The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into dim emerald hues. Birds scattered in the distance as distant roars echoed through the trees.
Xiao Feng moved silently, his senses attuned to the rhythm of the wild.
Then he heard it—shouts, clashing steel, and the feral snarls of beasts.
He shifted direction immediately.
A minute later, he emerged at the edge of a forest clearing and saw the chaos unfold before him.
A group of seven mercenaries, clad in battered armor and wielding weapons of varying quality, were surrounded. Their formation was tight but strained, backs to one another as they fended off multiple attacks.
Surrounding them were at least ten Rank 2 magic beasts—small to medium in size, agile and aggressive. Their wolf-like features and wind-affinity trails marked them as Wind Fanged Wolves, known for pack hunting and coordination.
But what drew Xiao Feng's eyes was the leader—a much larger beast with silver-white fur, three scars across its face, and a violent glint in its eyes. Its aura surged with power equivalent to a peak mid-level Rank 2 beast, on par with a 6-Star Dou Shi.
The mercenaries were barely at Dou Zhe to early Dou Shi level.
They wouldn't last much longer.
"Captain!" a young female archer cried, loosing an arrow that bounced off the leader's hide. "We can't hold much longer!"
"Circle tighter!" the man in charge barked, blood dripping down his arm. His blade shook as he deflected a pouncing wolf. "Hold until someone hears—"
> Shiiing—
A silver blur sliced through the air.
One of the wolves dropped mid-pounce, its head cleaved clean from its body.
Wind surged through the clearing.
All eyes turned toward the figure now standing at the forest's edge—calm, sword drawn, pale green Dou Qi cloak shimmering faintly around his body.
"Reinforcements?" a mercenary gasped.
But Xiao Feng didn't speak. He moved.
He vanished from their sight and reappeared on the far side of the pack, his blade already stained with blood.
> "Falling Wind Slash – First Form: Triple Gale Cut!"
Three wolves fell in a flash, their bodies not even hitting the ground before Xiao Feng darted again.
The Wind Fanged Wolves growled and turned their attention to him. The leader howled—a command—and four wolves lunged at him in unison.
But Xiao Feng's steps were unpredictable. He twisted, pivoted, and moved like mist riding a storm. His new black high-tier movement technique, Shadow Gale Steps, made him untouchable.
> "Second Form: Gale Bloom."
Twelve slashes danced through the air like flower petals in a hurricane.
The wolves dropped, blood painting the grass.
Only the leader remained.
It howled and lunged, jaws wide and Dou Qi flaring violently.
Xiao Feng didn't move until the last second.
> "Let's test it… one more time."
His expression turned sharp, sword raised high.
> "Silent Tempest Break."
Wind stopped.
Then—BOOM!
The leader's charge halted mid-air as Xiao Feng's blade carved a perfect arc across its neck. The beast tumbled, head slamming into the ground, body still twitching.
The clearing fell silent.
The mercenaries stared, stunned.
The captain stepped forward cautiously. "You… thank you. If you hadn't come—"
Xiao Feng gave a slight nod. "You were in trouble. I acted."
He turned to leave, but the young archer stepped forward. "Wait! Please—who are you?"
He paused.
"...Just a traveler."
Then he vanished into the forest, wind swirling faintly in his wake.