Pov Author
Anna hesitated for only a moment before taking his hand. He pulled her gently to her feet. "The others can wait. They'll be healed tomorrow," he said firmly, guiding her out of the tent.
He led her to a private tent nearby, clean and quiet, far removed from the chaos of the main healer's area. He gestured for her to sit, then knelt and gently wiped the blood from her nose with a clean cloth. "You don't need to push yourself so far. Women are fragile," he stated matter-of-factly.
Anna only watched him, tired but curious, as he straightened and waited for her. Soon, food was brought into the tent, simple but nourishing, and they ate together. Neither spoke at first; the silence hung comfortably between them.
"I'm sorry," Shoto said suddenly.
Anna looked up, startled. "What?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," he repeated, quieter this time.
She couldn't help but smile faintly. "I will not forgive you," she said teasingly, though her lips curved into a soft grin.
The day passed slowly. By nightfall, Shoto led her out of the tent and through the streets of the city. Anna looked around at the flickering lanterns, the vendors closing up, the quiet sounds of night mixing with distant laughter. She tried to memorize the small details, the life that continued even in the shadows of war.
When they arrived back at her room, Shoto stopped and fixed her with a steady gaze. "If you are a spy, I will not hesitate to kill you," he said coldly.
Anna said nothing, simply meeting his eyes, her expression calm.
"Who is Shou Feng?" she asked quietly, curiosity brimming despite the tension.
Shoto scoffed, annoyed at first, but when he saw her steady expression, he let out a quiet breath. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll tell you—but only my perspective."
He motioned for her to sit and leaned back slightly, his hands folded. "You want my perspective?" he said, deliberate this time. "All right. Listen carefully."
"You need to understand, Shou Feng isn't someone you can reason with. People call him the God of Darkness and Destruction because… well, that's the closest name anyone can put on him. But it barely scratches the surface. He moves like shadows, faster than your eyes can follow. When he walks into a room, it's like the air itself obeys him. People fall silent without thinking, like their voices are afraid of disturbing him. Even the bravest soldiers… even the strongest warriors… they feel small, like ants under a storm."
Anna listened intently, the night air heavy with his words.
"Powerful?" Shoto continued, his voice quiet, rough at the edges. "Yes. But it's more than that. He's precise, clean about his destruction. No chaotic violence, no screams. He looks like someone who's always been right, like the world itself bends to his logic. And when he strikes… things end the way he decides. That's what terrifies people."
He gave a short, bitter laugh. "Invincible? Maybe. I wouldn't bet my life against him. But even if you could beat him, I doubt he'd give you the chance to try."
Shoto's eyes darkened. "People who follow him… some out of fear, some because he promises order, some because they truly believe he can fix what's broken. But don't be fooled. Fear and faith—they're cousins. They feed the same part of him. I've seen men I trusted, men I respected, broken before my eyes… and it wasn't their fault. They just weren't prepared for him. You can't prepare for Shou Feng. You can't hide from him. You can only… try not to get in his way."
He leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees. "If you ever meet him, don't expect speeches. He won't explain. He doesn't negotiate. He takes. Sometimes, he takes more than even he intended. That's why people hate him. That's why some pretend to love him. And that's why we're in trouble."
Shoto straightened, his expression unreadable, and looked at Anna steadily. "That's my take. Dangerous, inevitable, and… complicated. Ask about him again, and make sure you understand the risks of wanting to know."
Anna swallowed, nodding slowly, her mind reeling at the weight of his words. She didn't reply, only let the silence between them grow, thinking of the man Shoto described—the power, the cold, the fear.
Shoto didn't press further. Instead, he gestured toward her door. "Go inside. Rest. Tomorrow will be another day, and you'll need all your strength."
Anna nodded, letting herself be led back into her room. The night was quiet now, and she finally allowed herself a long exhale. Shoto's words and presence lingered in her mind, heavy but not unbearable. She was beginning to understand the stakes, beginning to understand the world she had stepped into.
As she lay on her bed, the glow of the moon spilling over the floor, she thought of the day—the soldiers she had healed, the little girl's tears, and the quiet moments with Shoto. Her heart still beat rapidly from exhaustion and fear, but there was also a faint flicker of determination. She had power she didn't fully understand, allies she barely knew, and an enemy who was as terrifying as he was unstoppable.
But she would face it. She had to.
And for now, at least, she could rest.
---
Far away, deep in the jungle, a temple stood hidden among towering trees, its walls covered in ancient markings. Inside, a man knelt, chained heavily to the stone wall. Thick iron cuffs bound his wrists, each connected to a series of mystical chains that glimmered faintly. A thousand golden papers, etched with powerful runes, held him down, suppressing the energy that churned inside him.
Two mystical creatures hovered near him, their presence a cage of magic designed to keep his power contained. Around the temple, more than five thousand soldiers stood on guard, their armor glinting in the dim light, weapons ready. Every inch of the perimeter was secured, every passage blocked.
The man's clothes were torn, his hair ruffled, his face smeared with dirt and shadowed in darkness. His chest rose and fell in ragged breaths. Slowly, he lifted his head, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.
And then… one eye… one single eye… turned red.
A tremor ran through the ground. The soldiers shouted in terror, their cries echoing through the jungle as the earth beneath them shook violently. Trees swayed, lanterns toppled, dust and debris fell from the temple walls. Some of the soldiers fell to their knees, clutching at the trembling stone beneath them.
But the man remained chained. He had not moved. The golden papers flared with light, suppressing him, holding him in place. Yet the power emanating from that single red eye was undeniable, sending shivers through even the strongest soldiers. The ground shook again, more violently this time, but still… he was not free.
And yet, even restrained, even surrounded, even beaten down… the power radiating from him was enough to make the world hold its breath.
This was Shou Feng.
End of the chapter !