The river road stretched ahead of them in a long, quiet curve.
It followed the water closely, narrow and uneven, with tall grass growing thick along its edges. The river itself flowed calmly, shallow enough to see stones at the bottom, wide enough that its sound drowned out smaller noises.
Liang Yue walked closest to the water. Mo Chen stayed slightly behind her, his steps careful, measured. He kept his eyes forward, but his attention was everywhere at once.
They had left Shuiyun Town less than an hour ago.
Too little time, Liang Yue thought.
The town still felt close, like a presence behind her back. She could almost feel the eyes that had followed them to the edge of the bridge, the murmurs that had followed after.
She slowed her pace slightly.
Mo Chen noticed immediately.
"You sensed something," he said quietly.
"Yes," she replied. "Not new. But closer."
He scanned the road ahead. "In front or behind?"
She closed her eyes for half a breath, letting her Faith Core settle. She didn't release power. She didn't let light show. She only listened to the quiet pressure inside her chest.
"Three," she said softly. "One ahead. Two behind."
Mo Chen's jaw tightened. "So they waited until we left town."
"Yes," she said. "They didn't want witnesses."
"That confirms it," he said. "Hunters. Not guards."
They continued walking as if nothing had changed.
The river gurgled gently beside them. A bird flew overhead and disappeared into the trees. Everything looked peaceful.
Liang Yue's fingers curled inside her sleeves.
"Tier one?" Mo Chen asked under his breath.
"Tier one… but trained," she answered. "Not patrols. Not sect disciples either."
"Tier one and a half," he said.
"Yes," she agreed.
They walked another fifty steps.
The man ahead of them stepped onto the road.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark skin weathered by sun and travel. He rested a long wooden staff across his shoulders, his posture relaxed but balanced. His clothes were plain, reinforced in places, and his boots were worn but sturdy.
He smiled easily, like someone greeting strangers on a road.
"Well met," the man said. "This stretch isn't safe for travelers."
Liang Yue lowered her head politely. "Thank you for the warning."
Mo Chen stayed silent.
The man's eyes lingered on Mo Chen for half a second too long.
Behind them, footsteps stopped.
Liang Yue did not turn, but she felt it clearly now—two presences closing off the road behind.
The trap was complete.
The man ahead tilted his head slightly. "You two came from Shuiyun Town?"
"Yes," Liang Yue replied.
"Busy place lately," he said. "Lots of talk."
Mo Chen spoke, his voice calm. "We don't listen to gossip."
The man chuckled. "Smart. Gossip gets people killed."
He shifted the staff in his hands, letting it drop into a ready position.
"That said," he continued, "we're not here to gossip."
The two men behind them stepped fully into view.
One was lean, with sharp eyes and twin short blades strapped at his waist. The other was broader, his right arm wrapped with a heavy chain, the metal links dull and thick.
Professional.
Liang Yue's heart beat steadily. Not fast. Not panicked.
She had expected this.
The man with the staff reached into his robe and pulled out a folded scroll. He didn't open it right away. He tapped it against his palm thoughtfully.
"Names," he said. "Just to be polite."
Liang Yue answered smoothly. "We're not important."
The man smiled wider. "The paper disagrees."
He opened the scroll.
Liang Yue saw the rough drawing from the corner of her eye. She had seen it once already on the notice board, but seeing it here, in a hunter's hand, made it feel heavier.
"Female," the man read aloud. "Burn scars on the face. Uses strange healing light. Alive preferred."
He lifted his gaze to Liang Yue. "That's you."
Her expression didn't change.
Then his eyes slid to Mo Chen.
"And the male," he continued. "Large build. Mentally deficient. Extremely dangerous in close combat."
Mo Chen exhaled slowly.
"Kill on sight," the man finished.
Silence settled over the road.
The river kept flowing.
Liang Yue spoke first. "You've read it. Now what?"
The man rolled the scroll back up. "Now we give you a chance to make this easy."
The chain man laughed. "We're generous like that."
The staff man nodded. "Hand over the girl. Walk away alive. No pain."
Mo Chen took one step forward.
"No," he said.
The twin-blade man sneered. "You really are stupid."
Mo Chen didn't react to the insult. He planted his feet firmly into the dirt.
Liang Yue felt the Faith Core stir. Not wildly. Just alert.
She whispered, "Mo Chen. Remember the plan."
"I remember," he replied quietly. "I won't kill unless I must."
The staff man's smile vanished.
"So be it," he said. "Take them."
The chain snapped outward without warning, flying low toward Mo Chen's legs.
Mo Chen jumped.
His body moved before thought caught up. He twisted midair, letting the chain pass beneath him, and landed inside the chain man's guard.
Before the hunter could retract the weapon, Mo Chen slammed his elbow into the man's chest.
There was a sharp crack.
The chain man flew backward and hit the ground hard, gasping for air, blood spilling from his mouth.
The twin-blade hunter moved at the same time, rushing Liang Yue.
Liang Yue raised one hand.
She did not let light burst outward.
She did not glow.
She only guided a thin layer of divine energy just beneath her skin.
The hunter slashed.
The blade struck her forearm.
Instead of cutting flesh, it bounced off as if hitting hardened leather.
The hunter's eyes widened.
Liang Yue stepped back calmly and pushed forward with her palm.
She did not strike.
She released a short burst of controlled force.
The man flew sideways and crashed into the tall grass near the riverbank. He did not rise.
The staff man swore under his breath.
Mo Chen turned toward him.
Their eyes met.
The staff man spun the weapon in his hands, qi flowing into the wood. The air hummed faintly. This was no simple stick—it was reinforced, hardened, dangerous.
Mo Chen inhaled deeply and lowered his center of gravity.
The staff struck.
The impact was brutal.
Mo Chen caught it with both hands.
The force drove him backward half a step, pain exploding through his arms. His muscles screamed. His bones vibrated violently.
But they did not break.
Mo Chen gritted his teeth and twisted his body, using the hunter's momentum. He pulled the staff downward, stepped in close, and drove his forehead into the man's face.
The sound was dull and wet.
The staff man staggered, blood spraying from his nose.
He tried to recover, swinging again.
Mo Chen ducked under the strike and slammed his shoulder into the man's chest.
The hunter fell to one knee.
Liang Yue watched carefully.
Mo Chen's movements were precise, efficient. No wasted energy. No rage. Just instinct and training rising through the cracks of the seal.
This was Tier 1.5 combat.
And he was handling it.
The staff man spat blood onto the road and laughed harshly.
"So the rumors are true," he said. "You're not a fool."
Mo Chen said nothing.
He grabbed the staff and twisted.
The wood cracked.
The hunter froze, eyes wide.
Mo Chen released the weapon and stepped back.
Liang Yue spoke then, her voice calm and clear.
"Leave," she said. "Now."
The staff man looked at her fully for the first time.
Not at her scars.
At her eyes.
At the calm in her posture.
At the quiet confidence in her voice.
He swallowed.
"This bounty isn't worth dying for," he muttered.
He grabbed the chain man and dragged him upright. The injured hunter groaned but didn't resist. The staff man glanced once more at Mo Chen, then at Liang Yue.
"You two," he said. "This won't end here."
Liang Yue nodded. "We know."
The hunters retreated into the grass, disappearing as quickly as they had appeared.
Silence returned to the river road.
Mo Chen stood still for several seconds, breathing slowly.
Then he rolled his shoulders.
"No serious damage," he said. "Arms will bruise."
Liang Yue stepped closer. "Let me check."
She placed her hand lightly on his forearm. A faint warmth flowed—not healing, just soothing. Enough to ease strain without revealing light.
Mo Chen exhaled. "That helps."
"You held back," she said.
"So did you," he replied.
She nodded. "If I had burned them, word would spread faster."
"And if I killed them," he added, "the same."
They looked at the road ahead.
"This confirms it," Liang Yue said. "Tier one and one-point-five enemies will keep coming. Professionals."
Mo Chen nodded. "And tier two will follow once they realize we're not dying."
"Yes," she said. "Which means we must move faster—and smarter."
They resumed walking along the river.
The sun lowered gradually, casting long shadows across the path.
After a while, Mo Chen spoke. "When I caught the staff… it hurt."
"But you didn't lose control," Liang Yue said.
"No," he agreed. "The pain felt… familiar. Like training."
She looked at him. "Your seal is loosening."
"Slowly," he said. "Enough to fight. Not enough to remember."
"That's good," she replied. "Too fast would break you."
He glanced at her. "You really believe that."
"Yes," she said. "I won't rush your unsealing."
They stopped near a bend in the river where trees grew close together, offering cover.
"We rest here," Liang Yue said. "Briefly."
Mo Chen nodded and kept watch.
Liang Yue sat and guided the divine energy inward again, stabilizing the Faith Core after the controlled use.
She felt stronger than before.
Not powerful.
But steady.
Above them, unseen, Shen Elder watched from a distant ridge.
"They chose restraint again," he murmured. "Good. They understand tiers."
His gaze followed the river north.
"The Silent Shrine will not be kind," he said softly. "But neither are they weak."
He turned and vanished into the trees.
By the river, Liang Yue opened her eyes.
"We move before night fully falls," she said.
Mo Chen picked up their bundle.
"Yes," he replied. "Toward the shrine."
They stepped back onto the road, leaving the ambush behind.
The river flowed on.
And the hunt continued.