Chapter 5: The Hidden Clan Wants Me Dead Again
The rooftop was quiet except for the soft hum of neon lights reflecting off wet streets below. Lin Wei stood beside me, her trench coat fluttering in the cold night breeze. Her expression was unreadable, but I could sense the tension radiating off her. Whatever she was about to say, it wasn't good news.
"They know where you are," she said finally, breaking the silence. "Or at least, they will soon."
I frowned. "Who? Zhao's people?"
She shook her head. "Worse. One of the hidden clans—the Crimson Veil Sect. They specialize in tracking down bloodlines like yours. If they find you…" She trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
Great. Just what I needed—another group of homicidal maniacs gunning for my head.
"What do they want with me?" I asked, though I already had a pretty good idea.
"Your power," she replied bluntly. "Specifically, the Celestial Bloodline. It's rare, ancient, and incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands—or the right ones, depending on how you look at it."
"And let me guess—they don't plan to ask nicely."
Lin smirked. "Not unless you count throwing knives and fireballs as polite conversation."
Perfect. Because dodging bullets and breaking dantians hadn't been exciting enough.
Before I could respond, the distant sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell leading to the rooftop. Lin tensed, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger hidden beneath her sleeve.
"They're here," she muttered.
My heart raced as I scanned the area. There was no way out except the way we'd come—and that path was now blocked.
"We fight," I said firmly.
Lin nodded. "Stay close. And whatever you do, don't die."
The first attacker burst onto the rooftop, followed by three others. Their movements were fluid, almost predatory, and their eyes glowed faintly with Qi-infused energy. These weren't ordinary thugs—they were trained killers.
Lin moved first, launching herself at the nearest assailant with lethal precision. Her dagger flashed in the moonlight, slicing through the air like a streak of silver. I didn't have time to admire her skill, though, because two of them were already charging toward me.
Using *Ghost Shadow Steps*, I darted sideways, narrowly avoiding a blade aimed at my throat. My meridian sight activated automatically, revealing glowing pathways of Qi coursing through their bodies. Weak spots became glaringly obvious—one fighter's left side pulsed dimly, indicating an injury or imbalance in his Qi flow.
*Target acquired.*
I struck quickly, channeling Qi into my palm and delivering a focused blow to his ribs. He staggered back, clutching his side, giving me just enough time to turn and block another attack.
The battle raged on, each strike and counterstrike testing my limits. By the time the last attacker fell, I was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Lin surveyed the scene with a satisfied nod.
"Not bad," she admitted. "But you'll need to be better if you want to survive the Crimson Veil."
As we caught our breath, Lin knelt beside one of the fallen attackers, rifling through his pockets. She pulled out a small insignia pin shaped like a crimson flame.
"This confirms it," she said grimly. "The Crimson Veil sent these guys. They're not messing around anymore."
"What makes them so special?" I asked, still catching my breath.
"They're ruthless," Lin replied. "And efficient. Their name comes from their signature move—a technique that burns both body and soul. Once they mark someone, they never stop until the target is eliminated."
"Sounds charming."
"It gets worse," she continued. "They've been hunting your bloodline for decades. Your family's powers are legendary, but also feared. To them, you're either a weapon or a threat—and either way, you can't be allowed to live freely."
I clenched my fists. "So what do we do? Run? Fight?"
"For now, we run," Lin said firmly. "But we prepare. You're strong, Jin Hao, but you're not ready to take on an entire sect yet. Not alone."
We didn't stay long on the rooftop. Lin led me through a maze of alleys and backstreets until we reached a nondescript apartment building. Inside, we climbed several flights of stairs before entering a cramped but functional safehouse.
"This place is secure—for now," Lin explained. "But don't get too comfortable. The Crimson Veil has eyes everywhere."
I collapsed onto a worn couch, exhaustion finally catching up to me. "How do they even know about me? I've only been active for a few days."
Lin hesitated before answering. "It's possible someone tipped them off. Someone who knew about the artifact at the auction."
"You think Zhao talked?"
"It's likely," she admitted. "But he might not have had a choice. The Crimson Veil doesn't exactly play fair when extracting information."
I gritted my teeth. "Then we make sure he regrets it."
Lin raised an eyebrow. "Easy there, tiger. Revenge won't help us win this war. Focus on staying alive first."
Over the next few hours, Lin drilled me relentlessly. She pushed me to refine my control over Qi, teaching me techniques to enhance my speed, strength, and perception. Each exercise was grueling, pushing me to my limits, but the results were undeniable.
"You're improving," Lin said approvingly after I successfully deflected a series of rapid-fire attacks. "But improvement isn't enough. You need mastery."
"I'm working on it," I shot back, wiping sweat from my brow.
"You'd better work faster," she warned. "Because the Crimson Veil won't wait for you to catch up."
Later that night, as Lin tended to some minor injuries from the earlier fight, I noticed something strange—a faint glow emanating from the fiery symbol branded on my palm. It pulsed rhythmically, almost like it was responding to my emotions.
"What's happening?" I asked, holding up my hand.
Lin studied it closely. "It seems your bloodline is awakening further. That's… unexpected."
"Unexpected how?"
"It means your powers are growing faster than anticipated," she explained. "Which is good—but also risky. Rapid growth can destabilize your Qi flow if you're not careful."
"So what do I do?"
"Keep training," she said simply. "And hope you don't burn yourself out before the real fight begins."
Just as I thought we might finally get a moment of rest, the lights flickered. A low hum filled the room, followed by the sound of footsteps outside the door.
"They found us," Lin whispered, drawing her dagger.
My heart sank. How had they tracked us here? And more importantly, how many were waiting on the other side of that door?
Lin glanced at me, her expression grim. "Ready to test everything you've learned?"
I nodded, steeling myself for what was coming next.
"Let's do this."