Wu Zheng waited patiently in the cave, sitting in silence as the hours ticked by. For an entire day and night, the echoes of the beast's rampage had filled the air, but now, for the last six hours, there was only silence. His spirit lens gave him no indication of danger outside, so he cautiously decided it was time to check. He stepped outside, surveying the area.
What greeted him was a landscape of utter devastation. The mountain had been torn apart, its once lush and vibrant scenery replaced by a wasteland of dust and broken trees. The earth itself had been ripped open by the sheer force of the beast's power. Boulders were smashed, and any sign of life that had once thrived here was gone. Despite the devastation, Wu Zheng's face remained impassive, betraying none of his thoughts.
Behind him, Qing Rui exited the cave and gasped, her face turning pale at the sight. Her hands shook slightly, and she clutched the edges of her robes as if to steady herself. "This… this destruction…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.
The mountain where her guards had fought the beast wasn't as badly damaged, but the signs of battle were still clearly visible. Her heart clenched at the sight, her mind racing with thoughts of her guards, wondering if they had survived. But no matter how hard she looked, there was no sign of them.
Wu Zheng glanced at her, noticing the faint tremor in her hands but kept his thoughts to himself. The silence between them grew heavier, only broken by the occasional crackle of loose rocks tumbling down the mountainside. The eerie quiet left them with the realization of how close they had been to total destruction.
"There's no sign of the Fang Claw Beast," Wu Zheng finally said, his voice measured as he surveyed the landscape. "But we should avoid returning the same way. It's possible that the beast is still out there, watching."
Qing Rui's lips parted as if to speak, but she hesitated, her thoughts still clouded with worry. Her eyes drifted towards the other side of the mountain where her guards had battled. The scars of their conflict were etched deep into the rock, and the silence that followed felt like an ominous weight on her heart.
"They..." she began, her voice breaking slightly. But before she could finish, Wu Zheng cut in.
"I know what you're thinking," Wu Zheng said, his voice steady. "But they're trained, just like you. If they survived, they'll head back to the Wu clan to regroup. There's no point risking our lives to look for them here when we can meet them there."
Qing Rui's shoulders slumped, and though her expression was bitter, she nodded in understanding.
After a long pause, Wu Zheng spoke again, his tone low but firm. "We'll circle the mountain to avoid any ambushes. But there's something you should know."
Qing Rui, her face still pale but now focused, turned to him. "What?"
Wu Zheng glanced toward the horizon, where the territory of the Zahir clan began. His face remained expressionless, but there was a weight in his words. "Once we cross over, we'll be in Zahir clan territory."
He waited a beat, letting the gravity of that sink in.
"The Wu clan and Zahir clan have... complicated relations," he continued. "They might have no reason to harm you, but I don't have the same luxury. If we run into them, and they see me as a threat, they'll try to kill me."
Qing Rui frowned, her brow furrowed with concern. "So, what are you saying?"
Wu Zheng's gaze was steady, his voice calm. "I'm saying that if we encounter their forces, they might offer you an option—perhaps a safer one, if you turn against me. I know they hold no animosity toward you."
Qing Rui's lips tightened into a thin line, her eyes narrowing as she met his gaze.
"I trust you," Wu Zheng continued, his expression unchanging. "But if we cross paths with the Zahir clan, understand that trust is fragile. Don't give me a reason to question my trust, no matter the offer they make."
The silence that followed was thick, but Qing Rui stood tall, her voice unwavering when she finally spoke. "I won't betray you. Don't worry about that."
Wu Zheng gave a small nod. He didn't press the matter further; the warning had been given, and she understood . Although a bit amused towards Wu Zheng courage.
Turning away, Wu Zheng motioned for her to follow as they began their descent away from the wreckage. The distant mountains of Zahir territory loomed in the distance.