Kai didn't linger in the cave. The corpse of the Bloodshadow Assassin was proof enough that the Crimson Serpent Syndicate had set their sights on him. If he stayed in one place too long, more would come.
He quickly searched the assassin's body, retrieving a black emblem engraved with the syndicate's serpent insignia. It was a proof of rank, likely used for communication or identification within their network.
More importantly, he found a Tracking Jade—a small crystal artifact pulsing with residual energy. His lips curled into a frown. The assassin had been following him using this. That meant someone else might be watching as well.
Kai crushed the jade in his palm.
A sharp crack echoed through the cave, and the glow of the artifact instantly flickered out. That would disrupt the connection for now, but it wouldn't stop them for long.
With a deep breath, Kai activated his Spiritual Cooking Aura, suppressing any lingering energy signatures on his body. He needed to disappear—completely.
Moving swiftly, he left the cave, weaving through the rocky terrain with practiced ease. He had no set destination, but he needed to reach a populated area soon. The wilderness offered no safety, especially with assassins lurking in the shadows.
As he sprinted across a ridge, his senses tingled—danger approached.
Kai abruptly halted, ducking behind a jagged boulder.
Moments later, two figures emerged from the distant treeline, both clad in black robes with the Crimson Serpent insignia embroidered on their shoulders. Unlike the previous assassin, these two moved with unshaken confidence.
Elite hunters.
Kai's eyes narrowed. He recognized one of them—Zhao Ren, a well-known Syndicate enforcer infamous for tracking down high-value targets. His Twin Shadow Daggers were said to be unstoppable once unsheathed.
The second figure, a tall woman with silver hair, exuded a deadly aura. Though Kai had never seen her before, her presence alone sent a clear message.
She was dangerous.
They stopped near the cave entrance, their sharp eyes scanning the area.
"The tracking signal cut off here," Zhao Ren muttered, his gaze sweeping the terrain. "That means he noticed the jade."
The woman, however, didn't speak. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Kai stiffened.
She wasn't using her eyes to search. She was sensing the lingering energy in the air.
Even though he had suppressed his aura, some traces still remained.
The woman suddenly turned in his direction.
Damn.
Kai didn't wait. The moment her eyes locked onto his hiding spot, he burst into motion, dashing down the ridge at full speed.
"There!" Zhao Ren shouted.
The two assassins immediately gave chase.
Kai gritted his teeth. In a straight fight, these two were out of his league—but that didn't mean he couldn't win.
As he ran, he reached into his storage ring and pulled out a small vial of Scarlet Ember Powder—a rare spice that, when burned, released a thick smoke that disoriented the senses.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the powder behind him and ignited it with a small spark of Flame Essence.
Boom!
A burst of crimson smoke erupted, engulfing the area.
Kai didn't stop to look back. Using the cover of the smoke, he activated his Stealth Footwork Technique, changing direction and veering toward the dense forest below.
The assassins, however, weren't so easily fooled.
A sharp dagger whizzed past his ear, embedding itself into a nearby tree.
Zhao Ren's voice echoed through the smoke. "You think a little trick like this can stop us?"
Kai cursed under his breath.
These two weren't ordinary assassins—they were professionals.
But Kai wasn't just some prey.
If they wanted a fight, he'd give them one.
His eyes glowed with determination as he gripped his knife and prepared for the next move.