Chapter 4: 😈No Path of Return 😈

The night in Fogging Forest was darker than ink, the mist so thick that visibility was near Ji ru. Cold air whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of damp earth and blood.

Ji Yang sat cross-legged on a moss-covered rock, his breath steady but his body heavy with exhaustion. Today’s battle had pushed him to his limits. The Yin Yang Flame 🔥 burned within him, but his current strength wasn’t enough to control it completely.

The flame wasn’t just a power—it was connected to his Soul.

Long ago, his previous body had been far too weak to handle such power, so the flame had been forcibly sealed within him. If it was released without proper control, it wouldn’t just burn his enemies—it would destroy everything, including himself.

Yet, today… he had been forced to use a fraction of it.

And now, it was struggling to break free.

Ji Yang gritted his teeth as he felt the flame raging inside him. His body wasn’t ready to handle its full might. The seal was weakening, and the flame was beginning to spiral out of control. If he didn’t suppress it soon…

Then there would be nothing left but ashes.

Nearby, Ji Ru sat in silence. Her wounds were deep, but the Healing Pill was gradually mending them. She had been watching Ji Yang ever since he lost consciousness. Now, as his breathing returned to normal, she finally spoke—

"Why did you risk your life to save me?"🩵

Ji Yang opened his eyes, his expression unreadable.

"I didn’t do it for you."👿

Ji Ru flinched slightly but remained silent. She felt as if Ji Yang had become a completely different person. This wasn’t the Ji Yang she once knew.

After a moment, she reached into her storage ring and took out a Second Grade Healing Pill, offering it to him. Ji Yang stared at it for a few seconds before finally accepting it, realizing his body needed recovery.

As the pill’s effects took hold, his charred wounds began healing, and his damaged muscles regained their strength. The medicine was originally meant for Foundation Stage Cultivators, making its impact on his Body Tempering Realm physique even more intense.

A while later, Ji Yang's eyes fully opened. As he looked forward, he found Ji Ru staring at him with an intensity that made him feel strangely isolated for a moment. But when their eyes met, she quickly looked away, as if trying to hide something.

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Then, in a quiet voice, she said—

"I don’t think you’re the same Ji Yang I used to know."💯

Ji Yang's heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, an unsettling feeling crept into him. Had Ji Ru figured something out?

But before he could react, she gave a small smile and continued—

"I was just joking. Maybe you changed for a good reason, but I won’t ask why."

Ji Yang remained silent, observing her with an unreadable expression.

After a short pause, Ji Ru's voice turned serious—

"What exactly happened in the jungle? Did those three from the Gu Family escape, or did they see you?"

Ji Yang’s gaze turned cold. His voice was calm yet emotionless—

"I killed them."😈

Ji Ru stared at him for a moment before letting out a short laugh.

"Really? You must be joking, right?"

Ji Yang’s face remained expressionless.

"Believe what you want."

Ji Ru puffed her cheeks and looked away as if annoyed. Ji Yang noticed it but said nothing.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Ji Ru then said—

"We need to get out of here."

Ji Yang nodded. However, he was aware that things wouldn’t be so simple.

---

Gu Family Meeting Hall 🔥

News of the Fogging Forest incident had already spread, and the Gu Family Elders had gathered in the hall.

Gu Patriarch, Gu Riyaz, sat on his throne, his face dark with rage as he listened to Elder, Gu Feng, give his report.

Gu Feng spoke in a grave tone—

"We searched the entire forest but only found Gu Fang’s broken locket and two corpses. Both of them belonged to our people."

Gu Riyaz’s eyes burned with fury. His voice was cold as he asked—

"Did you find out who killed my son?"

Gu Feng bowed and replied—

"No, but we have a few clues."

Gu Riyaz inhaled deeply before speaking—

"Tell me."

Gu Feng continued—

"The two corpses belonged to our Gu Family’s Sixth Level Body Tempering Realm cultivators. Killing them wouldn’t have been easy. But the most important detail is that they were slain with a blade."

Gu Riyaz’s expression darkened. He turned to Third Elder and asked—

"Does Ji Family have anyone capable of this ❓

The Third Elder responded—

"The only one strong enough in the Ji Family is Ji Ru, but she’s a sword cultivator, not a blade user. Besides, she isn’t strong enough to take down three of our elite men."

Gu Riyaz’s face twisted in anger. Who else could have done this?

Suddenly, another Elder raised a concern—

"Patriarch, the body of young master was burned with an extremely powerful flame. It wasn’t an ordinary fire but something much stronger. This means the killer might be an Alchemist or someone with a powerful Flame Technique."

Gu Riyaz’s eyes narrowed. If the attacker possessed such a terrifying flame, then there were only a few possibilities:

1. Lu Family – Known for their strong Alchemists.

2. Ji Family – But they had no known flame users.

3. An unknown force.

Gu Feng shook his head and said—

"If the Lu Family had such a powerful flame, they would’ve already made a name for themselves. Similarly, the Ji Family doesn’t have an Alchemist strong enough for this."

The room fell into silence.

If neither the Lu Family nor the Ji Family had such power, then who killed Gu Fan ❓

At that moment, Great Elder smirked slightly and said—

"However, Patriarch, we are not completely blind."

Gu Riyaz raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean Great Elder?"

Great Elder bowed slightly before revealing—

"I have already sent someone to track the killer—a Shadow from the Assistant Division."

The entire hall fell silent for a moment.

Then, a cold smile appeared on Gu Riyaz’s face.

"A Shadow, huh? Hmph… Looks like the killer won’t live for long."

Once a Shadow was assigned to a mission, there was no escape.

Gu Riyaz leaned back on his throne, feeling a bit more satisfied.

"Good. Let them hunt."

Gu Feng and other Elders bowed again.

"The Shadow has already begun tracking the killer’s scent. Soon, we’ll have our answer."

Gu Riyaz nodded, his murderous intent surging—

"Whoever dared to kill my son… will not see another sunrise."

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Fogging Forest’s Outskirts 💥

Ji Yang and Ji Ru had finally reached the outer edge of Fogging Forest. Just as they were about to leave, Ji Yang suddenly grabbed Ji Ru by the mouth and pulled her back.

Ji Ru’s face turned slightly red from embarrassment, but Ji Yang paid no attention. Leaning close to her ear, he whispered—

"Gu Family cultivators are nearby."

Ji Ru’s eyes widened as she immediately became alert.

A short distance away, several Gu Family Cultivators stood together.

Ji Yang’s expression remained calm, but deep inside, he knew—

He didn’t have much time.

The Yin Yang Flame Seal was weakening. If he didn’t control it soon, then…❓

Would he even survive to make his next move?

To be continued…💥

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