Ambush! Ironwood Sect
The group of outer disciples moved swiftly through the Yinwu Forest, their mission complete and the Twilight Orchids safely stored. Bai Jian, invigorated by his recent breakthrough and the hard-fought victory over the Forest Serpent Wolf, felt a sense of accomplishment that he hadn't known in a long time.
He kept pace with the others, occasionally glancing over at Lian Huaixin, who walked calmly beside him, her face still hidden beneath her hood.
Li Feng led them steadily along the path, eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced vigilance. But as they neared the outer regions of the forest, Bai Jian noticed that the usual sounds of the forest — the chirping of birds, the rustling of leaves — had grown eerily silent.
A shout suddenly broke the quiet.
"White Cloud Sect disciples!" A voice rang out, sharp with a taunting edge.
From the shadows, a group of disciples emerged, their robes marked with the emblem of the Ironwood Sect, a neighboring sect known for its aggressive tendencies and frequent clashes with the White Cloud Sect.
Li Feng's face hardened as he raised his weapon, stepping into a defensive stance.
"Ironwood Sect," he muttered, his gaze darkening.
"I should've known they wouldn't let us off so easily. Everyone, stay sharp!"
The Ironwood disciples spread out, their numbers slightly greater than Bai Jian's group. Their leader, a tall youth with a cold sneer, stepped forward, looking directly at Li Feng.
As the leader of the Ironwood Sect disciples stepped forward, his sneer sharpened, his aura radiating a potent qi that seemed to press down on the White Cloud Sect disciples.
"Heading back so soon?" he taunted.
"The Twilight Orchids you've gathered… Hand them over, and we might consider letting you leave in one piece."
Shen Liang scoffed, brandishing his spear. "Keep dreaming! These were earned by White Cloud Sect disciples. Try taking them if you dare!"
Just as the tension mounted, Lian Huaixin leaned in close to Bai Jian, her voice barely a whisper.
"That's Wu Tian," she murmured, her tone steady but laced with caution.
"He's one of the Ironwood Sect's outer disciples, and rumor has it he's at the peak of the 9th Level of Qi Condensation."
Bai Jian's eyes narrowed as he sized up Wu Tian. The man's presence alone was enough to unsettle most of the White Cloud disciples, his qi radiating like a dense, oppressive cloud. He tightened his grip on Cloudsong, feeling the weight of the situation settle over him.
The tension in the air was electric as the disciples of the White Cloud Sect squared off against the Ironwood Sect disciples, each side bristling with weapons and focused glares. Bai Jian clenched his fists, feeling his qi pooling as he readied himself for the impending clash.
The Ironwood disciples moved in unison, fanning out to encircle them, and Bai Jian could see the ruthlessness in their eyes.
Wu Tian sneered, his gaze fixed on Li Feng.
"You White Cloud disciples think you can waltz around as you please? Let's see you fight for those orchids."
Without warning, the Ironwood disciples charged forward, weapons flashing as they descended upon the White Cloud Sect disciples. Li Feng reacted instantly, parrying the first strike aimed at him. Shen Liang was a blur beside him, his spear slicing through the air with deadly precision.
Bai Jian activated his White Mist Step, weaving in and out of the skirmish as he avoided the vicious strikes directed at him.
But it quickly became apparent that they were overwhelmed. The Ironwood Sect disciples pressed their advantage, surrounding and isolating each of them.
Bai Jian caught sight of Li Feng, who had taken a brutal hit to his shoulder, blood seeping through his robe as he staggered backward. Shen Liang managed to fend off two disciples before being struck hard in the chest, leaving him gasping for breath.
"We're losing ground fast," Bai Jian thought, gritting his teeth as he deflected a strike from an Ironwood disciple.
Just then, he noticed Lian Huaixin on the edge of the fray, her movements graceful yet calculated as she fended off two disciples with her blade. But even she was beginning to show signs of strain.
"Fall back!" Li Feng shouted, his voice strained. "Everyone, split up and retreat — we'll regroup later!"
Bai Jian hesitated, his eyes scanning the scene as chaos erupted. With no other choice, he turned to Lian Huaixin, who met his gaze and nodded. Together, they moved as one, slipping away from the main battle as they dashed deeper into the forest. But three Ironwood disciples spotted them and broke off from the main group, pursuing them with relentless determination.
"Keep going," Lian Huaixin murmured, her voice calm but strained. "We can lose them in the denser part of the forest."
They sprinted through the thick undergrowth, their breaths coming in quick, shallow bursts. The Ironwood disciples were close on their heels, the sound of their footsteps and taunts growing louder with each passing second. Bai Jian pushed himself harder, glancing back only to see Lian falter slightly, her hand pressed to a shallow wound on her side.
One of the Ironwood disciples lunged at Bai Jian, weapon raised. Bai Jian ducked and delivered a precise strike to his opponent's side, feeling his fist connect with a surge of power. The disciple fell back, clutching his side in pain.
But there was no time to celebrate. Another Ironwood disciple charged at Lian Huaixin, swinging a blade with deadly intent. She narrowly evaded, countering with a swift slice across his arm, but not before a third disciple closed in from behind and slashed her across the back. She let out a sharp gasp, staggering forward as blood began to stain her robe.
"Huaixin!" Bai Jian shouted, fury blazing in his eyes as he leaped forward.
Gathering his qi, he unleashed Heaven-Shattering Fist, shattering the ribs of the disciple who had struck her. The disciple crumpled to the ground, groaning in agony.
With two of their pursuers defeated, only one Ironwood disciple remained. But Lian Huaixin was swaying, her strength fading fast. The remaining disciple took advantage of her weakness, raising his blade to deliver a final blow.
With a burst of speed, Bai Jian intercepted him, his fists flashing in a series of precise strikes that forced the disciple onto the defensive. After a brutal exchange, Bai Jian managed to land a powerful blow to his opponent's chest, sending him crashing into the nearby undergrowth.
Panting, Bai Jian turned to see Lian on her knees, her hand pressed against the wound on her back. Her breathing was shallow, and her face was pale beneath the hood. Without hesitation, he knelt beside her, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder.
"Stay with me," he said, his tone urgent but steady.
He could feel her trembling as she tried to keep her composure, but the severity of her injuries was clear.
"Keep… moving," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "There might be… more of them."
Bai Jian clenched his teeth, glancing around the forest. The sounds of the other battles had faded, but he knew the danger hadn't passed. Determined, he slipped her arm over his shoulder, helping her stand as he bore most of her weight.
"Hang on," he murmured, gritting his teeth. "We're getting out of here."
They moved deeper into the forest, Bai Jian pushing through the exhaustion and the strain as he half-carried, half-dragged her along. The shadows grew denser, the mist thickening until it seemed they were wading through clouds.
Just as he was about to give in to the fatigue, he noticed an opening ahead — a dark, narrow entrance partially concealed by overgrown vines.
Without a second thought, he guided Lian Huaixin inside, the cool air of the cave surrounding them as they stumbled into the shadows. He set her down gently against the wall, his gaze never leaving her face as he checked her wounds.
As the silence of the cave closed around them, Bai Jian finally allowed himself a moment to breathe. The battle had pushed them both to their limits, but they had made it — for now. He glanced at the entrance, listening for any sounds of pursuit, but there was only silence.