Morning inside the Sanctuary was always gentle—soft violet sunlight, warm breeze, birds gliding on lazy currents of qi. But Fengyu's mind wasn't at ease. Lingxin and Meiyu were helping Lin Xuan practice introductory breathing techniques, and all three seemed relaxed.
Fengyu, meanwhile, felt the weight of something he couldn't yet explain.
The outside world was shifting.
He could feel it through instinct… and through the faint ripple of the system's warnings.
[Environmental Alert: Beast population density increasing in nearby regions]
[Recommendation: Investigate the disturbance]
A beast tide?
Unlikely this early in the trial—but something was stirring.
Standing at the Sanctuary's entrance node, Fengyu mentally prepared himself. "I'll be gone for a few hours. Keep the Sanctuary sealed."
Li Meiyu nodded. "We'll be careful."
Lingxin touched her marked palm, brows furrowed. "Come back safe."
Lin Xuan stepped forward shakily, eyes earnest. "I… I may not be strong, but I'll help them guard this place. Please don't worry."
Fengyu smiled faintly. "That's all I ask."
With a breath, he stepped out.
— — —
The forest smelled different today—sharper, edged with the metallic tang of blood. Fengyu slid behind a fallen log and scanned the surroundings. A faint tremor ran through the soil.
Not a predator.
Many.
He moved silently, heading toward the river where he'd found Lingxin. Something about that area felt like a catalyst.
As he approached, the sound of water mixed with something else—rapid footsteps, panting, and the snapping of branches.
A figure stumbled into view.
A girl.
Again.
But unlike Meiyu and Lingxin, this one was different—older, perhaps seventeen, and dressed in sharper clothing that clung to a lean, athletic body built for survival. She carried a broken short sword in one hand and clutched her bleeding side with the other.
Behind her, three horned dire wolves stalked her steps, teeth dripping with fresh blood.
Fengyu narrowed his eyes. A coordinated pack. Smart beasts.
The girl tripped, falling to the ground with a strangled cry. One wolf lunged forward—
Fengyu didn't think—he moved.
He kicked off a tree trunk, leaping down from above. His wooden spear whirled like a spinning fang.
Pierce.
The spear drove into the wolf's eye socket. It fell instantly.
The other two wolves snarled and lunged at him.
Fengyu dodged left, sweeping a leg forward to catch one wolf off-balance. The second wolf reached his flank—he twisted, kicked its throat, and slammed the spear butt into its skull. The wolf collapsed in a twitching heap.
The final wolf circled him warily.
Fengyu picked up a stone, flicked it between his fingers, and hurled it with the full strength of Stage 4 Body Tempering—and maybe a bit more.
Crack.
The stone embedded itself into the wolf's forehead.
Silence fell, broken only by the girl's ragged breathing.
She tried to stand but collapsed again.
Fengyu approached slowly. "Don't move. You're badly injured."
Her eyes lifted to him—sharp, defiant, refusing to show weakness despite her obvious pain.
"You…" she exhaled, forcing words between gasps, "…you killed them… alone…?"
"Not the first time," he said calmly.
She swallowed. "Name?"
"Lin Fengyu."
Her eyes widened ever so slightly. "Outer clan… but strong."
"Who are you?" he asked.
She struggled to sit up. "Wu… Qingxia. From the Wu Clan. We were… on a trial mission similar to yours. My team was wiped out by a… disaster."
"What kind of disaster?" Fengyu asked, tone sharpening.
Qingxia's eyes trembled for the first time, fear breaking through her hard exterior.
"A wave… of beasts. All heading in one direction. Not wandering. Not random. Organized."
Fengyu felt a chill run up his spine.
"Organized? By what?"
She shook her head weakly. "Didn't see. Only heard… a roar. A terrifying roar. My team panicked. They died one by one…"
She coughed violently, blood splattering her hand.
Fengyu's decision was instant.
He placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"We're leaving."
Her brows furrowed. "Where—"
"To safety."
His intention triggered the Sanctuary transport.
Light wrapped around them.
— — —
They appeared inside the Sanctuary beside the Holy Spring. Qingxia gasped, legs buckling as she fell forward—but Fengyu caught her before she hit the ground.
Li Meiyu and Yan Lingxin rushed over.
Lingxin blurted, "Another girl?!"
Fengyu raised a hand. "Focus. She's wounded."
Gently, he lowered Qingxia into the Holy Spring. The moment her body touched the glowing water, it reacted violently—in the best way.
The water hissed as it purified toxins, closed wounds, and stabilized her blood flow.
Qingxia's eyes fluttered half-open. "What… is this place…?"
"A sanctuary," Fengyu said. "A place safe from the trial."
Her lips parted in disbelief. "A hidden realm… in a trial? Impossible…"
But the warmth of the Holy Spring spoke louder than her disbelief.
A chime rang.
[Wu Qingxia – Favorability +25]
Fengyu noted the number mentally. She was wary and hardened, but not distrustful.
Perfect.
Meiyu knelt beside the spring. "Most of her wounds are deep but manageable. The Holy Spring will handle the rest."
Qingxia's breathing steadied. Strength slowly returned to her eyes.
She stared at Fengyu.
"You saved me. Why?"
Fengyu replied with a firm, simple truth. "Because people worth saving deserve to live."
Her throat tightened.
Another chime.
[Wu Qingxia – Favorability +10 → Total: 35]
— — —
Later, when Qingxia rested in a small hut, Fengyu gathered the three around a map drawn on the Sanctuary's ground using charcoal.
"Listen carefully," he said. "Qingxia mentioned a beast wave. Not random. Controlled. That means something powerful is manipulating them."
Lingxin shivered. "So the trial will get more dangerous."
Meiyu added softly, "Does that mean we should avoid going out?"
"No," Fengyu said. "It means we must prepare."
Lin Xuan asked timidly, "Fengyu… do you think the beast wave will reach us?"
"It might," Fengyu answered truthfully. "Which is why I need to scout further tomorrow. I have to find out what's driving the beasts."
Meiyu bit her lip. "Can't we just hide here forever?"
Fengyu shook his head.
"The Sanctuary is our strength, but the outside world is still where the trial is judged. If we stay hidden for too long, we risk suspicion."
He pointed at the charcoal map.
"This beast wave could wipe out half the participants. If I can steer its path, divert it, or eliminate the source… we not only survive—we gain advantage."
Silence settled.
They watched him with a mixture of fear, trust, and growing respect.
Lingxin took a step closer. "Don't take unnecessary risks."
He met her gaze. "I won't."
Qingxia's weak voice drifted from behind them. "If… if you're going to investigate… let me come. I owe you my life."
Fengyu turned. "Not yet. You need to recover."
Qingxia scowled. "I can fight—"
"No." He stepped closer. "I won't risk your life a second time. Heal. Train. Then we'll talk."
Her lips parted—anger and embarrassment mixing—but she said nothing.
Instead, she muttered, "Fine… but don't die out there."
A small chime rang faintly.
[Wu Qingxia – Favorability +5 → Total: 40]
Fengyu folded the map.
"Tomorrow morning," he declared, "I go alone."
They all nodded reluctantly.
As Fengyu stepped out into the Sanctuary's twilight and stared upward at its endless sky, he murmured:
"A beast wave… controlled by something intelligent."
His fist tightened.
"I need answers. Before it reaches us."
The Sanctuary's wind answered with an eerie whisper—
as though it sensed a storm approaching.