The white-haired man, now freshly washed and dressed in a plain gray robe, stood before Xuefeng and the others in a clearing beyond the Nightmare's lair. Although he still looked a bit shaken from his ordeal inside the monstrous spider, the gleam in his eyes suggested he'd lost none of his easy confidence.
"So, tell us how you ended up in the Nightmare's stomach," Xuefeng said, voice edged with curiosity. "And while you're at it, introduce yourself."
A faint breeze stirred the forest around them, carrying with it the ever-present scent of damp earth and pine. Overhead, tree branches formed a living canopy that filtered sunlight in shifting, speckled patterns. The man took a moment to glance at each person present: Xuefeng—tall and composed, Wuying—eyes keen yet warm, and Xiao Wen—staring at him with something between boredom and disdain.
