Wu Dian felt an ache in his chest as he followed Ye Qi from a distance, the unease growing with every step. Something was off. It wasn't just the direction she was heading or the stiffness in her movements—it was the aura she exuded, heavy and fractured, as though she were running from an invisible shadow.
His instincts screamed at him, but he suppressed the urge to act recklessly, focusing instead on remaining unnoticed. That hope shattered when Ye Qi suddenly stopped. She didn't turn around, but her voice rang out, cutting through the stillness like a blade.
"I know you're following me," she said, calm yet sharp, each word carrying an unmistakable warning. "Come out now, or I'll force you out myself."
Wu Dian froze, cursing himself silently. Of course, she'd sensed him. Ye Qi's cultivation was far beyond his own, and stealth wasn't his forte. Sighing, he stepped out from behind the cover of a tree, allowing his suppressed aura to flow freely. A faint, sheepish smile touched his lips, though it couldn't mask the tension in his posture.
"I wasn't trying to pry," he said, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of surrender. "I just… saw you were troubled and thought maybe I could help. You've always been kind to me, giving me those healing pills after I'd been beaten during the selection fights. I just wanted to repay the favor."
His words faltered as Ye Qi turned slightly, her eyes meeting his with a cold, distant gaze. It wasn't anger he saw—it was something far worse. Resignation. The sight made his stomach twist, and he felt a fool for thinking he could offer her anything of value.
"Don't follow me," she said, her voice eerily calm. "Whatever you think you're doing, it won't help. And if you insist on tailing me, Wu Dian, I won't hesitate to put you down."
Her words were like a slap, sharp and cutting. Wu Dian swallowed hard, his resolve shaken. He had known Ye Qi for years, and though she had always been firm, she had never spoken to him like this. It wasn't the threat that unnerved him—it was the emptiness in her tone.
"I understand," he said quietly, taking a step back. But the churn of thoughts in his mind betrayed his words. What happened? What is she hiding?
Ye Qi sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. She didn't look at him as she spoke again, her voice softer, carrying an undercurrent of sadness.
"No, you don't understand," she said. "You've always been determined, Wu Dian. Once you set your mind on something, you see it through, no matter what. But this… this isn't something you can help with. I'm just looking for a place to be alone—to vent my anger, gather some herbs, and clear my head. So please, leave. There's no place for you here."
Wu Dian felt his heart ache at her words. He opened his mouth to argue, to insist that he could help, but something in her expression stopped him. This wasn't a problem she wanted to share, and pushing further would only widen the gulf between them.
"I get it," he said finally, his voice tinged with frustration he couldn't entirely hide. "You don't want me to follow, and I'll respect that. But if you ever need someone—someone who won't leave when things get tough—just remember, I'll be there. You don't have to face this alone."
Ye Qi didn't respond immediately. She stood still, her back to him, as though his words hadn't even registered. After a long, tense moment, she began walking again, her figure growing smaller and smaller as she disappeared into the distance.
Wu Dian stayed rooted in place, his fists clenched at his sides. Every instinct screamed at him to follow her, to not let her face whatever was haunting her alone. But he knew it would only push her further away.
As her silhouette vanished, Wu Dian made a decision. He wouldn't trail her—not this time. Instead, he'd take a different approach. If she wouldn't let him help directly, then he'd find someone who could. He knew where to start: her master.
"She's hiding something," he muttered to himself. "And if she won't say what it is, her master deserves to know."
With that, Wu Dian turned and began retracing his steps, his unease growing with every step. Whatever Ye Qi was running from, he was certain it had to do with Lei Ying. And if that was the case, the storm brewing wasn't just her burden—it was his as well.
___
At the same time, whispers of startling news began to ripple across the southern desolate. It was said that someone had stolen from Lei Ying, the young master of the powerful Lei family. The atmosphere in the region turned tense as the rumors spread, each retelling more dramatic than the last.
Villages and sects alike were abuzz with speculation. Merchants, travelers, and sect elders huddled together in whispered conversations. The name "Lei Ying" carried weight far beyond its mention, and the thought of someone daring to cross him left many incredulous.
"The Lei family won't let this slide," muttered a grizzled shopkeeper, nervously wiping his hands on his apron. "If they decide to retaliate, the whole southern desolate could pay the price."
A young alchemist in training nervously stammered, "I heard… I heard the Lei family destroyed a cultivation star before, just because one of their disciples offended them. What will they do now? What if the stolen item is something priceless?"
Across the southern desolate, fear settled like a thick fog. Elders began issuing warnings to their disciples.
The sect masters weren't faring much better. They convened hurried meetings behind closed doors, their faces pale as they speculated on how to appease the Lei family should they come looking for answers.
"Pray they find the thief before it's too late," one sect leader said grimly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Because if they don't, the southern desolate could see bloodshed like never before."
The tension was palpable. Some sects even tightened their defenses, fearing that the Lei family's wrath might spill over indiscriminately.
For the common folk, it wasn't just fear—it was dread. The southern desolate had long been a place of relative safety, tucked away from the power struggles of the upper realm.
But now, with the Lei family's reputation looming over them, it felt as if the ground beneath them could collapse at any moment.
And through it all, Lei Ying remained calm, letting the rumors spread unchecked.