Confrontation

Shangguan Meixue glared at him. "What are you staring at?"

Huo Xuan grinned. "A caterpillar."

Her face paled as she looked down—a gray caterpillar was indeed crawling slowly on her sleeve. Disgusted, her body stiffened. "Get it off me!" she pleaded, voice trembling.

Huo Xuan flicked it away with a finger. "You're running a high fever. If you want to live, do exactly as I say next."

Even she could feel her abnormal body heat, so she nodded meekly, offering no protest.

"Stay still. Close your eyes, relax completely—like you're asleep," he instructed.

She complied, shutting her eyes and loosening her muscles. Soon, a warm palm pressed against her back, making her shiver slightly. Moments later, a cooling energy seeped into her body from his touch.

Within seconds, she let out a soft moan of relief, wishing she could lie down and sleep.

The sensation lasted ten minutes before his hand withdrew. "Done. Rest a bit—you'll recover soon," Huo Xuan said behind her.

Shangguan Meixue couldn't believe it. No medicine, no injections—yet her fever was gone? Testing her body, she found it light and cool, even the exhaustion from their trek completely vanished.

Stunned, she stared at him. "How did you do that?"

"I did nothing," Huo Xuan said flatly.

She huffed. "Like I care anyway!"

Ignoring her, he narrowed his eyes at the horizon. "We've lingered too long. They'll catch up soon. Running forever isn't an option."

A chill ran down her spine—danger loomed ahead.

Night fell without Huo Xuan leaving the riverside. As the day's swelter gave way to evening coolness, he stood and handed Shangguan Meixue a button-sized device. "If I'm not back in an hour, follow the river downstream. This tracker will guide rescuers to you."

Her chest tightened inexplicably. "Where are you going?" she blurted, panic flickering across her face.

Though she'd cursed him endlessly during their day-and-night flight, an unspoken dependence had taken root. Few men would cross continents to rescue someone, facing danger without hesitation. This enigma of a man seemed to defy all limits.

The bond between comrades forged in life-and-death trials ran deeper than ordinary friendship. Whether she admitted it or not, Huo Xuan had become her most trusted ally.

Meeting her gaze calmly, Huo Xuan smirked. "Worried about me?"

He expected a sharp retort. Instead, her eyes glistened as she whispered, "Be careful."

Warmth bloomed in his chest. At least she's got a conscience. With a loud laugh, he turned—but paused after a dozen steps to shout, "When I checked that caterpillar earlier, I might've glanced at you too. Not bad-looking—just wish your tits were bigger."

"Die already!"

She hurled a rock at his retreating figure, fury masking the tears spilling down her cheeks. Will we meet again?

Ten kilometers inland, Huo Xuan halted abruptly. His gaze swept the darkness before he sat cross-legged, motionless.

The waning moon offered scant light, reducing visibility to shadowy outlines within five meters.

Minutes later, four figures emerged from the gloom, their murmured conversation carrying on the wind.

Huo Xuan's eyes snapped open—gleaming with cold light. Earlier, his Buddha Eye's foresight had shown him these pursuers. Now they materialized exactly as envisioned.

"...Peter, is that nose of yours even functional?" one complained in English. "We've lost that Asian bastard for over a day!"

Peter sniffed indignantly. "Bears have nothing on me—my sense of smell is a hundred times sharper! If we haven't found him, it's because he's fast."

Suddenly, he inhaled sharply. "Wait—his scent's overwhelming now. Did he just pass through?"

As they hesitated, the fourth member—his eyes glowing faintly green—snarled, "Because he's right ahead, waiting for us."

All four froze, though only the green-eyed mutant could pierce the darkness well enough to spot Huo Xuan.

By then, Huo Xuan was already moving—a dragon-shaped blur even night vision couldn't track clearly. The green-eyed man gasped.

These were genetically enhanced operatives: superhuman smell, sight, and two with beast-like strength capable of shredding tigers barehanded.

Huo Xuan's first punch came like a diving eagle—swift and devastating. The green-eyed man barely raised his arms in time before they snapped under the impact. A second uppercut shattered his sternum, bone shards piercing his heart. Death came before he could scream.