The cold night air felt heavier as Hua Jing and Zhao Yan froze in place.
The shadow that had swiftly passed in front of them was gone, but the tension it left behind was suffocating.
Hua Jing's heart raced as she glanced at Zhao Yan, whose face had turned sharp and alert.
"Did you see that?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Zhao Yan nodded. "Stay behind me," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Hua Jing frowned, but before she could retort, the faint sound of footsteps reached her ears.
She stiffened, her eyes darting around the dark valley. The moonlight barely illuminated the area, making it difficult to see beyond a few feet.
"There's more than one," Hua Jing murmured, her voice trembling slightly.
Zhao Yan's jaw clenched as he scanned the surroundings, his hand instinctively moving to where his sword would have been.
"Stay close," he said firmly.
---
