Lin Hu's voice echoed in my ear like a death sentence. I clenched my teeth tightly, curling my body into a ball as I hid behind the stone door, not daring to make the slightest sound.
"Lu Chen, do you really think you'll be safe just by hiding? Let me tell you, today you won't grow wings and fly away!" Lin Hu bellowed crazily from outside, followed by the sound of metal striking the stone walls as he evidently began searching the secret cave.
A bad feeling gripped my heart. This secret cave was cramped and narrow, with nowhere at all to hide. If he discovered me, I would surely die!
"Bang!" A flying dart tore through the air and embedded itself in the stone wall right beside me, less than an inch from my head! Terrified, I broke out in a cold sweat, my heart pounding so violently it felt as though it were about to leap out of my throat.
Lin Hu's attacks grew increasingly fierce, with darts and hidden weapons raining into the secret cave. I could only rely on the dim light to barely dodge them. Sparks flew in all directions inside the cave, stone chips scattered everywhere, and my situation was precarious.
"Lu Chen, I know you're hiding in there! If you don't come out right now, I'll burn this wretched cave to the ground!" Lin Hu's voice was filled with madness and cruelty.
Listening to the footsteps approaching from outside, I knew Lin Hu was closing in step by step. My mind raced to think of a countermeasure, but under these circumstances, what else could I possibly do? Was I really going to die here?
Just as I felt utter despair, something suddenly seemed to drop down right above my head. I instinctively reached out to catch it. It felt cold and heavy in my hand—it was actually a palm-sized metal plaque!
The metal plaque felt slightly cool to the touch. The front was engraved with bizarre patterns, while the back bore an archaic character: "Zhao". Before I even had a chance to examine it closely, a furious shout rang out from outside the secret cave:
"Stop right there!"
The voice was deep and powerful, like a sudden thunderclap echoing in the narrow cave, making my eardrums ache. At the same time, Lin Hu's frenzied attack came to an abrupt halt, clearly startled by this sudden turn of events. I hurriedly gripped the metal plaque, held my breath, and cautiously peered toward the cave entrance.
An old man with a hunchback had appeared at the entrance out of nowhere. His hair and beard were completely white, and he wore a set of coarse hemp clothes washed faded and pale, leaning on a rough wooden staff. He looked like an ordinary, rustic villager, yet his turbid eyes flashed with a hawk-like sharpness that nobody dared to meet directly.
"Who are you, sticking your nose into my business?" Lin Hu asked with a gloomy expression, his tone carrying a trace of apprehension.
"Old man Zhao Qian. This entire valley is my territory, and you dare run amok here—did you even ask me first?" The old man, Zhao Qian, let out a cold snort, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.
"Zhao Qian? Never heard of you!" Lin Hu clearly did not take Zhao Qian seriously. He sneered, "Old man, I advise you not to meddle in other people's affairs, or don't blame me for being unpolished!"
"Hmph, arrogant junior!" Zhao Qian let out an angry roar and slammed his wooden staff hard against the ground. An invisible wave of pressure instantly surged outward, whipping up the surrounding fallen leaves and dust into the air.
Lin Hu had clearly not expected this seemingly ordinary old man to possess such profound internal energy. His expression shifted drastically, and he hurriedly raised his saber to parry.
"Clang!"
With a deafening crash of metal, Zhao Qian's wooden staff struck squarely against the blade of Lin Hu's saber. Lin Hu felt an overwhelming force surge through the blade, numbing the web between his thumb and forefinger as he staggered back several steps to steady himself.
"You..." Lin Hu stared at Zhao Qian in shock and disbelief, clearly not expecting to suffer a disadvantage at the hands of this unassuming old man.
Seizing the opportunity while they fought, I hunched over and, aided by the dim light inside the cave, groped my way toward the other exit of the secret passage.
"Trying to run?" Catching sight of my movement out of the corner of his eye, Lin Hu let out an angry roar and moved to give chase.
"Your opponent is me!" Zhao Qian was naturally not about to let him have his way. With a flicker of movement, he blocked Lin Hu's path like a phantom, his wooden staff transforming into a flurry of shadows that enveloped Lin Hu completely.
Entangled by Zhao Qian, Lin Hu was utterly unable to break away and could only watch helplessly as I vanished into the far end of the secret passage.
I ran wildly, not knowing how long I had been running, until I finally burst out from the other exit of the secret passage.
"Hah... hah..." I bent over, resting my hands on my knees, and gasped heavily for air. Before I even had time to celebrate having escaped with my life, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded from behind...
I looked back and saw Lin Hu rushing out of the secret passage with murder in his eyes. He scanned his surroundings and finally locked his gaze in my direction.
"Little bastard, let's see where you can run now!" Lin Hu roared angrily, drawing his saber as he charged toward me.
My heart skipped a beat. Knowing I was in no condition to face Lin Hu head-on, I could only run for my life.
In my blind panic, I tripped over a rock and tumbled down the hillside.
"Ah!" I couldn't help letting out a miserable scream, feeling pain rack my entire body as if my bones were about to shatter.
Struggling to my feet, I realized I had rolled down to the foot of the hill, surrounded by a dense forest.
Knowing I couldn't just sit and wait for death, I gritted my teeth against the pain and stumbled deeper into the woods.
Lin Hu quickly reached the edge of the slope. Looking in the direction where I had vanished, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
"Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I'll hack you into a thousand pieces!"
With an angry roar, Lin Hu leaped down the slope as well.
I hid behind a large tree, listening to Lin Hu's footsteps drawing closer, my heart taut with extreme tension.
I knew Lin Hu wouldn't give up easily; once discovered, it would mean certain death.
Looking around, I spotted a concealed cave not far away, its entrance blocked by thick vines. It would be impossible to notice without a careful look.
A surge of hope went through me. I scrambled up, hunched over, and slipped into the cave.
It was pitch black inside. Groping my way forward, I finally stopped when I reached the very end.
I leaned against the cold stone wall, listening to Lin Hu searching outside, not daring to take even a full breath.
I knew my only chance now was for Lin Hu to fail to find me and leave on his own.
Time ticked by second by second, and the commotion of Lin Hu's search grew fainter. The boulder weighing on my heart gradually settled.
Yet just when I thought I was safe, a rustling sound suddenly echoed from the cave entrance, followed immediately by a familiar voice right beside my ear:
"Lu Chen, I know you're here. Stop hiding, come on out..."