Unwritten Destinies

Chapter 6: The Weight of Blood

The group marched in silence as the aftermath of the battle lingered in the air, the tension of the fight hanging heavy over them like a dark cloud. The forest seemed eerily still now, the distant sounds of wildlife muted by the blood that had been spilled moments earlier. Li Feng walked at the back of the group, his mind swirling in the chaos of his own thoughts. His sword was still stained with the blood of the scout he had struck down, and he couldn't shake the image of the man's terrified face from his mind.

Killing someone in cold blood—it was nothing like what he'd imagined. Even with all the novels he'd read, all the fictional worlds he'd escaped to, he had never truly understood what it meant to take a life until now.

"Are you still with us?" Jin Su's voice cut through the haze of Li Feng's thoughts, pulling him back to the present. She had fallen back to walk beside him, her expression unreadable but her eyes sharp.

Li Feng blinked, his throat dry. "Yeah, I'm here."

She studied him for a moment before speaking again. "First time is always the hardest."

Her words were simple, but there was an understanding in her tone. She, like all the others, had gone through this before. Taking a life, stepping onto the battlefield for real—it wasn't a glorious, heroic moment like the novels often depicted. It was messy. Ugly. And it weighed on you.

"You handled yourself well," she continued after a pause. "But you need to steel your heart, Li Feng. This world doesn't offer second chances. Hesitate again, and you'll find yourself dead."

Li Feng's jaw clenched. He knew she was right. Li Tian had said as much too. In the world of Murim, there was no room for uncertainty, no room for doubt. He had to adapt, fast, if he wanted to survive—and if he wanted to change the fate he knew awaited his brother and the Black Cloud Sect.

But knowing and doing were two very different things.

"I'll do better next time," he said quietly, not sure if he was trying to convince her or himself.

Jin Su nodded, satisfied. "Good. Just remember—none of this is personal. They would've killed you if given the chance."

Li Feng forced himself to nod. But deep down, he couldn't shake the feeling that something fundamental had shifted within him. He was starting to see the brutal reality of this world, and with every step forward, it felt like he was leaving pieces of his old self behind.

Hours passed as they continued through the dense forest, the terrain growing more treacherous as they ventured deeper into the contested lands between the Black Cloud Sect and the Azure Dragon Clan. The trees towered over them like silent sentinels, and the sky above remained overcast, casting a gloomy light over the landscape.

Li Tian led the group without hesitation, his focus unwavering as they pressed onward. Every now and then, he would pause to survey their surroundings, his sharp eyes scanning for any signs of danger. It was clear that this mission wasn't over yet—there were likely more Azure Dragon forces lurking ahead, and the Black Cloud Sect needed to send a clear message to their enemies.

But as they neared a narrow mountain pass, Li Tian suddenly held up his hand, signaling for the group to stop.

"What is it?" one of the senior disciples whispered, his voice tense.