The Samsara God King's rebirth

CHAPTER 11

The voice rang out behind him.

Shen Wuyin paused mid-step.

"Please, someone go after them!" the woman's voice broke into a desperate plea.

People stood along the street, their eyes locked on the wailing woman.

"Please... they stole all my savings." She choked out.

Shen Wuyin stared past her. A shadow hopped away, hauling two bags in its hands.

A small smile touched Shen Wuyin's lips.

"A hopping shadow," he muttered.

The shadow bounced swiftly, imitating the agility of a Xuankong Kangaroo.

"Help me." The woman dropped to her knees, her hands folded in a plea.

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves. Their gazes held nothing but compassion.

"The Shadow Thieves."

"Thieves?" Shen Wuyin tilted his head slightly. "But I only see one shadow," he thought, his gaze remaining fixed on the disappearing figure.

"Last time Han Xiao tried to apprehend them, he got thrashed badly. He's still recovering."

"Those thieves are something else. But at least they attack only the wealthy."

Han Xiao was a formidable archer, possessing one of the most astonishing bow techniques. Yet, the Shadow Thieves thrashed him in the most ridiculous way.

Among the onlookers were able-bodied men. They stood still, watching her helplessly.

Shen Wuyin stepped forward.

He walked towards the woman. Closing the distance between them, he got a better look at her face.

Bai Xue.

Shen Wuyin lifted a brow. The corner of his lips curved upward, his pupils glowing faintly.

"So you can plead this much." He scoffed.

Bai Xue lifted her gaze. Her hands trembled as she wobbled to her feet. Tears blurred her vision.

"Please..." She grabbed the end of her sleeve and quickly wiped her eyes.

Her breath hitched. She took a trembling step back, her eyes widening.

"Brat!" she snapped.

"Stale breath." Shen Wuyin scoffed, covering his nose.

Bai Xue clenched her fists, her eyes red-rimmed.

"I know you sent them!" she yelled, the veins on her neck bulging.

Shen Wuyin shook his head and dropped the grocery bags to the ground.

Bai Xue kept ranting. Saliva flew from her mouth with every word.

"It's a shame Elder Tianji has fools like these around him." Shen Wuyin shook his head and moved past her.

The thief had already hopped across the street.

Gathering qi at his feet, Shen Wuyin propelled himself forward with the wind. Dust rose into the air. The hem of Bai Xue's dress flew up, exposing her underwear. Before she could react, it dropped back into place.

"Brat!!" she yelled.

The dark figure hopped into the distant woods.

"A technique this swift amongst mortals?" Shen Wuyin muttered, his eyes following the fleeing figure.

Entering the woods, Shen Wuyin paused.

"Hey, Shadow Hopper!" he called, his eyes fixed on the figure disappearing between the trees.

"I have over a hundred thousand gold coins," he added.

One of the shadow's ears twitched.

A slow grin spread across Shen Wuyin's lips.

"I'm sure you have a minute to spare."

"I challenge you to a face-off."

The shadow paused.

Shen Wuyin's grin deepened, revealing a faint glint of his teeth.

"Win and you get my hundred thousand gold coins. I win..."

"Deal!"

A deep voice reverberated through the trees.

"Thieves will always be thieves." Shen Wuyin scoffed inwardly.

The shadow slowly turned to face Shen Wuyin. It swung the coin bags onto one of the tree branches.

A smug smile spread across its lips.

"You asked for it."

Without warning, it bounced forward.

"Wind Blast!"

It thrust out its palm.

The air roared. A violent gush of wind tore through the trees and shot towards Shen Wuyin.

Before he could move, the wind slammed into him. He staggered back. The blast stretched his face, threatening to rip it from his skull.

Applying more pressure through its arm, the shadow held its stance, multiplying the force of the wind.

"Only a fool challenges death to a face-off." The dark figure let out a dry cackle.

Shen Wuyin raised his forearms over his face, blocking the pressure.

"Such intensity." He smirked despite the force crashing against his body.

Suddenly, the gust ceased.

Before Shen Wuyin could steady himself—

PAM!!

A tall figure in a black Dao robe appeared before him.

Shen Wuyin didn't even see him move.

A steel fist slammed into his cheek, sending him flying across the clearing.

His body crashed into a distant tree.

Crack!

The trunk splintered on impact.

He dropped to the ground. Pain shot through his bones.

A soft groan escaped his lips.

A clap echoed sharply.

The tall figure vanished just as swiftly as he had appeared.

"Ah..." Shen Wuyin exhaled as he wobbled to his knees.

A sinister grin spread across his lips. His teeth were stained crimson.

Blood seeped from the corner of his lips, staining his collar.

"Fascinating." He laughed dryly.

Staggering to his feet, he extended his arm.

Metal spikes shot out from his fingers with a metallic cling.

The spikes sliced through the air with lethal speed, heading straight for the dark figure.

"Spike Technique."

The shadow scoffed.

A gush of dark smoke erupted from its hand, swirling into a samurai sword.

The blade glimmered beneath the sunlight filtering through the trees.

Ancient Chinese characters glowed across the hilt in faint green.

CLANG!!

The dark figure swung its sword in an X-strike, batting Shen Wuyin's attack into the surrounding trees.

Shen Wuyin watched the dark figure.

Amusement danced in his gaze.

"Speed. Agility. Stealth." He smirked.

"The second either uses stealth... or teleports."

Without another word, the dark figure stepped forward.

"Spike Technique." It scoffed, as though the technique itself insulted its dignity.

Then it bounced through the trees.

SLASH!!

A dark blade of qi shot towards Shen Wuyin.

He slid to the side, but not fast enough. The slash sliced through his robe, leaving a shallow cut across his skin.

"He is fast," Shen Wuyin muttered.

An outburst of qi burst from his dantian, forming a barrier five inches from his skin.

The dark figure landed on the ground, its sword still in hand.

It closed the distance between itself and Shen Wuyin.

Just then, Shen Wuyin noticed a glimpse of a red robe beneath the shadow.

"How pleasing..." A smug smile touched his lips. "The shadow is merely camouflage."

He slid his hands behind his back.

Red eyes glowed faintly through the dark figure.

"We steal for a reason," the dark figure said. "I suppose you challenged death for a reason too..."

PEW!!

Seconds earlier, Shen Wuyin had activated his Sword Technique discreetly. Wrapping his sword in qi, he struck without hesitation.

The shadow dissolved like smoke, revealing a teenage boy.

The boy dropped to his knees, his eyes widening. He clamped a hand over his neck, gasping for air.

"Brother!" a voice roared through the trees.

Almost instantly, the tall figure appeared beside the teenage boy and wrapped his arms around him. His long hair swayed gently in the wind, brushing against his black robe.

"Brother... save... Mum..." the teenage boy choked out.

Blood poured from his neck.

Shen Wuyin stepped aside, silently watching the two.

The teenage boy slowly shut his eyes. His hand slipped from his neck.

He drew his final breath.

"No!!"

The tall figure's roar shook the woods.

His grip tightened around his brother.

Shen Wuyin watched him. Compassion flickered across his face.

"Then why steal?" he asked, his brows knitting together.

The tall figure slowly turned towards him, his eyes rimmed red.

"You..." he growled.

He gently laid his brother on the ground before suddenly lunging forward.

CLAP!!

He clapped his hands once.

Immediately, he vanished.

"So that's his technique..." Shen Wuyin muttered. "Teleportation through a clap."

Shen Wuyin glanced around, his senses on high alert.

"What are you? A child?" he scorned.

He sniffed, drawing in air through his nostrils.

"Teleportation or not... he still has a qi presence."

Suddenly, he paused.

"Why does everyone here smell like stale meat?" he thought.

BOOM!!

The tall figure appeared behind him.

His forearm turned metallic. Clenching his fist, he drove a lethal punch towards Shen Wuyin's back.

Shen Wuyin leaned to the side by just an inch and caught the fist in time.

Crack!

Their knuckles collided with a sickening crunch.

The tall figure winced.

"You killed my brother!" he thundered, grief and pain lacing his voice.

"It seems I'd have to explain what a face-off means." Shen Wuyin sneered.

The tall figure's eyes blazed with fury.

"Don't worry though." Shen Wuyin smirked. "You'll be meeting him soon."

SLASH!!

Shen Wuyin swung his sword.

The tall figure's head fell to the ground.

Silence returned for a second, replaced by the faint chirping of birds and the distant babbling of a stream.

Shen Wuyin exhaled slowly.

He activated the Dao Stealing Technique. Once completed, he swallowed the orb.

Dark smoke swirled within him. Claps echoed repeatedly inside his mind.

Taking a step forward, Shen Wuyin bounced instinctively through the woods.

After a couple of bounces, he dropped to the ground, squeezing his eyes shut.

His breath grew uneven.

His heart pounded against his chest.

He snapped his eyes open. Excitement flickered in his gaze.

"I must say, those two are the best opponents I've had since my reincarnation."

His lips curved upward.

The jiggling of metal rang out above him.

He lifted his head. His eyes rested on the bags the teenage boy had swung onto the branch.

He staggered to his feet.

Using a sword strike, he cut down the branch.

The bags landed with a heavy thud.

Coins jingled inside the sacks.

"What a day."

He muttered.

The teenage boy's final words echoed through his mind.

"Save... Mum..."

Shen Wuyin shook his head.

"Then they'll reunite after death. If their mother truly depended on theft to survive, someone would eventually kill them anyway......." 

Before he could finish.....

"Greetings."

A calm voice came from behind him.

Shen Wuyin turned.

His gaze met that of an unfamiliar old man.