Opening
The mountain pass lay blanketed in an unnatural twilight as the scent of blood and crushed herbs hung heavy in the air. Yao Lianhua's silk slippers made no sound against the weathered stone path as she rounded the bend, her pink qipao fluttering gently despite the absence of wind.
Before her unfolded a scene straight from nightmare - a young cultivator in tattered sect robes desperately fending off three Spiritrend Wolves, their translucent fangs already stained crimson. The beasts moved with eerie coordination, their semi-corporeal forms phasing through his defensive strikes like mist through fingers.
Tsk. Her delicate brow furrowed slightly as she observed:
Broken radius bone (right arm) Three parallel claw marks weeping black qi (left flank) Spiritual energy reserves at 17% capacity and falling Textbook terrible footwork
With a sigh that carried centuries' worth of exasperation toward reckless youths, Yao plucked a hairpin from her bun. The jade lotus design shimmered as it elongated into a slender needle glowing with spring-green energy.
"Honestly now," she murmured to no one in particular while stepping forward, "must we always learn anatomy lessons the hard way?"
The nearest wolf turned just in time to see five petals of condensed healing qi erupt from between its ribs before dissolving into golden dust.
