Both Death Sword and Jagged were genuinely interested in the palm strike that had sent Purple Night flipping through the air. The timing of the palm strike's release had been impeccable.
In their view, Fall Night seemed like someone who had fought against stronger fighters and, through those experiences, developed a high level of battle prowess, skill, and wit.
"Let's not gather with them. We can watch them from a distance instead. This could be a good chance to study how the Midnight Clan trained their people, Jagged."
"I am definitely not interested in their training methodologies. However, that last palm strike looked more like a claw strike to me."
Jagged licked his lips behind his mask.
"Plus, if it were me instead of Little Night Nighty, I would've been able to follow up afterward. Purple Night would've suffered even more injuries. Maybe I could use that move with my machete arts."
"Yet, you did see Fall Night pick his spots with his attacks."
"What are you talking about, Death Sword?"
Jagged frowned beneath his mask.
"When Purple Night used a moving killing formation against Fall Night, he countered with a projection. He didn't do a lot of damage. However, knowing Purple Night, she wouldn't have called the formation back if there were no way for him to damage it."
"Purple Night is always careful. If you cough on her talisman paper, she'd freak out."
"That's because you don't know the value of things you can't eat."
"My point exactly."
"This is why other cultivators call you stupid."
Death Sword sighed.
"I think I'm going to have a headache after talking to you, Jagged."
"I am not stupid."
Jagged began playing with his fingers.
"I am just very unique," he said quietly.
"Sigh. Unique is putting it mildly."
Death Sword said nothing more and began walking ahead.
"Let's go, Jagged. We'll have time to figure out all of Fall Night's secrets soon enough."
"Okay, Death Sword."
---
As Purple Night and Fall Night entered the Misty Rain Forest, they immediately felt their senses being clouded.
The lack of noise, movement, or any other signs of life made the Misty Rain Forest unbearably quiet. It was the kind of silence that could make someone go mad.
When combined with the mist-like fog that had surrounded them since entering the forest, even a high-level cultivator could easily be put on edge.
Fall Night continued moving ahead of Purple Night while pressing one hand against his chest.
The wound hadn't closed, and it ached with pain.
Meanwhile, Purple Night rubbed her chest.
The palm imprint left behind by Fall Night had formed a bruise, making it uncomfortable for her to breathe.
Even the silence between them felt heavier than the quietness of the forest.
Yet pride and stubbornness came in all forms.
And these two possessed both in all their glory.
Neither of them was willing to acknowledge the other's injuries.
They simply continued moving forward.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, both of them felt their senses becoming increasingly clouded.
Their sensing range continued to shrink the farther they traveled.
Fall Night felt a familiar sensation.
He had experienced something similar before, back when they had been outside the Misty Forest.
At the time, however, he hadn't been able to put his finger on what exactly had felt wrong.
Now he understood.
The influence of the Misty Rain Forest was gradually increasing.
'I guess the reason it is called the Misty Rain Forest is because of this rain-like substance. It can blur the senses of cultivators who decide to enter the forest.'
Fall Night's eyes swept across his surroundings.
'Until I can properly adjust, I need to take things slowly. I bet the monsters in this forest have even sharper senses than other creatures.'
He continued walking as he contemplated the dangers ahead.
'The monsters here should be more aggressive and daring. They might even hunt in packs.'
His expression remained calm.
'That could lead to more intense and lethal battles.'
He considered the possibility of encountering a powerful monster.
'Escaping from a battle should be done sooner rather than later if victory doesn't come easily or provide any real benefits. If I stay in a battle for too long, leaving afterward could become troublesome.'
Fall Night wasn't afraid of fighting.
He simply understood that fighting for the sake of fighting wasn't always beneficial.
Sometimes, the smartest decision was knowing when to leave.
The silence of the forest didn't bother him.
Neither did Purple Night's silence.
He had no need to fill the empty space with unnecessary words.
Meanwhile, Purple Night reflected on her observations and her recent battle with Fall Night.
Clearly, Fall Night had an undeniable affinity for battle.
That certainly didn't imply that Fall Night charged into every battle without thought or care.
Quite the opposite.
As she observed him, Purple Night slowly pieced together parts of the puzzle.
She still didn't have a clear picture of Fall Night's true combat capabilities.
But she had seen enough to understand one thing.
Fall Night's battle instincts were exceptionally high.
And they should not be overlooked, even after having faced him in combat herself.
Purple Night's expression became slightly more serious.
She began contemplating the possibility that Fall Night had not fully revealed his combat capabilities.
Better yet, perhaps he had no intention of showing what truly made him deadly when his life was on the line.
The thought made Purple Night's eyes narrow.
She recalled their battle.
The timing of his attacks.
The way he responded to her techniques.
The manner in which he recognized openings.
And, most importantly, the palm strike that had sent her flying.
There had been no wasted movement.
No unnecessary attack.
No reckless charge.
Everything had seemed deliberate.
Purple Night slowly clenched her fists.
She had initially believed that securing Fall Night as a subordinate would be a valuable opportunity.
Now she realized that she might have forfeited a significant chance.
One more ace in the hole could have made a considerable difference in any future situation.
The thought frustrated her.
Her fingers tightened into fists.
Yet Purple Night quickly suppressed the frustration.
She was sharp enough to understand that a lost opportunity did not necessarily mean the end.
There would be more opportunities.
And if Fall Night truly possessed the potential she was beginning to suspect, then she would simply have to find another opportunity to bring him under her control.
For now, however, she continued walking.
Neither she nor Fall Night said a word.
The Misty Rain Forest remained silent around them.
But somewhere within that silence, something was watching.