Feng Yan walked swiftly, her posture calm, but her mind on high alert. She had sensed Bai Chen's presence earlier, but she had hoped he would stay where he was. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. His footsteps were now steady and persistent behind her, closing the distance as if he had no intention of giving up.
Bai Chen, too, was curious—far more curious than he would normally allow himself to be. There was something about this girl, something that piqued his interest on a level he couldn't ignore. On the surface, she appeared ordinary, but what he had witnessed was anything but ordinary. Not only had she used ancient martial arts, techniques that required inner strength and discipline, but she had infused her moves with spiritual power, something that only cultivators could do.
But what level? That was the question burning in Bai Chen's mind. He couldn't sense her cultivation, which meant one of two things: either she was at a higher level than him, or she had mastered the rare technique of concealing her aura and breath. The thought that someone so young could outclass him in cultivation both intrigued and unsettled him.
Feng Yan could feel his gaze on her, unwavering and sharp. It made her uncomfortable. Though she had no desire to engage with him, she couldn't shake him off so easily. Annoyance bubbled up inside her as his presence pressed closer, refusing to back down.
Her patience snapped. She stopped abruptly and spun around to confront him, only to find herself colliding with his chest.
"Ouch!" she muttered, rubbing her forehead where it had smacked against his chest. It felt like she had walked straight into a wall. His chest was hard, solid, and unmoving. She looked up, glaring at him, only to see a flicker of amusement dancing in his dark eyes.
Bai Chen's lips curled into a smile as he noticed the faint blush creeping up her cheeks. Even more telling were her pink-tipped ears, betraying her annoyance and embarrassment. She turned away from him quickly, trying to regain her composure, but the sight of her flustered state amused him to no end.
"Miss Feng," he called out smoothly, watching as she tensed but continued to walk away. He didn't miss the way her pace quickened.
Feng Yan's mind raced. She needed to distance herself from him. Bai Chen was dangerous—not in a physical sense, but his curiosity and the intensity of his gaze made her feel exposed. She had no intention of revealing her abilities or the truth behind her cultivation. The last thing she needed was someone like Bai Chen poking around her life.
Bai Chen, on the other hand, was far from deterred. He hadn't missed the flicker of something beneath the surface of her annoyance—something deeper. He had learned her name from his assistant after investigating her connection to the antique shop, but he wanted to know more. The techniques she used…they were ancient, the kind only a few clans still practiced. And her surname, Feng—it stirred a thought in his mind. Could she be related to the Feng clan, one of the ancient clans from the world of cultivators? The idea seemed far-fetched, but the resemblance to their arts couldn't be a coincidence.
Still, he set the thought aside for now. What mattered more was how she knew those techniques and what level of cultivation she had reached. He knew she wouldn't easily answer him, but he wanted to hear her side.
"Miss Feng," he called again, this time stepping closer, his voice smooth but firm. "How did you come to know ancient martial arts? It's not something one picks up easily."
Feng Yan didn't stop. She didn't even slow down. Bai Chen's curiosity might have been harmless to some, but to her, it was a threat. She couldn't afford to let him probe any deeper.
"It's just something I picked up," she replied vaguely, not turning to look at him. Her tone was deliberately light, as though the question wasn't worth a serious answer. She quickened her pace, hoping to put more distance between them.
But Bai Chen wasn't the type to give up so easily. He matched her pace effortlessly, his long strides keeping him just behind her. "Something you picked up? That's not a very convincing answer."
Feng Yan's jaw clenched in frustration. She could feel his gaze boring into her, sharp and unrelenting. She wasn't about to spill her secrets to a man she barely knew, no matter how charming or insistent he was. Bai Chen's interest might seem harmless, but she had learned long ago not to underestimate anyone, especially those who had power like he did.
"I don't owe you an explanation," she replied coolly, her voice betraying none of the anxiety she felt inside.
Bai Chen raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her evasiveness. He wasn't used to people brushing him off so easily, but Feng Yan was different. She was guarded, and that only made him more curious. He could see that she wasn't an ordinary girl, and the more she tried to hide it, the more he wanted to uncover the truth.
As Feng Yan walked faster, Bai Chen slowed his steps slightly, his amusement growing. He wouldn't press her any further today, but he wasn't done with her either. For now, he would let her go, but he would keep an eye on her. Feng Yan intrigued him in ways he couldn't quite explain, and he had a feeling that this wouldn't be the last time their paths crossed.
"Very well," he said, his tone light but filled with promise. "I'll take my leave for now, but I look forward to our next encounter, Miss Feng."
Feng Yan didn't respond. She kept walking, her back straight, determined to put as much distance between them as possible. But even as she moved away from him, she couldn't shake the feeling that Bai Chen's curiosity would bring him back into her life sooner rather than later. And when that happened, she would need to be ready.