The forest path ahead surrendered to encroaching darkness. The sun's final breath disappeared beyond ancient treetops, leaving the world bathed in moonlight's silver benediction. Hua Ling, Xinyu, and Lingque continued their quiet pilgrimage until they discovered a river whose gentle current sang lullabies to the listening night.
They chose this peaceful sanctuary for their rest.
Fire crackled at the heart of their makeshift camp, painting dancing shadows on bark and stone. The scent of grilled fish drifted through cool air, mingling with the earthy perfume of damp leaves and moss. Lingque positioned herself beside Hua Ling with shameless determination, making no attempt to hide the way her eyes lingered on his moonlit profile like a devotee studying sacred scripture.
Xinyu, gnawing on his portion of roasted fish, narrowed his eyes in exasperation.
*Not even a chicken is immune to Hua Ling's devastating beauty. Truly unbelievable.*
When he noticed Lingque pushing her fish away with obvious distaste, Xinyu frowned and rose to his feet with purposeful concern.
"Hey, Xiao Que. I'll find you some fruit instead. You can't eat this, can you?"
Lingque blinked, thinking with maternal worry, *If that fool ventures alone, he'll undoubtedly become lost and never return.*
"I'll accompany you," she said quickly, already moving to stand.
Before she could rise, Hua Ling suddenly unfolded himself like a blade being drawn. "Sit down. I'll go with him."
Lingque clasped her hands against her heart, pulse fluttering like caged butterflies. *Ah... so magnificently protective... He doesn't want me endangered...*
Xinyu cast her a withering glance, thoroughly unimpressed. *I know exactly what that chicken is thinking...*
---
The forest beyond the river lay wrapped in shadows and liquid silver. As Hua Ling and Xinyu walked among towering trees, fallen leaves rustling like whispered secrets beneath their feet, Xinyu turned to search for suitable fruit—only to collide directly with the prince's solid form.
"Ah—" Xinyu stumbled backward, heel catching treacherously on an exposed root. Gravity claimed him with merciless certainty, but iron fingers seized his wrist at the final moment.
Instead of providing salvation, the sudden tug dragged Hua Ling forward—and both young men tumbled to the earth in a tangle of robes and startled limbs.
"Owww... my back..." Xinyu groaned, consciousness returning like sunrise breaking through storm clouds.
Hua Ling loomed above him, one hand still pressed against Xinyu's chest for balance, their faces separated by nothing more than shared breath and racing heartbeats.
For one eternal moment, neither dared to move.
Their eyes locked. Fireflies suspended in darkness seemed to freeze midair like captured stars. The entire forest held its breath in reverent silence.
Hua Ling blinked first, then rose with fluid grace that spoke of royal breeding and careful control. His expression revealed nothing—a mask of jade perfection.
Xinyu scrambled upright with considerably less elegance. "S-Sorry. I made you fall."
Hua Ling offered no response, merely brushed invisible dust from his pristine robes and continued walking with measured steps.
*Incredible,* Xinyu thought with bitter admiration. *He truly is a master of the silent treatment.*
They returned to their riverside camp to discover Lingque already claimed by sleep, curled beside the dying fire like a contented chick seeking warmth.
Xinyu dropped beside the glowing embers with a weary sigh. "All that effort just for her to fall asleep..."
Hua Ling settled into meditation pose, eyes closed in apparent tranquility. Gradually, Xinyu allowed exhaustion to pull him into slumber's embrace.
---
Not far distant, in another forest clearing, the remaining disciples had established their own temporary sanctuary.
Lu Rourou hunched over grilled fish with single-minded determination, tearing into her meal with impressive vigor.
"Slow down!" Shen Yao scolded with scandalized disapproval. "You're a young lady. Show some refinement."
Rourou shot him a challenging look. "Why does it matter? Shen-ge, are you planning to marry me or something?"
He choked violently on his fish. "Ha! Why would I marry such a troublesome brat? My ideal partner would be beautiful as precious jade, cold as winter ice, refined and graceful—"
"No woman would spare you a glance even if you begged," Lan Xueyao interjected with cutting precision.
Yan Zheng sat among them, watching flames dance while worry creased his noble brow. "I wonder if Xinyu is safe..."
"Have no concern, Young Master," Qingze assured him with professional confidence. "He remains under protection."
Yan Zheng nodded, though unease continued to gnaw at his heart like persistent hunger.
---
Elsewhere in the moon-drenched forest, Chi Ruyan crouched beneath a gnarled tree whose twisted branches resembled arthritic fingers. Her lips curved in a smile sharp enough to draw blood from unwary observers.
"Behead him," she commanded the robed demons kneeling before her like shadows given malevolent form. "Make his death exquisitely slow."
---
Back at the peaceful riverside camp, Xinyu sneezed in his sleep, disturbing dreams he wouldn't remember come morning.
---
Dawn arrived accompanied by birdsong and the sweet perfume of dew adorning moss like nature's own jewelry. They resumed their pilgrimage toward destiny.
Xinyu trudged behind his companions, feet dragging with each laborious step.
"Ugh... Xiao Que... why can't you transform and carry me? Aren't you supposedly my spiritual beast?"
"I can't, you complete fool," Lingque replied with eye-rolling exasperation. "I've deliberately weakened myself for two days now. When the transformation's effects fade, I'll gladly carry you."
Then she turned with a smile sharp as polished steel. "And I'll carry His Highness as well."
Xinyu groaned with the suffering of martyred saints. "There she goes again..."
---
The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive as they ventured deeper into the forest's heart.
Birds no longer offered their cheerful songs. Shadows thickened like funeral shrouds draped over ancient trees. The faint whisper of leaves overhead made Lingque shiver despite her divine heritage. She clung to Xinyu's arm with desperate intensity, eyes darting nervously in all directions.
"Why aren't you clinging to your precious 'dreamy type' instead?" Xinyu muttered with irritated confusion.
Lingque leaned close, voice dropping to urgent whisper. "Don't speak such nonsense! Who would dare lay fingers on His Highness? He's elegant and precious—like flawless white jade. One careless touch would tarnish his perfection."
*Elegant? Precious?*
Xinyu's mind flickered through every accidental collision with Hua Ling—the glacial stares, the profound silences that followed such transgressions.
He shivered involuntarily.
*Yeah. Definitely tarnished.*
"...O-Oh. Understood."
Lingque's voice grew heavy with mounting unease. "Why does this place feel wrong? Something evil lurks here."
"Aren't you supposed to be a divine spiritual beast?" Xinyu raised one skeptical eyebrow. "You're literally a celestial peacock. What could possibly frighten you?"
"I'm half-human too, you brat," she snapped while maintaining her death grip. "And I'm elegant, not invincible."
Ahead of them, Hua Ling suddenly raised one commanding hand.
"Stop," he ordered with voice sharp as unsheathed steel.
They froze like statues carved from living flesh. His expression hardened as he scanned the surrounding trees, lips compressed into a dangerous line.
"I sense hostile presence. We are no longer alone."
The wind shifted directions with ominous purpose, carrying something unnatural with it—sweet, cloying, faintly metallic like blood mixed with poisoned honey. Xinyu drew breath—and the moment corrupted air entered his lungs, his body convulsed violently.
His hand flew to his chest where agony bloomed like dark flowers.
The soul mark ignited with hellish fire.
His knees buckled as pain coiled through his veins like molten wire, threatening to burn him alive from within.
"Xinyu!" Lingque caught him, barely managing to support his collapsing weight. "Talk to me—what's happening?!"
He clenched his jaw until teeth threatened to crack, eyes growing glassy with unshed tears. "Something... poisonous... in the air..."
The corrupted scent was deliberately crafted—specifically designed to awaken the dormant venom sleeping in his blood like a serpent waiting for its moment to strike.
Hua Ling's voice cut through their panic, cold and sharp as winter's killing frost. "Stay with him, xiao que. I'll handle whatever approaches."
She nodded with grim determination, clutching Xinyu tightly as he trembled against her side like a fever victim, sweat beading his pale brow like scattered pearls.
Around them, the forest held its breath—waiting, watching, as danger approached on silent feet through shadows that seemed to writhe with malevolent life.
The hunt had begun, and they had become the prey.