As the receptionist and Lobsang were deep in conversation, a dramatic chase unfolded in a lush, verdant area thick with trees.

WHOOSH!

Tenzin Dorje sprinted with every ounce of his strength, desperately trying to escape The Markseeker. His life had been in chaos ever since he had glimpsed ‘that’ fateful vision last week. Since then, he had fended off several attacks, each more relentless than the last. Now, he was cornered on the last island of The Archipelago, and just as he thought he might finally be safe, someone had come for him once again.

“I have to reach the city!” Tenzin thought frantically as he channeled Qi to enhance his speed.

But in a cruel twist of fate, he suddenly stumbled and fell, his body crashing into the rough terrain.

“Aghh,” Tenzin groaned, pain radiating from his bruised limbs.

“No more running, eh?” a cold voice pierced through the forest. Tenzin’s body shook with fear as he struggled to his knees.

“Why are you after me?” Tenzin shouted, his voice trembling with desperation.

Ling Xuan’s eyes narrowed at the question. He stopped momentarily, a hint of irritation flashing across his face.

“Huh?”

Ling Xuan’s lips twitched in annoyance as he sighed deeply. “You know what? Let’s just end this.”

“Wait, stop! Please!” Tenzin pleaded, but Ling Xuan’s patience had worn thin. With a decisive motion, Ling Xuan hurled a punch toward Tenzin’s chest. The force of the blow burst through Tenzin’s defences.

Qi Devour!

As expected, Tenzin’s Qi was instantly absorbed by Ling Xuan, who stored it within one of his meridians. Qi Storage was a crucial ability of the meridians, enabling one to accumulate enough Qi to forge additional meridians over time.

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“A bit more Qi would be useful,” Ling Xuan murmured, glancing at the now lifeless body. His eyes gleamed with a hint of calculation. “Now, how do I transport this to the building?”

An idea struck Ling Xuan, and a smirk slowly spread across his face. “Let’s see if this will work.”

—-----------------------------------------------------------

Minutes turned into hours as Ling Xuan pursued his target.

“Hey, do you think he got caught?” Lobsang’s voice cut through the silence, tinged with impatience.

“Why don’t you let me do my work?” The receptionist’s sigh was a mixture of frustration and exhaustion.

“I just want to know, that’s all,” Lobsang persisted.

“Yeah, like I give a damn,” she shot back, her focus firmly on the stack of documents in front of her.

“At least say something,” Lobsang pleaded.

“Only a single hour has passed! Do you think a newbie can complete the job in an hour, especially when the target is an Adept and The Markseeker is probably just an Apprentice?” The receptionist’s tone was dismissive, her eyes still locked on her paperwork.

But at that very moment, the door to the reception area creaked open. The soft, rhythmic taps of footsteps approached the desk. Ling Xuan emerged from the shadows, his demeanour calm and composed, as if he had just returned from a casual stroll.

Ignoring Lobsang entirely, Ling Xuan reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, bloodied object. With a nonchalant flick of his wrist, he placed it on the table.

It was an eyeball.

“Does this qualify as proof of task completion?” Ling Xuan asked, his voice steady.

The receptionist and Lobsang stared at each other in stunned silence, their earlier scepticism evaporating into sheer disbelief. The room seemed to hold its breath.

“How can one be sure this is your target?” Lobsang questioned, his frown deepening as he struggled to process the sight before him.

Ling Xuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of annoyance flickering in their depths. “Oh, okay. Is this enough?” he said, pausing before reaching for a sack hanging from his hip. With deliberate movements, he placed the sack on the desk.

As Lobsang peered into the sack, his face contorted in shock.

The receptionist’s face turned from shock to acceptance. With a resigned nod, she pulled out the notice of the Mark and stamped it with a decisive thud, signifying the completion of the task.

“Please show this to the Mark’s Bounty Section to claim your reward,” she said, her tone flat as she returned to her work without another glance at Lobsang.

Lobsang watched, still rooted to the spot, as Ling Xuan collected his notice and went to collect his reward.

Only a single thought remained in Lobsang's mind.

“That was something.”