The night was heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth, the air so still that even the slightest movement seemed to echo through the dense woods. Li Yuhua and her soldiers pressed onward, their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of leaves underfoot. The forest was a labyrinth, and the path they followed was barely visible, worn down by time and obscured by overgrowth. It was clear that few, if any, had ventured this deep into the woods for many years.
Lady Zhen walked at Li Yuhua's side, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow, every rustle of the wind making her grip her sword tighter. The tension was palpable, and every soldier seemed to share the same unease. This place, though offering temporary refuge from Fang Wei's forces, felt like a trap in its own right.
"We should have seen something by now," Lady Zhen whispered, her voice barely audible above the sounds of the forest.
Li Yuhua nodded. They had been walking for hours, yet the path seemed endless. Her memory of the map she had studied was growing hazier by the moment, the landmarks indistinguishable in the suffocating darkness of the trees. The hidden caves she sought were somewhere deep within, but even she couldn't be sure how close they were.
Suddenly, a figure stumbled ahead, almost falling as his foot caught on a root. It was Wei Long, one of her most reliable soldiers. He quickly regained his balance, but the exhaustion on his face was unmistakable.
"Commander, the men are growing tired," Wei Long said, his voice hoarse. "We've been walking without rest. Perhaps we should—"
Before he could finish, a sharp crack echoed through the forest. Everyone froze. It wasn't the sound of breaking branches or leaves underfoot—this was something unnatural, something... metallic.
Li Yuhua raised her hand, motioning for silence. She strained her ears, listening. There it was again, the faint sound of metal scraping against stone, barely audible but unmistakable.
"Prepare yourselves," she said softly, her voice calm but commanding.
Her soldiers immediately obeyed, forming a defensive circle. Lady Zhen drew her sword, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the darkness. The forest, once eerily quiet, now seemed to hum with unseen activity.
Then, without warning, a figure emerged from the shadows.
---
It was a man, dressed in ragged clothes, his face gaunt and pale. His eyes, sunken and wild, darted from side to side as if expecting an attack at any moment. He held a rusted sword in one trembling hand, its blade chipped and worn, but still dangerous.
"Who are you?" Li Yuhua demanded, stepping forward.
The man's eyes locked onto her, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You... you shouldn't be here," he whispered, his voice trembling. "This place... it's cursed. You'll all die if you stay."
Li Yuhua's grip tightened on her sword, but she remained calm. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
The man shook his head, his expression frantic. "I was part of a scouting party... sent by Fang Wei... but we got lost. The others... they're gone. They disappeared one by one. The forest... it takes them."
The soldiers around Li Yuhua shifted uneasily, their eyes darting toward the trees. The man's words, though seemingly the ravings of a madman, carried a weight that none could ignore. The oppressive atmosphere of the forest seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment.
"Where are your comrades?" Li Yuhua asked, her voice steady.
The man pointed deeper into the forest. "They went that way... but they never came back. I waited for them... waited for days... but now... now I'm the only one left."
Lady Zhen stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "You expect us to believe you wandered this forest alone for days and survived?"
The man nodded frantically. "I hid. I hid from the forest... from the things that live here. They only come at night... when it's darkest."
Li Yuhua exchanged a glance with Lady Zhen. The man's story was strange, but they couldn't dismiss it entirely. Fang Wei's men were ruthless, but they wouldn't abandon their own without reason. If this man was telling the truth, then the forest was hiding dangers far worse than Fang Wei's forces.
"Where are the caves?" Li Yuhua asked, shifting the focus of the conversation. "Do you know the way?"
The man hesitated, then nodded slowly. "The caves... yes... I know where they are. But you won't be safe there either. Nothing is safe here."
"We'll take our chances," Li Yuhua said firmly. "Lead the way."
---
As they followed the man deeper into the forest, the air grew colder, and the trees seemed to twist and contort in unnatural ways. Li Yuhua could feel the weight of the place pressing down on her, as if the forest itself was watching their every move. The man led them with uncertain steps, his eyes constantly darting around as if expecting an attack at any moment.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the trees began to thin. In the distance, the mouth of a large cave loomed, dark and foreboding. The entrance was surrounded by jagged rocks, and the ground around it was covered in moss and vines. It looked ancient, untouched by human hands for centuries.
"We're here," the man said, his voice trembling. "But you shouldn't go in. The caves... they're worse than the forest."
Li Yuhua ignored his warning. She had no choice—her soldiers needed rest, and they couldn't afford to stay exposed in the open. The caves were their best option, no matter the risks.
"Set up camp inside," she ordered her soldiers. "We'll rest here for the night."
Her men moved quickly, eager for the promise of shelter. As they began to make preparations, Li Yuhua turned to the man. "You can stay with us, if you wish."
The man shook his head, his eyes wide with fear. "No. I won't go in there. I'll take my chances with the forest."
Li Yuhua watched as he turned and disappeared into the trees, his figure swallowed by the darkness. She couldn't help but feel a pang of unease. The forest was full of mysteries, and it was clear they had only begun to scratch the surface.
---
As night fell, the soldiers settled into the cave, their exhaustion evident in their movements. The cave was deep, with several chambers branching off from the main entrance, offering a natural barrier from the outside. Lady Zhen stood guard at the entrance, her eyes scanning the treeline for any signs of movement.
Li Yuhua sat by the fire, her mind racing. The man's warnings echoed in her thoughts. Was the forest truly cursed? Or was this all part of Fang Wei's elaborate scheme to demoralize her troops?
"We'll find out soon enough," she muttered to herself, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword.
As the flames crackled and the soldiers began to drift into an uneasy sleep, Li Yuhua remained vigilant. She knew better than to trust the silence of the forest.
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End of Chapter 22
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