As the first rays of sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, Yan Jin gently nudged Wei Xi awake. The boy stirred, rubbing the remnants of sleep from his eyes.
"Wake up. We need to leave," Yan Jin instructed, his voice calm but firm. "Clear up anything that could identify us. I will have to rely on you for navigation—my perception is completely affected by my current state."
Wei Xi nodded, quickly packing up their makeshift camp. The woven tree that had sheltered them through the night loomed overhead, its massive roots entwining the earth, creating a natural fortress around them. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and moss, the lingering aroma of the pastries they had fed the tree still faintly detectable.
Yan Jin continued, "When we leave the tree, we will no longer be on the outer region of the Beast Forest. The danger will be exponential. For the next few months, you are my eyes, my spear, and my shield."
