Meng Tao's casual stroll back to the sect took a sharp turn when a strange aura pricked at his senses. Curious, he concealed his presence with a practiced hand seal and approached the source of the disturbance.
The scene that met his eyes froze him in place.
A clearing littered with corpses. The fallen were outer sect disciples some faces familiar, others barely recognizable. And at the center of it all stood Lin Fan, expression cold, robes stained with blood. Kneeling before him was a single survivor wounded, barely breathing, yet defiant.
Meng Tao crouched within the bushes, completely hidden, eyes narrowing.
Lin Fan? What's going on?
In the clearing, the interrogation continued.
"You leave me alone!" the injured disciple snarled, blood spilling from his lips. "Otherwise"
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the silent forest as Lin Fan's palm struck the man's face with brutal force.
"Tell me," Lin Fan said, voice low and chilling. "Who sent you after me? Speak now, or die."
But the disciple only spat blood and glared. "My brother is the personal disciple of the Thunder Peak Master. If you touch me again ! He'll make sure you die without even knowing how!"
Lin Fan chuckled darkly. "Oh? It seems you don't realize your situation."
He leaned forward, voice growing colder. "Very well. I'll show you pain."
Just as he raised his hand again, a deep, ancient voice echoed in his mind.
"Boy, someone is watching us quietly, from the shadows."
Lin Fan's eyes flickered. His expression shifted slightly.
"Where is he? What's his cultivation level, Master?"
The old voice responded with calm certainty.
"Foundation Building realm. Early stage. Recently broke through. He's behind you, hidden with a basic concealment technique."
Meanwhile, Meng Tao narrowed his eyes.
Wait a minute, this scene feels oddly familiar
His thoughts raced.
Aha! Classic! Some arrogant young master sent his lackeys, and now the protagonist's about to flip the script. He even has a ring-grandfather! No wonder he reached Qi Gathering level nine so fast. His aura's tsk, even I feel pressure from it.
Just then, before he could retreat, a sudden burst of killing intent locked onto him.
"Sh*t!"
An attack flew toward him with lethal speed.
Without hesitation, Meng Tao activated his escape technique. In a blur of movement, he darted through the trees, heart pounding.
Damn protagonist aura! It's definitely that ring grandfather who ratted me out!
He didn't dare look back. After all, he was very aware protagonists had plot armor and could punch realms above their level. He wasn't about to test that theory firsthand.
By the time he reached the gates of Vermilion Bird Sect, he was panting, drenched in sweat, and visibly shaken. Only once he passed through the protective formation did he allow himself a breath of relief.
Back in the forest, Lin Fan stood silently, eyes fixed in the direction Meng Tao had vanished.
"It seems he escaped," he muttered.
His master's voice returned, filled with a quiet weight.
"That Foundation Building cultivator is gone. But this incident cannot be hidden. You've slain fellow sect disciples. Sooner or later, the truth will surface. Especially with enemies moving in the shadows."
Lin Fan's fists tightened. After a long pause, he nodded.
"Then my fate with the Vermilion Bird Sect ends here."
He turned, gazing at the sect gate in the far distance his expression filled with a mixture of reluctance and cold resolve.
With a final sigh, he turned his back and walked away, leaving behind the sect he once called home.