The forest was thick with mist. Leaves crunched underfoot as Qing Yan moved swiftly beneath the looming shadows of towering trees.

Qing Yan (thinking):
He should be around here...
He closed his eyes briefly. Qi sense...
A vile energy flickered nearby.

Qing Yan:
"As I thought... close enough. Let’s get moving."

He rushed forward, weaving between trees, the target growing nearer with every step—until suddenly—

Li Heiye:
"Don’t move... or you’ll die."

A cold blade pressed against Qing Yan’s neck.

Qing Yan:
"You’re Li Heiye, right?"

Li Heiye (smirking):
"What’s the point of telling a dead ma—"

He never finished the sentence.

Qing Yan vanished like a phantom.

Li Heiye (startled):
"Wha—?!"

He spun around, knife raised. But the forest offered no answer.

Li Heiye (growling):
"Stop playing petty tricks and come out! If you surrender now, I’ll give you a quick dea—AAARGH!"

His left leg snapped with a sickening crunch. He collapsed to the ground, screaming.

Li Heiye:
"B-Bastard! Forget mercy—I'll rip your skin off! You’ll suffer to your last breath!"

CRACK.
His other leg shattered instantly.

Li Heiye (screaming):
"AAGHHHH! WHO?! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

A shadow emerged from the mist. Qing Yan stood in front of the kneeling man, expression calm — cold.

Qing Yan:
"What’s the point of telling a dead man?"

Li Heiye (begging):
"S-Stop... Spare me, please!"

CRACK.
One arm broke at the elbow.

Li Heiye (screams):
"AARRGGHHHHH!"

Qing Yan (coldly):
"Answer my questions honestly and I’ll consider sparing your miserable life. You already know you’re nothing compared to me — my realm is far above yours. So how? How did a worm like you even sense my presence? Who tipped you off?"

Li Heiye (snarling):
"Ha! Do you think I’ll tell you anything after this?! Do your worst—I won’t say a damn thing!"

Qing Yan (grinning):
"Oh? Even a petty criminal still has a little pride. Impressive."

His gaze sharpened. Killing intent poured from his body like a storm, freezing the air.

Li Heiye (trembling, trying to sound defiant):
"D-Don’t think I’m scared of your killing intent! HAHAHA—"

POP.
One of his eyes burst from a precise jab of Qi.

Li Heiye (howling):
"BASTAAAAARD!!!"

POP.
The other eye followed.

Li Heiye (sobbing):
"I WON’T—"

PLUCK.
A tooth.

PLUCK.
Another.

Li Heiye (screaming):
"AAAAHHHHHH! I’LL TALK! I’LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING!"

Qing Yan:
"That was easier than I thought."

Li Heiye (panting):
"I... I’m a member of the Black Lot—"

Suddenly, his body jerked unnaturally. Muscles bulged, organs twitched violently.

Qing Yan (alarmed):
"What the—? Hey—!"

Li Heiye:
"S-Save me...!!!"

His body convulsed—and exploded into a spray of flesh and black blood.

BOOM.

Qing Yan threw up a Qi barrier just in time to block the blast. Smoke and gore splattered the trees around him.

Qing Yan (wiping blood off his face):
"...Ah, fuck this shit."

He stepped forward, examining the remains. What little was left of Li Heiye’s chest revealed strange, pulsating black markings burned into the flesh.

Qing Yan (frowning):
"Wait... what are these tattoos…?"

He knelt, eyes narrowing.

Qing Yan:
"...Don’t tell me…?!?!"

His eyes widened.

[TO BE CONTINUED]

✍️ Author Note – Chapter 6

One leg.
Two.
Then the truth — ripped from the mouth of a man who thought he could outrun fate.

But in Qing Yan’s world, silence has a price... and death isn’t always the end.

Who burned that curse into Li Heiye's body? Who silenced him before the truth could surface?

The deeper Qing Yan digs, the darker this world becomes — and something out there is watching him back.

Drop your theories in the comments.
Next chapter? Answers cost blood.