The figure standing before them seemed almost ethereal, cloaked in shadows that blurred his features. Lin Yu's breath caught in his chest as he recognized the man—the one who had spoken to him in the library. He wasn't just any ordinary person. There was something undeniably familiar about him, though Lin Yu couldn't pinpoint why.
The man's eyes, hidden in the darkness of his hood, gleamed with a knowing intensity as he looked at Lin Yu. There was no immediate threat in his posture, but the air around him was charged with an unsettling presence, as if the very ground beneath their feet was wary of his existence.
"You've come far, Immortal King," the man said, his voice low and resonant, like a whispering wind in the quiet night. "But you're running out of time."
Lin Yu's heart pounded. "Who are you?" His voice was calm, though a flicker of unease passed through him. "What do you want with me?"
The man's lips curled into a faint smile. "What do I want? I've been watching you for a long time, Lin Yu. I was there when you fell from grace, and I've been waiting for you to return."
Cheng Xi stood frozen beside Lin Yu, her eyes darting between the two men, clearly confused and scared. Lin Yu could feel her shaking slightly from the tension, and he instinctively moved closer to her, shielding her from whatever this man represented.
"You…" Lin Yu began, his eyes narrowing, "you were the one who betrayed me. You were behind the forces that brought me down, weren't you?"
The man's smile deepened, but there was no hint of regret in his expression. "I did not betray you, Immortal King. I merely followed the inevitable. You were always meant to fall, just as you were always meant to rise again."
Lin Yu's thoughts raced. The words were cryptic, but they struck a chord deep within him. The idea that his fall had been predestined, that someone had been waiting for his return—it felt too convenient. Too manipulative.
"What are you talking about?" Lin Yu demanded, his patience thinning. "What do you want from me now?"
The man tilted his head slightly, as though considering how best to respond. "I want nothing more than to see you fulfill your destiny, as it was always intended. But the path you walk is not so simple anymore, Immortal King. There are forces at play now—forces beyond the Celestial Realm, beyond even your understanding."
Lin Yu's mind whirled with confusion. "What forces? And why are you involved in all of this? What does Cheng Xi have to do with any of it?"
At the mention of Cheng Xi, the man's eyes flickered momentarily, but his smile remained unwavering. "Ah, Cheng Xi. She is both the key and the victim in this little game. The creatures you face, the ones you fight to protect her from—they are only the beginning. You have no idea how deeply this world is entangled with the forces that brought you here."
Cheng Xi took a tentative step back, her confusion growing into fear. "What does he mean, Lin Yu?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Lin Yu placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his expression unwavering. "I don't know yet, but I will. Stay close."
The man seemed to appreciate the moment of tension, watching them both intently. "You're running out of time, Lin Yu. The creature you faced today was a test—nothing more. The real danger is coming, and it will come for her. And then, it will come for you."
Lin Yu felt his stomach tighten. "You said the creature was just a test. What's the real danger? And why should I trust you?"
The man stepped forward, his movements slow and deliberate. "Because, whether you like it or not, you're not alone in this. I've been watching you, as I said. And I know what's at stake. Your return to Earth wasn't just some random twist of fate. The forces that control this world, and that control you, are ancient. They've waited for your return, and now they'll stop at nothing to claim what they believe is rightfully theirs."
Lin Yu's mind reeled as the pieces started to fall into place. He was a part of something much bigger than himself—something that had been in motion long before his fall. But what was the true purpose of his return? And why was this man so interested in him?
"What do you mean, claim what's rightfully theirs?" Lin Yu asked. "What is it that they want?"
The man's gaze softened for the first time, a brief flicker of something almost like pity crossing his features. "They want control. Power over this world, over you, and over everything that once belonged to the Celestial Realm. And you, Immortal King, are the key to unlocking that power."
Lin Yu's pulse quickened as the weight of his words sank in. He had always known his power was extraordinary, but to hear that there were forces far beyond even his understanding, manipulating this world, made his blood run cold.
"But I've lost my power," Lin Yu said, frustration creeping into his voice. "I can't even fully tap into what I was before. How can I stop them?"
The man's expression grew serious. "You may have lost your power, but you've not lost your will. You can still rise again, but it will take time. And you won't do it alone. There are others like you, scattered across this world, still holding onto fragments of the old power. They can help you regain what was lost."
Lin Yu clenched his fists. "I'll find them. I'll stop them. But I won't do it on their terms."
The man's smile returned, though this time, it was colder, as though he knew something Lin Yu didn't. "We'll see. But be careful, Immortal King. There are things in motion that you cannot control. And the one you need to fear the most… is the one who's been hiding in plain sight."
Lin Yu's eyes narrowed. "Who?"
The man didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to leave, his cloak swirling around him like smoke. "I can only tell you so much. The rest… you'll have to discover for yourself."
He paused at the edge of the shadows, glancing back over his shoulder. "I'll be watching. As always."
And with that, he vanished, leaving Lin Yu and Cheng Xi alone in the dark, the faintest trace of an unsettling presence still lingering in the air.
Lin Yu exhaled slowly, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Whatever this man was—whatever his role in all of this—he wasn't an ally. Lin Yu was alone in this fight. He had to protect Cheng Xi. He had to figure out the truth behind his fall and what powers were still at play. The weight of the coming battle pressed down on him, but there was no turning back now.
Cheng Xi, still stunned by the encounter, looked up at him. "Lin Yu… what does all of this mean? Who was he?"
Lin Yu glanced down at her, his resolve hardening. "I don't know, Cheng Xi. But I will. And I'll make sure you're safe. I promise."
The truth was coming, and when it did, everything Lin Yu had known would change forever. But for now, all he could do was keep moving forward—one step at a time.