Chen Feng had been in this world for less than a day and felt no strong sense of belonging to the family. Leaving them didn't cause much loss; the main pain stemmed from the coldness and injustice churning within him.

Blown across worlds while playing King of Fighters in an arcade, his parents and friends in his former life likely presumed him dead. Arriving alone in this new environment with a soul from another existence, he had hoped for a home, for someone to care for him and soothe the hidden wounds, only to be met with the ruthless law of the jungle.

It was this sudden eruption of long-suppressed loneliness that drove him into a frantic, aimless run while consumed by depression.

As he fled, the swirling Qi within his body spontaneously moved along a specific route, making his steps gradually lighter. Chen Feng ran for an unknown distance, and only when he began ascending a slope did he realize his panicked flight had brought him to the foot of Dragon Mapping Mountain.

The periphery of Dragon Mapping Mountain was the domain of high-level magical beasts. Neither mercenary groups nor trade caravans dared traverse this area to enter the main mountain range. Just as Chen Feng considered retreating, a surge of fierce determination washed over him: "Do I really want to go back to be mocked by others? No, at worst, I’ll just die in these mountains!"

With this resolve hardening, the emotions of sorrow and hatred lessened considerably. The chaotic thoughts in his mind began to settle. He extended his spiritual perception to survey the terrain, but his expression instantly froze, replaced by a sharp severity.

Unexpectedly, several people were tracking him from behind!

Having lived two lives, Chen Feng possessed extremely powerful spiritual perception, comparable to a fourth-tier Dou Shi. This was also the main reason why a single night of cultivating the Qi vortex had allowed him to undergo a fundamental transformation. Mages casting movement spells like Lightness Charms create subtle magical fluctuations in the air, making them detectable; thus, he immediately noticed the pursuers.

It must be Harry’s men! They want to kill me now!

Chen Feng understood. After a moment’s thought, he plunged into the forests of Dragon Mapping Mountain and concealed himself in the shadows.

He carefully wrapped his shattered left arm with cloth and found several branches on the ground to fashion a makeshift splint. He let out a long breath, then observed the path they had taken.

The figures behind him were not moving quickly. Compared to Chen Feng’s all-out sprint, they were far behind. Mages naturally lose out to Fighters in terms of raw speed. However, in terms of cultivation, Chen Feng was significantly weaker. The five trackers were, at a minimum, third-tier Formal Mages, with one even standing at the peak of the fourth tier!

If Chen Feng had chosen to flee, the five could never have caught him. But after suffering such recent humiliation, how could he forgive himself without killing a few to alleviate the depression in his heart—how could he forget the shame of the broken arm and the insult of the broken tooth!

Chen Feng forced himself to calm down. Being hunted by five Mages whose cultivation surpassed his own—even with an unbroken arm, he wouldn't win a direct confrontation. What was the solution?

Ambushes! Only ambushes, and they must be broken down one by one!

Chen Feng made his decision. The Qi vortex in his Dantian spun slowly, and his body shrank, melting into the shadows of the trees.

The sky above grew as dark as ink, making the forest even more grim and terrifying.

"Bill, how can this kid run so fast with a broken arm? Ugh, I’m exhausted! If it weren't for your super-sensitive nose, I’d suspect we were chasing in the wrong direction!" grumbled one of the five men, showing large, yellow teeth.

The man in the lead, addressed as Bill, suddenly turned around. "Everyone, be careful. The kid’s scent just vanished here. I suspect he noticed us and is hiding nearby!"

Yellow Teeth scoffed. "He’s just a second-tier Dou Shi. Do the five of us Mages need to be this scared? Since you say he’s close, I could use a rest anyway. We can search again after we catch our breath!"

Bill, clearly the leader among the five, was displeased by Yellow Teeth’ words. "Have you forgotten the Clan Head’s orders? Young Master Gu Bo is still in a coma! If we don't bring this kid back soon, the Young Master might not be saved!"

"For five Formal Mages to chase after a fourteen-year-old boy," Yellow Teeth muttered, feeling the task was beneath them.

Those who achieved the rank of Formal Mage were always elites, enjoying high status outside. Being sent by the Clan Head to capture a mere fourteen-year-old naturally made them resentful.

"Stop fussing and hurry up. There are many high-level magical beasts in this cursed place. If we don't catch the kid quickly, I’m afraid none of us will make it out of the mountains!" said another middle-aged man wearing a golden earring.

Yellow Teeth snorted, shuffling reluctantly at the rear, looking completely spiritless.

Bill was a Formal Mage at the peak of the fourth tier, the highest cultivation among them. Yet, this wasn't what made him most convincing; the truly astonishing thing was his acute sense of smell!

If he had smelled something, he could accurately determine the direction the scent disappeared within six hours; he never made a mistake.

Chen Feng ran swiftly, but the five weren't afraid of him getting lost primarily because they trusted Bill’s nose.

"He went into the woods. Keep alert behind me. It’s dark in the forest, and I fear this kid might launch a surprise attack!" Bill walked ahead, speaking quietly to the others.

With that, he raised a magic staff.

All five were Earth Mages. Although they could cast Lightness Charms, they were slightly inferior to Wind Mages. Defending against a lurking Fighter in a forest where casting magic was difficult was no easy feat.

Suddenly, a dark silhouette flashed momentarily near the front and vanished into the long grass.

Bill shouted in alarm, "He's up ahead!" The tip of his staff flickered with an earthy yellow light, and a round ball of earth instantly formed, flying toward the grass where the shadow had passed with the precision of a cannonball.

Judging by the size of the earth ball and the speed and force of its instant launch, it was more than ten times more powerful than Gu Bo’s Earth Sphere.

"Boom!" The earth ball struck the grass, blasting a large crater. The surroundings were dark and obscured. The five quickly advanced a few steps. The area around the pit was smooth, littered with a few scattered scraps of torn cloth.

Damn it!

Something clicked in Bill’s mind, a flash of inspiration. He spun around frantically to look back, and his face immediately changed color!

The five-man formation was missing one person!

Where was Yellow Teeth, who had been complaining just moments ago?

...

Chen Feng, hidden in the grass, watched the five approach slowly, his palms slick with sweat.

Facing five Formal Mages alone, it was impossible not to be nervous, especially as the pain in his left arm kept throbbing, making his head swim.

Hold on, I must hold on! Chen Feng warned himself internally. If I can’t endure now, I’m the one who dies!

Though he didn't know exactly how the pursuers could pinpoint his location, continuing to hide here was a certain death sentence! The person in the front seemed to have already discovered this spot!

Time left no room for contemplation. Chen Feng stripped off his outer garment, lightly mixed it with some soil, and with a flick of his right hand, flung the bundle outwards. He immediately dove low into the grass and shot off in another direction!

The specialized footwork from King of Fighters, powered by the Qi vortex, manifested instantly. Chen Feng hugged the ground, moving incredibly fast but making absolutely no sound.

Three seconds!

It took Chen Feng only three seconds to flash behind the five-man group!

...

Yellow Teeth felt sore all over. Even though he had used a Lightness Charm earlier, Mages were inherently weak. Such rapid pursuit had almost made him retch.

"If I catch that guy, just watch me kill him!"

Yellow Teeth grumbled to himself, rubbing his aching lower back, yawning widely. He watched the four ahead walking further away and was just about to follow when his vision suddenly darkened, his throat tightened, and the warmth of his body receded rapidly. A look as cold as frost flashed across his eyes.

"Gurgle..."

He tried to speak, but a stream of blood shot out from the hole in his throat. His eyes held traces of unwillingness and helplessness as he collapsed heavily onto the grass in the woods!

In his dying moments, he finally realized how terrifying it was for a Mage to let a Fighter close the distance, even if that Fighter was much lower in cultivation!

Chen Feng pulled out the sharp thorn lodged in Yellow Teeth’s throat, his expression blank, and gently touched the broken bone in his left arm.

"One down!"

He turned, leaped back into the grass, and vanished instantly.