The forest gave way to a jagged cliff, where a hidden cave offered refuge from the relentless rain. Inside, the air was damp, the drip of water echoing off moss-covered walls. Lin Tian slumped against a rock, his arm throbbing from Lin Hao's dagger, the vitality drain lingering like a shadow.
Su Xueyao knelt by a small fire, her leather jacket torn, tending a gash on her shoulder. The firelight danced on her pale face, softening her sharp features. "You're reckless," she muttered, wrapping a cloth strip—torn from Lin Tian's jacket—around her wound.
"You're welcome," Lin Tian said, forcing a grin despite the pain. He studied her, wondering what drove her ferocity. "That cut… it's not healing fast, is it?"
Her eyes flicked to him, guarded. "Vampire blades carry curses. It'll mend, but it stings." She paused, then added, "You took a hit too. Why risk it for me?"
Lin Tian touched his pendant, its warmth a reminder of his mother. "You're fighting the same enemies I am. We're in this together."
The System chimed:
[Task: Build trust with Su Xueyao to uncover wolf clan secrets. Reward: Wolf Clan Affinity +20, Bloodline Training Module]
Training Module? Lin Tian's interest piqued. The System could teach him control, not just power.
Su Xueyao's gaze softened, but her voice remained cool. "Don't get sentimental. Trust is earned, not given." She leaned back, firelight glinting in her eyes. "Your pendant… it's the Wolf Emperor's Mark. Only royal blood carries it. Who was your mother, really?"
"Lin Wanqing," Lin Tian said, his voice low. "She vanished when I was a kid, after the Lin Clan threw us out. That's all I know."
Su Xueyao's breath caught. "Lin Wanqing… My clan speaks of her in hushed tones. A half-blood who wielded the Wolf Emperor's power, then disappeared. Some call her a savior, others a traitor."
"Traitor?" Lin Tian's heart clenched, pain mixing with anger. "She was kind, gentle… She'd never betray anyone."
Su Xueyao's expression softened, a rare vulnerability showing. "I lost my family to vampires too. I know what it's like to chase ghosts." She hesitated, then continued. "The wolf clan believes she stole a relic—the Heavenly Mandate Seal—to keep it from vampires. If she's your mother, your bloodline might be the key."
The System flashed a memory fragment:
[Wolf Clan Origins Part II: The Heavenly Mandate Seal, a relic of divine origin, binds the Wolf Emperor's bloodline to the world's balance. Lin Wanqing's theft sparked a schism, weakening the clan.]
Lin Tian's head spun. His mother, a thief? Or a protector? He needed answers. "Where is this seal now?"
Su Xueyao shook her head. "Lost, or hidden. But Wolf Soul Valley, our sacred ground, might hold clues. It's a death trap, though—vampires have infested it."
"I'm going," Lin Tian said, his voice firm. "For her."
Su Xueyao studied him, then nodded. "You're stubborn. I like that." A faint smile curved her lips, gone in an instant.
The System activated the Training Module:
[Initiating Bloodline Training: Focus on Heavenly Wolf Fist forms. Practice to enhance control and reduce stamina drain.]
Lin Tian stood, following the System's holographic guide, mimicking slow, deliberate punches. Each move felt like taming a wild beast within, his muscles burning but aligning. Su Xueyao watched, her eyes thoughtful.
"You're not half bad," she said, standing. "But you're raw. Let me show you." She demonstrated a claw strike, fluid yet lethal, her movements a dance of precision. "Feel the flow, not just the force."
Lin Tian mimicked her, their shadows blending on the cave walls. For a moment, the weight of their pasts lifted, replaced by shared purpose.
The System chimed:
[Training Progress: 10%. Heavenly Wolf Fist Efficiency +5%. New Task: Reach Wolf Soul Valley. Reward: Heavenly Wolf Bloodline Awakening Progress +20%, Terrain Manipulation Ability]
Terrain Manipulation? The System's evolving functions hinted at greater potential.
Su Xueyao's ears twitched, her claws unsheathing. "We've got company." Lin Tian's Wolf Spirit Sense flared, detecting a dozen presences closing in.
"Vampires," he whispered, fists ready. The cave's entrance darkened as figures appeared, led by a woman in crimson robes, her eyes glowing like embers.
"Wolf princess," she purred, her voice silky yet deadly. "And the boy with the Mark. The Blood Emperor sends his regards."
The System analyzed:
[Target: Crimson Envoy, Mortal Level 8. Ability: Blood Manipulation. Motive: Capture Wolf Emperor's Mark.]
Lin Tian glanced at Su Xueyao, her claws glinting. "Ready for round two?"
Her smirk was feral. "Always."
As the vampires charged, the cave erupted into chaos, Lin Tian's fists and Su Xueyao's claws a defiant stand against the encroaching dark.