Over the next three days, Minseo skillfully kept stalling Tianfeng, ensuring they won't walk past the agreed-upon place with her reinforcements from the Evil Society.

She employed various tactics to delay their journey, each one carefully crafted to appear innocent and necessary.

On the first day, Minseo claimed she had lost a precious family heirloom in the forest. "Tianfeng, I can't leave without it," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "It means so much to me."

Tianfeng, moved by her distress, spent hours combing through the underbrush, looking for the nonexistent heirloom.

The second day, she feigned a sudden illness. "I don't feel well, Tianfeng," she murmured, clutching her stomach.

"I think I need to rest today." She suggested finding a sheltered spot to camp for the day, and Tianfeng, worried for her wellbeing, agreed without hesitation.

On the third day, Minseo spotted a stream and insisted on catching fish for their meals, claiming it would be more nutritious than their usual fare.

"Tianfeng, can you help me? You're so much better at this," she said, giving him a grateful smile.

They spent most of the day by the water, fishing and preparing their catch.

While Minseo stalled their journey, Tianfeng began experiencing disturbing visions.

Each night, as he closed his eyes, a black silhouette would appear in his dreams, speaking to him with a voice that chilled his soul.

"Tianfeng, you are being charmed by her. Kill her immediately before she brings you to your downfall."

The silhouette's words were insistent, warning him that his sense of justice would only lead to his destruction if he continued to trust Minseo.

"Your ideologies will be your undoing," the voice whispered. "She will betray you, and you will perish because of your foolish feelings."

Despite the ominous visions, Tianfeng's resolve wavered only slightly.

During the day, Minseo's gentle demeanor and beauty continued to ensnare his heart.

He found himself drawn to her, his feelings growing stronger with each passing moment.

He couldn't bring himself to believe that she would betray him, even as her requests grew stranger and more frequent.

By the end of the third day, Tianfeng's trust in Minseo was strained, yet he persisted in his belief that his sense of justice and emerging feelings for her were justified.

Little did he know, each delay brought them closer to the fateful encounter that Minseo had orchestrated, and his trust would soon be ruined in ways he could never have anticipated.

---

On the evening of the third day, as they were setting up camp, Minseo approached Tianfeng with a new request. "Tianfeng, there's a cave not far from here that I believe holds a rare artifact. It could be valuable for both of us. Could you help me retrieve it?"

Tianfeng hesitated for a moment. "A cave? At this hour?"

Minseo nodded, her eyes wide with sincerity. "I understand if you're tired, but this artifact could be crucial for our journey. Please, Tianfeng."

Seeing the earnest look on her face, Tianfeng agreed. "Alright, lead the way."

They walked through the forest, the night air cool and still. Minseo led Tianfeng to a hidden cave entrance, its dark mouth partially obscured by thick vines.

As they stepped inside, the air grew colder and more oppressive. Tianfeng's instincts told him something was off, but he pushed the feeling aside, trusting Minseo.

They ventured deeper into the cave, Minseo's torch casting flickering shadows on the damp walls.

When they reached a large cavern, Minseo stopped and turned to Tianfeng. "The artifact should be here," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

As they searched the cavern, the silence was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps. Tianfeng tensed, his senses alert to the potential threat.

Before he could react, several masked figures emerged from the shadows, surrounding them with deadly precision.

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The emblem of the Evil Society was unmistakable on their dark robes, their presence confirming Tianfeng's suspicions.

Minseo stepped back, her facade dropping. "I'm sorry, Tianfeng," she said, her voice cold. "But I had no choice."

Minseo's eyes darted between the operatives and Tianfeng. "This is the one responsible for the deaths of our comrades," she pointed at Tianfeng and declared, her voice steady and resolute.

Tianfeng's eyes widened in shock and betrayal. "Minseo, what have you done?" he exclaimed, realizing the extent of her treachery.

His face was a mask of disbelief as he turned to the operatives. "You betrayed me."

Minseo's expression remained cold and determined. "You were a threat to the Evil Society. This was the only way to ensure my survival."

One of the operatives with a commanding presence, stepped forward. "We received your message, Minseo. You did well to alert us. Now, stand aside," he ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.

The leader of the operatives, Seung Jin-Ho, was a tall and lean figure with sharp eyes and a demeanor as calm as the still waters of a lake.

He is the Deputy Clan Leader of the Night Clan, wielding a pair of iron claws with deadly precision and a master of the Evolutionary Realm.

Minseo nodded and stepped aside. The operatives closed in on Tianfeng, their weapons drawn and their intentions clear.

Seung Jin-Ho observed Tianfeng for quick moment then gestured subtly to three Grandmaster Realm martial artists, who moved forward with lethal grace to test Tianfeng's strength.

Despite the overwhelming odds, Tianfeng readied himself for battle. His mind raced with thoughts of survival and vengeance. "You won't take me down easily," he vowed, his voice filled with defiance.

The first Grandmaster attacked swiftly, his movements like lightning as he struck at Tianfeng with precision and power.

Tianfeng defended himself valiantly, but the difference in their abilities was stark.

Each blow from the Grandmaster felt like a force of nature against Tianfeng's defenses.

However, with each hit Tianfeng took, his strength and ferocity seemed to grow, a grim smile spreading across his face as he absorbed the punishment.

The second Grandmaster employed deceptive techniques, feinting and weaving around Tianfeng with effortless grace.

Tianfeng struggled to keep up, his movements becoming slower and more labored as he tried to predict and counter the Grandmaster's unpredictable strikes.

Yet, as the hits landed, his aura intensified, and his eyes glowed with a fierce determination.

The third Grandmaster opted for direct confrontation, unleashing a barrage of heavy blows aimed at overwhelming Tianfeng's endurance.

Seung Jin-Ho watched with detached interest as Tianfeng fought desperately against the daunting number of experts.

He observed each move with calculated precision, as if studying a curious insect struggling in vain against an inevitable fate.

Notwithstanding the relentless assault, Tianfeng's resilience was remarkable. His body, injured from the intense battle, now surged with renewed strength and energy.

His halberd swung with deadly precision, and in a moment of sheer brutality, he impaled one of the Grandmasters, the weapon piercing through the man's chest.

The other Grandmasters retreated in shock, realizing the danger they were in.

Despite his unyielding nature, Tianfeng was also wounded, his body bearing the marks of their fierce exchange.

Seung Jin-Ho, assessing the situation with cold eyes, decided to step in.

When Seung Jin-Ho finally stepped in, it was with a calm assurance that spoke of absolute confidence in his abilities.

He moved forward with a calm demeanor as if he was about to dispatch a minor inconvenience. His sharp eyes and controlled expression revealed nothing but indifference.

As Seung Jin-Ho approached, he assessed Tianfeng the last time.

Tianfeng, bloodied but unbroken, prepared to face this new challenger, unaware of the vast gulf in power that lay between them.

Seung Jin-Ho darted faster than the eye can blink and rapidly slashed his iron claws from three different angles, showcasing his extreme speed and agility.

The moment their clash began, the difference in strength was evident.

Seung Jin-Ho moved with a speed and precision that made the Grandmasters look slow in comparison.

His attacks were methodical and precise, each strike aimed with lethal intent at exploiting Tianfeng's vulnerabilities.

Within seconds, he had disarmed Tianfeng, his claws slashing with surgical precision.

Tianfeng tried to muster his strength, but Seung Jin-Ho's blows landed with an effortless grace, each strike designed to disable and control.

In mere moments, Tianfeng was on the ground, hardly breathing, bloodied, bruised, and covered in deep scars.

Seung Jin-Ho stood over him, indifferent to his adversary's plight, a silent testament to the vast chasm between a Grandmaster Realm and an Evolutionary Realm martial artist.

It's akin to an adult fighting a kid.

Even a hundred people in the Grandmaster Realm won't be able to defeat one person in the Evolutionary Realm.

Minseo, watching from the sidelines, felt no sympathy for Tianfeng. Instead, a sense of pride welled within her.

She had successfully lured him into this trap, and her loyalty to the Evil Society remained unshaken.

As Seung Jin-Ho moved away, the operatives closed in around Tianfeng, ready to finish the job.

As they surrounded Tianfeng, one of the Grandmasters raised his weapon, intent on delivering the fatal blow.

Tianfeng, still gasping for breath, braced himself for the end.

Just as the Grandmaster's strike was about to land, suddenly, the flow of time around them seemed to freeze.

The world became still, as if suspended in a silent void.

Then the air near Tianfeng shimmered, and from the void emerged Zhuge Minghui, his presence ominous.

Tianfeng's senses sharpened, focusing solely on Zhuge's imposing figure standing before him.

The stillness of time left only Tianfeng and Zhuge aware and capable of movement.

Tianfeng was stunned as Zhuge's presence manifested before him, his voice echoing with a weight that brought back memories of their previous encounters.

His master appeared almost ethereal, like a banished immortal descended from the heavens.

Zhuge's figure was shrouded in an aura of unfathomable strength, his robes billowing with a life of their own, shimmering with an otherworldly glow.

The very air around him seemed to bend to his will, creating an atmosphere of reverence and awe.

In that moment, Zhuge embodied the pinnacle of cultivation, an untouchable force that transcended mortal bounds.

"Tianfeng," Zhuge's voice reverberated through the stillness, cutting through the chaos.

"Your naivety has brought you to this precipice of defeat."

"Did you not see it coming? Did my warnings fall on deaf ears? Your sense of justice has become your downfall." Zhuge's voice, akin to scratching metal to Tianfeng, carried a mocking undertone.

Tianfeng gazed up at Zhuge, his expression a mix of defiance and dawning realization.

Zhuge's demeanor shifted subtly, from teasing to a cruelly neutral expression, reflecting a ruthless acknowledgment of Tianfeng's suffering as a harsh lesson.

"Your insistence on protecting the weak has only enfeebled you. It has blinded you to the realities of power and survival. This is the toll exacted for your adherence to the flawed ideal of righteousness."

The Grandmaster's weapon hung frozen in the air, mere inches from Tianfeng's defenseless form, as Zhuge's words echoed in the silent, motionless space around them.

Zhuge looked at the great sword inches away from Tianfeng's body, poised to strike had time not stopped.

His voice, calm yet authoritative, filled the frozen moment. "I forgive you, Tianfeng," Zhuge declared, his eyes still fixed on the great sword.

"You are my dear disciple, but I expected better." He said with concern masking his sternness.

Without waiting for Tianfeng's response, Zhuge's eyes shone with a light blue hue for a split-second then immediately returned to its original color which resumed the flow of time.

In a swift motion, he lightly flicked the blade of the sword poised above Tianfeng. The sword shattered into millions of pieces, scattering like glass smashed by a hammer.

Tianfeng stared in disbelief at the fragments of the sword raining down around him, his heart heavy with Zhuge's words and the realization of his mentor's expectations.

As the great sword was destroyed, the wielder stood frozen in disbelief, his shock mirrored by the terrified expressions of those around him.

The type of steel, which not even Evolutionary Realm masters could easily break, lay scattered on the ground.

Their collective gaze turned to Zhuge, who had appeared and acted with such suddenness and stealth that they hadn't even noticed his approach.

They, alongside others who are nearby and surrounding Tianfeng, backed away cautiously, fear evident in their eyes as they observed the scene unfolding before them.

Seung Jin-Ho, his shock palpable, subtly shifted his stance, his expression now tinged with alertness and wariness.

Minseo, recovering from her initial astonishment, looked at Zhuge with a mixture of awe and trepidation.

Her confidence momentarily faltered, realizing the depth of power Zhuge wielded and the precariousness of their situation.