Jin Tu's boots slammed against the hard, frozen earth as he ran, his eyes locked on the boy ahead. The Northern Plains' wind howled, carrying with it the scent of blood and fire from the ruined village behind him. He barely noticed. His focus was solely on his prey.
A mere mortal. A weak, insignificant worm. That was what he had assumed at first. But now?
His brow furrowed as he pushed his body forward, his Gu-infused muscles propelling him faster. Yet, no matter how hard he ran, the boy-frail-looking youth carrying a child in his arms—was still ahead of him.
Jin Tu's breath came out in sharp bursts. How?
This wasn't normal. A mortal couldn't outrun a Rank 2 Gu Master. It was impossible. Even an A-grade aptitude child with rank 1 cultivation shouldn't have the stamina or speed to match his own. And yet, this brat had been running for far longer than any mortal should be able to.
"Tricky little rat," Jin Tu muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Then, without warning—the boy blurred forward.
Jin Tu's heart skipped a beat.
One moment, his prey was within reach, struggling, panting like a cornered beast. The next? He vanished forward in a straight line, moving like a streak of wind across the barren landscape.
Jin Tu's pupils shrank.
A Gu!
He was certain of it now. Some kind of speed-enhancing Gu must have activated, pushing the boy to unnatural speeds. The Gu Master's mind raced. A mortal running fast? That wasn't strange. But that kind of sudden acceleration? That was something only a Gu could achieve.
And that changed everything.
This boy was no ordinary villager. He had to be a hidden seed, some clan's secret talent, possessing a valuable Gu worm!
A cruel grin spread across Jin Tu's lips. This is a prize worth hunting.
His feet slammed against the frozen ground, and his body surged forward. He willed his own Gu into action.
[Leg Strength Gu, activate!]
A slight rush of air flared out from under his feet and propelled him forward. He was gaining on the boy—slowly, but surely. The hunt was on.
"You think you can run from me, brat?" Jin Tu scowled dangerously. "That Gu of yours will soon be mine!"
He could already imagine it. A speed-type Gu like that? It could sell for a fortune, or better yet—he could refine it for himself.
His eyes gleamed with greed.
Run all you like, boy. The Northern Plains belong to hunters like me. And you? You are just prey.
Ethan had trouble breathing and his eyesight blurred as he moved toward the rock categorized as the next location to explore. His legs felt heavy, his lungs ached, and the most troubling aspect of the summative experience—he was almost completely out of stamina.
[Stamina: 3%]
He gritted his teeth and forced himself to take another step, and then another. The boy in his arms clung to him with a small, frightened whimper and grabbed hold of the boy's tunic.
Not yet. He couldn't stop yet.
His body was betraying him, pleading for rest, but the pounding feet behind him reminded him of what rest meant—death.
Ethan made it to the rocks and practically threw himself behind a ragged boulder, pressing his back against the cold stone. The kid he was holding trembled, his face pressing against Ethan's chest. His little body was warm against the cold air, his small breaths quick and erratic.
Ethan pressed a hand over the boy's mouth. "Shh." Was almost a whisper but firm.
The boy stiffened but complied, his terrified eyes looking directly into Ethan's.
Good. Stay silent.
The wind screamed across the plains, kicking dust and debris up. Ethan concentrated on trying to slow the rush of his breathing, his whole body shaking from the effort of doing so. He could still hear the thunderous, predator-like footsteps closing in.
The Gu Master was nearby, too nearby.
Ethan shut his eyes for a moment, determined to push through the fatigue and really think. He made himself stop thinking about the wild palpitations in his chest and focused.
The rocky terrain gave him a chance—but only if the Gu Master didn't have any detection abilities.
Footsteps stopped.
Ethan's body went rigid.
A shadow loomed just beyond his hiding spot. The Gu Master was standing right there.
For a long, excruciating moment, there was nothing but stillness—only the current and the distant crackling of fires from the destroyed village.
Then, a low, frustrated growl.
"Tch! Damn brat!"
Ethan could practically hear the Gu Master grinding his teeth.
"How the hell did a mere mortal slip away from me?" The man muttered under his breath. "If only I had a damn Investigation Gu…"
Ethan's mind clicked. So that's it.
The Gu Master lacked tracking abilities. That explained why he hadn't simply seen through Ethan's hiding spot or smelled his scent. Instead, he'd relied on his own vision and instincts—neither of which were foolproof.
That meant if Ethan stayed still, remained silent, and didn't give himself away…
He might just live.
The Gu Master took a few steps forward, his boots crunching against the gravel. He was still searching, still scanning the area, but Ethan had wedged himself in a deep crevice between the rocks. It wasn't perfect cover—if the Gu Master got any closer, he'd definitely see them.
Ethan held his breath, his heartbeat so loud in his ears that he swore the Gu Master could hear it.
Seconds stretched into eternity.
The Gu Master let out another frustrated sigh.
"I swear, if I had even a single Speed-Type Gu, that brat wouldn't have gotten this far."
Ethan remained motionless, barely even daring to blink. He was taking in every word, absorbing the Gu Master's frustration, and analyzing.
The Gu Master had attack-type Gu, but lacked movement Gu and tracking Gu. That meant—
He was from a righteous clan.
Ethan felt a bitter smile tug at his lips despite the situation. Of course.
In Reverend Insanity, righteous factions were known for their rigid structure. They often provided young Gu Masters with a set of Gu worms that complemented their fighting style, but not a full set for survival.
Attack Gu? Standard issue.Movement Gu? Rare unless you were a true genius.Detection Gu? Almost always missing.
Ethan had read enough of the novel to recognize the pattern. The man chasing him was probably from one of the mid-tier righteous clans. The kind that expected their members to work in teams, where one person would attack, another would track, and another would provide support.
But out here? Alone?
The Gu Master was like a wolf that had forgotten how to hunt without a pack.
Ethan slowly exhaled through his nose, calming his nerves. He just had to wait. Just a little longer.
The Gu Master spat onto the ground. "Damn it all."
Then—finally—he turned away.
Ethan dared not move, even as the footsteps grew fainter, even as the threat slowly disappeared into the distance.
Only when he could no longer hear the Gu Master's breathing did he finally—finally—allow himself to relax.
His body sagged against the stone, pure exhaustion washing over him. He wasn't safe yet. But for now?
For now, he was alive.