The woman lay broken and defeated, her breaths shallow as her gaze pleaded for mercy. Lin Feng looked down at her, unfazed by the desperation in her eyes.
He turned slightly toward Elder Shui, keeping his voice low but firm. "Elder Shui," he said, a slight edge of curiosity in his tone, "this woman—did she have a lover?"
Elder Shui's eyes widened slightly, clearly caught off-guard by the question. With a nod of compliance, she closed her eyes and reached into her soul memories. After a moment, she opened them, her expression unreadable. "Yes, Young Master," she replied. "There is a young man—a branch family member and a promising cultivator. He had gained some renown for his rapid advancement and was seen by many as a rising star in their clan."
Elder Shui paused, her brow furrowing. "But," she added, "a year ago, he suffered a devastating injury during a family conflict. His meridians were shattered, and now he exists as a mere Rank 1 peak cultivator. His talent remains, yet he has lost the ability to progress beyond his crippled state."
Lin Feng's lips curved into a faint smile, barely noticeable in the dim light. Fortune's games never disappoint, he thought, his mind racing with possibilities. A son of destiny, once great, now brought low. This woman, entangled with such a figure, was merely another thread in the vast tapestry of fate. Lin Feng knew the dangers of letting destiny's chosen run unchecked, yet the allure of using them was equally irresistible. And now, he would end her life, severing one of the few ties left to this fallen son of fortune.
He knelt beside the woman, his eyes as cold as steel. "Do you know?" he asked softly, his tone almost mocking. "Your lover… we'll be paying him a visit soon."
Her eyes filled with horror. She tried to lift her hand, her voice a broken whisper, "Please… don't hurt him. He… he has nothing to do with this, kill me instead …"
Lin Feng's face remained indifferent. "Nothing to do with this?" he echoed, his voice low and sinister. "You've lived in this world, yet you still don't understand. Power is currency here, and fortune is my business." "What is this man talking about!?" she thought, unable to comprehend his cryptic words. Her entire life had been lived in a realm of mundane ambitions and simple desires, and now she faced a man who dealt with the abstract and cruel realities of fate.
How could she ever grasp the horror of a son of destiny left unchecked? Lin Feng mused. Her lover's golden fate, even crippled, could surge again—and I am sure it will if ignored! The child will grow into a man, a powerful man at that, and will find me to exact revenge for the harm I've caused to the love of his life. He could almost picture the melodramatic encounter. Should destiny find a way to restore him… well, it'd be more troublesome than she could imagine.
Without another word, he brought his hand down on her head with a swift, brutal motion. A sickening crack echoed in the silence, her skull crushed in his grip. She was gone instantly, her body limp as life drained from her eyes.
Lin Feng's gaze lingered on her lifeless form for a brief moment. One more piece off the board. He had learned long ago that mercy was a weakness he could not afford, especially not in this world. Power belonged to those who seized it without hesitation.
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned the Dragon Fire, and flames erupted in his palm, fierce and ravenous. He held the fire to her body, watching impassively as it consumed her, leaving no trace behind. Only ashes. Only silence.
Behind him, Elder Shui and his shadow guard exchanged brief, uneasy glances but held their thoughts to themselves. They had followed Lin Feng's orders without question, though each felt the sting of doubt creeping into their hearts. Elder Shui, in particular, was unsettled by the brutality she had just witnessed. She had served many young masters in her lifetime, but Lin Feng was unlike any of them—a paradox of charm, cold intellect, and merciless resolve.
They knew nothing of fortune's threads or Lin Feng's grand vision; his plans remained his own. To them, this mission felt like a waste of time, yet neither dared speak a word.
Their task done, Lin Feng turned and addressed Elder Shui. "Cloak us," he ordered, his tone calm but commanding. "We leave for her family's estate."
With a nod, Elder Shui wrapped them in her aura, masking their presence. The three ascended into the sky, the vast world of cultivation unfolding below them, serene and majestic. Mountains rose like ancient guardians, their peaks crowned in mist. Rivers cut through valleys like veins, and forests stretched endlessly, vibrant with life.
Lin Feng's gaze softened, if only for a moment, as he looked upon this world's beauty. It's beautiful, he thought, but also fragile. He had seen how quickly lives could be snatched away, how easily beauty could be burned to ash.
In my past life, he reflected, I fought for wealth and power in a world bound by rules. Here, there are no rules, only strength. He had once thought of destiny as a whimsical notion, something fit for fairy tales. But this world had taught him otherwise: destiny was real, a force to be reckoned with and manipulated to his advantage.
Elder Shui and the shadow guard flew alongside him in silence, each wondering what lay behind their young master's commands. To them, this flight felt hollow, without purpose, yet neither dared question his decisions. Lin Feng was an enigma to them—a young master with ambition beyond their comprehension. They followed out of loyalty and duty, hiding their unease beneath masks of obedience.
"Why are we going to her family?" Elder Shui wondered, glancing at her master's impassive face. "What could possibly be gained?"
The question lingered, unspoken, but Lin Feng had already anticipated it. Elder Shui is loyal, but even she is not blind. Her doubts, though silent, were palpable.
He didn't respond immediately, allowing the question to hang in the air. As they flew, he reflected on the subtle shifts in fate he had observed. The woman's lover—once a powerful cultivator—had golden threads woven tightly around him, threads that glimmered even now, despite his crippled state. Fate wasn't done with him yet.
Fortune rarely abandons its chosen ones completely, Lin Feng mused. Even a broken hero can rise again. And in this world, a risen hero often comes with a vendetta. His fingers curled into a fist. He wouldn't allow that to happen. Destiny was a force that could be harnessed, redirected, and if necessary, destroyed.
Their flight continued in silence, the landscapes below rolling by like painted scrolls. As they neared their destination, Lin Feng's mind was clear, his thoughts honed on what awaited him.
A crippled lover with golden threads of fortune, he mused, suppressing a smile. Fate may have tried to cast him aside, but even remnants of fortune can be dangerous… or useful. In his past life, he had seen the ebb and flow of opportunities and gambles, but none compared to the possibilities presented by destiny's games in this world.
Finally, they descended upon the outer lands of the woman's family, their arrival silent and unnoticed thanks to Elder Shui's aura. The estate was modest, yet elegant—a testament to the once-strong foundation the family had built before their decline. The air smelled of jasmine and pine, with a hint of melancholy, as if even nature mourned the family's fading glory.
Lin Feng cast a glance at the quiet estate, a slight gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. Fortune had led him here, and he intended to see what he could reap. Perhaps I will find more than just a crippled lover, he considered, perhaps remnants of glory… treasures hidden away… His mind buzzed with possibilities.
Behind him, Elder Shui and the shadow guard remained vigilant, hiding their doubts as they waited for his next command.
Lin Feng's gaze lingered on the estate's gates, a surge of excitement barely restrained in his expression. A son of destiny awaits, he thought, his heart steady, his resolve absolute. Let him shine… until I decide otherwise.
The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the scent of impending change. Lin Feng's eyes narrowed. This would be no simple encounter. The echoes of fate could already be heard, whispering promises of power and peril.