The tunnels beneath Neo-Aurion were no longer a refuge—they were a death trap. As Kai Wei led us deeper into the labyrinth, the air grew colder and heavier, pressing down on my chest like an invisible weight. Every step echoed ominously, each sound magnified by the oppressive silence around us. Behind us, the distant rumble of collapsing structures and the faint hum of drones signaled that the Crimson Veil was closing in fast.
Lin moved silently beside me, her dagger drawn and her eyes scanning every shadow. Despite her calm exterior, I could see the tension in her jaw, the slight tightening of her grip on her weapon. She trusted her brother about as much as I did—which wasn't saying much.
Kai, however, seemed unfazed. He navigated the tunnels with practiced ease, his movements fluid and deliberate. Occasionally, he paused to examine markings carved into the walls or input codes into hidden panels, unlocking passages that would have remained invisible to anyone else.
"Stay close," he muttered without looking back. "One wrong turn, and you'll end up in their hands—or worse."
"Comforting," I replied dryly, clutching the fiery symbol on my palm as it pulsed faintly. Its heat steadied me, grounding me amidst the chaos.
Lin shot me a warning glance. "Don't provoke him," she whispered. "Not now."
"Why not?" I countered under my breath. "He's clearly having fun keeping us in the dark."
She didn't argue—probably because she agreed—but instead focused on the path ahead. For once, I let it drop. Arguing wouldn't help us survive whatever lay at the end of this tunnel.
After what felt like hours, we reached a narrow corridor lined with rusted metal doors. Each one bore a faded emblem—a crimson flame encircled by jagged lines. Kai stopped abruptly, turning to face us.
"This is it," he said quietly. "Beyond these doors lies the first node of their shadow network. Disable it, and we create enough chaos to mask our movements. Fail, and they'll know exactly where we are."
"And how do we disable it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kai smirked, though there was no humor in it. "Carefully."
He gestured for Lin to take point, handing her a small device that resembled a wrist-mounted computer. "This will override their security systems—but only if you can bypass the encryption protocols. Think you can handle it?"
Lin rolled her eyes but accepted the device without comment. Slipping it onto her arm, she knelt beside the nearest door and began working. Her fingers flew across the holographic interface, lines of code scrolling rapidly as she hacked into the system.
While she worked, Kai turned to me. "You're stronger than most cultivators I've seen," he remarked casually. "But strength isn't everything. Outsmart them, and you win. Let your emotions cloud your judgment, and you lose."
I frowned, unsure whether to take his words as advice or a veiled insult. "Thanks for the pep talk," I muttered sarcastically.
Before he could respond, Lin straightened, nodding sharply. "It's done. The node's offline."
Almost immediately, alarms blared throughout the tunnels, followed by the sound of rushing footsteps.
"They're coming," Kai announced, drawing a pair of throwing knives from his coat. "Move!"
We sprinted down the corridor, dodging debris as sections of the ceiling collapsed behind us. The Crimson Veil's forces weren't far behind, their shouts echoing through the tunnels like a pack of wolves on the hunt.
"Split up!" Kai shouted over the noise. "Jin Hao, stick with me. Lin, cover the rear!"
Without waiting for confirmation, he grabbed my arm and yanked me into a side passage. The narrow space twisted and turned unpredictably, forcing us to duck and weave to avoid obstacles. At one point, I stumbled over a fallen pipe, nearly losing my footing, but Kai caught me before I could fall.
"Keep moving," he snapped, shoving me forward.
Despite my reservations about trusting him, I couldn't deny his efficiency. He knew these tunnels like the back of his hand, leading us through shortcuts and hidden passages that kept us just ahead of our pursuers.
Finally, we emerged into a larger chamber, its walls lined with control panels and monitors displaying live feeds of the city above. In the center stood a massive console, glowing faintly with crimson light.
"This is the main relay hub," Kai explained, gesturing toward the console. "Take it out, and you cripple their communications network. But be warned—they'll guard it fiercely."
"How many guards?" I asked, already channeling Qi into my palms.
"Enough to make this interesting," he replied cryptically.
Before I could press further, the sound of heavy boots echoed through the chamber. Moments later, a squad of mercenaries burst in, weapons drawn and Qi-enhanced gear gleaming menacingly.
"Perfect timing," I muttered, cracking my knuckles.
The first wave came at us with reckless abandon, their movements fueled by raw power rather than precision. Using *Ghost Shadow Steps*, I darted between them, delivering swift strikes to pressure points and weak spots revealed by my meridian sight. Each blow sent them stumbling backward, leaving openings for Kai to exploit.
His fighting style was brutal yet efficient. With a flick of his wrist, he sent throwing knives spinning through the air, embedding themselves in vital areas with deadly accuracy. Together, we formed a lethal tandem, cutting through the mercenaries like smoke through cracks.
As the last attacker fell, the mechanical voice of the System chimed in my mind.
> **"System Alert: Face-Slap Mode Detected. Current Target: Squad Leader."**
Sure enough, a burly figure stepped forward, his armor emblazoned with the Crimson Veil's emblem. His Qi flow pulsed brightly, indicating advanced cultivation levels—but also revealing a flaw in his defense.
"You think you're clever?" he growled, charging at me with reckless fury.
Instead of dodging, I met his attack head-on, channeling Qi into my palm for maximum impact. My slap connected squarely with his cheek, sending him sprawling backward.
**"Achievement Unlocked: Elite Slap. Reward: 5,000 XP. Bonus: Increased Qi Flow (+10%)."**
The remaining mercenaries froze, staring in stunned silence as their leader groaned on the ground.
"Anyone else?" I challenged, smirking despite the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
They hesitated for a moment before retreating, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as they'd arrived.
With the coast temporarily clear, Kai turned his attention to the console. Pulling out another device, he connected it to the mainframe and began uploading a virus designed to scramble the Crimson Veil's systems.
"How long will this take?" I asked, keeping watch near the entrance.
"Long enough for someone to notice," he replied grimly. "Keep your guard up."
As promised, it didn't take long for reinforcements to arrive. This time, they came prepared—armed with high-tech weaponry and cultivation-enhanced shields. Lin rejoined us moments before the battle erupted, her dagger flashing like silver lightning as she intercepted attacks aimed at Kai.
"Focus on the console!" she shouted, engaging multiple foes simultaneously.
Kai nodded, typing furiously as explosions rocked the chamber. Sparks flew from damaged equipment, bathing the room in erratic flashes of light. Finally, the console emitted a loud whine, followed by a cascade of sparks that engulfed the area in smoke.
"It's done," Kai announced, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the exit. "Let's move!"
We barely made it out of the chamber before the entire structure began collapsing. Debris rained down around us, forcing us to sprint through the tunnels as alarms blared deafeningly.
Behind us, the sound of pursuit grew louder.
"They're still coming!" Lin shouted, glancing over her shoulder.
"Of course they are," Kai muttered bitterly. "Nothing's ever easy."
Just as we rounded a corner, a figure emerged from the shadows—tall, imposing, and clad in crimson armor. His face was obscured by a mask, but his presence radiated authority and menace.
"Well, well," he sneered, his voice cold and commanding. "Looks like we finally meet, Jin Hao."
My heart sank. This wasn't just another soldier—it was someone higher up. Someone dangerous.
And judging by the way Kai stiffened beside me, he recognized him too.
"What now?" I asked, gripping my fists tightly.
Kai exchanged a glance with Lin before stepping forward, his knives drawn.
"We fight," he said simply.
And with that, all hell broke loose.