A Desperate Escape and the Foreshadowing of a First Encounter

Night fell like a heavy black cloth, shrouding Qingyang City. Chen Fan gripped Lin Xiaohu's hand as they raced through the dense forest in the desolate wilderness. Behind them, the shouts of Xianyun Sect disciples echoed faintly, like life-demanding talismans that left them no room to pause.

"Brother Fan, I... I can't run anymore." Lin Xiaohu's breathing grew increasingly ragged. His legs felt as heavy as lead, and sweat slid down his cheeks, glimmering faintly beneath the moonlight. He was only an ordinary boy to begin with; after being terrified on the Punishment Platform and then fleeing for so long, his body had already reached its limit.

Chen Fan stopped and glanced back in the direction they had come from. He could vaguely see several streaks of spiritual light flashing through the woods—cultivators' tracking techniques. Once locked onto by that spiritual light, they could be found no matter where they hid. Gritting his teeth, he crouched down and said to Lin Xiaohu, "Get on. I'll carry you."

"But Brother Fan, you're exhausted too..." Lin Xiaohu hesitated, unwilling to add to Chen Fan's burden.

"Cut the crap!" Chen Fan's tone was firm and brooked no refusal. "As long as we're alive, we still have a chance."

Lin Xiaohu said no more and climbed onto Chen Fan's back. Chen Fan rose to his feet and circulated the little True Energy he had left into his legs, quickening his pace once more. True Energy flowed through his meridians, bringing a faint warmth that eased his fatigue, but he could clearly feel that after breaking through his realm earlier and fighting the Foundation Establishment Disciples, more than half of it had been spent. Now, it could barely sustain him.

They had not gone far when a sharp whistle suddenly cut through the air from the forest ahead. Chen Fan's heart clenched. He swiftly pulled Lin Xiaohu behind him, fists clenched as he stared warily toward the sound.

Three figures leaped out of the woods. At their head was a sinister-looking young man with four cloud patterns embroidered on his cuffs—an early Golden Core cultivator! Behind him stood two Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples. All three radiated icy spiritual energy. They were clearly the people Xianyun Sect had sent to capture them.

"Chen Fan, I didn't expect you to have some skill. You actually managed to kill a disciple of my Xianyun Sect." The sinister youth sneered, his eyes fixed on Chen Fan like a venomous snake's. "But do you think that little bit of strength is enough to escape from beneath Xianyun Sect's gaze?"

Chen Fan said nothing, only pushed Lin Xiaohu farther behind him. He knew the opponents before him were far stronger than the Foundation Establishment Disciples he had faced before. That early Golden Core youth in particular made him feel suffocated with his mere presence. But he could not retreat. If he faltered, both he and Lin Xiaohu would certainly die.

"Senior Brother, don't waste time talking to him. Just kill him and take his head back to report," one of the Foundation Establishment Disciples said. His longsword slid from its sheath, spiritual energy coursing over the blade and radiating a chilling killing intent.

"What's the rush?" The sinister youth waved a hand, his gaze settling on Chen Fan with a trace of mockery. "I'd like to see what gives a martial artist without spiritual roots the nerve to oppose an immortal sect. You two, go. Don't kill him—I want him alive."

The two Foundation Establishment Disciples acknowledged him and charged Chen Fan at the same time. Their swords flashed, and two fierce streams of Sword Qi cleaved toward him. Wherever the Sword Qi passed, trees were severed at the waist, while fallen leaves whirled through the air.

Chen Fan took a deep breath and gathered all his remaining True Energy into his fists. Rather than taking the Sword Qi head-on, he made use of the complicated terrain of the forest to evade attack after attack. He darted among the trees like an agile cheetah, every dodge perfectly timed to avoid the reach of the Sword Qi.

"Will you only run? If you've got the guts, face me head-on!" one Foundation Establishment Disciple roared after repeatedly failing to hit Chen Fan. His sword moved faster, and Sword Qi rained down upon Chen Fan like a storm.

Chen Fan's eyes sharpened. He knew this could not continue. Seizing an opening, he abruptly spun and drove a fist at one Foundation Establishment Disciple's chest. That punch contained all of his True Energy. A faint red glow even shimmered over his knuckles as it tore through the air with a howl.

The disciple had not expected Chen Fan to counterattack so suddenly. Startled, he hastily summoned spiritual energy into a shield before himself. But after unleashing Sword Qi again and again, he had expended a great deal of spiritual energy, and the shield was far weaker than before.

Bang!

The fist struck the shield. Cracks instantly spread across its surface, and it shattered completely the next moment. The punch did not lose momentum and slammed heavily into the Foundation Establishment Disciple's chest.

"Pwah!" The disciple spat out blood as his body flew backward. He crashed into a large tree and fainted on the spot.

Seeing his companion defeated, the other Foundation Establishment Disciple was immediately gripped by fear. But with his Golden Core Senior Brother behind him, he could only charge forward anyway. Chen Fan gave him no time to react. His figure flashed, and he appeared before the man, grabbing his wrist with his left hand before driving his right fist into his abdomen.

Another scream rang out, and the second Foundation Establishment Disciple collapsed to the ground as well.

In mere moments, two Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples had been defeated by Chen Fan. The sinister youth's expression darkened. He had not expected Chen Fan's close-combat ability to be so formidable. Even an early Golden Core cultivator might not gain an advantage against him in close quarters.

"Looks like I'll have to act myself." The sinister youth slowly stepped forward. Spiritual energy surged wildly within him as the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy around him converged, forming a massive vortex of spiritual energy before him. "Let me show you the strength of a Golden Core cultivator!"

Chen Fan's heart sank sharply. He could feel that his opponent's aura was far more powerful than any enemy he had faced before. Even if he gave everything he had, he might not be a match for him. Just then, a clear flute melody drifted from afar. It was melodious, yet carried a strange power that threw the vortex of spiritual energy before the sinister youth into momentary disarray.

The sinister youth frowned and looked toward the source of the flute, a flicker of wariness passing through his eyes. "Who's playing tricks?"

The flute did not stop. Instead, it became clearer and clearer. The sinister youth hesitated for a moment, glanced at Chen Fan, then toward the source of the sound. At last, he gritted his teeth. "You're lucky. I'll spare your life for now." With that, he turned and left in the direction of Xianyun Sect, taking the two unconscious disciples with him.

Chen Fan let out a breath, and his tightly wound body instantly sagged. Cold sweat ran down his forehead. He knew that without that flute melody, he would have found it difficult to escape this calamity.

"Brother Fan, who was playing the flute just now?" Lin Xiaohu poked his head out from behind Chen Fan and asked curiously.

Chen Fan shook his head. "I don't know, but whoever it was, they saved us." He looked toward the source of the flute and saw a white figure flash through the trees before quickly disappearing.

"We need to leave this place at once. That flute may have driven the enemy away, but it could also draw other trouble here," Chen Fan said. He hoisted Lin Xiaohu onto his back again and headed in the direction opposite Xianyun Sect.

The night deepened as the two figures gradually disappeared into the forest. Yet the white figure stood silently atop a treetop not far away, watching them depart with a faint smile curling her lips. In her hand was a jade flute—the very flute that had played that melody. It was Su Muxue.

"What an interesting little fellow. He actually defeated Foundation Establishment Disciples with the strength of the Xiantian Stage, and even forced back an early Golden Core cultivator." Su Muxue murmured softly, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "I wonder what other surprises you'll bring me next."

With that, she turned and leaped down from the treetop, silently following in the direction Chen Fan had gone. Not a sound accompanied her. A tangled thread of fate centered around Chen Fan was quietly beginning to unfold.