Long strands of dark navy-blue hair danced across a dark bronze face.
A gentle breeze stirred his traditional Chinese robes, woven from silk the color of the midnight sky. Silver and blue threads intertwined across the fabric, forming brilliant star-like patterns. His sleeves were extraordinarily long and wide, completely concealing his hands, nearly brushing the ground beneath him.
His eyes radiated a majestic golden glow that concealed an unmistakable sense of danger.
An aura, as dark as the night itself, enveloped his body while countless glowing particles floated around him, adding an overwhelming sense of dignity and authority.
That was how the mysterious man appeared.
From Haziqa's perspective, it felt as though he were standing before the night sky itself. Every cell in his body urged him to flee, and every hair stood on end.
Silence dominated the space between them.
Finally, the mysterious man broke it.
"Do you understand your sin?"
Summoning his courage, Haziqa smiled mockingly.
"A sin? What sin...?"
He paused briefly before continuing,
"I meant every single word I said."
The stranger looked at Haziqa as though he were nothing more than an insect.
"And yet... look at yourself. You're barely able to stand."
After another brief silence, he continued,
"Your sharp tongue hasn't softened in the slightest, even when death is staring you in the face."
Confusion appeared on his expression before he asked,
"I don't understand you... Why is there still that light in your eyes? Why is that mocking smile still on your face?"
"Courage?"
"No... It's hope."
"Why do you still have ho—"
"WAAAAAH!"
Haziqa suddenly shouted, cutting him off.
Then he burst into loud laughter.
"Hahahahaha!"
After laughing for a while, he sneered,
"Why are you spouting all this nonsense? Hope? Courage? Who do you think you are to judge me?"
His trembling ceased.
The hairs on his body no longer stood upright.
Then he shouted,
"I'm not afraid of you! Come and fight me if you dare!"
Confusion and astonishment mixed on the stranger's face.
He was about to speak, but instead stopped and quietly prepared himself for battle.
Noticing his opponent's hesitation, Haziqa smiled inwardly before asking slyly,
"Do you want to know why I'm not afraid of you?"
The stranger remained silent.
Haziqa continued,
"Because I'm not the only one who's going to die today."
"Hahaha."
The stranger's face darkened.
"What do you mean?"
Haziqa laughed inwardly.
He took the bait.
"Since you're so curious..."
"I'll satisfy that curiosity."
He smiled cunningly.
"I have a master."
As Haziqa slowly walked, the stranger watched him with growing uncertainty.
"My master is a powerful cultivator—a Sixth-Rank Spirit. The moment you kill me, he'll appear and erase you in the blink of an eye."
The stranger frowned.
"Oh? And why should I believe such ridiculous claims?"
Haziqa shrugged.
"Believe whatever you want."
"Come."
"Let's fight."
His true thoughts, however, were entirely different.
I can't prove it...
But he can't disprove it either.
Meanwhile, the stranger analyzed the situation.
I don't know whether he's lying.
But if he's telling the truth, killing this brat will only bring me trouble.
Besides... killing him gains me absolutely nothing.
After a long moment of thought, he finally spoke.
"Let's pretend we never met."
Haziqa smiled slyly.
"A wise decision."
Just as the two were about to leave, footsteps echoed nearby.
Both of them turned.
A young woman was walking toward them.
She had an ordinary face, fair skin, and brown braided hair. She was neither beautiful nor ugly. She wore the simple clothing of a fifteenth-century farmer, and a gentle smile never left her face.
She looked at the stranger and calmly said,
"He's lying to you, Lan Tian."
Haziqa was startled.
Lan Tian... Who is that? Could it be...
Before he could finish the thought, the mysterious man suddenly rushed toward him.
Lan Tian swung his fist.
Haziqa could only watch the punch racing toward him.
For the first time, he truly believed his end had come.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't react.
Yet, before the punch landed—
The mysterious young woman blocked it effortlessly.
Lan Tian glared at her.
"What is the meaning of this, Laila?"
She answered with the same gentle smile.
"I can't allow you to hurt him."
"He's important."
Lan Tian frowned.
"Important... to what extent?"
She smiled just as warmly as before.
"Important enough for me to become your enemy."
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Silence filled the air.
Lan Tian took a deep breath.
Suppressing his anger, he turned around and left, dragging the weight of his unwilling retreat behind him and breaking the tense silence.
Haziqa couldn't fully understand what had just happened.
But one thing was certain.
Laila had saved his life.
As he tried to thank her, she simply smiled—
Then vanished without a trace.
"Wha...?!"
"Where did she go?!"
Haziqa exclaimed.
After a moment, he shook his head.
"Forget it."
"That old cloud can go to hell."
"This world is far too dangerous."
"I'll go back home and solve my cultivation problem myself."
He picked up his bag and began walking back.
Behind him, the sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange.