Han Qin’s flames burned through the pitiable earthen wall Hui had put up behind him. A horrible scream rang out as his flames swept over the odd, plantlike body of his adversary. Han Qin sped to the scene, already expecting what he found: a corpse replete with death qi, frozen in the moment of a horrible death. A hole split the corpse’s chest, the corpse’s hand stained with its own green fluids.

He kicked the corpse, disgusted. Sloppy. At least make it look like you died of flames. Committing bizarre forms of suicide isn’t something done in battle, save by the most extreme demonic cultivators.

Han Qin kicked off the floor and raised his hand, exerting a shield of qi ahead of him as he blasted directly through the earth. With a spray of dirt, he bounded through the surface and landed there, looking around, his long hair flying, his eyes a wild, burning red.

“I know you’re not dead, Weiheng Hui! Will you come out, or shall I raze this small world to the ground first, then sift your ashes from the burning coals that remain?” Han Qin shouted.

“Elder Brother, there’s no need for all that. I’m merely a small cultivator, nothing but a passerby. Not worthy of the attention of an illustrious one such as yourself,” that contemptable voice sounded, as wheedling and grating as ever.

Han Qin whirled about, but couldn’t locate the sound. He rubbed his ears, frustrated. Usually that would be a moment’s thought to find this bug, but he’s attacked my ears so much that I can’t even tell the direction of his voice! What an infuriating man, truly.

Even as he thought that, the bell rang out again. Han Qin stumbled with the weight of the soundwave as the world whirled around him. He screamed, releasing a soundwave attack of his own, but a flurry of rings from the bell countered his own attack.

Han Qin’s head whipped around. Even my injured ears can pinpoint his location from that many rings! He darted toward the sound, his hand already clawed in an attack.

Out of the grass appeared a long metal rod with a bell at its end, with a wind talisman pointed at it, rocking the bell back and forth.

Fool. I’ll destroy that bell of yours now! Han Qin slammed his clawed hand down at the bell.

His hand closed in on the bell. A breath before he made contact, a cold wind blew down his spine.

Han Qin leaped aside. Ice smashed down where he’d stood, a huge chunk of it at least as tall as him that shattered as it hit the ground. Razor-sharp ice shards blasted all around Han Qin, cutting through his robes and injuring his skin, though not much else.

Snorting, Han Qin waved his hand, releasing a blast of fire and heat that melted the remaining ice shards to harmless water. “A trifling attack. Meaningless. Give up and come out so I can squash you, bug!”

A quiet cough was his reply. “Excuse this small bug for his belligerence, Elder Brother, but that isn’t a particularly enticing prospect for me.”

“Am I so pathetic such that my plans could be disrupted by a bug?” Han Qin mocked, narrowing his eyes. Keep talking. I’ll find you.

“Eh, Elder Brother is the one who said it…”

Han Qin whirled. He threw a handful of fire toward Hui’s voice.

“Wrong direction. Does Elder Brother need hearing aids, perhaps?” that hateful voice asked gently.

Han Qin growled. He built up energy in his chest, arms tensing at the same time. With a powerful stomp, he sent a wave of fire through the grasslands around him. The grass burnt to a crisp, revealing the entire space around him. No sign of Hui emerged.

“Just like a cockroach, scurrying away and vanishing. Should I compliment you on your cowardice?” Han Qin shouted, frustrated.

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“Elder Brother, I appreciate it, but quite honestly, this small cultivator has felt his cowardice diminishing lately, and it’s a bit concerning. I’m unworthy of such high praise,” Hui replied.

Han Qin’s lip lifted, but he bit back his reply. The more I say, the more he frustrates me. Don’t speak, Han Qin. It’s better to remain silent. He gazed around, searching. There has to be something. Something that can draw him out.

A town abruptly caught his eye, far in the distance. Han Qin’s brows furrowed. He narrowed his eyes, sweeping his divine sense toward it. That… that isn’t an illusion or a trick. That’s a real town, with real cultivators. And all low level ones, too, none above fourth stage.

Is this a trick? He wouldn’t lead me into a secret realm and directly toward a village of innocents, would he? Surely he isn’t so short-sighted, and I doubt he’s that callous.

He swept his divine sense over the village again, just to be sure, and his brows furrowed deeper. Each villager has their own thoughts, their own cultivation level, their own unique cultivation base. They have unique robes and treasures, all which make sense according to their abilities. Even this Hui figure, with near infinite capability to flee, divert attention, and escape, can’t create a town this realistic. It’s simply beyond what a fifth stage cultivator is capable of.

A smile spread over Han Qin’s face. I’m not going to turn down this chance. If he’s truly going to hide rather than fight, I’ll simply massacre some cultivators until he steps in! They can serve as blood sacrifices to further empower the spell for my lady, as I build up more blood qi to cast it again.

After all, no one’s perfect. Perhaps it’s a mistake or an oversight. One that I’ll happily take advantage of! He turned and darted toward the town, speeding off as fast as he could.

Turning behind him, he shouted, “Fine, hide. Hide, and watch as I massacre this village!”

Abruptly, Hui appeared behind him, popping out of a hole in the ground. “Elder Brother, no! Fight me instead!”

“I’ll fight you after I gather some blood qi,” Han Qin replied, chuckling. He turned back around.

Hui gnashed his teeth and fired off an ice attack. A seal of fire appeared behind Han Qin and quashed the ice, melting it before it could grow close. Hui chased after him, desperate. “No! Come back!”

“Face the consequence of your pitiful cowardice!” Han Qin crowed. “If you hadn’t hidden away, I might have never noticed the village. But now, I’ll erase it from this earth!”

“Stop… you can’t!”

Han Qin glanced back. Hui fell away behind him, slowing. He frowned. Is he tired, or is this a trap of some manner after all?

He turned back ahead and sped up. No matter. Nothing I sensed in that village poses a threat to me. There’s no need to get so wrapped up in his every action. Perhaps he’s planning to escape while I massacre this village… well, in that case, I can simply track him down afterward, and with a whole village’s worth of blood qi, too.

Hui continued to fall behind him, until he couldn’t sense the man in his divine sense any more. Han Qin slowed, turning back. Is he really unable to chase me? Or… is this a trap?

He turned back to the town, sweeping it again, but sensed nothing out of the ordinary. Furrowing his brows, he set off at a quick pace, but not a sprint. On and on, his hair streaming behind him, robes fluttering in the wind.

At last, Han Qin drew to a halt. He swept his senses over the village again. Once again, he sensed it in perfect detail, but this time, he judged the distance from himself to the village. He flew on for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, then paused and judged the distance again.

In that time, I should have reached that village. The space here is strange.

He turned around and flew back the way he’d come. Another incense stick’s time passed. Han Qin halted and swept his senses in both directions. The town remained the same distance ahead, and behind, Hui remained out of sight.

Han Qin halted. He scowled. A spatial trap? I let my guard down! A fifth-level brat— I knew he was up to something, and I still—!

Fire blasted out of his hands abruptly. Han Qin rampaged in the infinite grasslands, firing blasts of flame all around, his heart and qi running wild. Overcome by frustration, he screamed wordlessly, reshaping the infinite space with his attacks. And yet, every time he turned away, the space healed and returned to the same grassland as ever.

At last, he stopped, panting. Han Qin wiped his forehead and closed his eyes, settling himself. Attacking recklessly from rage… it seems my Master was right about me. My heart is on the verge of going astray. But as long as I can bring her back, none of this matters.

I need to break this clone out of here. Although that tiny bug Weiheng Hui will be long gone by the time I break out, I shouldn’t waste this clone.

Focus. Gather my qi. Tranquil, calm. Search out the spatial resonance and—

“Oh! Ah, excuse me, Elder Brother. I’ll just be on my way…”

Han Qin’s eyes flashed open. The tranquility vanished, replaced by pure rage. He screamed wordlessly, charging at Hui with his bare hands, flame flashing from between his teeth and the corners of his eyes.

“Elder Brother—Elder Brother, please! We’re both trapped in here—ah! Hurts, hurts! Please—hey! Hear me out!”