Embersteel: Legend of the Warrior BlackSmith

Chapter 33: Jiang Feng Takes Action

The wagon's wheels creaked and groaned as they rolled over the uneven stones, every turn echoing in the narrow, dimly lit path of Poor Man's Corner. The air was thick, damp, and carried the faint, sour scent of decay. Shadows clung stubbornly to the high walls on either side of the road, creating shifting, almost malevolent shapes that danced in the wagon's faint lamplight.

Jiang Feng kept his breathing steady, his hands trembling slightly as he focused on the mixture before him. The last of the herbs had melted, forming a thick, viscous liquid that floated in the air under his careful control.

The liquid was a mesmerizing blend of red and purple, a clear indication of the potency of the Blood Ginseng Root and the Purple Heart Fruit. Both were aged herbs, radiating immense spiritual energy that completely overshadowed the younger and far weaker Lion Tongue Grass. As the heat continued to refine the mixture, the herbal juice grew purer with every passing second.

Yet, despite the progress, Jiang Feng knew that the lack of a proper pill furnace was a significant drawback as advised of the Eternal Flame Codex. Without it, the liquid was hemorrhaging spiritual energy, diminishing its ultimate potency. His brow furrowed as he weighed the risks.

Ahead of the wagon, Lin Rou's sharp gaze flicked over their surroundings, his hand instinctively tightening around the hilt of his blade. The shadows didn't sit right with him tonight. They seemed heavier than usual, more oppressive, as though they were alive.

"We're nearly out of the Corner," Lin Rou said, his voice low and wary. "But something feels...off."

Jiang Feng glanced up at him, his concentration momentarily broken. The air had shifted. The usual clamor of Poor Man's Corner—the drunken laughs, the bark of merchants haggling, and the occasional shouts of scuffles—had vanished, replaced by an unsettling silence. It was as if the entire district were holding its breath, waiting for something terrible to unfold.

A cold dread settled in Jiang Feng's gut as a figure emerged from the shadows ahead, stepping onto the road and blocking their path. Cloaked in black, the man's face was hidden beneath a hood, but the suffocating, malevolent energy he exuded was unmistakable.

"Shadow Church," Lin Rou hissed through gritted teeth. His eyes darkened with loathing, and his fingers flexed around his blade as he stepped forward with a powerful momentum.

More hooded figures began melting out of the darkness, their silent movements unnerving. They encircled the wagon with an eerie precision, each one radiating an ominous energy that made Jiang Feng's skin crawl 'They made it into the city' he thought.

The leader laughed, a cold, hollow sound that seemed to echo from every shadow. "Hand over the boy," he said, his tone calm yet brimming with menace. "Make this easy for yourselves, and you might just live to see another sunrise."

Jiang Feng's heart pounded against his ribs. Again. He was the target. Yet again, someone sought to control his fate. His fists clenched as he met Lin Rou's gaze through the wagon's window, the warrior's dark eyes steady and unwavering. Jiang Feng nodded. He wouldn't run. Not this time.

Lin Rou straightened, his voice steely and unyielding. "If you want him, you'll have to get through me first."

Without waiting for a response, Lin Rou lunged forward. His blade flashed like a streak of lightning, cutting through the gloom. The air screamed as the power of an Essence Stage cultivator erupted on the narrow streets, winds roaring with his every move.

The leader barely dodged, twisting his body with unnatural agility. Lin Rou pressed his attack, his strikes swift, precise, and unrelenting. Each swing of his blade sent arcs of energy crashing into the ground, cracking the stones beneath their feet.

Jiang Feng, still seated in the wagon, felt the tension snap like a coiled spring as the other cloaked figures surged forward, their intent clear. They were coming for him.

His breath hitched as desperation clawed at his chest. He looked down at the viscous herbal liquid still floating before him. There was no time to hesitate. In one swift motion, he tipped the liquid down his throat.

Pain. Searing, unimaginable pain exploded inside him as the potent mixture burned its way through his body. His muscles spasmed violently, and his vision blurred. Yet, even through the agony, he could feel the spiritual energy surging into his blood, his very cells screaming as they were torn apart and reforged.

The wagon exploded.

A thunderous roar tore through the silence as wood splintered in every direction, shards flying like deadly shrapnel. Jiang Feng was thrown back, landing hard against the cobblestone street. Screams erupted all around them as the cloaked figures launched their attacks indiscriminately, killing anyone in their path, instantly sending the death toll of the villagers through the roofs.

"Die!" Lin Rou's voice thundered, raw and filled with rage. His blade glowed brightly, slashing downward with terrifying force. Blood sprayed into the air as one of the cloaked figures fell, his skull split open. Lin Rou's face was painted crimson, his eyes wild and bloodshot. The stench of death hung heavy in the air, but he didn't falter.

"Infernal Breathing—Skyforge Flame!"

A sudden burst of raging blue flames roared to life, consuming the street in an intense wave of heat. Jiang Feng stood amidst the inferno, his body covered in blood. He roared, his voice echoing like a beast's. The herbal medicine's energy coursed wildly through him, his muscles throbbing as they grew stronger with every agonizing second. The flames around him danced and surged, mirroring the fury that burned deep within his soul.

"Pain," he thought bitterly. "Why does it always have to come with pain?"

A cloaked figure stepped forward, summoning a pair of dark claws wreathed in ghostly wails. "Shadow Claw!" he bellowed, sending the spectral attack hurtling toward Jiang Feng.

But Jiang Feng didn't flinch. His rage blinded him to everything but the need to fight, to prove he wasn't weak and helpless, that they couldn't just take his life whenever they wanted. The blue flames soared higher as he charged forward, swallowing the dark claws whole, instantly devouring them. His movements were faster than he realized, his body reacting on pure instinct and leaving deep cracks on the ground without him realizing what was happening.

The cloaked figure staggered back, shock flashing in his eyes. "This... This can't be," he stammered, sensing the boy's cultivation. "A mere Blood Purification Stage... impossible!"

Jiang Feng closed the distance in an instant. His flames burned brighter than ever, consuming everything in their path. "Die!" he roared, his voice carrying the weight of his fury, his pain, and his unyielding will.

The battle for Poor Man's Corner had truly begun.