Journey of the Scholar

As Ruchir and the True Sun Sect disciples—Huojin, Mei, Li, and Zhen—ventured deeper into the tunnel, the air around them grew thicker with tension.

A strange heat radiated from the stone walls, hinting at the powerful fire-based essence that resonated in this part of the secret realm.

Their steps echoed in the dim passage, but suddenly, the rhythmic sound was interrupted by a deep, guttural growl that reverberated through the stone corridor.

They froze in their tracks. Huojin, the leader, squinted ahead, his eyes narrowing at the ominous shadows.

A pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness, followed by the slow, deliberate movement of a massive creature. Its sleek fur shimmered in the dim light, and its form became clearer—a gigantic red panther, its body radiating heat like a furnace. The air around it rippled from the intensity of its aura.

Ruchir immediately felt the weight of its presence. "That's not just any beast," he whispered. "It's a quasi-supernatural realm creature… and it doesn't look happy."

Huojin gritted his teeth. "Great, just what we needed. Prepare yourselves. This isn't going to be easy."

The panther let out a menacing snarl, its fiery eyes locked on the group. Without warning, it pounced forward with terrifying speed, its claws glowing with a crimson hue as it launched an attack aimed directly at Mei.

"Blazing Wall!" Mei shouted, raising her hands. A barrier of flames erupted in front of her, shielding her from the panther's strike, but the sheer force of the attack sent her staggering back.

Huojin clenched his fists, summoning the power of his fire qi. "We need to hit it hard and fast! Inferno Strike!" he yelled, thrusting his palm forward.

A massive column of flame shot out toward the panther, but the beast gracefully dodged the attack, its lithe body slipping through the flames as if they were nothing.

Ruchir was already moving, his hand grasping the hilt of his sword. His mind raced. He needed to find a way to use his ink-calligraphy techniques to gain the upper hand.

With a swift motion, he unsheathed his sword, and the air around him seemed to shift.

"Ink Sword Flow!" Ruchir called out. Dark ink-like energy flowed from his blade, swirling in intricate patterns in the air before forming sharp, slicing strokes aimed at the panther.

The panther roared in response, dodging most of the strikes but catching a few along its sleek hide. However, it didn't seem phased by the shallow cuts.

Instead, its eyes burned with more rage, and it retaliated with a fierce swipe of its claws, releasing a wave of scorching heat toward the group.

"Phoenix Flame Burst!" Huojin roared, countering the heat wave with an explosion of fiery energy that collided mid-air with the panther's attack. The resulting clash sent shockwaves through the tunnel, causing the walls to tremble.

Mei, who had recovered, formed intricate hand seals. "Let's see how you like this! Fire Serpent Technique!" she yelled, conjuring a massive, fiery serpent that hissed and slithered toward the panther.

The panther growled, its eyes glowing as it used one of its innate techniques, "Crimson Blaze Roar!" It let out a deafening roar, and a wave of red flames exploded from its mouth, incinerating the fire serpent in a single blast.

The heat was so intense that Ruchir and the others had to shield their faces.

Li and Zhen exchanged worried glances. "We can't let it control the battlefield like this!" Zhen shouted. "Let's hit it from both sides!"

"Blazing Fist of the Sun!" Li shouted, launching himself into the air, his fists ignited with bright flames as he aimed a powerful punch at the panther's flank.

At the same time, Zhen used his own technique, "Scorching Wheel of Flames!" A spinning disc of fire formed in front of him, which he hurled toward the panther with a fierce cry.

The panther, however, was faster than any of them anticipated. It dodged Li's punch by twisting its body and then leaped over Zhen's attack.

But the group's teamwork was improving. As the panther landed, Ruchir was already there, his sword glowing with dark ink energy.

"Flowing Ink Strike!" Ruchir slashed, the ink-infused sword cutting through the air and landing a solid hit on the panther's shoulder. The beast howled in pain, its red fur now matted with ink and blood.

"Finally! Some damage!" Mei shouted triumphantly. But their celebration was short-lived. The panther's eyes flared with fury as it summoned even more of its innate power.

"Everyone, get ready!" Huojin warned. "It's about to go all out!"

The panther's body ignited in a cloak of crimson flames, and it let out a fearsome roar. "Blazing Claw of Destruction!" With blinding speed, it charged at them, its claws glowing as it swiped at the group with deadly precision.

Huojin and the others barely managed to dodge, but the panther's attacks left scorch marks on the ground. The heat was unbearable, and the sheer pressure of the beast's aura made it difficult to focus.

"This thing's a nightmare!" Zhen shouted, sweat pouring down his face.

"Keep moving!" Huojin barked. "Don't let it corner us!"

Ruchir, breathing heavily, wiped the sweat from his brow. He could feel his strength waning, but there was still one trick left up his sleeve.

He needed to buy time for the others to regroup. With a deep breath, he sheathed his sword and dipped his fingers into a vial of special ink hanging from his belt.

"Ink Sealing Formation!" he chanted, throwing the ink onto the ground. The liquid spread quickly, forming intricate symbols around the panther's feet.

In an instant, black chains of ink shot up from the ground, wrapping around the beast and holding it in place.

The panther thrashed violently, its flames burning brighter as it tried to break free from the ink chains. "Now!" Ruchir shouted. "Hit it while it's restrained!"

Huojin, Mei, Li, and Zhen didn't need to be told twice. They pooled their qi together and unleashed a barrage of powerful fire techniques at the panther.

"Blazing Phoenix Strike!" Huojin called out, summoning a massive phoenix made of pure flames that soared toward the trapped beast.

"Flame Burst Arrows!" Mei fired several arrows of condensed fire qi, each one aimed at the panther's vital points.

"Sunfire Smash!" Li and Zhen both charged forward, their fists glowing as they delivered a crushing, synchronized blow to the panther's side.

The combined attacks struck the panther with incredible force, and for a moment, it seemed as though the battle was won.

But the panther, with one last defiant roar, shattered the ink chains and leaped back. Bloodied and scorched, it glared at the group, its eyes burning with a vow of revenge.

With a final growl, the panther turned and disappeared into the shadows of the tunnel, its body flickering like a dying flame.

The group stood there, panting heavily, their clothes singed and their bodies exhausted.

"That… was way too close," Mei said, collapsing to the ground.

Huojin wiped the sweat from his brow and shook his head. "We're lucky it retreated. But something tells me we haven't seen the last of that beast."

Ruchir, his hands still trembling from the exertion, glanced toward the dark tunnel where the panther had vanished. "Let's hope it doesn't come back anytime soon. I'm not sure we'd survive round two."

___

In the heart of the capital, the sprawling practice ground of the City Division Guards bustled with activity. Soldiers drilled in perfect synchrony, their armor gleaming under the midday sun as they practiced maneuvers with sharp precision.

At the edge of the field, standing on a raised platform, Prince Anish observed the scene with a keen eye.

His face, though calm and composed, concealed the depths of his cunning and calculative nature. His gaze shifted from one guard to another, as if weighing their capabilities with each motion they made.

Beside him stood the City Division Vice-Commander, a man known for his perpetual smile, though it was more out of politeness than warmth.

His expression remained genial, but inside, his thoughts raced.

It wasn't every day that a prince visited the training grounds of the City Division, let alone someone as sharp and shrewd as Prince Anish. T

he Vice-Commander couldn't help but wonder what hidden purpose lay behind this sudden visit. He had heard rumors about the prince's calculated nature—Anish never acted without reason, and today's appearance could be no exception.

As the Vice-Commander smiled and nodded along with the prince's silent observations, his mind turned over several possibilities.

Was this a subtle show of authority? A message to remind them of who truly held power? Or perhaps the prince was here to oversee something specific, something important.

He was deep in thought when Prince Anish broke the silence, his voice as smooth as silk but laced with an undercurrent of something more.

"Has the City Division Guard Department solved 'The East Market Case' yet?" Anish's question was simple, but the weight of his words sent a chill through the Vice-Commander's spine.