As he rounded a sharp bend, the path widened slightly into a small plateau. There, standing with her back to him, was the woman from before. The large wolf sat at her side, its eyes gleaming in the early evening light. She hadn’t noticed him yet, her attention fixed on the valley below.

Li Feng’s heart raced. He had been searching for her, but now, facing her once more, he hesitated. She had warned him, and yet, here he was, seeking answers she might not be willing to share.

He cleared his throat to announce his presence, and the woman turned slowly, her face calm but unreadable. The wolf rose to its feet, a low growl rumbling in its throat, though it did not advance.

“You’ve come further than I expected,” the woman said, her voice carrying no surprise. “But you still don’t belong here.”

“I don’t intend to leave until I find what I’m looking for,” Li Feng replied, his gaze steady. “The blossoms… and my sister. You know more than you’re letting on.”

The woman’s eyes flickered, but she remained silent. She studied him for a moment before turning back to the valley. “The Moonlit Peaks do not give up their secrets easily. And they take more than they give. Your sister—if she’s still alive—may not be the same person you remember.”

Li Feng’s grip tightened on his sword. “You’ve seen her?”

The woman shook her head. “Not directly. But I’ve felt her presence in the mountains. She is searching, just like you. But what she seeks… might be more dangerous than you realize.”

He stepped closer, the weight of her words pressing down on him. “What do you mean? What’s happening in these mountains?”

The wolf’s growl deepened, and the woman placed a calming hand on its head. “The Moonlit Peaks are alive with ancient forces. The blossoms you seek—they hold great power, but they come with a cost. Power always does. Your sister might be in over her head.”

Li Feng’s mind raced. He had always suspected there was more to these legends, but hearing the woman speak so plainly about the dangers shook him. “If you know all of this, why haven’t you tried to stop her?”

The woman’s expression softened. “I am but one of many guardians. It’s not my place to interfere with the choices others make. The mountain chooses whom it will test, and those who enter must face it alone.”

A silence fell between them, the wind carrying whispers of the peaks’ hidden truths.

“You should turn back,” she said finally. “This path will only lead to pain. Your sister’s fate may already be sealed.”

Li Feng met her gaze, unwavering. “I’ve come too far to turn back now. I will find Mei, no matter what.”

The woman sighed, her eyes betraying a trace of sympathy. “Very well. But know this—if you continue, you will be forced to confront the darkest parts of yourself. The mountain will not show mercy.”

She turned to leave, the wolf padding silently beside her, but Li Feng called after her. “Wait!”

She paused, looking over her shoulder.

“Tell me your name,” Li Feng said, his voice firm but respectful.

For a moment, she seemed to consider him. Then, with a small nod, she answered, “Yue.”

With that, she and the wolf disappeared into the mist, leaving Li Feng alone once more.

But now, he wasn’t just battling the unknown forces of the peaks. He was walking a path that led straight into the heart of darkness, with only fragments of truth and a name—Yue—to guide him.

He pressed on, the full moon rising behind him, casting its pale light over the jagged landscape. Every step felt heavier, every shadow more foreboding. And yet, deep within him, a spark of hope remained.

He would find Mei. He had to.