Legend of the Divine Archer

As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, Yan Jin gently nudged Wei Xi awake. The boy stirred, rubbing the remnants of sleep from his eyes.

"Wake up. We need to leave," Yan Jin instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Clear up anything that could identify us. I will have to rely on you for navigation—my perception is completely affected by my current state."

Wei Xi nodded, quickly packing up their makeshift camp. The woven tree that had sheltered them through the night loomed overhead, its massive roots entwining the earth, creating a natural fortress around them. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, the lingering aroma of the pastries they had fed the tree still faintly detectable.

Yan Jin continued, "When we leave the tree, we will no longer be on the outer region of the Beast Forest. The danger will be exponential. For the next few months, you are my eyes, my spear, and my shield."

"Yes," Wei Xi replied, determination in his voice. He understood the gravity of their situation. Although Yan Jin had recovered a sliver of his soul energy through the night, it wasn't enough for him to engage in battle. However, his limited recovery allowed him to navigate a perimeter large enough to warn of incoming danger.

He wouldn't let the boy know this yet—not until he was sure Wei Xi had developed enough survival skills to protect them both.

They ventured deeper into the forest, where the light of day was but a distant memory, filtered through layers of leaves and vines that draped the trees like ancient tapestries. The forest was alive with sounds—chirps, rustles, and the occasional low growl that made Wei Xi's heart race.

The air was cooler here, carrying the scent of pine and wildflowers, but also a faint, metallic tang that hinted at the presence of predators nearby. The ground beneath their feet was soft, covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and moss that muffled their steps, making their movements almost ghostly in the eerie silence of the inner forest.

The trees themselves were colossal, their bark covered in a mix of emerald moss and creeping vines that glowed faintly in the dim light. Strange, bioluminescent insects flitted about, casting eerie shadows that danced on the trunks.

Every so often, they passed a tree that oozed a sweet, sticky sap, the smell of which was intoxicating, drawing in smaller creatures that scurried away at their approach.

The deeper they went, the more Wei Xi could feel the weight of the forest pressing in on him. The sounds were no longer distant but close, almost too close. His senses were on high alert, every nerve in his body tingling with the awareness of being watched. The forest was vast, ancient, and it felt as if it was alive, aware of their presence.

After hours of cautious walking, Wei Xi suddenly pulled Yan Jin behind a massive tree, his breath quickening. "What is it?" Yan Jin whispered, his voice steady despite the urgency.

"I don't know…I sense killing intent. Something's here, but I can't find the source," Wei Xi replied, his voice shaking slightly with the unfamiliar fear.

"Trust your senses and stay calm," Yan Jin advised, his tone reassuring. His experience in the wilderness had taught him that panic was the enemy. He could sense Wei Xi's fear, but also the boy's resolve to protect them both.

Wei Xi nodded, his grip tightening around his spear as he stepped forward cautiously. The weight of the forest seemed to bear down on him, making the air thick and heavy. He had never ventured this deep into the Beast Forest before, and the realization that he was no longer the apex predator filled him with a profound sense of smallness and vulnerability.

The trees towered above him like ancient sentinels, their branches entwined in a chaotic embrace, blocking out most of the sky. For the first time, he felt the grandeur of the universe, the sheer scale of the world around him, and how insignificant he was in it.

His heart pounded in his chest as he moved forward, every step deliberate and measured. His eyes darted around, scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. Suddenly, he heard a rustle in the underbrush to his left. He immediately shifted into a defensive stance, his spear at the ready.

A split second later, the culprit revealed itself—a poison tree snake, its scales shimmering with a sickly green hue, blending seamlessly with the foliage. It lunged at him with lightning speed, its fangs bared, dripping with venom. Wei Xi's reflexes kicked in as he raised his spear, the metal staff clanging against the snake's fangs with a sharp "cing."

He had managed to block the attack, but the sight of the snake's open mouth, its venomous tongue flicking out toward him, sent a shiver down his spine. The snake's eyes were cold, predatory, and full of malice. He reacted quickly, kicking it in the stomach with all his might, and jumped back to create some distance between them.

But the snake was faster than he anticipated. It coiled up on itself like a spring and launched upward, disappearing into the thick canopy of the trees above. Wei Xi stood there, spear in hand, his breathing heavy and uneven. The encounter had rattled him, but he knew they had to keep moving.

Yan Jin, who had been listening intently, nodded in approval. "Good reflexes. But remember, in this forest, hesitation can be fatal. Trust your instincts, but don't let fear cloud your judgment."

Wei Xi nodded, his breath gradually evening out. The silence that followed was so intense it seemed almost tangible, pressing against his ears. It wasn't just the absence of sound; it was a heavy, oppressive stillness that turned every breath into a loud echo in his mind.

This was a test of focus, a battle of wills between predator and prey, and Wei Xi knew that the first to falter would be the one to bite the dust.

In these few days with Yan Jin, Wei Xi had absorbed a lifetime's worth of wisdom. Despite Yan Jin's relatively young age, his experiences and reactions were almost as sharp and wise as his grandfather's had been. Yan Jin had drilled his rules into Wei Xi's head, repeating them constantly like a teacher in a classroom.

Those rules had become second nature to him now, embedded deep in his mind, ready to surface when needed.

A thought flashed through Wei Xi's mind—a moment of revelation. One of Yan Jin's teachings echoed in his ears: *"Sometimes, to strike the hardest, you must first appear weak."* With deliberate slowness, Wei Xi lowered his spear, leaving himself seemingly vulnerable, an open target for the lurking predator.

The poison snake, hidden in the shadows of the canopy, saw its chance. With a hiss, it lunged forward, its emerald scales glinting in the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. The snake moved with lethal speed, its fangs bared and ready to sink into flesh.

But Wei Xi was ready.

In a split second, his body moved with practiced precision. He spun on his heel, his spear cutting through the air in a fluid, deadly arc. The tip of the spear met the snake's head mid-air with a wet crunch, impaling the creature before it could reach him. The force of the thrust was so strong that it pinned the snake to the ground, its body writhing in its final death throes.

For a moment, the forest was still again, the only sound the faint rustling of the snake's scales against the earth as its life ebbed away. Wei Xi stood over the fallen creature, his grip on the spear steady, his expression calm. He had won this silent battle.

A smile appeared on Yan Jin's face as he stepped forward. "Well done," he said, his tone approving. "Grab the corpse, and let's go. The blood will attract other beasts, and we don't want to be here when they arrive."

Wei Xi nodded, swiftly pulling his spear from the snake's lifeless body. The forest, once again, was filled with the sounds of their movement as they resumed their journey, the weight of their survival resting on each careful step they took.