In the hollow space of the tree, where the thick bark offered some semblance of warmth and security, Yan Jin and Wei Xi sat in relative silence. The air was damp and carried the scent of earth and leaves, mingled with the faint musk of the forest. The dim light filtering through the cracks in the bark barely illuminated the interior, casting long shadows that danced with the flickering movement of their breath.
Wei Xi, still catching his breath from the intense reconnaissance, spoke in hushed tones, the gravity of his findings weighing heavily on his young shoulders. "There are two purification realm blood beasts nearby. I found prints of a feline, and some bones about three hundred meters from here, so it's carnivorous," he reported, his voice steady despite the anxiety gnawing at him. "On the north side, I smelled urine, and the thick fur markings suggest the territory of another beast. This area seems to be neutral ground, but I haven't figured out why yet."
