Whispers of the Azure Bloom

The mercenaries surged forward, their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. The leader's mocking grin twisted into a feral snarl as he barked commands, his scarred face glowing faintly with Qi-enhanced strength.

Liang gripped his dagger tightly, the Azure Bloom's interface flashing to life in his vision. Combat statistics filled his mind as the system assessed the situation.

"Hostiles: 6. Cultivation levels: Mid to High Body Tempering Realm. Tactical advantage: terrain obstacles. Suggest defensive maneuvers."

Liang stepped back instinctively, positioning himself with the riverbank at his side. Mei stood beside him, her sword held steady as the first attacker closed the distance.

The mercenary swung a heavy mace, but Mei was faster. She sidestepped the strike and retaliated with a sharp, precise slash across his arm. The man howled in pain, dropping his weapon as blood spattered the ground.

"Focus on one at a time!" Mei shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos.

Liang nodded, though his attention was drawn to another mercenary lunging toward him. The man wielded twin daggers, his movements fluid and fast. Liang raised his own dagger to parry, the clash of metal ringing out as sparks flew.

The Azure Bloom's voice echoed in his mind.

"Opponent speed exceeds host reaction time. Activating Precision Boost."

Liang felt a surge of clarity as the system enhanced his reflexes. The next time the mercenary struck, Liang ducked and countered, his dagger slicing across the man's thigh. The attacker stumbled, giving Liang an opening to disarm him with a quick twist of his wrist.

The mercenary fell back, clutching his wound, and Liang turned to check on Mei. She was holding her own against two opponents, her movements a blend of agility and ferocity. One of her strikes sent a sword flying from an attacker's hand, and a spinning kick knocked the other to the ground.

A sharp whistling sound drew Liang's attention just in time to see a bolt of Qi hurtling toward him. He barely managed to dodge, the projectile grazing his shoulder and searing his flesh. The pain was sharp, but he gritted his teeth and kept his focus.

"Sniper detected," the Azure Bloom warned. "High vantage point in the trees."

Liang scanned the canopy, spotting the archer perched on a thick branch. The man was already nocking another Qi-infused arrow.

"Mei!" Liang shouted, pointing upward.

Mei followed his gaze and, without hesitation, hurled a dagger at the sniper. The blade struck true, embedding itself in the archer's shoulder. The man cried out and fell from the tree, landing with a sickening thud.

"Nice throw!" Liang called, though there was little time for celebration.

The leader of the mercenaries stepped forward, his aura flaring with power. Unlike his subordinates, his movements were controlled, precise, and intimidating.

"You're more trouble than I expected," he said, his voice low and menacing. "But playtime is over."

He charged at Mei, his speed blinding. She raised her sword to block, but his strike was too powerful. The force of his blow sent her flying backward, her weapon clattering to the ground.

"Mei!" Liang shouted, but he was immediately forced to defend himself as the leader turned his attention to him.

The man's fists were like iron, each strike sending shockwaves through the air. Liang dodged desperately, the Azure Bloom working overtime to keep him alive.

"Host durability nearing critical threshold," the system warned. "Recommending use of stored Qi."

Liang took a deep breath, feeling the Azure Bloom's energy flow through him. With a burst of speed, he sidestepped the leader's next punch and slashed his dagger across the man's side.

The leader grunted but barely flinched, his Qi armor absorbing most of the impact. "You think that's enough to stop me?"

Liang didn't answer, his mind racing. The Azure Bloom analyzed the man's movements, highlighting weak points in his stance.

"Exploit opening in opponent's left flank," it advised.

Liang feinted to the right, then pivoted to the left, driving his dagger toward the weak spot. The blade pierced the Qi armor, drawing blood. The leader roared in pain, his aura flaring dangerously.

Before he could retaliate, Yuan appeared, his sword flashing like lightning. The leader barely had time to react as Yuan's blade cut through his defenses, forcing him to retreat.

"About time you showed up," Liang said, panting.

"I told you to stay alert," Yuan replied, his tone sharp. "This is why."

The remaining mercenaries hesitated, their confidence shaken by Yuan's arrival. The leader, however, refused to back down.

"You think this changes anything?" he snarled. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

Yuan didn't respond. Instead, he moved with incredible speed, his sword striking like a viper. The leader tried to block, but Yuan's skill was unmatched. Each strike chipped away at his defenses until, finally, Yuan's blade found its mark.

The leader staggered, clutching his chest as blood seeped through his fingers. His aura flickered and faded, and he collapsed to his knees.

The remaining mercenaries fled into the forest, unwilling to share their leader's fate.

Liang sank to the ground, his body aching and his breathing heavy. Mei limped over, wincing but otherwise unharmed.

"Are you okay?" she asked, kneeling beside him.

"I'll live," Liang said, managing a weak smile.

Yuan sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "We need to keep moving. They'll be back, and next time, they'll bring reinforcements."

Liang nodded, though he dreaded the thought of another battle so soon. He glanced at the Azure Bloom's interface, which displayed a summary of the fight. His cultivation had advanced slightly, but it was clear he still had a long way to go.

As they gathered their belongings and prepared to leave, Liang couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning. Chen Yan's reach was vast, and his determination was relentless.

But as Liang looked at Mei and Yuan, he felt a spark of hope. They had survived this battle together, and they would face whatever came next as a team.

The Azure Bloom pulsed faintly, its light a reminder of the power within him—and the responsibility that came with it.