The forest was silent. Too silent.
The woman's steps were swift but measured as she moved through the thick undergrowth. Rain drizzled lightly over the trees, the droplets pattering against the leaves, creating a steady rhythm that masked the sound of her footsteps. She had been walking for hours, never once stopping, never once hesitating. The weight of the child in her arms was familiar now—his tiny body pressed against her, wrapped in a cloth to protect him from the cold.
She could feel his steady breathing. Peaceful. Unaware of the world's dangers.
But she was aware.
Something—or someone—was following her.
She had noticed it long ago. The faint presence that remained just beyond her senses, careful never to come too close, never to make a sound. But she had been trained well. She knew the feeling of being watched.
And now, as she approached the fork in the road leading toward the village, she knew she had a choice.
Keep running? Or face the threat?
She chose the latter.
Slowing her steps, she adjusted the cloth around her son, tucking him close to her chest before stepping into a small clearing. The moonlight barely pierced through the thick storm clouds above, but it was enough to cast a faint glow over the wet ground.
She did not speak. She did not call out to her pursuer.
Instead, she waited.
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then—
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Tall. Clad in dark robes. A hood obscured most of their face, but even in the dim light, she could see the faint glimmer of silver embroidery on their sleeves. A symbol. A crest she did not recognize.
"You are difficult to track," the figure finally spoke. Their voice was calm, unhurried, carrying the weight of someone accustomed to power.
She did not respond.
The figure took another step forward. "A woman traveling alone through these lands, carrying a child of… peculiar nature. It is no wonder you draw attention."
Her fingers twitched beneath her cloak, brushing against the hilt of the dagger hidden at her waist.
The figure tilted their head slightly. "Relax. If I wanted to harm you, we would not be speaking."
She narrowed her eyes. "Then what do you want?"
A pause. Then—
"To see the child."
Her grip on the dagger tightened.
The air between them grew heavy. The wind carried the scent of wet earth, but beneath it, she could detect something else. Something unnatural.
A cultivator.
A strong one.
The figure did not move closer. They simply stood there, waiting.
Finally, she spoke, her voice cold and unwavering. "You will not touch him."
The figure let out a quiet sigh, as if expecting her answer. "I do not wish to harm the child."
"Then why follow us?"
A pause.
"Because the world has changed."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
The figure's voice remained calm, but there was an undeniable weight behind their words. "Something powerful has awakened. Something that should not exist in this era."
She said nothing.
"The great sects are stirring. The royal clans are watching. Even those in the shadows are beginning to move." The figure's gaze flickered toward the bundle in her arms. "And at the center of it all… is your son."
Her heart pounded, but her expression did not waver.
"You're mistaken."
"Am I?" The figure's voice carried a knowing edge. "The night his eyes opened, the heavens themselves trembled. A phenomenon unlike anything seen before. And then… the Soul Mirror shattered."
Her breath caught.
She had heard the rumors. The Heavenly Pavilion's Soul Mirror, an ancient artifact that had existed for centuries, had suddenly shattered without explanation. It was said to be a divine tool that could glimpse into fate itself. For it to break…
The figure continued. "Do you understand what that means?"
She did.
The Soul Mirror did not break for just anyone. It only reacted to beings of great significance—those who would change the world.
She had prayed that her son could live in peace, that the world would not notice him.
But fate had other plans.
She took a slow step back. "You've said enough."
The figure watched her carefully. "You cannot run forever."
"I don't need forever," she whispered. "Just long enough."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her steps steady, unyielding.
The figure did not stop her. They simply stood there, watching, until she disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
And then—
They smiled.
"Interesting."
---
End of Chapter 16
This chapter builds suspense, introducing a mysterious faction that is aware of the MC's existence.