Chapter 02: Threat of Death

Zhi Hao knew that if he stayed there, there would only be insults to him. Even though he was annoyed and furious, it wouldn't change anything. "If I act impulsively, it will only lead me to destruction. Who will help, father? The clan? That's absolutely impossible." in his heart he thought as he took a step away.

Zhi Hao clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the anger burning in his chest. With every word Xiao Bei sprinkled, it was like acid that eroded his heart and self-esteem. He knew very well that every minute he spent in that place would only increase his suffering.

"You are nothing more than trash at our feet!" shouted Xiao Bei in a voice full of disdain. The voice blared in Zhi Hao's ears, piercing into his tired soul.

Bang! One kick is fired.

Xiao Bei's eyes sparkled with satisfaction as he watched Zhi Hao stagger from his kick.

"Go away, before I make you even more humiliated!" Xiao Bei exclaimed, pushing Zhi Hao with his foot.

Zhi Hao felt blood trickle down the corners of his lips, reminding him of the deeper pain of physical wounds. His heart was broken, but he knew he had to keep a cool head. "Fighting you now won't restore my dignityI must have superior strength in order to take revenge," Zhi Hao whispered to himself.

"Look, it's Zhi Hao, the trash of the Zhi Clan!" shouted a young man from the crowd, followed by laughter from several other people.

“It's possible that he was an adopted child, so he couldn't inherit the power of the Zhi Clan.” Someone said.

"Poor, shameless adopted son!" continued another in a sarcastic tone.

Every word thrown at him was like shards of glass that scratched his long-bleeding heart.

Zhi Hao gripped his sword tightly, his eyes red but he was determined not to cry in front of them.

His legs moved faster, leaving increasingly loud jeering sounds.

Arriving outside the city, Zhi Hao found a large, shady tree that seemed to offer an escape from the cruel world.

He sat, his back leaning against a sturdy tree trunk. Her shaking hands covered her face, trying to hide the invisible wounds. The gentle breeze brought silence, a contrast to the din of hatred he had just passed.

Under the tree, Zhi Hao took a deep breath, trying to dispel the shadow of ridicule and recover a little strength. He knows, this is not the end of everything, but just a test of strength that he may not yet realize.

Suddenly, a shadow appeared from high above, descending rapidly from the tree Zhi Hao was leaning against.

Zhi Hao, injured by the physical and emotional torture of Xiao Bei's kicks and the crowd's insults, was shocked when he heard the sharp sound of wind passing by.

Swoosh!

The weapon aimed quickly at his neck, about to cut off a life he considered no longer valuable. However, in an instant, a sword beam struck from another direction, repelling the sudden attack powerfully.

Trend!

Swords clashed, sparks danced in the air.

Zhi Hao quickly rolled away, avoiding the dangerous battle vortex. He was shocked to realize that someone wanted to end his life.

"Run, Young Master!" Wang shouted in tension. The voice alerted Zhi Hao, who recognized the helpful figure from past visits to his father.

Ignoring the pain wracking his body, Zhi Hao sped up his steps, stumbling for his life on Wang's advice. His instincts screamed, his life depended on every beat and step he took now.

"Haha, you think you can stop me?" taunted the black-robed figure in a deep and sinister voice. He raised his hand and quickly drew his sword.

Wang took a deep breath, preparing himself for what might be a long fight. "Step over my corpse if you really want to kill Young Master ZhiWho are you really?” he challenged, his voice remaining calm.

A cold laugh came from behind the head covering. "Haha. You don't need to know who I am, but what is certain is that I will still kill him. If you really want to die first, I will grant it."

With a swift and powerful movement, the figure launched himself at Wang, his sword flashing with a deadly glint. Wang, with honed reflexes, dodged and drew his own sword.

The clash of swords was inevitable.

Dang!

Dang!

Dang!

fireworks burst here and there accompanied by explosions.

Bang!

Bang!

Bomb!

"Oh, it turned out to be you! I didn't expect it. Did you come on the orders of the second young master?" Wang asked in a suspicious tone, his eyes unblinking at Elder Mo.

Elder Mo, with a face filled with wrinkles and eyes gleaming sharply, could no longer dodge. "That's right, I came on his orders. But, do you think I came without any preparation at all, Wang?" he answered in a hoarse voice but full of confidence.

Elder Mo smiled sinisterly, "I have ordered two of my subordinates to chase him. He will definitely die!" he said confidently, as if he had already won this battle.

Elder Wang, raising his eyebrows, did not appear daunted. "Why kill himAfter all, he's not the heir even though he's the first child!" he said in a teasing tone, trying to find a loophole in Elder Mo's defense.

Without wasting any more time.

“Lightning Sword Technique – Lightning strikes!” he shouted in a booming voice. Bright blue lightning formed on the tip of his sword, flashing quickly towards Wang, who was standing calmly across from him.

Slash!

Woosh!

Wang, who didn't seem surprised, just raised an eyebrow and smiled sarcastically. "Oh, you mastered the Zhi Clan's Sword Technique, it's unexpected that an outsider could master it. Looks like the second young master no longer cares about his position in the Zhi Clan," he said in a mocking tone. with an almost imperceptible movement, he swung his sword, “Illusory Sword Technique – Dual Sword Shadows.” Two sword shadows similar to the original sword appeared beside him and shot out at the same time to attack Elder Mo.

Swoosh!

Bomb!

The two powerful sword techniques collided in the center of the area, producing a powerful explosion. Dust and sparks shot out in all directions, and the sound of the explosion reverberated across the battlefield. Both of them were thrown a few steps back, but immediately stabilized themselves, ready for the next attack, their eyes locked in defiance, waiting to see who would make the next move in this fierce duel.

*

amidst the darkness that enveloped the Forest near Linggau City, Zhi Hao continued to run away from his hometown, the Zhi Clan.

The haunted forest is the only refuge he can hope to hide, survive, and nurture his revenge. His despair and fear mixed together as he realized there was nowhere else to go.

As if sensing an approaching threat, his steps quickened. In the distance, two figures jumped nimbly among the dense trees. “Look at him, running around aimlessly!” came the sound of mockery from one of the hunters, as their laughter broke the silence of the forest.

"We have to finish it quickly and help Elder Mo. Don't let him fight alone against the cruel Elder Wang," another shouted as he drew his sword with a nimble movement.

with a whoosh of wind, one of them jumped high, spinning elegantly in the air before landing in an alert position right above Zhi Hao.

The world seemed as if it had stopped spinning for Zhi Hao, his breath was shortened, and fear reigned over every inch of his body as his life and fate depended on a piece of life that was now threatened by the enemy's arrogance.