Yun Qiang looked in horror as the man stepped towards them. His steps slow yet precise.
Suddenly he started taking out some corpses from his space ring. His arms swinging rhythmically as more bodies piled up around the him.
Sun and Yun Qiang looked on in horror as the men they had killed a few hours ago were displayed at the man's side.
Yun Qiang tightened the grip on his weapon, even if they were at a numeric disadvantage they could still fight their way out of this.
He had just stood up when Sun pointed at a dead body at the bottom of the pile.
"That?!"
Yun Qiang's pupils widened in shock. He recognized that man, Yun Qiang had personally killed him a week ago.
He wanted to speak but he choked on his own words. He let go of his spear, letting it slowly roll on the ground. His body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes darting from face to face. Each one of them had an agonized expression, yet he could recognize them all.
The ruthless soldiers that had injured Hai Ming. The bald man that had ambushed them. The old soldier that covered for the enemy's escape.
They were all people his team had killed in the last two weeks.
He stumbled backwards, Sun's words confirming his fears.
"You were tracking us....."
The man's lips curled upwards, his wide smile looking like that of a demon in the duo's eyes.
He took a step forward.
"You did it right?"
His tone was playful as if their skills amused him.
He took another step, unsheathing his sword in one smooth motion, his hand neatly bringing the blade up before his face, the flat turned toward his opponents.
"Worthy of the black list."
His wrist twisted, turning the blade toward Yun Qiang. For a brief moment, the polished steel reflected the man's cold smile.
Then he attacked.
Foundation Realm
Yun Qiang could barely realize his opponent's realm before the blade closed on him. The attack was extremely fast even people at the Foundation realm would have difficulties dodging it. For people like Yun Qiang it was an undodgeable attack.
The only thing he saw was a gray blur rushing for his neck.
The blade was already a few centimeters away from him. It was too late to dodge.
Suddenly a pull sent Yun Qiang tumbling backward while a spear came into view, expertly blocking the opponent's blade.
Voss had come to save them.
Air rushed into Yun Qiang's lungs, his heart still thumping in his ears, his robes drenched in cold sweat. Hope reigneted inside him.
With Voss here we can make it.
He scrambled for his spear. His eyes darted around the grunts that followed the Foundation realm attacker. He forced himself to calm down while a vague plan started forming in his mind.
We only need to hold on, and deal with that man's subordinate while Voss fights him. He will surely win. Then —
Voss's orders interrupted his newly created stream of thoughts.
"Run!" Voss deflected the enemy's blade, launching a counterattack of his own.
Yun Qiang's growing momentum instantly halted.
"Wha—"
Before he could finish his words a man came out from the shadows, his dagger brimming with killing intent. He closed it on Voss's neck at blinding speed; Yun Qiang could already see him cutting Voss's jugular, killing him on the spot.
However when the blade hit Voss a small golden aura enveloped him, deflecting the blow.
Voss screamed again.
"Run! Now!"
Unwavering determination could be heard in his voice. There was no hint of hesitation or fear.
Yun Qiang felt his mind go blank.
Run?
A mix of confusion, fear, and panic surfaced in his mind. Voss was his mentor, he was someone that had supported him countless times during the war. He didn't want to leave. Why couldn't they fight the rest?
Voss screamed again, this time a hint of panic could be heard in his voice.
"Run! All of them are at the Foundation realm!"
Yun Qiang's pupils widened in shock, his heart beating hastily.
All ten of them?!
Yun Qiang's determination shattered. Fighting against one Foundation realm cultivator was difficult enough when he had time to prepare. Fighting an entire group on the spot? It was an impossible task for him.
He knew it. Yet he couldn't bring himself to run away from his captain.
Thoughts of running away started surfacing in his mind, but they were crushed by a flood of memories.
His first night outside the Fortress when Voss had reassured him. The time spent dueling and training together. How Voss had taught him the basics of cultivation and warfare. How he had saved Lee when all of them thought he was doomed to die. How he watched over them when scouting.
Yun Qiang's breathing quickened. He couldn't leave.
He had always watched Voss from behind. Admiring him, imitating his moves, trying his best to imitate Voss's calm and steady demeanor.
But he had never managed to replicate it.
His movements were too slow. His mind too fragile, too easily overtaken by panic and violence. Even the way he carried himself felt wrong when compared to Voss. His presence didn't emanate the same sense of security and steadiness as his captain's.
But now. Now was his chance.
To stand beside him. To repay his debt. To honor their time together.
His body trembled as he stepped forward.
Even if he died, he wanted to help.
A hand grabbed his wrist, pulling him away from the duel.
It was Sun.
For a second Yun Qiang thought he would resist the pull. He thought his instincts would push him forward, braving the group of cultivators. Facing a deadly battle to help his captain.
However the truth was different.
When Sun pulled him away he didn't resist.
Even if his mind screamed for a fight. It screamed about honor, loyalty, camaraderie. It was all a lie. His instinct only wanted him to run away. His inner self wanted to leave Voss to die.
He wanted to survive.
Tears started streaming down his cheeks as Voss's figure became smaller and smaller in his vision.
For a moment Yun Qiang met Voss's gaze. It was a complex gaze filled with various emotions.
His pupils shone bright with pride and hope, yet his eyes looked sharp and determined. In its depths Yun Qiang could see a tinge of remorse and something else that he couldn't describe. It didn't look like the gaze of a man that was about to die, it looked more like someone going back home. As if that fight was where he truly belonged.
That visage was something Yun Qiang would never forget in his entire life.
A man, facing against impossible odds, relentlessly fighting with no hesitation, no remorse; saving others but not himself.
It was the mark of a righteous cultivator. The visage of a true hero.
As Sun's tug grew stronger Yun Qiang was forced to shift his gaze away from Voss. His mouth letting out a silent scream.
He felt it. Voss would die today.
Pain and remorse assaulted his heart, his tears becoming more and more, blurring his vision. His chest started trembling, letting out a series of uncontrollable sobs. His legs started running by themselves without needing Sun's encouragement.
Why?
He continued running, Sun, Lee, and Hai's figures just a blur in his eyes.
Why did I kill them?
The memories of this morning's fight played repeatedly before his eyes. His brutal attack, his maddened moves.
We should have run.
He lowered his head. His body breaking into a desperate run.
If we didn't kill them, then Voss wouldn't....
His mind couldn't complete this thought. He couldn't accept this. His body accelerated once again. He wanted to go as far as he could. As if getting far enough from the fight could prevent Voss's death.
Voss dodged another strike. Pain flared through his legs, but he ignored it and thrust forward. The tip of his spear grazed Tian Lao's cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Struggle more."
Tian Lao advanced, striking from an awkward angle, his blade slipping in like a snake.
Voss blocked, then forced himself forward, locking their weapons.
"Tian Lao…"
He muttered the name as if it was a curse. A name that filled his heart with both sadness and rage.
A sudden kick slammed into his stomach. Blood spilled from his mouth as he bent forward, barely managing to stay upright with the support of his spear.
Their eyes met.
Voss's burned with hatred. Tian Lao's gleamed with cold amusement.
Then the flat of Tian Lao's blade crashed into his shoulder, sending him to the ground. Even as he fell, his grip on the spear remained firm.
He refused to let it go;the duel had to continue. He had to resist.
Tian Lao looked down on him.
"How long has it been?"
A knife flew from the spectators, piercing Voss's legs. He screamed, his body twisting in pain as his spear slipped from his grasp and rolled across the forest floor.
"Ten minutes?"
Tian Lao kicked Voss's spear closer, inciting his opponent to continue fighting.
"Your teacher resisted till the fourth knife. Can you do better?"
Voss stared at him, his eyes burning with hatred, his heavy breathing echoing in the otherwise silent forest.
Under the amused gaze of Tian Lao, he slowly reached for his weapon, every movement further draining his strength.
As he struggled to get up, a series of mocking cheers erupted from Tian Lao's subordinates. Some of them called him dog, others a second rate fighter. They were clearly enjoying the brutal spectacle. No one seemed to care for the escapees that had disappeared from their line of sight during the duel.
They knew they could track them down later. They were experts. Their pride as hunters kept them from paying too much attention to uninteresting preys like Yun Qiang and Sun.
The duel restarted.
Voss lunged forward, his injured self only managing a weak offensive. Tian Lao effortlessly deflected the attacks, his movements flowing with an almost casual rhythm.
After Voss's first defeat, Tian Lao's cold expression had switched to one of playfulness. He knew this prey couldn't escape him anymore.
This duel was only for his enjoyment. A playful hum escaped Tian Lao as his enjoyment became more and more apparent.
The feeling of controlling the fight, Voss's pained expression, the cheers from the surrounding crowd, the dwindling hope in his opponent's eyes.
This was why he hunted. Why he had delayed his breakthrough to the Golden Core realm.
To hunt.
To control.
To kill.
Suddenly, he sped up, deflecting Voss's attack before sending him to the ground with the pommel of his blade.
Tian Lao snapped his fingers. A fourth knife flew from the crowd piercing Voss's leg.
"mmmm"
Tian Lao cheerfully hummed as Voss's screams of pain echoed in the forest.
"Since you amused me. I will give you a chance to buy more time for your subordinates"
Voss's pupils widened, the light of hope quickly reigniting his dull eyes.
Tian Lao licked his lips, he loved this kind of scenes.
"Get up and fight me once again. If you can survive the fifth knife, then I will give you 10 minutes to run away from here"
His hands caressed his unsheathed blade, his mind already tasting Voss's last struggle.
"Until you die, we won't search for your little companions. We won't even harm them if we happen to find them before you."
The sadistic promise was enough.
Under the excited gaze of Tian Lao, Voss forced himself upright, his body trembling. Blood poured from his wounds, staining his gray robe a deep shade of red. His legs burned, his body screamed in protest, but he forced himself forward, every step consuming what little remained of his strength.
He charged at Tian Lao, his movements slower than most mortals while pain obfuscated his ability to think.
Tian Lao licked his lips before grounding Voss using only a single slap. It was the most humiliating way to end their fight.
Tian Lao started laughing, the crowd formed by his subordinates following him in his laughter.
However Voss didn't care about being humiliated instead he smiled. The expression remained clearly etched on his face, even when the fifth knife struck him.
He had gained ten minutes for his squad to leave and hide their tracks. Now he only needed to run in the opposite direction of Sun and Yun Qiang's retreat, and he could lead the pursuers farther away from them.
The sound of Tian Lao's clapping caught his attention, bringing him back to reality.
"That was a good try"
The crowd snickered.
"You have 10 minutes. Now get out of my sight"
Voss struggled to rise, his movements slow but steady. The pain from his injuries seemed nothing compared to the opportunity he had been given.
Once he was up, he started moving away from the clearing, his spear supporting his injured legs.
However, just before he left, Tian Lao's voice reached him again.
"Ah… one more thing."
Voss stopped, a terrible premonition forming in his heart.
"You are not the real prey for today's hunt."
Even without turning, Voss felt like he could see Tian Lao's sinister smile.
"Run Voss Tavarest. Try to make this hunt more interesting"
For a moment, Voss's mind fell into chaos, freezing him in place. But the confusion lasted only a few breaths.
Then he started running.
He didn't care if his movements further damaged his body, or if the pain constantly flooding his mind blurred his vision. He cared about only one thing.
Time.
He had to buy enough time for his subordinates to completely run away.
On the other side, Tian Lao smiled gleefully as he watched Voss disappear in the forest.
The fifth knife was poisoned. Voss wouldn't last an hour.