After leaving the exchange area, Arin and Ren didn't head out immediately. Now that they finally had energy crystals, they moved through another section of the market to pick up what they actually needed.
Arin stopped at a stall stacked with thin books and flipped through a few of them quickly. Most were basic guides covering the early stages of cultivation, especially body refinement. He selected a few without hesitation. Nearby, another stall displayed prepared liquids in sealed containers. The labels were simple and clear—recovery mixtures, basic enhancement liquids, and support solutions for early training. Ren asked a few short questions before they chose a small set that matched their current condition.
They didn't waste time and moved on.
They soon entered a mixed section where items were less organized. Some stalls displayed useful materials, while others clearly sold unreliable goods, making it harder to judge what was worth taking.
Arin slowed near one stall where a metal bangle lay among other items. It didn't stand out at first, but once he picked it up, he noticed the difference. The weight felt slightly heavier than expected, and the surface was colder and denser than normal metal. It didn't match the rest of the items around it.
"How much?" Arin asked.
"Twenty," the seller replied.
Arin turned it in his hand, as if unsure, then placed it back. "Fifteen."
The seller looked at him briefly. "Too low."
Arin didn't respond immediately. He turned the bangle once more, then set it down and started to move away.
"Seventeen," the seller said.
Arin paused, then replied, "Fifteen."
The seller waved his hand impatiently. "Take it."
Arin paid and picked up a few other old-looking items along with it so the purchase wouldn't stand out. After that, they didn't linger.
By the time they moved toward the exit, several hours had already passed.
"Let's go," Ren said.
Arin agreed.
They left the underground market through the narrow exit passage and stepped into the outer lane above. The change was immediate. The noise dropped, the crowd disappeared, and the surroundings opened into rows of small houses under dim lighting.
Only after exiting did their pace increase.
Arin began checking behind them at regular intervals, not just glancing once but observing carefully for any repeated movement. He watched for people changing direction, slowing down at the same time, or maintaining distance behind them. Ren followed the same pattern, occasionally scanning the sides and the path ahead.
They didn't speak at first.
After passing through a few turns, Ren lowered his voice and asked if Arin thought someone might still be following them.
Arin replied that he wasn't certain, but the feeling hadn't gone away.
They continued moving and increased their speed further. Their steps became more direct as they moved away from the populated area. The paths grew quieter, the distance between buildings widened, and the lighting became weaker, leaving parts of the road in shadow.
As they entered a darker stretch near the edge of the district, a figure stepped directly into their path.
Arin stopped immediately and shifted back while Ren moved slightly to the side.
Before they could react further, more figures appeared from different directions, surrounding them.
They wore dark clothing with their faces fully covered by masks, leaving only their eyes visible. There were five of them, and their positions were placed carefully to block every possible direction without rushing forward.
The man in front stood slightly ahead of the others. His posture was steady, and the others kept a natural distance from him. From the way he carried himself, Arin judged that he was likely stronger than the rest, possibly already within the early body stage.
Ren spoke first, his voice tense. "Who are you?"
No one answered.
Arin spoke quietly while watching them. "It seems they've been following us since we started buying."
Ren's expression tightened.
"What do you want?" Ren asked. "We'll give it."
The man in front gave a small nod. "Leave everything you have. Then walk."
Ren looked at Arin before responding. "Alright… we'll give it."
The group remained still, watching them. Their attention stayed fixed on Arin's hands, especially the storage cube.
The man in front observed them calmly. From his experience, this was straightforward. Newcomers without backing were easy targets. Taking their belongings was simple, and removing them afterward would prevent any future trouble.
Arin moved slowly and took out the storage cube. His movements were steady and controlled.
At the same time, his other hand shifted slightly, holding a small device out of sight.
He had already made his decision. Handing everything over would not guarantee their safety, and the risk of being killed afterward was too high.
Without warning, Arin grabbed Ren's arm and pulled him sharply to one side while throwing a flash device forward.
The burst of light disrupted the group for a brief moment.
Before it faded, he threw another device.
Smoke spread quickly across the ground, reducing visibility and making movement harder to track.
Ren reacted instantly and moved with him. They didn't try to fight directly and instead focused on breaking through.
One of the masked men stepped forward to block them. Ren struck first, forcing him back just enough to create a narrow opening. Arin moved through that gap without slowing.
Another attacker came from the side, but Arin threw a small vial toward him. It shattered and forced the man to pull back.
The group adjusted quickly. Their movements showed experience, and they recovered faster than expected.
The woman moved next, her speed cutting through the smoke with precision. Her blade reached Arin before he could fully avoid it, slicing across his sleeve and leaving a shallow wound.
Arin kept moving.
The man in front stepped forward again, closing the distance faster than before. Arin sensed the pressure and shifted his body just enough to avoid a direct hit.
Ren moved closer and said they needed to leave immediately.
Arin agreed.
They pushed forward again, forcing an opening instead of engaging directly. Ren drove one of the men back with a strong strike, creating a brief gap. Arin used that moment to move through. Both of them took hits along the way, but neither slowed down.
They managed to break past the circle and moved forward, creating some distance.
They continued moving without stopping, but within seconds, someone closed that distance again from behind.
Arin turned slightly to check—
a fist was already in front of his eyes.