"Well, well, well," one of the figures, a man with a deep, gravelly voice, spoke first. "It seems the rumors about you were true, Chu Yan. You're even more formidable than we anticipated."
Chu Yan narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on the hilt of his sword. "Who are youAnd why are you following me?" he demanded, his voice cold and steady.
The other figure, a woman, added with a slight chuckle, "We are from the Obsidian Veil Cult," she said, her tone dripping with arrogance. "You've caused us quite a bit of trouble by eliminating Jin Rong, our dear associate. We were here to either deal with you or… perhaps recruit you."
Chu Yan's eyes flashed with understanding. "So, you're the ones behind the recent disturbances in the city."
A middle-aged man nodded. "Indeed. But seeing your strength in person… I must admit, it's tempting to think of what you could achieve with us."
Chu Yan's grip on his sword tightened. He sensed the danger these two posed but had no intention of letting them leave unscathed. "I don't care who you are," he said firmly. "Whether you're from the Obsidian Veil or some other insignificant group, if you dare to ambush me, you'll pay the price."
Both man and woman exchanged a glance, their amusement clear even through their obscured faces. "Bold words, Chu Yan. But we aren't here to fight—at least not today. Consider this a warning. If you dare to block our path again next time, you may not be so lucky."
Before they could retreat, Chu Yan launched himself at them, his sword slicing through the air with lethal intent. But to his shock, the blade passed through them as if they were made of smoke. The two figures flickered as they started to fade away.
The woman laughed softly, her voice echoing in the alley. "You're strong, Chu Yan, but you don't understand the power you're up against."
The man nodded. "We'll take our leave for now. But rest assured, we'll be watching you."
With that, both of them completely faded, as if they weren't there, leaving Chu Yan alone in the alley. He stood there, his sword still drawn, his mind racing. The encounter had left him with more questions than answers, but one thing was clear: the so-called Obsidian Veil Cult was apparently targeting him.
After a few minutes, Chu Yan heard footstep rushed toward his direction, and hu turned to see a group of military officers rapidly approaching.
At the front of the group was a woman in her late twenties, her sharp eyes immediately assessing the scene. Lieutenant Lin, known to many as Sister Lin, halted a few steps from Chu Yan, her expression a mix of concern and authority. She was flanked by other high-ranking military officials, their gazes scanning the surrounding.
"Chu Yan," Sister Lin began, her voice steady but carrying an edge of urgency, "What happened here?"
Chu Yan took a deep breath, his chest still heaving slightly from the exertion. "I was on my way home when I noticed I was being followed. I led them here to this alley, and they revealed themselves. Four beasts, three meters tall, but they don't have monster auras, but auras similar to those of humans. I killed them; the corpse of the beasts is that liquid pool there, but... two others appeared afterward."
Lieutenant Lin's eyes narrowed. "Go on."
"As for the other two, they were different. Human, but not quite," Chu Yan continued, wiping the blood from his sword before sheathing it. "They mentioned something about being interested in me because I interfered with their mission to capture Jin Rong. They hinted at recruiting me, but it felt more like a threat."
The officers exchanged glances, the tension in the alley growing thicker. Sister Lin stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Chu Yan's with a seriousness that made the air feel colder. "Chu Yan, these people... did they mention who they were?"
Chu Yan nodded, his expression grave. "The Obsidian Veil Cult."
A ripple of unease spread through the gathered officers. Sister Lin's usually composed expression darkened. "As expected," she said gravely. "The Obsidian Veil Cult is more dangerous than most can imagine. They've been responsible for countless disasters across the Rockfall State. Their methods are insidious, corrupting from the shadows, and their members are highly skilled in both combat and dark arts.
The beasts you encountered are likely blood beasts. These creatures are created by the cult itself."
"Sister Lin, what do you mean by 'created'?" someone asked, confusion evident.
"You heard me correctly," she replied. "The cult captures numerous citizens and uses them as vessels to create these blood beasts. Because of their inhumane practices, the higher-ups have classified this cult as a top priority for elimination. If you can capture or kill them, you'll be rewarded with a bounty."
Another officer stepped forward, a stern man with graying hair. "They've been a persistent thorn in our side for years. If they've targeted you, Chu Yan, it's because they see you as a threat—or worse, they want to use you."
Chu Yan's eyes narrowed. "How strong are they?"
The officer continued, "The one you encountered is likely at the Shadow Adept rank. Members of the cult are classified based on their ranks, which are indicated by their medals. The lowest rank is Initiates, who are on par with the Martial Student realm. Above them are the Shadow Adepts and then the Eclipse Enforcers. There even exists an existence that surpasses even the Martial Grandmaster realm!"
Sister Lin stepped forward and warned, "Of course, we also have existence that comparable or stronger than that existence. But if they target you, it even possible to have Eclipse Enforcers ranks to attack you. Therefore, I will request military protection for you. For now, Little Brother Yan, you should lay low until we can deal with them."
Chu Yan shook his head. "Rather than focusing on my protection, I hope Sister Lin can arrange for the safety of my family instead. With my current strength, even if I can't defeat them, I can at least manage to escape."
Sister Lin and the others frowned. While Chu Yan was indeed strong, sheer strength alone couldn't guarantee victory against these dangerous individuals. Lin Mei understood that geniuses like Chu Yan often had their own pride, so she chose not to argue with him but instead offered advice.
"Here's what we'll do," she said. "I'll arrange for protection for your family. However, if you encounter these cult members again, send out an emergency alert immediately, understood?"
Chu Yan sighed, "understood."