Bai Cheng knelt on the floor, holding his head between his hands. The illusions still held him captive, suffocating him in despair. Gerald's bitter words echoed in his head, Mei Feng's hurt eyes haunted him, and the weight of his assumed failure pressed down on him like a mountain.
"Why… Why even try?" he muttered, voice shaking. "What's the point? No one believes in me… not even myself."
The oppressive darkness appeared to close in tighter, and dark shapes crowded about him faces twisted into malice. Venomous insults dripped from the edges of their lips, as they laughed in his ears.
"Give up, cursed one."
"You're nothing without spiritual energy."
"No one will ever stand by you."
Bai Cheng closed his eyes, his will crumbling under the assault. Then, faintly, in the distance, he heard a bark — sharp, familiar.
"Fang?" His eyes flared open, desperately scanning the darkness.
The barking was growing louder, more insistent, cutting through the fog of despair.
And then, suddenly, it hit him, a jolt of lightning: what was he afraid of?
He staggered to his feet, fists clenched. "What am I afraid of?" he snarled through gritted teeth. "What's the worst they can do? Call me cursed? They already do!"
The shadowy figures stumbled, their edges flickering as his determination flared.
"I have always been alone. Always!" Bai Cheng's voice rose, raw with emotion. "Not anymore! Gerald would never leave me. Fang would never abandon me. And Mei Feng? She'd knock me senseless if she saw me like this!"
The illusions were beginning to crack, thin lines of light piercing through the suffocating darkness.
"Your lies can't hold me," Bai Cheng shouted out, his voice ringing with newfound strength.
"You think you can break me? I have been broken my whole life. I have been beaten, mocked, and thrown away. And I'm still standing!"
With a guttural roar, the illusion was shattered. The oppressive world around him burst into a million shards to reveal the forest once again.
Jia Ling took a few steps back, her face now pale from shock. "Impossible!" she gasped. "A mere mortal broke through my illusions?! "
Bai Cheng's chest heaved; his eyes blazed with defiance. "Yeah, and guess what? I'm not done yet!"
Bai Cheng had disappeared in a flash of time before Jia Ling could react. He had used his Shadow Step technique to shoot forward like a bullet. In one second, he was behind her.
"Here's a little something I've been saving for you!" he snarled.
With the skill and force of the Bone Breaker Strike, Bai Cheng crushed her arm. There was a vile crack, and Jia Ling shrieked in pain, clutching at her broken limb.
"You filthy—!" she began, but Bai Cheng had already taken off.
He darted into the forest, signaling Fang with a sharp whistle. They raced toward the trap he'd prepared earlier, a plan forming in his mind.
Jia Ling, fueled by rage and humiliation, stumbled after him. Her dagger hung loosely in her uninjured hand, but her steps were uneven. "You won't get away, you little worm!"
Bai Cheng smiled to himself as he walked toward a narrow ravine. He knew the place well. Beyond that ravine was the den of a Thunderhorn Rhino, an extremely territorial spirit beast. He and Fang had already seen the cubs. The mother wouldn't like intruders.
Bai Cheng turned around at the edge. Jia Ling was limping toward him, her face twisted with fury.
"End of the line, kid!" she spat, raising her dagger.
"Not quite," Bai Cheng said, his voice steady. He turned and leaped into the trees, vanishing into the foliage.
"Coward!" Jia Ling snarled. She charged forward, stepping into the clearing—then froze.
The ground trembled beneath her feet. The air filled with a low, guttural growl that sent chills down her spine.
"What… What is that?" she whispered, her voice quivering.
Out of the darkness emerged the form of Thunderhorn Rhino, its massive body illuminated by light streaks along its horn. Its eyes were flashing with primal rage as it focused on Jia Ling.
"NO… NO!" screamed Jia Ling, trying to step back. This can't be happening to me!
The beast shook the forest, pawed the ground, and bent its massive horn.
Jia Ling attempted to run, but her hurt arm dragged behind her. The Rhino charged, the thunderous steps causing the ground to shake.
"HELP ME!" Jia Ling shouted, but her cries were drowned out by the roar of the beast.
Bai Cheng was watching from high in a tree above. His heart was pounding, but he had to look away as the Rhino slammed into Jia Ling.
Her scream was cut short.
The beast recoiled, swallowing her whole before retreating to its lair. The forest fell silent once more, except for the faint rustling of leaves.
Bai Cheng exhaled slowly, his expression grim. "I told her not to mess with mortals."
Fang barked softly, nudging Bai Cheng's leg. He crouched down, scratching the dog's head. "Good boy. You did great."
He realized his battle was far from being over. There were still four cultivators, and the next one wouldn't be so easily tricked.
"Time to tackle the slimy one," Bai Cheng whispered to himself, his eyes narrowing down. He dropped from the tree, moving noiselessly through the forest, as he followed the faint marks left by his next prey.
As he disappeared into the shadows, the forest waited for the next storm to come.