BLEEDING UNIVERSE (The warrior in two worlds)

Chapter 6

Behind him, the arrivals terminal was in absolute chaos.

He could hear Kate’s screeching voice cutting through the noise of the sliding glass doors, shouting threats and demanding that he turn around.

“You get back here, you silly village boy. You know no place over here, listen to me at once.” She shouted at him.

Margret was likely furious, her perfect, high-society face twisting into an ugly expression of disbelief.

Baron didn’t even turn his head. He didn’t care.

He walked with quick, heavy steps toward the open curb.

In his past life, he had stood in that exact spot for forty-five minutes, shivering in the breeze, waiting for them to finish their luxury coffee before they finally dragged him to their sports car.

He had been so terrified of getting lost in this massive city. He hadn't known the streets, the buses, or the rules.

But this wasn't his past life. This was a life he had already lived, memorized, and conquered.

He knew every single corner of Tuntadel City like the back of his hand.

He knew the shortcut lanes, the crowded avenues, and the hidden alleys. He didn't need their charity, and he certainly didn't need their pity.

A wave of pure, total freedom washed over his chest. For the first time since his rebirth, he felt like he was completely holding the steering wheel of his own destiny.

Standing right at the edge of the yellow-painted taxi lane, Baron raised his right hand. He didn't look desperate or frantic like the other travelers.

He just raised his hand with absolute, calm confidence.

Screech.

A standard yellow city cab pulled out of the chaotic traffic lane and slid to a smooth halt right in front of him.

Baron didn't wait for the driver to get out. He grabbed the handle, pulled the door open, and hopped inside, slamming it shut behind him. He threw his single, faded blue backpack onto the seat next to him.

The driver, a middle-aged man with a graying beard and a tired face, turned around in his seat.

He took a quick glance at Baron’s cheap, washed-out t-shirt and worn-out sneakers, then looked up at his face.

"Where to, kid?" the driver asked, pulling down the meter tab.

Baron looked straight into the driver’s eyes through the rearview mirror. His voice was smooth, flat, and completely steady.

"I’m going to Tuntadel City University."

"You got it," the driver said, shifting the car into drive and stepping on the gas.

The cab pulled away from the curb, merging smoothly into the fast-moving highway traffic leading out of the airport.

For the first few minutes, the car was quiet except for the low hum of the engine and the radio playing some soft jazz music.

The driver kept glancing up at the rearview mirror, his eyes locking onto Baron’s face over and over again. He looked incredibly curious.

Finally, as they hit the main highway, the driver couldn't hold his tongue anymore. He let out a short laugh and spoke up.

"So, university, huh? You must be a freshman arriving for the new semester."

"Something like that," Baron replied softly, his eyes staring out the window at the massive, futuristic skyscrapers beginning to rise in the distance.

"You know, it's funny," the driver said, shaking his head with a smile.

"I've been driving this airport route for fifteen years, kid. Usually, around this time of the month, I pick up dozens of college freshmen. They’re always the same. They’re either sweating through their shirts out of fear, or they’re talking a mile a minute on their phones, totally hyper and terrified of the big city."

The driver paused, looking at Baron’s reflection again. "But you? You’re different. You’ve got those cheap clothes on, but you look like a seasoned businessman going to close a billion-dollar deal. Or a soldier on a serious mission. You didn't even hesitate when you got in. You knew exactly where you were going."

Baron didn't turn his head. He just kept staring at the glass, a faint, mysterious smile appearing on the corner of his lips.

"I’ve been down this road before," Baron said quietly. His voice carried a strange, heavy weight that made the driver blink in confusion. "I know exactly what's waiting for me at the end of it."

"Uh... right. Cool," the driver muttered, suddenly feeling a bit intimidated by the kid's intense vibe. He turned his eyes back to the road, deciding it was better to just drive.

Baron leaned his head back against the worn leather headrest and slowly closed his eyes.

He took a deep, silent breath, pulling the outside air into his nose and down into his lungs. He wasn't just breathing; he was using his ancient sensory techniques to test the atmosphere of the planet.

A sharp wave of disappointment hit his chest, though he already knew what to expect.

It’s just like I remembered, Baron thought, his brows knitting together slightly. The spiritual energy on Earth right now is completely dried up. It's almost dead.

Compared to the cosmic realms where he had spent a hundred years—where the natural energy flowed like thick, heavy rivers through the sky—the air on Earth felt suffocatingly thin. It was like trying to drink water from a bone-dry desert well.

To a normal cosmic cultivator, this planet was a literal prison. There was almost no Qi in the atmosphere to absorb. If he tried to train using standard methods, it would take him fifty years just to clear his first energy meridian.

But Baron didn't panic. A cold, sharp clarity filled his mind.