Just as our fists clashed again, a figure suddenly cut between us, pulling her away.
"Lin Mei! Why are you here?!" she shouted, her voice sharp with surprise.
The young man — her brother — stood protectively in front of her, glaring at me.
"Little sister," he said in a low, angry tone, "what the hell are you doing fighting him?"
"It's nothing," Lin Mei said quickly, brushing herself off as she faced her brother. "I'm just testing if he's an enemy or not."
Her brother didn't look convinced. His sharp glare pinned me down as he sized me up, his lip curling slightly.
"Hmph. From the looks of it, he's definitely not from here," he sneered. "Face too ugly to be called Chinese like us."
I felt a flicker of anger flash across my expression, my jaw tightening at the insult.
Then he suddenly shouted, voice booming through the clearing, "Have you no honor?! Fighting a little girl — do you intend to kill her?"
Lin Mei opened her mouth to reply, but her brother quickly raised a hand, silencing her. His glare never left me, burning with accusation.
I met his stare without flinching, voice calm and even.
"As you can see," I said, nodding toward Lin Mei, "she has no broken bones. Only a few bruises. I was holding back."
"Holding back?!" he spat, eyes narrowing into a sharp glare as he took a step toward me. "Have you no shame? You fight a little girl and expect me to believe you weren't trying to kill her?"
Lin Mei moved to stop him, her hand gripping his arm tightly. "Brother, that's enough—"
But he shrugged her off with a harsh jerk, his gaze never leaving mine. I could feel his hostility rising, the heat of his anger practically radiating from him.
I stayed calm, my expression unreadable. "Guess you're not much of an ideal brother," I said coolly, letting the words linger between us. "Looks like no one ever taught you manners."
A bitter scoff escaped his lips as he crossed his arms, his eyes scanning me with disdain. "Manners? From someone like you?" He shook his head, a cruel grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Why is that? Is your family dead or something?"
For a split second, the world seemed to go still.
I felt something twist inside me—cold, sharp, and unforgiving.
"Don't," I warned, my voice low and dangerous, the calmness in my tone slipping away as my anger rose to the surface. "Don't mention my family."
He took a step closer, taunting me with every breath. "Why shouldn't I?" he sneered. "You show up here, attack my sister, and now you want to play the victim? If your family's dead because of your shitty attitude—" He leaned in, his grin widening, "—then good. They probably deserved it."
The last thread of restraint snapped.
I moved before he could even register it.
In one swift motion, I dashed forward, my arm slamming hard into his neck in a brutal lariat. His eyes widened in shock, the cockiness fading in an instant as I dragged him with vicious force. His body crashed into the nearest wall, the impact sending a deep crack through the stone as dust shook loose.
I didn't let go.
His feet dangled just off the ground, his breath caught in his throat as I held him there, eyes cold and steady, my fury barely contained.
"You talk big," I said quietly, my voice steady despite the storm raging beneath it, "but you don't know a damn thing about me—or my family."
He choked, struggling against my grip, but I tightened it just enough to remind him who had control.
"You want to run your mouth again?" I asked, leaning in closer, my gaze sharp enough to cut through him. "Go ahead. But next time, I won't hold back."
The silence that followed was thick and suffocating. Lin Mei stood frozen, eyes wide, unsure whether to intervene. Her brother, once so confident, could only glare back, the weight of his earlier words now hanging heavy in the air.
I finally released him, letting him crumple to the ground, gasping for breath.
"Next time," I repeated, stepping back with a cold glare, "think twice before talking about things you know nothing about."
But sometimes, people just don't learn.
The moment I turned my back, thinking he'd gotten the message, I caught the sharp shift in the air—too late.
His fist slammed into my back with all the strength he could muster, the impact jolting through me. I stumbled forward from the force, skidding across the ground.
For a moment, there was silence. Dust rose around me, the tension hanging thick.
Then slowly, I straightened, brushing the dirt off my clothes. I turned my head slightly, just enough for him to see the wide grin curling on my lips—a grin that didn't reach my eyes.
"You've been warned," I said, my voice low, almost a whisper, but it carried a dangerous edge.
When he saw my face—my murderous grin, my eyes gleaming with cold fury—his own smugness faltered.
I cracked my knuckles, the sound loud and deliberate in the heavy air.
"You just made the worst mistake of your life."
Without hesitation, I activated it in my mind—Colossus Form.
A sudden pulse of energy surged through my body. My muscles tightened, hardening like living stone, my frame bulking slightly as strength and durability flooded every fiber of my being. The ground beneath my feet cracked faintly from the sheer pressure radiating off me.
His eyes widened, stepping back instinctively—but it was already too late.
"Your warning's over," I muttered coldly.
Lowering my stance, I launched forward at full speed, activating Freight Breaker.
In a blur, I crashed into him like a runaway train, my shoulder slamming into his gut with brutal force. The air left his lungs in a ragged gasp as I kept the momentum, lifting him clean off the ground.
I spun, rotating my body with crushing force, and slammed him into the earth with a thunderous crash that sent a shockwave through the clearing.
The ground trembled. Dust and leaves exploded upward.
I stood over him, looking down with a calm, merciless gaze.
"This is what happens," I said, my voice like steel, "when you insult the dead."
I grabbed his throat before he could recover, lifting him slightly off the ground.
Without a shred of hesitation, I headbutted him viciously.
The impact echoed like a drumbeat through the clearing.
He groaned, trying to raise his arms to block—but I didn't give him a chance.
I smashed through his feeble defense with sheer brute force, grabbed him by the collar, and slammed him into the dirt again.
"—Ackk!" he gasped, struggling for air.
I hauled him back up like he weighed nothing, staring into his dazed eyes.
Then I let go —only to follow up immediately.
In my mind, I triggered it—Whirlwind Rush.
My body blurred, twisting violently as my fist slammed into his ribs, then another into his side, then another—
A vicious flurry of rush punches, each strike sharper, faster, stronger than the last.
His body reeled with every hit, unable to recover, getting torn apart by the storm of blows.
And just as he staggered—completely defenseless, his consciousness slipping away—
I spun, winding my entire body into one devastating arc.
"Ragnarok Reel," I whispered like a death sentence.
My arm came crashing forward—a colossal, apocalyptic hook lariat charged with unstoppable power.
It collided with his jaw like a meteor, snapping his head back violently.
His body flew through the air like a broken doll, hitting the ground with a dull, final thud—
Unconscious. Defeated. Broken.
I stood there, breathing calmly, looking down at him without a trace of mercy.
"You asked for it," I said, my voice low and cold.
Just as I stood over her unconscious brother, a deep, aged voice rang out behind me.
"Amazing. Truly amazing... But now, you've made yourself an enemy."
I turned slightly, my eyes narrowing.
All around me, soldiers emerged from the trees—swords gleaming, spears aimed directly at me, archers with arrows notched and ready to fire at the slightest twitch.
I was completely surrounded.
Before anyone could act, a sharp voice broke through the tension.
"Father, wait!" Lin Mei shouted, running to stand between me and the soldiers.
She quickly explained everything—how her brother had provoked the fight, how he ignored her warnings and insulted my family without restraint.
The old man, Lin Mei's father, furrowed his brow deeply, listening to every word in silence.
Finally, he let out a long sigh and turned his sharp, weathered eyes on me.
"I see," he said, his voice steady. "It seems this was my son's mistake. I offer my apologies on his behalf. I hope... you can forgive him."
I looked at him for a moment, then smiled—a bright, innocent smile that hid the lingering sharpness underneath.
"I've already forgiven him," I said casually.
"But not with words."
The old man gave a dry chuckle, clearly catching the deeper meaning.
He nodded slowly, as if gaining a new understanding of who he was dealing with.
With a wave of his hand, he ordered the soldiers to lower their weapons.
"Retrieve my son. See to his injuries," he commanded.
Then, turning back to me, he added with a small, diplomatic smile,
"You—join us for dinner. It's the least we can do."
I gave a simple shrug, accepting.
As we walked toward the manor at the heart of the forest, Lin Mei shyly wrapped her arms around my arm, her shoulder pressing against me.
I could feel the faint warmth of her body, her soft breaths.
The old man, walking ahead of us, gave a small, awkward cough as he noticed—but said nothing.
I just smirked quietly to myself.
This night was getting more interesting.
It was 10:00 p.m.
I sat quietly, gazing up at the night sky, the stars sparkling like scattered diamonds across the dark canvas.
As I stared, I couldn't help but wonder—what if the stars were alive, watching us from above?
I lowered my gaze, my eyes falling on a nearby family gathered around a small fire, their laughter soft and warm against the cool night air.
A pang of longing twisted in my chest.
Would my family have been like that too... if they were still here with me?
The thought lingered, heavy and bittersweet, as the stars continued to shimmer silently above.
The old man cleared his throat gently, stepping forward to break the silence.
"Forgive my late introduction," he said, voice steady but respectful. "I am Long Wei, the lord of this city. Earlier, my son—Tian Zen—acted out of line. I offer my sincere apologies for his behavior."
I gave a casual shrug.
"It's nothing worth remembering," I said lightly, brushing off the tension in the air.
Long Wei studied me for a moment, his sharp gaze weighing my words carefully.
"Still," he said, his voice lowering, "I must ask... what brings you here to our lands?"
I chuckled softly under my breath, staring up at the night sky, where stars scattered like shards of glass across the dark velvet.
"I suppose there's no hiding it from someone like you," I said.
I lowered my gaze, my expression hardening slightly.
"I'm here hunting something rare—a monster that only exists around these parts."
Long Wei's brows lifted slightly, a hint of surprise crossing his aged face.
"And what purpose drives you to chase such a thing?" he asked.
For a long moment, I said nothing.
The warmth of laughter and conversation drifted from the house nearby—the sound of a family whole and complete.
I kept my eyes on the stars.
"It's personal," I said at last, my voice quiet, masking the weight behind the words.
I sighed and adjusted my stance, my eyes drifting back to the stars.
"It's a rare monster I'm hunting," I said, voice steady. "One that only appears near the Li River."
Long Wei coughed lightly, a knowing look flickering in his eyes.
"I think I know the one you're speaking of," he said, his tone thoughtful but measured.
He paused, as if contemplating something for a moment before speaking again, his voice polite and respectful.
"Would it be alright if you stayed here for one more day?" Long Wei asked. "I can have my men gather the information you need. I'll personally send you the exact location where you can find this creature."
There was a pride in his voice, as though offering help was an honor he took seriously.
"Okay," I said, nodding in agreement. We shook hands firmly, sealing the deal.
"Sleep well now, young warrior," Long Wei said with a smile, his tone warm but authoritative. "Get ready for tomorrow's event. You'll be our special guest."
"Eh?" I blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected twist.