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Zhao and his group stood outside Raine's house. The night was quiet, wind brushing past the trees.
Zhao's eyes glinted under the moonlight.
"I'll distract the parents," he said coldly. "You four—no matter what—take that child. Dead or alive."
The four men nodded and slipped into the shadows, moving toward the back of the house.
Zhao waited a moment, then took a deep breath.
"Hello, Mister Long Weisheng. Miss Lin Yumei."
His voice thundered through the air, booming across the stillness like a shockwave.
"I've come to take your son. So hand him over."
The voice echoed—clear and loud for at least five kilometers. Windows rattled. Birds scattered.
Inside, Raine's parents were preparing to sleep. Lin Yumei paused, her face pale.
"Is that…?" she whispered.
Long Weisheng nodded grimly. "Yes. They're from the Saviour Organization."
Without another word, he stepped onto the balcony—and leapt down. His body flowed like wind, landing softly before he marched toward Zhao.
Inside, Lin Yumei rushed to Raine's room. He was already awake, sitting up with wide eyes.
"Mom… what's happening?"
She knelt beside him, holding him tightly.
"Don't worry," she whispered. "Everything will be fine."
Outside, Long Weisheng stood firm in front of his home.
"What have you come for?" he asked coldly.
Zhao smirked. "To capture and eliminate a demonic child."
He raised his voice again, echoing through the village:
"We are the Saviour Organization! We protect the innocent and destroy evil!"
Long Weisheng's voice rang out just as strong.
"Shut your mouth. My son may have a dark attribute, but he is not evil. Leave. Now."
Zhao made a mockingly sad face. "Aiyo… I already expected this answer. Then let's begin the hunt."
Suddenly, orange-red energy ignited around Zhao's body. Behind his head, five glowing shards circled—fire element, fierce and volatile.
Whispers ran through the crowd of villagers watching from afar.
"Five-shard Asterioc... and fire element…"
Long Weisheng breathed deeply. Wind and green-blue energy gathered around him, four shards spinning behind his head—wind element.
Before anyone could blink, the two charged forward, fists raised. From five hundred meters apart, they closed the distance in less than a heartbeat.
Boom!
Their fists collided. A thunderous shockwave burst out, causing the villagers to flinch, many covering their ears and stepping back.
Inside the house, Raine clutched his mother.
"Mom… what was that?"
She didn't flinch.
"Don't worry. Your father will protect us."
Outside, Zhao stepped back once. Long Weisheng slid six, maybe seven paces back.
Zhao grinned arrogantly.
"I just broke through to five-shard Asterioc. I can already feel my strength. You're just at four shards. Even five of you would barely match me."
Weisheng didn't answer. He summoned more wind energy to his limbs and launched himself forward. His punch was swift, sharp—whipped with wind.
Zhao blocked it easily and smirked. "Is that all?"
Behind the house, the four intruders crept in silently. They moved through the halls, their eyes scanning for the boy's room.
Then they found it: a door labeled Raine.
One of them reached for the handle.
Inside, Lin Yumei whispered, "My child is brave, right? Don't be afraid."
Raine nodded.
The door creaked open.
A fist exploded from the shadows. The first man flew backward, crashing through the wall like a broken puppet.
Lin Yumei stepped forward, eyes sharp. Four shards spun behind her head—wind element, just like her husband.
The remaining three released their energy. Each had three shards: fire, water, and earth.
The man she struck was unconscious, collapsed outside.
Outside, Weisheng heard the crash and turned slightly—just a glance.
Zhao seized the moment.
"Take this—Bear Flame Fist!"
His arm glowed red-orange, a bear-shaped fire manifesting at his fist. He struck.
Weisheng reacted just in time, layering wind energy over his arm to block, but the impact threw him back. He crashed through the wall, landing hard inside his own home.
He staggered to his feet, blood trickling from his lips.
"Coward," he muttered.
Lin Yumei and Raine rushed to him.
"Are you alright?" she cried. "We need to run! We'll escape with our child!"
He shook his head, breathing hard.
"We can't. Even with my wind element and speed boost spell… he's still faster."
His eyes shifted to the three enemies inside the house.
"And they have more numbers."
Zhao strolled inside, clapping slowly.
"You already know how this ends. Just give up. Hand over your son. And your wife—she betrayed you. Had a child with a beast, no?"
Raine opened his mouth, but Weisheng laughed bitterly.
"I trust my wife. I know Raine is my son. I don't need your filthy mouth to tell me anything."
He turned to his family.
"Dear… take care of our child."
Before they could react, wind exploded from Weisheng's body. It swept around Lin Yumei and Raine like a storm.
Yumei tried to resist, but her energy was overwhelmed.
"You forgot…" Weisheng said, eyes gentle, "I'm better at controlling wind than you are."
Tears streamed down her face. Raine held tightly to her.
"Don't—" she cried. "Please—"
Zhao roared. "Stop him!"
But the wind launched them away at lightning speed—too fast to chase. Zhao gave pursuit, his body covered in fire energy.
Then he stopped, turning.
Behind him, Long Weisheng's body blazed with wind. The energy distorted the air.
Zhao's eyes narrowed. "You're burning your life force… and your cultivation?"
Three enemies charged Weisheng.
He raised his arms. Six blades of wind formed instantly—two for each.
Slash!
Each pair pierced front and back. The men collapsed, lifeless.
Weisheng shot toward Zhao like a storm.
Zhao cursed under his breath.
"What'll I tell the higher-ups…"
Their fists met again. Shockwaves burst across five kilometers. They clashed again. And again. In two seconds—they struck six times.
Then Weisheng took a direct hit—but grabbed Zhao's head.
Zhao raised his arm to protect—too late.
Weisheng twisted. Wind surged. Energy howled.
Zhao screamed as Weisheng tore his arm clean off.
Zhao, half-crazed, activated a berserk spell. His power surged. He struck with his remaining arm, slamming Weisheng in the chest and sending him flying.
He didn't chase. Instead, he turned and fled toward the city—fear in his eyes.
Behind him… Weisheng still stood.
His body—shattered, bones broken, skin torn—but he stood. Eyes closed, blood dripping.
And softly… his voice trembled from his throat.
"Don't touch… my family."
He stood for a moment longer.
Then collapsed.
Still smiling.
Still protecting.
Still a father.