Feng Liang moved swiftly through the forest, the sound of his footsteps nearly silent against the soft earth. His body surged with energy, the flow of Qi through his limbs guiding each step.
The trees, ancient and towering, blurred as he ran, the forest a rush of green and shadow around him. His senses were heightened, his focus sharpened by both the energy coursing through him and the deep uncertainty that gnawed at his mind.
Every step was deliberate. Every breath calculated. He had grown accustomed to traveling like this, his body and Qi working together in perfect harmony. He used his Qi to strengthen his legs and footwork, each stride a small training session that pushed his endurance further.
Though his Qi reserves were limited for now, the act of maintaining such speed and control helped him refine his abilities. He wasn't just running... he was growing stronger with each movement, tempering his body for the battles that lay ahead.
But despite the growing power within him, doubt clouded his mind. His thoughts were like a fog he couldn't shake, weighing him down even as he pushed forward.
"Where am I even going?" Feng Liang muttered to himself as he vaulted over a fallen log, his feet landing silently on the other side.
"I can't go back... and I can't blend in anywhere else."
His face tightened in frustration. Even though his appearance had changed... his once dark hair now white, his once mundane eyes now a striking cerulean... there were still traces of the old him that anyone with a sharp eye could recognize. His body exuded an aura that marked him as someone special, someone powerful. It was an aura that could make him a target wherever he went.
Returning to the Heavenly Demon Sect was out of the question. His brother had likely sent spies and assassins to hunt him down. Feng Liang was certain that, after everything that had happened, there would be no shortage of high-ranking officials ready to tear him apart if it meant gaining favor with the Heavenly Demon's heir.
His thoughts turned to the Murim Alliance on the other side of the continent. They followed a more orthodox path, bound by a code that emphasized discipline and order. But even they wouldn't welcome someone like him with open arms. His appearance alone would draw suspicion. His strength, barely concealed beneath the surface, would attract the wrong kind of attention.
"No," Feng Liang said to himself.
"Going to the Murim Alliance would only make things worse. They'd see me as a threat."
As the thoughts churned in his mind, a plan slowly began to take shape... a plan that both intrigued him and filled him with a sense of purpose. If he couldn't find peace among others, then perhaps he didn't need to. Perhaps the answer wasn't to join any existing sect, faction, or alliance. Perhaps... the answer was to build his own.
The idea was both bold and daunting, but it resonated with something deep within him. What if he could carve out a place for himself, away from the politics and the violence? A place where no one could reach him, where he could cultivate in peace until the day he surpassed everyone?
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Yes," he thought.
"My own sanctuary. A place where I won't be disturbed. Somewhere to grow strong enough to defeat anyone and everyone in the entirety of Murim."
The thought brought him a strange sense of peace. For the first time in a long while, he felt a glimmer of hope. But his momentary optimism was interrupted by a sudden, sharp pang in his chest. He slowed his pace, his Qi beginning to dwindle. He had been pushing himself for hours now, using more energy than he had left to spare. His body, though powerful, still had its limits.
Feng Liang slowed to a walk, his breathing heavy. He found a large tree, its trunk wide and sturdy, and sat down beneath it. The bark was rough against his back, but the cool shade provided a moment of relief.
He closed his eyes and let his body rest, letting his Qi settle as it slowly began to replenish itself. He hadn't realized just how exhausted he had become until now. The strain of continuous travel, combined with his internal conflict, had drained him more than he expected.
For a few moments, Feng Liang allowed himself to breathe, taking in the scent of the forest... the earthy smell of moss, the faint sweetness of wildflowers, the crispness of the air. It was peaceful here, almost deceptively so. It made him feel like he could close his eyes and sleep for hours without worry.
But that peace was short-lived.
Feng Liang opened his eyes and glanced down at himself. His robes were in tatters, worn and torn from his journey. The once-dark cloth was now faded and threadbare, almost as if it would dissolve at the slightest touch.
His sleeves were ragged, hanging loosely around his arms, and there were patches of fabric missing entirely. He couldn't help but laugh at the state of his appearance.
"I look like a beggar," he chuckled, shaking his head.
"How did it come to this?"
He ran a hand through his hair, which had grown longer and now fell past his shoulders, the white strands a stark contrast to the dark robes.
"I guess I must have committed some serious wrongs in my past life to deserve this treatment," he muttered with a wry smile.
But the smile faded quickly as the weight of his situation pressed down on him once more. He couldn't stay here forever. He needed to keep moving. He needed to find somewhere... anywhere... that would offer him some respite.
Pushing himself to his feet, Feng Liang stretched his limbs and cracked his neck. He winced slightly at the stiffness in his muscles but quickly shook it off. His body would recover in time. He just needed to be careful about how much Qi he expended going forward.
As he began walking again, his thoughts drifted back to his idea of creating his own sanctuary. It wasn't just an idle fantasy. It was something he could do, something he could build with his own two hands if he could find the right place. All he needed was time... and the strength to defend it.
"I just need to find the right spot," Feng Liang murmured to himself.
"Somewhere isolated, hidden, where I can cultivate in peace."
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the forest floor as Feng Liang continued his journey. The golden light filtering through the trees bathed the forest in a warm glow, but Feng Liang's mind was elsewhere. He was focused on finding a place to rest, somewhere safe where he could gather his thoughts and plan his next move.
As he walked, something caught his eye in the distance... a dark shape, partially obscured by the trees and undergrowth. Feng Liang squinted, trying to get a better look. It wasn't natural. It was too large, too structured to be part of the forest.
"A cave?" Feng Liang said aloud, his interest piqued.
It wasn't much, but it would do. A cave would provide shelter for the night, and perhaps a temporary place to hide while he recovered his strength. Without hesitation, he began making his way toward the cave, his footsteps quickening as he neared the entrance.
But just as he was about to step inside, he froze.
His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened in shock as an all-too-familiar aura washed over him. It was subtle at first, a faint pulse of energy that seemed to radiate from the depths of the cave. But as Feng Liang focused on it, the aura grew stronger, more defined.
His breath caught in his throat. There was no mistaking it.
"The Heavenly Demon's aura..." Feng Liang whispered, his voice barely audible.
His hands began to tremble slightly, and cold sweat formed on his forehead. He felt the familiar oppressive weight of the aura pressing down on him, like a phantom from his past that had returned to haunt him. His mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through his head in a matter of moments.
"What is this?" Feng Liang muttered under his breath.
"How... how could this be here? Is my father... here?"
For a moment, he stood frozen in place, his body locked in a tense standstill. He hadn't felt his father's presence in years... hadn't sensed that overwhelming, dominating force that seemed to crush everything in its path. But this... this felt so similar. It was almost identical, yet... different. Weaker.
Feng Liang swallowed hard, his mind whirling.
"No... It can't be him. But this aura... it's too close to his. Could it be... someone else?"
The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. Someone connected to the Heavenly Demon... someone powerful enough to carry a remnant of his father's aura... was inside that cave. And whoever it was, they had either found Feng Liang by chance or had been waiting for him.
His instincts screamed at him to run. His Qi was low, and his body was still recovering from his earlier journey. He wasn't prepared for a confrontation, especially not with someone who carried the aura of the Heavenly Demon. But something inside him... curiosity, perhaps, or a deep-seated need to understand... pushed him forward.
"Guess I have no choice," Feng Liang muttered, his voice resolute. His fear was there, but he refused to let it control him. If this was a test, then he would face it head-on. If it was a trap, he would find a way to escape.