The forest stood dense with towering trees, their branches reaching towards the sky, shrouding the night sky in a cloak of darkness that took Qi Wei by surprise. He hadn't known what to expect when he looked up, but certainly not the perfect nightscape adorned with a luminous moon and a myriad of twinkling stars.
"Is this some kind of illusion?" Qi Wei queried, turning to Lai Yuan for an explanation.
"Nope. This is just how the realm is built," Lai Yuan replied matter-of-factly.
The air hung heavy with the earthy scent of moss and damp leaves. Were it daytime, Qi Wei imagined sunlight would filter through the canopy, painting the forest floor with dappled shadows. Instead, the only sounds that filled the air were the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant murmur of water.
