The wind howled through the peaks as Li Feng pressed on, his thoughts tangled in the visions he had just witnessed. Every step felt heavier now, burdened by the knowledge that the Moonlit Peaks harbored ancient curses, and that his sister, Mei, was walking directly into their grasp.
The plateau behind him faded into the mist, but the echoes of the battle—the shimmering blossoms, the fallen warrior—clung to his mind like a lingering nightmare. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the mountain was testing him, trying to break his resolve. But if Mei was truly after the power of the blossoms, her life was in even greater danger than he had imagined.

The path ahead was narrow and winding, the cliffs falling away into deep, black ravines on either side. Li Feng moved cautiously, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. The deeper he ventured into the peaks, the more it felt like the mountain was alive, watching him, waiting to strike.

After hours of climbing, he reached a narrow pass between two towering cliffs. A faint light flickered ahead, barely visible through the swirling fog. Li Feng’s heart quickened. Someone—or something—was waiting for him.

As he approached the light, a figure materialized from the shadows. It was a young man, dressed in simple traveler’s robes, his face pale and drawn. He carried a lantern in one hand, its flame flickering weakly in the wind. The sight of him seemed out of place, as if he didn’t belong in these treacherous peaks.

The man looked up as Li Feng approached, his eyes wide with fear. “You… you shouldn’t be here,” he stammered, stepping back as if Li Feng were a ghost. “The mountain… it doesn’t want you here.”

Li Feng halted, keeping his distance. “I’m not here by choice. I’m looking for someone—my sister. Have you seen anyone else up here?”

The young man shook his head, his hand trembling as he clutched the lantern. “No one comes this far. Not unless they’re desperate. Or lost.”

“Then why are you here?” Li Feng asked, his tone cautious but firm.

The man’s eyes darted to the shadows behind him, as if something unseen was watching. “I’m… I’m trying to leave. I came here… for the same reason as many others. For the blossoms. But now… I just want to escape.”

Li Feng’s pulse quickened. “The blossoms. You’ve seen them?”

The man nodded, his face pale. “I’ve seen them, yes. But they’re not what the stories say. They don’t grant power. They… take it. They take everything.”

Li Feng stepped closer, his grip tightening on his sword. “Where are they? Where did you see them?”

The man hesitated, his gaze flickering to the cliffs above. “They’re further up the mountain, in the heart of the peaks. But you don’t want to go there. The mountain is cursed. It tests you, breaks you. The closer you get to the blossoms, the harder it becomes to turn back.”

Li Feng’s resolve hardened. “I don’t have a choice. My sister is looking for them, and I need to find her before it’s too late.”

The young man’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over his face. “If she’s after the blossoms, she’s already lost. The mountain will claim her, just like it claimed so many others.”

Li Feng clenched his jaw. “Not if I can help it.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and continued up the path, leaving the young man behind. The fog thickened as he climbed, the cold seeping into his bones. But his mind was focused, determined. Every step brought him closer to Mei, and he couldn’t afford to lose her now.

The path twisted and turned, the cliffs looming higher on either side. As he ascended, the air grew thinner, the wind more biting. But something else lingered in the air—an oppressive force that weighed on him, pressing down with each step.

He rounded a bend, and suddenly the path opened up into a wide, rocky ledge. The mist parted just enough for him to see a massive stone gate carved into the side of the mountain. It was ancient, covered in moss and vines, with strange symbols etched into its surface—symbols that seemed to pulse with a dark, forbidden energy.

Li Feng’s breath caught in his throat. He had found the entrance to something—something old, something powerful. This was no ordinary gate. It was a threshold, a doorway to whatever lay at the heart of the Moonlit Peaks.

Before he could take another step, a soft voice echoed through the mist. “You should not have come here.”

Li Feng spun around, his sword at the ready. Out of the fog stepped Yue, her staff in hand, the wolf trailing silently at her side. Her expression was calm, but her eyes held a warning.

“I told you before,” she said quietly. “The mountain does not show mercy. The deeper you go, the more you will lose.”

Li Feng tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding. “I can’t turn back. Not until I find Mei.”

Yue’s gaze softened, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. “Then you will need more than just courage. The path ahead will test you in ways you cannot imagine.”

Li Feng squared his shoulders, his voice steady. “I’m ready.”

Yue studied him for a long moment, then nodded. “Very well. But know this—the mountain’s trials are not just of the body. They are of the spirit. What you see, what you face… it will be your own soul laid bare.”

With those words, she stepped aside, allowing him to pass. The wolf’s eyes gleamed in the moonlight, watching him with an intensity that sent a chill down his spine.

Li Feng turned toward the ancient gate, his heart heavy but resolute. Whatever lay beyond, he would face it. For Mei, for the truth… and for his own survival.

The stone gate loomed before him, a silent guardian to the secrets of the Moonlit Peaks. With a deep breath, Li Feng stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown.