Wu Zheng and Qing Rui waited for half an hour before approaching the spot where the Zahir clan members had ventured in.
They reached the area where Wu Zheng had hidden earlier. The place was almost deserted, save for two guards standing at the entrance of the mist-covered path. The rest had already entered.
Wu Zheng gave Qing Rui a nod. Without a word, they both sprang forward, their movements so swift that they left afterimages.
The guards, with their attention elsewhere, barely registered the attack before their heads rolled from their shoulders.
Thud.
Both heads hit the ground, blood spraying out in arcs.
Wu Zheng, calm and focused, gave another signal, and they advanced into the mist-covered path.
As they entered, the mist thickened with each step, swallowing them whole. The surroundings became eerily quiet, the kind of silence that creeps up on you and wraps around your throat.
Wu Zheng noticed immediately that visibility was decreasing fast. The dense mist obscured everything, making it impossible to see even a few feet ahead. The ground was uneven, and their pace slowed.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Wu Zheng whispered, "Give me your hand. We must stay close, or we could easily lose each other."
Qing Rui didn't hesitate, extending her hand to him. Wu Zheng grasped it tightly, their only connection amidst the growing void.
The mist grew thicker still, coiling around them like a living thing. Even Wu Zheng's spirit lens, was useless. He had never encountered anything like this. His instincts, sharp and honed from countless encounters with danger, screamed at him. There was something very wrong here. Whatever lay ahead was dangerous, far beyond anything the Zahir clan members could anticipate.
The oppressive fog pressed down on them, and time seemed to stretch. The ground became treacherous, uneven stones and hidden obstacles caused them to stumble occasionally, but they pressed on, driven by something unseen.
After what felt like an eternity, the mist began to thin. The shift was gradual, but noticeable. Faint light penetrated the haze, and with it, came an unmistakable stench.
The metallic tang of blood.
Wu Zheng tensed, instinctively preparing for an attack. His muscles coiled, his senses sharp. His grip on Qing Rui hand tightened.
But it wasn't an ambush that awaited them.
Just as they stepped out of the mist suffocating grasp, Qing Rui suddenly screamed.
Before Wu Zheng could react, she attacked him, her sword slashing through the air with fierce intensity. The force of her strike cut through the stillness, sending sharp bursts of energy toward him.
What are you doing?," Wu Zheng shouted, barely managing to dodge the attack. His voice was laced with confusion.
But Qing Rui face twisted in something beyond fear. Her eyes were wide, frantic, as though she couldn't hear him at all. She continued to attack with relentless precision, her strikes sharp and deadly.
Wu Zheng noticed the corpses strewn across the ground"the bodies of Zahir clan members, their faces locked in expressions of horror. Some were dried husks, while others were fresher. It became clear that these were the remains of those who had ventured before them. The older ones were explorers from the past, the newer ones were part of the current group.
Defending himself against Qing Rui onslaught, Wu Zheng maintained his cover, pretending to be a Foundation Realm cultivator.
Just as Wu Zheng decided he couldn't prolong this any further, Qing Rui halted her attacks. She froze, her body trembling.
Her eyes slowly regained clarity, and she stared at Wu Zheng in horror and guilt.... I am so sorry, she stammered.
Wu Zheng lowered his guard slightly, still tense. What happened?he asked, his voice calm despite the situation.
Qing Rui's voice wavered. I don't know... When we stepped out of the mist, I saw something"something horrifying. It wasn't human, but it wasn't a beast either. Its body was rotting, covered in yellow pus. It was holding my hand... I panicked. I thought it was going to kill me, so I attacked it. But... I was wrong.Her voice cracked. When I realized it wasn't fighting back, I... I snapped out of it and saw you.
She lowered her head in shame. I am useless, she murmured. I boasted so much, but when the time came, I failed... I was watching when the others fought that beast, watching when you scouted the area, and now... now I was bewitched by the mist, and you weren't. I attacked you relentlessly, but I couldn't even hurt you. And you... you're a realm below me.
Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, I am sorry... I am so sorry for being a burden.
Wu Zheng looked at her, feeling a pang of regret. He realized he had pushed her too far. His methods, his choices, had hurt her pride deeply. But he also knew that in situations like this, there was no room for softness. His spirit lens had shielded him from whatever illusion had affected Qing Rui, and he had acted as the situation demanded. There was no other choice.
But another thought came to his mind , but does she really have to be upset on the topic of not being able to hurt me," Wu Zheng sighed.