Chen Xinhu ran fast. For the first time in her life, she wished she could grow two more legs.
She pushed her lightness technique to its limit in the dense woods, weaving left and right and plunging into the thickest patches of thorns.
She hoped the vines, dead branches, and loose stones along the way would slow the man behind her and give her a sliver of hope of escape.
But it was useless.
Yi Yang's perception remained locked firmly onto her.
He deployed Treading Water to Cross the River at the completion stage, powerful Inner Energy supporting his entire body.
Even if Chen Xinhu's movement technique had been superb, she could not have matched Yi Yang in this battle of endurance, let alone when her technique was merely average.
The distance between them shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Finally, when Chen Xinhu looked back for the third time, she saw the figure closing in on her, and every last trace of color drained from her face.
The gray-robed old man hung just a few yards behind her. His steps seemed unhurried, yet she simply could not shake him off, like a festering sore clinging to her bones.
She realized Yi Yang was toying with her.
The realization made Chen Xinhu grind her teeth in hatred. When had a notorious villain like her ever suffered such humiliation?
But she had no choice. To survive, she could only charge desperately ahead, hoping to win a sliver of a chance.
Yet as she advanced, the woods ahead suddenly grew sparse.
The soil beneath her feet softened, loose stones became more plentiful, and the thorn bushes gave way to short grass.
Then-there was nowhere left to go.
Chen Xinhu skidded to a stop before a vast lake.
An immense