CHAPTER 54: ARROW

Yanyu ran toward Kyrian. Her heart still raced from what she had just witnessed.

The way Kyrian moved seemed simple from the outside, but every step, every strike, was calculated and fatal. Despite his cultivation being below the beast’s, he had been in control the entire time.

She couldn’t understand why the beasts suddenly slowed down, but she guessed it was another ability of Kyrian’s physique.

’So this is how a genius fights...’

’I guess no matter how hard I try, there will always be a line separating us. Ordinary people, and the chosen ones.’

’Like living in different worlds.’ She thought to herself.

She didn’t feel envy, only a sense that fate was a little unfair. But even if she couldn’t compare to him, she would use everything she could learn from Kyrian. And then she would enter the Verdant Sword Sect.

Kyrian had already collected all the insect corpses into his ring. His breathing was calm again. He stood still, waiting for Yanyu.

Unharmed, without a sign of exhaustion. Even though he had used more than half of his energy to do all this, he was once again wearing his calm, cold look.

Yanyu clenched her fists. She also needed to prove to herself that she had improved in the past few days.

Then, Kyrian told her they would rest for a while to recover their Qi. After that, they headed toward the territory where Yanyu’s mission pointed.

It didn’t take long before they found what they were looking for. From high up in the trees, they heard branches snapping. The beast they were hunting was there.

A deep roar reverberated. A four-armed ape leapt from the tallest trunk.

The beast had grayish fur and scars all over its body, red eyes fixed on the two who had invaded its place.

Kyrian stopped a few meters back, with no intention of moving.

"He’s all yours." He said simply.

Yanyu took a deep breath. Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword. She remembered the movements Kyrian had corrected.

Her eyes locked onto the beast. Qi coursed through her body.

It was a beast with strength comparable to the 6° stage of the Qi Accumulation realm. If it were before, she would never have faced such a beast. She would have fled and found another with lesser strength. But not today.

The ape charged first. Four arms came down like a hammer. Yanyu rolled to the side, kicking up dust. One of the beast’s arms struck the ground beside her with such force that the soil cracked.

She then lunged, slashing her sword at the beast’s flank. The cut wasn’t deep, but it drew blood.

The ape roared, spinning with its other three arms. Yanyu retreated just in time, her blade raised, deflecting by a hair.

The impact vibrated through her bones. But she stood firm. Firmer than ever.

She advanced, no longer retreating as she always would.

The beast came again, more furious. Yanyu waited for the right moment. When the two upper arms came down, she leaned forward, slipping under the attack. Her shoulder crashed into the ape’s belly, unbalancing it for an instant.

Her blade gleamed. A slash cut across the side of the beast’s neck. The roar came quicker, now in pain.

Yanyu stepped back a few paces, slightly breathless, but with a smile on her face. The ape still had strength, but blood was flowing fast.

She remained calm. Her mind repeated Kyrian’s words. Anticipate, control, and strike with precision when you see the opening.

It took a few more minutes of lunges and dodges until she finally found the decisive opening.

The ape raised two arms, preparing a crushing blow. Yanyu acted faster, with a single swift step forward, her sword pierced the ape’s heart.

The heavy body collapsed with a crash, scattering dry leaves.

She then dropped to the ground right after. Sweating, her chest rising and falling quickly. Her Qi was nearly completely depleted.

But the smile was on her face, she had truly fought and defeated a beast stronger than herself.

It was difficult, but she had won. She had really improved.

Kyrian approached in silence. Just watching.

Yanyu smiled at him, a truly foolish smile on her sweat-dripping face.

"I did it..."

Kyrian didn’t reply. He couldn’t, because something in his peripheral vision made him turn.

It was then that something gleamed from the forest.

A whistle cut the air. A swift arrow, fired from afar, tore through the woods. Straight toward Kyrian’s head.

He only tilted his neck slightly to the left.

The arrow brushed past by a hair, slicing the air violently.

It continued its path, pierced through the trunk of a thick tree, left a clean hole, and only stopped when it embedded deep into another tree farther back.

Yanyu’s eyes widened, extremely startled.

Kyrian, however, furrowed his brows.

He raised his gaze toward the direction the arrow came from. Their presence was no longer strange to him.

Among the trees, the group of six mercenaries from the guild revealed themselves. The damn rats that had always been tailing them. Weapons in hand. They had only been waiting for an opportunity.

But something was different. Kyrian noticed immediately, today there weren’t six. Another man appeared.

He hadn’t seen this man in the guild nor in the past days while being followed.

’Were they waiting for this man to arrive before attacking? Is he their leader?’

There was a seventh man. He stood at the front. Tall, wearing a brown cloak that reached his wrists. Kyrian saw the coldness in those eyes.

Kyrian sensed his strength.

He was at the 7° stage of the Qi Accumulation realm.

Definitely, he would be the strongest opponent Kyrian had faced so far.

Kyrian raised his chin, observing the man without hurry. Yanyu stood up, still breathing heavily after the fight. Sword in hand.

Kyrian stepped forward. Covering her with his body.

He immediately noticed the men’s eyes. The strongest of them, their leader, was entirely focused on his hand. On the spatial ring.

The others, already knowing the ring wouldn’t end up with them, were looking at Yanyu instead, as if she were a gift for them.

Kyrian noticed their expressions, and a slight disdain spread across his face.

"What do you want?! You know who—

Yanyu was about to speak of her family, but Kyrian cut her off.

"Don’t waste your breath. They won’t let us leave without a fight, no matter what we say." He said, taking a few steps forward toward the seven.

"Isn’t that right, rats?" Kyrian asked loudly, staring at them.

The mercenaries scowled, offended. But the leader looked at Kyrian and laughed loudly.

"You really are a clever young man. No, clever isn’t the word. Flaunting your wealth around like this is really not clever at all, boy. I hope you learn and take this lesson to your next life." The man said as he too began walking casually toward Kyrian.

Each step, careless, dripping with extreme greed and heavy confidence.

Yanyu rushed forward and grabbed Kyrian’s sleeve. She was about to say something, but upon seeing his cold, firm gaze, without a trace of fear, she let go, swallowing her words.

Kyrian glanced at her, sensing her worry.

"Just wait a little. I’ll finish quickly." Kyrian said, trying to reassure Mu Yanyu.

Then he turned again, walking calmly, a smile curling on his lips as his eyes closed.

’I’ve already tested the eyes and the ice intent enough. Perhaps it’s time for, truly, what I trained for ten years.’

His pupil shifted quickly. The iris in the shape of a snowflake vanished, contracted. The sky-blue faded, replaced by a deep crimson red.

When he opened his eyes again, he no longer saw seven men.

Only seven beating hearts before him.