Night descended slowly over the temporary sect encampment, painting the distant horizon in shades of violet and fading gold.
The tomb complex loomed in the distance like a dark, slumbering beast, but here within the ring of tents and flickering bonfires, the atmosphere had shifted to something more communal.
The disciples gathered in clusters, their voices rising in animated chatter as the scents of roasted meat, steamed buns, and simple broth drifted through the cool air. Sparks snapped upward from the great bonfire at the center, illuminating faces that bore the marks of both triumph and exhaustion.
Han Yu sat cross-legged beside Fatty Kui, Wu Shuan, and Senior Brother Duan, their bowls of food resting in their laps.
He chewed slowly, not because the food wasn't good, but because his attention was fixed on the conversations swirling around them. Tonight was the first proper gathering after their day of exploration, and every disciple seemed eager to share what they had seen.
