Three days passed inside the Sanctuary—
less than eight hours outside.
Their progress was enormous.
But Fengyu felt the storm looming.
The Beast Sense Vision flickered constantly—
faint red signals pulsing on the outskirts of the Sanctuary's influence.
Scouting beasts. Watching. Testing.
The Moth King was searching.
Tonight, Fengyu stood at the Sanctuary entrance node, breathing the outside air. Damp. Heavy. Filled with tension.
Behind him, Lingxin approached quietly.
"Can't sleep?" she asked softly.
Fengyu didn't turn. "I needed to check the perimeter."
She stepped beside him. "You're worried."
He sighed. "The tide is getting closer. The scouts are increasing."
Lingxin bit her lip. "Will they find us?"
"Not if I stop them first."
She hesitated, then reached out and held his arm.
Warm. Trembling.
"Don't shoulder everything alone."
He blinked at her, surprised.
She looked away, face flushed. "I mean—We're here. We're family now, aren't we?"
A chime echoed.
[Yan Lingxin – Favorability +10 → Total: 80]
Reward: Spirit Beast Egg (Low Grade)
Fengyu stared as a glowing jade egg appeared in his hand.
Lingxin gasped. "I… I gave you that?!"
He laughed. "Looks like someone cares."
She turned bright red. "I—I don't—!"
He placed a gentle finger on her lips.
"Thank you."
Lingxin froze, stunned.
Before she could speak, Qingxia arrived, arms crossed.
"What are you two doing? We're discussing beast movement patterns."
Lingxin jumped away, flustered. "N-Nothing!"
Qingxia snorted. "Right."
Meiyu approached next, carrying notes. "Fengyu, look."
The notes were simple—hand-drawn maps of their surroundings.
But something was wrong.
Fengyu narrowed his eyes.
Dozens of beast tracks.
All leading toward the Sanctuary's general direction.
Xuan rushed over. "They're closing in from three sides!"
Lingxin whispered in fear, "If they surround us…"
Qingxia grinned instead. "Then we slaughter them."
Fengyu raised a hand. "Not yet."
He studied the map.
Something didn't add up.
"These tracks… the beasts aren't attacking each other."
Meiyu blinked. "Meaning…?"
Fengyu's expression darkened.
"They're unified.
The Moth King has nearly full control."
Lingxin shuddered. "Then what do we do?"
Fengyu turned, eyes blazing.
"We strike first.
Before the tide reaches us."
Qingxia smirked. "Finally."
Meiyu swallowed. "You mean… attack the tide?"
"Not the tide," Fengyu whispered.
"The commander."
The Moth King.
If they killed it, the tide would collapse.
Xuan trembled. "But Fengyu… how do we find it?"
Fengyu lifted the jade egg Lingxin's reward had granted him.
A crack appeared on the shell.
Light spilled out.
A small, furred creature with bright silver eyes emerged—
a Silver-Tailed Tracking Fox, a spirit beast famed for locating hidden enemies.
Fengyu stroked it gently.
"We use this."
The fox nuzzled his hand, sensing its master.
Fengyu raised his gaze to the darkening forest.
"Tomorrow…
we hunt the Moth King."
Behind him, the Sanctuary hummed like a heartbeat—steady, strong, growing.
And somewhere in the distance…
A monstrous roar shook the night.
The tide was coming.
But so were they.