A terrifyingly powerful aura erupted from the man in black, and the long saber he raised high seemed as though it would split the golden barrier in a single strike.
I gripped my sword tightly with trembling hands. The Clan Protection Array was our final hope; if even that were breached, the Wu Family would truly be finished.
"Mengli, we have to find a way to stall him!" I shouted to Wu Mengli beside me. Her expression was solemn as well, and she clearly understood the gravity of the situation.
Yet just as the man in black was about to swing his saber, a sudden change occurred! That formidable aura receded as rapidly as a receding tide; the man in black staggered, dropped to one knee, and let his long saber fall limply to the ground.
"What is going on?" I stared in astonishment at the scene, utterly bewildered by what had just happened.
"Pfft!" The man in black suddenly spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed limply to the ground. His mask fell off along with it, revealing a pale and unfamiliar face.
"He... he seems to be injured?" Wu Mengli said, finding it hard to believe. The radiance of the Clan Protection Array slowly faded, and the Wu Family elders arrived one after another, surrounding us tightly.
"What's going on? Where is the enemy?" demanded Wu Family elder Wu Tong in a hurried tone.
"He... he suddenly collapsed," I replied, pointing at the unconscious man in black on the ground.
Elder Wu Tong furrowed his brow, stepped forward to carefully examine the condition of the man in black, and then shook his head. "This person is heavily injured with a chaotic vital aura. He must have been struck down by someone."
"Struck down by someone? Who could it be? Could it be..." A thought flashed through my mind. Could that mysterious guardian of another world have intervened?
"Regardless of who it is, we are indebted to him this time; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable," Elder Wu Tong said in a deep voice, before ordering that the man in black be taken away and locked up to await sentencing.
This tempest came quickly and went just as swiftly, catching everyone off guard like a sudden rainstorm. In the wake of this battle, the entire Wu Family grew even more vigilant, stepping up patrols and defenses to guard against any further accidents.
Wu Mengli and I were also assigned a new task: patrolling the mountain forests near the Wu Family estate to screen for any suspicious individuals.
"Do you think that man in black could have been an accomplice in league with Elder Li's remnants?" Wu Mengli asked softly as we walked along the narrow mountain path.
I shook my head. "Hard to say, but judging by his appearance, he doesn't seem like one of Elder Li's men."
"True, Elder Li and his faction don't possess such formidable strength," Wu Mengli agreed with a nod.
We patrolled all the way, carefully searching every corner, but discovered no suspicious traces. Just as we were preparing to return to the Wu Family estate, we suddenly spotted figures moving in the depths of the forest ahead.
"Someone's there!" I whispered, signaling Wu Mengli to remain on guard. We lightened our footsteps and crept closer. Through the gaps in the leaves, we saw a few tents pitched in a clearing, with several figures moving about.
"Could this be the intruders' camp?" A chill ran through my heart as I tightened my grip on my sword.
"Don't alert the enemy just yet. Let's head back and report to the elders first," Wu Mengli said calmly.
I nodded in agreement. We retreated from the forest without a sound, then rushed back without stopping to report the matter to Elder Wu Tong. Upon hearing our report, Elder Wu Tong immediately ordered an elite team to be assembled. With Wu Mengli and me acting as guides, we headed deep into the forest, ready to capture those suspicious individuals in one fell swoop.
However, upon reaching our destination, we discovered things were not as we had imagined...
I reported the discovery of the suspicious camp to Elder Wu Tong, expecting it to cause an uproar, but the elder merely smiled faintly and motioned for us not to be impatient.
"What you saw must have been nearby hunters. They occasionally camp and hunt in the mountains," Elder Wu Tong explained. "A few days ago, I heard that some hunters had entered the mountains, so it must be them."
I scratched my head in embarrassment. It seemed we had been overly nervous, actually mistaking ordinary hunters for enemies.
Wu Mengli also lowered her head with some sheepishness, though she quickly regained her composure and asked the elder what we should do next.
"I will send men to step up surveillance of the surrounding area, so you needn't worry too much," Elder Wu Tong comforted us. "Although your judgment was mistaken this time, you were nonetheless fulfilling your duties. It is inevitable for young people to lack experience; just pay closer attention in the future."
I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The elder had not blamed us and had instead offered words of comfort, which brought a measure of reassurance to my heart.
Even so, this incident made me realize that Wu Mengli and I were still far too immature when it came to handling crises.
"Mengli, do you think we're just too weak?" I asked Wu Mengli with a trace of discouragement after returning to our quarters. "If we really encounter a formidable enemy, we probably won't even have the ability to protect ourselves."
Wu Mengli was silent for a moment before gently shaking her head. "We have already tried very hard, but the path of cultivation cannot be achieved overnight; it requires time and accumulation."
"You're right, we were just being too impatient," I took a deep breath, striving to calm the unease in my heart. "There is still much we need to learn, and we must work even harder from now on."
Wu Mengli nodded, determination flashing in her eyes. "Mm, let's work hard together. One day, we will become the backbone of the Wu Family, protecting the family and everything we cherish."
Looking at Wu Mengli's resolute expression, a surge of fighting spirit ignited within me.
I secretly vowed to become stronger, to never give anyone the chance to harm Wu Mengli or the Wu Family. However, little did we know that in the shadows where we could not see, a pair of eyes had been watching our every move. Those eyes were filled with gratification, yet tinged with a trace of worry. He knew that the true trial had only just begun...
Wu Mengli's words were like a warm current that dispelled the gloom in my heart. Indeed, cultivation was never a matter of a single morning or evening; we still had time and the opportunity to grow stronger. I clenched my fists, feeling filled with strength.
Over the next few days, the Wu Family seemed to return to its former tranquility. The elder sent men to step up patrols, but no anomalies were found. I gradually put that day's events behind me, devoting myself wholeheartedly to cultivation and refining my alchemy skills.
Wu Mengli possessed extremely high innate talent and was progressing at a rapid pace; naturally, I could not fall too far behind. Yet beneath this seemingly calm surface, an undercurrent was quietly surging.
One night, I was cultivating in my room as usual. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a patch of silver radiance on the floor. Immersed in my cultivation, I sensed the flow of spiritual energy within my body, and my mind was utterly at peace.
Suddenly, a low roar reached my ears, sounding as though it came from the distant horizon yet was close at hand. The sound was filled with ferocity and rage, making me involuntarily shudder. I immediately stopped cultivating, held my breath, and listened intently. The sound came in intermittent bursts, appearing and disappearing as though some ferocious beast were howling.
I had never heard such a terrifying sound before, and a sense of uneasy premonition rose in my heart. Could it be that what we discovered that day wasn't ordinary hunters, but... I dared not let my thoughts wander further as an inexplicable terror gripped me. I rose, walked to the window, and looked up at the night sky. The night sky was dotted with stars, a bright moon hung high, and everything looked so calm and peaceful.
Yet that roar was undeniably real, as if reminding me that hidden beneath this tranquility lay a massive crisis. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. I knew this was no time for fear; I had to figure out the source of that roar in order to find a countermeasure. A thought flashed through my mind, and I realized this might be a far more severe test than before, and I had to be prepared.
I decided to report this matter to Elder Wu Tong immediately while simultaneously seizing the time to enhance my own strength, so that when crisis struck, I could protect myself, protect Wu Mengli, and protect the Wu Family.
I pushed open the window, and the cool night breeze brushed against my face, yet it failed to blow away the anxiety in my heart. Those low, rumbling roars seemed to come from the edge of the sky or perhaps from deep underground—dull and oppressive, causing one's heart to flutter with panic. I walked quickly to Wu Mengli's room and gently knocked on her door.
"Brother, it's so late. Is something the matter?" Wu Mengli's voice carried a hint of sleepiness.
"Mengli, I have something important to tell you." My tone was somewhat hurried.
Wu Mengli quickly opened the door. She was still wearing an elegant nightgown, her long, dark hair draped loosely over her shoulders, looking exceptionally gentle and lovely in the moonlight. "What is it, Brother?" Seeing the anxious look on my face, Wu Mengli shook off her sleepiness.
I took a deep breath and told her about the roaring sounds I had just heard. Upon hearing it, Wu Mengli's expression also turned grave.
"Could it be what we found that day..." Wu Mengli trailed off, leaving the thought unsaid. Both of us thought of our bizarre experience in the mountains that day.
"It's very likely," I nodded. "Mengli, we must inform Elder Wu Tong right away."
Wu Mengli agreed with my idea, and we immediately went to find Father, having him take us to see Elder Wu Tong. Upon hearing our description, Elder Wu Tong's expression became extremely stern as well.
He pondered for a moment before speaking. "This matter is no trivial affair. I will immediately summon the Council of Elders to discuss countermeasures. You two return for now, and remember, do not speak of this to anyone."
Wu Mengli and I returned to our room, but sleep eluded us. Those low, rumbling roars echoed in our ears like a curse.
Over the next few days, the entire Wu Family was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. The elders patrolled day and night, family disciples intensified their cultivation, and the entire Wu Family entered a state of high alert.
However, to our surprise, after occurring a few times, the roaring sound vanished completely as if it had never existed at all. The entire Wu Family breathed a sigh of relief. After deliberation, the elders concluded it might have been a false alarm and lifted the state of readiness.
Yet a trace of unease remained lingering in my heart. That roar was far too bizarre; it could not simply appear out of thin air and vanish just as inexplicably. I always felt that hidden beneath this calm exterior was an even greater crisis...