The descent from Mount Tianyu was quiet, but tension hung heavy in the air. Tang Xiu walked ahead, his expression unreadable, while Lei Xian and Xu Liang trailed behind. Both of them exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing.
As they reached the foot of the mountain, Xu Liang finally broke the silence. "Boss, that was too risky. The Heavenly Palace Sect isn't just a group of arrogant old men. They'll come for you—sooner or later."
Tang Xiu stopped, turning to face his companion. "Let them," he said calmly. "If they strike, they'll only dig their own graves. I won't waste energy chasing shadows, but I also won't run from them."
Lei Xian stepped forward, concern evident in her eyes. "Tang Xiu, Xu Liang has a point. You've already defeated the Dragon King and rejected the Heavenly Palace Sect. You've drawn too much attention. It's not just them you need to worry about—others will come after you now, seeing you as either a threat or a stepping stone."
Tang Xiu's lips curled into a faint smile. "Good. Let them come. It's time the martial arts world understands the meaning of true strength."
As they continued their journey back to the city, the group stopped at a small, secluded inn to rest for the night. The inn was quiet, its only occupants being the innkeeper and a handful of weary travelers.
Tang Xiu sat by the window in his room, gazing out at the moonlit forest. His thoughts wandered to the events at the Heavenly Palace Sect and the growing web of enemies around him.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Who is it?" Tang Xiu asked, his voice calm but sharp.
"It's me," came Lei Xian's voice.
Tang Xiu opened the door to find Lei Xian holding a folded note. Her face was pale. "This was slipped under my door," she said.
Tang Xiu unfolded the note and read its contents:
"Beware the shadows that follow. The real enemy hides in silence, watching and waiting. Trust no one, not even the ones closest to you."
Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed. The handwriting was unfamiliar, and there was no signature. "Did anyone see who left this?" he asked.
Lei Xian shook her head. "No. I only noticed it when I was about to turn in for the night."
Xu Liang entered the room, his expression serious. "What's going on?"
Tang Xiu handed him the note, and Xu Liang's face darkened as he read it. "This doesn't sound like the Heavenly Palace Sect," he said. "They're too proud to play these kinds of games."
Tang Xiu nodded. "It's someone else. Someone who's been watching us for a while."
Lei Xian frowned. "But why warn us? If they're an enemy, wouldn't they strike directly instead of sending cryptic messages?"
Tang Xiu's gaze hardened. "Not all enemies attack head-on. Some prefer to weaken their prey first, sowing doubt and fear before making their move. Whoever sent this knows something we don't."
Before they could discuss further, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the main hall of the inn. Tang Xiu's senses immediately sharpened. He motioned for Lei Xian and Xu Liang to stay close as they left the room to investigate.
In the dimly lit hall, the innkeeper was cowering behind the counter while a group of masked figures dressed in black surrounded him. Their movements were swift and calculated, their presence exuding danger.
One of the masked men turned toward Tang Xiu and his companions, his voice cold and emotionless. "You've been making too much noise, Tang Xiu. It's time for you to disappear."
Tang Xiu's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward. "Who sent you?"
The man chuckled darkly. "Dead men don't need answers."
With a sharp signal, the masked figures attacked. They moved with precision, their strikes aimed to kill. But Tang Xiu was faster. His body flickered like a shadow, dodging their attacks with ease.
Xu Liang and Lei Xian joined the fray, holding their own against the assassins. Xu Liang's fists glowed with faint qi, each strike sending his opponents stumbling back, while Lei Xian's movements were graceful yet deadly, her daggers flashing in the dim light.
Tang Xiu, meanwhile, focused on the leader. The man was skilled, his attacks swift and unpredictable, but Tang Xiu's years of experience gave him the upper hand. With a single powerful strike, he shattered the leader's defense, sending him crashing into the wall.
The remaining assassins hesitated, their confidence shaken. Tang Xiu's golden aura flared, filling the room with a suffocating pressure. "Leave now, or none of you will walk out alive," he said coldly.
The assassins exchanged uneasy glances before retreating into the night, carrying their injured leader with them.
As the dust settled, the innkeeper shakily emerged from behind the counter. "Th-thank you," he stammered. "Who were those men?"
Tang Xiu didn't answer. Instead, he turned to Xu Liang and Lei Xian. "Did you notice anything unusual about their techniques?"
Xu Liang nodded. "They were strong, but their style was strange—more like assassins than cultivators. They didn't rely on qi as much as they relied on speed and precision."
Lei Xian added, "And their leader… he wasn't ordinary. His energy felt dark, almost corrupted."
Tang Xiu's expression grew serious. "This isn't just about the Heavenly Palace Sect. There's another force at play, one that's been in the shadows for a long time."
Lei Xian frowned. "What do we do now?"
Tang Xiu's gaze hardened. "We prepare. If they want to play games, I'll turn their shadows into light. But first, we need answers. Whoever sent that note knows more than they're letting on, and it's time we find them."
The night passed without further incident, but Tang Xiu couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The martial arts world was in turmoil, and unseen forces were moving against him.
But Tang Xiu wasn't afraid. He had faced greater threats in his past life, and he had emerged stronger each time. This time would be no different.
"Let them come," he thought to himself. "No matter how deep they hide, I'll drag them into the light."
With renewed determination, Tang Xiu and his companions set out the next morning, ready to uncover the truth behind the shadows that followed them