Hoofbeats wrapped in thick sheep wool drummed softly against the riverbank mud.
Twelve mounted figures detached from the canyon shadows, their vulture-skin cloaks rustling like greasy black wings beneath the pale moonlight. They moved without lanterns, spreading across the gravel bars to cut off the ox-cart’s escape routes.
Sera Thorne was on her feet before the lead horse reached the weeping willows.
Her silver spear cleared its leather scabbard with a sharp, metallic hiss. The star-iron tip caught the moon’s reflection, humming with coiled wind-Qi.
Beside the dead campfire, Kaelen pushed his straw hat up with one finger.
He looked at the approaching shadows, then looked down into his own dantian.
[Fallow Slate] [Track 1 (Cultivation Vessel): 106h 00m / 720h (107x Multiplier Active)] [Track 2 (Martial Combat): 220h 00m / 720h (221x Multiplier Active)] [Track 3 (Alchemy & Comprehension): 160h 00m / 720h (161x Multiplier Active)]
Two hundred and twenty hours of uninterrupted martial accumulation sat primed in Track 2, waiting for a single burst command.
