Two days had passed since I killed Niúrén. News of his death spread like wildfire through the city and across every region he had once tormented. The people called me the "Unseen God of Assassination"—they still couldn't believe someone had actually defeated Niúrén, that the tyrant was truly gone for good.
While everyone else celebrated his fall, I threw myself into relentless training, pushing past my limits. I knew the Claw would come for revenge. It was only a matter of time.
Three days passed. Still no attack.
The city continued its festivities, but within the temple walls, tension mounted with each passing hour. Everyone felt it—everyone except Li Ming. He remained unnervingly calm, spending his days drinking tea, meditating, or sparring with his daughter Lina, patiently teaching her to control her magic. I couldn't help but admire his composure in the face of the approaching storm.
During the day, I trained alone. At night, I sparred with May.
"You move like a ninja, not a monk," I commented one evening.
May smirked. "We're monks who understand that survival requires more than prayer."
She began teaching me to conceal my presence completely, to become one with the shadows. But the lesson that changed everything was learning to sense others—to feel their presence like ripples on water.
After hours of intense practice, something clicked. I could detect even the faintest traces of life force. My ability to sense hidden presences became more than ten times sharper than May's. It was as if this gift had always been dormant within me, waiting to be awakened. I could identify insects from incredible distances just by listening to the subtle vibrations in the air.
"He might already be better than Li Ming," May muttered, her eyes widening with realization.
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