Lin Feng sprinted through the swamp, leaping over fallen logs and dodging pools of poisonous mist. Behind him, bolts of golden lightning crackled and exploded, each one narrowly missing him by inches. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from fear, but from the strain of containing his newly enhanced cultivation.
System: "Run faster, Host! I think the heavens are warming up—you know, just practicing their aim."
"They're aiming just fine!" Lin Feng shouted as another bolt blasted a tree to splinters right beside him. A sharp fragment nicked his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
System: "Ouch. But hey! You look cool now, like one of those tragic protagonists with a scarred past!"
"I swear, I'll make you tragic if we survive this!" Lin Feng hissed.
An Unlikely Rescue
Just as Lin Feng was about to collapse from exhaustion, a strange figure emerged from the swirling mist ahead. It was a young woman dressed in flowing white robes, her face hidden behind a silver mask. A strange aura radiated from her—calm, serene, and utterly at odds with the chaos around them.
Lin Feng skidded to a halt, nearly crashing into her. "Who the hell are you?!"
She tilted her head slightly. "You're being chased by heavenly lightning. That's not something you see every day."
Before Lin Feng could reply, another bolt of lightning screamed down from the sky. The woman raised her hand lazily, and with a flick of her fingers, the lightning dispersed like mist.
Lin Feng's jaw dropped. "How… What…?"
System: "Wow! She just canceled out a divine punishment like it was a mosquito. Host, please ask her if she's single."
Lin Feng ignored the system. "You… just stopped heavenly lightning. Are you a cultivator or a god?"
The woman shrugged. "Neither. Just someone who dislikes noisy things." She glanced at him, her eyes narrowing behind the mask. "That pill in your hand—did you steal it?"
Lin Feng instinctively hid the Nascent Soul Pill behind his back. "What's it to you?"
The woman's gaze sharpened. "That's an item reserved for Cloud River Sect's inner disciples. You have no right to it."
Lin Feng tensed. If she were connected to the sect, his luck was about to run out. But then, she surprised him.
"Still…" she said slowly, "you seem interesting. I'll give you a choice: Give me half of whatever cultivation you gain from the pill, and I'll help you escape. Or…"
She trailed off, and her fingers sparked with faint arcs of lightning.
System: "Psst. Host, I think she likes you."
"Like hell she does!" Lin Feng whispered. He was about to refuse her offer outright, but the distant rumble of thunder reminded him of his limited options.
"Fine!" Lin Feng grumbled. "Half of the cultivation gain, and we escape."
The woman smiled beneath her mask, though Lin Feng couldn't tell if it was amusement or pity. "Deal."
A Strange Alliance
The masked woman grabbed Lin Feng's wrist, and before he could protest, they shot forward in a streak of light. The swamp blurred around them as they moved at impossible speed, leaving the pursuing lightning far behind.
Lin Feng struggled to keep his lunch down. "Slow down! I'm going to throw up!"
System: "Don't throw up on her, Host. First impressions are important."
After what felt like minutes but could have been seconds, they landed at the edge of the swamp. Lin Feng collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air.
The woman stood calmly beside him, her robes untouched by mud or water. "There. You're safe. For now."
Lin Feng glared at her. "What's your deal? Why help me?"
She crossed her arms, her expression hidden behind the mask. "You interest me. And… I like troublesome people. They tend to be fun."
System: "Host, this is definitely the start of a complicated relationship. I sense drama!"
Lin Feng groaned. "Great. Just what I needed—another crazy person in my life."
An Offer He Can't Refuse
The woman knelt beside him and reached out, placing her hand over his dantian. Lin Feng flinched, but the touch was cool and soothing.
"This will hurt," she said flatly.
"Wait, what?"
Before he could react, the woman activated some kind of technique. A wave of spiritual energy surged through Lin Feng's body, forcefully stabilizing his cultivation but draining half of the pill's power into her. His muscles tensed painfully as the energy shifted.
When it was over, Lin Feng lay flat on the ground, gasping for breath. The woman stood gracefully, her aura now slightly stronger.
"There. Half, as promised," she said. "You're lucky I'm generous."
Lin Feng coughed. "Generous, my ass…"
The woman turned to leave, but paused. "By the way, the Cloud River Sect will be looking for you. I suggest you leave this region before they catch you."
Lin Feng sat up, clutching his aching dantian. "And where am I supposed to go?"
She glanced back at him, a spark of amusement in her eyes. "That's not my problem. But I'll be keeping an eye on you, Lin Feng."
His eyes widened. "How do you know my name?"
The woman chuckled softly. "I know many things. Until next time." With that, she vanished into the night, leaving Lin Feng sitting in the mud, bewildered and exhausted.
System: "Host, I think she's your new stalker. Isn't that romantic?"
Lin Feng buried his face in his hands. "I swear, my life keeps getting worse."
System: "Nah. It's just getting started!"