The forest seemed silently oppressive, with an exception in the occasional rustle of leaves beneath Bai Cheng's careful steps.
From his high perch atop a tree branch, he was observing his next opponent: Jiao "Slim Shadow" Wei, a pale rogue cultivator, notorious for his cunning guile. Jiao was positioned in a small clearing. He was slouched back with a very deliberate appearance of relaxation, despite an unmistakable tension about him. His eyes roamed as if watching out for an attack to begin at any moment.
"Why does this guy look like a ghost that skipped dinner?" Bai Cheng muttered to himself, his dog, Sparky, sitting obediently below.
"And why do I feel like this will be worse than Jia Ling?"
Bai Cheng clenched his fists. He had learned from Gerald that patience often trumped recklessness, but the sun was sinking lower in the sky, and time was not on his side. He had to act quickly—yet carefully.
Jiao moved deliberately, his fingers twitching every so often as if he were prepared to flip on a technique. His eyes were sharp, scanning each shadow and each sound. The ground around him betrayed the faint glimmers of traps Bai Cheng hadn't even seen until now.
"Of course, he's the trap guy," Bai Cheng thought, rolling his eyes.
From his position, Bai Cheng tried to study him further. Jiao did not seem the type to fight head-on—his frail frame made that clear. Instead, he relied on tactics and lures. His reputation as "Slim Shadow" wasn't just for show.
"There's no opening," Bai Cheng whispered, frustration bubbling. "He's like a coiled snake, just waiting to strike. If I attack now, I'll probably walk right into one of those traps."
Bai Cheng decided to test Jiao's reaction. He snatched a small rock and hurled it towards the clearing. The moment it hit the ground, there was a sharp clang and metallic wires snapped into motion, a snare trap springing into the air.
"Thought so," Bai Cheng muttered. "This guy's as paranoid as a chicken near a butcher's shop."
Jiao's head snapped toward the direction of the sound. "I know you're there, kid," he called out, his voice smooth yet venomous. "Come out before I make this forest your grave."
"Grave? Please," Bai Cheng shouted back, stepping into view from behind a tree. "You look like you'd need a full meal before digging even a tiny hole."
Jiao's eyebrow twitched. "Cocky, aren't we?"
Bai Cheng smirked, stepping closer but remaining just out of the clearing. "Why don't you come over here and show me what you've got string bean? Or are you too scared to leave your little playground of traps?"
Jiao chuckled, his laugh low and mocking. "Nice try, but I'm not stupid enough to fall for that."
The Smoke Veil
Realizing his jeers were not working, Bai Cheng decided to go for broke. He charged into the clearing and moved his feet with the swiftness of Shadow Step. But before he could get close, Jiao flicked his wrist, activating Smoke Veil.
A dense cloud came out from his position; the area was swallowed into an impenetrable fog.
Bai Cheng skidded to a stop, his vision obscured. He coughed, waving his hand in front of his face to no avail. "Great, now I'm fighting a disappearing act."
Jiao's voice echoed from somewhere in the fog. "This is why you'll never win, kid. You're predictable. You charge in without a plan. That's how people like me win. We don't fight—we outthink."
"Predictable?" Bai Cheng snorted, his voice tight with annoyance. "The man who's hiding behind a smoke screen. Stage magician, huh?"
Jiao said nothing, but Bai Cheng could sense the tension growing. He dropped low, listening hard for any sign of movement. The crunch of leaves to his left made him spin sharply around, but there was nothing there
"Stay calm," Bai Cheng thought, his hands tightening around his staff. "He's trying to rattle me."
The Cat-and-Mouse Game
Minutes ticked by with no attack, only the faint sound of footsteps circling Bai Cheng in the smoke. His heart pounded, the silence bearing down on him like a weight.
"I'm surprised," Jiao finally spoke again. "I expected you to panic by now. Most people do. But let's see how long you last."
Suddenly, something brushed against Bai Cheng's arm. A dagger sliced through the sleeve of his shirt and barely missed the skin on his arm. He spun around, swinging his staff wildly but hitting nothing but air.
"Too slow," Jiao taunted, his voice seeming to come from every direction.
Bai Cheng growled under his breath. He was getting to the point of feeling straining with the protracted stalemate. He had to find a way to turn the tables.
An idea came to him. If Jiao was banking on the smoke to muddle him, then he needed to change the field of battle. He scooped up a handful of dirt from the ground and flung it into the air, studying the drift of it. The minuscule movement of the particles gave him a very faint sense of the currents of air.
"Gotcha," Bai Cheng murmured, smiling.
He waited, listening intently. When he heard the faintest shuffle, he launched himself toward the source, feigning an attack. Jiao's figure materialized for a split second, sidestepping with ease, but that was all Bai Cheng needed.
He pulled a second handful of dirt from his pocket and hurled it directly at Jiao's face.
"Ahh!" Jiao stepped back, dirt digging into his concentration. Smoke was clearing a little as Jiao worked to keep his technique straight. Bai Cheng didn't waste a beat. He came forward and swung his staff in a wide arc. Jiao only had time to block the move with his daggers; he skidded back on his heels under the impact.
"Not so clever now, huh?" Bai Cheng said with a grin.
Jiao wiped the dirt from his eyes, his expression twisted in frustration. "You're smarter than you look, but this isn't over."
"Yeah, yeah," Bai Cheng retorted. "You keep saying that, but I'm still standing."
Both fighters squared up to each other, eyes locked. The smoke cleared, but tension became thicker than ever. He knew this was only the beginning; he needed something more to break Jiao's defenses completely.
And for now, he stood at an advantage. Nothing was going to make it slip away.