Call me Xian Mu

Zhang Yong and Lilith continued their journey through the desolate landscape, the air heavy with the remnants of the Chaos Warden's dark energy. The Absolute Krishna Domain retracted into Zhang Yong's body, leaving only a faint golden glow around him, a sign of the immense power he wielded.

As they walked, the tension between them seemed to ease, Lilith's playful smirk returning. "You know," she said, brushing a strand of crimson hair behind her ear, "for someone who claims to be cold and ruthless, you sure love showing off. That domain of yours? It's practically screaming, 'Look at me, I'm invincible.'"

Zhang Yong didn't respond immediately, his gaze fixed ahead. When he did speak, his tone was sharp. "Power isn't for showing off. It's for crushing anyone foolish enough to stand in my way."

Lilith chuckled. "Sure, sure. But admit it, you enjoyed watching that thing squirm, didn't you?"

His lips curled into a faint smirk. "Maybe."

Suddenly, Zhang Yong stopped, his eyes narrowing. The faint sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, barely audible but enough to set him on edge.

Lilith noticed his reaction and frowned. "What is it?"

"We're being followed," he said, his voice low.

Lilith's wings twitched, and her crimson eyes scanned the horizon. "I don't see anything."

"You won't," Zhang Yong replied. "They're hiding their presence, but not well enough."

Without warning, he raised his hand, and a burst of golden energy shot into the shadows of a nearby crumbled building. The energy exploded on impact, revealing a figure cloaked in black, their body shrouded in an eerie mist.

The figure staggered out of the debris, their hood falling back to reveal a young man with pale skin and silver hair. His eyes were a piercing violet, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Lilith raised an eyebrow. "Who's this? Another Chaos Warden's lackey?"

The man straightened, brushing the dust off his cloak. "Hardly," he said, his voice calm but laced with contempt. "I'm here for him." He pointed a gloved finger at Zhang Yong.

Zhang Yong's expression didn't change. "Another fool who thinks they can challenge me. State your name before I kill you."

The man smirked, his violet eyes gleaming. "Call me Xian Mu. I've been sent to test your worth. And judging by how easily you handled that Chaos Warden, I'd say you're more interesting than I thought."

Lilith stepped forward, her wings spreading threateningly. "Test his worth? Who sent you?"

Xian Mu ignored her, his gaze locked onto Zhang Yong. "You've made quite the impression, haven't you? Destroying the Chaos Warden, wielding a domain that defies logic... You've caught the attention of some very powerful people."

Zhang Yong's eyes darkened. "And they sent you to die in their place?"

Xian Mu laughed softly. "Die? No. But I wouldn't mind seeing if you can bleed."

Without warning, Xian Mu raised his hand, and the ground beneath Zhang Yong's feet erupted in a wave of black flames. The flames roared with an unnatural ferocity, their heat searing the air.

Zhang Yong didn't move. The Absolute Krishna Domain flared around him, the golden energy repelling the flames as if they were nothing more than a gentle breeze.

"Is that all?" Zhang Yong asked, his voice cold.

Xian Mu's smirk faltered for a moment before he recovered. "Impressive. But let's see how long you can hold that smug expression."

He clapped his hands together, and the black flames condensed into a massive spear, crackling with dark energy. With a shout, he hurled the spear at Zhang Yong, its speed tearing through the air like a meteor.

Zhang Yong caught the spear with one hand, the Absolute Krishna Domain absorbing its energy. The golden aura around him grew brighter, almost blinding.

"My turn," he said.

He raised his free hand, and the air around him seemed to crackle with anticipation. Golden chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around Xian Mu and pulling him to his knees.

Xian Mu struggled, his violet eyes wide with shock. "What... What is this power?"

Zhang Yong stepped closer, his expression devoid of mercy. "It's the power of someone you should have never provoked."

He extended his hand, and a golden blade formed in his grip. The blade hummed with destructive energy, its edge glowing ominously.

Lilith watched from the sidelines, her arms crossed and a smirk playing on her lips. "This is going to be fun."

Zhang Yong placed the blade against Xian Mu's throat. "Any last words?"

Xian Mu gritted his teeth, his voice trembling. "You... You have no idea what's coming. They'll send others. Stronger than me. You can't—"

Zhang Yong didn't let him finish. The blade sliced through Xian Mu's neck with ease, his head rolling to the ground as blood pooled around his lifeless body.

Zhang Yong stared at the corpse for a moment before turning to Lilith. "If they send others, I'll deal with them the same way."

Lilith laughed. "You really are something else, aren't you? Remind me never to get on your bad side."

Zhang Yong didn't respond. His gaze shifted to the horizon, his mind already preparing for the battles to come.