Infinite Awakening: My Exp Doubles Everyday novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20: Concussion

"So this is where you were..."

The voice froze Xiang Yu in place, his body turning rigid as ice water seemed to flood his veins. He had been discovered, his carefully executed plan crumbling before his eyes. Why had he been found so quickly? Hadn't this disciple chosen his own path through the forest? With dread pooling in his stomach, he slowly turned to face his hunter.

The disciple stood before him, a smugness radiating from his posture. "I thought it was weird that I couldn't catch up to you and decided to check the other paths," he explained, his tone laced with self-satisfaction.

Dammit! Why did this particular pursuer have to possess actual brain cells? This deviation from the standard cultivation novel script—where antagonists conveniently behaved with predictable stupidity—was deeply inconvenient. In stories, these minor villains never demonstrated such rudimentary problem-solving skills.

Despite his internal frustration, Xiang Yu forced himself to calm down. True, he had been discovered, but it was still just one opponent. Taking a steadying breath, he readied his knife without responding verbally. His mind calculated rapidly—both of them were Body Refining cultivators, and based on the others he'd encountered, the difference in their strength shouldn't be insurmountable. Perhaps he could engage briefly while searching for an opportunity to escape.

Noticing Xiang Yu's combat-ready stance, the disciple approached with measured steps, drawing his sword with practiced ease. The sight of the gleaming blade sent a jolt of surprise through Xiang Yu. He hadn't anticipated that his opponent would be trained in sword techniques. This complicated matters significantly—the sword's superior reach would give the disciple a considerable advantage, compounding what was likely already a cultivation disparity.

But there was no time for hesitation. With the disciple's scream still echoing through the forest, Xiang Yu knew the remaining hunter would be converging on their location. He couldn't afford to face multiple opponents simultaneously. Adding numerical disadvantage to his already precarious situation would be disastrous.

With resolute determination, Xiang Yu charged forward, swinging his knife in a controlled arc. The disciple responded with equal aggression, his sword intercepting Xiang Yu's blade. Sparks flashed as metal scraped against metal, the force of the collision knocking Xiang Yu slightly off-course.

This deflection, however, wasn't unexpected. Xiang Yu recovered instantly, pivoting with surprising agility as he targeted his opponent's exposed neck. While his knife's shorter range might typically be considered a disadvantage against a sword, in close quarters it transformed into a lethal asset. The sword's extended reach became a liability in tight spaces, creating a vulnerable window that Xiang Yu intended to exploit.

Following the initial clash, the disciple was still extending his arm from the defensive maneuver, his body momentarily unguarded. Xiang Yu closed the distance rapidly, positioning his knife for a clean, fatal strike before the swordsman could retract and reposition his weapon.

But he had severely underestimated his opponent's reflexes. With alarming speed, the disciple's free hand shot forward, fingers clamping around Xiang Yu's wrist in a vise-like grip. Panic flooded through him as he struggled to break free, his arm immobilized in the disciple's grasp.

Desperation mounting, Xiang Yu launched a punch with his other hand, hoping to create enough distance to escape. To his horror, the disciple caught this arm as well, somehow maintaining his hold on the sword while restraining both of Xiang Yu's limbs. He could feel the hard press of the sword handle against his captured hand, cold metal digging into his skin.

A maniacal smile spread across the disciple's face, revealing teeth in a predatory grin that sent chills down Xiang Yu's spine.

"You aren't really going to..." Xiang Yu began, dread evident in his voice as realization dawned.

"Yes I am going to..." the disciple confirmed, his smile widening as he abruptly tilted his head backward.

"Oh no," Xiang Yu muttered, comprehension arriving a fraction of a second too late.

With brutal force, the disciple slammed his forehead forward, crashing directly into Xiang Yu's face with a sickening impact that sent stars exploding across his vision.

...

Xiang Yu's world spun violently as his body crashed against the unyielding ground, the impact knocking what little air remained from his lungs. Stars danced across his vision, bright pinpricks of light that seemed to call his name as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. The forest floor pressed against his back, cool and unforgiving, while his thoughts swirled in a confused haze.

He blinked repeatedly, trying to bring his surroundings into focus. Blurry patches of green and brown gradually revealed themselves as tree branches swaying gently overhead. Had he passed out during his training session? The last thing he remembered was... what exactly? Memory refused to cooperate, fragments of thought slipping through his mental grasp like water.

A shadow passed over him, blocking the dappled sunlight. Someone was standing above him now, their silhouette wavering in his unfocused vision. He could just make out the distinctive shape of a sword clutched in their hand. His junior sister, perhaps? She was the only person he knew who practiced sword techniques. Maybe she wanted to practice together, though her approach seemed unusually aggressive.

The shadowy figure raised their sword high, the blade catching a glint of sunlight before arcing downward with lethal intent. A jolt of confusion shot through Xiang Yu's muddled thoughts. "Wait, is this really practice?" he wondered, the incongruity finally piercing through his mental fog.

Xiang Yu didn't hesitate—he wasn't bound by some chivalric code that demanded fair play. This was survival, pure and simple. He charged forward, knife poised to strike, intent on ending the confrontation before his opponent could recover. _{f.re(e) w.e(b)nov el.c.om}

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