Feng Yan walked with a casual pace, leading the group of thugs into a deserted alley. She kept her face calm, masking the awareness she held of their every movement. With each step, she analyzed her surroundings, noting the blind spots where no security cameras could witness what was about to happen. It was the perfect place for an ambush, just as she had planned.
The moment she turned to face them, the air thickened with tension. The men halted, their eyes narrowing as they assessed her, but they didn't show any signs of shock. They had been warned. Their client had informed them that their target was no ordinary girl, but a martial artist. What they didn't know was that Feng Yan was far beyond any average fighter. Her skills, honed in her past life and combined with her newfound spiritual powers, placed her leagues above them.
Still, she knew she couldn't be complacent. Fifteen trained martial artists were formidable opponents, even for someone of her level. But she had no intention of letting them overpower her. Without a word, Feng Yan shifted her stance, her body fluid and ready for battle.
The men exchanged brief glances, their decision made in seconds. They moved swiftly, aiming to overpower her with their numbers, but Feng Yan was faster. Her eyes flashed with cold determination as she took in their movements, anticipating each attack with ease. She didn't hesitate—there was no time for mercy.
In a blur of motion, she struck first. Her palm sliced through the air, empowered not just by her martial arts training but by the spiritual energy she infused into her every move. The first man who lunged at her was sent flying backward, his body crashing into a wall with a dull thud. Before the others could react, Feng Yan spun on her heel, her leg sweeping low and taking out the legs of two more men.
The thugs quickly realized this was no ordinary fight. They had come prepared, but nothing could have prepared them for this. The girl before them moved with speed that defied human limits. Her strikes weren't just fast—they were lethal. With every hit, she drained them of their strength, her spiritual energy coursing through them and leaving them incapacitated.
Still, they pressed on, refusing to give up. The organization had paid them well, and they weren't going to let one girl ruin their mission. Two of them came at her from either side, hoping to overwhelm her with coordinated attacks. But Feng Yan was ready. She sidestepped one blow and delivered a powerful strike to the other, her fist connecting with his chest and sending him sprawling across the ground.
She could feel the burn of spiritual energy pulsing through her veins as she fought, every move precise, every strike intentional. In her past life, she had been a master of martial arts, but now, with the added power of her spiritual cultivation, she was nearly unstoppable.
Across the street, Bai Chen could no longer contain the growing sense of unease that had plagued him since Feng Yan led the group into the alley. His anxiety gnawed at him, and though he had always prided himself on his self-control, this was different. His instincts screamed at him to check on her.
"Stay here," he muttered to his driver, before slipping out of the car and making his way toward the alley.
He moved silently, his steps swift and purposeful. When he rounded the corner, what he saw left him momentarily stunned.
There, in the middle of the alley, stood Feng Yan, her delicate figure a blur of motion as she fought off the group of martial artists. But it wasn't just her speed or precision that caught Bai Chen's attention. No, it was the way she moved—so effortlessly, with a strength that was clearly not human. He watched, his sharp eyes narrowing as he recognized the ancient martial techniques she used. Techniques that required not only skill but an immense amount of inner strength.
And then there was the energy. He could feel it radiating off her, invisible to most, but not to him. Bai Chen knew what it was—spiritual power. She was using it in combination with her martial arts, blending the two in a way he had never seen before. It was fascinating... and deeply unsettling.
Who was this girl?
Bai Chen's initial curiosity about Feng Yan had now turned into something far more intense. He had suspected there was more to her when he saw her at the antique shop, but this? This was beyond anything he had imagined.
As the last of the thugs fell to the ground, defeated and unconscious, Feng Yan stood in the center of the alley, her breathing steady, her posture still relaxed. She scanned the area, ensuring none of them were capable of getting back up. Satisfied, she turned to leave, her expression calm, as though nothing extraordinary had just occurred.
But as she took a step forward, her gaze flickered to the shadowed corner where Bai Chen stood, watching her in silence.
For a moment, their eyes met. There was no shock in Feng Yan's expression—just a quiet acknowledgment. She had known he was there, from the moment she had felt his presence lingering near the antique shop. And Bai Chen? He found himself unable to look away.
He stepped forward, his figure emerging from the shadows, but he said nothing. The silence between them was charged, not with tension, but with an understanding that neither could quite articulate. He had witnessed something few people ever would, and she, in turn, seemed unfazed by his intrusion.
"Interesting," Bai Chen finally said, his voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.
Feng Yan regarded him for a moment before replying, her voice steady. "I didn't expect you to be here."
"I could say the same about you," he replied, his lips curving into a slight, amused smile.
Without another word, Feng Yan turned and walked away, leaving Bai Chen standing there, his gaze following her until she disappeared from view. His interest in her had deepened, and now, there was no denying it—he was going to find out everything about this girl.
And as for Feng Yan, she had dealt with her pursuers, but something told her that this encounter with Bai Chen was just the beginning of something far more complicated.