"Huff... Damn it."
Pressed tightly against a tree trunk, the young man suppressed every trace of his presence.
His left hand clutched his lower abdomen, blood staining his fingers and the tattered fabric beside them.
He bit his lip hard. Their weapons were laced with a knockout drug—they hadn’t planned to kill him outright.
Well, of course. He still had value. Why waste him so easily?
A cold laugh escaped him. He glanced sideways briefly, then snapped his head back.
"Three, huh?"
His right hand slipped quietly behind him. When it reappeared, a pitch-black dagger rested in his palm!
The blade was small, its dark surface etched with golden veins. In the dim forest, it reflected no light at all.
He checked the trio’s positions once more. The instant their gazes shifted away, he moved!
In that split second, his speed neared its peak.
Like a black panther lying in wait, he shot toward the nearest man!
Hiss!
"W-what...?"
The first target—a middle-aged man in light armor—had barely sensed danger before blood gushed from his neck!
Without hesitation, the young man spun and slammed a palm strike into another’s chest.
Crack!
The man’s metal armor shattered under the blow!
Thud-thud-thud!
The second staggered back five steps, then collapsed onto the weeds with a thud. Blood seeped from his chest, staining the green grass crimson.
"Damn it!"
Two dead instantly. The third’s pupils flickered in shock before he spun to flee!
Mid-retreat, he yanked out a black cylinder.
The young man’s eyes narrowed sharply. Even a grunt was this smart.
But then again—he’d just wiped out two like him. Charging in meant suicide.
The right move was to draw all the searchers here.
"Hmph, can’t allow that!"
His arm snapped up. The black dagger flew like a shadow, piercing straight through the man’s neck!
Squelch!
Momentum unabated, the blade embedded itself firmly into a tree trunk.
The fleeing enemy crashed down, blood spraying anew.
"Cough... Cough, cough."
He pulled the dagger free. His body swayed violently—he’d have collapsed without the tree’s support.
"Has the drug fully kicked in?"
His mind felt sluggish. Though he’d killed them, the toxin had spread completely.
"This... won’t do."
He knew collapsing here meant death. The blood scent would alert them.
Falling into their hands? Unthinkable.
But the drug’s weakness crippled his escape.
Leaning against the tree, he gritted his teeth. Slowly, he raised the short blade.
Slice!
"Ugh..."
A muffled groan escaped as the weapon tore a deep gash into his arm.
Blood sprayed. The searing pain cut through his dizziness.
Without a word, he charged blindly in one direction.
Minutes later, beams of light shattered the darkness.
Dozens of armored figures silently surrounded the clearing.
"Boss, three brothers down. That guy’s work."
The leader’s scarred face remained still. His single eye fixed on a bush—on the blood dripping from its leaves.
A cold smile curled his cracked lips. He waved a massive hand. "Pursue!"
At his command, the group surged like jackals, tracking the blood trail.
Silence reclaimed the forest. Only the stench of blood and corpses remained.
But the calm didn’t last.
The hunters returned moments later.
"Tch, paranoid?" The boss frowned at the undisturbed bush. "He’s truly fading—leaving such an obvious clue. Hmph! Move out!"
They vanished for good.
Unseen above them, perched on an ancient tree, a Shadow melted into the night.
"Fools."
Only when silence returned did the young man drop from the foliage.
He snorted, then sprinted opposite their path.
He’d endured this long on sheer willpower. Without it, he’d have collapsed already.
But hope was thin. They’d realize his trick soon.
And he wasn’t hunted by just one group.
A chilling aura suddenly spiked ahead!
Instinct screamed to dodge—but blood loss and the drug slowed him.
By the time he reacted, a dark green arrow pierced his shoulder!
Squelch!
The force slammed him onto the ground.
"Tch, finally caught you."
Light flooded the area. A youth lowered an emerald bow. Subordinates sealed every exit.
"Cough... Wes?" The young man struggled up, face paling. "So even you... betrayed Father?"
"Heh, betrayal? Lord Zuo Yuan, I chose the stronger side."
Wes grinned, stepping to Zuo Yuan’s side. His boot stomped hard on the chest.
"Watching you—once so mighty—now a ragged dog under my heel? Ultimate pleasure. Pity I can’t kill you myself..."
Kicked onto his back, suffocating pain blackened Zuo Yuan’s vision.
He drew a sharp breath. Beneath him, his hidden fingers closed around an unknown object.
