Xiao Wei tried to understand. He tilted his head, watching the bird intently, but the meaning behind its frantic sounds and gestures remained a mystery to him.
"I don't get it..."Xiao Wei murmured, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
The Shadow Bird gave an impatient flap and darted forward a few feet, then turned to look back at him. It chirped again, more insistently this time.
Realizing the bird was trying to lead him somewhere, Xiao Wei stood up slowly.
"Alright. I'll follow you."Xiao Wei said softly.
With a flutter of wings and a final chirp, the Shadow Bird soared ahead, weaving through the trees like a dark arrow. Xiao Wei took a deep breath and began to follow, his footsteps quickening as curiosity—and a faint sense of urgency—pulled him forward into the deepening dusk.
Xiao Wei moved silently through the underbrush, his sharp eyes fixed on the small clearing up ahead. The Shadow Bird had flown ahead to scout, and now, its warning had brought him here—to a desperate chase that was nearing its end.
In the distance, a familiar figure was running with staggering steps, his breath ragged and his clothes torn from the branches whipping against him. The boy's hand tightly gripped a golden bow though it was clear from the way his arms trembled that he had little strength left to wield it. That boy—Xiao Wei's eyes narrowed—was none other than Shi Man, Shadow Ming's descendant.
Behind him, five figures surged through the undergrowth with sinister grins on their faces. Their Cultivations were strong—each radiating the aura of Martial Master Realm. Although Shi Man was also in the Martial Apprentice Realm, he is alone and badly injured. Right now they were like wolves chasing a wounded rabbit.
"They're going to kill your descendant… Shadow Ming. What do you think we should do?"Xiao Wei asked.
Shadow Ming's voice echoed urgently in his mind.
'Help him, of course. I can't let my descendant die in front of me.'
Xiao Wei swallowed hard, uncertainty gnawing at his resolve. His fingers flexed into fists.
"But I can't defeat five Martial Masters at once. I am only at the Martial Apprentice Realm."Xiao Wei muttered.
Shadow Ming's voice answered in his mind, brisk and unshaken.
'You won't be alone. You hold them from the front—just long enough. I'll cover you from the shadows with my arrows. Trust me.'
Xiao Wei's breath caught. He nodded slowly, resolve hardening in his chest.
"Then let's do it"Xiao Wei said, eyes narrowing like a blade being drawn.
He reached behind him and made a swift gesture, recalling the Shadow Bird spirit into his shadow. With its Spiritual Energy reinforcing his movement, he melted into the surrounding terrain. He darted forward, weaving between tree trunks and leaping over gnarled roots, using the tall ferns and twisted underbrush to mask his approach.
By the time he neared the scene, the circle had already closed around Shi Man.
The boy stood with his back pressed against a thick, moss-covered tree. His breath came in harsh, rapid pants. His golden bow was raised, but his arms shook from effort. Blood stained his sleeve and one leg was bent awkwardly, clearly injured. Still, he refused to drop his weapon.
One of the pursuers, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running from his forehead to his jaw, stepped forward. His presence was suffocating, and the cruel twist of his lips sent a chill down the spine.
"Well, well. Look at what we've caught. Thought you could run forever, boy?"he sneered.
Shi Man's eyes burned with defiance, but fear lingered just beneath the surface. He straightened as much as he could.
"Do you have any idea who I am? I'm Shi Man of the Shi Clan! If you lay a finger on me, the Clan will send hunting parties after you all. You won't last a week!"Shi Man threatened hoarsely.
The other men laughed, a cold, mocking sound that echoed between the trees.
"Oh, we know exactly who you are. That's why we're going to make sure no one ever finds your body."the man with the scar face said, stepping closer.
"By the time your clan realizes you're gone, we'll be long gone—with your Storage Ring."he added.
Shi Man's jaw clenched. Sweat dripped from his temple as he raised the bow higher, though it wavered in his grip.
"Stay back!"Shi Man snapped, though the threat rang hollow.
His knees buckled slightly, and he staggered a half-step. His Spiritual Energy was nearly depleted. His limbs screamed in pain, and his vision blurred at the edges.
He knew. This was it. He wasn't going to survive.
The men were closing in.
Suddenly a figure burst from the ferns behind them, fast and silent like a shadow on the wind.
It was Xiao Wei who landed in front of Shi Man, dust lifted in a thin cloud around his feet. His eyes were calm, but his presence exuded a quiet intensity.
"Finally caught up"Xiao Wei said, glancing back at the five Martial Masters who had been chasing Shi Man with killing intent.
One of the men stepped forward, disdain etched across his face.
"Run away, kid. It's not your place to talk."he said.
Xiao Wei smiled faintly.
"I'm here to save him. And no one—none of you—can stop me."Xiao Wei said calmly without showing any fear.
The five men burst into laughter, their mocking voices echoing through the quiet forest.
"You think a mere Martial Apprentice Cultivator can stop five Martial Master Cultivators? You must be tired of living!"the man with the scar said.
Shi Man, panting and drenched in sweat, looked at Xiao Wei with disbelief.
"Are you… are you able to fight?"Shi Man panted.
"I'm not just here to talk. Are you able to shoot arrows?"Xiao Wei replied, tightening his fists.
"Yes!"Shi Man gritted his teeth and readied his bow, still in disbelief that a stranger would stand against such odds to help him.
Swish! Swish!
Before anyone could react, two arrows flew out from the trees behind them—silent as shadows, lethal as vipers.
Thwack! Thwack!
The arrows found their marks. Two of the five Martial Master Cultivators froze, their eyes wide with shock as the arrows punched through their hearts. Blood sprayed into the air before they collapsed without a sound, lifeless.
The remaining three men froze. Their laughter died instantly, replaced by stunned silence and rising dread. The playful arrogance in their eyes faded, replaced by something harder—murderous intent.
"You… you dare to kill my friends? I'll butcher you right here!"the man with scar roared and charged at Xiao Wei with a sword crackling with Spiritual Energy.
But Xiao Wei was already moving.
He surged forward with a low growl, his Spiritual Energy flaring like a flame being fed by oil. His right hand curved into the signature claw of his Tiger Claw technique, and he struck with explosive force, aiming directly at the man's ribs.
The Martial Master's reaction was swift. He sidestepped with practiced ease, narrowly dodging the claw strike. But even before he could smirk, an arrow shot from behind streaked through the air and embedded itself in his right eye.
"Ahhhhh!"the man let out a piercing scream, clutching his face as blood poured down.
Xiao Wei didn't stop. As the man staggered, Xiao Wei spun and drove his elbow into the man's gut, sending him crashing backward.
At the same time, Shi Man loosed a flurry of arrows at the remaining two. His aim wasn't perfect due to his exhaustion, but it was enough to force the enemies into a defensive stance. The two Martial Masters ducked and weaved, deflecting the arrows with swift blade swipes and bursts of qi.
"Don't lose focus! There's only two of them—just kill them!"shouted one of them.
But it was too late. From the shadows behind them, another arrow soared—aimed with surgical precision. It curved slightly in midair, brushing past a tree branch before slamming into the chest of the man on the right.
The arrow didn't pierce the heart but hit with enough force to break his rhythm and knock him off balance. Xiao Wei seized the opportunity and dashed in.
He struck with his Mountain Fist, the ground beneath him cracking with the force of his footwork. His fist struck the staggered Martial Master in the sternum with the sound of stone shattering. The man flew backward, coughing up blood as he knelt on the ground.
Only three of the five remained standing now—one with a bleeding eye, one knelt on the ground and the other trembling slightly, beginning to understand that this was no ordinary Martial Apprentice Cultivator.
"You little brat… what kind of monsters are you two?!"the men knelt in the ground growled.
Xiao Wei didn't answer. He turned his gaze toward the last man—who still had no idea where the arrows were coming from.
Swish!
Another arrow flew, and this time it grazed the man's neck. Blood splattered, and he instinctively ducked.