Li Wei and Chen Yu raced through the thickets, branches whipping their faces, their breaths ragged from the exertion. Behind them, footsteps and muffled commands echoed—Wang Zi and his men were not far behind. Moonlight barely filtered through the leaves, and Li Wei relied on instincts and the faint system prompt:
Escape probability: 50%. Recommendation: find shelter or create a distraction.
His energy had dropped to 45%, and "Wind Step" was still on cooldown. Continuing to run was risky.
"Chen Yu, where now?" Li Wei hissed, dragging him along. "You know the courtyard—think of something!"
Chen Yu, panting heavily, pointed to a dark silhouette ahead.
"The old training pavilion," he gasped. "There's a lot of junk there. We can hide. But if they corner us inside, there'll be no way out."
Li Wei gritted his teeth. The pavilion sounded like a trap, but the open paths of the courtyard were even worse. He nodded, and they dashed towards the dilapidated building, its roof caved in at several spots.
Inside, the air was damp, smelling of rust and decay. The floor was littered with the broken remains of wooden mannequins and old targets. Li Wei pulled Chen Yu behind a pile of planks, listening intently. Footsteps outside slowed down.
Wang Zi's voice, cold and sharp, cut through the silence:
"They're close. Liu Feng, check the pavilion. Huang Jia, circle around back."
Li Wei felt Chen Yu trembling beside him. He shot him a glare, whispering:
"Don't even think about panicking. If you give us away, I'll take you out first."
Chen Yu let out a nervous chuckle but nodded. The system updated the mission:
Additional Objective: Escape from Wang Zi undetected — Threat level increased. New Objective: Outsmart the pursuers. Reward: +25 Reputation Points, Information on Wang Zi. Penalty: Capture.
Li Wei scanned the pavilion. Debris, rusty chains, a few old spears in the corner—not much of an arsenal, but enough for a distraction. He noticed a narrow gap in the wall leading to a back exit, but it was too small for a quick escape. An idea struck him: if he could lure Liu Feng inside and cause chaos, they might slip out while Wang Zi was distracted.
"Help me," Li Wei whispered, pointing at the pile of planks. "Stack them so they collapse when someone walks in. Quick."
Chen Yu, still looking terrified, began moving the boards, arranging a precarious structure near the entrance. Li Wei pulled over a rusty chain, setting it up as a trigger. If Liu Feng stepped in, the boards would crash down, creating noise and delay.
System Highlight: Distraction Success Probability: 60%.
The pavilion door creaked, and Liu Feng's shadow appeared in the doorway. Li Wei held his breath, readying "Dancing Leaf" in case the trap failed. Chen Yu pressed himself to the floor, eyes wide.
Liu Feng took a step inside, and the planks collapsed with a loud crash, raising a cloud of dust.
From outside, Wang Zi shouted:
"What's going on?!"
Li Wei grabbed Chen Yu and bolted for the gap in the wall, hoping the chaos would buy them a few seconds. But he knew one thing—Wang Zi wouldn't be fooled that easily.
---
Li Wei squeezed through the narrow gap in the pavilion wall, feeling the sharp edges scrape his robe. Chen Yu followed, stumbling but silent—fear had forced him to keep it together. Behind them, Liu Feng's shouts and Wang Zi's sharp commands echoed through the night.
The dust cloud raised by the trap gave them a short window, but Li Wei knew it wouldn't last.
System Warning: Escape probability: 45%. Energy: 40%.
They tumbled into the overgrown brush behind the pavilion, where the grass reached their knees. Li Wei dropped to the ground, motioning for Chen Yu to do the same. Moonlight illuminated the courtyard, but the undergrowth offered some cover. He scanned the area, looking for a path to safety.
In the distance, barracks loomed, but heading there would be suicide—Wang Zi likely had lookouts posted. The only viable option was the boundary of the outer courtyard, where the wooded hills began.
"To the forest," Li Wei whispered. "If we reach the trees, we'll lose them."
Chen Yu nodded, though his face was pale. Li Wei noticed him clutching something in his pocket—maybe another fruit, or something more dangerous.
System Highlight: Probability of Chen Yu's betrayal: 15%.
Li Wei decided to keep him close to maintain control. They crawled through the thicket, careful not to rustle the grass. Behind them, branches snapped—Liu Feng was free from the rubble.
Wang Zi shouted:
"Huang Jia, to the forest! They can't have gone far!"
Li Wei clenched his teeth. Wang Zi was sharp—he had anticipated their route. "Wind Step" was still on cooldown, and his energy was running low.
Objective: Outsmart the pursuers. Progress: 30%.
Ahead, a ditch covered with bushes came into view. Li Wei pointed at it, and they slid down, pressing themselves against the damp ground. Chen Yu was trembling but remained silent.
Li Wei noticed stones scattered at the bottom and picked one up, forming a plan. If he threw it in the opposite direction of the forest, it might draw Huang Jia's attention.
He whispered to Chen Yu:
"When I throw it, count to three and run to the forest. Don't look back."
Chen Yu nodded, his eyes gleaming with tension. Li Wei hurled the stone into the bushes to the right. The stone hit the ground with a crack, and Huang Jia's footsteps pounded in that direction.
Counting silently, Li Wei bolted for the forest, hearing Chen Yu's footsteps close behind. They plunged into the cover of the trees, where the darkness swallowed them.
Li Wei paused, listening. The pursuers' footsteps faded, but Wang Zi's commanding voice remained:
"They're in the forest. Find them, or I'll deal with you myself."
Sweat trickled down Li Wei's temple.
System Update: Escape probability: 55%. Recommendation: Find shelter in the forest.
He knew this was their last chance to vanish. Yet something warned him that Wang Zi wouldn't give up so easily.
---
Li Wei and Chen Yu moved cautiously through the forest, where the thick canopy almost entirely blocked out the moonlight. Roots snatched at their feet, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine.
System Status: Energy: 35%. Escape Probability: 60%.
Li Wei felt exhaustion creeping into his body, but stopping was not an option. Wang Zi and his men were somewhere behind, and though the sounds of pursuit had grown fainter, they still broke through the rustling of the forest.
"Chen Yu," Li Wei whispered, grabbing his sleeve to keep him from tripping. "Do you know this forest? Is there any place we can hide? A cave, a ravine, anything?"
Chen Yu, breathing heavily, wiped sweat from his forehead.
"There's… an old hut," he managed. "Hunters from the sect used to use it. Not far, past the stream. But it's half-collapsed, and… it feels eerie."
"Eerie?" Li Wei squinted. "Better than Wang Zi's fists. Lead the way."
Chen Yu guided him through the undergrowth, following faint trails. Li Wei remained vigilant, checking the system:
Mission "Outsmart the Pursuers": Progress: 40%. Additional Objective: Find shelter in the forest. Reward: +15 Reputation Points.
Chen Yu kept glancing back, as if expecting an ambush, which made Li Wei uneasy. Eventually, they reached a stream, its murmur masking other sounds. A rickety log bridge crossed the murky water. Chen Yu pointed at a dark shape beyond the trees—a decrepit hut, its roof partially collapsed, and walls covered in moss.
Li Wei felt a chill. The place looked abandoned, but something about it felt unsettling.
System Highlight: Probability of danger in the hut: 20%.
"Are you sure it's safe?" Li Wei asked, stopping at the bridge.
Chen Yu shrugged, his voice shaky. "Safer than here. Wang Zi doesn't know about the hut. Come on, brother, we don't have time."
Li Wei nodded, though his instincts screamed caution. They crossed the bridge and entered the hut. Inside, it was dark, smelling of rot and something metallic. The floor was scattered with leaves and broken furniture, and a rusty hunting knife lay discarded in the corner.
Li Wei picked it up, testing the balance. Not a sword, but better than nothing.
"We'll hide here," he whispered, indicating a pile of planks against the wall.
They squeezed behind it, pressing themselves against the cold floor.
System Update: Additional Objective completed: Find shelter in the forest. Reward: +15 Reputation Points.
But before they could relax, the sound of snapping branches came from outside. Li Wei tensed, gripping the knife. Wang Zi's voice, cold and calculating, sounded dangerously close:
"They couldn't have gone far. Check the stream and beyond. I can feel them."
Li Wei exchanged a tense glance with Chen Yu. The latter was pale, his hands trembling. Li Wei knew that if Wang Zi found the hut, they would have to either fight or flee—both bad options. He started forming a plan, but deep down, he sensed that this night would change everything.
---
Li Wei shoved Chen Yu towards the gap in the back wall of the hut, but he himself stayed behind, pressing against the planks. Liu Feng had returned to the doorway, coughing from the dust, while Wang Zi's voice outside grew louder, issuing new orders.
System Update: Escape Probability: 45%. Energy: 30%. Mission "Outsmart the Pursuers": 60% progress.
Li Wei knew that the distraction with the bow had only bought them a brief respite. If Wang Zi entered the hut, their chances of escape would plummet.
Chen Yu squeezed through the gap, his robe catching on the rotten wood, but he tore free and vanished into the darkness. Li Wei tightened his grip on the rusty knife, weighing his options. Run after Chen Yu? Too late—Liu Feng was already searching the hut, his club thudding against crates.
Fight? Maybe against Liu Feng, but Wang Zi was on a completely different level.
Then Li Wei noticed a pile of dry leaves in the corner and remembered the smoke. If he started a fire, it could create enough confusion to give them a chance.
He crawled to the pile, hiding behind crates, searching for something to ignite it. In his pocket, he found a flint lighter—a keepsake from a past life, kept out of sentimentality. Li Wei struck it near the leaves, and they caught fire, the flames spreading quickly through the dry twigs.
Smoke filled the hut, and Li Wei dashed to the gap, hoping the chaos would give him cover.
Outside, Liu Feng shouted:
"Fire! Brother Wang, the hut's on fire!"
Li Wei squeezed through the gap, feeling the heat at his back. He tumbled into the bushes, where Chen Yu was waiting, his face a mix of fear and relief.
"You're crazy, brother!" Chen Yu whispered. "You burned the hut down!"
"At least we're alive," Li Wei snapped, glancing back. Smoke billowed upward, and Wang Zi's men were scrambling in confusion, trying to figure out what had happened.
System Prompt: Mission "Outsmart the Pursuers" completed. Reward: +25 Reputation Points, Information on Wang Zi: Has access to Inner Courtyard techniques, ambitious, seeking a sect artifact.
Li Wei grabbed Chen Yu's arm, pulling him deeper into the forest.
"Run while they're distracted."
They pushed through the brush until the hut was out of sight and Wang Zi's shouts faded. Li Wei felt his energy draining—Energy: 20%—but adrenaline kept him moving. He knew the fire would attract the elders' attention, which could be both an advantage and a problem.
Wang Zi wouldn't forget this, and that meant Li Wei had to grow stronger—and fast.
"What now, brother?" Chen Yu panted. "You're enemy number one for Wang Zi now."
Li Wei stopped to catch his breath, his mind racing. The artifact that the system mentioned could be the key. If Wang Zi wanted it, Li Wei needed to find it first. He glanced at Chen Yu, still unsure whether to fully trust him, but aware that he needed allies.
"What now?" Li Wei wiped the sweat from his forehead. "We find a way to beat him. But first... I need rest. And a plan."
Chen Yu snorted but nodded. Li Wei knew that this night had changed everything. He was no longer just a disciple—he was a target. And that only fueled his determination to move forward.
---
Li Wei and Chen Yu stopped deeper in the forest, where the trees stood so close that the moonlight barely pierced through the canopy. Li Wei leaned against a trunk, feeling his heart pounding and his legs trembling from exhaustion.
System Status: Energy: 15%. Mission "Avoid Conflict with Wang Zi" failed. New Mission: Find information about the sect artifact. Reward: +50 Reputation Points, access to the Technique Pavilion. Penalty: Intensified enmity with Wang Zi.
The smoke from the burning hut still hung in the air, a stark reminder of the price they paid for their escape. Chen Yu collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily. His usual bravado had vanished, leaving him looking like a man who had just cheated death.
"Brother, you're insane," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Burning down the hut? If the elders find out, they'll expel us. Or worse."
"They'll only find out if you blab," Li Wei shot back, glaring at him. "And don't pretend you didn't know what you were getting into. You're the one who dragged me into that tunnel."
Chen Yu raised his hands defensively.
"Hey, I saved your skin! Without me, you'd be lying there with broken ribs." He paused, then added more quietly, "But, brother, Wang Zi won't stop now. Did you see his eyes? He wants your head."
Li Wei nodded, his thoughts fixated on the new mission. The artifact the system mentioned wasn't just a lure—it could be his trump card. If Wang Zi was searching for it, that meant it was valuable, possibly capable of enhancing cultivation or granting a unique technique.
But where to look? And how to stay ahead of Wang Zi without drawing the elders' attention?
He summoned the system to check his progress:
Cultivation: Mortal Level, 1st Stage, 22% to breakthrough.
Azure Flow Technique: 30%.
Dancing Leaf Technique: 12%.
The breathing meditation tablet, hidden under his robe, was his best chance for acceleration. But without a safe place to cultivate, he risked becoming easy prey.
"Chen Yu," Li Wei lowered his voice, "do you know anything about the sect artifact? Rumors, gossip, anything."
Chen Yu squinted, his face becoming more serious.
"Artifact?" He thought for a moment, tugging at the edge of his robe. "There's some talk. They say in the old ruins beyond the forest, there's something related to the sect founder. But no one goes there—too many spirit beasts, and the elders forbid it. Why do you ask? Planning another crazy stunt?"
Li Wei didn't answer, but his mind raced. Ruins? It was a lead—a dangerous one, but worth it. He looked at Chen Yu, evaluating how much he could trust him.
System Highlight: Probability of Chen Yu's betrayal: 10%. Recommendation: Propose a deal.
Li Wei decided to appeal to his pragmatic side.
"If I find something valuable, I'll share," he said. "But I need your help. Keep an eye on Wang Zi, find out what he's planning. In return, I'll cover for you if the elders start asking questions."
Chen Yu smirked, but there was a glint of interest in his eyes.
"Deal, brother. But keep in mind—if you're diving into the ruins, I'm not following. I'm an informant, not a hero."
Li Wei nodded, feeling the night air grow colder. The fire, the chase, Wang Zi—all of it was just the beginning. The sect artifact had become his new goal, and he knew he would have to risk everything for it.
He sat down, catching his breath, and watched as Chen Yu inspected his scraped palms. Li Wei couldn't afford to rest for long. The night had changed his path, and he couldn't help but feel that finding the artifact was his only way to survive—and to finally stand on equal footing with Wang Zi.