Morning sunlight stretched across the city as Mo Chen stepped into the streets alone.
He stood still for a moment, observing everything.
Cars moved like metal beasts.
Digital screens flashed advertisements.
People walked with heads lowered, staring into glowing devices.
Modern civilization was noisy.
Fast.
Unaware.
Mo Chen walked forward calmly, black coat flowing behind him.
He entered a small convenience store.
The cashier blinked at him.
"Yes?"
Mo Chen placed the money Lin Yue had left onto the counter.
"I require food."
The cashier stared at him.
"…What kind?"
Mo Chen scanned the shelves.
Bright packages.
Strange shapes.
He picked up three random snacks and placed them down.
The cashier scanned them.
"Thirty-two yuan."
Mo Chen handed over a hundred.
The cashier waited.
Mo Chen stared back.
"…Your change?" the cashier asked.
Mo Chen tilted his head slightly.
"I have given payment."
"Yes… and this is extra."
The cashier placed the remaining money into his hand.
Mo Chen examined it carefully.
"So money returns if unused."
He nodded thoughtfully.
Outside, he opened a bag of chips.
He tasted one.
Paused.
"…It is air."
A child nearby giggled.
Mo Chen looked at the packet suspiciously.
This world was strange.
Later, he crossed a busy street without waiting for the signal.
A car honked loudly.
He disappeared.
The driver slammed the brakes.
"Where did he go?!"
Mo Chen reappeared safely on the other side.
Pedestrians blinked in confusion.
He frowned slightly.
"…These roads are inefficient."
Jiangnan University — Afternoon
Lin Yue stood at the front of the lecture hall.
Projector light reflected in her eyes.
She spoke confidently.
Her slides flowed perfectly.
Her voice steady.
Even she was surprised by how detailed the research sounded.
When she finished—
Applause filled the room.
The professor adjusted his glasses.
"This is one of the most comprehensive reconstructions of an ancient seal I've seen."
Her friends beamed proudly.
Outside the hall, Chen Xinyi hugged her.
"You were amazing!"
Lin Yue smiled.
But inside, she knew.
He helped me.
Without asking.
Without showing off.
A strange warmth filled her chest.
She pretended to be annoyed.
But she was grateful.
Very grateful.
Evening
The sky darkened slowly.
Lin Yue walked home alone, replaying the day in her mind.
She smiled softly.
Maybe living with him won't be that bad…
Suddenly—
She felt something.
A presence.
Cold.
Watching.
She turned around.
Nothing.
Just streetlights and passing cars.
She shook her head.
"Stop imagining things…"
She continued walking.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Slow.
Measured.
She quickened her pace.
The footsteps quickened too.
Her heart began pounding.
This isn't normal.
She turned sharply into a quieter street.
The sound followed.
Faster now.
She broke into a run.
Her bag bounced against her shoulder.
Her breathing became uneven.
"Mo Chen…" she whispered unconsciously.
She turned the corner—
And froze.
A man stood directly in front of her.
Tall.
Calm.
Eyes glowing faint blue beneath the streetlight.
Shen Wuyan.
"You are Lin Yue," he said evenly.
Her blood ran cold.
"Who… are you?"
He studied her face carefully.
"There is ancient energy surrounding you."
She stepped back slowly.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
His gaze sharpened.
"Where is he?"
Her mind screamed.
Don't say anything.
Don't react.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Shen Wuyan stepped closer.
"Your blood awakened something."
Her breath hitched.
Before she could move—
A cold wind swept through the street.
The temperature dropped instantly.
Shen Wuyan's blue eyes shifted.
Crimson light appeared behind Lin Yue.
She felt warmth at her back.
Familiar.
Steady.
Mo Chen's voice spoke quietly behind her.
"You should not approach what is mine."
Shen Wuyan's expression changed slightly.
"So it's true."
Mo Chen stepped forward, placing himself between Lin Yue and the hunter.
His crimson eyes met blue.
The air vibrated.
Streetlights flickered.
For a moment—
The world seemed to hold its breath.
Lin Yue grabbed the back of Mo Chen's sleeve.
"Let's just go home," she whispered nervously.
Shen Wuyan tilted his head.
"You can hide behind him."
"But he cannot hide forever."
Mo Chen's voice remained calm.
"You are not qualified."
The air pressure intensified.
Windows nearby cracked slightly.
Shen Wuyan's hand moved subtly.
Spiritual energy gathered.
Mo Chen lifted his fingers—
And space trembled.
Lin Yue suddenly found herself standing behind him as if reality had shifted.
"Go," he told her softly.
She hesitated.
"I won't—"
"Go."
The tone left no room for argument.
Reluctantly, she stepped back.
But she didn't run.
Her heart refused to leave him.
Shen Wuyan's blue aura flared.
Mo Chen's crimson aura answered.
Two ancient forces collided silently in the air.
No explosion.
No visible strike.
Yet the ground beneath them cracked.
For three seconds—
Power clashed.
Then—
Mo Chen lowered his hand.
The pressure vanished.
Shen Wuyan stood still.
His eyes narrowed.
"You are not fully restored."
Mo Chen did not deny it.
Shen Wuyan stepped back.
"I will not fight today."
He looked past Mo Chen at Lin Yue.
"She is the key."
Lin Yue's chest tightened.
In the next instant—
Shen Wuyan disappeared into shadow.
Silence returned.
Streetlights steadied.
Cars continued passing as if nothing had happened.
Mo Chen turned toward her.
"Are you injured?"
She shook her head quickly.
Then punched his arm lightly.
"You scared me!"
He blinked.
"You ran toward danger."
"I was scared!"
"You should have trusted me."
She froze slightly.
"…I did."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
His crimson eyes softened.
For a brief second, the tension dissolved.
But both knew—
This was only the beginning.
"Who was he?" she asked quietly.
"Someone who hunts what I am."
"And he'll come back?"
"Yes."
She swallowed.
Instead of fear—
A strange determination appeared in her eyes.
"Then next time, I won't just stand there."
Mo Chen studied her carefully.
The girl who once feared ancient ruins—
Now stood before a supernatural hunter without running.
He stepped closer.
Too close.
"Then stay close to me," he said softly.
Her heartbeat quickened again.
"Is that an order?"
"It is a promise."
Her breath caught.
Above them, the night sky stretched endlessly.
But far away—
Shen Wuyan stood atop a distant building.
Watching.
Calculating.
The hunt had begun.
And this time—
It would not end quietly.
End of Chapter 9...