The air was thick with an unsettling stillness as Lin Yu and Cheng Xi stood in the shadows of the park, the mysterious figure having vanished as suddenly as he had appeared. Lin Yu's heart still raced with the weight of the man's words. The knowledge that someone had been watching him, waiting for his return, stirred something deep inside him.
Cheng Xi stood beside him, her hands still trembling, her mind clearly struggling to process everything she had just heard. The beast, the strange man, and Lin Yu's cryptic explanations—none of it made sense to her, and Lin Yu knew he couldn't protect her from this reality for much longer.
"You're telling me there are… others like you?" Cheng Xi asked hesitantly, her voice low. "That you're not just… a normal person?"
Lin Yu nodded, though the answer still felt incomplete. "I'm not just someone who was born in this world. I—" He paused, trying to find the right words, but there was no simple explanation. He had lived countless lifetimes, ruled as an Immortal King, fallen, and now, he was stuck in this strange place, struggling to regain his former power.
"I'm not from Earth," Lin Yu finally said, his voice quiet but steady. "I came from a place beyond this world—another realm entirely. And what's happening now… is part of something much bigger."
Cheng Xi looked at him, a mixture of disbelief and confusion in her eyes. "So you're saying you're… a god or something?"
Lin Yu didn't answer immediately. The word god didn't fully capture the depth of what he had once been. But it wasn't wrong either. He had been at the apex of power, ruling over realms, commanding the forces of the universe. But now? Now, he was nothing more than a shadow of his former self.
"I was," he said slowly, "but I'm not anymore. And right now, I'm just trying to protect you. That's all I can do."
Cheng Xi didn't seem entirely convinced, but she remained silent, clearly still processing everything. Lin Yu knew this was far from over. The truth had just begun to unravel, and there was so much more that needed to be done.
Later that night, after they had moved to a quieter part of town, Lin Yu couldn't shake the man's words from his mind. The creature they had faced earlier was just the beginning—part of a much larger force, one that had been manipulating events from the shadows. He needed answers. He needed to understand who these mysterious figures were, what they wanted, and why they had targeted him and Cheng Xi.
But how could he find them?
As Lin Yu sat on the rooftop of a nearby building, watching the city lights flicker in the distance, his thoughts were interrupted by a faint pulse—a subtle wave of energy, like a thread tugging at his senses. It was weak, almost imperceptible, but it was unmistakable. The spiritual energy around him had shifted, and for the first time since his return, he felt a new presence—one that seemed familiar but distant.
With a sharp intake of breath, Lin Yu stood up, his instincts kicking in. He could feel it now—someone was nearby, someone who might have the answers he was searching for. This was no coincidence. The thread of fate had woven itself tighter around him.
"Cheng Xi," Lin Yu called out softly, though he didn't take his eyes off the horizon. "Stay close. I need to follow something."
Cheng Xi, who had been sitting nearby, stood up immediately. "What is it? What's happening?"
"I felt something," Lin Yu replied, his voice focused. "A presence. I'm going to investigate."
Before she could protest, he was already moving, his steps swift and silent. Cheng Xi followed without hesitation, though Lin Yu could feel the weight of her uncertainty pressing in on him. She was still scared, still trying to make sense of everything.
They moved through the quiet streets, the pulse of energy guiding Lin Yu's steps. The closer they got to the source, the more distinct it became. He could feel the tug of it in the air, the faint vibrations of something ancient stirring.
Finally, they arrived at an old, decrepit building on the edge of the city—an abandoned warehouse, its windows boarded up, its doors rusted and falling off their hinges. The energy emanating from it was unmistakable, and Lin Yu knew this was where he needed to be. The threads of fate had led him here.
"Wait here," Lin Yu instructed Cheng Xi, his voice firm. "I'll check inside."
"No way," Cheng Xi said quickly, her voice steady despite her fear. "I'm not staying behind. If something happens to you—"
"Nothing's going to happen," Lin Yu interrupted, though the words felt hollow. The danger was real, but he couldn't afford to let Cheng Xi get involved any more than she already was.
Without waiting for her reply, he pushed the door open, the rusted hinges groaning in protest. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the scent of decay. The faint pulse of spiritual energy was stronger now, guiding him deeper into the building.
As he moved through the darkened interior, Lin Yu's senses sharpened. There was something—someone—here. He could feel their presence just ahead, as if they were waiting for him.
He turned a corner, and then, there they were.
A figure stood in the shadows, their face obscured by a hood. The energy surrounding them was faint, but unmistakable. This person wasn't just anyone. They were connected to the forces that had been pulling the strings all along.
"You're late," the figure said, their voice smooth, almost bored.
Lin Yu's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?"
The figure chuckled softly. "Someone who's been watching you. Someone who knows more than you think."
"Why are you following me?" Lin Yu's voice was cold, his body tense, ready for anything.
The figure tilted their head, amused. "Not following, just... guiding. You see, the world isn't as it seems, Immortal King. The forces you're up against are much older than you realize. And if you want to survive, you'll need to understand who's really pulling the strings."
"Who's behind this?" Lin Yu pressed, stepping closer, his gaze intense.
The figure's lips curled into a smile. "That's what you're here to find out, isn't it?"
Suddenly, a loud noise from behind them interrupted the conversation—a crash, followed by the unmistakable growl of another beast. Lin Yu's instincts flared. This wasn't just a meeting. It was a trap.
The figure seemed unfazed, still standing calmly in place. "It seems you're not as prepared as you thought, Immortal King. But don't worry, you'll have your answers soon enough."
As the beast's growl grew louder, Lin Yu's heart sank. The battle wasn't over. And this time, it wasn't just the creature he had to worry about.