NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: Chapter 8: The Amulet’s Warning
The Whispering Amulet
Luo Feng sat cross-legged on the floor of the hut, the spirit stone Xiao Mei had given him glowing faintly in his palm. Granny Wen slept fitfully nearby, her cough rattling like dried bones. Moonlight seeped through the cracks in the walls, painting silver stripes on the dirt floor.
Cultivation Attempt:
He pressed the spirit stone to his chest, mimicking the breathing techniques Old Li had taught him.
A trickle of energy seeped into his meridians, warming his deformed spine.
The black jade amulet around his neck pulsed in rhythm with the stone, its golden serpent symbol flickering like a candle.
Vision Begins:
Suddenly, the amulet burned hot. Luo Feng gasped as his mind flooded with images:
Fire. Orange tongues licking the walls of the hut.
Yan Mo's face, twisted in malice, tossing a lit torch through the window.
Granny Wen trapped under a collapsed beam, her hand outstretched.
The Warning:
A voice—deep and serpentine—hissed in his mind: "Danger comes… now."
---
The Race Against Time
Luo Feng shook Granny Wen awake. "Fire! We have to leave!"
Granny's Confusion:
She coughed, squinting in the dark. "Child, it's just a nightmare—"
The First Spark:
A whoosh cut her off. Flames erupted outside the hut's lone window, devouring the dry wooden shutters.
Yan Mo's Laughter:
From the shadows, Yan Mo's voice taunted: "Burn, monster! Let the flames fix your ugly face!"
Escape:
Luo Feng dragged Granny Wen toward the door, but the roof beam groaned.
With a deafening crack, it collapsed, blocking their exit.
Smoke choked the air. Granny Wen collapsed, her breath shallow.
---
The Amulet's Fury
Luo Feng pressed the spirit stone to the amulet. "Help us!" he begged.
Reaction:
The amulet blazed crimson, its heat searing his skin. Symbols—serpent, star, mountain—floated in the air, forming a shield around them.
The Breakthrough:
Energy from the spirit stone surged into Luo Feng's dantian.
His meridians burned, but he channeled the pain into his fists.
Qi Gathering Stage 3: A surge of strength!
Breaking Free:
He punched the collapsed beam. It shattered like rotten wood, and he carried Granny Wen into the moonlit night.
---
Yan Mo's Rage
Yan Mo gaped as Luo Feng emerged unscathed. "Impossible!"
Confrontation:
Luo Feng lunged, tackling Yan Mo into the mud.
The amulet's shield faded, leaving him exhausted.
Yan Mo kicked him off, snarling: "This isn't over, freak!"
Retreat:
Yan Mo fled into the forest, his robes singed. Behind him, the hut collapsed into embers.
---
Aftermath
Villagers arrived with buckets of water, too late to save the hut. They stared at Luo Feng—his face smudged with ash, Granny Wen cradled in his arms.
Mixed Reactions:
A farmer muttered, "Maybe he is cursed…"
A young mother whispered, "He saved her. That's bravery."
Xiao Mei's Arrival:
Xiao Mei pushed through the crowd, her eyes wide. She draped her shawl over Granny Wen. "Come to my home. We have blankets."
Luo Feng's Distrust:
He recoiled. "Why help me? You fear me too."
Her Reply:
"Fear isn't the same as hate," she said softly. "Let me help."
---
The Yan Clan's Plot
Deep in the forest, Yan Mo knelt before a cloaked figure on a stone throne—Master Yan, a mid-ranking elder of the Yan Clan.
Report:
"The monster survived… but his home is ashes,"Yan Mo panted.
Master Yan's Command:
"The amulet he carries is ancient… the Black Eclipse Pendant. Steal it, and you'll be rewarded. Fail again, and you'll feed the clan's spirit beasts."
Yan Mo's Resolve:
He bowed, trembling. "It will be done."
---
A New Shelter
Xiao Mei led Luo Feng and Granny Wen to a small, abandoned hunter's shack near the river.
The Shack:
Moss grew on the walls.
A cracked clay stove stood in the corner.
The roof leaked, but it was shelter.
Granny Wen's Tears:
She clutched Luo Feng's hand. "You risked your life for this old woman…"
His Promise:
"I'll protect you," he said, the amulet cold against his chest. "Always."
---
The Serpent's Guidance
That night, the golden serpent appeared in Luo Feng's dream. It coiled around the charred remains of the hut, its scales glittering with embers.
New Warning:
"Enemies gather… strengthen your roots."
The scene shifted: Luo Feng stood atop a mountain, the amulet now a blazing sun in his grasp.