The marsh settled back into uneasy quiet once the corrupted lizard-serpent fell, its body dissolving in a swirl of ichor and dissipating Qi.
The three cultivators—Tian Shen, Feng Yin, and Lan Yueru—stood panting in the muddied water, the glow of their recent clash still hanging in the damp air.
Little Mei, perched on a sunken log whose surface was slick with moss, let out a triumphant "Kyuuu~!"
Her crimson fur shone in the dim marsh light as she twirled a wet tail.
Tian Shen wiped ichor from his fist and glanced at Lan Yueru.
"You never cease to amaze me, Ice Princess."
Lan Yueru gave him a thin smile, though her eyes betrayed relief.
"Control was slipping. If you hadn't stepped in…"
He shrugged.
"Teamwork, you know. Teamwork."
Feng Yin sheathed her sword with a soft sigh.
"Whatever it was, it was feeding off the marsh's Qi. That vortex nearly took us all."
Lan Yueru nodded. "We need to find its source—whatever is poisoning this place."
---
