都市魔法师

Lin Yao barely had time to react as Qin Yao pulled her, running swiftly through the streets and alleys. Every step quickened her heartbeat, and the oppressive sensation behind them sent chills down her spine. She wanted to look back, but Qin Yao held her firmly.

"Don't look back. Trust me," Qin Yao's voice was low yet commanding, giving her a fleeting sense of security.

Lin Yao gritted her teeth and lifted her head, fixing her gaze ahead. She had always believed her life to be unremarkable, but now, she found herself swept into an endless storm. Her emotions were a chaotic tide: confusion, fear, and anger intertwined into an inexplicable whirlwind.

"Why are we running?" she finally managed to ask, her voice trembling. "If they're truly 'hunters of the Source,' what am I supposed to do?"

Qin Yao scanned their surroundings, seemingly assessing their safety. His expression was grave, his tone calm yet resolute. "They're not just hunters; they are messengers of the Source. Their pursuit isn't just for the Source's power but for something far deeper—a plan."

"A plan?" Lin Yao froze. "What plan?"

Qin Yao didn't answer immediately. His gaze grew more somber. "You're not ready to understand. When the time comes, you'll know."

At that moment, urgent footsteps echoed from around the corner, accompanied by a sound akin to a beast's low growl. Lin Yao's heart tightened, and as she turned, the blurred figures in the shadows became clearer. These people seemed relentless, chasing her with a maddening determination.

A wave of panic surged in her chest. Was she truly destined to be at the center of this vortex from the beginning?

"They're here," Qin Yao murmured softly, his face growing more severe. "They won't let you go."

A cold dread crept up Lin Yao's spine. Qin Yao's words didn't sound like a warning but more like a simple, immutable fact. His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if calculating their next move.

"I'm taking you somewhere safe. You'll be able to hide there for now," Qin Yao said decisively, pulling Lin Yao through several more alleys before entering an abandoned factory.

The factory was decrepit and desolate, its walls bearing the scars of time, and the air was thick with dust and decay. Lin Yao could hardly adapt to this sudden change in environment, but she knew she had no choice but to trust Qin Yao.

"Is it safe here?" she asked softly, her vigilance still high.

Qin Yao nodded, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Safe for now. But we don't have much time. They're close and won't give us a long reprieve."

Lin Yao took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Can I help? I feel like… something is different about me."

Qin Yao turned to her, his sharp gaze meeting her uncertain, anxious eyes. He hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly. "You've already awakened your power. Even if you don't fully understand its meaning yet. Right now, what matters is learning to control it."

"Control it?" Lin Yao furrowed her brows. "Control what? That force earlier didn't feel like something I could handle."

"You've misunderstood," Qin Yao said, stepping closer. His voice dropped to a near whisper. "You don't need to control it. What's crucial is that you don't let it control you."

Lin Yao's eyes widened in shock. "Don't let it control me?"

"Exactly," Qin Yao said, his gaze intense. "The power of the Source is immense. It can grant you incredible strength, but it can also destroy you. You need to understand that what you possess isn't just power—it's dominion over that power."

Before Lin Yao could respond, a sharp alarm-like noise suddenly pierced the air, almost like a warning. Her heartbeat quickened again as she realized that the people pursuing her had tracked them down.

"Are you ready?" Qin Yao's deep voice cut through the tension, almost drowned out by the sharp noise. "They're here. Get ready."

Determination flickered in Lin Yao's eyes. Though her heart still raced with fear, she knew there was no turning back.

The silence was shattered by a sudden rush of footsteps, and several figures appeared at the factory's entrance. Their black clothing and masks made them seem like ghostly apparitions.

"You can stop now," one of them spoke, his voice cold and harsh. "She's our prey, and we won't let her go."

Qin Yao slowly lifted his head, his eyes glinting with a frosty sharpness. He gripped Lin Yao's hand tightly and replied coldly, "If you want her, you'll have to go through me first."

Lin Yao felt a surge of energy emanating from Qin Yao, an oppressive force that seemed to make the air itself heavy, like a storm on the verge of eruption. Instinctively, she clenched her fists, sensing a hidden power within her awakening quietly.