Return of Great Celestial

Chapter 28 - Strings in the Dark

The wind howled across the lonely trail as Ri Wen walked at a steady pace, Zerathos—still in its small feline form—perched calmly on his shoulder. Behind him, Moying had departed earlier that morning to dig up more information within a nearby town, searching for both secrets of the great families and potential recruits who might serve Ri Wen's future cause.

Alone, Ri Wen's steps echoed softly, yet his senses stretched far beyond. The faint ripple of killing intent in the distance made him grin.

(So... they've finally taken the bait. How long have you been tailing me? A day? Two? Your patience is commendable, but in the end, you're still within the palm of my hand.)

He did not turn around. Instead, his aura remained calm, almost dull, as if he were no more than a wandering cultivator of little significance. To the hidden eyes watching him, he looked vulnerable—unguarded.

But deep within, Ri Wen had already spun the web.

Each step he took carried a faint rhythm, subtle and unnoticeable to ordinary perception, but it was part of a formation he had long since laid out in his mind. He was leading his pursuers exactly where he wanted them.

Zerathos' eyes glimmered, its instincts picking up the stalkers as well. A low rumble escaped its throat, but Ri Wen lifted a hand and stroked its head.
"Patience. Let them think they are the hunters. Tonight, they'll learn they were always the prey."

He recalled Moying's words before leaving: rumors of agents from one of the great families moving through the region. Perhaps these shadows belonged to them. Or perhaps they were merely opportunistic cultivators hoping to claim the bounty on his head after the Ri Clan's fall.

It didn't matter.

In Ri Wen's eyes, all pawns that dared move against him were nothing more than fuel—stepping stones for his rebirth.

The forest thickened as he walked deeper into the mountains. Moonlight filtered through twisted branches, casting long shadows across the ground. Behind him, the faint presence grew closer, their confidence rising as the terrain became isolated.

Ri Wen's smile widened.
(Good. Come closer. Step willingly into the cage you cannot see.)

That night, when Moying returned with new information, he would not just report about the kingdoms or potential allies—he would also find the corpses of those foolish enough to follow them. And from those corpses, Ri Wen would reap secrets, treasures, and fear.

For in this world, there were no hunters but him.