Late in the morning, Tianfeng was jolted awake by frantic footsteps and a malicious voice.

"Stop running, girl! Let me have my taste before I grant you a swift death! Don't think you can run away unscathed without paying for your sins!"

The voice, dripping with a mixture of lust and anger, belonged to a thin, middle-aged man who looked deranged, accompanied by another lanky but agile man.

These two are considered elites within the Evil Society, sent to pursue a girl running for her life.

Tianfeng rose quickly, stepping out of the hut just as the girl stumbled into his makeshift camp. The sight of the girl fleeing for her life spurred him into action.

She was being chased by members of the Evil Society. It can be seen from the insignia that's hanging on their waistband.

The two, a thin, insane-looking middle-aged man, named Myo Kyung and a lanky man named Tam Dong-Jun, pursued her.

Her eyes were wide with fear, but they flickered with a glimmer of hope upon seeing him.

Without hesitation, Tianfeng rush in front of the two pursuers.

Myo Kyung sneered, his eyes alight with madness. "Who are you, hero? Do you think you can save her?"

Tianfeng, holding his halberd, was enraged because first of all, they disturbed his rest, and second, he overheard what Myo Kyung was shouting about. "Leave now, or face the consequences."

Myo Kyung laughed, twirling a long chain with deadly hooks at each end. "Bold words from a fool! Haha, unfortunately, you met us!" He lunged forward, swinging the chain with deadly precision.

Tianfeng parried the strike, their weapons clashing with a metallic ring. The fight was intense; Myo Kyung's strength and skill were formidable. He fought with a ferocity that tested Tianfeng's limits.

"You think you can defeat me?" Myo Kyung taunted, slashing wildly with his chain. "I will carve you up and feed you to the wolves!"

Tianfeng responded with a powerful sweep of his halberd, forcing Myo Kyung to jump back. "You're nothing but a coward who preys on the weak!"

Tam Dong-Jun, armed with a pair of short, curved daggers, joined the fray, attacking Tianfeng from the side.

Tianfeng twisted to avoid a fatal blow, countering with a brutal strike to the his knee, but Tam Dong-Jun evaded just in time.

Tam Dong-Jun suddenly smirked. "We're going to enjoy breaking you."

They coordinated their attacks seamlessly. Myo Kyung's chain whipped towards Tianfeng's head, while Tam Dong-Jun aimed for his legs.

The battle was fierce. The two attacked with deadly precision, their coordination almost flawless.

Tianfeng deflected the chain with his halberd, but the other person's dagger grazed his thigh, drawing blood.

Even though he has a physique resistant to damage, his opponents right now are of almost equal in level to him individually.

Mixing in their coordination took away the edge he has in power and strength.

Pain shot through Tianfeng's leg, but he gritted his teeth, the sensation fueling his resolve.

Tianfeng while fighting resembled a War God with his halberd blessed by the heavens, absorbing the enemies' blows as his body endures the punishment with remarkable resilience.

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Each time he was hit, he grew stronger, his determination unyielding.

He spun his halberd, striking at both opponents in a flurry of powerful blows. Myo Kyung blocked with his chain, while Tam Dong-Jun danced around, looking for an opening.

"You're strong, boy," Myo Kyung admitted, a twisted grin on his face. "But strength alone won't save you."

Tianfeng's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."

With a roar, he surged forward, his halberd a blur of motion. He feinted towards Myo Kyung, then spun and struck at Tam Dong-Jun.

Tam Dong-Jun barely dodged, a look of surprise on his face as Tianfeng's halberd cut a deep gash across his arm.

Myo Kyung seized the opportunity, his chain wrapping around Tianfeng's halberd, trying to yank it from his grasp.

Tianfeng held firm, using the momentum to pull the leader off balance. He delivered a powerful kick to Myo Kyung's chest, sending him staggering back.

Tam Dong-Jun lunged at Tianfeng's exposed side, but Tianfeng anticipated the move, swinging his halberd in a wide arc.

The blade caught Tam Dong-Jun in the ribs, a sickening crunch echoing through the forest.

Myo Kyung, enraged, charged with a wild cry. "You'll pay for that!" His chain lashed out with renewed fury, but Tianfeng was ready.

He sidestepped the attack and drove his halberd into Myo Kyung's shoulder, pinning him to a tree.

Blood poured from Myo Kyung's wound, his face twisted in pain and rage. "Mercy..." he gasped.

Tianfeng's eyes were cold. "There is no mercy for those like you." He delivered the final blow, ending the man's life.

Tianfeng stood among the fallen, his chest heaving with exertion, blood dripping from several wounds.

Despite the pain, his tenacity remained unbroken. Breathing heavily, Tianfeng surveyed the aftermath.

The girl, trembling and cautious, approached him slowly. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of fear and what seemed like genuine gratitude. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice quivering.

Tianfeng nodded, a sense of relief washing over him that he had been able to protect someone in need.

"What's your name?" he asked gently, his voice steady despite his weariness in his bones.

"My name is Han Minseo," she replied softly, her demeanor fragile yet earnest.

"I lived with my father in a small village near the outskirts of Sichuan City," Minseo began, her voice tinged with sadness.

"It was peaceful until those men found us. They... they killed my father when he tried to protect me."

Tianfeng's heart sank at the mention of her father's death. "Tell me more," he urged, his voice filled with sympathy and a growing determination for justice.

Minseo took a deep breath, tears welling in her eyes. "My father and I lived alone after my mother passed away. He was a kind man, always helping those in need."

"But about a week ago, those men, members of the Evil Society, came to our village. They claimed they were recruiting and seeking entertainment. When they saw me, they... they said I would be perfect for their purposes."

She paused, visibly shaken by the memories. Tianfeng placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, silently urging her to continue.

"My father stood up to them," Minseo continued, her voice trembling with emotion.

"He told me to run into the forest while he confronted them. I didn't want to leave him, but he made me promise."

"As I ran, I heard them laughing and... and then I heard my father's cries. They killed him, and I've been running ever since."

Tianfeng's grip tightened around his halberd, his youthful face contorted with a mix of sadness and righteous anger.

"You're safe now," he assured her firmly, his sense of justice compelling him to protect her. "Rest here for a while. I'll keep watch."

Minseo nodded gratefully, her expression a mix of relief and hidden concern.

She offered to tend to his wounds, her actions a blend of genuine gratitude and a strategic effort to gain his trust.

As Minseo carefully treated his injuries, Tianfeng's mind raced with thoughts of the Evil Society and the injustice they represented.

His thoughts were clouded with a singular focus on righting wrongs and defending the weak, making him susceptible to Minseo's carefully crafted tale.

An hour later, as they rested in a quiet spot deep within the forest, Tianfeng felt a sense of duty and determination.

He was resolved to uncover more about the Evil Society and their atrocities, unaware of the web of deceit that entangled Minseo's true intentions.

An hour later, Tianfeng and Minseo had both rested somewhat. They decided to move deeper into the forest to find a safer spot.

They came upon a lush area with a stream of water, perfect for setting up a temporary camp. Tianfeng constructed a small wooden hut, a simple but sturdy shelter.

As he worked, nostalgia hit him again. The blank figure in his memories seemed to watch him from the edges of his mind.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this figure was somehow important, someone who had guided him to this mission.

Exhausted, Tianfeng lay down inside the hut. Despite his weariness, his mind raced with thoughts of his journey and the challenges ahead.

Eventually, sleep claimed him.

In the darkness of his slumber, a familiar voice echoed in his head. It was the voice of Zhuge Minghui, his master, stern and unwavering.

"Tianfeng, remember what I taught you," Zhuge's voice resonated.

"Helping the weak out of a misguided sense of justice will only be a burden to you."

"The weak are often dead weight, dragging you down when you should be rising above."

Tianfeng shifted in his sleep, his brows furrowing as the words seeped into his consciousness.

"Naivety will be your downfall," Zhuge continued, his tone cold and pragmatic.

"Do not trust others simply because they weave a tearful tale. Their words can be deceptive, their intentions hidden behind a veil of innocence."

The image of Minseo's tearful face flashed in Tianfeng's mind, causing him to stir restlessly.

"Justice, when pursued blindly, will only cloud your judgment. You must be discerning, always questioning the motives of those around you."

"Trust is not given freely; it is earned through deeds, not words."

Tianfeng's breathing grew heavy, his master's words conflicting with his innate sense of justice.

"Remember, Tianfeng, your path is not one of blind heroism. It is a path of strength, of rising above the petty struggles of the weak.

"Protecting them will not make you stronger. It will only make you vulnerable." Zhuge's voice softened, yet remained firm.

The voice faded, leaving Tianfeng in a deep, troubled sleep.

As he lay there, the lessons of his master clashed with his natural inclinations, sowing seeds of doubt and confusion in his heart.

The figure in his memories grew more distinct, the guidance of Zhuge Minghui ever-present, a shadow over his thoughts.

As dawn approached, Tianfeng's sleep grew fitful, his dreams a turbulent mix of his master's teachings and his own sense of justice.

The path ahead was fraught with challenges, both external and within his own mind. Yet, even in his dreams, Tianfeng's heart resisted the cold pragmatism of Zhuge's words.

"No," he whispered in his sleep, a flicker of defiance in his voice. "Justice... is not a burden. Protecting the weak... is the right thing to do."

Tianfeng's conviction, though quite shaken, remained. His spirit, forged in the fires of adversity, held firm against the doubts sown by his master.

As he lay in the hut, the dawn's light slowly illuminating the forest.

Tianfeng's resolve to protect the weak and uphold justice, however naive, still burned quite bright within him.