The inner sect disciple rushed to the spot where Lin Chen's figure had vanished. His gaze swept through the forest, eyes narrowing, his face twisted up with irritation.
"Damn it! Where did that piece of trash crawl off to?!" Cheng Fan's roar shook the quiet woods, his voice dripping with venom.
This was no ordinary pursuer. He was none other than Cheng Fan—the same hooded figure who had been thrown out of The Elder's quarters only moments ago. His pride was still stinging from that humiliation, and now the fire of anger burned even brighter.
The reason he trailed Lin Chen was simple: he had been present in the very same city on the night Yu Feng fell. And more importantly, the girls meant to be Yu Feng's offerings had been saved … by Lin Chen.
Of course, Cheng Fan did not believe Lin Chen had the strength to slay Yu Feng. The thought alone was laughable. A mere Root Vein insect killing an Essence Forging cultivator? A frog dreaming of swallowing the heavens! Impossible.
But whether or not he struck the killing blow, Lin Chen was involved. Cheng Fan was certain of it. At the very least, the brat must have witnessed something.
A cruel smile curled across Cheng Fan's lips, his eyes glinting with cold malice.
"Hmph. You dare meddle in our affairs, trash? Even if you had ten lives, it wouldn't be enough to pay the price"
Hidden on the branches of a tall tree, Lin Chen concealed his presence, watching quietly as the man below paced the clearing. The fellow kept cursing under his breath, clearly unwilling to leave until he found his target.
"Aiva, can you sense his cultivation level?" Lin Chen asked softly.
Even without a reply, he could already feel the pressure in the air. That Qi was heavier than Yu Feng's—by several degrees.
[Analysis complete: Essence Forging Realm — Eighth Stage.]
Lin Chen's face darkened, his jaw tightening. "Damn it… one Yu Feng wasn't enough? Now another viper appears before I've even had time to breathe."
Suddenly—shhhhk!
A cold sword light screamed through the air. It tore past his cheek, so close that strands of his hair floated down like pale feathers. If not for Aiva's automatic dodge, his head would already be rolling across the forest floor.
Below, Cheng Fan's eyes gleamed with cruel satisfaction.
"You little rat—come down!" His roar thundered through the forest, the sword in his hand leveled unerringly at Lin Chen's hiding spot. "Do you think you can escape my eyes?!"
Lin Chen's throat went dry. That sword strike had been too close—he had nearly lost his head already. Against someone seven realms above him, his escape was nothing but wishful thinking.
He slipped down from the branch, landing lightly on the forest floor. His hands rose slowly in a gesture of surrender—not out of true submission, but because he first needed to know this man's purpose. For now, he would act the part of a weakling.
"Senior Brother," Lin Chen said evenly, lowering his eyes. "I do not know why you are following me. If I have offended you in some way, please enlighten me."
"Stop spouting nonsense!" Cheng Fan's gaze burned with cruelty as he stepped forward, killing intent leaking from his body. "Say it—who helped you in Yangzhou City? Who aided you on that mission?"
Lin Chen's pupils contracted. So it really is about Yu Feng… His suspicion turned to confirmation—the faction behind Yu Feng had already sniffed him out. From this moment on, his life within the sect had truly entered dangerous waters.
"I completed that mission alone," Lin Chen replied with a confused expression, his tone calm yet seemingly sincere, as though he did not understand why the senior was making such accusations.
Inwardly, however, he was cursing furiously. Dragged into this mess again…
"Alone?" Cheng Fan's sneer widened "Do you take me for a fool, boy? Yu Feng may have been arrogant, but his cultivation was leagues above yours. Yet you return unscathed while he vanishes without a trace? Hah! You expect me to swallow such a tale?"
"I cannot change what Senior Brother chooses to believe," Lin Chen said, forcing a bitter smile. "The facts remain. My mission succeeded, and I reported it according to sect rules. If Senior Brother has doubts, he may seek proof from the elders."
"Hah! Elders?" Cheng Fan spat disdainfully, his Qi surging like a tidal wave. "You dare throw elders in my face? Do you think they will protect a worthless outer disciple like you?!"
He lifted his sword, its cold light trembling with murderous intent. "I'll tear the truth from your flesh myself!"
"Senior Brother," Lin Chen said coldly, his eyes glinting faintly, "we are still within the sect's grounds. Do you truly wish to kill a fellow disciple here?"
Cheng Fan threw back his head and laughed, his voice echoing harshly through the forest. "Hahaha! What nonsense! You're just one piece of trash among tens of thousands in the outer court. Do you think the sect cares if a single piece of trash disappears?"
His eyes gleamed with vicious light as he raised his blade higher, the air around it humming with a low, hungry cry.
"And besides…" Cheng Fan leaned forward, his lips twisting into a cruel smile, his words dropping like venom. "Do you think I will let you escape, now that you've caught my eye?"
Cheng Fan sneered, raising his sword to eye level. "I should start by taking your arm. Let's see if you can still talk after that!"
With deliberate slowness, he dragged his tongue across the cold blade, licking its length as though savoring the taste of death itself. A crazed light flickered in his eyes.
"It has been days since I last tasted fresh blood…" His tone was reverent, like a devotee whispering to his god.
Lin Chen glanced at the sword in Cheng Fan's hand. That thing was giving off a sinister, bloody aura, the kind that made one's skin crawl. His eyelid twitched, and he almost cursed aloud. Damn it, why are there so many lunatics hiding in this sect?
"Now… die, trash!" Cheng Fan's roar split the air, his figure vanishing into a blur as he pounced like a starving beast. His sword howled with a red, murderous glow, the edge aimed directly at Lin Chen's arm. His twisted grin stretched wide — the grin of a predator savoring the kill.
'Aiva, increase my body parameters to the maximum. I want to test this maniac head-on!'
[Understood.]
Lin Chen's sleeves flickered. The sword of Yu Feng flashed into his hand from the storage bracelet. There was no need to conceal it anymore — when only one would walk away alive, disguises were pointless.
Clang!
The collision shook the clearing. Sparks exploded as Lin Chen's blade met Cheng Fan's descending strike. The impact rattled his bones, his arms trembling under the crushing force.
"Heh… you actually blocked it?" Cheng Fan's grin widened, his voice dripping with mockery. "Trash, do you really believe you can resist my sword?"
The crimson aura around his blade thickened, pulsing like a heartbeat. Then it writhed—twisting into the shape of fanged, spectral talons.
"Blood Fiend Sword Art—Blood Claw Rend!"
His sword's killing intent erupted, birthing enormous claws of condensed blood Qi. They slashed down like demonic beasts descending from the heavens, raking straight for Lin Chen's throat.
Lin Chen's body jerked aside for a split second before the claws shredded him apart. Yet a cold sting lanced across his neck. A thin line of blood welled, running hot down his collar.
"Hahaha! Good! Bleed for me, bleed more!" Cheng Fan's eyes shone with feverish ecstasy. "You should feel honored — to die beneath my beloved demonic sword!"
Each swing unleashed fresh nightmares. Crimson claws split the air. Blood spikes erupted from the ground, jagged and merciless. Forked waves of scarlet Qi carved through the forest, leaving shattered trees and shredded bark in their wake.
Lin Chen's body strained to the limit — twisting aside by a hair's breadth, rolling under a claw's reach, parrying only to be driven back again and again. Every strike forced him closer to death.
Compared to Yu Feng, this guy was a monster. Faster, fiercer, every move was crafted not for display but for slaughter. His techniques reeked of carnage, dripping with years of blood and madness.
"Damn it… this bastard fights like a demon king straight out of a nightmare…" Lin Chen's teeth ground together "One mistake, and I'm finished."
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Also, if you have any ideas or suggestions for the story, feel free to share them in the comments — I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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