Five years of solitude had reshaped John. The frightened boy who had stumbled into this world was gone, replaced by a man hardened by hardship and fueled by an unwavering desire for revenge. He bathed in a secluded pond, cleansing himself of the grime of years, a ritualistic shedding of his past self. He returned to the cave, respectfully draping the skeleton in a fresh piece of cloth he'd scavenged, a silent vow echoing in the stillness: I will not let your legacy die with you.He emerged from the forest two days later, reaching a well-worn road that snaked its way towards civilization. It wasn't long before he encountered a scene that ignited a familiar rage within him. A young girl, no older than fifteen, was surrounded by a group of rough-looking bandits. Their leering faces and coarse laughter spoke of ill intent. Without hesitation, John moved. He blurred into motion, his Qi-woven threads flashing like silver lightning, silent and deadly. In the blink of an eye, the bandits lay dead, their bodies torn apart, the forest floor stained crimson.
The girl stared at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of terror and gratitude. "Thank you, fellow cultivator," she stammered, bowing deeply. "I am from the Skyfall Sect." The name struck him like a physical blow, a jolt of pure, unfiltered hatred. The cold eyes of the woman who had maimed him, the cruel smirk of her companion, the searing pain of severed limbs—it all came flooding back. Skyfall Sect. A cold fury gripped him, eclipsing all reason. He didn't hesitate. He unleashed his Qi threads, a whirlwind of deadly energy that tore the girl apart in a gruesome display of his newfound power. The air crackled with residual Qi, the scent of blood heavy in the air. "Anyone from the Skyfall Sect," he snarled, his voice a low growl that resonated with barely contained rage, "will die by my hand."He turned and walked away, leaving the carnage behind. Unseen by him, a faint golden light flickered around the girl's scattered remains. Slowly, agonizingly, her flesh began to knit back together, bones reconnecting, the horrific wounds closing. She gasped as she became whole again, her face etched with terror, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He… he hates the Skyfall Sect," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I have to warn them… I must never see him again."