Shadows of the Scarlet Lotus

The wind blows cold from the mountains, bringing with it the aroma of pine trees and the echo of birds crossing the sky. I stand in front of the entrance to the Crimson Dragon Cavern, the place where my next test begins. The cave is not just a physical space; It is a spiritual barrier that tests disciples who aspire to reach a new level in their cultivation. Only those who manage to pass through it will be able to advance in the sect's hierarchy.

My body still bears the marks of the experience with the Mirror of the True Heart. Although the training that followed that test was grueling, it was also eye-opening. Now, as I stare at the dark entrance to the cavern, I feel a mixture of determination and fear. This time I am not only facing my inner fears, but something real and tangible: the flames of the Crimson Dragon.

—Lian Zhi. —Hua Mei's serene voice breaks the silence.

I turn and see her approaching, her blue robe billowing in the breeze. It's the first time I've seen her outside of the cult's main grounds, and her presence here baffles me. It is not common for the teacher's daughter to observe the disciples' trials.

—Miss Hua Mei. —I bow, my voice measured, trying to hide my surprise.

She stops a few steps from me, her eyes studying me with that unfathomable look she always wears. There's something about his face today, something softer, less distant.

"This test is dangerous," he says bluntly. Not many leave the cave without scars, both physical and spiritual. I want you to know before you enter.

-I know. —My words are simple, but they are loaded with meaning. I don't expect it to be easy. It never is.

For a moment, Hua Mei seems to want to say something else, but instead, she pulls out a small white porcelain jar from her sleeve and extends it to me.

—It is an elixir of advanced healing. Use it if things get complicated.

"Thank you," I reply, taking the bottle carefully. Our fingers brush for a brief moment, and something in my chest stirs, a warmth that has nothing to do with the cavern before me.

She nods slightly, but before turning her back on me, she adds:

—Remember, the real danger in the cave is not the flames, but what they awaken within you.

His words follow me as I cross the entrance to the cavern. The air changes immediately; The heat is suffocating, and the darkness seems to have a life of its own, enveloping me like a cloak. The walls glow with an orange-red glow, and the floor is covered in fiery runes that illuminate my path. Every step I take seems to resonate throughout the space, as if the cavern were alive and watching me.

I don't have to wait long to feel the first challenge. A burst of fire emerges from the ground, blocking my advance. It is not an ordinary fire; Its heat burns not only my skin, but also my spirit, as if it were trying to tear away the will to move forward.

"This is what Hua Mei meant…" I murmur, remembering her words.

I draw Danxia, ​​my companion sword, and channel my qi through it. The blade shines with a golden glow, creating a shield that allows me to advance. The flames recede momentarily, but I know this is just the beginning.

I advance deeper, and the flames intensify, taking on shapes that seem to have a life of their own. A figure emerges from the fire, a dark silhouette with eyes that glow like embers. It is a distorted version of myself, a reflection that exudes arrogance and contempt.

—Do you think you are worthy? —the figure asks me, his voice a distorted echo of mine.

I don't answer. Instead, I channel my qi into Danxia and attack. The figure dodges my blow with ease, returning an attack that forces me back. It's like fighting a shadow of myself, but faster, stronger.

"You cannot defeat me," the figure mocks. Because I am what you hide. I am your excessive ambition, your pride, your insecurities. I am what consumes you from within.

His words stop me, not because they are new, but because they are true. For years, I have tried to prove to myself that I am more than my past, that I can be someone worthy of this sect, of Hua Mei... But deep down, I have always doubted if I really am.

—I don't have to defeat you. —My words are soft, but firm.

The figure stops, its eyes burning with intensity.

—What did you say?

"I don't have to defeat you," I repeat. Because you are not my enemy. You are a part of me, and it's time for me to stop running away from you.

I extend my hand toward the figure, and for a moment, it seems to hesitate. Then the fire around her begins to dissipate, and her form slowly disintegrates into a sphere of light that floats towards me. When the light enters my chest, I feel a different heat: not painful or scorching, but warm and comforting, as if a lost part of me has returned.

The rest of the path is clearer, less oppressive. When I leave the cave, the sun is already setting, bathing everything in a golden glow. Hua Mei is still there, waiting for me.

"You did it," he says, with a small smile that barely reaches his lips.

"Yes," I answer, and this time it's not just a statement. It is a truth that I feel in my soul.

She nods and, for the first time, seems to drop her aloof facade. —True strength is not in fighting against what we are, Lian Zhi, but in accepting it. Remember that.

His words stay with me as the night slowly falls. Accepting who I am… It seems so simple, but I know it is a path I am just beginning to travel. A path of flames, but also of light.