Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: Whispers of the Shadows

Xiao Feng's eyes fluttered open, his vision still blurred. His blood-streaked face bore a faint, pale smile. "You, you're alive, my love?" he had whispered, calling Zhang Tao's name as his consciousness slipped away. The surviving clan members had lifted their leader from the ground, their worried gazes surrounding him. Feng Xiu and Wang Shu stood close, their faces a mix of relief and fear. The battlefield had turned into a silent graveyard after the shadows' massacre; most of the bodies had been taken by the shadows, leaving behind only blood-soaked earth and the 1,000 remaining clan members.Feng Xiu looked at the deep wound on Xiao Feng's chest, her voice trembling as she cried, "Xiao Feng, you're alive!" Wang Shu, clutching his jade talismans tightly, asked, "Those shadows, why did they protect you? What happened?" The surviving clan members stared at their leader with eyes full of fear and curiosity. A Zhang Clan warrior spoke up, "Who were you talking to, leader? Who was it?" Another added, "The shadows, did you summon them? What did you do?" The questions rained down on Xiao Feng like a storm.Xiao Feng tried to sit up despite the pain in his chest, but his head spun. The shadows' offer echoed in his mind like a haunting whisper. When the shadows had encased him like a shield, they had spoken in murmurs. "If you accept, you can become the reflection of the Immortal Realm in this world," they had said, their voices both seductive and menacing. "But you must sacrifice everyone in your clan, all of them. In return, we will grant you immense power. You will become the reflection of the Immortals." Xiao Feng had frozen at the offer. The memory of Zhang Tao, his love for his clan, and the promise of this overwhelming power had trapped him in a dilemma. But now, under the questioning gazes of his clan, he decided to keep this secret buried."I, I didn't do anything," Xiao Feng said, his voice weak but firm. "The shadows, they came on their own. I didn't speak to anyone." He was lying, and as he spoke, he averted his eyes from his clan members. Feng Xiu frowned, her voice laced with suspicion. "But you were murmuring something, you said 'my love.' Who were you talking about?" Xiao Feng hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath. "Zhang Tao, I thought I saw him. Just before I lost consciousness, it felt like he was alive," he said, his voice fragile. This half-truth silenced the clan members, though doubt lingered in Feng Xiu and Wang Shu's eyes.The clan members carried Xiao Feng into the temple, doing their best to tend to his wounds. But Xiao Feng's mind was still consumed by the shadows' whispers. Power, the reflection of the Immortals, but at the cost of sacrificing his clan? The thought pierced his heart like a dagger. Zhang Tao's memory urged him to protect his clan, but the promise of power fueled his anger and desire for vengeance. Zhao Hu was still out there, and with this power, he could destroy him. But what would the cost be?A few hours later, Xiao Feng sought out the clan's wisest elder, Old Shen, in the depths of the temple. Old Shen, with his gray beard and deep eyes, carried the wisdom of many years. Xiao Feng decided to confide in him; he could no longer bear the weight of this secret alone. "Wise Shen," he said, his voice still faint. "The shadows, they made me an offer. They said I could become the reflection of the Immortal Realm in this world. But, they demanded I sacrifice everyone in my clan, all of them. In return, they promised great power." He paused, his eyes welling up. "During the battle, I thought I saw Zhang Tao. It felt like he was alive, and he was saying something to me. What should I do?"Old Shen remained silent for a long time, his gaze piercing into Xiao Feng's soul. Then, he let out a heavy sigh. "Those from the Immortal Realm are liars, Xiao Feng," he said, his voice stern yet compassionate. "They use whispers to deceive souls. They promise you power, but that power is merely a trap to make you their slave. Thinking you saw Zhang Tao, that might be their trickery. The Immortals are using your pain, your love, against you. Do not believe them. If you sacrifice your clan, you'll betray Zhang Tao's memory. He wouldn't want to see you walk such a path."Xiao Feng lowered his head as he listened to Old Shen's words. He knew the wise elder was right; Zhang Tao had loved the clan more than anything. But the anger inside him, his hatred for Zhao Hu, and the allure of that immense power, they swirled in his mind like a storm. "What about Zhao Hu?" he murmured. "He's still out there. If I take this power, I can destroy him. I can take my revenge." Old Shen placed a hand on Xiao Feng's shoulder. "Revenge will drag you into darkness, Xiao Feng. Your clan is your light. If you sacrifice them, you'll have nothing left. You might become the reflection of the Immortals, but your soul will be cursed forever."That night, Xiao Feng sat alone in the temple courtyard. The sky was filled with stars, but he wasn't looking at them; he was gazing into the storm within himself. The shadows' whispers still echoed in his ears. "Great power, the reflection of the Immortals…" Zhang Tao's smiling face appeared in his mind, her warm touch whispering to him to protect the clan. But the pain of Zhao Hu's betrayal burned in his heart. If he took this power, he could find Zhao Hu and destroy him, wiping out the outer realm army entirely. But his clan, the 1,000 survivors, they were his family. Sacrificing them would mean betraying Zhang Tao's memory.Xiao Feng clenched his fists, the wound on his chest still throbbing. "Zhang Tao," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "Guide me, what should I do?" For a moment, the gentle breeze seemed to carry Zhang Tao's scent. Xiao Feng closed his eyes, knowing he had to make a choice. Would he choose power, or his clan? Becoming the reflection of the Immortals promised infinite power, but would that power drag him into darkness? Or would he choose his clan, setting aside the Immortals' promise?Meanwhile, in the outer realm army's camp, anger and chaos reigned. How could their 100,000-strong army lose to a mere 20,000 clan warriors? The 20,000 surviving outer realm soldiers blamed each other. "This is your fault!" shouted one commander, pointing his sword at another. "If you had made a better strategy, this wouldn't have happened!" the other retorted. Whispers spread through the tents; the soldiers still felt the terror of the shadows in their bones. "Those shadows, what were they? They weren't human!" murmured a soldier, his hands trembling.At that moment, Zhao Hu emerged like a shadow, stepping before the commanders. "Wait," he said, his voice cold but commanding. The commanders glared at him with anger, but the determination in Zhao Hu's eyes silenced them. "Do you know why the shadows came?" he asked, his tone mocking. "The curse from the Immortal Realm, when the ritual was broken, that curse awakened. Why do you think they helped Xiao Feng? Because he was at the center of the ritual. Zhang Tao's death broke the ritual, and the Immortals chose Xiao Feng as their reflection. But this curse made them uncontrollable. They killed everyone, friend or foe alike."The commanders paused at Zhao Hu's words. The outer realm's sages stepped forward. An elderly sage with long white whiskers spoke, his voice trembling. "It's a legend, but it's true. The curse from the Immortal Realm awakens when the ritual is broken. Xiao Feng may be their reflection, but this curse drives them into chaos." Another sage, unrolling an ancient parchment, added, "There's a way to stop the Immortals from coming, but I don't know if it will work, or if it's just a fabricated tale."The commanders looked at the sage impatiently. "What's the way?" demanded one, his voice filled with anger. The sage took a deep breath. "The curse from the Immortal Realm, bound by unknown forces, can only manifest when the sun is present," he said. "The sun empowers them. If we attack at night, the shadows won't come. We can destroy them." The commanders fell silent at these words. Zhao Hu narrowed his eyes, murmuring, "A night attack, interesting. If this is true, we can finish Xiao Feng and his clans in a single night."The outer realm army took the sage's words to heart and began preparations immediately. Their 20,000 soldiers waited for nightfall. The moon cast a pale light in the sky; the stars were dim, as if hiding the bloody shadow of war. Zhao Hu, leading the commanders, silently directed his army toward the eight clans' territory. "We'll attack before the sun rises," he said, his voice filled with cold determination. "The shadows won't come, and we'll completely annihilate Xiao Feng's clan."The camp around the temple was cloaked in the silence of the night. The 1,000 surviving clan members had tended to their wounds and were resting inside the temple. Xiao Feng was still grappling with the dilemma of power versus his clan. Feng Xiu and Wang Shu kept watch, doing their best to protect the clan. But the outer realm army was approaching silently. The moonlight reflected faintly off their armor; 20,000 soldiers began to encircle the temple.Xiao Feng, sitting in the temple courtyard, suddenly felt a wave of unease. His shadow qi began to tremble instinctively. "Something's wrong," he murmured, standing up. At that moment, a Zhang Clan sentinel ran into the courtyard, breathless. "Leader! The outer realm army, they're back! They're attacking at night!" he shouted.Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes, the wound on his chest still aching, but he gathered all his strength to protect his clan. "Everyone, to arms!" he roared. Feng Xiu and Wang Shu rushed to his side. "Attacking at night?" Feng Xiu asked, her voice filled with shock. Wang Shu, preparing his jade talismans, murmured, "The shadows, will they come?" Xiao Feng paused for a moment. The shadows' whispers echoed in his mind; he remembered that the sun empowered them. "At night, the shadows won't come," he said, his voice dark. "This is our fight."The outer realm army fully surrounded the temple. Zhao Hu, at the head of his forces, raised his sword. "Attack! Tonight will be the end of the eight clans!" he bellowed. The 20,000 soldiers surged toward the temple like a flood. Xiao Feng rallied his clan; the 1,000 warriors prepared to defend the temple. Archers rained arrows from the temple walls; warriors held the entrances. But the outer realm army had an overwhelming numerical advantage.The battle turned the night into a nightmare. Outer realm soldiers began to breach the temple walls. Xiao Feng used his shadow qi to cut down enemies, but his exhausted body was on the verge of collapse. Feng Xiu tried to push back the enemies with her wind qi, but an outer realm warrior threw a spear at her. The spear pierced her leg; Feng Xiu fell to her knees but kept fighting. Wang Shu created a barrier with his jade talismans, but the outer realm soldiers shattered it.Xiao Feng watched as his clan was slowly being eradicated. Of the 1,000 warriors, only 600 remained alive. The outer realm army had entered the temple, burning and destroying everything in its path. Zhao Hu stepped in front of Xiao Feng, a vile glint of triumph in his eyes. "This is your end, Xiao Feng," he said, raising his sword. Xiao Feng gathered his shadow qi for one last stand, but his body could no longer endure. The numerical advantage was with the outer realm army, and the shadows, absent in the night, offered no aid.Xiao Feng realized his clan would be completely wiped out. "Retreat!" he shouted, his voice filled with desperation. "We're escaping!" Feng Xiu and Wang Shu followed their leader's command; the 600 surviving clan members abandoned the temple and fled into the darkness. The outer realm army took control of the temple; the sacred grounds were plundered. The temple's sacred inscriptions were burned, the clans' legacy looted. Xiao Feng and his clan took refuge on a hill, watching from a distance as their lands were destroyed.Xiao Feng, with his 600 clan members, stood on the hill, witnessing the plundering of their lands. The sky slowly began to brighten as the sun appeared on the horizon, bathing everything in a golden light. At that moment, a shadow appeared silently beside Xiao Feng. It was an Immortal; its tattered cloak billowed in the wind, its eyes glowing like flames. "You haven't made your decision, Xiao Feng," it said, its voice both threatening and alluring. "If you don't wish to become the reflection of the Immortals in this world, we will choose another. You must decide: either sacrifice your clan and gain infinite power, or let your greatest enemy become the reflection of the Immortals. The choice is yours."Xiao Feng froze at the Immortal's words. The memory of Zhang Tao, his love for his clan, and his hatred for Zhao Hu clashed in his mind like a storm. As the Immortal vanished, Xiao Feng, bathed in the sunlight, knew he had to make his decision.