Pain jolted Su Han awake, sharp and unrelenting. He blinked at the cracked ceiling above him, memories flooding back—the explosion, the pendant's glow, then darkness.
His hand moved instinctively to his chest, but it felt empty. The pendant was gone.
Closing his eyes, he steadied his breathing and sent his spiritual sense inward. His meridians were weak, barely intact, and his dantian…
His eyes opened sharply. Where the vast sea of qi once resided, there was only emptiness—except for a faint glow. A small, dim orb hovered there, pulsing weakly.
Su Han sat up slowly, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "So, it's gone," he murmured. His cultivation, the strength he had spent centuries building, was no more.
He chuckled softly, the sound hollow. "Back to square one, huh?"
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought aside. Dwelling on what he had lost wouldn't help. His gaze swept the room. It was in ruins, the air stale and thick with dust. Among the debris, something caught his eye—a medallion with a moon engraved on its surface.
He picked it up, turning it over in his hand. "A relic?" he muttered, slipping it into his robe.
Pushing himself to his feet, Su Han moved toward a heavy door. It groaned loudly as he forced it open, revealing a narrow passageway. The air was colder here, the silence oppressive as his footsteps echoed.
Light greeted him at the end of the passage, and when he stepped outside, he froze.
Bodies lay scattered across the ground, their lifeless forms twisted in death. His heart clenched as he moved closer.
"No… this can't be," he whispered.
Kneeling beside one of the corpses, his eyes fixed on a familiar crest embroidered on its uniform—the Wang Family.
His breath caught. These men had pursued him into the ruins in his past life.
Su Han exhaled deeply, a grim expression settling on his face. "I'm back… This is Earth."
Was this the work of the pendant? He had no answers, only questions. But this wasn't the time to linger. Steeling himself, he left the ruins, his steps steady but his thoughts racing.
----------------
The dirt road stretched ahead, and Su Han's steps slowed as he saw a car parked in the distance. A young woman leaned against the vehicle, her poised demeanor a stark contrast to the rugged guard standing beside her.
The guard noticed him first. His sharp eyes narrowed as he raised a gun. "Stop right there!"
Su Han halted, raising his hands. "I mean no harm," he said evenly, his voice calm despite the tension.
The guard stepped forward, his finger hovering over the trigger. "One more step, and I'll shoot."
The young woman tilted her head, studying Su Han. "Uncle Wei, put the gun down," she said firmly.
The guard frowned. "Young Miss, this man—"
"He's injured," she interrupted, her gaze flicking to the bloodstains on Su Han's robes. "If he meant harm, he'd already be attacking us, wouldn't he?"
Uncle Wei hesitated, then reluctantly lowered his weapon. "If anything happens, don't say I didn't warn you."
The young woman walked toward Su Han, her steps confident but measured. Her eyes carried both curiosity and caution. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Su Han replied, his voice steady.
Her brow furrowed as she scanned his injuries. "You don't look fine. That blood—"
"It's not mine," Su Han interrupted. He shifted his weight, his posture still relaxed despite the sharp gaze of the guard behind her.
The young woman raised an eyebrow, but she didn't press further. "Do you need a ride to the city?"
"If it's not too much trouble," Su Han said with a slight nod.
She gestured toward the car. "Come on, then."
Uncle Wei muttered under his breath as Su Han approached, his hand never straying far from the gun at his side.
Inside the car, the silence was heavy at first. The young woman finally broke it. "How did you end up like this?"
Su Han glanced out the window. "Attacked while exploring a ruin," he said simply.
She crossed her arms, leaning back in her seat. "With your strength, you're lucky to have survived." Her tone was blunt but not unkind. "Be more careful next time."
Su Han turned to her, his expression calm. "Thank you for the advice."
She gave a slight nod, then lost interest, staring out the window. Uncle Wei glanced back through the rearview mirror, his eyes still suspicious of Su Han.
When the car reached the outskirts of the city, Uncle Wei stopped the vehicle and turned around. "We've arrived. Where do you want us to drop you off?"
Su Han glanced at the streets, then opened the door. "Here is fine. I can manage from here."
As he stepped out, he paused and turned back. His eyes met the young woman's. "Your name?" he asked. "I'll repay this debt in the future."
Uncle Wei snorted. "Repay? What could someone like you possibly offer the young miss? Just be thankful and move on."
The young woman raised a hand, silencing him. "There's no harm in telling him." She looked at Su Han, her voice steady. "Remember this. My name is Xu Qing, from the Xu Family."
Su Han's eyes flickered with recognition. The Xu Family—a powerhouse in Qingyuan City, famed for their mastery of ice cultivation techniques.
"Thank you, Miss Xu Qing," he said. His voice carried a subtle weight. "We'll meet again."
Xu Qing didn't respond, and Uncle Wei scoffed before the car drove off.