Ancient Spark of Love

The silent valley slumbered under the gentle glow of the silver moon. The lush green forest accentuated the beauty of the umbra road. A symphony of norcturnal melodies filled the air: songbirds sang sweet lyrics, while the blue winged crickets provided a soothing Harmony, accompanied by the distant throaty voices of frogs from the nearby swamp. The Forest animals listened to the background music with heightened senses, their instincts honed for survival. Death lurked in the shadows, as nocturnal predators stalk their prey. Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere was disrupted by the thunderous sounds of hoofs hitting the ground, as two black horses burst through the clearing, their manes flowing in the wind as they dragged a fancy carriage behind them. A scar-faced man, clad in the striking red military garb of the Dayuan dynasty, gripped the reins of the carriage tightly, his weathered hands lashing the horses with fierce determination. His eyes, wide with fear, betrayed his otherwise stern demeanor as the horses thundered across the open field. He kept casting anxious glances over his shoulder, his scarred face twisting into a grimace as he spotted the masked figures in black steadily closing in on him. "my Lady, we're currently at the silent valley at umbra, it'll take at most 2 hours before we could reach the military border at Antras pass." the scarfaced man turned back, reporting to no one in particular. but a jade like hand parted the curtain in the carriage and a sweet voice travelled to his ears. "Lan Zhan! Move the carriage to the left path!" The sweet, melodious voice drifted from inside the carriage, its gentle tones a stark contrast to the urgency of the situation. Lan Zhan's eyes darted towards the voice, and for a moment, his grip on the reins faltered. "Your Highness, that path leads to a dead end. We'll be trapped between the cliff and the assassins." The beautiful voice responded firmly, without a hint of fear. "I've already planned for that, Lan Zhan. We'll go down together, rather than fall into their hands. Move towards the cliff; let's make it our final resting place." Lan Zhan opened his mouth to protest, but the woman's voice cut him off. "That's my final decision, Lan Zhan. I'd rather die by my own hands than fall into theirs. Take the path; I'll cover you from here." A stunning woman with otherworldly beauty peeked out of the carriage, her bow and arrow at the ready. Her expression was serene, her eyes fixed intently on her targets. With swift precision, she knocked an arrow into place and released it, striking one of the assassins with deadly accuracy. More arrows followed in quick succession, each finding its mark as the black-clad figures fell one by one. The pursuit dwindled, until only a handful of assassins remained. Lan Zhan hesitated, then swiftly corrected the carriage's course, veering sharply to the left. The horses' hooves pounded the earth as they galloped down the narrow path, the remaining assassins struggling to keep pace. The carriage hurtled through the fields, its wheels screeching in protest as it veered onto a rocky path. The horses' hooves pounded the ground, sending tremors through the carriage as it sped up the sloped road. The incline grew steeper, and the carriage's pace quickened, until finally, they reached the edge of a precipitous cliff. The horses halted abruptly, their sudden stop almost sending Lan Zhan tumbling from the coach. He grasped a corner of the carriage, his fingers closing around the wooden frame as the force of the halt propelled him forward. Lan Zhan's body oscillated precariously before he landed nimbly on the ground, his agility and quick reflexes saving him from a nasty fall. The beautiful woman, Li Daiyou, rolled out of the carriage with fluid grace, her movements swift and calculated. As the carriage teetered precariously on the edge of the cliff, she drew her sword with a flash of steel. With a few swift, precise strokes, she severed the carriage from the horses, sending it plummeting down the rocky face of the cliff. Li Daiyou sheathed her sword, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed their surroundings. The assassins, mounted on horseback, were attempting to encircle them, their movements a testament to their training and discipline. Li Daiyou's gaze darted back and forth, her mind racing with strategies and countermeasures. Lan Zhan swiftly moved to position himself back-to-back with Li Daiyou, their united stance a formidable barrier against the approaching assassins. The encircling forces closed in, their movements deliberate and calculated, seeking to ensnare their prey in an inescapable trap. The air was thick with tension as Lan Zhan and Li Daiyou stood firm, their eyes fixed on the enemy, ready to face the impending onslaught. Lan Zhan's right hand rested firmly on the hilt of his broadsword, his left hand grasping the sword's large scabbard, poised for swift release. Meanwhile, Li Daiyou's hand darted to the quiver on her back, her fingers closing around an arrow shaft. With a fluid motion, she notched the arrow in her bow and began firing at the encroaching assassins, her senses heightened as she picked off her targets with deadly precision. As the first arrow found its mark, Lan Zhan took it as his cue to charge into battle. With a mighty roar, he unsheathed his broadsword, its blade glinting in the fading light. He plunged forward, his powerful strokes cutting through the enemy ranks, his movements a blur of steel and fury. Li Daiyu's flawless defense was breached in a fleeting moment of miscalculation. One of the assassins seized the opening, striking her with surgical precision and slicing a deep gash into her right arm. Daiyu's eyes narrowed as a surge of pain coursed through her, her attacking power waning as she struggled to maintain her footing. The momentary lapse created a critical vulnerability, and the enemy forces sensed their chance. "My Princess!" Lan Zhan exclaimed, rushing to Daiyu's side to offer his support. Together, they fought valiantly, their movements a testament to their battle-hardened synergy. Lan Zhan's fury was unleashed as he transformed into a whirlwind of steel and fury, cleaving a bloody path through the enemy ranks. He traded blows and injuries, his broadsword slicing through the assassins with deadly precision. Daiyu followed closely behind, her eyes locked on Lan Zhan's back as she fought to keep pace, her injured arm aching with each strike. As Lan Zhan struck down the final enemy, his body swayed precariously, his life force teetering on the brink of collapse. The sudden stillness that followed was a welcome respite, and Daiyu's gaze shifted to Lan Zhan, her eyes filled with concern. Daiyu's expression transformed, her guarded eyes scanning the surroundings as her slender brows furrowed in concern. Her delicate nose twitched, sniffing the air with heightened sensitivity. With a swift, practiced motion, her golden bow disappeared into her storage ring, replaced by a peculiar, rusted compass. Meanwhile, Lan Zhan's hands rummaged through his attire, producing a delicate jade bottle. He flipped open the lid and hastily swallowed a few white pills. Almost instantly, his wounds began to heal at an astonishing rate, visible to the naked eye. The gaping wound in his stomach slowly closed, his skin pulsating with a soft, blue glow as his body rapidly recovered. Lan Zhan began to walk towards Li Daiyu, but she raised a hand, signaling him to halt. Her lips murmured an incantation as she held the rusted compass, her eyes fixed intently on the device. Suddenly!! A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the horizon, and the air crackled with electricity as the bolt hurtled towards them at breakneck speed. "Who goes there!" Lan Zhan shouted, his broadsword at the ready. But before he could react, his vision expanded, and he felt an eerie sense of detachment. In a fleeting instant, he saw the surroundings from every angle, a 360-degree panorama. Then, his gaze fell upon his own lifeless body, beheaded and crumpling to the ground with a sickening thud.