However, the news Yin Ze brought back upon returning from a routine scouting mission that day made everyone's recently-eased nerves tense up again.
"I found a dozen or so Beastman males in the canyon up ahead," Yin Ze said, landing on a branch next to Jin Yi. He retracted his wings, his expression grave. "Their behavior… it's a little strange."
"Strange how?" Bai Wanwan straightened up, her arms wrapped around Jin Yi's neck tightening slightly as she looked up and asked.
"They aren't hunting or communicating with each other. They're just silently marching in a single direction, and they're very fast."
Yin Ze continued, his brow furrowed. "And I watched them for a long time. The look on their faces… it's exactly the same as when Hua Han was under control."
"You mean… all of those dozen or so Beastmen are being controlled by Dark Energy?" Bai Wanwan's heart sank.
"Yes, I'm almost certain," Yin Ze nodded.
The news was like a stone dropped into a placid lake.
