The night felt colder than usual, as if the very air had grown heavier with the weight of the revelations Lin Yu had just uncovered. The temple behind them was silent now, the energy that had surged through it fading into the darkness. Lin Yu walked ahead, his mind a storm of questions and determination. He had learned much—too much—and yet, he still didn't have the answers he needed. The war that had been hidden from him, the forces pulling the strings in the shadows—they were too vast, too powerful for him to face alone.
And Cheng Xi… her fate was still hanging by a thread. The creature from the park had been a warning, but it wasn't the last. He could feel it in his bones. They weren't safe. Not yet.
"Lin Yu," Cheng Xi called from behind him, her voice steady but filled with concern. "Where are we going?"
Lin Yu paused and turned back to look at her. Her eyes were still filled with confusion and fear, but there was something else now too—something softer, a trust that he could see in the way she stood beside him, even though the world around her had turned upside down. She didn't fully understand, but she was with him, and for that, Lin Yu was grateful. He would protect her. That was his promise.
"We need to find the others," he said, his voice firm. "There are others like me—immortals who have returned to this world, just like I have. I can't do this alone."
Cheng Xi nodded, though doubt still clouded her face. "But where do we start? And who are these other immortals? Are they on our side?"
Lin Yu looked at her, his expression softening for a brief moment. "I don't know who they are yet. But they're the only ones who can help us. Together, we might have a chance. But we're running out of time."
He turned back toward the road ahead, the path stretching out in front of them, uncertain and dark. Every step took them further from the familiar, into the unknown. They were leaving the city now, heading into the wilderness beyond. Lin Yu had sensed the presence of the others—fragments of power hidden in the world, like himself—but where they were, he had no idea. The figure from the temple had hinted at their importance, but the rest was shrouded in mystery.
The first destination was a small town on the edge of the mountains. Lin Yu had heard rumors of strange occurrences there—disappearances, whispers of powerful figures appearing in the night. It was as good a place as any to start.
As they walked, Lin Yu tried to focus on what was ahead, but the weight of what he had learned kept pushing into his thoughts. The dark forces that had been controlling everything—his fall from the Celestial Realm, his return to Earth, the creatures attacking them—it was all part of a larger plan. But what was that plan? Who was truly behind it? And why did it all center around him?
He was the key, the figure had said. But what did that mean? How was he supposed to stop this?
By the time they reached the outskirts of the town, the sun had set, leaving the world bathed in the cool glow of twilight. The town was quiet—too quiet. The streets were empty, and the houses seemed abandoned. Lin Yu's senses flared, and he knew that something was off. The faint pulse of spiritual energy he had been following grew stronger, as though it was pulling them deeper into the heart of the town.
"Stay close," Lin Yu muttered to Cheng Xi as they stepped onto the main street. His hand instinctively moved to the dagger at his side, ready for whatever lay ahead.
Cheng Xi's footsteps were quieter than usual, her gaze scanning the surroundings with caution. "Lin Yu, what is this place?"
"I don't know," he replied, his eyes narrowing. "But something's not right here. The energy… it feels like we're being watched."
They continued down the street, the oppressive silence making every step feel heavier. It was as if the town itself had been abandoned, but Lin Yu could sense the presence of something—someone—nearby. The spiritual energy was thick now, almost tangible in the air.
Suddenly, a figure stepped out from a narrow alley, blocking their path.
It was a woman, tall and graceful, dressed in simple yet elegant robes. Her face was calm, her expression unreadable. She seemed to materialize from the shadows themselves, and Lin Yu immediately felt the weight of her presence. This was no ordinary person.
"I've been waiting for you, Immortal King," she said, her voice smooth and confident, though there was an underlying edge to it. "You've come far."
Lin Yu's hand instinctively tightened around the dagger, but he did not draw it. There was something about the woman's energy that made him pause. She wasn't a threat—not in the traditional sense—but she was powerful, and that made her dangerous.
"Who are you?" Lin Yu demanded, his voice steady. "And why are you waiting for me?"
The woman smiled, her gaze flickering to Cheng Xi before returning to Lin Yu. "I'm someone who knows what you've been through. And what's coming. I'm here to offer you guidance—and perhaps, protection."
"Protection?" Lin Yu echoed, his brow furrowed. "From what?"
"From what you don't yet understand," the woman replied. "There are forces at work here—forces that control not just this world, but all worlds. I can help you fight them."
Lin Yu didn't trust her words completely, but he knew that he needed every advantage he could get. If she was truly an ally, she could be the key to finding the others, the immortals who had returned like him.
"And who are these forces?" Lin Yu pressed, his eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you asking me to fight?"
The woman stepped closer, her gaze intense. "The ones who control everything—who have been manipulating the flow of fate—have their eyes on you. And soon, they will make their move. But before that happens, you need to be ready. You need to gather those who can help you. The others like you."
Lin Yu's mind raced as the pieces began to fall into place. This woman, whoever she was, knew more than he did. And if there was a chance she could help him find the others, then he had to take it.
"You know where they are?" Lin Yu asked, his voice urgent.
The woman nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "I do. But we don't have much time. The forces behind the curtain are already in motion. The beast you faced earlier was a mere taste of what's to come. There's much worse out there. And it's coming for you."
"Then show me where they are," Lin Yu said, his voice resolute. "We'll find them. Together."
The woman's expression shifted, her eyes glowing faintly with an unreadable emotion. "Very well. But remember this: once you step onto this path, there's no turning back. The enemies you face will stop at nothing to control you. You'll need to be stronger than ever before."
Lin Yu nodded, his resolve hardening. He didn't have time to second-guess. He had come this far. There was no turning back.
"Lead the way," he said.
And with that, the woman turned, guiding them into the shadows of the town. Lin Yu and Cheng Xi followed, the weight of the journey ahead settling heavily on their shoulders. The path to finding the others, to stopping the forces that sought to control the world, was just beginning.