Chapter 2: Shadows of Vengeance
The forest beyond the Liu Clan's ruins was a labyrinth of gnarled trees, their twisted branches clawing at the moonless sky. A thick mist swirled, carrying the acrid scent of blood and pine, as if the earth itself mourned the clan's fall. Lin Xuan moved like a wraith, his steps silent despite his frail, sixteen-year-old frame. His jet-black hair clung to his sweat-soaked face, framing almond-shaped eyes that burned with a crimson glint—Mo Tianyin's soul now fused with the boy's body. His cultivation at the 8th Layer of the Body Refining Realm granted him strength beyond mortals, but it was his cunning, honed over centuries as the Demonic Sovereign, that made him a predator.
His senses, sharp as a blade, caught the faint pulse of qi ahead. In a clearing, five Zhi Clan disciples rummaged through stolen Liu Clan treasures, their laughter grating like shattered glass. Their cultivation ranged from the 1st to 3rd Layers of Qi Gathering, their auras brash and careless. One, a scar-faced youth with a cruel sneer, twirled a jade hairpin in his fingers—Liu Yue's, Lin Xuan recognized instantly. The sight sent a jolt through his chest, an unfamiliar rage that belonged to the boy whose body he now inhabited.
"This little trinket," the scar-faced disciple jeered, his voice dripping with malice, "belonged to that Liu Yue. When we drag her back, I'll make her beg for it on her knees."
Lin Xuan's blood boiled, the boy's emotions intertwining with Mo Tianyin's cold fury. He stepped into the clearing, his presence chilling the air like a winter storm. The disciples froze, their eyes widening at the bloodstained servant boy, his gray robes tattered but his posture unyielding.
"You're… alive?" the scar-faced leader stammered, drawing a rusty spirit sword. "A Body Refining ant dares challenge us?"
Lin Xuan's lips curled into a predatory smile, his voice low and venomous. "Ants can still kill." Without warning, he lunged, his hands glowing with a sinister light as he unleashed Tooth Dagger—a basic but deadly technique from the Human Emperor's Records, now unlocked in his memories. Jagged, bio-energy blades extended from his knuckles, their serrated edges gleaming like the fangs of a primordial beast. The first disciple's sword barely rose before Lin Xuan's fist tore through his chest, the blades ripping flesh and bone. Blood sprayed, the wounds oozing with a lingering energy that caused relentless bleeding.
The remaining disciples roared, their qi blades slashing through the air. A lanky youth unleashed a wave of wind qi, sharp as a thousand needles. Lin Xuan countered with Celestial Glide, another basic Record technique, his body moving with fluid grace, dodging the attack as if dancing on air. He closed the distance, his Iron Body Art—a demonic technique from his past life—hardening his skin against a second disciple's flaming axe. The axe struck his shoulder, drawing a shallow cut, but Lin Xuan's fist retaliated, shattering the man's ribs with a sickening crunch. The shockwave toppled nearby trees, leaves scattering like ash.
His Demonic Devouring Art surged, black tendrils of qi latching onto the fallen disciple's body, draining his life force. Lin Xuan's cultivation climbed to the 9th Layer of Body Refining, his muscles tightening, his senses sharpening. The remaining disciples attacked in unison, their qi forming a net of fire and wind. Lin Xuan wove through the assault with Celestial Glide, his movements a blur. He struck with Tooth Dagger, each punch a thunderclap that left bleeding, mangled corpses in its wake.
The scar-faced leader, at the 3rd Layer of Qi Gathering, proved tougher. He summoned a blazing tiger claw, its flames scorching the ground. Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, the heat singeing his robes, but his Iron Body Art held firm, reducing the damage to mere burns. He closed in, his Energy Devour—another basic Record technique—siphoning the leader's qi mid-strike, weakening the flames. With a final Tooth Dagger thrust, he pierced the leader's chest, the serrated blades tearing through his heart.
The leader collapsed, gasping, his eyes wide with terror. "Liu Yue… will never escape… the Zhi Clan…"
Lin Xuan crouched, his crimson eyes cold as the abyss. "You should've thought of that before speaking her name." He drove his fist deeper, ending the man's life, then devoured his qi, stabilizing his cultivation. The hairpin fell from the corpse's hand, and Lin Xuan picked it up, its delicate jade cool against his palm. The boy's memories surged—Liu Yue's soft smile, her gentle voice—stirring an ache he couldn't name. Love? he scoffed, shoving the thought aside. Mo Tianyin had no use for such weaknesses.
Following Liu Yue's faint qi signature, he found her, Luo Shuang, and Liu Yang huddled in a cave, their faces pale with exhaustion. Liu Yue's sapphire robes were torn, her raven hair disheveled, yet her beauty was undimmed, her moonlit eyes wide with relief and fear. "Lin Xuan… you're alive?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
He nodded, his expression unreadable. "We need to move. The Zhi Clan's still hunting you."
Luo Shuang, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, gripped Liu Yang's hand tightly. The seven-year-old boy's eyes were wide, his small frame shaking. Lin Xuan's gaze softened for a moment, the boy's memories tugging at his heart, but he steeled himself. "Follow me," he said, leading them through the forest to a nearby town.
As they fled, Lin Xuan's mind churned. Why did Liu Yue's safety matter so much? The Demonic Sovereign cared for no one, yet the boy's emotions refused to fade. At the forest's edge, he paused, kneeling beside the Zhi Clan disciples' corpses. His Demonic Devouring Art surged again, black tendrils draining their remaining qi. His body thrummed with power, breaking through to the 1st Layer of Qi Gathering. The surge steadied his resolve, but Liu Yue's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Lin Xuan… are you a demonic cultivator?" Her question hung in the air, her eyes searching his, a mix of fear and trust.
He met her gaze, his voice cold but steady. "Yes."
She flinched, her delicate hands clenching, but she didn't look away. Something in her expression—trust, perhaps—stirred that unfamiliar ache again. Ignoring it, Lin Xuan led them to a small inn, its wooden facade weathered but welcoming. He secured a room with his last spirit stones, the innkeeper's wary glance lingering on his bloodstained robes.
Outside, Lin Xuan scoured the market for herbs, his alchemical knowledge from his past life guiding him. The town bustled with merchants hawking spirit stones and talismans, their voices a chaotic hum. At a small stall, a commotion caught his attention—a petite girl with fiery auburn hair arguing with a greasy shopkeeper over a jade pendant.
"It's fake!" the girl snapped, her voice sharp as a whip. Her eyes blazed with defiance, her high ponytail swaying as she gestured. The shopkeeper, his smile oily, waved her off. "Nonsense, miss. This jade's worth a hundred spirit stones!"
Lin Xuan's senses tingled. The jade pulsed with a faint, ancient aura, unlike any mortal treasure. Ignoring the girl's warning, he stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "I'll take it. And those herbs." He pointed to a bundle of Spirit Bone Grass and Moonshade Root, essential for basic pills.
The girl glared at him, her hands on her hips. "You're wasting your money, idiot. That jade's a scam!"
Lin Xuan smirked, unfazed. "I'll decide that for myself." He paid the shopkeeper, ignoring her protests, and returned to the inn. In his room, he ignited a Silver-blue flame—an alchemical technique from the Records—its heat steady and precise. The herbs melted into a glowing blue pill, its surface shimmering with qi. He administered it to Liu Yang, whose pale cheeks flushed with health as the poison left his body.
Liu Yue watched, her eyes wide, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "You're… an alchemist?" she asked, her voice soft with awe.
Lin Xuan tossed her a spare pill, his smirk softening. "Something like that."