Chapter 382 Book 7 Escape by a hair's breadth
The dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of ancient pines cast shifting patterns on the forest floor. Jafar Efra, a man whose presence was as sharp and discerning as his mind, leaned against the rough bark of a towering tree. He had been waiting for thirty minutes, his gaze fixed on the narrow dirt path that twisted up the mountain. The air was calm, the forest serene, but his thoughts were a whirlwind, replaying the brief, captivating encounter he had had with Li An. The image of her graceful figure, the way she moved with a quiet, yet formidable, strength, and the musical lilt of her voice all consumed his mind. He was certain that the veil she wore hid a face of unparalleled beauty, a truth his heart seemed to know instinctively.
