Ch 47: Return of the Calculative mind

The girl ran through the dense forest, her breathing ragged and shallow. Each gasp of air burned her lungs, but she couldn't afford to stop.

Not even for a second.

Behind her, the pack of wolves was relentless, their howls piercing the otherwise quiet night. Their hunger was evident in the way their snarls echoed through the woods, drawing ever closer. She could hear their paws pounding against the forest floor, could feel their presence right behind her.

The trees seemed to close in on her, the thick underbrush tearing at her legs, cutting through her already tattered clothes, leaving her skin exposed and raw. Her limbs ached, and her body was on the verge of collapse, but she pressed on, driven purely by the will to survive.

But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't escape the inevitable.

Her foot caught on something... a hidden root... and she fell hard, slamming into the ground. Pain shot through her leg as she rolled over onto her back, clutching her ankle. No… not now… not here.

The wolves slowed their pace, circling her. Their yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness, filled with a primal, predatory hunger. Their growls grew louder, more menacing, as they prepared to lunge.

She screamed, her voice echoing off the trees, but in her heart, she knew no one would come. This place was a grave, a forgotten corner of the world where no help would arrive.

She tried to crawl backward, but her body wouldn't respond. Her muscles were too strained, her mind too clouded with fear. All she could do was close her eyes, waiting for the inevitable as the wolves closed in.

But instead of the sharp bite of teeth, she felt the air grow cold. A new presence filled the forest, heavy and oppressive, suffocating everything in its wake. The wolves froze mid-step, their snarls fading into whimpers as they cowered under the weight of the aura that now surrounded them.

It was as if death itself had descended upon them.

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System Notification:-

Oh, great. Here comes Mr. Dramatic. Did you really have to turn up the killing intent for a pack of wolves? Overkill, much?

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Above them, like a vengeful Asura descending from the heavens, stood Feng Chen. His eyes gleamed with a cold, ruthless light, the cerulean glow making him appear almost otherworldly.

His clothes were tattered, his once-pristine robe barely holding together, but his presence alone was enough to make even these wild beasts shudder.

His two weapons... Demon's Vile in one hand and Abyssal Devourer Blade in the other... radiated an ominous energy. He hadn't even activated his Yin and Yang Divine Body, and yet the power he emitted was enough to paralyze the entire pack.

Feng Chen hovered for a moment longer, allowing his aura to do the talking.

The girl had already passed out from fear and exhaustion, her small body limp on the ground. She was no longer a factor in this equation.

He descended slowly, landing with a grace that belied the killing intent in his eyes. His blades flashed in the moonlight, and before the wolves could react, he moved.

The first wolf, closest to the girl, was dead before it even realized Feng Chen had struck. With a single fluid motion, he brought Demon's Vile down, severing its head cleanly from its body.

Blood sprayed through the air, but Feng Chen didn't hesitate. The next wolf tried to retreat, but it too met its end as Abyssal Devourer sliced through its body with lethal precision.

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System Notification:-

You know, you could have just scared them off, right? Or maybe not gone full 'I'm a vengeful god' on them? But hey, what do I know?

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Feng Chen's movements were a blur, a dance of death that left the remaining wolves no room to escape. Two more fell in quick succession, their bodies crumpling to the ground with barely a sound. The last wolf, the pack leader, tried to flee, sensing its inevitable demise. But Feng Chen was faster.

In an instant, he appeared before it, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement. The wolf growled weakly, its eyes wide with terror, but there was no escape.

With a swift thrust, Feng Chen drove Demon's Vile into the creature's chest, ending its life as quickly and effortlessly as the others. He watched as its body slumped to the ground, lifeless, joining the rest of its pack in death.

The forest was silent once more, save for the soft rustle of the wind through the trees.

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System Notification:-

Wow. I'm almost impressed. Almost. But seriously, you're not gonna gloat? No 'I'm so powerful' speech? What a waste of an opportunity.

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Feng Chen finally turned his attention to the girl. She lay motionless on the ground, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths.

Her face was pale, streaked with dirt and dried blood, and her clothes... if they could even be called that... were little more than rags. She was clearly malnourished, her body fragile and bruised.

Feng Chen crouched beside her, inspecting her closely. Just a kid… How did you even get here? His lips curled into a dark grin, amusement flickering in his eyes.

Not that he intended to harm her, but the situation was almost too ridiculous to believe. A slave, judging by her clothes, alone in the Grave of Immortals?

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System Notification:-

I see that grin. You're not thinking of doing something cruel, are you? I mean, it wouldn't be out of character for you…

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Feng Chen scoffed but said nothing. He sheathed his swords and lifted the girl into his arms as if she weighed nothing.

Without a second glance at the dead wolves, he turned and began making his way back toward his cave, his mind already racing with questions.

Who was she? And why was she in this place? The Grave of Immortals was sealed off from the outside world for a reason. No one just wandered into it.

But as he approached his cave, a thought crossed his mind. If she came here, others might follow.

His expression hardened, and he stopped just outside the cave. He needed to take precautions. The barrier would protect Yin and Yang, but he couldn't take any chances.

In the lowest, most commanding voice he could muster, Feng Chen spoke.

"System, decrease the barrier's defense to zero. Stop the Qi Gathering Array. Now."

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System Notification:-

Oh, finally giving me some orders again, are we? Sure, I'll do it. But I gotta say, your paranoia is really starting to show.

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The barrier surrounding the cave shimmered briefly before disappearing entirely, and the soft hum of the Qi Gathering Array fell silent. Feng Chen stepped into the cave, carrying the girl inside. The darkness swallowed him as he moved deeper, the air growing colder and more still.

He carefully laid the girl down on a patch of ground, making sure she was comfortable. For a moment, he simply stood there, staring at her unconscious form. His cerulean eyes glowed faintly in the dim light, his expression unreadable.

Then, slowly, a dangerous gleam entered his eyes. His lips curled into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. Only cold calculation.

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System Notification:-

Okay, now you're just creeping me out. You're not actually gonna kill her, right? Because I'm not really sure what the plan is here, but this whole 'brooding in the dark' thing is getting a little too intense.

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Feng Chen remained silent, his thoughts a whirlwind of possibilities. Why was she here? And more importantly, who might come looking for her? If she was truly a slave, then there had to be someone who owned her... someone who had lost track of her. And if they were strong enough to send her into this cursed place, they would surely come looking.

His hands clenched into fists, the killing intent he had suppressed slowly leaking into the air. The cave grew even colder, a suffocating weight pressing down on everything around him.

His eyes, those sharp cerulean orbs, glowed brighter than before, their cold light piercing through the shadows. Whatever happens next, this girl is going to be a piece in my game. Whether she knows it or not.

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System Notification:-

Seriously, man. Chill. She's just a kid.

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