By dark-kingxu
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The forest beyond the clearing felt older.
Darker.
Xu Ming moved like a shadow between the trees, breath steady, steps measured. He wasn't rushing. He was reading.
The threads in the air danced like strands of mist, responding to his presence. Some curled around branches. Others sank into the soil.
But there—A flicker.
A red thread, sharp and tense, arced across the underbrush.
> "Killing intent. And it's close."
He stepped around a tree, crouched low, and let his Sight deepen.
His eyes shimmered faintly.
In the distance, he saw it — a beast, twice the size of a wolf, crouched near a bush. Its fur was mottled black and gray, Qi flowing through its body in jagged lines.
> "Ironhide Fangwolf."
A low-tier demonic beast. Fast, brutal, and its hide could turn away most mundane weapons.
It was perfect.
Xu Ming drew the poisoned dagger and inhaled slowly.
---
> "Thread Vision—activate."
Time slowed. The beast turned its head.
In that moment, Xu Ming saw the truth.
A red line near its neck — exposed.
A gold shimmer on its hind leg — strength reserve.
A black thread over its back — danger zone.
He moved.
> One step. Silent.
> Second step. Sudden.
The beast lunged, jaws wide.
Xu Ming ducked low and slashed upward. His blade scraped the beast's hide—no blood.
> "Too shallow."
It spun and kicked, catching his ribs. He grunted, tumbled, and rolled to a crouch.
Pain lanced through his side.
> "If I didn't reinforce my body with Qi, that would've broken bone."
The beast charged again.
This time, Xu Ming didn't dodge.
He stepped in.
> Slash.
The dagger struck the red thread zone — the neck.
> Snap!
The beast howled, staggering back, blood spurting from its wound.
It wasn't dead.
But it was dying.
Xu Ming circled it slowly, breathing hard.
When it leapt again, he twisted under its weight, drove the blade into its eye, and shoved upward.
> Crunch!
The beast collapsed. Dead.
---
He sat back, panting.
Blood on his hands.
The forest quiet again.
> "It worked."
The poison had helped, but it was his Sight that won the fight.
> "Thread Vision… That's my edge."
But before he could rest, the threads trembled.
> Something's coming.
Two more beasts crept from the underbrush, drawn by the scent of blood. Their eyes locked onto him.
Xu Ming stood slowly, dagger in one hand, threads dancing in his eyes.
> "Let's keep testing."
He smiled.
> "Come."