But that moment of distraction gave Shi Man time to close in and release a shot.
Thwip!
This arrow embedded itself deep into the man's thigh, bringing him to one knee.
At that moment Xiao Wei felt a cold sensation crawl up his spine. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a blur of motion. The man with a deep scar across his left cheek, was now charging at him with terrifying speed. His sword glinted with bloodlust, and his footwork was practiced and lethal.
Xiao Wei barely managed to raise his guard before the first strike came.
Xiao Wei tried to step back, but he failed to completely dodged that attack. A sharp sting flared across his chest as the tip of the sword cut through his robes and sliced into his skin. Blood began to seep out, soaking his robes.
Xiao Wei gritted his teeth. The man wasn't just strong; he was fast, calm, and utterly merciless.
"You're quick, but you're not quick enough."the scarred man snarled, his eyes narrowed as he attack one more time.
Xiao Wei ducked under a wide arc of the sword and tried to counter with a Mountain Fist technique, but the man twisted away and retaliated with a kick to Xiao Wei's ribs, sending him stumbling.
Just as the scarred man raised his sword again to strike a finishing blow. Shadow Ming shot an arrow towards him which whizzed through the air, forcing the man to attack the arrow instead of Xiao Wei.
The man redirect the arrow as it struck the dirt beside him, but it gave Xiao Wei the precious second he needed to roll out of his range.
Not far away, Shi Man stood with his bow drawn, panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot with exhaustion. He had been fending off the other two injured Martial Masters on his own, unleashing a flurry of arrows to keep them at bay. Despite his effort, his movements were growing sluggish, and the sweat pouring from his brow was now tinged with streaks of spiritual exhaustion.
"Surrender and we might let you live."one of the Martial Masters sneered, circling around Shi Man.
"You're already half-dead."another one said.
Shi Man didn't reply. His jaw clenched, and without hesitation, he notched two arrows at once.
He steadied his breath and drew the bowstring. The muscles in his arms screamed in protest, but he pushed through the pain and released.
Twung!
The first arrow flew like lightning, slicing through the air toward one of the Martial Masters. The second arrow trailed just behind, but as it neared the midpoint, it suddenly shifted direction unnaturally, as if guided by an invisible force.
The first enemy smirked and dodged the initial arrow, sidestepping smoothly. But his eyes widened in confusion and horror as the second arrow altered its trajectory midair and drove straight into his heart.
He staggered.
Blood bubbled up from his lips. He looked down in disbelief at the shaft protruding from his chest, then collapsed like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
The other Martial Master standing roared in fury. His eyes locked on Shi Man, filled with unrestrained killing intent.
"You little bastard!"he screamed and charged towards Shi Man.
Shi Man tried to raise his bow again, but his arms refused to obey. His legs buckled. He had poured every last shred of Spiritual Energy into that last shot.
From a distance, hidden behind a thicket of dense trees, Shadow Ming stood calmly, his silhouette partially merged with the shadows of the forest. His undead eyes narrowed as he watched the attacker sprint toward his descendant.
A cold smile tugged at his lips.
"Too slow"Shadow Ming muttered, raising his bow as he shot an arrow.
The arrow sliced through the trees without a sound, faster than a blink. It struck true.
With a sickening crunch, the arrowhead punched through the back of the Martial Master's and exited through his chest. The man stopped mid-stride, his eyes bulging. He fell forward, his momentum carrying him a few more steps before he collapsed face-first in the dirt.
The battlefield grew silent again.
Xiao Wei, who had managed to stabilize himself after dodging the scarred man sword strikes, looked toward Shi Man. He saw the boy standing, then slowly tilting backward as if in slow motion.
Shi Man collapsed as his Spiritual Energy has depleted completely.
On the otherside, Xiao Wei stood still, breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling as blood seeped from the shallow gashes across his arms, legs, and chest. His robes were torn and soaked with blood of his own.
Across from him, the scarred man, the last of the enemies, stared at Xiao Wei with pure hatred in his eyes. Despite being stronger, faster, and far more experienced, he had failed to take down a Martial Apprentice Cultivator boy. That humiliation burned deeper than any wound.
Xiao Wei wanted to check on Shi Man, who had collapsed earlier from exhaustion. But the scarred man never gave him a chance. Blow after blow came at him, forcing him to stay on the defensive. Now, as they stood a few meters apart, Xiao Wei clenched his fists and stared back.
"All of your friends are dead. Only you are left now. So just surrender"Xiao Wei said, his voice hoarse but firm.
"Before surrendering, I will kill you!"the scarred man roared, madness in his eyes.
His pride had been trampled underfoot, and all that remained was fury.
Xiao Wei didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled.
*I've been in worse situations*Kuro thought, memories of brutal close-quarter combat from his past life flashing through his mind.
Back then, when he started as Hunter he didn't rely on Shadow Soldiers or Martial Techniques. He fought with steel and will alone. This battle wasn't so different.
Without another word, Xiao Wei sprinted toward the scarred man. The enemy's eyes gleamed, and he took a ready stance with his sword, waiting for Xiao Wei to step into range.
But just as Xiao Wei came within striking distance, he suddenly veered to the right.
Swish!
An arrow shot out from the forest and struck the scarred man directly in the heart. His eyes widened in shock as the arrow embedded itself in his chest. He staggered, tried to lift his sword—but the strength had already drained from his limbs.
With a groan, he fell to his knees and then collapsed face-first on the ground, dead.
From the shadows of the trees, Shadow Ming appeared with his bow lowered.
"Kid, all of them are dead now"Shadow Ming muttered, walking calmly to Xiao Wei's side.
Xiao Wei exhaled, finally letting himself relax. He looked up at the sky and smiled faintly.
"It's been so long since I saw death this close"Xiao Wei said quietly.
In his previous world, battles were fought by his summoned Shadow Soldiers after he got this power. He rarely had to stain his own hands with blood. But now time has changed.
"You would've died if not for me, kid"Shadow Ming said flatly, though there was a note of amusement in his tone.
Xiao Wei looked at him sideways and smirked.
"If not for you, I wouldn't have fought them in the first place."Xiao Wei said.
Shadow Ming scoffed but didn't argue. He glanced toward Shi Man, who still lay unconscious beneath a tree, and then silently stepped back into Xiao Wei's shadow.
Xiao Wei didn't delay. His body ached, his muscles screamed in protest, and his Spiritual Energy reserves were completely drained. But he forced himself to search the corpses of the five Martial Masters. Each of them had a Storage Ring and Xiao Wei quickly looted them.
After securing everything, he walked over to Shi Man. The young archer was pale and unmoving, though his chest still rose and fell faintly. He had used every ounce of his Spiritual Energy to fight and had even managed to kill an enemy with his strange arrow technique.
Gently, Xiao Wei lifted Shi Man onto his back and began walking away from the battlefield, each step a painful reminder of the injuries he'd sustained.
A day later.
Somewhere deep in the Secret Realm, hidden among towering trees and rocky hills, Xiao Wei sat cross-legged near a stream. The bleeding had stopped, but dozens of cuts remained visible—long, jagged lines running from his face down to his legs.
His robes were tattered beyond repair. Blood, dirt, and sweat clung to his skin. Yet, despite it all, his eyes were calm, clear, and resolute.
Nearby, Shi Man lay under the shade of a tree, his breathing more stable than before. Xiao Wei had given him a some Tier 2 recovery pill, just enough to bring him back from the brink. The rest would take time.
With a low sigh, Xiao Wei leaned back and looked at the sky once more. The clouds drifted lazily above, unaware of the bloodshed that had taken place just a day before.
"This world… is far more dangerous than the one I came from"Xiao Wei muttered to himself in a low voice.