Looking For a Way Out

Xing Wuye leapt through the dense forest canopy, the thick boughs rustling underfoot as he moved swiftly and quietly, blending with the shadows cast by the afternoon sun. His thoughts circled back to the battle he'd just survived.

That pursuer… he was at the mid Foundation Building stage. I'm at the early stage, yet I managed to defeat him, he mused, his lips curling into a small, almost bitter smirk. I only won because he underestimated me and was weakened by this forest. Let this be a reminder: never to underestimate any opponent.

Shifting his focus back to the forest, he scanned the terrain below, hoping to catch a glimpse of anything that might offer a path out. He'd spent far too long in this cursed place. Every moment here was a gamble; the trees concealed dangers he could only guess at, and it wouldn't be long before his luck ran out. Suddenly, in the distance, he spotted something moving through a cluster of foliage—a familiar silhouette battling a smaller beast near the forest floor.

Wuye's gaze sharpened. The wolf, he realized, satisfaction replacing the tension on his face. He observed the creature closely, noting that it was locked in a fierce struggle with a lesser forest beast, some kind of wiry, scaled predator. The wolf moved with newfound agility, sidestepping and lunging with a strange precision. Its limbs glowed faintly, crackling with wisps of energy as it darted around its foe.

Interesting, he thought, brows raising slightly as he continued to watch. The beast has learned ergomancy? That would explain its improved speed. A surge of qi radiated from the wolf as it launched a final blow, sending the smaller creature sprawling across the ground.

For a moment, Wuye weighed his options. Ergokinesis would make the wolf even faster, a trait that could be invaluable for their journey out. But with the wolf's newfound power, would it still recognize him as its master? He waited, watching as the wolf caught its breath, its body language radiating a predatory confidence that hadn't been there before.

Deciding it was worth the risk, Wuye leapt from his perch, descending like a shadow. He landed directly on the wolf's back, the force of his landing making it stumble slightly. In an attempt to reestablish control, he leaned close, commanding firmly, "Heel."

But the beast did not respond as he expected. Instead, it snarled, lips peeling back to reveal a row of fangs, the low rumble of a growl vibrating through its frame. In a surge of defiance, the wolf twisted, bucking and thrashing, attempting to shake Wuye off.

A flash of irritation crossed his face. So this is how it decides to act after having thought it a lesson? With a focused breath, he channeled his qi into his fist and brought it down onto the wolf's back, not enough to cause serious harm, but enough to remind it of his strength. The impact reverberated through the wolf's muscles, forcing it into a momentary stillness.

He leaned close again, voice colder. "Heel," he repeated, his tone laced with a warning.

The beast's rebellious spirit seemed to waver under the weight of his authority. It let out a low, uncertain whine, muscles relaxing as it accepted his presence once more. Wuye gave a satisfied nod, feeling the tension between them subside. The beast was his once again.

"We're getting out of this forest," he murmured aloud, more to himself than the wolf, but it felt like a promise. He nudged the beast forward, feeling it fall back into the familiar rhythm of carrying him, its pace even faster now, thanks to its newfound agility. The trees whipped by in a blur as they sped north, toward freedom from the dangers lurking in the heart of the cursed forest.