The morning mist had barely begun to lift when the sound of footsteps rustling through the grass reached my ears. I glanced at Ziyan, who had already sensed their presence as well.
"They are coming," the spirit inside Crimson Veil whispered, its voice dripping with amusement. "Three of them, and two are already at the Low-rank Heavenly Lord Stage. The last one… seems to be the same cultivation level as your little companion."
"Ethereal Light Sect," Heaven's Endadded. "The very people hunting you down."
My expression remained unreadable as he turned his gaze toward the approaching figures. The three men emerged from the forest, clad in robes embroidered with the Ethereal Light Sect's insignia. Their leader, a tall and broad-shouldered man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward with a smug grin. The other two flanked him, their eyes wary but not immediately hostile.I had already hidden my demonic qi, ensuring that my aura appeared no different from an ordinary cultivator's. I had no intention of revealing myself just yet.
"May I ask what brings esteemed cultivators of the Ethereal Light Sect to this part of the land?" I inquired with a voice calm and collected.
The scarred man scoffed. "No business of yours, traveler." He gave me and Ziyan a quick once-over before adding, "Unless, of course, you've seen someone suspicious around here.
"I raised an eyebrow. "Suspicious? What kind of person are you looking for?"
The second cultivator, a younger man with sharp features, pulled out a rough sketch from his sleeve and held it up. I almost laughed at the sight. The portrait depicted a man with an entirely different facial structure, a thick beard, and a much rougher demeanor.
"This man," the sharp-featured cultivator said. "His name is Mo Wuyuan. A traitor to our sect's allies and a wanted criminal. Dead or alive, we are to bring him back."
I kept my expression neutral. "Quite the notorious figure. What has he done to earn such hatred?"
The third cultivator, the weakest among them, shook his head. "Who knows? The Sect Master gave no explanation. We just follow orders."
"Then your Sect Master must hate him very much to hunt him down without reason," I mused.
The scarred leader gave me a hard look. "You ask too many questions."
It was then that I noticed his gaze shift toward Ziyan. His smirk widened as his eyes roamed over her figure, dark intentions evident in his expression.
"A rare beauty to be traveling alone with a man," he muttered, licking his lips. "How about coming with us instead? A delicate woman like you doesn't belong in the wilderness."
Ziyan stiffened, her hand instinctively reaching for her sword. I saw the way the man's eyes darkened with desire, his body shifting slightly forward as if he was already considering taking action.I stepped in front of Ziyan, forcing the man to meet my eyes instead.
"She's not interested." my tone was polite, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath my words.
The scarred man chuckled. "Come now, no need to be so protective. We can always share—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he reached out toward Ziyan, fingers inches away from touching her.That was the last mistake he would ever make.
I sighed. "I was hoping to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."In a single motion, I reached into his spatial ring and pulled out Heaven's End. The moment the weapon materialized in my grasp, the air around them grew heavy, an invisible pressure pressing down upon the three men. Their expressions twisted in horror.
The third cultivator stumbled backward. "That sword—!""Impossible…" the sharp-featured one muttered, his face draining of color.
The scarred leader's confidence shattered in an instant. His eyes darted around, looking for a possible escape route. But deep down, they all knew the truth.The moment I drew his blade, they had already lost their only chance of living.
The silence that followed was suffocating. The three men stared at Heaven's End, their bodies frozen in place. A cold wind swept through the clearing, rustling the leaves as the weight of imminent death settled over them.
"Kill him!" the scarred leader barked, his hesitation vanishing in the face of survival.
His sword left its scabbard in a burst of golden light, spiritual qi surging around him. His sharp-featured companion followed suit, his twin sabers humming with energy as he lunged forward.
The weakest of the trio, a thin, jittery-looking cultivator, hesitated before drawing his weapon—a lightweight rapier shimmering with frost energy. His eyes flickered toward Ziyan, who had already unsheathed her own sword, standing between him and me.
"Wuyuan, let me handle this one," she said, determination burning in her gaze.
I gave her a brief glance, nodding before stepping forward to face the two stronger opponents.
The battle erupted in an instant.
The scarred leader struck first, his sword slicing through the air with the force of a hurricane.
I sidestepped with ease, my body flickering like a shadow as Heaven's End met the golden blade with a deafening clang.
Sparks exploded upon impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the ground.The sharp-featured cultivator took the opening to flank me, his twin sabers weaving in a deadly arc. I twisted his body mid-air, deflecting both sabers with a single, fluid motion before landing lightly on his feet.
"Tch! He's fast!" the saber-wielding man cursed.My eyes darkened. "You're too slow."
Without another word, I vanished.The two cultivators barely had time to react before I reappeared behind them, Heaven's End already in motion. The scarred leader barely raised his sword in time, his arms trembling under the sheer force of my strike. The saber user spun around, launching a flurry of attacks, but I deflected each one with inhuman precision.
Steel clashed against steel, our movements a blur of deadly precision. The battle became a whirlwind of slashes, parries, and counterattacks, the force of our qi tearing through the surrounding trees. The ground beneath them cracked with every step, our speed surpassing what the eye could follow.
From the side, the spirit inside Crimson Veil chuckled."Oh, look at him. Cold and merciless in battle, yet he blushes like a maiden when the girl is near. Isn't that amusing?"
Heaven's End scoffed. "He's always been like this. A blade that's forgotten what it means to be warm… until now."
Ziyan's opponent watched her warily, gripping his rapier tightly.
"You should surrender," he sneered, though his voice wavered. "You're outmatched."
Ziyan didn't respond. Instead, she dashed forward.Her blade glowed with a radiant blue aura as she delivered a series of rapid thrusts, forcing the man onto the defensive. He barely managed to block, his footwork sloppy compared to hers. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he tried to counter, but Ziyan was relentless.A quick feint. A sudden sidestep. And then—"Gah—!"A deep gash bloomed across his shoulder.
He stumbled back, panting heavily. Ziyan didn't let up. She spun in a graceful arc, her blade slicing through the air like flowing water, forcing him further back.
"This girl—" he growled, panic setting in.
A fatal mistake.Ziyan flicked her wrist, her sword humming as it pierced through his defenses. A sharp cry rang out as he fell to his knees, blood dripping onto the dirt. His weapon slipped from his grasp.
Ziyan exhaled, lowering her sword. She turned her gaze toward me, only to see—The battlefield was silent, save for the ragged breathing of the last man kneeling before me. He was trembling, his hands clutching at his wounds, his face pale from both pain and fear.
His two companions lay sprawled on the ground, broken and unconscious, their weapons shattered.I stood over him, Heaven's End resting loosely in my grip.
Blood dripped from its edge, staining the earth beneath my feet. The weight of the blade was nothing compared to the weight in my chest—the same heaviness that had followed me ever since I lost everything.
"You wanted to hunt me down," I said quietly. My voice carried through the night like a cold wind, sending a visible shudder through the man's broken form. "Now tell me… how does it feel to be the hunted?"
His lips parted, but no words came. I could see it in his eyes—the realization of how utterly powerless he was before me.I raised Heaven's End, ready to finish it.
"Wuyuan!"A voice, soft yet firm, broke through the haze of my killing intent.
I turned slightly, my grip tightening. Ziyan stood just behind me, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite understand. Fear? No… it was something else.
"You don't have to do this," she said.
I exhaled sharply, turning my gaze back to the man before me. "He came to kill me. If I let him go, he'll return with more."
"I know," Ziyan admitted, taking a hesitant step closer. "But deep down… you're not heartless."
Her words struck something deep inside me.
Heartless?I should have been. I wanted to be.After all, what had a kind heart ever brought me?
Betrayal. Loss. Pain.
And yet, as I stood there, blade poised to take a life, I couldn't shake her words.
You still have a heart.
I let out a slow breath and lowered Heaven's End.
The man collapsed in relief, a strangled gasp escaping his lips. He was shaking so violently that it almost looked pathetic.
"Get out of my sight," I said coldly.
He scrambled to his feet, not daring to look back as he turned to flee.But I wasn't done.I flicked my wrist, and a wisp of dark energy shot from my fingertips, vanishing into his body before he even knew what had happened.
"Ugh—!" He staggered but didn't fall. Confused, he clutched his chest, patting himself as if searching for a wound.
"What did you do?" Ziyan asked softly, her eyes on me.
"I left a blade-shaped demonic qi inside him," I said simply. "If he harbors any ill intent toward me… it will kill him instantly."
The man froze. I could hear his breathing quicken, but he didn't dare say anything. Instead, he turned and ran as fast as his broken body allowed, disappearing into the forest.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
Ziyan let out a breath, tension melting from her shoulders. Then, she turned to me, studying my face.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
I met her gaze, uncertain of what to say.I had spared a man tonight.Not because I wanted to.But because, for the first time in a long time… someone reminded me that maybe—just maybe—there was still something human left in me.And that thought was more terrifying than anything else.