Wu Zheng moved with precision through the thick forest, each step deliberately silent, blending into the natural rhythm of the wilderness. His surroundings were dense with ancient trees, their gnarled roots snaking through the damp earth, and the air carried the heavy scent of moss and decaying leaves. As he neared the group ahead, he pressed himself against a massive boulder, its surface rough and slick with moisture. Vines and thick weeds curled around its base, providing extra cover. It was the perfect vantage point, hidden from sight yet close enough to observe. He carefully peeked over the top of the boulder, his sharp eyes scanning the figures in the clearing below.
The twenty-seven people gathered there wore soil-colored and white robes, marking them unmistakably as members of the Zahir clan. Wu Zheng wasn't surprised—they were in Zahir territory, after all. But something about their tense postures and the way they clustered together told him there was more going on.
The cultivators looked tense, murmuring among themselves. Wu Zheng focused his attention on one of them, a Golden Core cultivator, his voice carrying a note of unease.
"Mukan," the man said cautiously, his gaze flicking toward a narrow, mist-covered path leading into the mountain, barely visible beneath the weeds and vines. "Are we really going in there? No one's ever returned from that place."
Wu Zheng's eyes followed the man's gaze, finally noticing the path. It was easy to miss, hidden under layers of dense fog and overgrown vegetation, an ominous entrance to something unknown.
Mukan, the leader of the group, sneered, not bothering to look at the speaker. "If you're too scared, leave. We don't need cowards holding us back." His words were sharp, dismissive.
The nervous cultivator's face paled, and he stepped back, bowing his head. He didn't respond, clearly unwilling to press the issue further.
Another Golden Core cultivator, watching the exchange closely, stepped forward to ease the tension. His voice was softer, yet filled with a weary resignation. "Don't let it get to you," he said, placing a hand on the first man's shoulder. "You know why we're here. We don't have a choice."
The first cultivator sighed, his shoulders slumping. "But no one's ever come back," he muttered, eyes darting nervously towards the misty path.
The second cultivator glanced at Mukan, then leaned in slightly. "The clan leader's obsessed with joining the Jiang clan. He's not listening to reason anymore. But if we find something valuable in there—something big—we might be able to change his mind." His tone was hushed but determined.
The first cultivator stayed quiet, though his eyes were filled with uncertainty.
Hidden behind the boulder, Wu Zheng's mind worked quickly, piecing together the information. So they're here to find something that could sway their clan leader… interesting. His eyes flicked back to the path. There was something off about it, something that made his instincts hum with warning.
After overhearing enough, Wu Zheng quietly retreated, careful to avoid making a sound. His movements were slow, calculated. But as he moved farther away, a sudden, overwhelming feeling washed over him—a sense of impending danger, or perhaps opportunity. His instincts screamed at him, louder than they had in a long time.
He paused mid-step. What is it about that path?
His mind raced. He had no intention of getting involved, at least not directly. Gathering information was his priority, and he'd already confirmed what he suspected about the Zahir and Jiang clans. But now, with his instincts pulling him so strongly, he couldn't just walk away. What if the Zahir clan found something powerful? Something that could tip the balance in their favor? That kind of risk wasn't something he could ignore.
With a heavy sigh, Wu Zheng turned and made his way back to where Qing Rui waited, his mind made up.
---
When Wu Zheng returned, Qing Rui's eyes widened in relief. She stepped toward him, her voice anxious. "What happened? What are they planning?"
Wu Zheng remained silent for a moment, his thoughts still on the strange path. He finally met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "You'll know soon," he said, his tone calm but firm. "We're following them."