The air grew still.
No one moved.
The three cultivators stood facing Xu Tian, their expressions no longer relaxed.
They had felt it.
The difference.
Xu Tian stepped forward slowly.
Snow crunched beneath his feet.
His eyes remained calm.
Focused.
"…You said not to hold back," one of them said quietly.
Xu Tian didn't answer.
That was enough.
The three moved at once.
No hesitation.
No warning.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
Xu Tian's body reacted instantly.
Everything slowed.
He saw it clearly.
Their movements.
Their intent.
He stepped to the side.
The first attack missed.
He moved again.
The second passed him.
The third came from behind.
Xu Tian turned.
His arm rose.
The strike met his.
A sharp impact echoed.
The cultivator's eyes widened slightly.
Xu Tian didn't stop.
He stepped forward.
His movement was direct.
Clean.
His hand struck the man's chest.
A dull sound followed.
The cultivator was thrown back, hitting the ground hard.
He didn't get up immediately.
The other two froze for a moment.
That moment was enough.
Xu Tian moved.
Fast.
He closed the distance instantly.
One of them reacted.
Too late.
Xu Tian's strike landed.
The man staggered back, losing balance.
The third tried to retreat.
Xu Tian didn't let him.
He stepped in.
His presence pressed forward.
The man hesitated.
That hesitation decided everything.
Xu Tian's strike stopped just short of his throat.
Silence.
No one moved.
The wind passed through the mountain.
Cold.
Sharp.
The two who had fallen slowly pushed themselves up.
Their breathing was uneven.
Their expressions had changed.
No confidence.
No calm.
Only caution.
Xu Tian lowered his hand.
"…Is that enough?" he asked.
None of them answered.
They looked at him.
Then at each other.
The decision was clear.
One of them stepped back.
Then another.
They didn't speak.
They didn't attack again.
They retreated.
Slowly at first.
Then faster.
Until they disappeared into the distance.
Xu Tian stood still.
Watching.
Only when they were gone did he relax slightly.
"…They learn fast," he said quietly.
He looked down at his hand.
The feeling inside him was steady.
Controlled.
No longer unfamiliar.
Xu Tian adjusted the children in his arms.
Then looked ahead.
The mountain stretched out before him.
Wide.
Unknown.
But this time, he didn't feel like prey.
He turned and began walking.
Forward.
Without hesitation.