Shen Yue's heart tightened as he scanned the chaotic battlefield.
No escape without a fight, he thought, the realization settling like a stone in his chest.
The blood-stained moon hung low, casting an eerie crimson glow over the convoy.
Clone 1 stood beside him, Hyper Sense active, his eyes sharp with focus.
The ability, recently advanced to the Small Success Realm, painted the battlefield in his mind—every shadow, every threat.
Bandits clashed with shadow guards ahead, their blades flashing under the moonlight.
Retreat was futile; a fleeing guard's corpse, cut down moments ago, was a grim warning.
The remaining guards, tasked with protecting Young Master Su, fought with desperate resolve, knowing their duty might cost their lives.
Shen Yue gave a subtle nod.
Clone 1's voice echoed in his mind, calm and obedient. "As you wish, Master."
In a blur, the clone unleashed Raging Wind Wolf Steps, his movements fluid as a predator's.
His sword gleamed, unsheathed in an instant, its cold edge catching the moonlight.
The massacre began.
Most bandits were 3rd or 4th Realm Blood Qi cultivators, with a few at the 8th and one at the 9th.
To Clone 1, they were mere shadows to be cut down.
He moved like a phantom, his blade slicing through flesh with merciless precision.
One strike, one life.
Screams pierced the night, silenced by steel.
Shen Yue watched, his expression unreadable but his heart stirring with quiet admiration.
A lone figure under the crimson moon, cloaked in red, face shadowed by a conical hat…
A reaper among men.
He exhaled, gazing skyward.
Why must you always force my hand? he whispered to the heavens, the moon's bloody hue mirroring the carnage below.
Within minutes, the weaker bandits lay dead.
Only the elite remained—the 9th and 8th Realm warriors and their leader.
The convoy's guards stared, awestruck.
They had fought to survive, yet this mysterious swordsman had decimated nearly a hundred foes in moments.
Whispers rippled among them: Who is this cultivator?
The bandit leader's confidence faltered, his eyes wide with fear.
Despite their Qi Absorption rank, he and his elites sensed death in the clone's calm demeanor.
Inside the carriage, Su Long, third young master of the Su family, observed silently.
A 1st Realm Qi Absorption cultivator, his true strength lay in his cunning mind.
He'd been watching Shen Yue and his clone since the journey began, his instincts marking them as extraordinary.
Shen Yue leads, and this swordsman serves, he deduced, his merchant's eye sharp.
As Clone 1 felled another bandit, Su Long stepped from the carriage.
A shadow guard moved to shield him, but Su Long raised a hand.
"Stand down," he said, striding toward Shen Yue.
Clone 1 reacted instantly, his sword flashing to Su Long's neck, steady and lethal.
Su Long froze but didn't flinch, his voice calm. "I, Su Long, greet you, young master."
Shen Yue's eyes narrowed.
He'd heard of Su Long—the calculative genius of the Su family, heir to the outer city's largest merchant group.
With a faint gesture, he signaled Clone 1 to lower the blade.
Su Long's gamble had paid off, though a bead of sweat betrayed his nerves.
Su Long's smile was measured.
"Young master, I seek your aid to end the gang leader. In return, the Su family offers friendship—VIP access with a twenty percent discount on all purchases. In the inner city, our connections can serve you."
Shen Yue's interest sparked.
Such benefits could ease his path in this unforgiving world.
"If the third young master shows such goodwill," he said, his tone even, "how can I refuse?"
Su Long's smile widened, relief flickering in his eyes.
The bandit leader, sensing his doom, hurled his men at the shadow guards and turned to flee.
Clone 1's voice cut through the chaos, cold as ice. "You can't run."
A single slash sent the leader's head tumbling.
The remaining elites fell swiftly to the shadow guards, their morale shattered.
The lead guard's heart trembled.
He'd thought himself formidable, but this swordsman's strike—felling a 9th Realm cultivator in one blow—humbled him.
Clone 1 approached Shen Yue, bowing deeply. "Done, young master."
"Good," Shen Yue replied, his voice steady.
Silently, he commanded the system: "Extract."
The system's mechanical voice responded:
"Extraction complete: Blood Qi Cultivation—4th Realm ×104, 5th Realm ×126, 8th Realm ×3, 9th Realm ×1; Qi Absorption Cultivation—3rd Realm ×1."
Shen Yue opened his cultivation window, a faint smile curving his lips.
Muscle Strengthening Realm: 3rd Grade (0%);
Beast Qi: 2nd Rank Beast;
Qi Absorption Realm: 5th Grade (7%).
His Blood Qi had surged, and his Qi Absorption had broken through to the 5th stage.
Just like that.
Su Long, nearby, issued a quiet order.
"Rest for one hour, then resume the journey."
He turned to Shen Yue. "Young master, how may I address you?"
"Shen Yue," he replied calmly. "And this is Mr. Wolf."
Su Long nodded, committing the names to memory without prying.
"Please, join me in the carriage," he said, gesturing respectfully.
Shen Yue and Clone 1 entered, settling across from Su Long.
The merchant served his finest tea, the aroma rich and grounding.
His eyes lingered on the pair, wary but intrigued.
"May I ask your purpose here, Young Master Shen?" he ventured, his tone casual.
Shen Yue sipped the tea, savoring its warmth.
"Good tea," he said. "I'm here to check on my family, to see if they're well."
Su Long's smile was knowing.
"As expected, Young Master Shen is a gentleman."
Shen Yue chuckled softly.
"And so are you, Su Long."
Clone 1 nodded, his voice quiet. "The tea is excellent. I like it."
Shen Yue's brow arched, teasing.
"Oh? You enjoy tea now? I thought swords were your only love."
"Master knows me best," Clone 1 replied, a faint smile breaking his stoic facade.
"Tch, you're no fun," Shen Yue said, grinning.
An hour later, the convoy resumed its journey.
Shen Yue closed his eyes, murmuring, "I'll enter the Soul World to train and review memories. Wake me when we arrive."
Hours passed in silence.
When Clone 1's mental nudge stirred him, Shen Yue opened his eyes, peering out the carriage window.
The outer city's familiar silhouette sparked a pang of nostalgia.
Home.
Stepping out, he whispered, "Wait for me, Mother, Sister. I'm coming."
Clone 1 stood beside him, a silent mirror of his resolve.
Shen Yue signaled the system, and the clone vanished, ready for the next step.
This is only the beginning, he thought, his heart set on the path ahead.