The group exited the forest and reached the main road. Parker cautiously crossed the tower bridge without encountering the ambush he had anticipated. He climbed over a broken wall on the other side, disappearing behind the tower, and quickly reappeared behind a second-story window, waving at everyone to indicate that it was safe.
The others followed suit, and the edge of the forest was quiet, with only the sound of the river flowing under the collapsed bridge. The river's surface reflected the afternoon sunlight, and occasionally a ripple of light played across Fang Hong's face as he watched the reeds in the distance, beneath which lay a lurking shadow.
After descending the bridge, Parker swung out of the tower's second-story window, grasped a vine, and slid down, patting his hands as he landed beside them. Tianlan then asked him, "Parker, did you see any other people?"
