Chapter 38. Ancient medallion
Chen Ren moved towards the upper street, and the lower district fell behind him. The upper district felt quite the difference from what he just moved past, cleaner, quieter and had beautiful stonework that reflected the heavy lanterns that hung like floating jewels.
Regardless of everything else, the number of lessening people felt quite off. Normally, these districts weren't supposed to be this hollow, even at midnight some people were strolling, coming back from bars and red light establishments.
But now, they ran back to their homes, constantly looking over their backs as if a monster would emerge out of the shadows.
Ignore the weird feeling.
He shook his head and started moving towards the destination he had in his mind. Behind him, Yalan trailed as if nothing in this world could bother her. She was a sight to behold. Her tail swooshed to the rhythm her back moved, and she was majestical—in every way.
Chen Ren's worries faded away after seeing the fearless cat beside him. Even if something happened, he knew he had her protection and doubted that any demonic cultivator would be able to stand against her and if she could actually be defeated by one, then he never stood a chance to begin with.
Soon, the world narrowed until it was just him and the grand estate that was right before him.
The Feng Clan estate stood like a fortress, with imposing, tall walls. The gates were painted in a deep crimson and accented with golden carvings. It had the richness that came from the fortune from the trade of weapons and artefacts.
Yet for all that wealth, the clan had never reached the heights of true cultivation prestige. They had been merchants, not warriors, their legacy had been tarnished by generations of mediocrity.
And the current generation fared no better. Spirit roots were a rarity among them. Even their brightest star, Feng Ming, possessed only thirty spirit roots—a paltry number.
Chen Ren let out a huffed breath from his nose. It was ironic how their paths had crossed.
Months ago, he and Feng Ming had met under different circumstances. Feng Ming, frustrated and bitter over his inability to enter the Soaring Sword Sect, had poured his grievances into Chen Ren's ears. Back then, the previous body owner had been naive and had an inflated ego, therefore, he had boldly promised to help Feng Ming gain entry after he won the sect's entrance examinations.
The memory left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Feng Ming, his entire body soaked with greed and desperation, had assumed that Chen Ren's confidence was backed by strength. Eager to bind him in debt, he had handed over a small fortune to secure the man's loyalty. But when the competition began, the truth was laid bare. The old Chen Ren's lack of skill was as glaring as the midday sun, and his humiliating defeat was a spectacle the entire city still talked about.
Feng Ming's mask had slipped after that. The once-amiable youth had transformed, his scorn sharper than the blades his clan forged and had barged right inside his room to collect the debt.
Chen Ren exhaled slowly and rubbed soothing circles in his palms. That was the past. The old Chen Ren was gone, buried along with his failures. The man who now stood before the Feng Clan gates was entirely different.
Today, he would settle this debt, once and for all. The pouch of silver at his waist wasn't heavy, but its significance outweighed its weight. It was more than repayment; he could finally sever the ties. Feng Ming's money had been a chain, but today, Chen Ren intended to break it.
Adjusting his robes, he stepped forward.
The faint clink of coins accompanied his movements, a sound that felt strangely like freedom.
Without any other thought, he stepped into the Feng Clan compound, his steps steady as his eyes swept over the scene. The guards stationed at the entrance stiffened as they saw him approach, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons. They crossed their halberds in front of him, blocking his way.
"Who are you?" one demanded sharply. His thick eyebrows were like two caterpillars looking down at him in an attempt to look scary.
"I'm Chen Ren, from the Chen Clan of Red Peak City. Feng Ming should be expecting me."
The guards exchanged a glance. The stout and black-haired one rubbed his neck for a brief moment and a silent conversation passed between them. After a moment, the taller one replied, "Wait here," before disappearing into the depths of the compound.
Chen Ren took a step back, leaning casually against the wall beside the gate. He inhaled deeply, and calmed his soul, focusing on the faint rustle of leaves.
Minutes passed. He remained motionless.
"That fool hasn't returned yet. Did he get lost or dropped dead on the way?" Yalan's voice stirred in his mind, completely covered in pure irritation.
Chen Ren smirked faintly. "No, I don't think so. It's a power move. Feng Ming's trying to make me wait. He wants it to seem like he's too busy, like I'm the one in need here. It's petty but predictable."
This was exactly why he'd gotten comfortable when the men walked inside. Just like Bai Shen, Feng Ming was another stereotypical young master who liked to make others feel like they were less important in front of him.
Yalan hummed in agreement.
"Shall we just break the gate down? It would save us both time and patience."
Chen Ren shook his head at that. "Let's wait a minute more. Then we'll see if this gate can withstand my [Thundering Punch]."
Fortunately for the gate, the guard returned just then, looking slightly flustered. It could be the midnight coldness crawling to his face—but Chen Ren doubted that was the case.
He gestured stiffly.
"You may enter. Follow the servant; she'll take you to the young master."
Chen Ren pushed off the wall with an easy grace, brushing past the guard without a word. A young servant girl awaited him just beyond, bowing politely before motioning for him to follow. Her steps were quick, and Chen Ren kept pace, his eyes taking in the grandiose surroundings of the estate. Manicured gardens, passionately carved stone paths, and the sweet scent of incense filled the air, all designed to flaunt the Feng Clan's wealth.
After weaving through several courtyards, they stopped before a large sliding door. The servant turned to him. "Young Master Feng is inside."
Chen Ren nodded, his hand reaching for the door. With a firm push, the panel slid open, revealing the room beyond. He stepped in, the door closing behind him with a quiet thud.
The room Chen Ren stepped into was spacious, almost cavernous. The polished wooden floor reflected the harsh glow of lanterns hanging from the ceiling, and the air carried a faint trace of sandalwood incense. It seemed like the entire compound was made to his taste.
The walls were filled with racks of weapons— swords, axes, and halberds displayed like trophies. Among them, Chen Ren's eyes caught the designs of talismans encased in protective glass. He narrowed his gaze at one in particular, its surface marked with runes. Though he couldn't identify its exact purpose, the runic patterns suggested it was a fire-aspected talisman, likely capable of causing explosions in battles.
He had taken a look at a similar design while looking through the book just hours back.
After a quick survey of the room, Chen Ren's attention shifted to the man seated at its center. Feng Ming sat cross-legged on the floor, a porcelain cup of tea cradled in his hands. He looked much the same as always—neatly groomed, with an air of smug confidence that radiated from the smirk tugging at his lips. It was an expression Chen Ren found uniquely irritating.
Even as his eyes focused on Feng Ming, he said nothing, his focus seemingly on his tea, as though Chen Ren's presence was an afterthought. The silence stretched, a subtle challenge hanging in the air. But Chen Ren understood these power games well. He didn't speak, didn't move—he merely stood there, his expression calm and unreadable.
Time ticked by, and the faint clink of Feng Ming setting his cup down broke the silence at last. "Chen Ren, you're here," he said lazily, as though the ten minutes of waiting hadn't happened.
Chen Ren's lips twitched, his voice laced with dry humor. "Yeah, for the last ten minutes. Your eyesight must've gotten pretty weak if you couldn't see me standing so close."
Feng Ming coughed lightly, his smirk faltering for a moment before returning. "Your tongue is as sharp as ever. Either way, I don't have time to waste on you. Why are you here?"
Chen Ren folded his arms, his voice calm but firm. "My messenger should have told you already. I'm here to take back my medallion. It's a family heirloom, and leaving it in the hands of a creditor is a disrespect to my ancestors."
Feng Ming's smirk widened, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Ah, your medallion. You forget, Chen Ren, that I took it because you couldn't pay your debt. If you want it back, I'll need—"
Before he could finish, Chen Ren flicked a pouch toward him. It landed on the table with a heavy thud, the clink of coins unmistakable. "There's 500 silver wen in there, with interest. Standard rate. Now, hand over the medallion."
Feng Ming froze, his gaze flickering to the pouch. After a moment, he opened it, the shine of polished silver reflecting in his eyes. His expression shifted, the smirk fading into something more complicated. He looked back at Chen Ren, a trace of surprise creeping into his voice. "I heard you've abandoned cultivation altogether and started dabbling in business. But I didn't expect you to succeed so quickly… Or is this money from that idiot Bai Shen? Just so you know, I could defeat him with my eyes closed. He's hardly a worthy opponent."
Chen Ren grunted, his tone flat and impatient. "You don't need to concern yourself with where the money came from. Just give me my medallion so I can leave."
Feng Ming shook his head, an irritating smirk creeping back onto his face. "Relax, I was just making a conversation." He reached into the drawer of the low table beside him, pulling something out and tossing it toward Chen Ren. The gleaming object spun in the air before Chen Ren instinctively caught it. His fingers wrapped around the cool hilt of a sword.
His brows furrowed as he held it up, glaring at Feng Ming. "What is this? I gave you my medallion, not a sword."
Feng Ming leaned back lazily, waving a hand toward the weapon. "That sword is forged from Black Vein Iron, and the handle is made from the bone of a tier-two beast. It's worth far more than 500 silver wen. Take it as compensation instead of your medallion."
Chen Ren's expression darkened, his grip tightening around the sword. He could feel everything inside him coiling with rage as he looked at him. "Are you joking with me? This wasn't our deal."
Feng Ming shrugged nonchalantly. "Apologies, but I already sold your medallion. Got a great deal for it, too. Consider yourself lucky—I'm compensating you better than you deserve. You should be happy to get a sword like that after defaulting on your—"
Before Feng Ming could finish, Chen Ren's patience snapped. A surge of qi burst forth from him, crackling lightning snaking across the room in a brilliant flash.
In a blur, Chen Ren sprinted forward, faster than Feng Ming could react. His hand shot out, grabbing the collar of Feng Ming's robes and slamming him against the wall with a resounding loud noise.
The smirk vanished from Feng Ming's face, replaced by wide-eyed panic. "W-What are you doing?!" he stammered, struggling against Chen Ren's grip, but the iron-like fingers didn't budge.
Chen Ren's voice was low, laced with the hum of barely contained fury. "Give me my medallion, or I'll burn you to ash with my lightning."
Feng Ming thrashed, trying to escape, but the realization hit him like a stone: he was utterly powerless. His voice trembled as he choked out, "H-How? How are you this strong? You—you were only at the third-star body forging realm before!"
He could hardly speak with the grip Chen Ren had on him. Feng Ming seemed to quiver as his eyes glowed faintly with the charge of his qi.
"I'm at the seventh star now. And unlucky for you, you're still at the third. If I wanted, I could kill you here and now."
Feng Ming's face turned pale. "T-There are laws in the city! You can't just—"
Chen Ren's lips curled into a dangerous smirk. "You broke the law first when you refused to return what was mine. I've already proven my strength once in a Trial by Might. I could easily win another. This time, I might even keep the right to kill. Do you want to gamble on that?"
The room fell into tense silence, the only sound the faint crackle of lingering lightning dancing across Chen Ren's fingertips. And the heavy breathing of Feng Ming coming out in gasps.
His voice trembled as he spoke, "No! No! I'll get you your medallion. Just release me!"
Chen Ren let go, watching as Feng Ming stumbled forward, his hands trembling. The once-smug young master moved with a nervous, jerky gait, heading toward the far corner of the room. Chen Ren's eyes narrowed as he followed every step, ready to act if Feng Ming attempted anything. He cast a quick glance toward the door, ensuring no guards stormed in to intervene.
Feng Ming reached a large desk and bent down, opening a hidden compartment beneath it. From inside, he pulled out a small, ornate chest. He placed it on the table, hesitating for a moment before opening it to reveal the medallion resting within.
Chen Ren's gaze immediately locked onto the heirloom. Its familiar dull sheen brought a slight sense of relief, but his voice was sharp. "So, this is what you call sold?" He stepped closer, picking it up and inspecting it thoroughly. The medallion looked the same as he remembered—old, unassuming, and yet undeniably sturdy. No scratches or marks had tarnished it. He turned to Feng Ming with a piercing glare. "Why did you lie?"
Feng Ming flinched, averting his eyes. "I… I wasn't able to figure out what material it's made of," he confessed. "And since you said it's a family heirloom, I knew it must be valuable. My clan deals in weapons and artefacts, so I've seen almost everything, but this medallion… my best appraisers couldn't determine its origin. That's why I got greedy."
Chen Ren's brow furrowed. His medallion, a keepsake he had never thought much about, suddenly seemed to carry more value. His mind wandered briefly to Yalan and the strange circumstances surrounding his ancestors. If they had been powerful enough to bind someone like Yalan in a debt of servitude, then perhaps the medallion wasn't as ordinary as it appeared. Still, it had never displayed any signs of being a spirit artefact.
Looking back at Feng Ming, he asked, "What did your appraisers find out?"
Feng Ming swallowed hard, his hands twitching nervously. "Not much. Just that it's old—very old. There's some strange writing etched on the back, but it doesn't match any known script in the empire or any region my appraisers are familiar with. Beyond that, nothing. Trust me."
Chen Ren studied him for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But next time, don't lie to me. I'm not the same person you used to know."
Feng Ming opened his mouth as if to respond, but Chen Ren had already turned, striding toward the door. Behind him, Feng Ming hesitated, a shift of something—perhaps fear, perhaps regret—crossing his face. But Chen Ren didn't look back, exiting the room with his medallion in hand, the heavy door sliding shut behind him with finality.
The door creaked softly as he slipped out of the mansion, his robes brushing against the cool stone steps. The night was still, the faint noise of wind and leaves the only sound accompanying his hurried steps. Tilting his head to the heavens, his eyes locked onto the silver crescent moon, its position confirming what he already feared. The mist would be forming by now, creeping along the walls.
The streets were emptier than he'd expected. Not a single lantern flickered in the windows, and the silence pressed against his ears like a weight. Even the usual nocturnal scurry of small creatures seemed absent. His brows furrowed as he quickened his pace, the medallion clutched tightly in his palm.
"Yalan," he murmured, his voice low and steady, "do you know what this is?"
Her presence stirred faintly within him, her voice soft but laced with curiosity. "No. This medallion has been passed down since the first of your ancestors I served. They believed it was some kind of war medal, a relic of victory. But after what Feng Ming said... even I'm uncertain."
He traced the etchings on the back of the medallion with his thumb, their unfamiliarity gnawing at him. "Can you read the script?"
"I can't," Yalan admitted with a rare note of frustration. "I know much about cultivation techniques, formations, and ancient artefacts, but languages and scripts aren't my domain. You'll need to investigate this yourself.
A heavy sigh escaped him, his breath clouding briefly in the cold night air. "One more mystery to solve," he muttered, slipping the medallion into his pouch as his steps quickened.
Rounding a bend, his attention caught on a figure moving parallel to him down the adjoining street. The man's face was obscured beneath a wide bamboo hat, and a dark cloak hung loosely around him, swaying with his strong strides. A sword hilt jutted over his shoulder, its grip wrapped in worn leather.
He slowed, his gaze narrowing as he watched the man's movements. Something about him—it wasn't just the sword or the hat—felt... off.
His instincts prickled, a faint warning curling in his chest like smoke. He shook the feeling off and pushed forward, turning into a narrow alley.
"Yalan," he whispered again, his tone sharp this time, "did you see his soul?"
"No," she replied quickly, while her fur straightened as she craned her neck outside the alley to look at the back of the man. "I used my [Soul-Seeing Eyes], but... he's shrouded. That cloak must be crafted to block detection, even at this high level."
He slowed, the unease twisting into a knot in his stomach. "Why would someone need to hide like that? And at this hour?" His voice dropped to a murmur. "Don't tell me…"
Chen Ren's muttering trailed off as a faint, painful groan reached his ears. He froze, the sound cutting through the stillness like a blade. Heart pounding, he stepped around the corner, his boots splashing into something wet. The coppery tang of blood hit his nose instantly, and his gaze dropped to the crimson pool spreading beneath him.
Two guards lay sprawled on the cobblestone street. One was lifeless, his head severed cleanly from his shoulders, the grotesque wound still oozing. The other gasped weakly, his chest heaving in shallow, ragged bursts. Blood poured from the stump where his hand had been, pooling beneath his mutilated body.
Chen Ren's eyes widened, his breath catching as he crouched by the dying man. "Hey!" he said urgently, his voice shaking. "What happened here? Who did this?"
The guard's lips quivered, his bloodied mouth trying to form words, but no sound came. His body convulsed once, twice, then stilled, his lifeless gaze fixed on the void.
"Yalan," Chen Ren called out, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Look at the wounds," she said grimly, her voice heavy with warning. "They were made by a sword. Precise, ruthless."
"A sword?" Chen Ren echoed, his stomach twisting. His mind snapped back to the man he had seen earlier—the bamboo hat, the cloak, the sword on his back. The pieces clicked into place like a lock turning, and a cold dread seeped into his veins. "It's him," he whispered, his voice hollow. "The demonic cultivator."
Before he could process the revelation, a deafening explosion shattered the silence.
The ground trembled beneath him, and a blinding flash of light tore through the darkness, forcing him to shield his eyes. The shockwave hit like a hammer, leaving his ears ringing and the world around him spinning.
Instinctively, he dropped low, his heart pounding in his chest as the echoes of the blast faded into a harrowing silence.
Chapter 39. Escape in the mists
What on Earth?!
Chen Ren crouched amidst the bloodied earth, his breath shallow, his fingers brushing the remnants of the crimson-soaked soil.
Above him, the sky churned, a mushroom-shaped cloud of thick smoke spiralling outward, its tendrils curling into the sky like dark fingers reaching for an unseen foe. The scent of sulfur and burning metal was sharp in the air.
He closed his mouth with his hand as the smoke filled his lungs, a cough willing to escape. But he didn't want to—
The ground trembled beneath him, quaking with the force of distant explosions. One after another. Each of the blasts seemed to tear the world asunder, its echoes drowning out the shouts, screams, and frantic voices that mingled with the chaos. A part of his body froze, caught in the noise of everything.
He knew. His senses weren't dull enough to ignore the unmistakable signs. He had just passed by the demonic cultivator and the smoke was rising from the Feng Clan's estate.
He stared at the smoke, his heart sinking as he considered the fate of Feng Ming. With that much sound and impact, he doubted anyone within the estate area could have survived. Not even a cultivator would stand against such destruction. At least not a body forging realm one.
Should he go and help? The thought ran in circles around his mind, but he knew he wouldn't be able to do anything. His power was growing, sure, but it was still a far cry from what was needed to face a demonic cultivator of such monstrous strength.
Chen Ren looked at the cat who'd huddled beside him. He knew for a fact that even if Yalan took charge, the rift between her and the demonic cultivator would tear the very air they breathed. If he stayed, he risked being crushed between their forces.
Yalan's fur fluffed out in agitation and her amber eyes moved between Chen Ren and the chaos.
"Yalan," Chen Ren whispered. His voice almost didn't come out due to the fear that crept at his insides. At his voice, Yalan's eyes stuck on his. "We should run."
Without another thought, the cat nodded and they started to run, leaving the bodies behind.
"I don't know the demonic cultivator's strength either… but it's better to steer clear. There's no point in risking it with you here," Yalan said, jumping over a wall and running on top of it.
Just as Chen Ren opened his mouth to agree, a scream sliced through the commotion. A loud, animalistic shriek that rattled the very earth and sent a ripple of dread down his spine. He halted as his eyes snapped toward the source.
God, what is that?
Chen Ren squinted his eyes.
The thick smoke parted, revealing monstrous shapes emerging from the gloom.
Ethereal beastly bodies revealed themselves, their massive forms glistening in the haze like phantoms of flame. Their red-glowing outlines pulsed with an annoying light, their large bodies almost transparent, as though they were born from the very smoke itself.
They resembled rhinos and his eyes widened as he took the sight in.
There were seven in total, their monstrous roars reverberating through the air like the cries of spirits trapped in a nightmare.
The ground trembled beneath their weightless forms as they surged forward, their ethereal hooves striking sparks from the stone. Three of them, larger than the others, veered toward Chen Ren's position, their ghostly bodies gliding over the earth.
Chen Ren's heart plummeted.
He didn't need to see more to know what was coming. His legs tensed, ready to spring into motion, but his mind struggled to form a plan.
"Chen Ren, run!" Yalan's voice broke through his shock.
Without waiting another second, Chen Ren shot forward, his feet pounding the stone streets, propelling him faster than he'd ever moved before. The city around him was chaotic, voices rising in panic, but they were all swallowed by the continuous thunderous roars of the etheral rhinos that chased him. Their haunting cries shattered the air, leaving only the sound of his laboured breaths as he pushed himself onward.
I need a plan. Something… something to put them off.
His thoughts churned as adrenaline peaked.
He immediately shifted directions in a blur to throw them off, his body flickering in and out of sight, moving with unnatural speed as his [Lightning Step] technique took hold. His legs screamed in protest as he used it at its full ability, every step a jolt of pain, but the technique was a lifeline, allowing him to leave streaks of afterimages.
The strain was unbearable, but his heart raced with desperation. Despite all his efforts, the rhinos continued to chase after him, like shadows that would never be outrun.
"Chen Ren, look to your right."
Yalan's voice echoed in his mind, cutting through his panic. He didn't hesitate, turning instinctively to the side just as a massive, ethereal ivory-horned rhino surged toward him, its glow an obnoxious black that leached into the very air around it.
The aura it radiated was suffocating, and by its sheer presence, Chen Ren could tell it was a qi refinement realm beast. An early stage Tier 2 monster.
Chen Ren's mind raced. Fighting wasn't an option. Not against something like this. Yet... he couldn't just run. His qi surged as he prepared to unleash [Thundering Punch], but before he could, an intense heat touched his chest and started spreading throughout his body. He immediately turned to his right.
Yalan.
Purple light erupted from Yalan's claws, streaking through the air with the ferocity of a storm. Flames danced along her tail like the first time he'd seen her, fiery tendrils licking the air. With a fluid motion, she hurled the flames at the charging rhino, catching it mid-surge. The flames scorched its ethereal hide, throwing it off course, before her claws dug deep into its flesh, tearing through its form with ease.
The creature let out a strangled whimper, its body writhing, but not a drop of blood spilt from the wound. Chen Ren's heart skipped as he saw it falter. She had injured it.
But just as quickly as the relief came, it vanished. A second rhino, larger and more ferocious than the first, charged at him from behind, its black-tipped horns gleaming with murderous intent. Chen Ren's instincts kicked in. He twisted, leaping backwards just as the rhino's horn grazed the air where he had been a heartbeat ago.
Before the beast could charge again, Yalan's fiery aura enveloped it. Her short frame suddenly looked bigger and her amber eyes looked cold—too cold. She threw herself into battle with the second rhino, her claws glowing purple and slicing through the air with impossible precision.
"Chen Ren, run. I will handle these two. Get to safety."
The words hit him like a slap. He opened his mouth to protest, but her voice cut through, unwavering.
"If you think I can be defeated by creatures like these, you are sorely mistaken. Just run. You aren't strong enough yet."
For a moment, Chen Ren stared at her, his heart heavy. He wanted to argue, to stay and fight alongside her, but deep down, he knew the truth. Yalan was far stronger than these ethereal beasts. She wasn't as fragile as a normal feline. If anything was fragile here, it was him.
Though her words cut him sharp, she was right. He wasn't strong enough—not yet. Right now, he was a burden to everyone around him.
He could only pray that Yalan's strength was enough to keep them both alive. If he ever wanted to stand on his own, to protect those he cared about, he had no choice but to run.
And so, he ran.
The pounding of his feet against the stone streets was the only sound in his ears, but even that was swallowed by the noise of destruction behind him. The sound of battle echoed across the city—shouts, screams, and the vicious roars of beasts. He couldn't help but know, deep down, that Yalan was holding her ground, her flames lashing out as she fought back the rhinos.
He aimed for the Tang Clan compound, hoping that it would offer some kind of sanctuary, but just as he neared the edge of the street, the ground beneath him trembled violently.
He turned instinctively, just in time to feel the wind of a projectile whizz by his cheek, missing him by a hair's breadth.
A chill ran down his spine as he looked back. Standing in the street was another large rhino, its eyes fixed on him like a predator eyeing its prey. Its ivory horn glowed with an eye-blinding black light, sending shivers through his bones. Chen Ren felt his heart race, and before he could react, the rhino fired another volley of projectiles.
He barely managed to twist his body, using [Lightning Step] to dodge.
Golden lightning surged through his legs, sending him darting to the side as the deadly projectiles sliced through the air where he'd been a moment before.
The rhino didn't relent. With a deafening roar, it charged forward, its massive form blurring toward him like an unstoppable force. Chen Ren's mind screamed at him to move, but he knew that he couldn't outrun this one. Not head-on. He needed another way.
His eyes moved through the street before an idea struck him. His gaze hardened.
He pushed his qi to the surface, flooding his body with power and planted his feet. With a deep breath, his fists tightened, and with a raw, thundering force, he slammed them into the ground. The shockwave rippled through the earth, and cracks splintered outward, tearing through the stone beneath his feet.
The rhino's charge faltered as one of its hooves caught on the crack, causing it to stumble and slide awkwardly. For a brief moment, it was off balance—long enough for Chen Ren to seize the opportunity.
Without hesitation, he turned and bolted, changing direction entirely, his mind racing.
Another roar split the air.
Looking over his shoulders, he saw the rhino regain his footing and start to give chase. Chen Ren's heart fell, mind racing for a way to lose it.
He couldn't keep running in circles, couldn't stay out in the open for long.
His eyes shot up to the horizon suddenly, where a dense mist began rolling in, creeping over the city like a living thing. A spark of inspiration flared in his mind. The mist. If he could make it there, if he could blend into the fog, maybe—just maybe—he could lose the rhino.
He pushed himself harder, his feet moving faster, silent as the wind, as he sped toward the encroaching mist. Lightning danced around his legs.
The rhino followed, undeterred, its roar reverberating through the streets. It got closer and closer every second.
Chen Ren could feel its presence like a shadow looming behind him, waiting for the moment when he would slip up.
He took a deep breath as he neared the edge of the mist and pushed his focus inward. His steps softened to near silence, every muscle working in harmony to create as little noise as possible. His lightning extinguished to not attract attention.
He moved like a ghost, his body practically blending with the shifting mist.
The world around him became a blur of grey and white as he entered the fog, each footstep deliberate and controlled. He couldn't afford a single misstep.
Chen Ren glanced back, watching the ethereal rhino charge into the mist after him.
His heart hammered in his chest, but he remained calm. If the rhino had no way to see through the mist, he might have a chance. The dense fog swallowed him whole, obscuring his figure from the creature's sight.
Just keep moving, he thought, using the sentence as a mantra in his mind.
Behind him, the sound of the ethereal rhino crashing through the mist echoed like thunder, its roar wild and desperate.
He saw it turning in a different direction than where he stood due to the shine of its horn.
Chen Ren couldn't help but smile to himself. Just as he'd suspected, the rhino was nothing more than a mindless beast—a shadowy creature driven by instinct. If it couldn't see him, it couldn't do anything at all.
Stupid bastard—a big ball of flesh.
With that thought, Chen Ren moved carefully through the fog, each step measured and silent. The mist, thick and oppressive, offered him the perfect cover. Slowly, the silhouette of the rhino materialized through the haze, its massive body huffing as it searched for him. Looking here and there. Chen Ren's heart raced as he crept closer to the creature's rear.
Without hesitation, he gathered all his remaining strength and unleashed a [Thundering Punch] directly onto the rhino's back. The ground beneath him cracked as the force of the blow reverberated, sending a shockwave through the earth. The monster let out a bone-rattling roar, its body shuddering from the impact.
But by the time it turned around, Chen Ren was already gone, slipping away like a shadow in the mist. The rhino, disoriented and enraged, madly charged back and forth, trying to catch the elusive figure that had struck it. But Chen Ren was already on the move again, hitting the same spot on the creature's back, again and again, and again.
The rhino's movements grew sluggish as it staggered, its form dimming in the mist. Chen Ren's confidence grew with each successful hit. One more strike, he thought to himself, and I'll be able to get out of here.
He rushed forward, gathering his remaining qi and unleashing his [Lightning Frenzy] on the rhino, his fists crackling with power. This time, however, the rhino seemed to sense the change. With surprising agility, it turned just in time to meet his strike. Chen Ren's fist landed with a deafening impact against its face, and the rhino screamed in pain, its body jolting backwards.
But before Chen Ren could make his escape, the rhino retaliated. Its ivory horn shot forward, slashing across his shoulder with a sickening burn. Pain exploded through him, but he gritted his teeth, pushing through the agony. Adrenaline surged as he leapt over the creature, narrowly avoiding its follow-up attack.
The rhino roared and charged again, but Chen Ren was already moving. By now, he had a solid grasp of where he was. He could feel the edge of the city in the distance. The boundary was near.
And then, just as he expected, the city's walls loomed before him, rising up from the mist. The rhino, relentless as ever, continued its charge, its eyes locked on him. But Chen Ren was ready. With a powerful burst of speed, he kicked off the ground, his foot landing solidly on the city wall and jumped.
The rhino, too caught up in its rage to stop, slammed into the wall with a bone-shaking impact. It's horn got caught in the stone. It let out a painful whimper as it struggled to free itself.
This was it. Chen Ren didn't hesitate. He got back on the ground and summoned the last of his energy, his qi surging through his body. Destructive lightning surged through his fist, and with one final roar, he unleashed it at the rhino's face.
The moment his punch connected, the ethereal beast seemed to dissolve. Lightning covered its whole body and its form shattered into just air of glowing particles, mixing with the mist and vanishing into the atmosphere like smoke.
Chen Ren staggered back, panting heavily, his shoulder searing with pain.
He barely had time to register the victory before his exhaustion hit him all at once. His legs gave out, and he dropped to his knees, breathing heavily, eyes locked on the mist as the last remnants of the rhino disappeared.
Chen Ren squinted at the fading remnants, his mind racing with confusion. That's weird. I've never seen such a beast before.
His gaze swept across the mist that seemed to cling to the ground, but no one else was in sight. The silence of the city had settled into an eerie calm, a complete one-eighty to the chaos he had just fled.
Then, like a wave crashing over him, the pain hit. Double and triple the pain he felt before.
His entire body screamed in protest—the deep, gnawing ache in his shoulder where the rhino's horn had grazed him, the weariness in his legs that felt like they were made of lead from the continuous use of his [Lightning Step] technique, and the raw tenderness in his arms, which had taken the brunt of the rhino's tough hide. His breath came in short gasps, each movement sending tremors of agony through him.
He couldn't afford to stay here. Not now. There were no sign of Yalan, and he needed to move, to find safety.
Chen Ren gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand, pushing against the searing pain. His legs felt unsteady, but his determination was unshakable. If he were to pass out here, no one would know he died. And he would be disappointing Yalan who had given him the opportunity to escape.
He would never get the chance to fulfil the potential of his dao and uncover the mysteries of this world.
He clutched his shoulder and walked, each step sending a jolt of pain all over his body. But he endured and moved further and further.
The smoke plumed from every corner, the air thick with the screams of panicked citizens and the bellowing roars of beasts still terrorizing the streets. As he moved, every step felt like a battle in itself.
But he couldn't afford to collapse now.
When he finally reached the Tang Clan compound, the sight of guards and familiar faces gave him a brief moment of solace. Tang Xiulan was among them, her eyes scanning the crowd, but when she spotted him, her face blanched. Without a second thought, she rushed toward him, her footsteps quick as if she feared the worst.
"Young Master Chen Ren!" she shouted, her voice filled with panic as her eyes took in his condition.
His body, weakened and drained from the battle, faltered. As she reached him, Chen Ren had no strength left to hold himself upright. His body sagged, and with a soft, almost defeated sigh, he collapsed into her arms, his vision beginning to blur.
"I have no energy left... Please take care of me," he murmured, his words barely above a whisper, heavy with exhaustion.
He gave in to the darkness that clouded his vision. The dots drew a full blank and numbness clouded his entire body.
Chapter 40. Bitter Pills
Chen Ren felt like he was running and running, his lungs burning as if they were on fire, his legs trembling under the weight of his own body. Behind him, a monstrous demonic beast roared, its grotesque tentacles writhing like living shadows, each one tipped with a sharp edge that thirsted for his blood—seeking him, wanting to slash his flesh into pieces.
The earth beneath him quaked with each step of the beast, the sound of its guttural growls reverberating through his chest.
Lightning coursed through his legs, arcs of electric energy crackling at his heels, urging him forward with desperate speed. Yet, no matter how fast he ran, no matter how much he pushed himself, the beast was faster.
Every step sent pain coursing through his body.
His limbs felt heavy, and his strength was a shallow reservoir rapidly draining away.
Too slow. Too weak.
A cold, slimy tendril lashed out and wrapped around his waist, yanking him off his feet. He thrashed wildly, trying to get out of this trap, but the tentacle only tightened, crushing his ribs as it dragged him closer to the monstrosity. It hovered over him, a terrifying amalgamation of chaos and darkness, its grotesque mouth lined with jagged teeth stained with the remnants of its past victims. Shreds of human flesh and bone dangled from its maw, the stench of death suffocating.
Chen Ren's heart sank into an abyss of despair as the creature spoke, its voice a deep, guttural resonance that seemed to echo within his very soul.
"Your soul is mine now."
The beast reared its head back, preparing to devour him, when a deafening roar split the air.
Chen Ren covered his ears, the sound almost rupturing his eardrums.
The skies above erupted into brilliance. Golden light emanated, making his jaw drop.
A massive golden dragon glided down, its scales shimmering with celestial radiance. Its eyes burned with fury, and each beat of its wings sent waves of energy rippling across the landscape. The dragon's roar shook Chen Ren, a sound so powerful it seemed to challenge the very existence of the demonic beast.
Chen Ren's hope reignited as the dragon descended like a bolt of divine retribution, its claws poised to rip the monstrosity apart.
But before the dragon could strike, a sharp pain shot through Chen Ren's leg. He cried out as warm blood gushed from the wound.
He glanced down, only to see the beast's tentacle morphing, its slimy surface sprouting fur. Its sharp tip was reshaping into a familiar claw.
His mind spun as he stared at the transformation, confusion breaking through the fog of fear. "Isn't this… Yalan's claw?"
The beast's mouth twisted into a cruel grin, its voice reverberating once more.
"Yes, it is. Now wake up."
Chen Ren blinked, his breath catching. The surreal nightmare twisted further as a force yanked him upward, ripping him from the darkness.
He gasped, sitting bolt upright. His chest heaved as cold sweat drenched his body, and his surroundings came into focus.
He found himself in the same room he had been living in for over a month in Tang Clan's guest compound.
His hands trembled as he instinctively reached for his legs, now tightly wrapped in fresh bandages. His shoulders, too, bore signs of care, medicinal salves and bindings holding together his battered body.
His gaze shifted, locking onto Yalan, sitting beside him. Her sharp eyes studied him, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She tilted her head as if to say, "You're finally awake".
Chen Ren looked around the room again, his thoughts a whirlwind. Memories of the night before came flooding back—his meeting with Feng Ming, the return of the medallion, the attack of the demonic cultivator, the explosion that tore through the silence, the spectral rhinos he fought while fleeing for his life. It all felt like a lifetime ago.
He exhaled shakily, rubbing his temples. The beast's words still echoed in his mind, its jagged teeth and monstrous grin seared into his memory. He glanced at Yalan again, her presence anchoring him to the present.
"What…" he croaked, his voice hoarse. "What happened?"
Yalan started kneading as she relaxed on the bed.
"You're alive. Barely. But next time, try to put more practice into your movement techniques. Like you learned last night, not every fight is fair and you need to run more times than you would like. A fast movement technique helps in that, especially for someone so weak."
Chen Ren winced at her bluntness but couldn't argue. He let his head fall back against the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Here."
Chen Ren's eyes drifted to Yalan's paw, where two pills rested. The scent of herbs wafted from them.
He raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued despite the ache in his body. "What are those?"
Yalan's tail flicked. "The grey one is a Flesh Restoration Pill. It'll mend your torn flesh, stop the bleeding, and close up the worst of your injuries. The white one is a Body Restoration Pill. It handles minor wounds, balances your qi flow, and gives you a surge of energy. Take them both, and you'll be back on your feet soon enough."
Chen Ren picked up the pills, holding them between his fingers as he inspected them. The grey pill was rough and irregularly shaped, its surface matte and unappealing. The white pill, by contrast, had a smoother texture and gave off a faint luminescent sheen. He glanced at Yalan skeptically.
"Surge of energy, huh?" he muttered, rolling the pills in his palm. With a resigned sigh, he popped them into his mouth.
The taste hit him instantly—a mix of bitter herbs and something else indescribable, like burnt ash mixed with spoiled milk. His face twisted in disgust, and his first instinct was to spit them out.
Yalan's sharp voice stopped him mid-motion. "Chew them. Both of them. If you don't, they won't work properly."
He gave her a withering look but complied, biting down on the pills. The bitterness intensified, spreading across his tongue and making his stomach churn. He felt his gag reflex coming to play when he chewed further, but somehow, he managed to swallow the gritty remains. His entire face scrunched up in pain.
As the last of the taste faded, warmth blossomed in his core. It started as a tickle, then spread like wildfire through his veins. His breathing steadied, and the ache in his shoulders melted away. Even the dull throb in his legs dampened until it was barely noticeable. He flexed his fingers, marveling at the sudden vitality coursing through him.
Yalan watched his reaction with an amused smirk. "Feeling better already, aren't you?"
Chen Ren nodded, rolling his shoulders experimentally. "Yeah, even my shoulders feel better. What type of herbs are they even made up of?"
"Dozens of different herbs and beast materials. You don't need to know right now. Just take them as a miracle of alchemy." Yalan said with a wave of her paw.
Chen Ren studied her for a moment before asking, "Where did you get them? And what happened yesterday? Did you kill those spectral beasts?"
Yalan rolled over and showed her belly like a normal cat. A behaviour he had gotten used to. He briefly wondered if he should scratch, thinking back to his neighbour's cat that used to love that. But decided against it in the end.
If she gets angry, she might just force me to take more of those awful flavoured pills.
She was a feisty soul and Chen soon saw it when she turned around and sat next to him. "Of course I killed them. Those foul creatures were easy enough to deal with, though there were a lot of them. After finishing them off, I wanted to come back for you, but the demonic cultivator was still out there. I couldn't risk letting him escape. So, I rushed back to the site of the explosion, but there was no trace of him. That bastard vanished without a single clue."
Chen Ren frowned. "And the pills?"
"I found them in a pill shop that the spectral rhinos were destroying," she said nonchalantly. "Figured you'd need them, so I grabbed a handful. Afterward, I scoured the area, hoping to find that demonic cultivator, but he was gone. By the time I came back to look for you, you'd already disappeared. When I finally tracked you down, you were collapsed in the Tang Manor's courtyard with Xiulan tending to you."
Chen Ren leaned back against the pillows, absorbing Yalan's words. His fingers drummed lightly against his thigh, betraying his unease.
"The demonic cultivator got away… fuck! He must be stronger than I thought if he can control those spectral rhinos."
Yalan shook her head. "No, I don't think so. There were no traces of demonic qi on them. They weren't his doing—not directly, at least. I believe they came from a spirit artefact, not the work of the cultivator himself. Whoever set this chaos in motion, I doubt they intended for the city to be wrecked like this. The other killings were done quietly, in the dead of night. This... this mess doesn't fit the pattern. Honestly, I don't even think the explosions were caused by the demonic cultivator."
Chen Ren furrowed his brow, her words gnawing at the edges of his thoughts. He suddenly recalled the talismans he'd glimpsed in Feng Ming's room before fleeing. Those fire runes. The memory clicked into place, and a theory began to form.
If Yalan was right and the explosions weren't the cultivator's doing, then those talismans… He gritted his teeth. The demonic cultivator had been heading toward the Feng Clan estate, and the talismans might have been the trigger for this entire mess. Perhaps the blasts were intended to draw attention—enough to set the Feng Clan's guards and the city watch on high alert. The spectral rhinos could have been a diversion, buying time for the demonic cultivator to slip away unnoticed.
As his thoughts raced toward a conclusion, a knock on the door jolted him back to reality. He exchanged a glance with Yalan, then called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing Tang Xiulan. Her usual confidence was replaced with an expression of worry and concern. Her eyebrows knitted in a tight frown and her lips tightened. Her gaze darted to Chen Ren, and the tension in her shoulders eased slightly when she saw him sitting upright.
"Young Master, you're awake. How are you feeling now?" she asked, stepping into the room.
Chen Ren offered a faint smile, trying to downplay the gravity of his injuries. "I'm fine. Feeling better already. Wounds like these won't keep me bedridden for long."
He glanced at Yalan, and back at Xiulan. "Can we have the room for a moment?"
Xiulan didn't nod immediately. Chen Ren noticed it and frowned. "Is there something else you need to tell me?"
"Yes," Xiulan replied and cleared her throat. Her hands fidgeted nervously as she looked at him. "Young Master, the city guards are asking about you. They're here to question you."
Chen Ren's frown deepened. "Question me? About what?"
"They're suspecting you're the demonic cultivator. They're talking about taking you away to interrogate you. I have tried to keep them away from your room, but they are insisting on seeing you."
Chen Ren's eyebrows shot up in shock. He exchanged a quick glance with Yalan, her fur standing slightly on end as her ears twitched in shared alarm. Without wasting a second, Chen Ren pushed the covers aside and swung his legs over the bed. "Where are they?" he demanded.
Tang Xiulan hesitated, wringing her hands. "They're just outside the compound. Young master, you shouldn't move. You are injured."
Chen Ren grabbed his outer robe, ignoring the slight twinge of pain in his still-mending shoulder and Tang Xiulan's words. "I'll go deal with it," he said firmly, striding toward the door. "And don't worry. Most of my injuries have healed."
"Be careful," Xiulan called after him, worry evident in her tone.
"I'll be fine," he said without looking back. "I'll just explain what happened last night. They've got no right to throw around accusations like this."
Despite his confident words, his thoughts churned. City guards or not, they don't have the strength to push cultivators around unless they've brought someone strong enough to back them up. I'll give them a report, set them straight, and get back to resting.
He walked through the wooden floorboards, briefly glancing at the other servant he passed by before finally stepping into the courtyard.
As he did so, Chen Ren froze mid-step. An oppressive aura bore down on him like a tidal wave, heavy and unrelenting. His instincts flared, and he immediately scanned the source. A group of city guards stood in formation, their gazes hard and unyielding. At the forefront, a towering man clad in dark armor exuded an unmistakable presence.
Oppressive qi rippled out of him and Chen Ren gulped. By this point, he had seen enough cultivators and had familiarised himself with qi to know that the man wasn't just a body forging realm cultivator— this was someone in the qi refinement realm.
Chen Ren's gut twisted slightly. He hadn't anticipated facing someone of this caliber today.
The man's sharp eyes locked onto Chen Ren the moment he stepped into view. "You are Chen Ren?" he asked. "I'm the guard captain here. We need you to come with us."
Chen Ren straightened his back, suppressing the lingering pain in his body. "That's me. What's this about?"
The guard captain's expression remained stony.
"By order of City Lord Li Baolong, you are hereby taken into custody for the murder of Feng Ming of the Feng Clan and on suspicion of being the demonic cultivator responsible for wreaking havoc throughout the city. Any resistance will be met with force. Surrender yourself immediately."
***
Gu Tian stood amidst a restless crowd gathered near the ruins of a grand estate. The smoldering wreckage of the Feng Clan manor painted a grim picture of chaos, with splintered wood and charred stones strewn across the ground like discarded remnants of an inferno. The acrid scent of smoke still lingered in the air, mingling the sweet scent of blood.
The people around him whispered in hushed tones, their voices tinged with fear and fascination.
"They say the demonic cultivator unleashed a demon," murmured one man, his eyes darting nervously toward the wreckage. "It swallowed everything in its path."
"I heard the guards were helpless against the thing," a woman added, clutching her child tightly. "Nothing but corpses left behind."
"Quiet down!" barked a guard stationed nearby, waving his spear to scatter the crowd back. "This is an official investigation. Clear the area!"
Despite the guards' efforts, the whispers persisted, growing more sensational with each retelling. Gu Tian shook his head.
Idiots. They'd believe anything.
He knew the truth. He had been there when the explosion rocked the Feng estate. He had been on the verge of finishing Feng Ming, the wretched and weak young master, when the fool had activated those talismans. The runes had glowed ominously before exploding in a catastrophic release of power, killing Feng Ming instantly and forcing Gu Tian to flee.
The aftermath had been far from ideal. The explosion had attracted too much attention, forcing him to use his master's spirit artifact—a concealed relic with enough power to create a diversion while he escaped into the shadows.
Now, he was here, blending into the crowd, spectating the chaos he had indirectly caused. The guards combed through the wreckage, their faces grim as they retrieved bodies, both whole and in pieces. Gu Tian kept his hood low, smirking faintly at their ineptitude. At least they're not clever enough to think the culprit would return to the scene.
A sharp, familiar voice cut into his thoughts, ringing clearly in his head.
"You should have been more careful," his master's ethereal tone hissed, full of disapproval. "I warned you about barging in without enough information. You are still so green behind the ears."
Gu Tian's jaw clenched, but he didn't respond immediately. He stepped away from the crowd, moving into a narrow alley, his boots crunching on loose gravel. Once out of sight, he muttered under his breath, "We don't have a lot of time. The guards were already on edge. I didn't have a choice."
"And now they're more vigilant than ever, thanks to you," his master retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Do you have any idea how much harder you've made this? And we're no closer to finding the medallion."
Gu Tian ground his teeth, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's not my fault! I've searched the entire city, but you're asleep half the time in that bracelet of yours. You can't detect the medallion unless you're awake, and you only stirred yesterday when I was already seconds away from killing Feng Ming. If you stayed conscious, we'd have the damn thing by now, and we would be on my way to the Gate of Immortals."
Gu Tian leaned against the cold stone wall of the alley, exhaling sharply as his master's deep, raspy voice growled in his mind.
"I'm too weak right now, boy, merely a fragment of my former self, barely clinging on as a spectre. Do you think it's easy concealing your qi and twisting it to pass for ordinary? It drains what little strength I have left. Show some respect."
Gu Tian rolled his eyes, his voice laced with exasperation. "Alright, fine. But let's be real here—we're no closer to finding the medallion, and after the stunt last night, sneaking into the big clans is out of the question. The city's crawling with guards. If I so much as breathe near their gate, I'll have an entire squad on me."
"So?" his master replied coolly. "You're supposed to be resourceful, aren't you? Figure it out."
Gu Tian ignored the jab, straightening as his thoughts coalesced into a single plan. "The tournament," he said decisively. "It's the only chance we've got. If the medallion is as significant as we know, there's a good chance it'll either be among the prizes or carried by someone important. If we enter, you can sense if it's nearby, right?"
A gruff silence followed, his master's presence simmering in his mind like a storm waiting to break. Finally, the spectre replied, his tone reluctant. "It's a gamble, but you might be right. The tournament would draw all manner of treasures and powerful people. If the medallion is here, it's likely someone connected to it will appear."
"Then it's settled," Gu Tian said, determination hardening his voice. "I'll enter the tournament. Until then, I'll lie low. No more slip-ups."
His master snorted. "Low profile, huh? A bit late for that, don't you think?"
Gu Tian frowned but chose not to retort. He knew his master was right. Still, this was their best option.
"I will be sleeping until then. Don't do anything else. You've done enough for now. Just hide and wait. If we get caught before that, you know what'll happen."
Gu Tian nodded. "Our goal of immortality will be over. I get it. I'll stay hidden."
With a tug of his hood, Gu Tian melded into the shadows of the labyrinthine streets. His master's silhouette disappeared from his eyes, returning to his bracelet. Just a little bit more time until the day of the tournament.