The news of Wu Chen's overwhelming victory spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
In the heart of the Golden Sky Pavilion, Lin Yufeng struggled to lift his brother. Lin Xuanyuan's chest heaved weakly, his face pale as blood trickled from his lips.
He wasn't dead, but the damage from Wu Chen's single blow had left him utterly crippled.
The once confident genius of the Heavenly Blade Sect lay defeated.
Lin Yufeng's hands trembled with rage and fear. He had thought Wu Chen was just an arrogant rogue youth, yet his brother—a Mortal 2 Master—was defeated in one move!
The surrounding crowd whispered amongst themselves.
"I still can't believe what I just saw…"
"Lin Xuanyuan was strong, but that kid crushed him like an insect."
"And he never even revealed his cultivation!"
The Stone Master, who had hosted the bet, took one last look at Wu Chen's departing figure. His heart pounded.
"This boy… is beyond dangerous."
Wu Chen and Li Wei soon found themselves in a small, quiet tavern, away from the growing storm in the city.
The innkeeper, an old man with greying hair, welcomed them with a polite smile and quickly served a meal.
Li Wei, still in awe, finally spoke.
"Teacher… were you always that strong?"
Wu Chen calmly took a sip of tea. "Strength is relative. I was just stronger than him."
Li Wei's eyes sparkled with admiration. "You didn't even use any techniques! Just one casual strike!"
Wu Chen remained silent. If even Li Wei was this surprised, then the sects watching the duel must be even more shaken.
That wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Trouble was coming.
---
Back at the Heavenly Blade Sect, the atmosphere was deadly.
Inside a grand hall, a group of elders sat in icy silence, their faces grim as they listened to Lin Yufeng's report.
"My brother was humiliated and crippled!" Lin Yufeng shouted, his fists clenched. "Elders, we cannot let this stand! We must find that brat and make him pay!"
A heavy voice rumbled through the room.
"You say this youth defeated Lin Xuanyuan… with a single strike?"
An elderly man, dressed in deep blue robes, sat at the head of the chamber. His eyes were sharp, filled with unforgiving intent.
This was Elder Zhong, one of the strongest figures in the sect.
Lin Yufeng swallowed hard. "Yes. No one knows his cultivation level, but… he never revealed his aura once. It was like… he was toying with my brother."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then, Elder Zhong slowly stood up.
"Find him," he ordered coldly. "We cannot allow such a threat to roam freely. If he refuses to submit… eliminate him."
Lin Yufeng's eyes flashed with vindictive joy.
"Yes, Elder!"
The tension in the Azure Flame Kingdom thickened. The Heavenly Blade Sect wasted no time.
Within hours of Lin Xuanyuan's defeat, their disciples and spies spread across the city, searching for any trace of Wu Chen.
At a Hidden Inn
Wu Chen sat near the window of his rented room, calmly watching the streets below. He could feel the movement of unfamiliar figures.
Li Wei sat beside him, chewing on a steamed bun. "Teacher, I think something's wrong. There are a lot of people looking around the inns."
Wu Chen nodded slightly. "They've already started their search. They won't give up easily."
Li Wei frowned. "Then what do we do? Should we leave the city?"
Wu Chen shook his head. "Leaving now would be too obvious. If they think I'm hiding, they'll only search harder." His voice was calm. "Instead, we'll do the opposite."
Li Wei blinked. "The opposite?"
Wu Chen stood up, stretching lazily. "We're going out."
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Wu Chen and Li Wei walked through the bustling market district, casually moving between stalls filled with exotic herbs, weapons, and rare treasures.
Li Wei tried to act natural, but his eyes darted around anxiously. "Master, what if they recognize us?"
Wu Chen chuckled lightly. "They're expecting me to hide. The last thing they'll suspect is that I'm walking in plain sight."
Sure enough, a few Heavenly Blade Sect disciples were nearby, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes.
But they weren't looking for someone this relaxed—they expected a fugitive, someone avoiding attention.
Wu Chen even stopped at a stall selling Beast Cores, casually picking one up.
"How much for this?"
The merchant, a burly man with a thick beard, laughed. "Five hundred gold coins, young master!"
Wu Chen smirked and tossed him a bag of coins. "I'll take it."
The merchant blinked, surprised by how casually the young man handed over such a sum.
Li Wei swallowed nervously. Master isn't even trying to lay low…
The Trap is Set
By the time Wu Chen and Li Wei finished their small shopping trip, whispers had already begun spreading through the city.
"A young man in black robes, buying Beast Cores with ease?"
"Could it be him?"
"But he's walking around like he owns the place!"
The Heavenly Blade Sect spies quickly received the reports.
A masked disciple hurried to a hidden courtyard, where Lin Yufeng and several elite sect members waited.
"Senior! We've spotted him in the market district!"
Lin Yufeng's face twisted in a cruel grin. "He's either stupid or arrogant. Gather the others. We'll deal with him tonight."
The disciples nodded and disappeared into the shadows.
As the sky darkened, Wu Chen and Li Wei returned to their inn. Wu Chen sat calmly in his chair, sipping a warm cup of tea.
Li Wei, however, was uneasy. "Teacher, they've definitely noticed us by now. Aren't you worried?"
Wu Chen placed his cup down, a small smirk on his lips. "They'll come tonight. Let's see how much patience they have."
As expected, by midnight, soft footsteps echoed in the alley behind the inn. Figures cloaked in black moved swiftly, surrounding the building.
Li Wei tensed. "They're here…"
Wu Chen remained seated. His voice was steady.
"Let them come."