Kai sat in the Wandering Horse Inn, absently tracing patterns on the wooden table as his thoughts churned. His body had healed, his Qi was no longer blocked, and yet…

  He still felt trapped.

  Since arriving in this world, he had barely had a moment to breathe.

  First, he had been forced into a sect, then attacked by assassins, and now he was expected to lead a group of ruthless cultivators? That wasn’t his life. He wasn’t some warlord or master strategist.

  Back in his world, he spent his days reading books, sipping tea, and ignoring the real world. He didn’t have rival sects plotting his death or disciples waiting for his orders.

  And now that he was in neutral territory…

  He could leave.

  If he slipped away now, he could disappear into the mortal world, live quietly, and maybe—just maybe—find a way home.

  His only problem? The twins.

  Liu Yu and Liu Yue weren’t just his bodyguards. They were watching him closely, ready to pounce if he did anything suspicious.

  He needed a distraction.

  The Great Escape

  Kai tapped his fingers against the table, deep in thought. How do I distract two overpowered cultivators without raising suspicion?

  Then he heard it—

  A loud crash from the kitchen.

  His eyes flicked over just in time to see a flustered young server struggling with a towering stack of ptes. The boy’s hands were shaking, his bance barely holding up the wobbling tower of porcein.

  Perfect.

  Kai stood up abruptly, bumping into the server just enough to tip the bance.

  CRASH!

  Ptes shattered across the floor. The server yelped, stumbling as broken shards scattered everywhere.

  The innkeeper’s wife stormed out from behind the counter, her face red with fury.

  “You clumsy fool!” she roared, grabbing a broom like a weapon. “That was an entire night’s worth of dishes!”

  The poor boy stammered in panic. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—”

  That was all Kai needed.

  Liu Yu and Liu Yue immediately turned their attention toward the commotion.

  Without hesitation, Kai slipped out the back door.

  As soon as he was in the alley, he broke into a sprint, weaving through the narrow streets toward the vilge outskirts.

  Freedom.

  Just a little more—

  Then he saw her.

  A young woman stood near a fruit stall, looking mildly uncomfortable as she stepped away from a burly, heavy-set man who was leaning toward her with a unsavory grin.

  She wasn’t dressed in fine silks or ornate jewelry—in fact, her clothing was pin and practical, a simple tunic and skirt. But even in simple attire, she was without doubt a beauty, her features soft but striking, her bck hair long framing her face naturally.

  Her rge soulful dark eyes flicked between the merchant stall and the man blocking her path, trying to ignore him.

  Kai could tell she wasn’t frightened, she was just annoyed.

  “Come on, girl,” the man said, his rough voice slurred with drink. “Don’t be shy. Just have a drink with me.”

  The girl sighed, clearly uninterested. “I’d rather not.”

  The man grinned, his thick fingers reaching toward her. “Don’t be like that—”

  Kai exhaled.

  Damn it.

  He didn’t have time for this, but…

  His feet were already moving before he could stop himself.

  With zero hesitation, he stepped between them, casually resting a hand on the man’s shoulder.

  “She said no,” Kai said ftly.

  The man blinked, then scowled. “Who the hell are you?”

  Kai sighed. “The guy telling you to leave before I embarrass you in public.”

  The man’s face twisted in anger. “Listen here, you—”

  Thwack.

  Kai’s fist met his jaw, and the man crashed into a nearby cart, sending apples rolling across the street.

  The few vilgers nearby gasped, then immediately pretended to mind their own business.

  Kai dusted off his hands.

  The girl blinked at him, then let out a small, amused chuckle. “That was fast.”

  Kai gnced at her. “Yeah, well. He looked like the type to talk too much.”

  She hummed in agreement. “I appreciate it.”

  Kai nodded. “No problem.”

  She studied him for a moment, then tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes filled with quiet curiosity.

  “You’re not from around here, are you?”

  Kai considered lying—

  Then shrugged. What did it matter? He was leaving soon anyway.

  “I’m Kai Feng,” he said.

  Something flickered in her expression.

  “…Kai Feng?” she repeated, rolling the name over her tongue. Then she smiled faintly. “It suits you.”

  Kai raised an eyebrow.

  Huh. That was… refreshing.

  For once, someone wasn’t treating him like a feared sect leader or a walking target.

  She smiled lightly, then gnced over her shoulder.

  And her expression shifted all of a sudden.

  Kai followed her gaze and spotted a tall figure approaching from the opposite street, a broad-shouldered young man with eyes that gleamed with sharp intensity.

  Kai frowned slightly.

  The girl sighed, then gave him an amused look. “Looks like my time’s up.”

  Kai gnced at her. “That guy looking for you?”

  She tilted her head, mischief dancing in her eyes. “Won’t you help me hold him off?”

  Before he could respond, she added with a pyful smile, “Just don’t hurt him, okay? He’s not a bad guy.”

  Without another word, she turned and ran, slipping into the crowd effortlessly, vanishing before the man reached Kai.

  Kai watched her disappear, a feeling of mild amusement and confusion lingering.

  Then he turned back—

  Only to find himself face-to-face with the newcomer.

  The man’s sharp eyes flicked to the still-unconscious thug on the ground, then back to Kai.

  Kai sighed.

  Here we go again.