Chapter 52: The Hunt Begins

Lin Yun stared at the lifeless body of the assassin, his mind racing. The words **"The first test has begun"** echoed in his thoughts.

Who was testing him? And why?

He wiped the blood from his blade and took a deep breath. He couldn't stay here. The fight had been loud, and if these assassins were part of a larger group, reinforcements wouldn't be far behind.

His gaze shifted to the **ancient manual** tucked securely inside his robes. This was the key to everything. Someone had sent killers after him for it, meaning it held secrets **worth dying for**.

Lin Yun turned and left the ruined temple, vanishing into the dense forest.

---

The night air was crisp as Lin Yun moved swiftly through the trees, his footsteps silent against the fallen leaves. He didn't know where he was headed—only that he needed distance between himself and the temple.

Hours passed. His exhaustion grew. His body, still recovering from battle, ached with every step. But he couldn't stop.

**He wasn't safe yet.**

Then, his instincts flared.

Lin Yun halted, pressing himself against a tree. He listened. The rustling of leaves, the chirping of insects—**and then… the faintest sound of footsteps.**

**Someone was following him.**

He didn't turn around. Instead, he reached for a small stone and flicked it to his left.

The footsteps hesitated.

**There.**

Without warning, Lin Yun leaped into the shadows, circling around his pursuer. He moved like the wind, silent and precise, appearing behind them in an instant.

A dagger was already at their throat.

"Who sent you?" he whispered coldly.

The figure tensed. A hood concealed most of their face, but Lin Yun could see their eyes—**sharp, calculating, and… amused?**

"You're fast," the stranger murmured. Their voice was **feminine.**

Lin Yun's grip tightened. "Answer me."

The woman sighed. "Relax. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be bleeding on the ground."

Lin Yun narrowed his eyes. "Bold claim."

She smirked beneath her hood. "Try me."

Silence stretched between them. Lin Yun could feel her **Qi presence**, but she wasn't releasing any hostility. That made her more dangerous.

He finally lowered the dagger but didn't step back. "Who are you?"

The woman adjusted her hood slightly, revealing a glimpse of dark hair and a faint scar along her jaw. "An interested party."

Lin Yun scoffed. "Not an answer."

She chuckled. "Fine. Let's just say… I was curious about the boy who killed a team of assassins alone."

Lin Yun remained guarded. "You saw the fight?"

She nodded. "From the moment you stepped into that temple."

His expression darkened. "And you didn't intervene?"

She shrugged. "Wasn't my fight."

Lin Yun exhaled slowly. He didn't trust her, but for now, she wasn't an immediate threat. "Are you after the manual too?"

To his surprise, she shook her head. "No. But there are others who will be."

Lin Yun clenched his fists. He had already figured that much out.

The woman took a step back, melting into the shadows. "Consider this a friendly warning. The moment you took that manual, you put yourself on a path you can't walk away from."

Lin Yun's gaze didn't waver. "I never intended to walk away."

She paused, her smirk widening. "Good. Then let's see if you survive."

And with that, she vanished into the night.

Lin Yun stood still for a moment, his mind processing everything.

This wasn't over.

This was just the beginning.