Wynn approached the woman, her heart pounding with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Gathering her courage, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper above the rustling leaves. "Excuse me," she began, her gaze meeting the woman's steady eyes. "May I ask what your name is?"
The woman's lips curved into a gentle, disarming smile, a brief respite from the surrounding tension. Her eyes, which had held a guarded intensity moments before, softened with a hint of warmth. "Me?" she replied, her voice a melodious whisper that seemed to carry on the breeze. "I am called Yuting Just call me 'Sister,' Yuting," she added, her smile widening into a radiant, disarming expression that seemed to momentarily banish the shadows lurking in the surrounding forest.
"Enough with the pleasantries," the scar-faced man interjected, his voice a low, gravelly rumble that cut through the momentary warmth. "We need to get inside the hidden cave now. Too many people know about this place. We can't risk losing our chance to be the first to uncover the treasures hidden inside," he urged, his words directed at the rest of the group.
Their group consisted of just five individuals: the scar-faced man and his right-hand man, the woman warrior, and two additional male companions.They were a band of individuals brought together by a shared purpose: hunting for treasures in forests and remote locations, seeking riches and valuable artifacts. Now, having heard rumors of a hidden immortal's cave in this region, they had come to investigate its veracity. Upon arrival, they discovered the rumors were true, and realized this could be their chance to gain the ability to cultivate and achieve immortality themselves.
"What about this girl?" one of the men asked, his tone implying Wynn wasn't welcome in their group. But the woman warrior responded, "Let's just take Wynn with us. We're already here, and we can't just send her away. She might run into other hunters, which could lead them to this place faster. It's better to keep her with us, don't you think?" she added, directing her question to the scar-faced man.
The scar-faced man simply stared at the woman before saying, "Just make sure she doesn't slow us down. I don't want any unnecessary risks because of her." With that, he turned and headed towards the hidden cave. But before he could get far, he heard the woman says, "Don't worry, I'll take care of her. She's my responsibility, and I'll make sure she doesn't become a burden to us."
Scarface Man paused slightly and yelled, "What are you all waiting for? Let's go, let's not waste any more time! We need to get inside the hidden cave so we can finish this search and finally disband this group once we've divided the treasure!"
Wynn hesitated at the cave's mouth, the darkness within seeming to breathe. "Wynn, we need to hurry," Yuting urged, her voice a low rumble that cut through the rustling leaves. She saw the fear flickering in Wynn's eyes, the way her hands trembled slightly. "Don't worry," Yuting continued, her voice softening, Whatever you see or hear when we're inside, don't be afraid. I'm right here beside you, I'll protect you." She reached out, her hand warm and strong as it closed around Wynn's, offering a silent promise against the unknown terrors that lay ahead.
As Wynn recalled, the last time she had tried to enter this cave, she had been unable to do so — some kind of barrier had blocked her path, preventing her from stepping inside. Yet now, it seemed that anyone could enter freely, as if whatever protection had once held the cave closed had vanished.
As Wynn walked alongside Yuting, a subtle unease began to creep over her. At first, it was barely noticeable — a faint prickling along her skin, like the brush of a cold breeze against her arms. But soon, the feeling grew stronger, almost tangible, as if an unseen girl were trailing them, watching their every step with patient, silent intent.
Wynn's eyes scanned the cave entrance and the surrounding forest, searching for any sign of movement, any clue that might reveal the source of the sensation. Yet everything appeared still, almost eerily so, as if the world itself had paused to observe her.
"Do you feel that?" she whispered to Yuting, her voice low, careful not to draw attention.
Yuting's sharp gaze swept the shadows, her body tense and coiled like a spring. "Something's here," she replied softly, her tone steady but alert. "I can sense it too. Be ready."
A shiver ran down Wynn's spine, yet she held her ground. This was no ordinary presence — she could feel its weight pressing at the edge of her awareness, probing, testing. And deep down, a spark of excitement flickered inside her. Wynn knew one thing for certain: the cave held far more secrets than she had ever imagined, and this unseen presence was only the beginning.
Wynn couldn't help but recall the beast she had seen before — its sleek, feline body, fur shimmering faintly, and the two curved horns that had marked it as something extraordinary. A thought suddenly struck her, sending a shiver down her spine: could it be… that the unseen presence watching them now was the very same beast she had encountered before?
Her mind raced, piecing together the similarities, the aura, and the way the force she had felt earlier seemed alive, deliberate. If it was indeed the same creature, then this encounter was far more significant than she had imagined — and far more dangerous.
But that beast, the last time she had seen it, hadn't harmed her in the slightest. Its expression had even seemed gentle, almost kind. Yet Wynn couldn't shake the thought that beasts, by their very nature, were wild and ferocious. No matter how tame it appeared now, it still had the power to hurt her — and that possibility lingered at the edge of her mind, keeping her alert and cautious.
"Are you okay, Wynn?" Yuting asked, her voice filled with concern.
Wynn was about to answer when suddenly a shout rang out, echoing through the dark, narrow corridors of the cave. The voice was familiar — one of the men who had gone ahead of them into its depths.
A surge of dread washed over both girls. Without thinking, they ran toward the source of the noise, hearts pounding with anxiety.
What could have happened to them? What had they encountered inside the cave?
Those were the questions racing through the minds of the two girls. And as they ran toward their companions, they remained cautious, eyes scanning every shadow and corner of the cave.
Every step was measured, every movement deliberate, for they knew that a single lapse in attention could be disastrous. Any moment of carelessness might awaken whatever creature lurked in the darkness, or trigger one of the hidden traps carefully set within the cave. The tension in the air pressed down on them, sharp and suffocating, as if the cave itself were testing their resolve.