Legend of the Divine Archer

The forest had transformed into a winter wonderland, with every inch covered in a thick layer of snow. In the distance, the silhouettes of snow-covered mountains loomed, their peaks obscured by the clouds. Most beasts had already settled into hibernation, leaving only the desperate or those without sufficient rations, continued to scavenge for food, leaving their tracks barely visible in the snow.

Amidst this silence, the faint traces of two individuals could be seen moving through the snow-covered paths. Though there were two of them, only one set of tracks marked the snow. These tracks belonged to Wei Xi and Yan Jin, who had left the warmth of the cave a couple of days ago.

Wei Xi pathed through the snow with a determined expression, he was now dressed in an imposing suit of armor, made from the scales of the Sabretooth Tiger and the thick fur of the Snow Mountain Bear. His hair had been cut shorter and braided like that of a Young barbarian warrior, adding to his rugged appearance.

The metallic braces on his legs each weighed like an adult human and the heavy metal spear in his hand added to the burden.

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Despite the exhaustion, Wei Xi did not complain. He knew that Yan Jin was burdened more. Yan Jin walked beside him; his form was ethereal as he moved through the snow without leaving a single trace. He was dressed in the bear's white fur, which draped over his shoulders like a regal cape, partially covering his scarred body and exposed torso.

A helmet fashioned from the head of the Sabretooth Tiger concealed most of his face, hiding his blind eyes behind the visage of the predator.

He used small throwing knives as makeshift stepping stones, appearing beneath his foot just before he stepped. The knives controlled by his soul energy formed a dynamic pathway that allowed him to glide effortlessly over the snow leaving no prints behind.

For him, this journey was as much about training as it was about survival. He needed to become more attuned to his soul energy and wield it with greater efficiency in battle.

Yan Jin had just finished scolding Wei Xi, who, in response, had introduced himself with a cheeky grin as "Xiao Xi, or Little Xi." Despite the icy air of their surroundings, there was warmth in their exchange.

Yan Jin, still adjusting to his new role as the elder brother figure, asked, "Where do you come from?"

"Small Village in the northern region," Wei Xi replied confidently. "I am with my older brother Huang on an adventure."

Yan Jin raised an eyebrow. "And what do you say if they ask about your village?"

Wei Xi, already tired of the repeated questions, answered with a slight edge in his voice, "Small village, cute pets, nice parents, nothing special to mention. I remember it. you don't need to mention it again. Stop nagging—you'll age faster."

Yan Jin chuckled at the boy's impatience. "What a rude younger brother, not cute at all! Right, Scara?" He spoke to the small bird that suddenly emerged from his cape. The bird with white feathers and bright red highlights, was the celestial Garuda that had hatched from the egg.

Scara chirped and nuzzled against Yan Jin's neck seeking some affection. "No more food for you," Yan Jin teased, gently stroking the bird's back. "I can't raise you to be a fatty."

He had named the bird Scara, a blend of "scar" and "sacha," in memory of those who had sacrificed for its birth. Though it currently resembled a normal falcon, Yan Jin was eager to see it grow and dominate the skies.

As they walked, Wei Xi's thoughts turned practical. "We need to find transportation, or we're going to get older by the time we arrive in the north."

Yan Jin, always the realist replied, "Worse things will happen to us before we even consider getting old."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a distant, high-pitched scream. Without thinking, Wei Xi sprang into action, dashing toward the source of the sound.

"This kid is never going to learn to stay calm," Yan Jin muttered shaking his head as he followed closely behind.

They arrived at the scene to find a little girl pinned down by a snarling lightning wolf. Wei Xi didn't hesitate. He hurled his spear sending it flying like an arrow. It struck the wolf and impaled it before embedding itself deep into a nearby dead tree.

The wolf collapsed instantly, its body twitching as the last remnants of electricity sparked and faded. Wei Xi quickly scooped up the terrified girl who was trembling and crying uncontrollably. He held her gently trying to soothe her. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

The girl clung to him with her tiny hands gripping his armor as she continued to sob, despite the danger being over.

"It's okay, it's over," Wei Xi repeated gently, patting the little girl's back with care. When he noticed she had calmed down a bit, he started asking her more questions. "Are you alone?" She shook her head. "Where are your parents?" he asked next.

The girl looked around, then shook her head again, clearly confused. "Show me the direction, and I'll take you there," Wei Xi asked again, but the girl's bewilderment only deepened.

"She's deaf and mute," Yan Jin interjected, his tone matter-of-fact. "She can't understand you if you speak that fast."

"How do you know?" Wei Xi asked, curiosity piqued, but Yan Jin ignored him, stepping closer to the girl despite his fearsome mask.

The girl flinched and clung to Wei Xi even tighter, but Yan Jin remained calm. "Where are your parents?" he asked, speaking slowly and clearly, enunciating each word carefully.

Finally understanding, the girl reached out her hand to Yan Jin. As soon as she touched him, a vision of a caravan flashed in his mind. "How did you do that?" Wei Xi asked, puzzled.

Before Yan Jin could respond, a young girl appeared, leading a group of people dressed in the same navy blue uniform as the little girl.

"Who are you? Let my sister go, or we will attack," the older girl demanded, her voice firm.

In an instant, Yan Jin used his soul energy to recall the spear impaled in the wolf back into Wei Xi's hand. Wei Xi didn't hesitate, unleashing his savage aura. "If you step any closer, none of you will survive," he threatened, his tone deadly serious.

Yan Jin, however, remained calm and communicated silently with the little girl. "Do you know them?" he asked. She nodded. "Do you want to go with them?" She nodded again. Only then did Yan Jin release her, allowing her to run back to the group.

As the little girl reached the older one, they exchanged a few whispered words before the older girl approached Wei Xi and Yan Jin.

"I apologize for my rudeness," she began, her voice softer now. "When I saw my sister with strangers, I couldn't help but be nervous."

"My name is Sheng Li. We're part of a merchant group traveling north. We were attacked by a pack of lightning wolves, and Sheng Yi got lost in the chaos. I've been searching for her all night."

Yan Jin, uninterested in the pleasantries, turned away, leaving Wei Xi to respond. "I'm Little Xi, and this is my brother Huang. Don't mind him, he's not very sociable. We're heading north too. We just did what anyone would've done."

"Thank you for saving her," Sheng Li said sincerely. "If you don't mind, our caravan is stationed nearby. You're welcome to come and share dinner with us. I'm sure Sheng Yi would like that a lot."

"Sure, why not? I'm tired of eating dried meat all day," Wei Xi replied cheerfully as they began to make their way toward the caravan.

Yan Jin, pretending to be aloof, hung back, observing the group closely. He wasn't one to trust easily and wanted to gather as much information as possible. Meanwhile, Wei Xi, with his chatty nature, was a perfect distraction, drawing the attention of the group away from his brother's quiet scrutiny.