CHAPTER 11: A Servants Gamble

Zhiyun shook off his thoughts of the past, narrowing his focus on the two hooded men approaching him. Unlike the earlier lackeys who had underestimated him, these men moved with caution. Their guarded stances and sharp glares made it clear they knew he wasn't just a helpless child.

The clash began swiftly. The two attackers lunged at Zhiyun, their swords slashing through the air with deadly precision. Yet, despite the rusty dagger in his hand, Zhiyun held his ground. Sparks flew as his weapon met theirs, each impact ringing sharply through the clearing.

"Should I intervene?" Bao asked casually, pressing his foot harder into Enshi's back, keeping him pinned to the dirt.

"Not yet," the leader replied, his gaze locked on the battle. "Let's see what the boy is capable of."

The leader's sharp eyes followed every movement. At first glance, the boy seemed ordinary, frail, and at a meager Qi Condensation level. Yet here he was, matching two skilled assassins who were leagues above him in cultivation.

'How is this possible?' the leader thought, his mind racing. 'He's not using any cultivation arts, but his techniques… they're unnatural, almost inhuman. Smooth, precise, and efficient there's no wasted movement.'

Zhiyun's motions were mesmerizing. He deflected a sword strike with his dagger, the blade twisting just enough to throw his opponent off balance. With the same fluid motion, he sidestepped another attack and delivered a swift, brutal kick to the second man's ribs.

The assassin stumbled back, coughing, as the other rushed in, only to have his sword parried effortlessly.

It was like watching the ebb and flow of the ocean. Zhiyun moved with a calm rhythm, but beneath that calm was an undercurrent of deadly intent. One mistake, one lapse in focus, and his opponents would be swept away.

From the sidelines, Meina, Lin Cheng, and Enshi could only watch in stunned silence.

Meina's heart pounded as she watched the boy she had always known as weak and broken fight like a seasoned warrior.

Her hands trembled slightly as memories of Zhiyun's frailty resurfaced the boy who could barely lift a bucket of water, who never spoke of cultivation, and who was said to have broken meridians and no spiritual roots.

'This doesn't make any sense,' she thought, her mind racing. 'How… How is he fighting like this?'

Lin Cheng swallowed hard, his usually calm demeanor shattered. 'Is… Is that really Zhiyun?'he thought to himself, unable to reconcile the image of the frail servant with the fighter standing before them.

Pinned beneath Bao's foot, Enshi struggled to lift his head. His face was bruised, and his voice was weak, but amazement was clear in his cracked whisper. "How is this even possible?"

Zhiyun didn't spare any of them a glance. His focus remained entirely on the hooded men before him, reading their every move. He could sense their frustration mounting. Though they attacked with calculated ferocity, neither could land a decisive blow.

A faint smirk tugged at his lips.

The assassin on his right let out a frustrated growl and charged recklessly, swinging his sword with full force. Zhiyun sidestepped with ease, angling his dagger to redirect the blade's momentum. The man stumbled forward, his balance lost, and Zhiyun seized the opportunity. With a sharp elbow strike to the back of the neck, the man collapsed face-first into the dirt hitting a nerved that immediately killed the guy.

The second assassin hesitated for a split second. It was all Zhiyun needed. Closing the distance in a heartbeat, he twisted his body and delivered a spinning kick to the man's wrist. The sword flew from his grasp, clattering uselessly to the ground.

The fight ended as swiftly as it began. In a single fluid motion, Zhiyun closed the distance between him and the remaining hooded man. His stolen blade gleamed in the dim light before slicing cleanly across the man's throat. Blood sprayed into the air as the assassin staggered back, clutching at his neck in a futile attempt to stop the inevitable. A moment later, he crumpled to the ground, lifeless, the crimson pooling beneath him.

Standing amidst the carnage, Zhiyun calmly wiped the blood from his blade onto the fallen man's cloak, his expression unchanged. He didn't even look winded.

From a distance, the leader of the group watched, his brow furrowed deeply, unease shadowing his face. His fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword as he observed the scene before him

'This boy… This isn't normal,' he thought, his mind racing. 'How can someone with such weak cultivation overpower them so effortlessly? He didn't even use spiritual arts.' The sight of his men groaning and defeated was enough to unsettle him.

Bao, standing nearby with his boot still pressing against Enshi's back, broke the tense silence. "Boss, that kid must've stumbled upon some kind of treasure. I don't believe a kid with broken meridians and no spiritual roots can suddenly fight like this—especially not in just two weeks." He lifted his foot from Enshi, who gasped for air, his face pale with fear and anger.

The leader's eyes narrowed. "Broken meridians? No spiritual roots?"

Bao nodded confidently. "Yes, boss. I worked for the Wu family for five years. I watched this kid grow up. He's trash always was. He can't even cultivate properly. There's no way this strength is natural. He's probably relying on some artifact or treasure."

Their conversation was cut short as Zhiyun began walking toward them, his steps slow and deliberate. His gaze locked onto the leader, cold and unyielding. A faint smirk played on his lips, one that sent a chill crawling up the leader's spine.

"Your turn," Zhiyun said softly, his tone calm yet brimming with menace.

The leader froze for a brief moment, his instincts screaming at him to be cautious. But Bao's words echoed in his mind, sowing seeds of greed.

If what Bao said was true, the boy was simply a lucky fool hiding behind a powerful treasure. And if that treasure could be taken…

The leader's unease was quickly replaced by ambition. His lips curled into a grin as he turned to Bao. "Take his head. That treasure will be ours."

Bao grinned wickedly, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. "With pleasure, boss. This brat needs to be taught a lesson for his arrogance."

Zhiyun's smirk didn't falter as he watched Bao approach. His eyes flicked to the sword lying near the corpse of one of the fallen men. With a swift movement, he kicked it into the air, catching it effortlessly. The blade felt heavy in his hand, but he adjusted his grip with ease.

Bao lunged, his blade slashing through the air with incredible speed. Zhiyun met the attack head-on, deflecting the strike with a sharp clang. The force of the clash sent a shockwave rippling through the clearing, stirring the dust and leaves around them.

Unlike the others Zhiyun had faced, Bao was far stronger. His movements were precise, his attacks relentless. Each strike carried the weight of a seasoned fighter at the ninth level of Qi Transformation.

Zhiyun felt himself being pushed back, his feet skidding slightly against the dirt. His body was nearing its limit; the earlier battles had drained much of his strength. Yet, his expression remained calm, his mind analyzing every movement Bao made.

Bao's grin widened as he caught sight of Zhiyun's trembling hands. His confidence grew with every passing second, his voice laced with mockery. "What's wrong, brat? Running out of tricks already? Without that treasure, you're nothing, aren't you?"

Zhiyun's POV

I leaped back, putting a few feet of distance between us. My breath came in sharp gasps, and I clenched my fists to steady the tremor in my hands. My body felt heavy, my muscles screaming from the strain of battling five cultivators who all outclassed me. Every move felt like wading through a swamp, but I couldn't afford to let it show.

This isn't working. If I keep exhausting myself like this, I'll collapse before I even reach the leader.

My gaze locked onto Bao as he sauntered forward, each step deliberate and heavy. He walked like a predator savoring the hunt, his sharp eyes gleaming with malice, his grin brimming with arrogance. He thought he had me cornered, that this fight was already decided in his favor.

I'll admit it Bao is leagues above the others. His strikes are sharper, and his movements are more calculated. But raw strength alone isn't enough to take me down

A smirk tugged at my lips as I met his gaze, deliberately letting a spark of defiance shine in my eyes. His grin faltered for just a heartbeat, and I knew I'd planted the seed of doubt.

"I don't want to hear that from a lapdog who probably knows more tricks than I do," I said coolly, my voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

His grin vanished, replaced by a scowl. With a roar of anger, he lunged, his sword slicing through the air with deadly intent.

Perfect. Let your anger cloud your senses.

"You've got guts, kid! Haha! Tell me—what part of me looks like a dog?!" he shouted, swinging his blade toward my neck.

I sidestepped with ease, the wind from his blade brushing past my cheek. He swung again, and I parried with the stolen sword, the clash of steel reverberating through the clearing. His strikes came faster now, more aggressive, but they lacked the precision they'd had earlier.

He's stronger, but his rage is making him predictable.

"Haha, is that even a question?!" I spat, my voice dripping with mockery.

"The fact that you fooled the Wu family, lured them into your little trap, and betrayed them for scraps isn't that a perfect trick from a dog?! If not, what else could it be?" I screamed, my words sharp and deliberate, meant to tear into him.

His face darkened with fury, his swings growing wilder, sloppier. I dodged effortlessly, circling him as his strikes grew more powerful but lost their focus.

"Stop running, you brat! What are you, a monkey?! Fight me like a man!" he roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

I paused mid-step, tilting my head as if contemplating his demand. Then, with a mocking smile, I said, "This slave doesn't understand, Sir Bao. You're over 35, while I'm just 16. Asking me to fight you 'like a man' isn't that as ridiculous as a grown man bullying a boy and calling it fair?"

His face contorted, the veins on his neck bulging as his composure shattered completely. His grip on his sword tightened, his anger blinding him to the situation.

With another clash of blades, I deliberately loosened my grip, letting my sword fly from my hand and clatter a few feet away. I stumbled and fell to the ground, feigning helplessness.

As expected, Bao's fury blinded him. Instead of taking the quickest route to end me with a direct stab, he raised his sword high above his head, roaring like a madman. The arrogance in his eyes told me he thought this would be the killing blow.

A small mistake. But one big enough for me to turn the tide.

"Demonic Art, Claws of the Sleeping Dragon," I muttered under my breath, channeling my remaining qi into my fingertips. A dark energy surged through me, condensing around my fingers and forming sharp, claw-like extensions.

In one swift motion, I lashed upward. The claws raked across Bao's face, carving deep gouges that spilled blood like rivers. My attack continued downward, tearing through his chest and torso, the sheer force sending him staggering back with a guttural scream

End of Zhiyun's POV.

The leader's disdain deepened as he watched his final underling collapse, defeated by the boy.

'To perform an art at his level… this kid must be a genius,' he thought, his evaluation of Zhiyun shifting. 'This isn't just the work of a treasure it's innate talent.'

Curious, the leader extended an offer. "Kid, why waste your effort saving these brats? You're talented. Why not join my team?"

The three captives looked on in shock, their disbelief mirrored in their widened eyes. Zhiyun, however, remained expressionless, his cold gaze fixed on the man.

"You're just a servant of the Wu family," the leader continued, his voice filled with persuasion. "Even if you save them, your life will return to that of a lowly servant. Join me, and I'll make you my second-in-command."

Zhiyun appeared to lower his guard, his weapon dropping slightly as he stepped forward. The leader mistook this as acceptance.

Once they were within striking distance, Zhiyun smirked. "The offer is tempting… but I'm not interested in becoming someone's lackey."

Channeling his qi, Zhiyun moved with inhuman speed. In an instant, he was upon the Radiant Stage expert, his sword aiming for a decisive strike. But the leader dodged with ease, Zhiyun's blade instead slamming into the ground with such force that the earth shattered, sending dust and debris into the air.

The leader clicked his tongue. 'This kid is crazy. It's a waste he'd rather die than join me.'

"Kid, you asked for it," the man growled, taking a battle stance. Flames erupted from his blade as he unleashed his technique.

"Breath of the Red Serpent!" he roared, sending fiery slashes tearing through the air. Flames scorched everything in their path as Zhiyun tumbled and darted around, encircling his opponent and dodging the onslaught.

"You're talented, but you're foolish to let this opportunity slip away!" the leader sneered, hurling another barrage of fire at Zhiyun.

Zhiyun leaped high into the air, a smirk curling his lips. "Old man, let's not meet again after this."

Confused, the leader hesitated. "What's this kid up to?"

"Shut your eyes tightly!" Zhiyun shouted, his voice carrying over the battlefield. The three captives obeyed immediately, their trust in Zhiyun outweighing their confusion.

"Heavenly Blinding Light!" Zhiyun activated the spell, and the surrounding trees erupted into a brilliant yellow glow, illuminating the area like the midday sun. The leader, realizing the trick too late, clenched his eyes shut.

Zhiyun's smirk widened. The distraction worked.

Zhiyun didn't waste a second. He dashed toward Enshi, who peeked cautiously through squinted eyes. Tugging at his shoulder, Zhiyun spoke hurriedly.

"Take Li Cheng and run. Head for the clearing near Yan City. I'll take Meina."

Enshi hesitated but quickly nodded, understanding the urgency. He hoisted Li Cheng onto his back and darted into the forest. Zhiyun followed with Meina in tow, the faint glow of the blinding spell still illuminating their path.

The Afthermath

The Radiant Stage expert remained still, his eyes tightly shut against the searing light. Yet, an unsettling thought began to gnaw at him.

'Something didn't add up'

A Tier 3 talisman cost at least one silver coin, a fortune for a mere servant. For a slave, it would be equivalent to an entire month's earnings, if not more.

'How could he possibly afford something like this unless…'

A cold realization crept over him. His eyes snapped open, darting to where the captives had been moments before.

"They escaped," he muttered, an eerie laugh bubbling in his throat, growing louder until it echoed through the forest.

Gripping the fake talisman still attached to the tree, he let out a guttural scream of frustration.

Qi surged violently from his body, unleashing a powerful wave that tore through the surrounding trees in a 10-meter radius, reducing them to splinters.

"Haha… hahaha! Never in my life have I been humiliated like this!"

His voice dropped, low and menacing, as his aura pulsed with murderous intent.

"Servant of the Wu family… let's meet again,"