Virtual Reality Cultivator-Chapter 22: The Shadow That Watches

Ethan sat in the café for a few minutes after Adrian left, trying to calm his mind. The air around him felt heavier, or maybe it was just his imagination after hearing all the new information that had just been revealed.

Zenith Corporation. Human experimentation. Cultivation in the real world.

It all sounded like a plot from a science fiction novel. But it was real. He had felt it himself.

His eyes fell back on the card Adrian had given him. The address was clearly written—an old warehouse on the outskirts of town.

"Should I really go?" he thought.

He knew that from this point on, there would be no turning back. If he moved forward, he would be drawn deeper into something he might not be able to control. But the curiosity and the drive to uncover the truth were far greater than the fear creeping into his mind.

"I have to know what's really happening."

With that decision, Ethan tucked the card into his pocket and stood up from his seat.

However, as he walked out of the café, an odd feeling crept over him.

It was as if someone was watching him.

He didn't turn around immediately, but his instincts told him he was being followed. His steps slowed slightly, then he quickened his pace toward a busier sidewalk.

Through the reflection in a store's glass, he caught the shadow of a man walking behind him—a tall man in a black jacket, seemingly keeping his distance but still observing his movements.

"Are they already moving?"

Ethan held his breath, pretending not to notice the man. He quickly took a detour into a narrow alley between two buildings. Once inside, he sped up and immediately found a hiding spot behind a stack of cardboard boxes and trash bins.

A few seconds later, the sound of footsteps echoed into the alley.

"He's following me..."

Ethan held his breath, trying to peek through a small gap. The man in the black jacket stopped in the middle of the alley, looking left and right as if trying to find him.

"Is he from Zenith?"

Ethan knew he couldn't stay hidden forever. If the man was really from Zenith, staying still would only make him more suspicious.

Without thinking twice, Ethan took a deep breath, then activated the Shadow Wind Step Technique. He felt his body lighten, and his reflexes sharpen.

In an instant, he dashed out from his hiding spot and jumped onto a stack of wooden crates, launching himself toward the alley wall.

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The man was caught off guard and tried to chase, but Ethan was already ahead. He leaped to another wall with the help of his technique, landing on the other side of the alley.

"I need to get out of here!"

With full speed, Ethan ran out of the alley, blending in with the crowd on the main street. His heart was pounding, but he didn't look back.

After a few minutes of running, he finally stopped at a crowded bus stop.

He turned slowly.

There was no sign of the man in the black jacket.

Ethan let out a heavy sigh, feeling slightly relieved.

"They really are watching."

Now he knew Adrian wasn't lying. Zenith must have already marked him as someone with the potential to evolve too far.

He reached into his pocket and felt the card Adrian had given him.

"I have to go to that warehouse. I have to know what's really going on."

With a growing resolve, Ethan prepared to enter a new Chapter of this dangerous game.