Night fell gently over the mountains, cloaking Grandma Li's old wooden hut in a peaceful silence. Only the soft chirping of night insects and the whisper of mountain winds accompanied Liang Feng as he arranged medicinal herbs on bamboo shelves. On his lap, Bai Xue, the silver-tailed fox, lay quietly, her eyes half-closed in a calm slumber.
But the tranquility shattered with a thunderous bang as the door was slammed with tremendous force, creaking under the impact. Liang Feng flinched, nearly dropping the vial in his hand. Bai Xue's head shot up, a low growl rumbling from her throat, her fur bristling in warning.
"Who's out there?" Grandma Li called, her voice steady and firm. Though her body was frail with age, there wasn't a hint of fear in her tone.
The door burst open, revealing a menacing silhouette in the darkness. Glowing red eyes peered from within a shadowy cloak, followed by towering figures made of gray mist, each wielding a crystal spear glowing purple.
The Spirit Hunters had arrived.
Liang Feng stepped forward, positioning himself between Grandma Li and the invaders. His right hand gripped a white-dragon-patterned sword, while his left held a white wooden staff, a conduit of the Tianlong Mark he had inherited since birth.
"Leave this place!" he shouted. "This is no place for your kind!"
One of the Spirit Hunters stepped forward. His voice grated like metal scraping against stone. "Hand over the fox spirit. If not, you and the old woman will suffer endless torment."
Grandma Li remained still. Her wrinkled hand reached toward a silver tray bearing small cups of blue-green liquid. "These elixirs are not for you. They preserve the balance between spirit and human. Leave now."
A Hunter raised his spear and unleashed a blast of black energy that struck the hut's wall, shaking the entire structure. Liang Feng swiftly drew a dragon symbol in the air with his sword. A green-silver light erupted, forming a curved shield before him.
"Tianlong Mark!" he roared. His voice echoed like an ancient dragon's cry.
The dark energy shattered on impact, dispersing into fading wisps. The Spirit Hunters recoiled, startled that a mere human had repelled their spirit-born attack.
From the side, Bai Xue rose. Her silver tail glowed softly. Though still weak, she took a defensive stance, ready to repay the kindness Liang Feng had shown her.
One of the Hunters whispered, "He's using an ancient protective force... We'll need the Spirit-Binding Sutra."
But before the incantation could begin, Liang Feng struck first. He stabbed his sword into the ground, closed his eyes, and channeled the full power of the Tianlong Mark into his spine. Fine scales shimmered on his arms as his aura ignited, glowing with green and silver brilliance.
A distant rumble rolled through the ground, causing the trees outside to creak and groan. Liang Feng opened his eyes and leapt forward, swinging his sword. A dragon-shaped wave of energy surged toward the Hunters.
The Spirit-Binding Sutra, barely touching the floor, was torn apart instantly. The Hunters were flung backward, some falling with cries of pain.
Grandma Li took action as well. She grabbed a second elixir and traced a sigil in the air with her finger. Blue lights shaped like cherry blossoms bloomed around the hut, forming a barrier to repel malevolent forces.
Bai Xue closed her eyes, summoning what strength she had left. With a single flick of her tail, she released a wave of sacred energy that healed spirit wounds and calmed the surrounding atmosphere. Though frail, she refused to give in.
Suddenly, one of the cornered Hunters shouted, "Shadow Formation!" In seconds, nine more shadows emerged from the forest, surrounding the hut from three sides.
Liang Feng glanced at Grandma Li. He knew they couldn't hold out much longer.
"Bai Xue!" he called. "Take us to the underground chamber! The sacred elixir must be protected!"
Bai Xue nodded and darted to the corner of the room. With a swipe of her paw, she revealed a hidden trapdoor beneath the wooden floor.
Liang Feng sheathed his sword and grabbed the white wooden staff. "Grandma, come! I'll hold them off!"
Grandma Li nodded, clutching the silver tray of elixirs and descended with Bai Xue. Liang Feng followed and sealed the entrance behind him.
Above, the Spirit Hunters pounded on the door with full force. Purple mist seeped through the cracks, carrying a chill of death. One by one, the candles went out, and the fire in the hearth dimmed. Darkness closed in, as if the boundary between the human world and the spirit world had thinned.
Below, Liang Feng and Grandma Li reached the secret chamber. Stone walls lined with shelves of potion bottles surrounded them. In the center stood a stone table glowing with a soft blue light.
"Quickly! mix the aren flower, moondew water and fox spirit's blood," Grandma Li ordered, pulling a stopper from a bottle.
Liang Feng grabbed the sweet-scented aren flower, poured in moondew water from a crystal flask and carefully added a drop of the fox's white spirit blood. Stirring it with the white wooden staff, the liquid shimmered and transformed into a radiant silvery-blue potion.
"Now.." Grandma Li said. "Recite the oldest protection mantra: 'Orange Dragon, shield of soul, seal the light within the dark!'"
Liang Feng took a deep breath and chanted the words with unwavering conviction. A burst of light surged from the bowl, forming a protective dome that enveloped the entire underground chamber. Cracking sounds echoed from above, but the glowing shield held firm.
Above, the Spirit Hunters froze. The overwhelming energy had vanished. The purple mist began to recede. The hearth's fire reignited in golden light. The candles flickered back to life, illuminating the room once more.
Then... silence.
No footsteps. No voices. The hut trembled once, then stopped. The night mist dissipated, leaving behind a haunting, magical stillness.
Below, Liang Feng collapsed to the stone floor, panting. Grandma Li gently patted his back. "You've done well, Feng. The Tianlong Mark and the sacred elixir will now protect this place."
Above, Bai Xue's silver light shone once more. Cracks in the wood mended themselves, as the protective magic Grandma Li had woven long ago began to restore the hut.
Liang Feng gazed toward the stone staircase. "This is just the beginning." he whispered. "The Spirit Hunters won't give up. I have to become stronger, for Grandma Li, for Bai Xue, and for the balance of this world."
Far away, hidden in the shadows of the forest, a pair of crimson eyes watched in silence. Their hunt was far from over.