Qing Yan stood atop a small shop roof, arms folded, eyes locked onto the two assassins below as they scrambled through the streets like rats chased by fire.

Qing Yan (muttering):
"Let’s see… who in this world do you trust to protect your pitiful lives? Show me… your so-called salvation."

Scene Cut — Alleyway, Two Assassins Fleeing

First Assassin (painting):
“Run faster! Head for the slave basement under the guild — the manager's there! He’ll save us for sure!”

Second Assassin (stumbling):
“Y-Y-Yes!”

High above them, Qing Yan appeared midair, gliding effortlessly on the wind, robes fluttering like a predator's wings.

Qing Yan (hovering):
"Hoooh... You two seem calmer than before. Is it because you're near someone strong...?"

They didn’t answer — just ran harder.

Qing Yan (thinking, smirking):
"Silent now? Fine. I’ll find out myself."

He vanished.

Scene — Outside the Guild

First Assassin (thinking):
"Th-there it is! The entrance! Behind the guild—"

Second Assassin:
"A-Almost there!"

They burst into the bounty guild, darting past the front desk and sprinting toward a painting hung behind the morning shift manager’s seat.

Qing Yan appeared midair again, watching from above with narrowed eyes.

Qing Yan:
“Ooooh... so he’s the one you were running to? Your great protector?”

The two assassins rushed toward a large canvas — a centuries-old oil painting of a temple floating above the clouds. As they neared it, the surface shimmered like disturbed water.
Without hesitation, they leapt forward and disappeared into it — their bodies swallowed silently, as if the painting drank them whole.

The manager jolted upright.

Morning Shift Manager (startled):
“Wh-Who the hell are—?!”

Too late.

Qing Yan touched down gently, brushing imaginary dust off his shoulder.

Qing Yan (grinning):
"Good morning, Manager. How are you?"

Manager (thinking, panicking):
"It’s him! That terrifying master from before!!"
He forced a smile, rubbing his hands together.

Manager (nervous chuckle):
“H-Haha... g-good morning, sir. I’m doing well! Very well! And you?”

Qing Yan:
“Oh, I’m fantastic. Would’ve loved to share a cup of tea, but I’ve got urgent business... Shall we catch up later?”

Manager (sweating):
“Y-Yes, of course! Any time!”

Qing Yan (smiling):
"Great."

He stepped forward and phased directly into the painting — just like the assassins.

Scene — Underground

Qing Yan emerged on the other side, his senses tingling.

Qing Yan (thinking):
"Hmm… Some kind of linked artifact? A hidden spatial portal... and my Qi sense didn’t even pick it up. Who are these people?"

Deeper Underground — A Dim, Stone Chamber

The assassins ran frantically down a spiral stairwell. At the bottom stood a man in shadowy robes — the Night Shift Manager, calmly sipping a cup of tea beside an ancient altar.

Both Assassins (crying out):
“M-MANAGER!!!”

They stumbled toward him, shaking, wide-eyed, barely coherent.

Night Shift Manager (startled):
“Wh-What the—? Why are you two here?!”

First Assassin (grabbing his sleeve):
“P-Please… please… save us!!”

Second Assassin (crying):
“He’s coming!! That thing is coming!!”

Their hands trembled violently. Sanity was slipping from their eyes.

Second Assassin (muttering, broken):
“P-p-p-p-please…”

Night Shift Manager (lowering his tea):
“Save you? From who? Who did this to you?!”

First Assassin (whispering, voice hollow):
“Th-that human—no... no...”

He fell to his knees.

First Assassin (eyes widening in horror):
“Demon. No—Demon King.”

He stepped forward slightly, the stairs groaning under his pressure.

Qing Yan (thinking):

“Demon King, huh? I like the sound of that.”

A sudden gust of cold wind blew through the sealed chamber.

From the top of the stairs, Qing Yan stood — backlit by an eerie blue glow, smile razor-sharp, eyes glowing faintly with murderous delight.

Qing Yan (grinning):
"Well... someone's been talking about me."

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Author Note – Chapter 12

They ran.
They begged.
They even jumped through a painting to escape him.

And yet... Qing Yan still showed up with a smile.

Sometimes the scariest part of the story isn’t the monster chasing you —
It’s realizing he’s not even trying yet.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter — especially the mysterious artifact portal and the shadowy underground chamber.
Next time? The hunt ends… but something much bigger begins.