The forest had changed.
As Li Wei and his team pushed deeper into the Endless Forest, the air grew colder, the dense canopy overhead thickening to block out the light of the rising sun. The oppressive silence of the woods was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant cry of a beast, and even those sounds felt muffled, as if the forest itself was swallowing noise.
Li Wei's eyes darted from shadow to shadow, his senses on high alert. His mind replayed the events of the previous day—the beasts, the royal team's hidden agenda, and the subtle challenge in Liu Qing's parting words.
"We know the royal team is heading deeper into the forest," Jin Rui said, breaking the silence. "But do we really believe they're after this Heaven Water?"
