Inside the dim cave, Lin Tian sat cross-legged, his breathing steady but his mind alight with new energy. The celestial bloom had pushed his strength to its peak, the power coursing through his veins giving him clarity and resilience. His body hummed with newfound strength, his senses sharper than ever.
Just as he was about to close his eyes and meditate further, a faint rustling from outside pulled him to full alertness. Voices drifted in through the cave's entrance, their tones mocking and arrogant. Lin Tian's jaw clenched as he recognized the familiar sneers of Qiu Wei and his henchmen. They had followed him all the way here.
"…Ran into the forest like a scared animal," Qiu Wei scoffed. "Does he really think he can hide from us?"
"Maybe he's cowering in some corner," another one of the henchmen jeered, followed by a round of laughter.
Listening to their taunts, memories of their relentless pursuit filled Lin Tian's mind. Every step of the journey, he had been hounded, driven to retreat, and forced into hiding. A fire of resentment flared within him, but instead of anger, he felt a quiet, cold focus. This wasn't just about survival anymore; it was about reclaiming his dignity and teaching these hunters a lesson.
Lin Tian stood and quietly stepped out of the cave. He emerged to see Qiu Wei and his men, still laughing and sneering as they scanned the area.
The moment they spotted him, the laughter stopped.
"Well, well," Qiu Wei sneered, trying to mask his surprise. "Finally found the courage to come out?"
Lin Tian's eyes were calm, calculating. He had no intention of running now. "I'm done hiding," he said, voice steady. "You wanted to hunt me down, Qiu Wei? Then try it."
Qiu Wei's smirk faltered slightly, but he motioned to his men. "Get him. Make sure he regrets this decision."
The warriors moved in without hesitation, surrounding Lin Tian and lunging forward with coordinated attacks. One swung his sword, unleashing a fiery arc that blazed through the air. Lin Tian dodged with fluid grace, weaving around the strike and retaliating with a swift slash, leaving a cut across the warrior's chest.
Another came at him, using a technique that created stone-like fists from the ground, but Lin Tian anticipated the attack, sidestepping and slicing through the stone fist as it hurtled past him. The henchman's eyes widened in disbelief as Lin Tian closed the distance, delivering a fatal strike that left him crumpled on the ground.
The remaining warriors, seeing their comrades fall so quickly, grew desperate, switching to stronger techniques. One of them lunged forward with Serpent Fang Slash, a sword technique that extended his blade's reach in a spiraling arc. Lin Tian blocked it, deflecting the blade with his own before delivering a ruthless counterstrike that sent the warrior sprawling, clutching his wound.
Qiu Wei's face twisted in anger, realizing his men were falling one by one. "Enough! I'll handle him myself!" he shouted, his aura flaring as he drew his weapon.
But Lin Tian's gaze was unwavering. Qiu Wei was strong, yes—but now, so was he. Lin Tian moved, his speed uncanny, like a shadow dancing in the dark. He weaved through Qiu Wei's attacks, sidestepping each strike with ease and returning his own with deadly precision. One by one, Qiu Wei's men fell around him, each defeated with quick, efficient strikes that left no room for retaliation.
As the last of Qiu Wei's henchmen hit the ground, the forest fell silent. Only Qiu Wei remained, breathing heavily as he glared at Lin Tian with a mixture of rage and fear. "Do you know who you're dealing with?" Qiu Wei spat, voice trembling.
Lin Tian interrupted him, his voice cold. "You wanted this fight. Now finish it."
Desperation flashed in Qiu Wei's eyes, and he lunged forward, unleashing his most powerful technique, his blade crackling with Qi. But Lin Tian was faster. He moved like a shadow, evading the attack and slipping behind Qiu Wei in one smooth motion. Before Qiu Wei could react, Lin Tian struck, his blade finding its mark with lethal precision.
Qiu Wei staggered, clutching his side as blood seeped through his fingers. He looked up, eyes wide with shock as he fell to his knees. "This… this can't be…" he stammered.
Lin Tian sheathed his blade, his gaze unyielding. "Next time, think carefully before you decide to hunt someone." With that, he turned, leaving Qiu Wei and his men defeated, their ambitions shattered among the forest shadows.