Chapter 6: The Hidden Hunters

(隐藏的猎人 - Yǐncáng de Lièrén)

The moon hung low over Azure Sky Academy, casting long shadows over the courtyard. The air carried a sharp chill, but Raiko remained on the rooftop, staring at the empty training grounds below.

Lian Mei's warning from earlier still echoed in his mind.

"Be careful who you trust. And be ready for what's coming."

Raiko clenched his fist. He had known from the beginning that concealing his right-hand power wouldn't be easy. But now, it seemed as if others were starting to take notice.

Before he could think further, a gust of wind rushed past him.

Whoosh!

Raiko's senses sharpened instantly.

Someone was nearby.

His eyes flickered toward the shadows beyond the courtyard, where the academy's boundary walls stood tall. For a brief moment, he saw a flicker of movement a dark silhouette darting across the rooftops.

A spy?

Raiko didn't hesitate. He jumped from the rooftop, landing softly on the stone path below, and began to follow the shadow.

The shadowy figure moved swiftly, leading Raiko toward the Silent Forest, a dense woodland area behind the academy where few students dared to venture at night.

Raiko slowed his pace, blending into the darkness as he trailed the figure. He could feel it now this person was radiating a strange, restrained energy.

Whoever they were, they weren't an ordinary student.

Suddenly, the figure stopped.

Without warning, they spun around and hurled a dagger straight at Raiko's head.

Clang!

Reacting instantly, Raiko tilted his head and narrowly dodged the blade. The dagger embedded itself into a tree behind him, vibrating from the force.

"Who are you?" Raiko demanded, stepping forward cautiously.

The figure hesitated before removing their hood, revealing a sharp-featured young man with piercing silver eyes. His expression was calm, but there was a dangerous glint in his gaze.

"My name is Bai Zhen (白震)," the stranger said coolly. "And you you're not as weak as you pretend to be, are you?"

Raiko tensed.

Bai Zhen smirked. "You've been hiding your true strength. I saw it during Elder Han's test. And now… I need to confirm something."

In an instant, Bai Zhen vanished.

Raiko barely had time to react before Bai Zhen reappeared right in front of him, launching a precise palm strike toward his chest.

Raiko twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blow. He countered with a sweeping kick, but Bai Zhen leaped back effortlessly.

"Not bad," Bai Zhen said, his eyes narrowing. "But you're still holding back."

Raiko didn't answer. He knew he couldn't reveal his right-hand power, but Bai Zhen was no fool he was testing him.

The silver-eyed youth exhaled. "Very well. If you won't take me seriously… then I'll force you to."

Without warning, Bai Zhen's hands began to glow with a strange energy a deep blue aura that crackled like lightning.

Raiko's eyes widened.

This wasn't just spiritual energy.

It was Heaven's Vein Qi a rare, powerful force that only a few cultivators possessed.

Bai Zhen smirked. "Let's see how long you can pretend to be weak."

While Raiko faced Bai Zhen in the forest, a different kind of danger was unfolding inside the academy.

Lian Mei stood near the dormitory entrance, her arms crossed. She had been keeping an eye on Raiko ever since their conversation earlier.

And now, he was gone.

She frowned. "Where did you run off to…?"

Before she could dwell on it further, a figure stepped out of the shadows behind her.

"Looking for someone?"

Lian Mei spun around, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at her waist. But as soon as she saw who it was, her expression hardened.

"Jiang Hao (江浩)," she muttered.

The tall, imposing youth smirked. "I heard the new kid caught your interest."

Lian Mei didn't respond.

Jiang Hao stepped closer. "Be careful, Mei. If Raiko isn't who he says he is… you might regret trusting him."

Lian Mei's grip tightened on her dagger, but she said nothing.

In the darkness, unseen forces were already moving against Raiko.

Back in the Silent Forest, Bai Zhen lunged at Raiko again. This time, his movements were sharper, faster his Heaven's Vein Qi giving him an overwhelming edge.

Raiko dodged the first attack.

Then the second.

But by the third strike, Bai Zhen's palm grazed his shoulder, sending a jolt of energy through his body.

He's strong.

Raiko gritted his teeth. He could feel the suppressed power of his right hand begging to be released.

But he couldn't.

Not yet.

Instead, he exhaled, centering himself.

If he couldn't use his right-hand power, then he would win this fight another way.

As Bai Zhen rushed in again, Raiko's eyes sharpened.

It was time to stop playing defense.