weapon and took a slow breath.The golden energy around him faded."It's over."Chen Yu said quietly.Yan Luo looked around Qing Li wiped the sweat from his forehead.Hei Long looked toward the fallen soldiers."We shouldn't stay here." Demon remained silent.His gaze moved across the battlefield before settling on Xu Yang.
Xu Yang had already turned away,but the blood on his clothes was impossible to ignore.The young demon's expression tightened slightly.He walked toward him. "Your wound."Xu Yang looked down."It's nothing serious."The young demon's eyes remained on the blood."You were hurt because of him."Xu Yang followed his gaze toward the masked man.
The man stood a short distance away,quietly inspecting the remaining soldiers.Xu Yang was silent for a moment."He would have done the same."Demon looked at him."You believe that?""I do."The young demon said nothing.His eyes lowered slightly."You don't even know him."Xu Yang glanced toward the masked man again."Maybe not."He paused. "But I know what I saw."Xu Yang lowered his hand and glanced toward the two strangers. The young man was still watching him,while the dark-haired man stood a short distance away,quietly looking over the fallen soldiers.
Xu Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and finally spoke."So...where are you two going now?"Demon hesitated.He exchanged a brief glance with the man beside him before looking back at Xu Yang. "We haven't decided."Xu Yang raised an eyebrow."You were running from those soldiers without even knowing where you were going?"The young demon lowered his gaze for a moment."I only needed to get away from them."Xu Yang studied him,but did not press further."And him?"His eyes shifted toward the dark-haired man.The man remained silent for a moment."Where he goes,I go."
Xu Yang's gaze lingered on him briefly before returning to the young demon."Then what will you do now?"Demon looked toward the path ahead,then quietly asked, "Where are you going?"Xu Yang shrugged. "We don't know. We're just travelling without knowing what comes next."The young demon fell silent.His fingers tightened slightly at his side,as if making a decision. "Then...can I travel with you?" The group fell silent for a moment.Qing Li looked at Xu Yang,then at the two strangers."You mean both of you?"The young demon nodded."If that is acceptable."
Chen Yu considered it carefully."We don't know anything about either of you.""I understand."Hei Long's gaze moved toward the road ahead."But leaving them here after what happened may be worse."Yan Luo immediately stepped forward."We are not taking responsibility for whatever follows you."The young demon lowered his gaze."I wasn't asking you to."Yan Luo's eyes narrowed."That's easy to say now."Qing Li quietly looked between them."Yan Luo..." Yan Luo didn't look away from the young demon."We don't know who those soldiers were after,or why they were willing to send so many people into the forest. "
Chen Yu nodded slowly."He's right.We should be careful." The young demon said nothing.His gaze lowered,and for a moment,the only sound was the wind moving through the trees behind them.Xu Yang watched him carefully.The young man had stopped trying to explain himself.There was no anger on his face,no attempt to persuade them to let him stay.He simply stood there as though he had already expected this moment.
Yan Luo noticed it as well."You have nothing to say?"The young demon slowly raised his eyes."What should I say?""Something that would make us believe bringing you with us is not a mistake."The young demon was quiet for several breaths.Then he said softly, "I cannot give you that."Qing Li frowned. "Why?"The young demon's lips parted,but no answer came.A faint uneasiness passed through his eyes.
Yan Luo caught it immediately."Because you're hiding something."The young demon looked away."Yes."The answer was so direct that even Qing Li fell silent.Yan Luo's expression changed slightly."At least you admit it.""I never said I was someone you could trust.""Then why should we let you stay?"The young demon looked toward the road ahead."You shouldn't."He paused,his gaze lowering."There is something I cannot say.But there is one thing I am certain of." Yan Luo stared at him."What?"The young demon looked at him quietly."I don't want anyone to get hurt because of me."He glanced at Xu Yang's wound."So it's better for me to leave."
Xu Yang remained silent. He looked at the young demon for a moment.The young man stood quietly,not trying to defend himself or force an answer. He simply waited then Xu Yang's gaze shifted toward the other man. The stranger remained expressionless, his uncovered face calm as he watched the road ahead.Xu Yang finally looked back at the young demon."Let him come."Yan Luo frowned. "You trust him?"Xu Yang held his gaze for a moment."No."He turned and started walking."But I can leave that question for later."
They left the together and followed the narrow path leading away from the forest. Demon walked near Xu Yang,occasionally glancing toward him as though still trying to understand why someone he had just met would risk getting injured for him.The dark-haired man followed a few steps behind.He said nothing,but his eyes remained attentive to everything around them.After they had walked for some time,Chen Yu slowed his steps and moved closer to demon."Now that you're traveling with us..."He looked at him calmly."...isn't it better to tell us something about yourself?"
The young demon's footsteps slowed.He looked toward Chen Yu,then toward the dark-haired man.The man met his gaze for only a moment.He turned back toward Chen Yu."My name is Su Yuan."Chen Yu waited. "Su Yuan?"The young demon nodded."I come from a small settlement in the northern region.I left some time ago and have been traveling since then."Qing Li looked at him curiously."Traveling alone?" Su Yuan shook his head slightly."Not always."He hesitated for a moment."There was someone with me."Qing Li noticed the brief change in his expression and followed his gaze."Someone you trust? "Su Yuan nodded.
Qing Li followed his gaze and looked at the man."Then what about him?"The dark-haired man looked at Qing Li for a moment. "Wei Han."That was all.He turned his gaze away and continued walking.Qing Li blinked. "That's it?"Wei Han did not stop."You asked for my name."Qing Li looked at his back, then quietly muttered,"He really doesn't like talking."Yan Luo glanced at him."Leave it." Qing Li nodded and continued walking.
Xu Yang looked between the two strangers for a moment.He had noticed the exchange between Su Yuan and Wei Han earlier,but there was nothing obvious enough to question.He simply turned forward and continued along the road.As the afternoon passed,the dense forest gradually disappeared and the distant sound of people began to reach them.
When the sun started descending toward the horizon,they saw the roofs of a village beyond the fields.A wooden gate stood open,and smoke rose from several houses inside."A village,"Chen Yu said."We can rest there tonight."Su Yuan looked toward the village.The moment he saw it,his expression changed slightly,but he quickly lowered his eyes.Xu Yang noticed the hesitation."What's wrong?"Su Yuan shook his head."Nothing." Xu Yang studied him for a moment,but did not ask again.
They entered the village together.The streets were still busy despite the approaching evening.People carried baskets between houses,merchants were closing their stalls,and children ran through the narrow streets.At first,Su Yuan seemed distracted by the unfamiliar surroundings.He kept looking at everything around him without realizing how obvious his curiosity was.Xu Yang noticed,but said nothing.Then a deep sound suddenly echoed through the village.
The large bell from the center of the village rang once.The sound rolled through the streets and seemed to shake the air itself. Du Yuan stopped immediately.His face lost its color.His eyes fixed on the distant tower, and for a brief moment,the fear in them was impossible to hide.Xu Yang turned toward him."What is it?"Su Yuan quickly looked away."Nothing."Xu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly.He could clearly see that something had frightened him,but he did not force an answer."If you say so."Su Yuan nodded,but his hands remained tense at his sides.
A few steps behind them,Wei Han had stopped as well.His gaze rested quietly on Su Yuan.Xu Yang looked toward the bell tower once more before continuing forward. "Come on."Su Yuan followed.He did not look back.At the center of the village,the road opened into a crowded market.Most of the stalls were still operating despite the fading light.Lanterns hung from wooden poles,and the smell of roasted meat,steamed buns, and sweet pastries filled the air.
Su yuan slowed down again.His eyes moved from one stall to another.There was something almost childlike in his curiosity, but he seemed to realize it and quickly tried to hide it.Xu Yang noticed anyway."You've never seen these before?"Su Yuan looked at him."Some of them."Xu Yang pointed toward a nearby stall."What about that?"Su Yuan stared at the food for several seconds. "No."Xu Yang looked at him."Then why are you staring?"Su Yuan hesitated."It smells good."
Xu Yang almost smiled.He walked toward the stall and bought a small piece of freshly cooked food.When he returned,he held it out to Luo Yan."Here."Su Yuan looked at it."For me?""Unless you see someone else standing behind you."Su Yuan slowly took it.He examined it for a moment before taking a cautious bite.His expression changed immediately.His eyes widened slightly,and he looked down at the food as though he could not believe how simple it was."It's..." He stopped."Good?"Xu Yang asked.Su Yuan nodded."Very."Xu Yang smiled faintly. "Then stop looking at every stall like you've never eaten before."Su Yuan lowered his gaze,slightly embarrassed."I haven't."
Xu Yang's expression shifted."You haven't?" Su Yuan realized what he had said and quickly corrected himself."I mean...I haven't tried food like this before."Qing Li had been watching the entire exchange.He suddenly laughed."You should have seen your face when you tasted it."Su Yuan looked at him. "Was it that obvious?""Very."Qing Li grinned."You looked completely surprised." Su Yuan glanced down at the food and gave a small, and smiled."I was."Chen Yu gave a quiet laugh."Let him enjoy it."Su Yuan looked at the three of them,then at Xu Yang.He seemed unsure how to respond to their casual acceptance of him.
Xu Yang simply pointed toward another stall. "If you're going to stare at everything,at least keep walking."Su Yuan looked toward the stall."What's that?"Xu Yang glanced over. "Something sweet."Su Yuan's eyes immediately followed the direction of his gaze.Qing Li laughed again."He's going to stop there too."Xu Yang shook his head and continued walking."Let him."Su Yuan walked through the village without constantly looking over his shoulder.He followed them into the market,trying unfamiliar food, watching people move through the streets.
The market had grown quieter as evening settled over the village.Most of the stalls were beginning to close,but the group remained near the edge of the street, finishing the food they had bought earlier. Su Yuan stood slightly apart,holding the last piece of the sweet food Xu Yang had given him.He had been watching the others for some time.Xu Yang was standing beside a wooden stall,his gaze fixed on Yan Luo."I still think we should take the eastern path."
Yan Luo glanced toward him."You saw the road ahead for less than a minute.""Long enough to see that it was clear.""Clear doesn't mean safe."Xu Yang frowned slightly."And the eastern path does?"Yan Luo looked at his injured side."At least it doesn't force you to walk through another fight."Xu Yang lowered his eyes to the wound,then looked back at him."I'm not that badly hurt.""You said that before."
Xu Yang went quiet for a moment."And I'm still saying it."Yan Luo almost smiled,but quickly turned his face away."That's what concerns me."Qing Li,who had been listening nearby,stepped closer and gently caught Xu Yang's sleeve."Maybe we should just take the road Chen Yu suggested."Xu Yang looked at him."You're taking his side?" Qing Li shook his head."I'm taking the side of a quiet evening."
Chen Yu gave a faint smile."For once,that's probably the wisest choice."Xu Yang sighed and finally looked away from Yan Luo. "Fine.We'll take the middle road."Yan Luo nodded."Good."Qing Li released his sleeve and smiled."See?That wasn't difficult."Xu Yang glanced at him."You make it sound as if I was the difficult one."Qing Li immediately looked toward Yan Luo."I didn't say that."Yan Luo's mouth curved faintly."You didn't need to."Xu Yang stared at both of them for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.Su Yuan watched them in silence.
Demon's expression softened.He looked at Xu Yang."You seem happy."Xu Yang was quiet for a moment.He looked toward Qing Li,who was now examining something at a nearby stall.He glanced at Yan Luo,who had already started walking toward the village entrance.He looked at Chen Yu,and then briefly toward Hei Long,who had remained quietly beside the road.After a moment,Xu Yang answered,"We have our problems."He paused,his gaze resting on his companions. "But we're together."Su Yuan lowered his eyes.
Luo Yan quietly looked at Xu Yang again. "That sounds nice."Xu Yang looked at him. "What does?"Su Yuan hesitated before answering."Having people who stay."Xu Yang's expression softened."It is."He gave him a small smile."You'll understand eventually."Su Yuan looked away,trying to hide the emotion that had briefly appeared in his eyes."Maybe."A short silence settled between them.Then Qing Li called from ahead,"Xu Yang!Are you coming or not?"Xu Yang turned."I'm coming."He looked back at Su Yuan."Let's go."Su Yuan nodded and followed.