We continued moving deeper into the forest after spotting the fresh tracks, and the atmosphere around us slowly became heavier with every step we took forward. The usual sounds of the forest were still there, but they felt weaker now, like even the birds and insects were paying attention to something ahead.
No one was speaking anymore, and the silence between us felt deliberate, not peaceful. Even Han Li, who normally complained about everything from walking to breathing, had completely stopped talking, and that alone made the situation feel strange.
Wu Lian no longer walked ahead with confidence. Instead, she stayed closer to Li Shan, her earlier arrogance replaced with careful, restless glances at the trees on both sides.
