The mountain was quiet.
Fresh snow covered everything.
Xu Tian walked forward, leaving clear tracks behind.
He didn't like that.
"…Too easy to follow," he muttered.
Still, he kept moving.
The children were awake now.
The boy stirred slightly.
The girl watched everything.
Xu Tian adjusted the cloth.
"We'll find something," he said.
Then he stopped.
Tracks.
Not his.
Not beasts.
Clean.
Controlled.
"…Someone's here."
He looked around.
Nothing moved.
But the tracks were fresh.
"…Close."
He followed them.
Step by step.
The path led between two cliffs.
The air felt different here.
Heavier.
"…Not just people."
The path opened into a clearing.
Three figures stood ahead.
Cultivators.
One of them turned.
Their eyes met.
"Well," the man said, smiling slightly. "A survivor."
Xu Tian didn't respond.
The man looked at the children.
"…And not alone."
The others stepped forward.
Calm.
Confident.
Xu Tian felt it immediately.
They were stronger.
"…Trouble," he muttered.
"You shouldn't be here," the man said.
Xu Tian met his gaze.
"I could say the same."
The man smiled.
"…Interesting."
The air grew heavy.
Xu Tian's grip tightened.
That feeling inside him responded.
Stronger than before.
Xu Tian took a step forward.
"…Then I'll choose for myself."
The smile faded.
Everything went still.
And Xu Tian knew.
This wouldn't end quietly.