The storm had passed, but the chill clung to the Northpine Ridge like a curse. The landscape was shrouded in frost, the air bitterly cold. Snow-coated trees towered overhead, casting long shadows as Li Rong and his companions moved through the forest, their senses sharp, every step calculated. They were no longer children but young hunters, becoming more attuned to their surroundings with each passing day.
Li Rong led the group, his Duskwither Moonfang Wolf spirit pulsing faintly within him. His focus was absolute. He gripped the old hunting knife at his side—a weapon forged for precision, its edge coated with a thin layer of Nightshade Vine, a mild paralytic poison. The poison was an essential tool in his arsenal, ensuring that any opponent who crossed him would pay dearly.
Behind him, Li Shen, Li Zian, Qiu Yeren, and Li Xue followed. Li Xue, though young, had quickly proven her worth. Her spirit, the Duskwind Snow Wolf, shimmered with ethereal beauty. It was a subtle force, soft and cold like mist, but deadly when harnessed.
"You're quiet today," Li Zian remarked as they trudged through a frozen gully.
Li Xue, her eyes scanning the forest intently, brushed her fingers against the bark of a nearby tree. "I'm listening," she said softly. "The wind's been different since dawn. Something's watching us."
Li Shen snorted dismissively. "It's probably just more birds."
"No," Li Rong interrupted, his voice firm. "She's right."
The group came to a sudden stop, each of them instinctively falling into position. Li Rong's keen eyes followed the trail of paw prints in the snow—sharp, elongated, and spaced far apart. It wasn't just any creature; it was a predator.
"Li Xue," Rong said, his voice low, "tell me what you sense."
Li Xue closed her eyes, her spirit shimmering faintly behind her, a silver wolf as delicate as the morning frost. Her senses stretched out, seeking the elusive presence that had been watching them. After a moment, she opened her eyes. "There's a spirit beast nearby," she reported. "Wind affinity. It's fast... a Frostmane Fox."
Li Rong's gaze sharpened. "Spirit Rank?"
"Ten… maybe twelve years," Li Xue replied, her tone steady despite the weight of her words.
Rong nodded, considering. "That's within range. And compatible."
Li Shen raised an eyebrow. "You really want your first spirit ring to be a fox? Not exactly the image of power."
Rong's eyes glinted with a cold resolve. "A fox knows how to survive. It can hide, strike without warning. It's perfect., but I don't want it as my spirit ring."
Zian chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, whatever."
Rong crouched low, signaling with a sharp motion. "Yeren, Xue, flank around. Drive it toward us."
Yeren nodded and motioned for Xue to follow. "Stay low, Xue."
The pair slipped into the forest with practiced ease, vanishing into the shadows.
Shen glanced at Rong. "You really think they'll be able to corner it?"
Rong didn't respond at first, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "They don't need to. Just spook it."
The minutes stretched long, the air growing still. Then, without warning, a shrill cry pierced the air, followed by the sharp crack of underbrush breaking. The fox had been stirred.
"Positions!" Rong barked, his voice crisp with command.
A flash of white streaked through the trees, the Frostmane Fox emerging from the woods with lightning speed. Its fur gleamed like fresh snow under the dim sky, and its eyes were icy with fury. The creature moved with the grace of a predator, swift and elusive.
Rong's eyes remained fixed on the fox, his focus unwavering. "Hold," he instructed calmly. "Let it commit."
The fox dashed toward them, low and fast, its body a blur of motion. As it neared, Rong's Duskwither Moonfang Wolf spirit surged into existence, its ethereal form filling the air with an oppressive aura. The fox hesitated, confused by the sudden pressure in the atmosphere.
Rong seized the moment.
He didn't charge. Instead, he dropped low to the ground, moving with a fluidity that was almost unnatural. In one smooth motion, his knife flashed out, aiming for the fox's foreleg. The edge of the blade sliced through the air, cutting a deep gash into the fox's flesh. The poison from the Nightshade Vine seeped into the wound, and the fox faltered with a sharp yelp.
The fox's reaction was immediate—its body twisted to escape, but its movements were already slower, less precise. The poison had begun to take hold.
Rong didn't give it a chance to recover.
With a quick, practiced motion, he reached into a pouch at his waist and tossed a fine, gray powder—Ashroot Dust—into the air. The powder exploded in a cloud, blinding the fox and causing it to reel back, disoriented. It howled in frustration.
"Now!" Shen yelled, charging from the right.
The fox's movements were sluggish now, its limbs weak from the poison. Shen's spear struck with brutal precision, slamming the shaft into the fox's spine. The creature's body hit the snow with a heavy thud, but it was still alive, still struggling.
Rong moved in without hesitation, his steps sure and quick. He placed his foot on the fox's chest, pinning it to the ground as its eyes locked onto his. Its gaze was full of fury and fear, but it was too weak to fight back.
"I'll make it swift," Rong murmured, his voice cold as ice.
With one final slash, he cut through the fox's throat, silencing its cries. The creature's body went limp, its struggle over.
The forest was still once again.
Shen wiped his spear clean, his face neutral. "Efficient."
Zian crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "You planned all of that?"
Rong stood, wiping the blood from his blade. "I planned what I could. The rest... was instinct."
He crouched down beside the fox's body, preparing for the absorption process. His spirit flared again, the pale ring of energy forming around him.
The others stepped back, watching in silence.
But this wasn't a spirit ring absorption. The fox's spirit wasn't meant for Rong. What he was doing was simply honing his skill, sharpening his connection to the world around him. The experience was a rush of energy and focus, but it wasn't the same as receiving a spirit ring. It was more of a personal refinement, a honing of his abilities.
Rong rose after a few moments, breathing deeply. He wasn't exhausted, but the experience left him with a sharpened sense of awareness. His body was more attuned to the world, more connected to the movement of the air, the flow of energy. This was the first step in mastering his techniques.
Zian was the first to break the silence. "What did you get?"
Rong stood, a slight grin on his face. "Moonstep. It's not a spirit ring ability, but it's a technique. It lets me move almost silently and blur my form briefly. Also helps mask my scent."
Li Xue's eyes widened, impressed. "Sounds like something an assassin would use."
Rong chuckled softly. "I'm not one yet. But soon."
As the night descended and the campfire crackled, Li Xue sat beside Rong, staring into the flames.
"You didn't hesitate," she said quietly.
Rong's gaze was steady as he looked at the flickering fire. "I couldn't afford to."
"I don't think I could have done it," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
"You will," Rong said, his tone unwavering. "When the time comes, you'll be ready."
Shen let out a low laugh from across the fire. "We'll all have to, sooner or later."
Zian leaned back, his arms crossed over his chest. "One down, many to go. This pack's only getting started."
Rong remained silent, his gaze far off, focused on the faint glow of his Moonstep ring as it pulsed in the firelight. The hunt was just beginning.