The restaurant buzzed with laughter and conversation, its wooden beams creaking occasionally under the weight of hanging lanterns. Aromas of spiced meats and freshly steamed dumplings wafted through the air, mingling with the scent of aged rice wine. Lin Feng sat at a corner table, his back to the wall, his chopsticks moving methodically as he plucked another piece of glazed pork from a shared platter. Yet, his eyes weren't on his food. They were fixed on a girl across the room.
She moved with a refined grace, her every gesture betraying noble upbringing. But what truly captured Lin Feng's attention were the purple threads of fortune coiling around her, pulsating in patterns that hinted at hidden secrets and fateful encounters.
Elder Shui and Shi Gong, his silent protectors, sat nearby. Elder Shui sipped her tea delicately, her serene demeanor masking the strength of a Rank 5 cultivator, while Shi Gong occupied an entire bench by himself, his giant frame hunched to fit within the confines of the table. His earth-path aura exuded an ever-present pressure, as though a mountain had decided to rest in the middle of the dining hall.
Lin Feng leaned in, setting down his chopsticks with deliberate care. "We'll be following them," he whispered, his voice low enough that only Elder Shui and Shi Gong could hear.
Shi Gong raised an eyebrow, the only sign of surprise on his stony face. Elder Shui merely nodded, her eyes never leaving her teacup. "Understood, Young Master," she replied calmly. Her eyes flicked momentarily toward the girl and her entourage, who had begun to rise from their seats.
Lin Feng watched as the girl's four bodyguards moved to shield her, their presence both imposing and disciplined. These were Rank 4 cultivators, men and women who radiated a quiet, lethal strength. Even their casual movements hinted at years of battle-hardened training.
We're walking a thin line, Lin Feng thought, feeling the weight of his own cultivation level in comparison. But he had no intention of backing down. Opportunities like this one did not come often.
He stood, his own movements unhurried, as the girl's party made their way out of the restaurant. The moment they left, the lively energy of the place seemed to dim, as though a silent, foreboding shadow had fallen over their corner of the world.
Lin Feng turned to his protectors. "Let's move."
They left the warmth and noise of the restaurant behind, stepping into the cool embrace of the night. The city streets were still bustling, but Lin Feng led his party through the crowd, always keeping the girl's group in sight. The deeper they went, the more the crowd thinned, until only the distant echo of festival laughter followed them into the maze of narrow alleyways.
The air grew colder, and the streets darker, as they wound deeper into the city's back alleys. Here, the only illumination came from sparse, flickering lanterns. The girl's entourage moved ahead with purpose, unaware—or so Lin Feng hoped—that they were being followed. The shadows seemed to grow thicker, oppressive, as though the very night itself conspired to close in on them.
Lin Feng's heart beat faster, his every sense heightened. He knew he was playing a dangerous game. "Stay close," he murmured to his protectors.
Shi Gong grunted, his massive fists flexing as he prepared for anything. Elder Shui moved like a whisper, her presence so calm it was almost ethereal. Yet, beneath that serene exterior, Lin Feng knew she was ready to unleash the full power of her Rank 5 Water Path cultivation.
But suddenly, the group they followed came to a halt.
The lead bodyguard, a man with a face scarred from countless battles, turned abruptly. His eyes were sharp, predator-like, as he scanned the darkness. "We're being followed," he growled. His aura flared, a wave of oppressive energy spreading through the alley. The other three bodyguards shifted into formation, their own auras igniting like flames.
Lin Feng felt a chill seep into his bones. This was the cruel reality of the cultivation world. Here, strength decided everything, and a single mistake could end in death. His lower cultivation rank was glaring, a weakness that could very well cost him his life.
Elder Shui stepped forward, her face composed but her aura coiling like an impending storm. "Stay behind me, Young Master," she commanded.
The bodyguards advanced, their killing intent thick enough to suffocate. One of them, a Fire Path cultivator, unsheathed his sword, flames licking along its edge. Another, an Earth Path cultivator, stomped the ground, causing jagged stone spikes to rise and block any escape route.
Shi Gong's eyes narrowed, and he took a protective stance in front of Lin Feng. "Young Master, I will not let them touch you," he rumbled, his deep voice like the growl of a beast.
The bodyguards made their move. The Fire Path cultivator lunged, his sword a blazing inferno aimed straight at Elder Shui.
She raised her hand, and a shimmering wall of water materialized, quenching the flames before they could reach her. "Waters of Oblivion," she intoned, her voice cold. The water transformed into serrated waves, slicing through the air and crashing into the Fire Path guard. He let out a strangled scream as the water ripped through his defenses, leaving him crumpled and gasping.
The Earth Path cultivator roared, slamming his fists into the ground. "Stone Titan's Fury!" The earth trembled, and massive stone fists erupted from the ground, hurtling toward Lin Feng and his protectors.
Shi Gong met the attack head-on. "Titan's Shield!" he bellowed, slamming his fists together. Rock-like energy enveloped his body, and he charged forward, smashing the stone fists into rubble. His strength was immense, but the Earth Path cultivator was relentless, conjuring more stone to attack.
The two other bodyguards, wielding Wind and Lightning Paths, flanked Elder Shui. The Wind Path cultivator moved like a ghost, his blades slashing with lightning-fast speed, while the Lightning Path cultivator summoned bolts of electricity to strike from a distance.
Elder Shui remained unshaken. She twisted her hand, and the water around her solidified into a spiraling torrent. "Rippling Tide Bind," she whispered, and the water shot forward, ensnaring the Wind Path cultivator. He struggled, gasping for breath as the water tightened, crushing the air from his lungs. A flick of her wrist, and the torrent exploded outward, leaving the man broken and limp on the ground.
The Lightning Path guard's face twisted in fear, but he gritted his teeth and summoned a crackling spear of lightning. "Die!" he screamed, hurling it toward Lin Feng.
Time seemed to slow. Lin Feng's heart hammered as the spear hurtled toward him, and he knew he couldn't block it. But Shi Gong was there in an instant, his body a massive wall of stone and flesh. The lightning struck him, sending sparks flying, but he remained standing, his eyes burning with rage.
Shi Gong roared and brought his fists down. "Mountain's Wrath!" The earth split, and a wave of jagged rock erupted beneath the Lightning Path guard, impaling him. Blood splattered across the stones, and the man's scream died in his throat.
Silence fell, broken only by the ragged breathing of the defeated. The girl they had followed stared in horror, her face pale and eyes wide with terror. She had witnessed her protectors fall like leaves before a storm, crushed under the overwhelming power of Lin Feng's guardians.
Lin Feng stood still, his hands trembling, not from fear but from the raw understanding of what power truly meant in this world. Strength was everything, and weakness was a death sentence. In this brutal reality, there was no mercy, only survival.
Elder Shui's gaze turned to the girl, cold and unfeeling. "Your protectors are gone," she stated flatly. "Will you surrender, or must we continue?"
The girl stumbled back, her mouth opening in a silent cry, and Lin Feng took a step forward, his mind racing. He had to seize this opportunity—whatever secrets or fortunes this girl held were now his to claim.
The night swallowed the alley once more, but this time, it felt darker than ever.