# Chapter 30: The Neutral Zone
The inn room was quiet. The wood was old. It creaked when the wind blew. The window was closed. The curtains were drawn. The light was dim. It was afternoon. Lin Yu sat on the bed. He did not move. He closed his eyes. He listened. He heard footsteps in the hallway. They were heavy. They were boots. They passed his door. They did not stop. He heard voices downstairs. They were loud. They were drinking. They were laughing. It was a normal inn. It was a safe place. For now.
Stone Creek was a neutral zone. It was not controlled by the Sect. It was not controlled by the Guild. It was a trading post. Merchants came here. Mercenaries came here. Informants came here. People came here to buy things. They came here to sell things. They came here to hide. Lin Yu was here to hide. He was here to heal. He was here to plan.
He opened his eyes. He looked at his hands. They were steady. But he felt the pain. It was deep. It was in his meridians. It was from the fight with Zhao. The Sword God Form had drained him. The Sword Shield had cracked. His internal energy was unstable. He needed to fix it. He could not fight at full strength like this. He needed to rest.
[Status Report.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was clear in his mind. It was calm. It was mechanical. [Health: 85%. Qi: 95%. Energy: 11940. Fragment Integration: 70%. Level: 6.]
"Eighty-five percent," Lin Yu thought. "It is not enough."
[Yes. Internal injuries affect cultivation speed. They affect combat reaction. They affect Sword Box synchronization. Rest is required.]
"How long?" Lin Yu thought.
[Three days. Minimum. To reach 100%.]
"Three days," Lin Yu thought. "The Guild will be looking for me. They will be hunting me. They will close the roads. They will check the towns."
[Yes. Stone Creek is neutral. But Guild hunters come here. They pay for information. They pay for access. You are not safe here. You are only hidden.]
"Then I will not stay long," Lin Yu thought. "Three days. Then I move."
[Agreed. Use the time wisely. Heal. Cultivate. Plan.]
Lin Yu nodded. He stood up. He walked to the center of the room. He sat on the floor. He crossed his legs. He closed his eyes. He started to cultivate. He pulled the Qi from the air. It was thin here. It was not like the Capital. It was not like the Sect. It was mixed. It had impurities. He had to filter it. He had to clean it. It took time. It took effort.
He circulated the Qi. He guided it to his meridians. He pushed it through the blockages. It hurt. It felt like needles. It felt like fire. He gritted his teeth. He did not make a sound. He pushed through the pain. He forced the energy to settle. He healed the cracks. He stitched the meridians. It was slow work. It was delicate work. One mistake could cause permanent damage. He was careful. He was precise.
He cultivated for four hours. The sun set. The room got dark. He did not light a candle. He did not need it. He could see in the dark. His senses were sharp. He stood up. He felt better. His health was higher. His Qi was smoother. But he was hungry. He had not eaten since morning. He needed food. He needed energy.
He put on his cloak. He pulled the hood up. He checked his sword. It was hidden in his sleeve. He checked his bag. It was sealed. He opened the door. He walked out. He locked it. He put a chair under the handle. He did not trust anyone. He walked down the stairs. They were steep. They were wooden. They creaked under his feet.
The inn hall was busy. It was warm. It smelled of meat. It smelled of wine. It smelled of sweat. Tables were full. People were eating. People were drinking. People were talking. They did not look at him. He was just another customer. He was just another traveler. He sat at a corner table. It was dark. It was quiet. He could see the whole room. He could see the door. He could see the stairs. It was a good position. It was safe.
A waitress came. She was young. She was tired. She held a tray. She looked at him. "What do you want?" she asked. Her voice was rough. She was busy.
"Beef. Rice. Water," Lin Yu said. His voice was low. It was rough. He changed his tone. He sounded like a mercenary.
"Ten spirit stones," she said.
Lin Yu paid. He put the stones on the tray. She took them. She did not count them. She walked away. She brought the food. It was hot. It smelled good. He ate quickly. He did not taste it. He just swallowed. It filled his stomach. It gave him energy. He drank the water. It was cool. It washed down the food. He put the bowl down. He listened.
He heard a conversation at the next table. It was two men. They wore black cloaks. They had swords. They were not locals. They were hunters. They were Guild. He could feel their energy. It was dark. It was aggressive. They were talking quietly. But his senses were sharp. He could hear them.
"The bounty is high," one said. His voice was low. It was greedy.
"How high?" the other asked.
"Ten thousand spirit stones," the first said. "Alive or dead. But alive is better. They want the box. They want the amulet."
"Who is he?" the second asked.
"Lin Yu," the first said. "From the Azure Sect. He killed Master Zhao. He stole the fragment. He is Level 6. Maybe Level 7."
"Level 6," the second said. "We can take him. We are Level 5. We have tools. We have traps."
"Not here," the first said. "This is Stone Creek. Neutral zone. No fighting. No killing. If we break the rules, the Town Guard will kill us. We have to wait. We have to follow him. When he leaves, we strike."
"Where is he going?" the second asked.
"North," the first said. "Towards the Ancient Ruins. That is where the next fragment is. That is where the Main HQ is. He will go there. We will wait on the road. We will ambush him."
Lin Yu listened. He did not move. He did not look at them. He kept his head down. He finished his water. He stood up. He walked to the stairs. He walked slowly. He did not run. Running would alert them. He went to his room. He locked the door. He put the chair under the handle.
He sat on the bed. He thought. They knew where he was going. They knew about the Ancient Ruins. They knew about the Main HQ. The Guild had informants. The Guild had spies. They were waiting for him. He could not go to the Ancient Ruins yet. He needed to change his plan. He needed to mislead them.
"Box," Lin Yu thought. "They are waiting on the north road."
[Yes. They are tracking you. They know your destination.]
"Then I will not go north," Lin Yu thought. "I will go east. To the Dark Forest. It is dangerous. But it is not expected."
[The Dark Forest is Level 7 territory. Beasts are strong. Formations are old. It is risky.]
"Better than an ambush," Lin Yu thought. "I can handle beasts. I cannot handle a team of hunters while I am injured."
[# Chapter 30: The Neutral Zone
The inn room was quiet. The wood was old. It creaked when the wind blew. The window was closed. The curtains were drawn. The light was dim. It was afternoon. Lin Yu sat on the bed. He did not move. He closed his eyes. He listened. He heard footsteps in the hallway. They were heavy. They were boots. They passed his door. They did not stop. He heard voices downstairs. They were loud. They were drinking. They were laughing. It was a normal inn. It was a safe place. For now.
Stone Creek was a neutral zone. It was not controlled by the Sect. It was not controlled by the Guild. It was a trading post. Merchants came here. Mercenaries came here. Informants came here. People came here to buy things. They came here to sell things. They came here to hide. Lin Yu was here to hide. He was here to heal. He was here to plan.
He opened his eyes. He looked at his hands. They were steady. But he felt the pain. It was deep. It was in his meridians. It was from the fight with Zhao. The Sword God Form had drained him. The Sword Shield had cracked. His internal energy was unstable. He needed to fix it. He could not fight at full strength like this. He needed to rest.
[Status Report.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was clear in his mind. It was calm. It was mechanical. [Health: 85%. Qi: 95%. Energy: 11940. Fragment Integration: 70%. Level: 6.]
"Eighty-five percent," Lin Yu thought. "It is not enough."
[Yes. Internal injuries affect cultivation speed. They affect combat reaction. They affect Sword Box synchronization. Rest is required.]
"How long?" Lin Yu thought.
[Three days. Minimum. To reach 100%.]
"Three days," Lin Yu thought. "The Guild will be looking for me. They will be hunting me. They will close the roads. They will check the towns."
[Yes. Stone Creek is neutral. But Guild hunters come here. They pay for information. They pay for access. You are not safe here. You are only hidden.]
"Then I will not stay long," Lin Yu thought. "Three days. Then I move."
[Agreed. Use the time wisely. Heal. Cultivate. Plan.]
Lin Yu nodded. He stood up. He walked to the center of the room. He sat on the floor. He crossed his legs. He closed his eyes. He started to cultivate. He pulled the Qi from the air. It was thin here. It was not like the Capital. It was not like the Sect. It was mixed. It had impurities. He had to filter it. He had to clean it. It took time. It took effort.
He circulated the Qi. He guided it to his meridians. He pushed it through the blockages. It hurt. It felt like needles. It felt like fire. He gritted his teeth. He did not make a sound. He pushed through the pain. He forced the energy to settle. He healed the cracks. He stitched the meridians. It was slow work. It was delicate work. One mistake could cause permanent damage. He was careful. He was precise.
He cultivated for four hours. The sun set. The room got dark. He did not light a candle. He did not need it. He could see in the dark. His senses were sharp. He stood up. He felt better. His health was higher. His Qi was smoother. But he was hungry. He had not eaten since morning. He needed food. He needed energy.
He put on his cloak. He pulled the hood up. He checked his sword. It was hidden in his sleeve. He checked his bag. It was sealed. He opened the door. He walked out. He locked it. He put a chair under the handle. He did not trust anyone. He walked down the stairs. They were steep. They were wooden. They creaked under his feet.
The inn hall was busy. It was warm. It smelled of meat. It smelled of wine. It smelled of sweat. Tables were full. People were eating. People were drinking. People were talking. They did not look at him. He was just another customer. He was just another traveler. He sat at a corner table. It was dark. It was quiet. He could see the whole room. He could see the door. He could see the stairs. It was a good position. It was safe.
A waitress came. She was young. She was tired. She held a tray. She looked at him. "What do you want?" she asked. Her voice was rough. She was busy.
"Beef. Rice. Water," Lin Yu said. His voice was low. It was rough. He changed his tone. He sounded like a mercenary.
"Ten spirit stones," she said.
Lin Yu paid. He put the stones on the tray. She took them. She did not count them. She walked away. She brought the food. It was hot. It smelled good. He ate quickly. He did not taste it. He just swallowed. It filled his stomach. It gave him energy. He drank the water. It was cool. It washed down the food. He put the bowl down. He listened.
He heard a conversation at the next table. It was two men. They wore black cloaks. They had swords. They were not locals. They were hunters. They were Guild. He could feel their energy. It was dark. It was aggressive. They were talking quietly. But his senses were sharp. He could hear them.
"The bounty is high," one said. His voice was low. It was greedy.
"How high?" the other asked.
"Ten thousand spirit stones," the first said. "Alive or dead. But alive is better. They want the box. They want the amulet."
"Who is he?" the second asked.
"Lin Yu," the first said. "From the Azure Sect. He killed Master Zhao. He stole the fragment. He is Level 6. Maybe Level 7."
"Level 6," the second said. "We can take him. We are Level 5. We have tools. We have traps."
"Not here," the first said. "This is Stone Creek. Neutral zone. No fighting. No killing. If we break the rules, the Town Guard will kill us. We have to wait. We have to follow him. When he leaves, we strike."
"Where is he going?" the second asked.
"North," the first said. "Towards the Ancient Ruins. That is where the next fragment is. That is where the Main HQ is. He will go there. We will wait on the road. We will ambush him."
Lin Yu listened. He did not move. He did not look at them. He kept his head down. He finished his water. He stood up. He walked to the stairs. He walked slowly. He did not run. Running would alert them. He went to his room. He locked the door. He put the chair under the handle.
He sat on the bed. He thought. They knew where he was going. They knew about the Ancient Ruins. They knew about the Main HQ. The Guild had informants. The Guild had spies. They were waiting for him. He could not go to the Ancient Ruins yet. He needed to change his plan. He needed to mislead them.
"Box," Lin Yu thought. "They are waiting on the north road."
[Yes. They are tracking you. They know your destination.]
"Then I will not go north," Lin Yu thought. "I will go east. To the Dark Forest. It is dangerous. But it is not expected."
[The Dark Forest is Level 7 territory. Beasts are strong. Formations are old. It is risky.]
"Better than an ambush," Lin Yu thought. "I can handle beasts. I cannot handle a team of hunters while I am injured."
[Agreed. Deception is strategy. Change the route. Leave a trail north. Then double back east.]
"Good," Lin Yu thought.
Lin Yu stood up. He walked to the window. He looked out. The street was dark. The lights were on. People were walking. They were going to the bars. They were going to the brothels. They were going to the shops. He saw the two hunters. They were standing outside the inn. They were smoking. They were watching the road. They were watching the north gate. They did not watch the east gate. They were confident. They were arrogant. They thought they had him trapped.
Lin Yu touched the green scarf. It was around his neck. It was hidden under the cloak. It was soft. It was warm. It smelled like Mei Ling. Like flowers. Like home. He thought about her. She was waiting. She was safe. He had to survive. He had to win. He could not die here. He could not fail here.
"I will come back," Lin Yu thought. "I promise."
He turned away from the window. He started to pack. He did not pack everything. He left some things. He left some clothes. He left some food. It looked like he was staying. It looked like he was not leaving. It was a decoy. He took his weapons. He took his pills. He took his map. He took the Tiger Amulet. He put them in his storage bag. He sealed it.
He waited. He waited until midnight. The inn got quiet. The lights went out. The hunters went to their room. They slept. They were confident. They did not post a guard. They made a mistake. Lin Yu waited. He counted. One hour. Two hours. Three hours. The town was asleep. The guards were tired. They walked slowly. They yawned. They did not watch the shadows.
Lin Yu opened the window. He jumped out. He landed on the roof. He did not make a sound. He ran. He used Wind Dancer. He was fast. He was like a ghost. He went to the north gate. He left a trail. He dropped a piece of his cloak. He dropped a footprint. He dropped a spirit stone. It looked like he escaped. It looked like he went north. He did it quickly. He did not linger.
He turned back. He went to the east gate. It was smaller. It was less guarded. One guard stood there. He was sleeping. He leaned on his spear. He snored. Lin Yu walked past him. He did not wake him. He used Qi to mask his presence. He was like the wind. He was like the dark. He passed the gate. He was outside. He was in the wild.
He did not stop. He ran. He went into the trees. He went into the shadows. He put distance between him and the town. He put distance between him and the hunters. He ran for an hour. He stopped. He looked back. The town was far. The lights were small. They were fading. He was safe. For now.
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was clear in his mind. It was calm. [Escape Stone Creek. Reward: 200 Energy. Current Energy: 12140. Next Objective: Reach Dark Forest. Locate Next Fragment.]
"Good," Lin Yu thought. "Now we hunt."
He started walking. He did not run. He walked steadily. He was not in a hurry. He had time. He had power. He had purpose. He walked into the light. He walked into the danger. He walked into his destiny. The path was long. The road was hard. But he had no choice. He had to walk. He had to fight. He had to win. Because losing meant death. And Lin Yu had already died once. He would not die again.
The road was wide. It was made of dirt. It was packed hard. There were wheel tracks. They were deep. They were old. Carriages had passed here. Merchants had passed here. Armies had passed here. Lin Yu walked on the side. He did not walk in the middle. He stayed in the grass. He stayed in the shadows. He was cautious. He was careful. He was alive.
The trees were thick. They were old. They blocked the wind. They blocked the view. It was quiet. Too quiet. Only the sound of his boots on the grass. Only the sound of his breathing. In. Out. In. Out. It was steady. It was calm. But inside his mind, it was not calm. Inside his mind, there was noise. There was confusion. There was a shadow. The memory fragment was still active. It was fading. But it was there.
He saw a bird. It flew away. It sensed something. Lin Yu stopped. He stood still. He listened. He heard a sound. It was a footstep. It was light. It was skilled. It was not a beast. It was a human.
[Detection: Humans. Count: 2. Level: 4. Distance: 100 meters. Hostile.]
"More hunters," Lin Yu thought.
[Yes. They are tracking you. They know you left the town. They want the amulet. They want the fragment.]
"Two level 4," Lin Yu thought. "Easy."
[Do not underestimate. They may have traps.]
"I know," Lin Yu thought.
Lin Yu hid behind a tree. He waited. He did not move. He breathed slowly. He suppressed his Qi. He was like a stone. He was like a ghost. The footsteps got closer. They were careful. They were quiet. They were professionals. They wore black clothes. They had masks. They held swords. They were not normal bandits. They were Guild hunters. They were looking for him. They knew he left the town. They knew he was alone. They wanted the fragment. They wanted the Box.
They stopped. They looked around. They did not see him. They talked quietly.
"Where is he?" one asked. His voice was low.
"He left the town," another said. "He is on this road."
"Find him," the leader said. "The Master wants him alive. But dead is okay."
Lin Yu frowned. The Master. The Guild Master. The man with the Tiger Mark. He was hunting him. He was close. He was dangerous. Lin Yu gripped the sword. He was ready. He was not scared. He was angry. He stepped out. He walked into the light. The hunters turned. They saw him. They were surprised. They did not expect him to show himself.
"You are looking for me," Lin Yu said. His voice was calm. It was clear. It carried through the trees.
The leader laughed. It was a dry laugh. It was cruel. "Yes. You are Lin Yu. You are the fugitive. You are the thief. Give us the amulet. Give us the fragment. And you may live."
"No," Lin Yu said. "I keep what is mine."
"Then die," the leader said. He raised his sword. He charged. The other followed. They surrounded him. They were fast. They were skilled. They worked together. They were a team. Lin Yu did not move. He waited. He watched. He used Sword Sense. He felt their Qi. He felt their intent. He felt their weakness. The leader was strong. The other was weak. He needed to kill the leader first.
The leader swung. The sword hit the