The sun lazily rose over the horizon, bathing the Qingyun Forest in golden and orange hues. The shadows stretched beneath the trees as the caravan slowly advanced. The guards remained alert, their eyes scanning among the trunks, though the forest's bustle gave them some relief.
—This forest is endless!— complained a voice from a window.
Some guards exchanged glances, muttering under their breath.
—Again...
—Since we left the city, he hasn't stopped. And it's only been two weeks.
The guards sighed in unison, already tired and used to Liang Cheng's constant complaints, barely maintaining their sanity by thinking of their reward.
Up ahead, Xia Ruyen was leaning on the neck of the turtle leading the caravan.
—I'd kill for a glass of wine.
—Miss Xia!— Liang Cheng called out from a room, his tone sharper than the forest air. —This path is a mistake. We should've taken the other route.
—Liang Cheng, do you think I enjoy this tortuous journey?— Her voice was slow, like a knife sliding over stone. —This is the only path we have if we want to arrive without drawing the wrong kind of attention.
The calm and respect Xia Ruyen had shown toward her contractors had vanished over the days, alongside Liang Cheng's numerous complaints, to the point where she more than once wanted to send him flying.
An uncomfortable silence fell between them, interrupted only by the crunching steps of the turtle. Xia closed her eyes for a moment and, upon opening them, added:
—If you have a better suggestion, say it now.
"Hmp, this woman, how shameless, who does she think she is?"
Liang Cheng pressed his lips together, holding back. Xia leaned back again, drumming her fingers on the turtle's shell.
The group moved forward at a slow pace, accompanied by the forest's sounds. Finally, they reached a clearing where a serene lake rested, surrounded by trees that seemed to guard it.
As the sun faded on the horizon, the crystalline waters darkened, reflecting the starlit sky that began to emerge.
Xia Ruyen raised her hand, halting the march.
—We'll camp here tonight. We need to regain our strength.
The mountain-shelled turtle, obeying its master's command, began burying itself in the ground. Its shell, modified to resist, sank until only the surface remained visible, resembling a rocky hill. This was its natural way of protecting itself during rest, a strategy it used even before being tamed.
Xia Ruyen observed the process intently before turning to Liang Cheng.
—I don't want it doing that— she ordered firmly. —If there's an attack during the night, it will be too risky to have our spirit beast immobilized.
Liang Cheng waved dismissively, as if her words were merely a faint buzz in the air.
—Yes, yes, sure. Don't worry so much about that.
With a swift motion, he pulled an artifact from his spatial ring. It looked like a lantern, but something was unusual: a green flame burned within it, and the artifact's edges glowed with a silvery light.
—This is a formation artifact. It cost me a fortune; you're lucky to witness its first use— he said with a smile bordering on arrogance.
—This artifact activates a barrier around ten meters. Nothing and no one can detect us while it's active. So, take the night to rest, alright?
Xia Ruyen frowned.
—And why didn't you mention this before? We could've taken another route if you had something like that.
—Are you crazy, woman?— Liang Cheng retorted, crossing his arms. —Do you know how much it costs to keep this formation active? Of course, I thought about it before, but this thing only works for eight hours, and recharging it takes days. Hmp. You should be grateful I decided to use it tonight.
Xia Ruyen stared at him, her expression stoic.
—Do as you wish, but if something goes wrong, don't expect us to bear the consequences.
Silence settled between them as the others prepared the camp, the green flame from the lantern casting soft shadows over the lake and surrounding trees.
Xia Ruyen walked to her equipment, letting out a tired sigh.
—Is something bothering you, leader?
—It's nothing— She paused, glancing sideways at the lantern Liang Cheng had activated. —Though I hate to admit it, that man's artifact is quite useful. Just by looking at it, I can tell it's of high grade and, of course, expensive. But even so... I don't fully trust him— She turned her gaze to her subordinates. —Did you notice anything?
—Nothing out of the ordinary, leader. Within 1 Li, there are no signs of danger. The forest conceals us well, and the formation... Even the deputy leader couldn't see through it.
Xia nodded, though her expression remained stern.
—Good, good... Even so, we won't let our guard down. Three of you take the first watch and switch every hour. Understood?
—Yes, leader.
The men nodded in unison, quickly organizing themselves. Xia watched them for a moment before turning her gaze toward the forest, as if something in the night's stillness left her uneasy.
—Well, no point in worrying...— Xia Ruyen murmured, crossing her arms. —Where's my lovely Bai Xuebing to relieve my stress?
Her amber eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she scanned the camp, the green lantern light illuminating her amused expression.
From a window, a feminine figure peeked out. Her sweet face, framed by dark locks, reflected the faint night light. Her jade eyes fixed on a young man sitting by the fire.
Bai Xuebing's hair fell like a dark river to his knees. His skin, as pale as the full moon, glowed under the firelight dancing before him. But what stood out most were his icy blue eyes, so cold and distant they seemed detached from the world around him, in stark contrast to his flawlessly beautiful face.
Bai Xuebing remained silent, contemplating the flames with tranquil intensity. The crackling of the fire was the only sound accompanying him until he felt something. A gaze.
He lifted his eyes, looking into the distance. A closed window was all he found.
—What was that...?
Before he could think further, something soft collided with his face. Two rounded shapes, covered by white fabric, suddenly enveloped him—a pair of breasts.
—I found you, Bai Xuebing.
A dominant, feminine voice accompanied the unexpected interruption, reverberating over the camp's silence.
Bai Xuebing gently pushed the woman aside, his expression unperturbed as his icy blue eyes met Xia Ruyen's amber ones.
—Was it necessary to announce yourself in that manner, leader?
Xia Ruyen smiled, leaning slightly toward him with one hand on her hip.
—Announce myself? Please, Bai Xuebing, what kind of leader would I be if I didn't greet my new team member with a bit of... enthusiasm?
—Enthusiasm is not the word I'd use— He diverted his gaze to the fire, as if immersing himself back in his thoughts. —Do you need something?
Xia sat beside him with a fluid motion, her playful expression barely restrained.
—Just making sure you're ready for anything. You know how Liang Cheng is, relying so much on that formation it's almost chilling.
—If that man trusts it so much, it's because he doesn't plan to be the first to face danger— Bai's voice was as cold as the night surrounding them.
Xia let out a soft laugh.
—As blunt as ever, huh? But you're right. If something goes wrong, we all know who'll be the first to point fingers.
Bai Xuebing barely nodded, his gaze fixed on the flames.
—I'll keep my guard up. I don't trust that formation, nor him.
"But not you all, either," he thought to himself.
Xia observed him silently for a moment, letting the crackling fire fill the space between them.
—You're too serious, Bai. Relax a little— She stood up. —How I'd love to take you to my bed and... well, given the situation, I can't... such a shame.
—It truly is a shame, haha— he said dryly, lifting both hands in mock surrender, his tone bored.
Xia smiled but said nothing more. She gave him a kiss on the cheek, turned, and began walking toward her tent, her figure disappearing into the green light surrounding the camp.
Bai Xuebing touched his cheek, watching Xia's figure vanish.
He closed his eyes for a moment, listening to the forest's sounds beyond the formation. Something in the air didn't quite sit right. The place's calm, so perfect, felt strangely artificial.
That night, Bai Xuebing didn't sleep.
Even though others took turns keeping watch, he didn't close his eyes for a moment. His posture remained firm by the fire, his spear resting beside him. The flames dwindled as the hours passed, leaving only flickering red embers.
The forest, normally noisy, seemed to have fallen silent as the night deepened. The air felt heavy, as though something unseen was pressing down on it.
Bai Xuebing kept his gaze fixed on the darkness beyond the formation, his icy blue eyes reflecting the faint green glow.
—Too quiet...— he whispered to himself, his fingers brushing the shaft of his weapon.
It wasn't until dawn, when the first golden light filtered through the trees, that he slightly relaxed his shoulders. But even then, his mind remained alert.
Liang Cheng's formation began to fade, the green fire in the lantern flickering before extinguishing completely. Bai stood, stretching his back. The others were beginning to wake, confident the night had passed without incident.
Xia Ruyen appeared beside him, yawning as she adjusted her clothes.
—Didn't sleep at all, Bai?
—No.
Xia raised an eyebrow, though her tone remained nonchalant.
—You need to learn to trust more. The formation worked.
—Maybe this time— Bai's gaze didn't leave the horizon. —But I don't want to rely on something I don't fully understand.
Xia sighed, crossing her arms.
—You're so paranoid... well, at least it doesn't take away from how handsome you are, hehe.
Bai Xuebing didn't reply, but a faint curve on his lips betrayed an almost imperceptible smile.
—Let's go.
The camp slowly disassembled as the group prepared to face another day in the forest.
The group continued walking along the marked path, the forest around them enveloping them in its nearly unnatural stillness. Bai Xuebing moved in silence, his spear resting on his shoulder. At first, it seemed like an ordinary day, but something felt off.
A chill ran down his spine, so faint he almost ignored it. There was something strange in the air, an unshakable feeling he couldn't name.
The sound of footsteps echoed against the damp earth as the group maintained their pace, seemingly without issue. But then, Bai began noticing small details.
—...This isn't right— he whispered to himself, his voice barely a murmur lost among the trees.
He looked around. He'd traveled through many forests before, but never had he felt such an oppressive presence. Although the path was straight, something in his mind told him they weren't getting anywhere.
His gaze fell on a moss-covered rock by the trail's edge. He recognized it instantly. It was the same one he'd seen an hour ago. He paused for a moment but shook his head.
—It can't be. We're walking straight... it's impossible.
He continued moving, though with growing unease. Further ahead, he spotted a tree with claw marks on its trunk. He stopped abruptly, his cold eyes fixed on those same marks he was sure he'd seen before.
—It can't be...
—What's wrong, Bai?— Xia Ruyen asked from a few steps behind, raising an eyebrow.
Bai didn't reply immediately. He looked at the ground, where a small peculiarly shaped stone rested among the tree's roots. That stone... he'd seen it before, too.
He turned to Xia, his icy blue eyes showing a seriousness that even made her hesitate.
—We're not making progress.
.Xia looked at him incredulously.
—What are you talking about? We've been walking non-stop for hours.
—We've passed this place before— He pointed to the tree with the marks. —That trunk and that stone. It's impossible for them to be here again if we're moving in a straight line.
Before Xia could respond, Liang Cheng let out a mocking laugh from the back of the group.
—Please, young man, it's a forest— He waved dismissively, downplaying the comment. —Everything here looks the same. What do you expect to find?
—I'm sure of what I saw— Bai Xuebing stared at him coldly. —This forest isn't normal. Something is interfering.
—Interfering?— Liang Cheng scoffed, pulling out his canteen with a careless air. —If that artifact I activated last night didn't detect anything, I highly doubt we're being "interfered with." Stop worrying so much.
Xia Ruyen raised a hand to calm the conversation.
—Let's keep moving. If something is wrong, we'll find out soon enough.
Although her words were firm, Bai Xuebing noticed a faint hint of doubt in her voice. Without further argument, the group continued their march, but the tension in the air was palpable and inescapable.
Hours passed, and the sun began to set, painting the forest in hues of orange and gold. The path seemed endless. And then, Bai Xuebing felt his skin prickle as he heard a faint whisper on the wind.
Looking ahead, his heart sank.
In front of them lay the same moss-covered rock on the ground. The same tree with claw marks stood beside it. But that wasn't the worst of it.
The group emerged from the dense forest, once again finding themselves in front of the lake where they had camped the previous night.
The water remained as calm as before, reflecting the last rays of the sun with a dim, dull glow. A shiver ran through everyone present as reality set in.
—No...— murmured one of the mercenaries, stepping back. —This can't be.
Xia Ruyen clenched her fists, her jaw tightening as she stared at the scene in disbelief.
—How... did we end up back here?
The entire group fell silent. The air around the lake now felt different, colder, heavier, as if something invisible was watching them from the shadows. Bai Xuebing planted his spear firmly into the ground, his icy gaze fixed on the water's reflection.
—I told you— His voice was low but full of certainty. —This forest isn't letting us move forward.
The wind rose slightly, whispering through the trees, as the shadows of the night began to once again fall over the camp.