THE FIGHTER OF DESTINY

EPISODE 4: THE FOR BIDDEN FOREST

EPISODE 4: THE f*******n FOREST

---

The f*******n Forest was older than the Zhou Dynasty itself.

It stretched across the eastern border of the empire, a vast expanse of ancient trees whose roots sank deep into the earth and whose branches reached toward the heavens. Legends said that the forest had been planted by the gods themselves, that every tree contained a spirit, and that those who entered without permission would never leave.

Chen Chang Sheng stood at the forest's edge, staring into the darkness between the trunks. The trees were massive—their trunks wider than houses, their canopies so thick that sunlight barely penetrated. The air was cool and damp, filled with the scent of moss and decay.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Tang Thirty-Six said, appearing at his side. "They say the forest is alive. That it watches you. That it decides who lives and who dies."

"That's reassuring."

"I try." Tang Thirty-Six grinned. "Remember what I told you. Trust no one. Even if they seem friendly, even if they save your life. People in the third round will do anything to win."

Chen Chang Sheng nodded. "I'll remember."

"Good. Now go show them what you're made of."

---

The candidates gathered at the forest's edge, divided into teams of five. Chen Chang Sheng looked at his teammates and felt his heart sink.

Xu You Rong was there, her expression cold and unreadable. Beside her stood Wu Feng—the man he had defeated in the second round—glaring at him with murderous intent. The other two were strangers: a young woman with sharp features and a calculating gaze, and a burly man who radiated the kind of brute strength that came from years of physical training.

"This is going to be fun," Wu Feng muttered.

"Focus," Xu You Rong said. "The task is to retrieve a sacred artifact from the heart of the forest. The first team to return with the artifact advances. The rest are eliminated."

"What's the artifact?" the young woman asked.

"A jade seal. It's kept in a temple at the forest's center. Guarded by creatures that are... unpredictable."

"Unpredictable?" the burly man asked. "What does that mean?"

"It means they don't follow the rules of normal beasts. They're spiritual constructs—born from the forest's energy, shaped by its will. They can appear anywhere, take any form, and they don't feel pain the way living creatures do."

Chen Chang Sheng felt a chill run down his spine. Spiritual constructs. He had read about them in his master's texts. They were creations of pure energy, capable of incredible destruction. And they were nearly impossible to kill.

"Any other good news?" Wu Feng asked sarcastically.

"Yes," Xu You Rong said. "The forest is also home to a demon cult. They've been operating in this region for months, and they have a particular interest in one of our team members."

Wu Feng's eyes darted to Chen Chang Sheng. "Him?"

"Maybe. We don't know for certain. But we should be prepared for anything."

"Great," Wu Feng muttered. "I'm stuck with a dying weakling, a demon cult, and an army of monsters. This is the best day ever."

"Enough complaining," the young woman snapped. "We have a task. Let's get it done."

---

The forest closed around them like a living thing.

The moment they stepped past the treeline, the world changed. The sounds of the city faded, replaced by an oppressive silence that pressed against their ears. The light dimmed, filtered through layers of leaves that seemed to absorb rather than reflect the sun.

Chen Chang Sheng stayed close to Xu You Rong, his eyes scanning the shadows between the trees. He could feel the forest watching him—a presence that was ancient and alien, curious and dangerous.

"Stay sharp," Xu You Rong said. "The constructs won't attack until we reach the temple, but there are other dangers."

"Like what?" Chen Chang Sheng asked.

"Like each other."

Wu Feng laughed. "Finally, something we agree on."

They walked for hours, the forest growing denser with every step. The trees grew twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like grasping hands. The ground became uneven, covered in roots and rocks and patches of moss that seemed to pulse with a faint glow.

Chen Chang Sheng's body was beginning to fail him. His legs ached, his breath came in shallow gasps, and his meridians throbbed with the familiar pain of disuse. He was slowing the team down, and he knew it.

"We need to rest," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Rest?" Wu Feng sneered. "We've barely started."

"His body is weak," Xu You Rong said. "We'll rest for ten minutes."

Wu Feng looked like he wanted to argue, but something in Xu You Rong's expression made him hold his tongue. They stopped beneath a massive tree, its roots forming a natural bench that they could sit on.

Chen Chang Sheng collapsed against the trunk, his eyes closed. He could feel his heart racing, threatening to burst from his chest. The curse was getting worse. Every exertion brought him closer to the end.

"Here."

He opened his eyes to find Xu You Rong standing over him, a small vial of liquid in her hand.

"What is it?"

"A restorative. It won't cure you, but it will give you enough energy to continue." She pressed it into his hand. "Don't thank me. I'm just making sure you don't slow us down."

Chen Chang Sheng drank the liquid. It was bitter, but he felt the energy spread through his body almost immediately, easing the ache in his limbs and the tightness in his chest.

"Thank you," he said anyway.

Xu You Rong turned away without responding.

---

They continued deeper into the forest.

The trees grew taller, the shadows deeper. The air grew cold, and Chen Chang Sheng could see his breath misting in front of his face. The silence was broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional rustle of something moving in the undergrowth.

"Stop," the young woman said, her hand raised. "I heard something."

They froze, listening. At first, there was nothing. Then Chen Chang Sheng heard it too—a low growl, like the sound of a beast preparing to pounce.

"Constructs?" Wu Feng asked, his hand going to his sword.

"No," Xu You Rong said. "Worse."

The growl came again, closer this time. And then the shadows parted, and the creature emerged.

It was humanoid, but twisted—its limbs too long, its eyes too bright, its skin covered in scales that glistened like wet metal. It moved with an unnatural grace, its head swiveling to survey them with predatory interest.

"Demon cult," Xu You Rong said. "They've found us."

"Only one?" Wu Feng asked. "I can handle one."

"Look again."

More figures emerged from the shadows—dozens of them, their eyes glowing in the darkness. They formed a circle around the team, their movements synchronized, their attention focused on a single point.

On Chen Chang Sheng.

"Bring me the boy," a voice said. "And the rest of you may live."

A figure stepped forward from the crowd. He was tall and gaunt, his skin pale as bone, his eyes a deep crimson that seemed to glow with their own light. He wore robes of black silk, embroidered with symbols that Chen Chang Sheng recognized immediately.

*The mark of the demon cult. The symbol of the blood-drinkers.*

"You," Chen Chang Sheng breathed. "You're the one who's been hunting me."

The pale man smiled, revealing teeth that were sharp and pointed. "I've been searching for you for a long time, Chen Chang Sheng. Your blood is precious. The most precious substance in the world. With it, I can cure any disease, reverse any injury, grant immortality itself."

"I'm dying," Chen Chang Sheng said. "My blood is poison."

"Poison to you. Medicine to everyone else." The pale man stepped closer. "You don't understand your own nature, boy. That's why you're going to die before you reach twenty. But with my help, you could become something greater. Something that has never existed before."

"I'd rather die."

"Death can be arranged." The pale man's smile widened. "But not before you've given me everything you have."

---

The demon cult attacked.

Wu Feng was the first to respond, his sword blazing with spiritual energy. He cut down two of the creatures in a single stroke, his laughter echoing through the forest.

"Come on! Is that all you've got?"

The young woman and the burly man joined the fight, their weapons flashing. The demon cult was strong, but the cultivators were stronger—at least for the moment.

Xu You Rong stayed close to Chen Chang Sheng, her eyes scanning the battlefield.

"Stay behind me," she said. "Don't do anything stupid."

"I can fight—"

"No, you can't." Her voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "You have no spiritual energy, no combat training, and a body that's falling apart. You'd be dead in seconds."

He wanted to argue, but he knew she was right.

The battle raged on. The demon cult was relentless, throwing themselves at the team with suicidal abandon. But the cultivators were cutting them down, one by one.

And then the pale man stepped forward.

"You're good," he said. "Very good. But you've made a mistake."

"What mistake?" Wu Feng demanded.

"You've forgotten the most important rule." The pale man raised his hands, and the ground beneath them began to shake. "Never take on a demon lord in his own domain."

The ground split open, and from the fissure emerged a construct—a massive creature of shadow and bone, its eyes blazing with fire. It let out a roar that shook the trees, and the cultivators stumbled back, their confidence shaken.

"Avoid it!" Xu You Rong shouted. "Don't try to fight—"

The construct lunged, its claws slashing through the air. Wu Feng tried to block, but the creature was too fast. The impact sent him flying, his sword spinning away into the darkness.

"Wu Feng!" the young woman screamed.

"We need to run!" the burly man shouted. "We can't beat this thing!"

"Run where?" Xu You Rong demanded. "We're surrounded!"

Chen Chang Sheng looked at the chaos around him. His teammates were dying. The demon cult was closing in. The construct was unstoppable.

And then he remembered something his master had told him.

*Your blood is poison. But it is also medicine. Every drop you shed could save a life.*

He pulled out his sword and slashed his palm.

"Chen Chang Sheng, what are you—" Xu You Rong started.

He ignored her. He raised his bleeding hand and threw it forward, letting the blood splash across the construct's face.

The effect was immediate.

The construct screamed—a sound of pure agony that echoed through the forest. Its body began to dissolve, the shadow and bone melting away like wax in a fire. Within moments, it was gone, leaving only a faint trace of smoke.

The pale man stared in disbelief. "How did you—"

"I told you," Chen Chang Sheng said, his voice shaking. "My blood is poison."

---

The demon cult retreated.

Without the construct, they were no match for the cultivators. The pale man glared at Chen Chang Sheng with pure hatred before disappearing into the shadows, his followers close behind.

"We need to move," Xu You Rong said. "The constructs will sense the blood. More will come."

They ran through the forest, ignoring the pain in their limbs and the fear in their hearts. Chen Chang Sheng clutched his bleeding hand, trying to stem the flow of blood. His vision was blurring, his legs threatening to give out.

"The temple," he gasped. "We need to reach the temple."

"It's not far," the young woman said. "Just a little further."

They burst through the treeline into a clearing. And there, in the center of the clearing, stood the temple.

It was small—barely larger than a modest house—but it radiated an energy that made Chen Chang Sheng's heart ache with longing. The walls were made of white stone, covered in intricate carvings that told the story of the empire's founding. The roof was peaked, its edges adorned with golden dragons that seemed to watch them with knowing eyes.

"The jade seal is inside," Xu You Rong said. "Let's get it and leave."

They entered the temple. The interior was simple—a single room with an altar at the center. And on the altar rested the jade seal, glowing with a soft, warm light.

Chen Chang Sheng reached for it—but before his fingers could touch the seal, he saw something that made his blood run cold.

The altar was covered in dust. And in the dust, there were fresh footprints. Recent footprints.

Someone had been here before them.

"Xu You Rong," he said slowly. "The seal isn't real."

"What?"

"It's a trap. Someone set this up to—"

The floor beneath them collapsed.

---

Chen Chang Sheng fell into darkness.

He landed hard, the impact driving the air from his lungs. He lay there for a moment, gasping, trying to orient himself. He could hear his teammates groaning around him.

"Everyone alright?" the young woman called out.

"Barely," Wu Feng grumbled.

Xu You Rong was already on her feet, her sword drawn. "Where are we?"

Chen Chang Sheng looked around. They were in a cavern—large, with walls of rough stone. Strange crystals grew from the ceiling, casting a pale blue light that illuminated the space.

And at the center of the cavern, there was a figure.

It was a woman—beautiful, with long black hair and eyes that seemed to hold the universe. She wore robes of white silk, and she was smiling.

"Welcome," she said. "I've been waiting for you."

"Who are you?" Xu You Rong demanded.

"My name is not important. What's important is why you're here." The woman stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Chen Chang Sheng. "I've been watching you for a long time, Chen Chang Sheng. Since before you were born."

"You're... you're the one who's been protecting me," he breathed. "The mysterious guardian."

The woman nodded. "I am."

"Why? Who are you?"

The woman smiled, and there was sadness in it. "I am your mother."

---

Chen Chang Sheng felt the world tilt beneath him.

"My... mother?" His voice cracked. "But my master said you gave me up. He said you didn't know what happened to me."

"I knew," the woman said softly. "I knew everything. I just couldn't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Because there are things you aren't ready to know. Secrets that would destroy you." She stepped closer, reaching out to touch his face. "You look so much like your father."

"My father? I don't even know who he was."

"Of course you don't. Your master thought he was protecting you by keeping the truth hidden." The woman's eyes hardened. "But the truth has a way of finding you eventually."

"What truth?"

The woman looked at him for a long moment. Then she spoke.

"Your father was the Golden Dragon. And you, Chen Chang Sheng, are the heir to a power that has been sleeping for a thousand years."