Star Journey: Destiny Returns

As night fell, the stars twinkled, like a dappled scroll suspended between heaven and earth. The night was still, and Yunxuan and Yaoyue wandered in the shadows, their hearts lingering with unease. The afterglow of the previous battle had not yet fully faded. Though their internal energy had been depleted, their spirits had not been consumed by fatigue, but had instead become more alert.

"The black-robed man was able to retreat so easily, which means he didn't attack us with all his strength." Yun Xuan took a deep breath and said in a low voice, a trace of doubt in his heart, "He seems to have other plans, otherwise he wouldn't let go so easily."

Yaoyue nodded, her gaze slightly solemn, a look of deep contemplation about the road ahead. "Behind every guidance of the Star Map, it seems there's someone else lurking, and every 'ultimate taste' seems coveted by these people." She paused, her brow furrowed slightly, a faint unease welling up within her. Having weathered so many obstacles, she had long understood that this Star Map journey was far more than a simple search for flavors, but a game of fate fraught with mysteries.

"We may have already embarked on a destined path, but where this path will lead us to? Only by continuing to move forward can we find the answer," Yun Xuan said calmly, his gaze fixed on the distance, his eyes filled with both deep determination and a hint of anticipation for the unknown. He then smiled, turned to Yao Yue, and said, "If that's the case, let's continue. The star map hasn't deviated from our guidance, which means we're still on the right path."

The two exchanged a smile, casting the previous gloom behind them. Though doubts still lingered in their hearts, the faint light of the star map had already illuminated the way forward. Yunxuan and Yaoyue followed the star map's guidance, heading north. Deep in the woods, a gentle mountain breeze rustled, and the faint fragrance of exotic flowers mingled in the air, bringing a subtle sense of peace.

Not long into the night walk, Yunxuan suddenly felt a slight rustling sound by his ears. He stopped alertly and looked around with his eyes as sharp as an eagle.

"Who is spying in secret?" His voice was not loud, but it carried an authority that was hard to ignore.

Yet, the surroundings were completely silent, as if this woodland were some forbidden area from some other dimension, where all traces of life were swallowed up in darkness. Yao Yue also held her breath, her heartbeat slightly quickening as she gripped the silver blade tightly. Her intuition told her that the faint aura she had just felt was no illusion.

At that moment, a slightly cool breeze blew past them, picking up the corners of their clothes. The surrounding atmosphere also fluctuated slightly, as if this space was about to be distorted by some mysterious force. Yunxuan and Yaoyue exchanged a glance, each seeing the alertness in the other's eyes.

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out from the bushes ahead, its movements as swift as lightning, like a ghost in the night. Wherever the shadow passed, a chill emanated, as if an invisible blade were piercing the skin, sending shivers down one's spine. Yun Xuan's eyes and hands were quick, and he unsheathed his longsword. The blade's light flashed like sparks in the night as it pierced the shadow.

The shadowy figure seemed to have anticipated Yunxuan's sword's momentum, ducking quickly to avoid it. It then darted behind Yaoyue, striking at her waist. Seeing the shadow's swiftness, Yaoyue calmly dodged to the side. The silver blade whirled in a stream of light, colliding with the shadow's attack with a resounding metallic clang. The two engaged in a fierce battle, while Yunxuan shielded Yaoyue's rear with his sword energy.

In the darkness of the night, the three men clashed, each strike fierce and each blow striking. The shadow's movements were uncanny, its speed immense. Despite Yunxuan and Yaoyue's all-out efforts, they were repeatedly breached, their defenses in peril. After several rounds of fierce fighting, the shadow finally revealed a flaw, and Yaoyue, unleashing a powerful, silver blade, forced it back several steps.

Just as the black shadow retreated, Yun Xuan's eyes flashed like lightning, his body moved as fast as the wind, and he took the opportunity to draw his sword and point it directly at the black shadow's chest. The black shadow seemed to be caught off guard and could not dodge in time. His shoulder was cut by Yun Xuan's sword, splashing a black blood drop, dripping to the ground, and instantly disappeared into the grass.

"You... are so difficult to deal with!" The black shadow uttered a low voice with a bit of disbelief.

"Who sent you?" Yun Xuan asked coldly, staring at the other person, trying to find clues from his expression.

The shadow didn't answer, only staring back at Yunxuan with a cold gaze. Then, it quickly turned and fled deeper into the dense forest, its figure gradually blending into the darkness. Yunxuan and Yaoyue wanted to give chase, but the shadow vanished too quickly, and within a moment, no trace of it could be found.

Yao Yue took a deep breath and looked in the direction where the black shadow disappeared, frowning: "All this is indeed not accidental. There seems to be a more powerful force behind it."

Yunxuan pondered for a moment, then nodded. They had indeed sensed that many hidden forces, both hidden and visible, were lurking in the shadows on their quest for the ultimate taste. Whether it was the black-robed figure or these assassins of unknown origin, their presence pointed to a far deeper conspiracy, one far more complex than they had previously imagined.

"Yaoyue, keep going. The star map won't be wrong. Our answer may be just ahead." Yunxuan said lightly. Although there was doubt in his words, it also contained an unquestionable firmness.

Yaoyue nodded, her eyes firm. The two set out again, walking through the night forest. The faint light filtered through the branches and leaves, illuminating the star map, exuding an inexplicable sense of tranquility. After experiencing the series of battles and escapes, their steps became lighter, as if this unknown journey had instilled a strong sense of support in their hearts.

At midnight, they heard the sound of running water in the woods. Yunxuan and Yaoyue smiled at each other and headed towards the sound. Soon, a crystal-clear lake came into view. Moonlight shone on the surface, reflecting the stars like a mirror.

Yao Yue couldn't help but sigh softly, "This lake is so clear, like a dream, as if it doesn't belong to this world."

Yunxuan looked at her with a smile and said slowly, "Perhaps our star map is the same, leading us to this unexplored dreamland."

Just as the two were immersed in the tranquility of the lake, a blurry image slowly emerged from the surface. Within that image, an ancient rune faintly appeared, surrounded by starlight, like stars twinkling in the darkness.

Yao Yue's eyes lit up, and she whispered, "This is the guidance of the star map! It seems that this rune is inseparable from the ultimate taste we are pursuing."

Yunxuan nodded, then pulled out a star map from his bosom. Gently spreading it out, he saw that the patterns on the map faintly overlapped with the runes on the lake, as if revealing some unspoken connection. They understood that this was one of the clues they needed.

As the two of them gazed at the rune, the lake surface suddenly rippled, and a line of small words appeared: "The ultimate taste is hidden, only the mind can see it. Be cautious at every step, and never forget your original intention."

Yunxuan and Yaoyue's hearts trembled slightly, vaguely understanding the meaning of these words. The pursuit of ultimate taste is not just a struggle of strength, but also a test of the soul. Only by steadfastly upholding one's original aspiration can one reach the mysterious source of power.

"Yunxuan, this road is indeed not easy, but as long as we are united, we will have nothing to fear." Yaoyue said softly, with a firmness in her eyes that was hard to conceal.