Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 13: The Blood on His Hands

Jiang Feng crouched low behind a thick tree, his body coated in mud to mask his scent. His heart raced in his chest as he stared at the battered lion-like beast. Its fur, once majestic and golden, was now streaked with blood and dirt. The sharp claws that had previously torn through the other beasts hung limply by its side, and its once fearsome roars had become strained growls.

"This is it," Feng muttered to himself. His hands clenched around a sharpened stone he'd picked up earlier. He knew he couldn't take on the creature in its prime, but now, after the brutal fight, it was weak. Weaker than it had ever been.

The Eternal Flame Codex had warned him that others were on his trail, and he couldn't afford to stay in this area for too long. His stomach rumbled in hunger, and he knew he needed meat and strength if he was going to survive the days ahead.

"Alright," he whispered, steadying his breath. "Focus." Feng broke off a long stick that was nearby and picked up a sharp stone, then used vines to wrap around the stone and stick.

Taking a deep breath, Feng started edging towards the wounded animal. His mind recalled the intricate patterns he'd studied on the cave walls. Those strange markings that had transformed into words now swirled in his memory. There was power in those patterns, and now he could sense the faint spiritual energy within the earth beneath him. The energy flowed, connecting everything, even the beasts.

"Sharp and brutal, ghastly and deadly"

Slowly, Jiang Feng emerged from his hiding place. The beast didn't notice him immediately, its head hanging low, panting heavily as it limped near the stream. The remaining water glistened with blood.

With swift movements, Feng circled to position himself behind the creature, keeping low to the ground. The lion's keen senses were dulled by pain and fatigue, but he couldn't afford a mistake.

I have to end this in one strike, he thought. Strike true, or die, be brutal or crumble.

Jiang Feng lifted his makeshift spear, made from the sharp stone he'd sharpened earlier. He focused his energy on his arms, feeling the warmth from the Eternal Flame Codex within his mind, guiding him as it always did.

"The Dao of man is limited, but the Dao of the Gods shall forever be everlasting. Death is also the beginning of life!"

He felt a surge of energy as his will solidified. Jiang Feng took a deep breath and leaped forward, driving the spear down with all his strength. The beast roared, sensing the attack too late. The stone pierced its back, digging deep into its spine. The creature buckled under the force of the strike, collapsing into the mud, writhing and clawing at the ground.

But Feng didn't stop. He pulled the spear out and drove it back into the creature's head, then its neck, severing its spine completely. The beast let out a final, pitiful roar before falling still, blood spilling from its lifeless body. Jiang Feng stood over the dead creature, breathing heavily, his hands trembling with adrenaline. He had done it. He had survived.

Jiang Feng's heart continued to race even as the beast lay dead at his feet, its body rapidly cooling in the fading light. He stood over it, staring at the blood-soaked stone spear still gripped in his trembling hand. The pungent scent of iron filled the air, and though he had succeeded, his stomach churned.

He was no stranger to death, he had seen it and smelled it, but killing a creature with his own hands felt different. For a moment, he just stood there, frozen, the warmth of the beast's blood still seeping into the dirt. It wasn't just any beast; it had been strong, noble, fierce. There was a moment when their lives intertwined, a fleeting connection where the predator had become prey.

The voice of the Eternal Flame Codex echoed in his mind: "You must do what is necessary. In death, there is renewal. The flesh feeds the spirit, and the spirit feeds the flesh. Move."

Jiang Feng blinked, pulling himself back to reality. His eyes darted to the deepening shadows of the forest, the rustling trees, the unseen threats lurking in every direction. He had no time to linger on morality. The Codex was right, he had to eat, to survive.

"Alright," he whispered, kneeling beside the beast once more. "I'll mourn later."

His hands, now steadier, moved with purpose. He carved out large chunks of the beast's flesh, wrapping them in nearby broad leaves. His knowledge of anatomy was crude at best, but the Codex guided his movements, providing just enough insight to avoid wasting precious time and energy.

By the time the last sliver of light had faded from the sky, Jiang Feng had gathered enough meat to sustain himself for days. His stomach growled, urging him to cook and eat immediately, but he knew better. The smoke would draw unwanted attention, and the forest already felt hostile, as though watching him from every angle. He couldn't stay here.

With the bundle of meat secured in a makeshift sling, Jiang Feng cast one final glance at the dead creature. "You fought well," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the soft rustling of leaves. Then, without further hesitation, he turned and began to move north.

The forest was dense, thick with underbrush and ancient trees whose branches blotted out the stars. Every step was calculated, and every sound was analyzed. His senses, sharpened by the Eternal Flame Codex, allowed him to feel the flow of energy beneath his feet, guiding him like an unseen compass. The pulse of Qi in the earth was faint but present, and he could feel it stretching out toward the mountains in the distance. He knew he was heading in the right direction.

Hours passed, and fatigue gnawed at his body. The adrenaline from the fight had long since faded, leaving him weak and hungry. His limbs felt heavy, and his vision began to blur from exhaustion. But he couldn't stop. Not here.

Suddenly, his ears caught the faintest sound, footsteps, slow and deliberate, crunching through the forest floor.