"Hooded Man Wait For Me!"
1496 Words
Lan XianXian took in their surroundings.
They had landed in a vast, sprawling forest, its towering trees stretching high into the mist-laden sky. Leaves of deep emerald and silver shimmered in the dim light, rustling softly in the unseen breeze. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and distant flowers, a fragrance both soothing and deceptive—because this was no ordinary forest.
Everything here felt alive.
She could sense it—the trees, the vines coiling around trunks like watchful serpents, the faintest ripple of Qi threading through the undergrowth. The entire forest pulsed with an awareness that sent a chill down her spine.
Her curiosity about the hooded man still lingered, but she shoved it aside. Escaping this place was the priority.
Then—a scream.
Sharp. Desperate. The kind that sent instincts flaring before the mind could process it.
XianXian turned just in time to see a contestant stumble out from the shadows, his face twisted in horror. Thick vines had coiled around his legs, yanking him downward with unnatural strength. A sickening pop followed—the unmistakable sound of a joint snapping out of place.
His partner, eyes wide with panic, wasted no time. With trembling fingers, he shattered the orb in his hands.
In an instant, they vanished.
Disqualified.
The moment they disappeared, the vines recoiled for a minute and shot towards the duo
XianXian didn’t hesitate. She pushed off the ground, soaring into the air with effortless precision, her movements light as drifting petals. She barely touched down before launching again, stepping on tree branches and shifting footholds with seamless agility.
The hooded man followed suit, his dark robes billowing as he moved with the same practiced ease, unfazed by the chaos below.
The forest floor became a writhing mass of vines, consuming every inch of land beneath them. Staying grounded was impossible—the moment one's feet lingered too long, the vines would claim them.
They moved forward, slowly but steadily, leaping from fleeting safe zones to keep ahead of the relentless vines.
Mo Chen’s gaze flickered toward her. She balanced effortlessly mid-air, her movements calculated yet deliberately restrained. Not once had she revealed the full extent of her strength.
Interesting.
His lips curled slightly beneath his hood, but he said nothing.
After a tense sprint through the treetops, the dense forest abruptly gave way to an open plain.
XianXian landed first, her feet sinking slightly into the soft, low grass. It was a stark contrast to the forest—a vast stretch of golden-green plains under an eerily silent sky. A place that felt empty, yet something about it was…wrong.
She slowed, exhaling lightly as if the escape had drained her.
A glance at Mo Chen showed him adjusting his robe beneath the cloak, appearing as unbothered as ever.
“You know,” she said casually, “you should probably tell me your name.”
“For what?” His voice was smooth, indifferent, as he dusted off an invisible speck from his sleeve and continued walking forward.
XianXian let out an exaggerated sigh. “Hooded man, wait for me!”
A chuckle rumbled from beneath the hood. “It’s Mo Chen.”
She arched a brow. “Hmm… Haven’t heard of the Mo family in a while.”
At that, his steps faltered for a fraction of a second. His gaze darkened, but it was gone in an instant. Without another word, he kept walking.
XianXian took the hint and let the subject drop—for now. She had other questions, anyway. Like why he insisted on hiding beneath that thick hood, when from the little she had seen, there was no reason to.
They walked in silence, the plain stretching endlessly before them. She extended her senses, reaching out to scan for any lurking threats.
The moment she did, her breath hitched.
Something was wrong.
The more she tried to take in her surroundings, the more she felt something pulling at her. Not physically, but at her very core. Draining her.
She quickly withdrew her Qi, breaking the connection before she lost too much.
XianXian turned to Mo Chen, who, unsurprisingly, seemed completely unaffected. “Anything unusual?”
He met her gaze. “We might need to head back to the forest.”
She nodded, already feeling the sluggish pull of exhaustion settling into her limbs.
The plains weren’t attacking them outright.
They were something worse.
A silent predator, leeching their strength with every step.
Mo Chen had understood this as soon as they landed. But where was the fun if they didn’t explore a little?
The journey back to the forest had worn her down. Each step was a battle, her breath coming in shallow puffs. Yet, she pressed forward, unwilling to show weakness.
Noticing her struggle, Mo Chen halted and knelt before her, his broad back offered without a word. His meaning was clear.
She stiffened. “I can walk,” she muttered and stepped around him.
He rose to his full height, his smirk deepening. " I won't ask a third time"
Lan XianXian faltered for a brief moment but kept moving.
That was enough of an answer. Without another word, Mo Chen swept her into his arms, holding her with an ease that made resistance laughable. She fought—at least she tried to. But his grip was firm, unyielding. The air around him was thick with authority, an undeniable presence that could silence a court with a mere glance.
Against her will, she settled against his chest—hard as stone, yet radiating warmth. His scent, a blend of sandalwood and crisp night air, was both commanding and oddly soothing.
By the time they reached the towering vines, they still clung to the entrance like sentinels, but Mo Chen leaped effortlessly, his balance impeccable even as he carried her. This time, however, he did not return to their initial path. Instead, he veered in the opposite direction, his pace unwavering until they reached two grand trees standing so closely together that their trunks nearly merged.
Only a keen eye would notice the narrow gap between them—just wide enough for a single person to slip through.
Mo Chen set XianXian down and motioned toward the hidden passage. “You owe me one, little phoenix.”
She shot him a glare, lips parting as if to retort, but the vines shifted, creeping inward. Wasting no time, she slipped through the gap.
Mo Chen lingered for a moment, sensing something—or someone—watching from the shadows. He narrowed his eyes but did nothing, if they wished to remain in shadows then so be it. stepped through the passage after XianXian.
On the other side, the thick mist from before enveloped them once more. XianXian reached out, her fingers brushing through the air as she probed it with her Essence Qi. A flicker of energy answered her touch—a portal hidden just ahead. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and vanished.
Mo Chen adjusted his hood and followed.
They emerged into the courtyard teeming with weary figures.
Some students collapsed where they stood, panting. Others limped, shoulders dislocated, or arms hanging limp at their sides. Agonized groans filled the space as disciples assisted each other, some wincing as their wounds were tended to.
Lan XianXian’s gaze landed on Bai Ruoxi. Usually so bright and full of mischief, the girl now sat hunched over, exhaustion dulling her usual glow. Bai Wei was at her side, carefully applying medicine to a dark bruise along her arm.
"You look awful," Bai Wei remarked, his tone dry yet laced with worry.
Bai Ruoxi huffed weakly. "I feel worse."
"You shouldn't have rushed in blindly."
She shot him a tired glare. "And you shouldn’t have let me."
Elsewhere, Lan Yurong sat stiffly, her complexion ashen. Her partner, however, was in far worse condition—his dislocated arm a glaring reminder of the ordeal. He shot her a resentful glare.
“You left me,” he hissed, voice hoarse from pain.
Lan Yurong barely looked at him. "You were in the way."
Nearby, Tian Hui and Su Cheng stood together, their robes disheveled but their injuries minimal. Even now, exhaustion dulled their usual bickering.
Across the courtyard, more students staggered in, some clutching at torn sleeves, others pressing against bruised ribs.
The instructor stepped forward, his presence commanding instant silence.
“It is a rare kind of bravery,” he began, his tone measured, “to step into the unknown and emerge victorious. Some of you succeeded. Some of you did not.” His gaze, lingered on the wounded before he continued.
“This was only the trial.” His voice carried a weight that sent a hush through the courtyard. “In two days time the Tournament begin, Qualified contestants are encouraged to rest adequately"
With that, he turned and left, leaving behind a courtyard filled with the echoes of the trial’s aftermath.
- Writer
