Chapter 5: Midnight at Danxia, Unvieling the Witch

Natsou and Kei set off for Dangxia Town, the mountain path stretching out before them.

"How did you know about Dangxia?" Kei asked, breaking the silence.

"I went there a lot when I was a kid," she said.

"Really? To that healing town?"

"Yeah."

Kei just stared, speechless.

"Come on! Let's go!" Natsou urged, picking up her pace.

They arrived at midnight. Kei looked around at the ruins, his jaw tight. "Is this the place?"

"Yes," Natsou said quietly, her eyes scanning the destroyed buildings. "Let's investigate."

"Right. How do we start?"

"Use whatever technique you have to find a trace."

"Alright."

Natsou closed her eyes and activated her power — suddenly, her eyes glowed a brilliant blue. It was a technique that let water energy flow through her senses, picking up even the faintest clues.

"Wow," Kei breathed. "Amazing technique. I didn't know your eyes could glow blue... it's beautiful."

Natsou felt her cheeks heat up. "Thank you... uhm, yeah, it lets me sense and track traces through things."

"Awesome. I can make my eyes glow too — but mine are red."

"Is it for sensing too?"

"Nope. I can burn anything I want just by thinking about it when they glow."

Natsou snorted. "What a pathetic technique."

"Why?!"

"It's not useful right now, is it?"

They locked eyes for a moment. Kei blushed and looked away. "Well... it will be useful. You'll see!"

"Fine, fine. Just help me investigate already!"

Kei nodded. "Uhm, right."

They searched the entire town for hours, but found no sign of a demon.

"Maybe it really is a person," Kei said.

"I guess so," Natsou agreed. "All I can sense is human energy."

"Maybe your father was right... we should let him handle this."

If it's a fellow cultivator, we need to... his thought was cut short by a deafening blast. The force knocked both of them unconscious for a minute.

"Natsou! Where are you?!" Kei called out, scrambling to his feet.

"Kei! I'm here!"

He rushed over and pulled her up. "Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine. What was that blast?"

"I don't know."

Suddenly, a woman in black floated down from the sky, stopping just a few feet away.

"Well, look who's here," she sneered. "The cursed one."

"Who are you?!" Kei demanded, stepping in front of Natsou.

"Oh, I don't talk to useless things like you," the woman said, her eyes fixed on Natsou. "All I need is her."

"What do you want from me?" Natsou asked, her voice steady.

"You don't need to know. I'm just going to kill you and devour your soul!"

Both Natsou and Kei drew their swords.

"Water energy," Natsou chanted, "purify what's impure, in the name of nature's law — WATER STORM!"

A swirling vortex of water shot toward the woman. She cried out — then burst into laughter.

"Kei... she's not hurt?"

"Do you think I'd be harmed by that little trick of yours?" the woman cackled. "You must be dreaming!"

"You," Natsou said, her eyes narrowing, "you have human energy but you're not human... and not a demon. What are you?"

"I'm a witch, b*tch. Your knowledge is so tiny — I'm disappointed. You look nothing like your mother."

Natsou's grip on her sword tightened. "What did you say?!"

"Laughing, the witch said, "I told you — you don't need to know anything. Just die, and I'll show you what real power looks like."

She began chanting, and a dark book materialized in her hands. Instantly, wolves, tigers, and massive snakes emerged from the shadows, slithering and prowling toward them.

"Shock! What is this?!" Natsou gasped.

"Natsou, stay behind me," Kei said, stepping forward.

He activated his technique — his eyes blazed red, and flames erupted from the surroundings, incinerating the approaching animals in seconds.

"See? Told you my technique was useful."

"This is not the time to joke!"

As if on cue, the witch showered them with sharp, dark shards.

"Water energy, purify what's impure — WATER SHIELD!" Natsou cried out, and a wall of water formed around them.

"This b*tch is strong," Kei muttered.

"I get it now," Natsou said. "Witches use dark magic. Her power comes from that book — it's made by demons, in exchange for a soul."

The witch kept raining down shards, and the water shield began to crack.

"Your shield's about to break!" Kei warned. "How do we beat her?"

"I'll distract her and find an opening," Natsou said. "Use your sleep cultivation on her when you get the chance."

"Got it."

In a flash, Natsou teleported beside the witch and swung her sword. But the witch knocked her back with an energy blast, sending her crashing to the ground.

"You're so weak," the witch sneered, landing in front of her. "I expected so much better."

Natsou pushed herself up, her eyes burning with determination. "I don't need you to tell me how strong I can be. If you're so powerful... fight me with a sword!"

End of chapter 7

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