Deep in the valley, the Swordtail Scorpions lay sprawled on the ground, fast asleep.
Perched on a smooth, flat boulder, the Tri-Tailed Scorpion King rested alone, its three deadly tails swaying lazily, unconscious of the world.
And then—
Thud! Thud!
Rocks rained down, striking the scorpion swarm and waking them all with a start.
"Come on, try and catch me!"
Zhu Zhuqing gripped the bamboo cup tightly, her palms slick with sweat.
Seeing the Swordtail Scorpions raising their tails, hissing as they charged toward her, she spun on her heels and bolted.
"One minute!" she whispered to herself.
"I can do this!"
"Aoi Kenshin… the rest is up to you!"
Behind her, the swarm moved in pursuit, but the Tri-Tailed Scorpion King remained lounging atop its boulder. Weaklings like these weren't worth its effort.
Yet just as it was about to return to its nap, urgent footfalls echoed closer.
Whoosh!
The mists in the depths of the valley parted abruptly as a figure burst forth. A purple soul ring shimmered beneath his feet, and a streak of teal-blue sword light radiated overwhelming sharpness.
"Azure Blade Sever!"
It was Aoi Kenshin. Without hesitation, he had unleashed his soul skill the instant he entered the valley.
The Tri-Tailed Scorpion King hadn't expected an opponent. Feeling the threat of that sword light, it let out a furious shriek.
Its three tails slashed viciously, bronze edges cutting the air with a loud, vibrating hum.
Aoi Kenshin's Blue Lotus Sword collided with the scorpion's tails.
Clang!
The piercing clash of metal echoed violently through the valley. The Scorpion King tumbled off the boulder, while Kenshin himself skidded backward, his feet gouging deep furrows in the ground. He plunged the Blue Lotus Sword into the earth to stop, sliding several meters before finally regaining his footing.
"What terrifying power…"
His right hand trembled uncontrollably around the sword, but he didn't dare pause.
"One minute!" he thought, grit in his teeth.
"Just one minute!"
Through sweat-soaked strands of hair, his eyes glimmered with crimson light.
"My sword and wine Martial Soul… they complement each other!"
"Today… the wine boils, the sword sings!"
The Clear Spring Wine Flask hovered into view. Aoi Kenshin grabbed it, removed the stopper, and tilted it back, letting the fiery liquid surge down his throat.
The instant it hit, a roaring surge of energy exploded from within him.
The Blue Lotus Sword vibrated, its teal aura swelling by three inches.
At that moment, a tail of the Scorpion King whipped like lightning toward his head.
Kenshin rolled aside just in time. The tail struck the ground, splitting the earth into a web of cracks.
"Azure Blade Sever!"
Kenshin leapt into the air, blue energy flaring around the blade to near its sharpest edge.
Shing!
One of the scorpion's tails was severed on impact, bronze blood gushing like a waterfall.
Before he could celebrate, the Tri-Tailed Scorpion King shrieked in pain. Its remaining two tails intertwined in a spiraling strike, creating ear-piercing sonic cracks aimed at his chest.
Kenshin spun, slashing horizontally. Sparks flew as sword met tail.
The Scorpion King's power was immense. Kenshin slammed into a rock wall, shards of stone and blood frothing from his mouth.
And it wasn't over.
The Scorpion King lunged again. The twin spiraling tails split, piercing Kenshin's shoulders.
He grunted, blood streaming from his mouth. Slowly, he lifted his head, meeting the Scorpion King's cruel, multifaceted eyes.
It looked like defeat. One boy against one terrifying beast.
And yet, he smiled.
The Blue Lotus Sword and wine flask danced around him.
Whoosh—whoosh!
Wine poured across the sword. The amber liquid soaked the blade, and where once blue light shimmered, it now glowed molten red.
Lotus blossoms erupted along the edge.
The sword hummed, invigorated—the "Wine Boils, Sword Sings" technique unleashed!
The Tri-Tailed Scorpion King sensed disaster. It tried to withdraw its tails, but it was too late.
Crimson sword energy roared like a blood dragon from the depths. The Blue Lotus Sword cleaved downward at the two tails in an instant.
The Scorpion King screamed. Feeling its tails go limp, Kenshin gritted his teeth and steadied himself. Grasping the sword, he channeled the last of his soul power and leapt skyward.
The sword struck like a falling star, plunging downward into the retreating Scorpion King.
Shing!
The severed tails writhed wildly on the ground. Kenshin, half-kneeling with the sword embedded in the beast's head, gasped for air.
At that moment, a purple soul ring slowly rose from the Scorpion King's corpse.
Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing ran desperately. Swordtail Scorpions gave chase, five or six meters behind her.
"One minute!" she thought.
"One minute!"
"It's only been… ten seconds!"
Her teeth clenched, sweat glistening across her smooth forehead.
A rush of air sounded beside her. She pushed off her toes, leaping onto a massive tree branch.
A tail had just slammed into the ground, cleaving a fissure where she had stood.
Her brow twitched as she hurried onward. Her long teal hair whipped wildly, sticking to her sweat-dampened face. Her black battle outfit was torn in several places from the scorpion attacks.
Tears of frustration threatened to spill. Growing up pampered and sheltered, she had never been this miserable.
"Aoi Kenshin!"
"You really owe me one!"
"I've given so much!"
She took a swig from her bamboo cup, still uncertain why Kenshin insisted she drink while running—but she obeyed.
The moment the wine touched her throat, gentle yet immense energy surged through her body.
Her tired legs snapped back to life, and her soul power boiled within her.
"Huh?!"
She blinked, staring at the bamboo cup in astonishment.
"This wine…"
She leapt onto another boulder, narrowly dodging a tail strike. She drank again. Just like before, blissful energy coursed through her.
Her speed surged, instantly widening the gap between herself and the Swordtail Scorpions by several meters.
"Such amazing wine!" Zhu Zhuqing thought, face flushed.
"No wonder Kenshin is never without it!"
With intermittent sips, she maintained her pace effortlessly, though the Swordtail Scorpions still pressed her relentlessly.
Until…
Two millennium-level Swordtail Scorpions joined the chase.
"Damn it!"
She glanced at the rapidly approaching titans, her flushed face paling.
"Where did they come from? Weren't they supposed to be foraging?!"
She gulped the remaining wine frantically, but soon, the bamboo cup ran dry.
Then, the two millennium-level scorpions leapt, landing directly in front of her, blocking the path.
Surrounded by hissing Swordtail Scorpions, Zhu Zhuqing had nowhere to run.
She was just a twelve-year-old girl. Seeing so many terrifying Swordtail Scorpions up close, her eyes began to glisten with tears.
Hiss—!
A millennium-level Swordtail charged at her. Exhausted, she couldn't dodge in time and closed her eyes in despair, screaming silently in her mind:
"Aoi Kenshin! One minute's up… where are you?!"