Lin Li knew there was no hiding—not from the Red Wolves. They were vicious, cruel, and, most importantly, they knew how to track their prey. They would find him.

  So why was he even trying?

  He took slow, measured breaths, circuting his Qi through his meridians to push back the exhaustion weighing on him. It was working. The fatigue was fading, bit by bit.

  He had situated himself high in a tree, using the thick canopy as cover. His robes were dirt-den, and his matted brown hair clung to his forehead. Sometimes, he wondered why he even bothered keeping it so long.

  Just as he was starting to feel comfortable—or as comfortable as one could get while dangling between tree branches—he heard the snap of twigs, followed by the shuffling of footsteps.

  Lin Li tensed. He could hear them breathing. He kept his own breath steady, remaining perfectly still to avoid making any unnecessary noise.

  More footsteps followed, then the rustling of leaves and hushed voices—fading with each passing second.

  They were leaving.

  He waited, barely daring to breathe, until the only sound left was the wind stirring the branches. Then, slowly, he let out a breath of relief.

  Carefully, he nudged a branch aside and peered down. The clearing was empty.

  He took a moment to tighten the csp on his satchel before dropping silently to the ground. A quick gnce around confirmed it—no one was there. He was alone, at least for the moment.

  Lin Li decided not to waste another second; he picked a direction and walked away.

  The forest was eerily quiet. The golden rays of sunlight had dwindled to scattered patches, whatever little managed to slip through the thick canopy. In less than an hour, the sun would set, and darkness would swallow the nd. He had to get out before then.

  As Lin Li continued his traipse, he spotted a sturdy tree in the distance. He moved closer and scanned the bark until he found the mark—his mark. He had left it before running into the forest, a guide to ensure he was heading in the right direction. Confirming it, relief flooded him.

  Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a length of rope, tying one end to the tree and the other to a moss-covered boulder. When he was done, he took a moment to admire his work, nodding in satisfaction before turning to leave.

  Minutes passed. Shadows stretched long across the ground, the creeping dark close behind. His Qi-enhanced body allowed him to move smoothly, avoiding roots and loose earth, keeping his steps quiet. His ears stayed sharp, alert for any movement.

  That was why he noticed it—just in time.

  A man burst from the underbrush, an axe in hand, a snarl on his lips.

  Lin Li froze. He’d been caught.

  The man roared, his voice echoing through the trees like a war cry. Lin Li flinched.

  Logic dictated that he run—lest he be forced into a losing battle. Even if he managed to defeat this man, the others would have arrived by then, leaving him cornered. But if he ran, he would be confining himself to a shrinking woodnd, increasing his risk.

  Not that it mattered. He already had a pn.

  Gritting his teeth, he shot the man one st look before turning around and sprinting away.

  "You can't run from me, brat!" the man bellowed, closing in fast.

  Lin Li risked a gnce over his shoulder and swallowed hard. The man was gaining—too fast.

  Gritting his teeth, he burned his Qi, forcing his legs to move faster.

  The man bellowed to the high heavens, and Lin Li muttered under his breath. That much noise would attract attention. He pushed himself to run faster.

  Soon, he spotted the rope.

  Slowing his pace just enough, he let the man gain on him. Then, with a small, deliberate leap—just enough to make it seem like he was trying to gain ground—he cleared the trap.

  The man, blinded by rage, charged straight through.

  His eyes were locked onto Lin Li’s back, and that was probably why he didn’t notice it. But when he did, it was already too te. His leg was caught, and the rope snapped taut.

  With a startled cry, the man crashed to the ground, his axe slipping from his grasp and tumbling several feet ahead.

  Lin Li skidded to a halt and pivoted sharply on the balls of his feet, turning toward his attacker. His hand dove into the opening of his leather satchel and pulled out a sharp dagger.

  The man looked up, surprise and fear warring for dominance. As, he was given no such chance as the dagger thrust forward, sinking deep into his eye. Cold steel buried itself to the root in his brain.

  Silence followed, and Lin Li exhaled, scanning his surroundings for any unexpected surprises. Fortunately, no one had arrived—though he knew it was only a matter of time.

  Pulling the dagger free, Lin Li grimaced as a spray of blood spttered across his robes. He wiped the bloodied bde on the grass, removing any fleshy, gooey bits before tucking it back into the satchel.

  Giving the corpse a cold look, Lin Li gnced around one st time before running away. The trap had served its purpose, and now he had a retively safer path to escape the forest.

  The Red Wolves had likely spread themselves across the area to corner him, but that also meant the path behind them was clear. If he managed to break through the encirclement, he could make a run for the town.

  'Though it's at best a half measure,' he thought, leaping over a gnarled root and ducking beneath a low-hanging branch. 'Sooner or ter, they’ll catch up.'

  The only question was how long he could hold them off.

  Lin Li kept running.

  Night had fallen, and his already meager Qi reserves were nearly depleted. He stopped near a tree, taking deep, measured breaths to fill his lungs. His body ached in odd pces, his feet sore from the relentless running. Sweat clung to his back, rough and irritating against his skin. Even his long hair felt grimy.

  He didn’t look like a disciple who had come down from the mountains. He looked like a thief.

  'Though that's probably not wrong,' he mused, gncing at his satchel. 'Who would've thought the Red Wolves would be involved in something like this?'

  He patted the satchel one st time, inhaled deeply, and took off running again. The darkness would hide his tracks, and by the time dawn broke, he would be long gone from this forest.

  Lin Li didn’t stop until he saw the first signs of cultivated nd. Small clusters of herbs grew at the base of trees, and a carefully maintained bed of colorful flowers y at the center of a clearing. Just ahead, a road stretched before him—worn and well-trodden. It wasn’t paved with cobblestones, but it was a path frequently traveled.

  He took one st look behind him before bolting ahead at the fastest pace he could muster.

  Moonlight bathed his sweat-drenched figure, and the cool night breeze provided some relief. By now, his legs felt stiff, his feet like stone. Every muscle in his body ached, even the smallest motions giving rise to sharp pain. Yet, despite it all, he couldn't keep the smile off his face.

  He was finally out of the woodnd.

  Lin Li pushed forward for another ten minutes before spotting the market up ahead. At this hour, the streets were empty, and the shops were shuttered. He followed the familiar path until he reached the inn where he had been staying for the past week.

  As he stepped inside, he spotted the owner slumped behind the counter, dozing in a sprawled-out position, legs spyed open. Lin Li paid him no mind and made his way upstairs.

  His body, beaten and battered, demanded rest, but his mind, still fueled by the rush of adrenaline, refused to give in. He thought he probably wouldn't be able to sleep, but that was fine—he hadn’t pnned on sleeping anyway.

  He had far more important matters to attend to.