章 129: 129. Death

The forest was still, the only sound being the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Kai stood firm, his eyes closed as he focused on the presence before him. "Senior, please show up!" he called out calmly, not bothering to evade the incoming attack.

In an instant, a simple old man materialized from the ether. He was unassuming, his appearance that of an ordinary mortal, yet the air around him was charged with an unspoken threat, a silent promise of death to those who dared to cross him.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the old man deflected the soul's assault. No grand gestures, no visible energy—just a simple slap that sent the soul careening through the air to crash against a tree.

"You! You! Who are you?" the soul stammered, its voice laced with panic. Never before had it encountered such a formidable presence, its very essence screaming to flee from the danger that the old man posed.