Shao Xian moved through the darkness like a phantom, his steps soundless against the rooftops of Blackwood Town. Below him, the Jiang Clan's guards patrolled in tight formations, their torches flickering against the cold night air.
They had fortified the estate, doubling the number of sentries. Watchtowers lined the perimeter, archers stationed at every vantage point. Jiang Tian's paranoia had set in, and rightly so.
But it would not save him.
Shao Xian crouched, his gaze sweeping over the defenses. He did not act recklessly—there was no need for haste. Every move had to be precise, each strike calculated. This was not a mere act of vengeance.
It was a message.
Far below, Lin Feng remained hidden in the alleyway, his body pressed against the cold stone wall. His breath came in slow, controlled intervals, just as Shao Xian had instructed.
This was his first real lesson—not cultivation, not mere survival.
The art of war.
Shao Xian's voice echoed in his mind. "Watch carefully. Fear is an enemy's greatest weakness. Exploit it."
And so, Lin Feng watched.
From above, Shao Xian's fingers twitched ever so slightly, sending out an almost imperceptible ripple of energy.
It was not enough to alert the more experienced cultivators within the estate, but for the ordinary guards—weak, dull-witted mortals—it was a nightmare come to life.
A sudden gust of wind howled through the compound, snuffing out several torches in an instant.
Shadows stretched unnaturally. The temperature plummeted.
One guard shivered violently, gripping his spear. "D-Did you feel that?"
Another scoffed. "The wind, idiot. Stay focused."
But the first guard could not shake the feeling creeping up his spine.
Then, it began.
A soft, almost melodic whisper echoed through the air. Faint. Indistinct.
A name.
The guard stiffened. He turned to his companion. "Did you hear—"
But the other man was already looking at him in horror. His mouth moved, but no words came.
Then—blood.
A thin line appeared across the second guard's throat, so sharp, so precise, that he did not realize he had been cut until his body collapsed.
The first guard staggered back, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"W-Who—"
The whisper returned.
This time, clearer. Stronger.
"I have returned."
The guard screamed.
The sound barely escaped before an invisible force crushed his windpipe. His body slumped lifelessly onto the ground.
From the alleyway, Lin Feng's heart pounded violently in his chest. He knew Shao Xian was strong, but this—this was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
The Jiang Clan's men began to panic. More torches were lit. Orders were shouted. Sentries ran in disarray, looking for an enemy they could not see.
Shao Xian merely observed.
It was not yet time for Jiang Tian to die.
No. First, he had to suffer.
---
Deep within the estate, Jiang Tian's fingers tightened around the jade pendant in his grasp. He had felt it. The shift in the air.
This was not a normal disturbance.
His mind raced. The note. The whispers among the guards. His men had spoken in hushed tones of a presence lurking in the shadows, of unseen eyes watching them.
Fear spread like poison.
Jiang Tian gritted his teeth. "Enough of this nonsense."
He strode toward the grand hall, where his most trusted subordinates awaited. Several elders of the Jiang Clan sat around a long table, their expressions grim.
One of them, an older man with streaks of silver in his hair, frowned. "Lord Jiang, we must consider the possibility—"
"There is nothing to consider," Jiang Tian snapped. "This is a trick. An illusion meant to unnerve us."
"But the men are terrified," another elder muttered. "They say the shadows whisper. That they feel something watching them."
Jiang Tian's patience thinned. "Then they are fools. There is no ghost here. Whoever is behind this will be found and executed."
The eldest of the elders, a wrinkled man with eyes like dying embers, spoke at last. "And what if it is him?"
Jiang Tian went still.
For a moment, silence reigned in the hall.
Then—he laughed. A cold, sharp sound.
"You think this is Shao Xian?" Jiang Tian's voice dripped with mockery. "A dead man does not rise."
The elder did not waver. "Some men do."
Jiang Tian's lips curled into a snarl. "Enough of this. Increase security. Summon our cultivators. If someone dares step foot in my estate, I will personally carve their heart out."
The elders hesitated but obeyed.
Yet, despite his bold words, Jiang Tian felt the first tendrils of doubt slither into his mind.
---
Shao Xian watched it all unfold from the rooftops.
He had not stepped foot in the grand hall, yet he could see Jiang Tian's face in his mind. Could hear the slight hesitation in his voice.
Good. Let him question himself. Let the fear fester.
This was only the first night.
Tomorrow, the real hunt would begin.
Shao Xian vanished into the darkness.
Below, Lin Feng released a breath he did not realize he had been holding. His hands trembled at his sides.
Tonight had been a lesson. Not in strength, but in control.
Shao Xian had not attacked recklessly. He had not cut down every enemy in his path.
No.
He had planted a seed.
Lin Feng clenched his fists.
One day, he would do the same.
One day, he would be feared.