### Chapter 28: One Escapes
The chaotic energy from the raider's self-destruction gradually seeped into Lin Yi, absorbed by his body.
The lead raider's sense of unease sharpened, his pupils contracting, his face paling slightly.
"Gao Da, Yang Zhen—both of you, go!" he barked.
The two raiders exchanged glances, sorrow flickering in their eyes. But with the bell in the leader's hand, defiance was impossible. Death was inevitable either way—self-destruction at least secured their families' safety. Fleeing would mean a hunt to the ends of the earth.
They knew the power of their faction. Resistance was futile.
Without hesitation, Gao Da and Yang Zhen surged forward, spiritual energy roaring in their veins. They detonated simultaneously, two waves of violent energy howling like ghosts—far deadlier than any specter. In their path, even sturdy trees would shatter.
"Dammit!" Lin Yi roared, rage boiling over.
This was torment! Was self-destruction some kind of game? *Don't push me!* he screamed inwardly. *I'd let you run! Are you all insane?*
His mind reeled, but words failed him. Only hoarse, agonized cries escaped—sounds more凄厉 than heartbreak. He swore his meridians would burst at any second.
Two torrents of energy crashed into him, flooding his small frame. He couldn't control them, only guide the chaos into tempering his meridians.
Lin Yi was losing his mind. This was inhuman suffering. His robes, caked in blood and grime, clung to him like a second skin. He looked a monster now—blood-soaked, eyes wild, face contorted—a demon risen from hell.
The lead raider smiled coldly, savoring Lin Yi's screams. Suddenly, he slapped his storage bag, summoning a sleek-looking flying sword. Infusing it with spiritual energy, he sent it streaking toward Lin Yi, its glow faint but menacing.
A test.
If Lin Yi couldn't dodge, if he let the sword strike, it meant he was at his limit—seconds from death. But if he shattered it as before? The leader would rethink.
Lin Yi hated him. *This is all his fault*, he raged. He couldn't spare a hand for the sword, trapped in agony. It hovered closer, a death sentence.
*I won't die like this!*
But fate intervened again.
A bronze shield flashed from the side, slamming into the sword. *Clang!* The sword rebounded, unharmed, but the shield stood firm—unscratched.
Mid-grade artifact. Easily blocking a low-grade sword.
Lin Yi turned, barely, to see the apple-faced woman, her fingers forming seals, controlling the shield. Her face was drawn, exhaustion weighing on her, as if even that single strike had drained her.
When her eyes met his, she smiled—a bright, innocent thing that chased away her weariness, if only for a moment.
Lin Yi could only howl in pain, unable to return it.
The leader's face darkened. He'd hoped the sword would reveal Lin Yi's weakness, but she'd spoiled it. He turned on her, his gaze venomous.
He began casting spells, relentless. He dared not use magic on Lin Yi, but on her? Fair game. The world had one spell-eating freak—that was terrifying enough. A second? Impossible.
Both were Level 6. She was exhausted, low on energy, but her artifacts outclassed his. One-on-one, she could hold on—for a while.
A stalemate.
Lin Yi, alone, absorbed the chaos, his howls growing animalistic,沙哑. Gao Da and Yang Zhen's explosions had pushed him to the edge. His meridians felt ready to snap, every second a battle to avoid bursting.
An hour passed.
Most of the self-destructive energy—save what dissipated—had been absorbed, fueling his Meridian Transformation. Around him, calm returned. He looked less than human, but his meridians? They'd advanced to 70% completion. Soon, Meridian Transformation would master (dàichéng, 大乘 - master).
Pain and progress—bittersweet.
The leader, seeing Lin Yi still standing after all that, panicked. He fled, no longer daring to linger. Self-destruction? Never. He had connections in their faction; with a good excuse, he might survive—at a steep price, but alive.
The woman, struggling to hold on, couldn't stop him. If Lin Yi had perished, she'd be his prisoner. Her face was ashen, drained, exhaustion etched into every line.
She recalled the shield, her gaze drifting to Lin Yi.
Then—she gasped, her heart racing. *He's gone!*
But no. He knelt, head bowed, his body heaving. Alive. Barely.
Relief washed over her, but it was short-lived. She collapsed, too spent to stand.
Lin Yi, sensing her fall, forced his eyes open. Through blurred vision, he saw her crumpled form. Rage flared—*not her too*.
He pushed through the pain, crawling toward her. Every movement felt like grinding glass in his meridians, but he kept going.
*Stay alive*, he thought, both to her and himself.
The forest fell silent, save for their ragged breathing. The dawn sun climbed higher, casting light on the carnage—shattered artifacts, bloodstains, the faint scent of burnt flesh.
Lin Yi reached her, his hand brushing hers. Warm. Alive.
He smiled, a gruesome, bloodied thing, then blacked out.
Meridian Transformation at 70%.
He'd survived.
For now.