The forest remained silent for a long time.
Snow drifted quietly between the trees while the three bandits lay collapsed on the frozen ground, trembling beneath the invisible pressure crushing their bodies.
Lin Yuan stood motionlessly before them.
Dark crimson halos flickered faintly behind him before gradually fading into the surrounding air.
The heaviness suffocating the forest slowly weakened.
Only then did the bandits finally manage to breathe properly again.
Yet none of them dared move.
Fear had completely shattered whatever courage they once possessed.
The leader with the axe stared toward Lin Yuan with pale eyes filled with terror.
A child.
The monster before him was only a child.
That realization made everything even more horrifying.
Lin Yuan lowered his gaze quietly.
He could hear their heartbeats clearly.
Rapid.
Chaotic.
Like prey trapped beneath a predator’s claws.
And strangely enough— A cold calmness lingered within his own mind.
No panic.
No excitement.
Only clarity.
The feeling unsettled him slightly.
Because moments earlier, when he released the Asura Prison fully— Suppressing them had felt natural.
Too natural.
“P-please…” The axe wielder’s trembling voice interrupted his thoughts.
“We won’t do it again…” Lin Yuan looked toward him silently.
Nearby, the injured middle-aged merchant struggled weakly against the tree trunk while clutching his bleeding side.
The young girl beside the overturned carriage stared toward Lin Yuan with wide frightened eyes.
Everyone was afraid of him now.
Even the people he had helped.
Lin Yuan understood why.
The pressure from the Asura Prison did not feel righteous.
It felt terrifying.
Like something born specifically for violence.
A martial soul connected directly to slaughter itself.
The thought caused his expression to darken faintly.
Was this how Tang Chen felt in the beginning?
Powerful.
Cold.
Gradually consumed by killing intent without realizing it?
Lin Yuan slowly exhaled.
No.
He would not lose himself.
Not like that.
The bandit leader hurriedly spoke again after seeing Lin Yuan remain silent.
“We’ll leave immediately!
We swear it!” Lin Yuan glanced toward the rusted axe lying nearby.
Then toward the injured merchant.
The man’s wound was deep.
Had Lin Yuan arrived later— The outcome would likely have ended differently.
This world had no mercy for weakness.
And these men clearly understood that.
Lin Yuan’s voice finally sounded quietly within the snowy forest.
“How many people have you killed?” The bandits froze.
The question itself felt colder than the winter wind.
The leader avoided his gaze instinctively.
“We… we only rob travelers…” Boom.
Pressure descended again instantly.
The man screamed as his body slammed heavily into the frozen ground.
Lin Yuan’s eyes remained calm.
“Answer properly.” The other two bandits nearly collapsed from fear.
“T-ten…” “Maybe more…” “We don’t remember…” Silence returned afterward.
The snow continued falling gently.
Lin Yuan looked at them quietly for several moments.
Then slowly— He stepped aside.
“Leave.” The bandits froze in disbelief.
Even the merchant looked shocked.
The three men quickly scrambled backward through the snow before running desperately deeper into the forest without daring to look back again.
Soon, only Lin Yuan, the merchant, and the young girl remained.
The forest became quiet once more.
Lin Yuan gradually dispersed the remaining pressure surrounding his body.
The suffocating atmosphere finally vanished completely.
The merchant stared toward him cautiously before lowering his head slightly.
“Thank you… for saving us.” Lin Yuan nodded faintly.
The young girl beside him still looked frightened.
Probably around seven or eight years old.
She clutched the merchant’s sleeve tightly while secretly peeking toward Lin Yuan from behind him.
Lin Yuan looked away quietly.
He was not good at comforting people.
Especially children.
The merchant struggled painfully while trying to stand.
Blood immediately soaked through the cloth wrapped around his waist.
Lin Yuan frowned slightly.
“You’ll worsen the wound.” The man forced a bitter smile.
“If I stay here, wild spirit beasts will smell the blood eventually.” Lin Yuan looked around the forest silently.
The merchant was correct.
Winter reduced spirit beast activity nearby, but not enough to guarantee safety.
After several seconds, Lin Yuan crouched beside the injured man.
The merchant tensed instinctively.
Lin Yuan ignored the reaction and carefully inspected the wound.
Not fatal.
But deep enough to become dangerous without treatment.
The merchant watched him nervously.
“You know medicine?” “A little.” In truth, Lin Yuan only understood basic treatment from memories of his previous life combined with survival knowledge learned after reincarnation.
Still— It was enough.
Lin Yuan removed a clean cloth from his travel bag before tightening it firmly around the wound.
The merchant winced painfully but remained silent.
After finishing, Lin Yuan stood again.
“There’s a town south of here.” The merchant nodded weakly.
“I know the road.” For a moment, nobody spoke.
Then the little girl suddenly gathered enough courage to ask quietly: “Are… are you a spirit master?” Lin Yuan looked toward her.
The girl’s eyes contained both fear and curiosity.
He nodded once.
A faint light immediately appeared in her eyes.
Children throughout the Douluo Continent admired spirit masters instinctively.
To ordinary civilians, spirit masters were almost legendary figures.
Protectors.
Heroes.
Symbols of power.
Lin Yuan’s gaze lowered slightly.
If only reality were truly that simple.
The merchant suddenly hesitated before speaking again.
“Young master… may I ask your name?” Lin Yuan remained silent briefly.
Then he answered calmly.
“Lin Yuan.” The merchant repeated the name softly as though memorizing it carefully.
Then he lowered his head once more.
“I will remember today’s kindness.” Lin Yuan did not reply.
Kindness?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps he simply disliked watching the weak get crushed helplessly.
Because he understood too well how cruel this world could become.
The wind gradually strengthened again.
Lin Yuan adjusted the travel bag over his shoulder before turning toward the deeper forest road ahead.
The merchant looked surprised.
“You’re leaving already?” Lin Yuan nodded.
“I still have somewhere to go.” The little girl watched him quietly before suddenly calling out: “Big brother!” Lin Yuan paused slightly.
The girl hesitated nervously before speaking again.
“Thank you…” Her voice was soft.
Pure.
Completely sincere.
For some reason, hearing those words caused the coldness inside Lin Yuan’s heart to ease slightly.
Just slightly.
He gave a small nod without turning around.
Then he continued walking forward through the snowy forest.
His footsteps gradually disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, behind him, the merchant continued staring silently toward the direction Lin Yuan had left.
The little girl tugged lightly at his sleeve.
“Father… he doesn’t feel like a bad person.” The merchant remained quiet for several moments.
Then eventually, he sighed softly.
“No.” His gaze darkened slightly.
“But someday… I think many people will fear him.”