The air smelled like rust and fear. That's the first thing I noticed as we slipped through the shadows toward the detention center. It wasn't just the metallic tang of old machinery or the faint chemical stench of cleaning agents—it was something heavier, something that clung to your skin and made your chest tight. Fear. Pure, suffocating fear.
We crouched behind a stack of crates near the facility's loading bay, watching guards patrol in pairs. Their movements were mechanical, almost bored, but their eyes darted around constantly, scanning for threats. These weren't ordinary grunts—they were trained killers, probably low-level cultivators given how they carried themselves. Still, they weren't expecting trouble tonight. Not here, not now.
Lin leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "See those cameras?" She pointed subtly toward a row of blinking red lights mounted on the walls. "I can disable them, but it'll only give us a few minutes before they notice."
"Enough time?" I asked, keeping my voice low.
She gave me a look—half exasperation, half determination. "It'll have to be."
I nodded, gripping my fists tighter. The fiery symbol on my palm throbbed faintly, like it could sense what was coming. Guess it knew we were about to throw ourselves into chaos again.
Zhang Wei and his group waited farther back, hidden among the debris of discarded shipping containers. They'd been quiet since we arrived, their faces pale but resolute. Most of them were civilians, ordinary people who'd never held a weapon in their lives. Yet here they were, risking everything to save strangers they'd never met.
"Ready?" Lin murmured, pulling out her wrist device.
"As I'll ever be," I muttered, flexing my fingers.
She didn't respond—just tapped a few commands on her screen, and suddenly the cameras went dark. A tiny LED blinked green on her device.
"Go," she whispered sharply.
The first part was easy—or at least, easier than I expected. With the cameras down, we moved quickly, sticking to the shadows. Lin led the way, her dagger drawn but kept close to her side. Every step she took was deliberate, silent, like she'd done this a thousand times before. Maybe she had.
I followed closely behind, using *Ghost Shadow Steps* to stay light on my feet. My heart pounded in my ears, drowning out the hum of distant machinery. Part of me wanted to rush ahead, kick open doors, and start tearing the place apart. But Lin's earlier warning echoed in my mind: *no heroics*. So I held back, forcing myself to focus.
When we reached the main entrance, Lin paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Stay sharp," she said quietly. Then she pressed her hand against the door panel, bypassing the lock with practiced ease. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a dimly lit hallway lined with reinforced steel doors.
"This is it," she whispered, nodding toward one of the doors. "Holding cells are down there."
Before we could move, footsteps echoed down the corridor. Two guards rounded the corner, chatting casually about some fight they'd seen the night before. They hadn't noticed us yet, but it wouldn't take long.
"On me," Lin mouthed silently, stepping forward.
Before I could stop her, she darted toward the guards, moving faster than I thought possible. One second they were laughing, the next they were sprawled on the floor, unconscious. She didn't even break stride, dragging their bodies into an alcove before anyone could spot them.
"Come on," she hissed, motioning for me to follow.
The holding cells were worse than I imagined. Rows of cramped cages filled with terrified civilians—men, women, even kids. Some sat huddled together, clutching each other like lifelines. Others stared blankly at the walls, their eyes hollow.
"Hey!" I called softly, trying to get their attention without alerting the guards outside. "We're here to help."
At first, no one responded. Then, slowly, heads turned. A woman in the corner stood shakily, clutching a blanket around her shoulders. "You… you're Jin Hao?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Word travels fast, apparently.
"Yeah," I replied, forcing a reassuring smile. "And we're getting you out of here."
Lin worked quickly, disabling the locks on the cages while I kept watch. Each door opened with a soft click, spilling more people into the narrow hallway. Zhang Wei appeared moments later, ushering them toward the exit.
"Keep moving," he urged, his tone firm but kind. "We don't have much time."
But as the crowd grew larger, so did the noise. Voices rose in panicked whispers, children cried, and someone accidentally knocked over a metal bucket, sending it clattering across the floor.
"Quiet!" Lin snapped, spinning around. Her dagger gleamed menacingly in the dim light. "If they hear us, we're all dead."
The room fell silent except for the sound of hurried footsteps as everyone scrambled to obey.
Just as the last cage emptied, alarms blared throughout the facility. Red lights flashed overhead, bathing the room in strobing crimson.
"They know we're here," Lin growled, grabbing my arm. "Move!"
We ran back the way we came, but the hallway was already filling with guards. Dozens of them, armed to the teeth and Qi-enhanced. Great. Just what we needed.
"Split up!" Lin shouted, shoving me toward a side passage. "Get the civilians out—I'll hold them off!"
"No way," I protested, skidding to a halt. "I'm not leaving you—"
"Jin Hao!" she barked, cutting me off. "This isn't a debate. Go!"
Before I could argue further, she charged straight into the fray, her dagger flashing like lightning. Guards fell left and right, but reinforcements kept pouring in.
Reluctantly, I turned and sprinted after the others, channeling Qi into my legs to boost my speed. The civilians were halfway to the exit, guided by Zhang Wei and his group.
"Keep going!" I yelled, urging them forward. "Don't stop!"
Behind me, the sounds of battle intensified—explosions, shouts, the clash of steel on steel. Whatever Lin was doing, it was working—for now.
Then, out of nowhere, a figure stepped into my path. Tall, broad-shouldered, and wearing a sneer that made my blood boil.
"Well, well," he drawled, cracking his knuckles. "Looks like the little hero decided to show up."
It was Xiao Liang. Of course it was.
"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Seriously? Now?"
He smirked, raising a hand glowing with crimson energy. "Oh, I'm very serious. This ends here."
Xiao Liang attacked first, launching a fireball straight at me. I dodged, barely, feeling the heat singe the edge of my hoodie.
"You really think you can take me?" I taunted, circling him warily. "Last time didn't go so well for you, remember?"
His smirk faltered for a split second, replaced by a snarl. "Shut up!" he roared, charging at me with reckless fury.
Using *Ghost Shadow Steps*, I sidestepped his attack, delivering a focused strike to his ribs. He stumbled, clutching his side, but recovered quickly, unleashing another flurry of Qi-infused punches.
For a moment, I actually thought I might win this. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw movement—more guards closing in.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath, realizing I was surrounded.
Before they could converge, however, the mechanical voice chimed in my head.
**"System Alert: Face-Slap Mode Detected. Current Target: Xiao Liang."**
Perfect timing.
With a burst of speed, I closed the gap between us, slapping Xiao Liang hard across the face. The impact sent him sprawling backward, leaving a bright red mark on his cheek.
**"Achievement Unlocked: Payback Slap. Reward: 3,000 XP. Bonus: Increased Stamina (+8%)."**
The guards froze, staring in stunned silence as Xiao Liang 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.
I didn't waste time celebrating. Sprinting back toward the exit, I found Zhang Wei waiting anxiously near the loading bay.
"The others?" I panted, scanning the area.
"Most of them made it out," he replied grimly. "But Lin…"
"She's still inside," I finished, dread sinking into my gut.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and ran back into the facility, ignoring the alarms blaring overhead.
"Lin!" I shouted, weaving through the chaos. "Where are you?"
Finally, I found her in the main hall, surrounded by a dozen guards. Blood trickled from a cut on her forehead, but she fought on relentlessly, her dagger flashing like silver lightning.
"Need a hand?" I called, stepping forward.
She glanced at me, her expression torn between relief and frustration. "What are you doing here? I told you to leave!"
"And let you die? Not happening," I shot back, channeling Qi into my palms.
Together, we launched into the fray, cutting through the guards with brutal efficiency. But as the last one fell, Ren's voice echoed through the room, cold and mocking.
"Brave, but futile," he sneered, stepping out of the shadows.