As Chen Li tried to leave the cave, he suddenly heard light footsteps behind him. He spun around, but all he saw was a shadow slipping out of sight at the cave entrance. The shadow resembled a person, but the movement was unnatural, something no living human could accomplish.
"Is someone following me?" he wondered. However, the thought was quickly overwhelmed by a deeper sense of fear. Whoever it was clearly didn't want to confront him directly. Instead, like a predator, they lurked in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Chen Li quickly left the cave, returning to the endless darkness of the forest. He could still feel eyes watching him from behind, and the sound of footsteps continued—sometimes near, sometimes far. Fear grew inside him, but he knew he couldn't stop. Stopping would mean danger.
He ran through the forest, past dead shrubs and twisted trees, until he reached an abandoned stone bridge. Below the bridge was a murky river, and amidst the sound of rushing water, Chen Li heard faint, strange whispers, as though countless vengeful spirits were hiding in the water, telling secrets too terrible to speak aloud.