C17 Teaching
In mid-October of the Common Era, Liu Feng returned to the Hunter Guild, a place that had fostered his growth and strength.
Wen Lu approached with her usual professional attire and a welcoming smile. She knew the value of treating a future patron well. "How did the last job go? I heard it was quite the haul," she said, her smile brightening her face.
"It was fine, though I nearly met my maker," Liu Feng replied casually, punctuating his words with a yawn. Since his last assignment, he had dedicated half a month to intense training, strengthening his arcane skills.
"Seeing you in good spirits is reassuring. You look unscathed. Arcanists, after all, exist in a delicate balance between the realms of life and death, akin to battling on the banks of the Three River Plains, always a hair's breadth away from the reaper's touch. With great power comes a profound duty, a gift and a mission from the heavens," Wen Lu said, her laughter veiled behind her hand, her eyes shimmering with a playful light.
Today, Liu Feng found Wen Lu particularly striking, though her attire was unchanged. He couldn't pinpoint what was different, but her beauty captivated him. "Wen Lu, you look exceptionally beautiful today," he remarked, almost involuntarily.
"Flattery will get you nowhere. What brings you here today?" Wen Lu responded with a giggle, her amusement evident.
That's when Liu Feng remembered the purpose of his visit. "I'm here to see Qin Wu."
...
Inside a secluded room at the Hunter Guild's training grounds, Liu Feng and Qin Wu were left undisturbed, a space for focused practice and sparring.
"Do you recall saying you owed me a favor?" Liu Feng asked, slinging an arm around Qin Wu's shoulder with a grin.
"Spit it out, what do you need?" Qin Wu replied, shrugging off Liu Feng's arm with an air of impatience, hands clasped behind his back. He wouldn't even be entertaining the conversation if Liu Feng hadn't saved Ai Xinran.
Liu Feng's response was nonverbal; his normally black-and-white eyes deepened to an inky darkness. A powerful dark aura emanated from his gaze, casting a brilliant obsidian light that seemed to encapsulate the vastness of the cosmos against the backdrop of night.
"So that's how it is," Qin Wu murmured, his once scornful expression growing more complex by the moment.
No wonder he was able to lead Ai Xinran to safety, slicing through their enemies with ease. The shadow arcane was enigmatic and elusive, renowned for its ability to decapitate enemy leaders amidst throngs of soldiers, as if merely strolling through a tranquil garden on the battlefield. When it came to the art of escape, no other arcane could hold a candle to it.
Qin Wu had thought Lei Boshi was in grave danger, having drawn the attention of most of the demons. Despite his assurances that Lei Boshi could handle it, deep down he was concerned. This led him to employ Shadow Escape to rush to Lei Boshi's aid, nearly resulting in the loss of another teammate.
"Aren't you afraid I'll blow your cover?" Qin Wu eyed Liu Feng with a curious gaze. The kid was clearly a low-level mage, yet he possessed two elements. Was this his innate talent? Talk about stumbling upon good fortune.
"You're not that kind of person," Liu Feng replied, shaking his head gently.
Qin Wu peered into Liu Feng's eyes, which were as dark as the night sky, dotted with twinkling white stars. He suddenly realized he couldn't quite read the young man's gaze.
"Come with me."
Having grasped Liu Feng's intent, Qin Wu nodded and began to walk forward, hands clasped behind his back, ready to instruct Liu Feng in the ways of the shadow arcane.
"Activate the shadow formation," Qin Wu commanded coolly.
"Understood, the shadow formation has been activated for you," a female AI voice responded, her tone resonating throughout the arena, blending with Qin Wu's voice.
The lights above the arena burst into life, their beams dancing across the space, casting a lattice of shadows reminiscent of a stage. A shadow was essential for utilizing Shadow Escape, and the shifting lights created an ever-changing tapestry of darkness.
The lights continued their slow dance, the shadows below morphing in tandem. In such an environment, those unpracticed in Shadow Escape could easily slip up, a true test of a shadow arcanist's skill.
"Try to catch me," Qin Wu challenged, before his form blurred and he vanished into the shadows, swiftly making his escape.
The arena, designed for arcanists to spar freely, was vast and expansive, providing ample room to master the shadow arcane.
Liu Feng also stealthily slipped into the shadows. No sooner had he entered than both the light and the shadow shifted, forcibly ejecting him from their midst.
"Before you enter, make sure to observe your surroundings; don't wait until you're in the thick of it to figure out your next move. Anticipate!" Qin Wu's advice echoed in Liu Feng's ears, enlightening him and gradually deepening his understanding.
In the arena, one would witness a captivating spectacle: two shadows darting across the space—one leading, the other trailing. The leading shadow glided effortlessly like a stream of water, while the trailing one appeared somewhat rigid, jerking along yet managing not to be expelled.
As the lights altered, the shadows below morphed in tandem, yet the two shadows navigated the darkness with ease, akin to fish swimming through water.
Suddenly, the leading shadow split in two, leaving the trailing shadow bewildered and stationary, uncertain of which to pursue.
"This is a Shadow Escape technique called Split Shadow," Qin Wu's voice haunted the air, its origin a mystery, but it slowly found its way to Liu Feng's ears. "Watch closely. Shadow Escape isn't flawless. Even the most formidable shadow Mages have their weaknesses. Find a way to exploit them."
Liu Feng shut his eyes, intently feeling out the two shadows. At first, they seemed indistinguishable, but upon closer inspection, he discerned that the Dark Magicka was more potent in the left shadow—it was the real one! The right contained pure Dark Magicka.
"Search," Liu Feng murmured, his own shadow resuming the chase.
"Try splitting your shadow. You seem to have grasped the concept," Qin Wu suggested.
Without a word, Liu Feng concentrated the Dark Magicka, forming a separate shadow, then directed it to flee in a direction opposite his own.
"Well done," Qin Wu emerged from the shadows, nodding in approval at Liu Feng before turning away and walking off slowly.
Qin Wu had deliberately left a significant flaw for Liu Feng to discover the principle, but for Liu Feng to have mastered it so swiftly after a single demonstration was a testament to his extraordinary talent.
The shadow arts, once deemed forbidden arcane knowledge a millennium ago, have only been acknowledged in the past century. Their allure lies in their enigmatic and cunning nature, shrouded in mystery and dark charm.
These arts are versatile. Some, like myself, employ shadow mastery for assassination, pursuit, and evasion. Others wield it as a lethal force, unmatched in offensive power. There are those who utilize it defensively, casting illusions to dodge attacks or conjuring shadow barriers to absorb arcane energy.
The way you use it is a matter of personal choice.
As Qin Wu spoke, he ignited the dark force in his hand, which morphed continuously—now a spear, now a barrier, now a massive axe—showcasing its myriad forms.
"Alright, I have nothing more to teach you." With those words, Qin Wu departed, his steps slow and deliberate.
"What if the shadow is reluctant or shy?" Liu Feng asked tentatively, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
Qin Wu cast a peculiar glance back at Liu Feng, his thoughts growing heavy.
"Dominate it," he said.
Liu Feng was initially taken aback, but then his expression evolved from bewilderment to shock, and finally into hearty laughter.
He recalled the first time he had summoned the shadow in a dire situation, forcing it to aid him. It hadn't seemed reluctant; in fact, it appeared rather thrilled.
So that's your true nature, Miss Shadow. Or rather, Shadow Maid.
With newfound understanding, Liu Feng bowed deeply to Qin Wu from a distance. He recognized that Qin Wu had imparted the secrets of the shadow arts to him without reservation, and gratitude was the least he could offer.
"Thank you."
Qin Wu, without a word or a backward glance, paused briefly in his stride before continuing on. Unseen to anyone, a smile graced Qin Wu's face as he walked away.
