Chapter 3 – The Girl and the Sword

The sun was rising when Xiao Li reached the next valley.

His clothes were torn. His legs ached. But his heart was calm.

He had survived an assassin.

He had awakened strange power.

He was no longer the same boy from the mountain village.

As he walked down the narrow path, he heard a loud sound—BOOM!

Birds flew from the trees. The ground shook.

> “Someone’s fighting?” Xiao Li muttered.

He moved toward the sound, hiding behind bushes and trees.

Soon, he saw a wide clearing.

In the middle stood a girl with long black hair, wearing a purple robe. Her eyes were sharp. In her hand was a silver whip glowing with strange purple light.

Three men surrounded her. All of them wore black armor. Their faces were covered, but they looked dangerous.

> “Hand it over, girl,” one of them said.

“You’re outnumbered.”

> “You’re not worthy,” she replied coldly.

The men attacked at once.

The girl moved like wind. Her whip cracked in the air and hit one of them across the chest. Sparks flew. The man screamed and fell.

The second rushed in with a spear. The girl spun and kicked him in the head.

But the third man came from behind.

> “Watch out!” Xiao Li shouted before he could stop himself.

The girl turned just in time. She dodged—but not fast enough.

The enemy's blade sliced her shoulder. Blood spilled.

She jumped back, breathing hard.

The man who was down got up again.

> “She’s strong… but not strong enough,” Xiao Li thought.

He looked at his hands. The black flame was gone. He wasn’t sure if he could use it again.

But he had to try.

Xiao Li grabbed a thick branch from the ground and ran into the fight.

> CRACK!

He hit one of the men on the side of the head. The mask broke. The man dropped.

The girl looked at Xiao Li, surprised.

> “Who are you?” she asked.

> “Just someone passing by.”

The two remaining enemies growled and came at them.

The girl used her whip again. Xiao Li threw rocks, dodged attacks, and used the footwork that had come to him back on the mountain.

Then it happened again.

The moment a sword came too close—

> WOOOOOSH

The Void Flame returned.

It burst out of his hand and struck the man in the chest. He screamed and fell.

The last attacker looked around—saw two of his allies down, the other burning—and ran.

> “We’re not paid enough for this!”

The forest was quiet again.

Xiao Li sat down, panting.

The girl looked at him with interest.

> “That flame,” she said slowly, “wasn’t normal.”

> “I don’t know what it is,” Xiao Li replied. “It just… happens.”

She studied him for a long moment, then nodded.

> “You helped me. I owe you a favor.”

> “You don’t have to—”

> “I always repay my debts.”

She stood and tied a cloth over her wounded shoulder.

> “I’m Cai Lin,” she said at last. “And you?”

> “Xiao Li.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

> “That name... never mind.”

She turned and began to walk.

Then paused.

> “You’re not strong. But you’re not ordinary either.”

> “Thanks… I think?”

She didn’t smile, but there was a flicker of amusement in her eyes.

> “I’m going east. If you want to survive, follow me.”

Xiao Li hesitated. Then stood and followed.

He didn’t know her story. He didn’t know where she was going.

But something told him this meeting was not by chance.

Maybe it was fate.

Or maybe…

It was the beginning of something much bigger.

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