His steps halted.
Pei Ye had first fled south for nearly ten miles, washing away the bloodstains in a mountain stream, before turning back towards an even more secluded area. By now, he had entered a deep valley, surrounded by mountain silhouettes like towering giants, ancient cliffs with tall trees, and wild owls amidst the chaos of branches; everything was wild and devoid of human presence.
Pei Ye stopped his strides and took several turns to search for the gloom he had just seen. Finally, he clearly saw at the valley's bottom, a dark cave entrance in the stone wall, deeply obscure and faint beneath the cover of the old trees, easily overlooked.
"...Miss Ming, does that look like a cave?" Pei Ye asked, gasping for breath.
But there was still no response.
