Shadows of the Scarlet Lotus

The sweet scent of the lotus floats through the air, mixing with the breeze that caresses the surface of the lake. I'm standing on the edge of the dock, the damp wood under my bare feet. The sky, tinged with a soft pink that heralds the dawn, reflects its splendor in the calm water. But my attention is not on the landscape. I'm here for something else. Something that, until now, has been out of my reach: the Scarlet Lotus, a flower that only blooms under the first light of the new year.

My right hand rests on the handle of my sword, while my left caresses the jade pendant that hangs from my neck. It's a reminder of what's at stake. "You must bring the lotus to prove your worth," were my teacher's words. His eyes, always stern, looked at me as if doubting my success. Wang Ming, his brightest disciple, watched me from the shadows, with a mocking smile. I know what they think. An orphan like me has no place in the sect. Let alone the right to court the master's daughter, Hua Mei.

But what they don't know is that this lotus is not just a flower to me. It is my chance to prove that my blood, though humble, burns as brightly as any noble lineage. And it's also my chance to fulfill a promise, one I made when I was just a child lost in the alleys of the city: I'll never let anyone decide my fate.

The water rippls under the impact of a light breeze, and I know I can't delay any longer. I take a deep breath and unleash my sword, Danxia, which glows with a faint golden glow in the rising light. The leaf vibrates, as if it shares my anticipation. I wade into the lake, feeling the cold water rise up my legs as I move toward the flower floating in the center, radiant as a small sun.

The lotus is not alone. I knew it from the beginning, but now I can feel it clearly: a dark presence swirls beneath the surface. The stillness of the lake is a lie. My senses, trained for years in the sect, catch the movement of something great waiting, lurking. Never mind. If the lotus is the key to my future, so is facing whatever it is that protects it.

"Come," I whisper, letting my spiritual energy flow to my sword.

The surface of the water explodes. A deep roar fills the air as a creature emerges: a Blackwater Tiger, its body covered in glistening scales and eyes like burning embers. Its claws cut through the air with a whistle, and its breath smells of death. I throw myself backwards, barely dodging the attack, and the shockwave pushes me towards the dock.

I jump up, my sword ready. Danxia vibrates in my hands, her glow growing as I channel my qi into her. The tiger looks at me, and for an instant, I feel a strange connection. This is not a simple guardian spirit; There is something else in his gaze. But I don't have time to reflect. His next attack is relentless, a whirlwind of water rising around him and heading toward me like a living wave.

With a scream, he released a horizontal cut. Danxia's golden energy cuts the wave in two, and the tiger roars, receding. I jump into the water, feeling the cold energy of the lake envelop me, and run towards the lotus. It is only a few meters away. If I manage to reach it before the tiger catches up with me, this will all end.

But it is not that easy.

The tiger intercepts me with a speed that defies its size. It forces me to block with my sword, and the force of the impact throws me backwards. I fall to my knees in the water, coughing, while my mind works frantically. I need a plan. I can't just surpass him in strength. But maybe...

I concentrate, closing my eyes for a moment. The essence of the lake is all around me, and I can feel it. It is cold and expansive, but it is also alive. I connect my qi to the water, letting it flow through me, and then I see it. The boss. The flow of the lake, the invisible currents surrounding the tiger, everything lines up in my mind.

"This ends here," I murmur.

I kick into the water, propelling myself toward the tiger with a speed that takes him by surprise. My sword shines, not only with my energy, but with that of the lake itself. I channel everything in one stroke, aiming at his heart. The creature's roar fills the air as the blow pierces through it. His body dissolves into a rain of dark water that mixes with the lake, and for a moment, everything is silent.

I take a deep breath, feeling the exhaustion invade my body. But I can't stop. I swim towards the lotus, which still floats, intact, as if nothing had happened. When I take it, I feel a strange warmth spread across my hand. It's light, but its fragrance seems to envelop everything, filling me with a peace I haven't felt in a long time.

When I return to the dock, with the lotus in my hands, sunlight already floods the sky. I sit on the shore, holding the flower to my chest. I have succeeded. But I know this is just the beginning. The lotus is a test, but it is not the only one. The road to my destiny is full of challenges, but this victory, however small, gives me hope.

The jade pendant on my neck seems to glow with a faint glow, and for a moment, I think I hear a soft, distant voice.

"Lian Zhi... The destination will always be yours, if you have the courage to claim it.

I smile, closing my eyes for a moment.