Chapter 15: Echoes of the Pendant
Adrian had begun to notice something strange about the pendant. It wasn't just glowing during cultivation anymore. It pulsed at odd times—on the street, in crowded jeepneys, even when he was lying awake at night staring at the ceiling.
At first, he thought it was his imagination. Stress, paranoia, exhaustion. But the more he paid attention, the clearer it became. The pendant wasn't reacting to him. It was reacting to something else.
One evening, as he walked home from a late shift, the pendant grew hot against his chest. Adrian froze, scanning the street. The crowd moved normally—vendors shouting, kids laughing, couples arguing. Nothing unusual. But the heat intensified, burning against his skin.
Then he saw it.
A man across the street, standing too still, watching him. His eyes glowed faintly, barely noticeable unless you knew what to look for. Adrian's stomach dropped. Another hunter.
The man smiled, slow and deliberate. Adrian's pulse quickened. He ducked into an alley, heart pounding, pendant flaring. He didn't want to fight—not here, not now—but he knew running wouldn't save him.
The footsteps followed.
Adrian pressed his back against the wall, fists clenched. The pendant pulsed harder, flooding his veins with warmth. He could feel the Qi stirring, restless, eager. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe. Control. Discipline. Survival.
The man stepped into the alley, his presence heavy, his aura sharp. "You've got something valuable," he said. "Hand it over."
Adrian shook his head. "Not happening."
The man chuckled. "Then let's see if you're worth keeping alive."
He moved fast, strikes heavy and precise. Adrian dodged, barely, the pendant guiding his movements. His fists glowed faintly, his body thrumming with energy. He struck back, clumsy but fueled by Qi. The alley became a blur of fists, sweat, and blood.
Pain exploded across Adrian's ribs as the man landed a blow. He staggered, coughing, vision swimming. But he didn't fall. He forced the Qi through his body, steadying himself, channeling it into his fists.
He struck again, harder this time. The pendant flared, emerald light flooding the alley. The man stumbled back, eyes wide. "You're stronger than you look," he hissed.
Adrian wiped the blood from his mouth. "And you're weaker than you think."
The man snarled, retreating into the shadows. "You're not ready. But you will be. And when you are, others will come."
Adrian collapsed against the wall, chest heaving, body trembling. The pendant pulsed faintly, steady and calm. He closed his eyes, exhaustion pulling him under.
When he finally staggered home, the city felt heavier, darker. The pendant wasn't just a relic. It was a beacon. A key. And every time it pulsed, it was calling to something—or someone.
Adrian sat on the floor, pendant glowing faintly in his hand. He whispered to himself, voice hoarse. "I'll survive. I'll rise. But I need to know what this thing really is."
The pendant pulsed again, steady and calm.
And Adrian Reyes knew the path ahead wasn't just about cultivation anymore. It was about uncovering the truth.