C11 Wait!

"Cut the crap. I know you're not one of them," Chen Yan said, peering into Lin Yan's eyes. The familiar spark still lingered there, a sign that Lin Yan hadn't been overtaken by an alien presence. Only Lin Yan's brother and Chen Yan could recognize that glint.

"You can't stay here any longer. Doggie, Monkey, Lao Ma—they might still be counting on you to rescue them. But for now, they're safe. The West Military Region has changed; it's not what it used to be. The Duan Dynasty is likely under the control of some other power now. That cave's appearance wasn't just happenstance; someone's been meddling with it.

Get out of here fast, and don't worry about me. Thanks to my ties with the district leader, I'm not in any immediate danger."

With that, Chen Yan whisked Lin Yan away from the Green Python Battalion's perimeter, shrouded in darkness, leaving Lin Yan bewildered by his words.

The cave's emergence was no accident, but why was the Duan Dynasty under new control? And if Doggie and Lao Ma were safe, where were they?

Lin Yan wanted to press Chen Yan for answers, but Chen Yan's tense expression suggested there was no time for explanations.

Suddenly, the night erupted with the light of torches, and soldiers sprang from their hiding spots all around them. Shen Zhong and Guo Feng, two familiar silhouettes, approached Lin Yan and Chen Yan.

"Chen Yan, I knew you'd pull something like this," Shen Zhong said with a sneer, his face twisted into a smug look.

"Hand over that little punk next to you, and I might just ask the commander to go easy on you."

"Go to hell! I saved your sorry life from a Barbarian Beast once, and now you're trying to undermine me for a promotion? You think I'll bend the knee to you? Maybe you didn't get enough brains in the womb," Chen Yan spat back, positioning Lin Yan protectively behind him as he exuded an overwhelming aura, the unmistakable presence of a warrior.

With a roar, Chen Yan's hair whipped about as he opened his martial veins, his eyes blazing with ferocity.

"Run, Lin Yan!"

Chen Yan's legs spread, his back muscles bulging against his armor, making him look even more formidable. He launched a massive fist at Shen Zhong and Guo Feng, the force of his punch whistling through the air, strong enough to shatter stone.

Caught off guard, Shen Zhong and Guo Feng, despite being martial artists themselves, had to dodge the raw power of Chen Yan's blow.

"Go now!"

Without waiting for Lin Yan's response, Chen Yan grabbed him and hurled him through the breach his fist had created. Lin Yan's body flew through the air, landing with a thud more than ten meters away.

Lin Yan hit the ground hard, his eyes stinging as he saw Chen Yan surrounded, only his head visible above the encircling soldiers.

"If you don't leave now, I'll die right here in front of you!" Chen Yan shouted, drawing a dagger and pressing it to his own throat.

Lin Yan's throat tightened, words failing him. He scrambled to his feet, gave Chen Yan one last, long look, then turned and sprinted into the desolate darkness.

Shen Zhong glared at Chen Yan with a heavy, cold gaze, but he knew his strength paled in comparison to Chen Yan's, so he dared not engage in a direct confrontation.

"You chase down that kid; I'll keep Chen Yan here."

Guo Feng stepped forward, his martial artist's power bursting forth as three martial veins flared to life!

"Fine, the kid won't get far."

With those words, Shen Zhong took off after Lin Yan.

"The cave incident, that was orchestrated by the mayor and his cronies, wasn't it?" Chen Yan boldly inquired of Guo Feng.

"There are things you shouldn't speak of recklessly. And some matters are far more complex than you assume," Guo Feng replied, his fast knife gleaming, his eyes brimming with lethal intent.

"Hahaha, indeed. The deaths of nearly a hundred from my Golden Eagle Battalion have been swept under the rug by you lot. Hiding this affair must be child's play for you."

Chen Yan's demeanor gradually steadied. He crouched, arms outstretched like expansive wings.

"Feather Kill Wings!"

Guo Feng watched Chen Yan intently. Although Chen Yan's Martial Pulse strength didn't match his own, Chen Yan had been at the Martial Pulse Early Period for years and was likely nearing the Martial Pulse Middle Period's power. Guo Feng wasn't fully confident about this fight.

"I've longed to test my skills against you, but the opportunity never arose. The district leader's once top warrior—it's been over a decade. I wonder if you still live up to that reputation."

Like a specter, Guo Feng charged at Chen Yan. In the enveloping darkness, his silver blade flashed, sometimes accompanied by the spray of blood and the thunderous sound of his arm strikes.

Meanwhile, Lin Yan was running desperately. Though he couldn't see Chen Yan's plight, he could imagine the dire straits—a matter of life and death. But this was a predicament he couldn't resolve.

In the end, it all came down to strength. Without it, nothing could be safeguarded. As Lin Yan fretted over Chen Yan, a chill crept up his spine.

Whoosh!

A dagger flew at Lin Yan from behind. He sensed the imminent danger and reacted swiftly, sidestepping just in time as the blade skimmed his clothing, leaving behind a slender trail of blood.

"Huh?"

A voice tinged with surprise emanated from behind Lin Yan, who halted and spun around to face his pursuer.

"You evaded my attack. Have you been concealing your true strength all along?" Shen Zhong demanded, halting his advance.

"What difference does it make?" Lin Yan retorted, fists clenched. With Shen Zhong on his heels, further flight was futile.

"I'm asking you a question. Answer me properly," Shen Zhong insisted, closing in on Lin Yan, his Martial Pulse Early Period aura unfurling. Any regular soldier would have cowered under such martial might.

"You're so curious? Then witness it for yourself!" Lin Yan's fists tightened, and four martial veins burst open, the one between his eyebrows shining a faint red in the night, a stark contrast. His aura was so potent it even surpassed Shen Zhong, who had been a Martial Pulse Early Period warrior for quite some time.

"What!" Shen Zhong came to an abrupt halt, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Earlier that day, he had mocked Lin Yan as a martial arts fool with no foundation. Yet, in just a few hours, Lin Yan had transformed into a Martial Pulse Stage warrior, with four martial veins unveiled!