Ling Xuan stared at the floating screen for a long while before releasing a slow breath.
"Twenty kilometers into the mist," she repeated calmly. "That is not a small distance. We need to plan our movement so we can return to the fortress as soon as possible."
Laurel nodded, her brows slightly drawn together. "The suits can resist corrosion, but we do not know how long they can last. If the mist thickens or visibility drops too much, we might lose direction before we even find the herb."
Ling Xuan set the brush down properly this time and wiped the remaining ink from her fingers with a clean cloth. Her movements were unhurried.
"Haste makes waste," she said evenly. "There is no point in acting in panic."
Laurel hesitated before speaking again. "But we only have a month."
