Elder Wei's attack ca with blinding speed. One mont he was standing several feet away, the next his fist was inches from my face. I barely managed to twist away, feeling the wind of his strike brush against my cheek.
"Too slow," he comnted, his voice eerily calm.
I retaliated with a quick combination of punches, each one powered by my cultivation energy. To my frustration, Elder Wei deflected them effortlessly, his weathered hands moving with practiced precision.
"Is this all the famous Liam Knight can do?" he taunted.
His next strike caught in the ribs. Pain exploded through my side as I staggered back. The power behind his punch was unlike anything I'd experienced before—this wasn't just physical strength but concentrated "Inner Strength," the hallmark of an advanced cultivator.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Isabelle watching anxiously from the car, her hands pressed against the window. Her presence steeled my resolve. I wouldn't fail her. I couldn't.
"I'm just getting started," I growled, channeling more energy into my limbs.
I launched forward with renewed determination, feinting left before striking right. Elder Wei anticipated the move, but I managed to graze his shoulder—my first successful hit. The small victory was short-lived. He countered with a palm strike to my chest that sent flying backward.
I landed hard on the pavent, the impact knocking the wind from my lungs. Behind , I heard Asher Lane laugh.
"Pathetic," he called out. "Elder Wei, stop playing with him."
I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring the pain radiating through my body. My mind raced back to when I'd witnessed Caspian Kane fight—his perfect form, his economical movents, the way he channeled energy with devastating efficiency. I'd been studying martial arts obsessively since then, but theory was proving woefully inadequate against a master like Elder Wei.
The elderly man circled now, his eyes calculating. "You have potential, young master. It's almost a sha to kill you."
"Then don't," I suggested through gritted teeth.
He smiled thinly. "Orders are orders."
He attacked again, this ti with a flurry of strikes so fast they were almost invisible. I blocked what I could, took glancing blows where I couldn't fully evade, and searched desperately for an opening. Each impact of his fists felt like being hit with steel hamrs.
Blood trickled from a cut above my eye as I stumbled back. My breathing was ragged, my muscles burning. Elder Wei hadn't even broken a sweat.
"You're outmatched," he said matter-of-factly. "You've reached the early stages of Energy Gathering, but I've been at the peak for decades. The difference between us is like heaven and earth."
I spat blood onto the pavent. "Then I'll just have to reach higher."
Drawing deeply on my reserves, I focused my energy into my right fist. The technique was risky—concentrating too much power into one strike could leave vulnerable—but I needed to land sothing significant.
Elder Wei raised an eyebrow, sensing my gathering strength. "Interesting."
I charged forward, my right arm trailing behind as energy visibly coalesced around my fist. At the last mont, I unleashed the strike, putting everything I had behind it.
Elder Wei shifted slightly, redirecting rather than blocking. My fist grazed his side, and I felt the satisfying impact as so of my energy connected. He grimaced—the first sign that I'd caused him any discomfort.
The small victory cost . Having committed fully to the attack, I couldn't defend against his counter. His elbow crashed into my temple, sending stars exploding across my vision. Before I could recover, his foot swept my legs out from under .
I crashed to the ground again, harder this ti. My head was spinning, my limbs suddenly leaden.
"Liam!" Isabelle's muffled shout ca from inside the car.
I tried to push myself up but collapsed back down. Elder Wei stood over , shaking his head.
"You have heart, I'll give you that," he said.
"Finish him already!" Asher Lane called impatiently. "We're wasting ti!"
Elder Wei reached down and grasped by the throat, lifting easily until my feet dangled above the ground. His grip was like iron, crushing my windpipe.
I clawed at his hand, gasping for air as black spots danced at the edges of my vision. This couldn't be how it ended—not when I'd co so far, not when Isabelle was watching.
"The Knotweed," Elder Wei demanded, loosening his grip just enough for to speak.
"Go... to... hell..." I managed to choke out.
His eyes hardened. "Then die with your pride."
His grip tightened again, and I felt consciousness beginning to slip away. My struggles weakened as oxygen deprivation took its toll.
"That's enough."
The new voice cut through my fading awareness like a knife. Cool, composed, authoritative.
Elder Wei's grip loosened slightly in surprise, allowing to gasp a precious breath. Through blurry vision, I saw a well-dressed young man approaching casually from behind our cars.
Caspian Kane.
"Release him," Caspian ordered, his tone suggesting he expected imdiate compliance.
"Who the hell are you?" Asher Lane demanded.
Caspian didn't even spare him a glance, his eyes fixed on Elder Wei. "I won't repeat myself."
Elder Wei studied Caspian warily, his grip on my throat still tight but no longer crushing. "Young man, this doesn't concern you. Walk away while you still can."
Caspian stopped about ten feet away. There was nothing threatening in his posture—hands clasped casually behind his back, expression neutral—yet sothing about him radiated dangerous authority.
"I said release him," Caspian repeated, each word precisely enunciated.
Asher Lane had apparently had enough. "Elder Wei, kill this interfering fool after you finish Knight!"
Elder Wei hesitated, his eyes never leaving Caspian. I could sense sothing passing between them—so unspoken evaluation taking place.
"Master Lane," Elder Wei called back, "this young man... there's sothing unusual about him." Thelatestchaptersarealwaysavailablefirston*.
"I don't care if he's the emperor's son!" Asher shouted. "Kill them both!"
Elder Wei's grip on tightened again. Caspian sighed, as though disappointed.
"Knight," he called to , "when he releases you, get to the car and look after Miss Ashworth."
"I can... handle this..." I gasped, pride warring with my very real physical limitations.
Caspian actually smirked. "Clearly. Now do as I say."
Before Elder Wei could react, Caspian moved—a re shift of weight, subtle and economical, but even in my compromised state I could feel the surge of power it generated. Elder Wei sensed it too. He released abruptly, shoving aside to free his hands.
I collapsed to the ground, gulping air into my burning lungs. Every instinct told to stay and fight, but Isabelle's safety had to co first. Besides, sothing told Caspian Kane wasn't a man who made idle claims about his capabilities.
Forcing myself to my feet, I staggered toward our car. Behind , I could hear Elder Wei addressing Caspian.
"Young master, you're making a grave mistake. Do you know who you're opposing?"
I reached the car door, yanking it open as Isabelle imdiately reached for , her face contorted with worry.
"Liam! You're hurt—"
"I'm okay," I assured her, wincing as I slid into the driver's seat. "We need to be ready to move."
Through the windshield, we watched as Caspian stood with his hands clasped behind his back, silently observing the old servant. Elder Wei sneered, adopting a fighting stance.
"Kid, there's still ti to regret your choice."
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