The days following Lin Feng's near-death experience were both enlightening and unsettling. The sword remained where he had left it, wrapped in cloth and untouched. It lingered in the corner of his room like a dark specter, its aura seemingly dulled yet impossible to ignore. For now, Lin Feng focused on himself, dedicating his days to mastering the Void Step and strengthening his core.
The forest was his haven. Amidst the rustling trees and soft whispers of the wind, Lin Feng trained with renewed vigor. Each step, each strike, was deliberate, an exploration of his limits. But no matter how far he pushed himself, there was always a lingering sensation—an unseen force watching him.
At first, he thought it was paranoia. Yet, over the last few days, the feeling grew stronger, an almost tangible weight in the air. Lin Feng couldn't shake the thought that someone—or something—was observing him from the shadows.
---
It was during one of his training sessions that the presence made itself known. Lin Feng was practicing the Void Step, his Qi flowing in delicate harmony with the surrounding energy. His movements were fluid, almost seamless, as he stepped forward and disappeared into the folds of the air.
Just as he began to feel the technique click, a flicker of movement in the distance caught his eye. He stopped abruptly, his breathing heavy, his body tense.
"Who's there?" he called out, his voice steady but sharp.
Silence.
Lin Feng's grip on his sword tightened as he scanned the forest, his senses sharpening. The air felt heavy, charged with a faint yet unfamiliar Qi. His instincts screamed at him to stay alert.
Then, from the shadows, a figure emerged—a woman clad in simple, travel-worn robes. Her steps were light, almost imperceptible, as if she were part of the forest itself. Her face was serene, framed by dark hair that cascaded down her shoulders, but her eyes held an intensity that unnerved him.
"I've been watching you," the woman said, her voice calm yet commanding.
Lin Feng frowned, stepping back instinctively. "Who are you?"
She stopped a few paces away, her expression unreadable. "A traveler," she replied. "Or perhaps, a curious observer."
"That doesn't answer my question," Lin Feng said, his tone guarded.
The woman tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You're cautious. Good. But you've nothing to fear from me... yet."
Her cryptic words only heightened Lin Feng's unease. He studied her closely, noting the way she carried herself—calm, assured, and unnervingly confident.
---
Before Lin Feng could press further, the woman took a step forward. Her hand rose, and a faint ripple of Qi spread through the air, subtle yet unmistakable. Lin Feng's instincts flared as he leaped back, drawing his sword in one swift motion.
"You're quick," she said, her smile widening. "But strength without understanding is meaningless."
With that, she vanished. One moment, she was standing before him, and the next, she was gone, as if the air itself had swallowed her.
Lin Feng's eyes darted around, his body coiled like a spring. Then, a sharp gust of wind rushed past him, and she reappeared behind him, her movements as fluid as water.
He spun around, his sword slashing through the air. But before his blade could reach her, she raised a single finger and met his strike head-on.
Clang!
The sound reverberated through the forest as her finger stopped the sword in its tracks. Lin Feng's eyes widened in disbelief. Her Qi wasn't overwhelming, yet it was precise, controlled—a level of mastery far beyond his comprehension.
"You rely too much on brute force," she said, her tone almost admonishing. "Your movements lack refinement. If you want to survive in this world, you'll need more than raw power."
She pushed forward lightly, and Lin Feng stumbled back, his grip on the sword faltering.
---
The woman stepped back, her expression softening. "You've potential, Lin Feng, but potential alone won't save you. This world is vast, and the dangers you've faced are nothing compared to what lies ahead."
"How do you know my name?" Lin Feng demanded, his voice laced with suspicion.
Her gaze met his, unwavering. "I know many things. I've been watching you since your fight with the Nascent Soul beast. You intrigued me, so I decided to intervene when you were at death's door."
Lin Feng's grip on his sword tightened. He had suspected that his survival in that battle wasn't entirely his own doing, but hearing it confirmed sent a wave of frustration through him.
"Why?" he asked.
"Call it curiosity," she said. "Or perhaps... a belief that you might be worth saving."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with implication. Lin Feng's mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, the woman turned away.
"Wait!" he called out. "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"
She paused, glancing back over her shoulder. "You can call me Bai Ren. As for why I'm helping you..." She trailed off, her gaze distant. "Let's just say your journey is of interest to me. For now, focus on your training. We'll meet again when the time is right."
With that, she stepped into the shadows, her figure dissolving into the darkness as if she had never been there at all.
---
Lingering Questions
Lin Feng stood alone in the clearing, his heart pounding. Bai Ren's words echoed in his mind, each one raising more questions than it answered. Who was she? Why had she been watching him? And what did she mean by "your journey is of interest to me"?
He sheathed his sword, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and determination. Bai Ren's presence had unsettled him, but it had also ignited something within him—a desire to prove himself, not to her, but to himself.
Whatever her reasons, Lin Feng knew one thing for certain: his path was only growing more treacherous, and he needed to be ready for whatever lay ahead.